MAC MACximal Lipsticks: 23 Pretty Colors For All Skin Tones

mac macximal lipsticks swatches review - red mac lipsticks - nude mac lipstick shades - pink and mauve mac lipstick colors

A complete review of 23 MAC MACximal Lipsticks with swatches, from Velvet Teddy to Mehr and from Twig Twist to Whirl!

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The MAC lipsticks are some I’ve been using for years – as soon as I got out of makeup school, I started working for the MAC store on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, and then for the Covent Garden store in London.

And while I started out with two matte lipsticks from MAC, Whirl and Antique Velvet, my first one was way more comfortable, since it was Captive.

Captive, like the two aforementioned shades, have been recently reformulated along with the most popular MAC lipsticks; Mehr, Soar, Taupe, Russian Red or Ruby Woo have all seen their texture change to become the new MACximal lipstick range.

The new packaging of the MAC MACximal lipsticks is enjoyable, although I much prefer the smaller size I’ve been used to for over a decade.

However, there are two things to note when comparing the MACximal range and the former shades:

First, there is more product in the MACximal lipsticks, at 3.5 g when the usual lipsticks offer 3 g of product
Second, and quite important, I would say: for more product, the MACximal lipsticks actually retail for less than the shades we all know, at $25 a pop ($27 for the classic lipsticks)

MAC MACximal Lipsticks: What Makes Them Different?

Here’s what MAC says about the MACximal range:

A silky matte lipstick that delivers 12 hours of full-coverage colour and eight hours of moisture.

What makes the MACximal lipsticks different and worth getting (I probably wouldn’t have purchased 23 shades if they weren’t, come to think of it), is their texture.

While I was all hung up on the texture of the Retro Matte and matte lipsticks of the brand, customers were ever more interested in getting the Satin, Powder Kiss and Lustreglass lipsticks.

Indeed, the mattes from MAC tend to be drying, and when it comes to the Retro Matte lipsticks…

Well, you do need a great lip balm and a good lip primer if you want to see your lips again.

The texture of the MACximal lipsticks is exactly how MAC Cosmetics describes it: silky matte.

The formula very much reminds me of the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipsticks, of which I currently have two shades and love for their comfort.

I have swatched all the shades of MACximal lipsticks I own, and if you’d like to see a comparison of MACximal vs former MAC lipsticks, I’ve written a complete guide some time ago for you to see the difference – most of the reformulated shades now offer a slightly different color.

For all the swatches in this post, I have started from my wrist and up towards the elbow.

Read: 11 Best Nails Inc Nail Polish Colors (Swatches)

MAC MACximal Lipsticks: Swatches

MAC MACximal Whirl, Twig Twist, You Wouldn’t Get It, Velvet Teddy, Viva Planet, Honeylove Swatches

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Whirl:

Where the classic Whirl lipstick used to be a medium shade perfect for lots of skin tones and mixing pink, brown and grey, the new version is slightly lighter, and a tiny bit pinker.

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Twig Twist:

Twig Twist is described as a soft muted brownish pink, and the new version leans more towards purple than pink, like the former Twig lipstick.

MAC MACximal Lipstick in You Wouldn’t Get It:

You Wouldn’t Get It reminds me a little bit of what the former Mehr lipstick used to be, just your classic my lips but better shade, and also seems to be a better suited shade for olive skin.

I have actually noticed that while lots of MAC lipsticks used to be pretty warm-toned, the brand has started to add ever more pink and purple-toned lipsticks, which is great for more skin tones, including mine (I wear NW15 in MAC foundation).

Read: Sheer Nails: Essie Ballet Slippers Nail Polish Swatch

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Velvet Teddy:

The new Velvet Teddy lipstick is lighter and more pink than the former shade, which means that if you have pale skin, it’s easier to wear on a daily basis.

The fact that Velvet Teddy has seen its color changed is a bit unsettling, as it really was a perfect everyday lipstick, but when you see that MAC added Warm Teddy to its collection, it makes more sense that way.

Read: MAC Velvet Teddy Swatch, Lip Combos + Warm Teddy Comparison

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Viva Planet:

I used to love, love, love Viva Glam 2, and Viva Planet is the new version of this one – it is a really light pink with a slightly mauve undertone, and a shade that reminds me of the Frost lipstick Fabby without, well, the frost.

Read: MAC Viva Planet Swatch, Lip Combos + Comparison

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Honeylove:

The MACximal Honeylove lipstick is also pinker than the former shade, much, much pinker, actually.

For whoever likes creating lip combos, there’s not much issue there as Honeylove can suit many different skin tones.

Use it with Soar, Half Red or the Plum lip liner, and you’ve really got a gorgeous result.

Read: MAC Honeylove Swatch, Lip Combos + Comparison

MAC MACximal Go Retro, Sweet Deal, Captive Audience, Sugar Dada, Viva Heart, Mull It to The Max Swatches

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Go Retro:

Go Retro is a muted burgundy lipstick which would pair well with the Burgundy lip liner – with my pale olive skin, I can see myself wearing the heck out of this one as soon as fall comes around.

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Sweet Deal:

From the moment I first laid eyes on the former Sweet Deal lipstick, I was hooked – it was the perfect mauve lipstick for me, not too blue-toned like Mehr, and not too warm-toned either.

The color of the MACximal Sweet Deal lipstick is lighter and warmer-toned; much less purple in this one.

This is a change I am not too fond of, but when we look at the bigger picture, MAC has created tons of other shades in the MACximal range which would have been too close to each other if all of them kept their exact same color.

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MAC MACximal Lipstick in Captive Audience:

Captive Audience is a balanced berry lipstick, and in my opinion, closer to Rebel and Amorous than to the former Captive lipstick.

This would really be a gorgeous lip color for dark skin, and great for that playful vampy look during fall and winter.

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Sugar Dada:

You might think that Sugar Dada is a dupe for the Marrakesh lipstick, but it is not.

Actually, Marrakesh is also available in the MACximal range. Sugar Dada is however more orange, with a slight brown undertone.

I got this one because I love that type of color, but on my olive skin, without bronzer, it’s a huge no-no. For medium and warm skin tones, though, it is beautiful, and a great color for fall.

Read: Kiko Milano Smart Fusion Lip Liner Swatches

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Viva Heart:

The MACximal Viva Heart lipstick is the new version for Viva Glam 1, which has been my favorite red MAC lipstick ever since I first laid eyes on it.

Don’t give me Russian Red, don’t give me Ruby Woo – I’m all about that greatly balanced red lip, with just enough brown and blue in the shade.

Read: Nude Lips: MAC Thanks It’s MAC Swatch, Lip Combos, Comparison

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Mull It to the Max:

Mull It to the Max is slightly different than the Powder Kiss lipstick Mull It Over, and if you’re the type of person who likes their nude lipsticks to have a slightly peachy undertone, you’ll love this.

It’s also great on fair skin to use as a blush, and much more long lasting than the Powder Kiss range.

Read: 4 Matte MAC Lipstick Shades for a Statement Look

MAC MACximal Mehr, Avant Garnet, Get the Hint, Antique Velvet, Viva Equality, Cafe Mocha Swatches

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Mehr:

In this batch of swatches, we have some of my personal favorite shades from the MACximal range, and Mehr is one of them.

Since the color has been revamped to make the Mehr lipstick slightly more mauve, and less blue-toned than the classic matte lipstick, I can wear it much more easily – the former shade used to look a tad bubblegum-y on me.

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Avant Garnet:

Avant Garnet is really blue toned, and absolutely gorgeous – a great addition to the MAC lipstick range, and really pigmented. Definitely the one I would wear with the Cherry lip liner.

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Get the Hint:

The MACximal Get the Hint lipstick feels brighter than the former shade released, if I’m not mistaken, a couple of years ago.

A bright pink which still offers a slight mauve undertone, and perfect to wear in lip combos with various MAC lip liners, from Soar to Half Red or Plum.

Read: Sheer Nails Basics: Essie Mademoiselle Nail Polish Swatch

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Antique Velvet:

Antique Velvet was one of my first mattes from the brand, and the deep chocolate brown shade is still as great in its MACximal formula as it was in the matte finish.

I used to love the fact that the former Antique Velvet lipstick was a tad drying; since it’s such a dark shade on me, I could rest assured there would be next to no transfer.

However, with the Chestnut lip liner, it’s still one of my favorite MAC lipsticks of all time, and even more so that it was indeed one of my first picks from the brand.

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Viva Equality:

I can see Viva Equality becoming a favorite for many people; a gorgeous 90s brown lipstick with just enough pink inside.

The shade is really close to the new MACximal Whirl lipstick, and I love the result it gives, not too warm-toned, not too cool, and medium-toned.

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Cafe Mocha:

Cafe Mocha is the new version of the Satin lipstick in Mocha, and if you like peachy brown lipsticks, that’s one you should take a look at.

It is lighter than Viva Equality, just the teensiest bit brighter, and a great shade to wear with the Spice lip liner, and why not some Spice Lipglass on top as well!

Read: 11 Best Nails Inc Nail Polish Colors (Swatches)

MAC MACximal Ring the Alarm, Overstatement, Warm Teddy, Forever Curious, Soar Swatches

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Ring the Alarm:

Where Viva Heart and Avant Garnet are these kinds of elegant red lipsticks, I feel like Ring the Alarm is that fiery red that screams ‘Look at me!’.

Great pigmentation here as well, and a lipstick I would definitely wear with Chestnut or Nightmoth for that extra depth.

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Overstatement:

Overstatement is a bright reddish orange lipstick, which feels close in undertone to Lady Danger, and without the brown undertones of Sugar Dada we’ve seen earlier.

This is the least pigmented MACximal lipstick I own, and I swatched several layers to get the color to really show up to the level of other shades mentioned here.

A great summer lipstick, which would look amazing as a blush on warm skin too.

Read: Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink Swatches & Review

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Warm Teddy:

Where Velvet Teddy in the MACximal range is now pinker, the Warm Teddy lipstick is warmer and more brown – that’s surely going to be another favorite for lots of people.

I can see medium to dark olive skin wearing Warm Teddy effortlessly on the daily; depending on the day, I do wear this one but somehow prefer Viva Equality for the perfect balance between brown and pink.

Great lipstick to wear with the Whirl lip liner, though, and still as comfy as all the others.

Read: Red Nails Aesthetic: Essie Russian Roulette Nail Polish Swatches

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Forever Curious:

Forever Curious is currently one of my favorite lipsticks for summer; the perfect blend of red and pink makes it great for many skin tones.

I would even go as far as saying that if you squint real hard, you’ll make out a slight coral undertone – really just a shade I’ve been loving lately.

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Soar:

Lastly, the MACximal Soar lipstick, described as a midtone cool mauve… Well, it’s more of a purple lipstick on my skin.

I can see a slight red undertone in this lipstick, really slight – a great type of vampy lipstick for medium skin, and a great shade for dark skin tones.

Not necessarily my favorite since I’m not in my dark mauve lipstick phase, but still a good shade to pick up if you’re looking for new MAC lipsticks for fall.

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MAC MACximal Lipsticks: Would I Buy Again?

Considering their smooth texture and incredibly pigmented formula, I would definitely buy these again if I had to go back in time.

There are a couple of other shades I’d like.

When it comes to red MAC lipsticks, I think Avant Garnet and Viva Heart are the best I could pick up, but I wasn’t really interested in getting Russian Red or Ruby Woo when I swatched them in store.

There are just some iconic lipsticks that should benefit from status quo.

At $25 per lipstick, it’s clear that MAC Cosmetics has felt the need to touch more people.

Indeed, the products of the brand have seen their prices increase a lot over the past few years and even $2 matters, especially when you’re buying a whole bunch of colors.

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