9 Must-Have MAC Lipsticks

It’s hard to find a makeup lover without a MAC lipstick or two, or ten, or more (*guilty*) in their collection! Although, compared to some of my beauty blogger friends, I consider myself a MAC lightweight: I only own a little over 20 MAC lipsticks and a handful of MAC lip glosses. But still, MAC has been one of my go-to lipstick brands for as long as I can remember. There are so many color options to choose from and they’re all so addictive! Are you looking for various shades of pink? Red? Nude? Anything else?! Well, MAC’s got you covered. And then of course, there’s the many collaborations: Viva Glam, Giambattista Valli, Wash & Dry Collection, and the list goes on. I like to switch up my lip colors like I like to mix up my handbags and shoes so MAC is definitely one of my go-to beauty brands. Between all of their colors, collaborations, and different finishes (like cremesheen, matte, retro matte and amplified), how can you resist stocking up?!

Here are my personal favorites (my 9 must-have MAC Lipsticks) and details on how they wear:

MAC Candy Yum Yum
Described as a neon pink, this is a fun, matte lipstick that goes on looking slightly chalky, so it’s best to apply a lip balm to your lips first. Depending on how many layers you apply, it can range from a Pepto Bismol pink to a hot pink.

MAC Chili
Described as a brownish orange-red, this is a matte lipstick perfect for Fall! I love to wear this with Earth tones. And the matte finish helps it to stay on all day.

MAC Crème in Your Coffee
Described as a mid-tone pink brown, this is a Cremesheen lipstick, so it goes on very creamy and glossy. It almost has the feel of a lip gloss. I bought this (along with Crème in Your Coffee) for my wedding. I wanted a nude lip since I was doing a dramatic purple eye.

MAC Dark Deed
This lipstick was part of MAC’s Venomous Villains collection. It’s an Amplified Crème so the finish is creamy and glossy. Plus it’s long-wearing, and very deeply pigmented. It’s a strong color so I often mix it with Heaux but if you’re looking for a vampy color, this is it! It’s sold out but try MAC Media or MAC Film Noir – very similar colors.

MAC Fanfare
Described as a mid-tone yellow pink, this is another Cremesheen lipstick that is also a great glossy nude.

MAC Heaux
This is probably my favorite MAC lipstick of all! From the RiRi Hearts MAC collaboration, it’s described simply as a ‘berry’ shade. It goes on smooth and the finish is slightly more on the creamy side, even though it’s a retro matte lipstick. I like to mix it with a deeper burgundy hue (Dark Deed) from time to time, particularly in the Fall and Winter when I am wearing darker looks. But it’s a beautiful hue on its own, too. Shop similar colors: MAC Rebel or MAC Heroine.

MAC Lickable
Described as a bright clean blue pink, this is a deeper, brighter pink than Candy Yum Yum. This Cremesheen lipstick goes on creamy, bright and shiny, and it’s one of my top favorite lipsticks to wear, especially when I want to rock a fun color!

MAC RiRi Woo
From the RiRi Hearts MAC collaboration, this Retro Matte lipstick is described as a very matte vivid blue-red. This is one of my favorite reds. It is bit harder to apply since it’s a really thick, dry matte, (almost like the consistency of a crayon when you first start to use it). But, it is long-wearing with opaque coverage – it stays on all day. And the pigment is so strong that it even ‘stains’ your lips a bit even after you remove it. It’s sold out but these colors/finishes are similar: Ruby Woo and Dangerous.

MAC Russian Red
Described as an intense bluish-red matte, this has been one of my go-to red lipsticks for a long time. For me it’s much more on the creamy side than on the matte side. It’s highly pigmented so it stays on long. I like to alternate between RiRi Woo and Russian Red when I’m feeling in a red kinda mood.