What lipstick color looks good on brown skin? The answer depends on the skin’s undertone, whether cool, warm, or neutral. For example, take a look at the best MAC lipsticks for brown skin. There’s a wide range of colors suitable for the different undertones.
To choose the best MAC lipstick for dark skin, think about when you plan to wear the lipstick. Are you looking for a subtle shade for the office or something glamorous for after-hours? Remember, there are fun colors, too. Nothing’s off-limits, especially when MAC has over 150 shades to choose from. We’ve included a little bit of everything here:
| The best MAC lipsticks for brown skin | Why we love them |
|---|---|
| MAC Matte Lipstick Candy Yum-Yum |
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| MAC Relentlessly Red Retro Matte |
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| MAC Retro Matte Lipstick Ruby Woo |
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| Chili Matte Lipstick by M.A.C |
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| MAC Lipstick Matte Heroine |
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| MAC Satin Lipstick Twig |
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| MAC Lipstick Frost Lipstick Fabby |
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| M.A.C FROST LIPSTICK BRONZE SHIMMER |
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How to choose the best lipstick color
Coral, peachy pink, or red with a hint of orange flatter warm undertones. Meanwhile, rosy pink, raspberry, and other bluish-reds look stunning on cool undertones. Lucky neutrals can wear them all.
If you’re not sure what your undertone is, here’s a quick primer. It will help you choose the best lipstick shade for your skin.
First, get outside in plain daylight and look at the veins in your wrist. If they seem blue or purple, you have a cool undertone. If they look green, that’s a warm undertone.
However, you might see a mix of both, and that’s a neutral undertone.
Confirm it in front of a mirror. (Do this in daylight also). You’ll need something that’s pure white and something off-white or creamy. It could be fabric, towels, or pieces of paper like book pages.
Hold the first one, then the other next to your face. Which one looks better? Basic white looks good on warm undertones but washes out cool undertones. If they both look okay, that’s neutral.
The final test is to look at your skin next to gold and silver. Cool undertones make silver look sexy, and gold is glamorous on warm undertones.
How to get the most out of your lipstick
Many of MAC’s most popular colors are matte, that’s why preparing your lips is important. The lipstick will look best if the lips aren’t chapped or dry. Take the time to use a lip scrub and conditioner to smooth the surface before applying the lipstick. You can also use lip primer that extends the wear time.
For a subtle boost, choose a color that’s two shades darker than your natural color. But if you want a more dramatic pout, a lighter shade will make your lips look larger.
How to choose the best MAC lipstick
It’s not just the immense variety of colors, there are many different kinds of MAC lipstick. Here’s a quick explanation to help you find what you want.
Finish and texture
Choose from completely matte to glossy, with a variety of textures from firm to super creamy. The options include:
RETRO MATTE, 6 shades, full coverage, zero shine – completely matte, and long-wearing
MATTE LIPSTICK, 31 shades, full coverage, matte with a creamy texture
POWDER KISS LIPSTICK, weightless, moisturizing, smooths lips, yet has a velvety finish
SATIN, 23 shades, buildable medium coverage, and a creamy texture
CREMESHEEN, 11 shades, similar texture to the satin, but with a semi-gloss finish
AMPLIFIED LIPSTICK, 17 shades, semi-gloss with full coverage and a very creamy texture
LUSTRE, 12 shades, with sheer coverage, shimmery finish, and a lightweight feel
There are also three PRO LIP palettes (in plum, red, and orange) with six shades each, not to mention the liquid lipsticks and the LIPMIX cream used for mixing custom colors. Whew!
If you wanted a long-wearing lipstick that won’t transfer onto cups or need touching up, try the Retro Matte or Matte lipsticks. The liquids are also a good option. All three of these are highly pigmented and resists smudging.
Retro Matte lasts for an astonishing twelve hours, and regular Matte lasts for ten. Meanwhile, the soft-focus Powder Kiss or Lustre lipsticks are more sheer and hydrating.
Surprising facts about MAC cosmetics
Do you know what M. A. C. stands for? It’s “Make-Up Art Cosmetics”. The business was launched in Canada in 1984.
It started because someone decided to solve a problem. You see, the makeup wasn’t looking right on the models in the photographs. So, the unhappy photographer teamed up with a salon owner to make cosmetics in a kitchen.
Their products became popular with stylists and beauty editors, but they really took off as a brand because of Madonna. Not only did she wear their passionately red lipstick, but she had on their brand’s T-shirt in a photoshoot. They’ve also developed cosmetics with Rihanna and Lorde, among others.
Soon, MAC began supporting HIV/AIDS organizations. To this day, they still participate in charitable work in collaboration with stars like Nikki Minaj and Lady Gaga. It’s no secret that they respect diversity as their products enhance the natural beauty of all ages, races, and genders.
With a history like this, it’s hard to resist trying all the best MAC lipsticks.
Best MAC Lipsticks for Brown Skin in 2024
MAC Matte Lipstick Candy Yum-Yum
What’s more kissable than neon pink? Candy Yum-Yum is one of the most cheerful shades we’ve seen in a long while. It’s an excellent matte lipstick for dark skin because it really pops.
If you love bubblegum pink, give this limited edition matte lipstick a try. It offers full coverage that lasts for up to ten hours wear. If you want to use lip liner, use a shade darker. You can also go glossy by putting MAC’s clear Lipglass on top.
Are you curious about the ingredients that MAC uses in their lipstick? We checked the label and discovered several conditioners like castor seed oil, vitamin E, and carnauba wax. The pleasant scent and flavor come from vanillin. Not to worry, there are no parabens.
Pros:
- Brilliant neon color
- Full coverage, up to 10-hour wear
- Moisturizing ingredients
- Subtle vanilla scent and flavor
- Paraben-free
Cons:
- All of MAC’s matte lipstick tubes look the same. It’s too easy to slip neon pink into your bag when you meant to bring Beatrix, a deep coppery red, instead.
MAC Relentlessly Red, Retro Matte
This gorgeous lipstick is a true red color, not orange, not blue, but really, really, red. It’s so popular that you can get it in Mini MAC size as well as the full-size bullet tube.
The rich pigment lasts up to 12 hours on the lips. It looks glossy in the tube but sets matte. No, it’s not flat, but smooth and natural-looking. You’ll have to experience it to see what we mean.
On a hunch, we compared the ingredients and found dimethicone and kaolin. The former seals in hydration while the latter mattifies.
Pros:
- Intense true red for all skin tones
- Lasts up to 12 hours
- Moisturizing yet matte
- Comes in Mini MAC tubes, too
Cons:
- We blame MAC for the temptation to purchase too many lipsticks
MAC Retro Matte Lipstick Ruby Woo
Which red lipstick is MAC’s number one best-seller, the most famous color? It’s Ruby Woo, the iconic classic red with a hint of blue undertone. The shade is so perfectly balanced that looks good on every skin tone regardless of the cool undertone.
It’s part of the Retro Matte lineup which means it lasts up to twelve hours without needing a touch-up. It has a matte finish that looks like skin, only better. For even better results, use MAC’s Prep + Prime first.
If you’d like to outline the lips with a pencil, use the Burgundy shade. Or if you’d like a glossy finish, apply Lipglass Clear on top. (Just be aware that the high-gloss finish makes lipstick look a little pinker).
Pros:
- MAC’s number one best-seller
- Rich red with blue undertones that flatters every skin color
- 12-hour wear
Cons:
- We can already see our makeup budget for the month disappearing
Chili Matte Lipstick by M.A.C
If you would like a red with warm undertones, check out Chili. It pairs well with Mahogany or Auburn Chicory lip liner.
This warm brick red is beautiful on brown skin. It has a hint of orange, but it goes nowhere near terra-cotta.
If you prefer liquid lip color, check out Devoted to Chili, a similar shade that’s even more matte than the lipstick. And for a mono look, MAC also offers Devoted to Chili eyeshadow.
Pros:
- Warm brick red that enhances the beauty of brown skin
- Similar shades are available in liquid lip color and eyeshadow
Cons:
- Not the best color for cool undertones
MAC Lipstick Matte Heroine
No, it’s not a drug, but rather a cheerful superhero. Heroine is a bright purple that looks fabulous on brown skin, especially with the lipstick’s semi-matte satiny finish.
It’s part of the Matte lipstick series that offers up to 10-hour wear. It has a creamier texture that glides on easier than the Retro Matte lipstick. Happily, it doesn’t cake and it won’t dehydrate the lips.
Pros:
- Satiny finish and creamy texture that glides on easily
- Fabulous bright purple color
- 10-hour wear
- Moisturizing formula
Cons:
- MAC needs more buy two, get one free deals
MAC Satin Lipstick Twig
Twig is a brownish-pink popular with brides. It’s a best-selling shade that works with all skin tones.
The muted color is buildable from medium to full coverage. It has a cushiony texture and a satin finish that smooths the lips. It’s the ideal subtle shade to emphasize their natural beauty.
Pros:
- Best-selling brownish-pink that brings out the natural beauty of all skin tones
- Buildable coverage with a cushiony texture and satin finish
Cons:
- Do you think anyone would notice if we changed our lipstick twice a day to try out all these colors?
MAC Lipstick Frost Lipstick Fabby
If you like Twig, but want a more lustrous finish, check out Fabby. It’s pearlescent, giving it a frosted appearance. The official description of the color is, “mauve with gold pearl”.
Like the Satin lipstick, the Frost lipstick is creamy with buildable coverage. One swipe is sheer, another layer makes a shimmery finish even more noticeable.
Pros:
- Lustrous mauve with gold pearl
- Frosted lipstick with buildable coverage from sheer to medium
- Creamy texture with a hydrating formula
Cons:
- Not a glitter lipstick
M.A.C FROST LIPSTICK BRONZE SHIMMER
Here’s one of our favorite shades to wrap up the lipstick reviews. It’s a golden bronze with shimmer that’s downright glamorous on brown skin.
Like other Frost lipsticks from MAC, it starts sheer, but it’s buildable to medium coverage. It has a pearlescent, semi-gloss finish.
Who needs primer when the lipstick has so many moisturizers like castor seed oil, jojoba, and candelilla wax?
Pros:
- Gorgeous frosted lipstick with buildable coverage
- Cushiony texture that hydrates the lips
Cons:
- The warm undertone doesn’t work well on cool skin tones
Conclusion
We had so much fun reviewing MAC lipsticks for this article. We hope it helps you find the ones you were looking for.
If so, tell us more about your new lipstick in the comments below.