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The best Mac lipsticks of all time: From bestselling shades to underrated gems

Few make-up brands have dominated the lip game for so long – here are the formulas worth buying

Louise Whitbread

Wednesday 01 September 2021 11:25 EDT

The brand has an army of lip products to add to your make-up bag, with over 200 to choose from in seven different categories (iStock/The Independent)

Make-up Art Cosmetics, better known as Mac, is one of the most well-known make-up brands in the world. Since it was founded in 1984, the brand has expanded into a cosmetics empire that is now sold in over 105 countries.

Its most popular products are by far its lipsticks. Mac is behind some of the most famous shades in the history of make-up – such as its matte red “ruby woo” (£17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk) or balmy nude, “creme cup” (£17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk).

With over 200 lip products to choose from, in seven different categories, ranging from matte to creamy, satin to liquid, you’re sure to find something for every look. But which shade reigns supreme?

How we tested

In a bid to find the best of the best, we’ve spent almost two months putting as many Mac lipsticks to the test, and have narrowed it down to the top nine. We looked at shade range – trying everything from nudes to reds and vibrant pinks – as well as making note of their staying power, finish, texture and pigment. We also paid close attention to how they handled hours of wear while eating, drinking and face mask wearing.

Our round-up has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a vibrant pop of colour, a sheer tinted balm or the perfect nude.

Read more:

The best mac lipsticks for 2021 are:

Best overall – Glow play lip balm in “rouge awakening”: £17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk
Best nude lipstick – Matte lipstick in “velvet teddy”: £17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk
Best red lipstick – Retro matte lipstick in “ruby woo”: £17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk
Best pink lipstick – Powder kiss lipstick in “sexy, but sweet”: £19.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk
Best nude lipstick for fair skin – Viva glam (satin) in “viva glam II”: £17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk
Best cremesheen lipstick – Cremesheen in “creme cup”: £17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk
Best for pink undertones – Satin lipstick in “faux”: £17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk
Best liquid lipstick – Love me liquid lip colour in “hey frenchie”: £19.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk
Best for pigment – Powder kiss liquid lip colour in “make it fashun”: £19, Maccosmetics.co.uk

Viva glam (satin) in “viva glam II”

Best: For fair skin

Rating: 9/10

In 1994, Mac created viva clam, a charitable campaign to raise money and awareness for those living with HIV and Aids, as well as supporting LGBTQ communities and equal rights for women, girls, and the LGBTQ+ communities. To date, it’s raised over $500 million (£370m approx) and 100 per cent of the purchase price of any viva clam products goes towards the Mac Aids Fund.

“Viva glam II’’ is a gorgeous pinky beige shade that compliments fairer skin tones beautifully, and has a creamy texture with a semi-matte finish. Perfect for an everyday lip colour, it leaves lips looking supple and feeling comfortable. If you want to contribute to a good cause, while wearing a lovely nude, this is the lipstick for you.

Mac lipsticks FAQs

What is Mac’s most popular lipstick?

According to Mac, the best selling lipstick between July 2020 and June 2021 is “velvet teddy” (£17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk), a deep-tone beige matte lipstick.

The following list details the rest of the bestelling shades in order across the same time period:

2. Matte lipstick in “honey love” (£17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk)

3. Retro matte lipstick in “ruby woo” (£17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk)

4. Matte lipstick in “mehr” (£17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk)

5. Matte lipstick in “whirl” (£17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk)

6. Matte lipstick in “kinda sexy” (£17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk)

7. Viva Glam (satin) in “viva glam II” (£17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk)

8. Satin lipstick in “faux” (£17.50, Maccosmetic.co.uk)

9. Cremesheen in “creme cup” (£17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk)

10. Cremesheen in “modesty” (£17.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk)

What to look for in a Mac lipstick

When it comes to a brand like Mac that offers a huge range of lipsticks, when finding the right one for you, it’s important to consider a few things...

Coverage – Take into account whether you want a sheer coverage that adds a wash of colour, a buildable formula that can be customised according to your preference or a full-coverage lipstick that delivers an opaque colour with one coat.
Finish – Mac lipsticks come in matte, semi-matte, satin, cream and gloss finishes. Typically matte formulas have zero shine but are very long-lasting, whereas gloss and cream tend to be more lightweight with less staying power.
Shade – With over 200 shades, Mac lipsticks have one of the best shade ranges in the beauty industry, offering classic reds, flattering nudes, bright pinks and more experimental colours such as black, blue and green. To help you find the right one for you, it offers a virtual try on feature on its website, where it will use a picture or live image of you to see how well a lipstick will match with your skin tone.
Budget – Mac lipsticks are not all priced the same, it’s classic lipsticks are £17.50, while its liquid lipsticks are around £19. If you’re keen to try a new product, take a look at the Mac mini range, which is a curated collection of the MAC bestsellers in mini, travel-size. These range from £12 to £12.50 and there are 20 shades to choose from.

The verdict: Mac lipsticks

The glow play lip balm in “rouge awakening” is a great all-rounder, giving a wash of colour, a high-shine finish and a balmy, hydrating texture that everyone can enjoy. It’s easy to apply, long-lasting and skin softening.

If you want a bold, statement lip, you can’t go wrong with Powder kiss liquid lip colour in “make it fashun”, which has an ingenious applicator that makes applying even the darkest shades a breeze. It’s creamy without being drying and stays in place for over eight hours.

Voucher codes

For the latest discounts on make-up and other beauty offers, try the links below:

Looking for a new lip gloss? Read our roundup of the best lip glosses for the perfect pout, from plumping to pigmented formulas

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