16 Best MAC Matte Lipstick Shades Fair Skin/Indian/Dark

The long-awaited guide to the best MAC matte lipstick shades for fair skin, dark skin, Indian skin, and basically everyone – is finally here! It’s true I’ve focused on other guides to MAC Cosmetics so far, with lately, the best MAC coral lipsticks and the best MAC bridal lipstick shades.

But if there’s something that keeps on giving, it’s really the MAC matte lipsticks; they’re known worldwide and no other brand really compares in my opinion.

Having worked as a MAC makeup artist for many, many months, one can understand I would be slightly biased, but when there is something I don’t like about a makeup product, I do say it, so… Yeah, some of the best MAC lipstick shades are definitely from the matte range.

So I thought I’d tell you about all the best MAC matte lipsticks for dark skin all the way to Asian and olive skin today – whether you have skin with warm or cool undertones, you’ll find here a lot of amazing options.

Obviously, I had to include some of the most popular MAC matte lipsticks, like Ruby Woo, Diva, and Velvet Teddy. However, as usual, I’ll talk from a makeup artist’s point of view, which will tell you what MAC lipstick shades are actually perfect for your skin tone, and which you should steer clear of.

And in any case, if you ever want to go a little bit deeper with the best MAC lipsticks for Indian skin, Asian skin, and olive skin, I’ve already written full guides to these that will hopefully help you out on your quest to your new favorite MAC lipstick shades!

And if you want to learn about more amazing makeup brands and products, take a look at the guides below:

• The Best Juvia’s Place Eyeshadow Palettes
• The Best Kiko Makeup Products
• The Best Revolution Eyeshadow Palettes

16 Best MAC Matte Lipstick Shades Fair Skin/Indian/Dark

A few pointers and heads-up about the MAC matte lipstick range:

• Yes indeed, the most longlasting MAC lipsticks are from the matte range. The MAC liquid matte lipsticks are also absolutely amazing if you’re looking for something even longer lasting.

• They are not too drying, but if you’re prone to dry lips, you’re going to want to balm up big time as the MAC matte lipsticks do tend to get dryer during the day. If you prefer something with a slightly more comfortable finish and about as long-lasting, check out the MAC Satin lipsticks.

• Using the MAC Cosmetics Prep + Prime for the lips before applying matte lipstick from the brand is always the best idea. It helps you apply the lipstick more easily, for starters, and prevents the lipstick from feathering, cracking, and slipping into the lips cracks.

Best MAC Matte Lipstick Shades: D for Danger

Mid-toned berry

I would be crazy not to include D for Danger in a guide to the best MAC matte lipstick shades – from the first moment I saw it, I was hooked.

I have worn D for Danger more than any other MAC lipstick in my life, and this stunning dark raspberry color goes on pretty much every skin tone.

Whether you’re looking for the best MAC matte lipsticks for dark skin or have super pale skin, D for Danger is that type of magical shade, like Viva Glam I, which appears to suit everyone.

I have an olive skin tone (I’m an NW15 to NW20), and I am in love with all the plum, burgundy, and raspberry MAC lipstick shades.

One of my favorites of all time was actually Framboise Moi, another one of the most beautiful MAC matte lipstick shades ever released in the Boom Boom Bloom collection, just a tad brighter than D for Danger.

If you’re looking for the best MAC lipsticks for olive skin, you’re bang on with D for Danger – raspberry lipsticks go perfectly on cool undertones. Also perfect on Indian skin, Asian skin, dark skin, and all types of fair skin, from redheads to easy-tanning blondes.

Read: The Best Max and More Eyeshadow Palettes

Best MAC Matte Lipstick for Brown Skin: Viva Glam I

Intense brownish blue-red

Viva Glam 1 just reminds me of the wow effect I feel when I wear or see someone wearing D for Danger. We’re in the same kind of perfect MAC matte lipstick for fair skin to dark skin, with a red lipstick crafted with just enough blue undertones to suit everyone.

Viva Glam 1 is one of my most-worn MAC lipsticks, and I’m pretty light-skinned – but if you’re looking for the best MAC matte lipsticks for dark skin, I’ve always felt like black skin with Viva Glam 1 looks absolutely stunning.

Not truly bright red like Ruby Woo or Red Rock, not burgundy like Diva – you’ve got here the perfect red MAC lipstick for any occasion. Pro-tip, if you want to wear it easily on a daily basis, simply dab it on your lips lightly.

Plus, it’s also perfect to wear as a cream blush to match the lips. Couple it with some beautiful gold eyeshadow, and you’re good to go.

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Best MAC Cosmetics Matte Lipstick Shades: Russian Red

Intense bluish-red

The MAC lipstick matte Russian Red is one of the most famous lipstick shades from the Canadian brand, and one I would recommend to quite about every single person.

While Russian Red is described as an ‘intense bluish-red’, I still see a tinge of neutral to warm undertones in the color once applied on the lips.

Like Viva Glam 1, it’s one of the MAC matte lipsticks which looks stunning on everyone.

Whether you’re looking for the best MAC lipstick shades to gift your friend, your mom, or your sister, or you just want to treat yourself, Russian Red is one of the top MAC matte lipsticks for a reason.

Stunning when you make a little swift MAC lipstick and lipliner combo with the Cherry lip pencil, which has that same blue undertone, or Burgundy for a soft ombre lip.

Read: The Best Duochrome and Multichrome Eyeshadows

Best MAC Matte Lipsticks for Fair Skin: Velvet Teddy

Deep-tone beige

Ah, Velvet Teddy – one of the most popular MAC lipstick shades for a reason. I sold countless Velvet Teddy when I was working at MAC Cosmetics in Paris.

You know, French women and their love of nude lipsticks, right?

That right there is one of the ultimate best MAC nude matte lipsticks for fair skin, what with its slight pink tinge mixed with brown.

Even I, as an NW15, can wear Velvet Teddy and look amazing with it on, when I actually don’t even really like nude lipsticks to start with.

There are also quite a few amazing options if you want to make a cute little combo with Velvet Teddy and a MAC lip liner.

That’s one of the MAC matte lipstick shades I’d recommend for really fair skin; anything above NC25/NC30 and I’d tell you to pass and maybe pick up Taupe or Whirl instead.

However, even if you have dark skin, as long as you have cool undertones, you can still make it work with something like the Chestnut lip pencil all around, glossed with the Lipglass in Clear.

Read: The Best Bath and Body Works Candles

Best MAC Matte Lipsticks for Asian Skin: Marrakesh

Intense orange brown

I mentioned Marrakesh in the guide to the best MAC lipsticks for Asian skin, and here it is again – you won’t find Chili, its bigger brother, in this guide simply because I wanted to choose the best MAC matte lipsticks and we already have a lot of red lipsticks here today.

Marrakesh is that perfect 90s brown lipstick and was actually worn by Jennifer Aniston in Friends for many years.

I was afraid at first that an olive skin tone wouldn’t be able to pull off Marrakesh, but it’s surprisingly nice on me – it might depend on your hair if you’re the same foundation shade as me, so do try it out in a MAC Cosmetics store before buying it.

Marrakesh is absolutely stunning on Asian skin tones, as well as medium brown skin – the darker your skin is, the redder Marrakesh looks, and it’s in my opinion one of the top MAC matte lipsticks ever released.

Read: The Best Blue Eyeshadow Palettes

Best MAC Matte Lipstick for Brown Skin: Antique Velvet

Intense Brown

Antique Velvet will forever be – in my opinion – one of the best MAC matte lipstick shades for brown skin all the way up to very dark skin.

It’s actually one of the prettiest MAC nude lipsticks, and really an intense brown as MAC Cosmetics defines it.

For once, I completely agree with the description.

You’ll find that in Antique Velvet, there’s a slight tinge of red that makes it perfect whether you have warm dark skin or are after the best MAC lipsticks for cool undertones.

As an NW15 (and NW20 when I tan), I have worn Antique Velvet quite a number of times.

It’s perfect coupled with stunning shimmery green eyeshadow, like some you would find in the Juvia’s Place Rebel Army palette.

Read: The Best Yankee Candle Scents

Best MAC Matte Lipstick Shades: Whirl

Dirty Rose

Ah, Whirl – one of the best MAC matte lipstick shades for just about anyone.

If you have very fair skin, you’re going to want to brighten up its rather austere-looking color.

For instance, you can use one of the MAC lip gloss shades like Spice, (which goes perfectly with some other brown MAC lip liners!) which will warm up its color a bit, or simply the Lipglass in Clear.

The goal is that your lips don’t look ‘dead’ with Whirl if you have pale skin.

On the other hand, I do think Whirl is one of the best MAC matte lipsticks for olive skin tones (along with Soar, which we’ll talk about a bit later in this guide), as well as medium, brown, and dark skin tones.

Other than that, it’s the perfect everyday MAC lipstick.

Where the MAC Whirl lipstick might seem ashy on very dark skin tones, I would make a nice MAC lipstick and lip liner combination with the Chestnut, Vino, or Nightmoth lip pencils and top it up with a lip gloss.

Read: The Best MAC Coral Lipsticks & Peach Shades

Best MAC Matte Lipsticks for Fair Skin: Taupe

Muted reddish-taupe brown

Taupe is one of the most popular everyday MAC lipstick shades.

It’s really understandable – whether you have fair skin, Asian skin, or brown skin, Taupe is a warm brown lipstick color that looks stunning on just about anyone.

And this right there is one of the best MAC lipsticks for medium skin, on whom it looks creamy and just like the most perfect shade of nude lipstick you’ll ever find.

In my opinion, the MAC Taupe lipstick is the equivalent of Whirl, just warmer, and with a tinge of red in the color. It’s perfect to combine with lip liners like Mahogany, Auburn, and Half Red, but if you want to go a bit cooler on the lip pencil, use Chestnut to contrast Taupe.

Read: The Best DW Home Candles

Best MAC Matte Lipsticks for Indian Skin: Ring The Alarm

Milky pink red

Ring The Alarm is one of the newest MAC matte lipstick shades released earlier in 2022, and to be completely truthful, it’s absolutely stunning.

I’d definitely pair this one up with some classic MAC lip pencils like Brick, or go a bit deeper with Plum or Half-Red.

If you’re after the best MAC lipstick shades for fair to medium brown skin tones, I think we’ve got an amazing one right there.

Honestly, if I were to choose the best MAC red lipstick for dark skin, I would rather go for Viva Glam I, but if you’re looking for a pink-red kind of shade, I’d say just go for it.

The fact that Ring the Alarm is a perfect mix between pink and red makes it perfect whether you’re after a MAC matte lipstick for fair skin with warm undertones or cool undertones, all the way up to dark skin, including Indian and Asian skin tones.

I feel like a muted pink red lipstick was missing from the MAC Cosmetics matte lipstick range, so it’s really refreshing to see Ring the Alarm added to the permanent collection.

Especially if you’re looking for some kind of spring or summer red lipstick, as it’s definitely giving me those vibes.

Read: The Best W7 Nail Polish Colors

Best MAC Matte Lipstick for Olive Skin: Mehr

Mid-tone mauve pink

Mehr, like Whirl and Velvet Teddy, is one of the most famous MAC lipsticks for fair skin, medium skin, olive skin, and almost everyone, really.

The only skin tone I wouldn’t necessarily apply the MAC Mehr lipstick on is really dark skin, but all the way up to brown skin, Mehr can appear a beautiful shade of mauve and looks stunning with the Lipglass in Clear on top of it.

If you’re a sucker for MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations, I’d pair Mehr with the Soar lip liner (of course!), Whirl, or Stone for a little bit of an edgy look.

It might look light and pink, but on fair skin tones, the Mehr lipstick actually looks a little bit mauve with a great splash of blue undertones.

Really perfect if you’re looking for the very best MAC matte lipstick for olive skin, I have to say, and amazing if you’re used to the Inglot Matte Lipstick in 411.

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Best MAC Matte Lipsticks for Fair Skin: Red Rock

Classic clean red

Red Rock is one of my top MAC matte lipsticks for medium skin tones, and it looks stunning on all skin colors, from olive to Asian, Indian to fair skin.

It’s just this absolutely perfect, true red shade, and I feel like if you like Russian Red and are trying to find a MAC lipstick for the summer, this brighter shade will be perfect.

Red Rock is the perfect mix of Ruby Woo and Lady Danger, and since it’s from the MAC matte lipstick range (not Retro Matte like Ruby Woo), it’s that much more comfortable. With my olive skin tone, I have found that the Red Rock lipstick absolutely… rocked it.

That’s it, plain and simple.

So if you’re looking for the best MAC lipsticks for cool undertones, if you’re a redhead or have blonde hair or very dark hair, it’s basically the perfect MAC matte red lipstick.

Read: The Best Delanci Eyeshadow Palettes

Best MAC Matte Lipstick for Olive Skin: Soar

Mid-tone cool mauve

The MAC Soar lipstick was released just a few years ago, and when it came out with Down to an Art and You Wouldn’t Get It, two other perfect MAC nude matte lipsticks, it was a blast straight away.

People had already been buying the MAC Soar lip liner for ages and pairing it with Mehr.

When the Soar lipstick came out, I admit I was a bit confused as to whether it was the same shade as the lip pencil or not. It did seem much darker.

And actually, the Soar lipstick and lip liner are exactly the same shade – you just need to layer the lip liner to understand it.

This one is probably the very best MAC matte lipstick for olive skin if you remove D for Danger and Whirl from the equation and one of my personal favorite MAC lipsticks for cool undertones.

I would not recommend it on Asian or Indian skin, or fair skin with cool undertones though – it might make you look a bit washed out.

However, it also depends on your eye and hair color, so I’d definitely say go ahead and try it out next time you pass by a MAC Cosmetics store.

And while Soar is indeed a very cool toned mauve lipstick, it still looks incredible on very dark lips.

I wouldn’t pair it with the Soar lip liner though, since it’s more of a perfect MAC lip liner for fair skin, and would rather go for something like Chestnut or Nightmoth to create a stunning ombre lip look.

Read: The Best Chocolate Scented Candles

Best MAC Matte Lipstick Shades: Diva

Intense reddish-burgundy

Now one of the best MAC matte lipsticks for dark skin tones will always be Diva. It is, after all, one of the most popular MAC lipstick shades for a reason.

Whether it’s winter time or you just want to have that one good dark matte lipstick shade in your makeup collection, Diva is a perfect burgundy lipstick to get.

I have worn Diva a good number of times; on olive skin tones, it’s stunning. On dark skin, Indian skin, Asian skin, and even fair skin with warm undertones, that’s one of the top MAC matte lipsticks to have.

I probably wouldn’t recommend the Diva lipstick if you’re looking for a MAC lipstick for cool undertones, or if you’re very pale unless you really want to go out with a statement lip.

However, I do think Diva is one of the best MAC lipsticks for redheads, and the plumper your lips, the better it will look.

You should always have fun when playing around with makeup, that’s true, but do keep in mind that dark matte lipsticks will make your lips look thinner if they’re already thin.

One thing you can do is overline them slightly, and maybe coat Diva with the MAC Lipglass in Clear to give them even more volume. Still, all in all, one of the best MAC matte lipstick shades for just about anyone.

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Best MAC Matte Lipsticks for Fair Skin: Ruby Woo

Very matte vivid blue-red

A full guide to the best MAC matte lipstick shades wouldn’t be complete without Ruby Woo, so here goes. A really clean, blue-toned, and bright MAC red lipstick that has been famous for decades now.

It didn’t need to be even more popularized by Rihanna, already famous as it was.

Ruby Woo is part of the Retro Matte range, the only one I’ll include from this range in this guide.

However, if you like this finish – almost transfer-proof albeit very drying, you might want to check out the more coral lipstick version, Relentlessly Red, and the coral nude Runway Hit lipstick.

While I love the fact that Ruby Woo is transfer-proof (at least, it was the number of times I wore it), I don’t feel like it’s the very best red MAC lipstick and would choose Viva Glam I anytime.

But if you’re after the best MAC matte lipstick for fair skin, medium, Indian, Asian, and dark skin, Ruby Woo is that shade of red that just goes well on everyone’s lips.

Read: The Best MAC Lipstick Shades For Weddings

Best MAC Matte Lipsticks for Medium Skin: Pink Pigeon

Bright cleanest pink

Pink Pigeon is a difficult MAC matte lipstick to wear if you have fair skin in my opinion, as you really need to balance its cool undertone with your skin.

Definitely not something I’d wear with my NW15 skin tone, that’s for sure – I’m way too light and olive to pull off a shade like Pink Pigeon and Candy Yum Yum unless I wear a very dark lip liner around it.

If you want to try it out, an expected and stunning lipstick and lip liner combo with Pink Pigeon is with the lip pencil in Chestnut, though.

I love all types of fuchsia lipstick colors, with one of my favorite MAC lipsticks ever being Flat Out Fabulous – or rather, its Retro Matte Liquid and discontinued brother Tailored to Tease.

It’s really more the type of pink MAC lipstick for Indian skin tones, some Asian skin tones, and everyone with medium to dark skin rather than fair skin tones.

But as I always say, do pop in-store to check it out if it’s calling your name!

Read: The Best Gingerbread Candles

Best MAC Matte Lipstick for Brown Skin: Smoked Purple

Deep eggplant purple

Smoked Purple is one of the most interesting purple MAC lipsticks, and if you’re looking for an utterly stunning MAC matte lipstick for dark skin, just try it out.

It’s absolutely wonderful.

I definitely agree with MAC Cosmetics’ description of the Smoked Purple shade; it is indeed a deep eggplant purple, and I couldn’t have worded it better.

If you have fair skin with warm undertones, it will look stunning on you.

If you have fair skin with cool undertones, I probably wouldn’t recommend Smoked Purple unless you’re going for the vamp look.

Hands down one of the best MAC lipstick shades for winter, for parties, and for every day, really, if you have brown to dark skin.

Read: The Best Gold Lipstick Shades from Metallic to Matte

16 Best MAC Matte Lipstick Shades Fair Skin/Indian/Dark

There you have them, all the best MAC matte lipstick shades for fair skin all the way up to dark skin tones.

I’ve tried to include some of the most famous MAC lipsticks for everyone; Indian, olive, and Asian skin tones as well, so you can all really have fun with those wonders of the makeup industry.

I’m currently working on some other guides to the top MAC nude lipsticks, pink, purple, and much, much more – stick around for more, or discover the few other articles I’ve already written for you!

Until next time!

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