MAC MACximal Lipstick vs Classic MAC Shades: Swatch Fest

Released a few weeks ago, the MAC MACximal Lipstick range has taken the world by storm, with an incredibly soft and matte texture which is not only long lasting, but also the most comfortable texture MAC Cosmetics has released so far.

If you have taken a liking to the beautiful Powder Kiss lipsticks but would like something more pigmented and longer lasting, the MAC MACximal lipsticks are made for you.

I currently own over 20 MACximal lipstick shades, ‘MACximal Silky Matte lipsticks’ of their full name, and I cannot rave about them enough.

The thing is, if you are used to some popular mauve or nude MAC lipstick shades, you might have wondered why Twig, Mehr, or Velvet Teddy have not been restocked for some time.

The reason is that the shades have now been replaced by their version in MACximal lipsticks – and today, I will show you all the differences (although minimal for some lipsticks) between the former popular lippies and the new ones.

MAC MACximal Lipstick vs Classic MAC Shades: Swatch Fest

While the MAC MACximal lipsticks have the same RRP as classic MAC lipsticks, currently $27, they offer 0.5g more product than the former shades, bringing the total weight to 3.5g.

The MACximal Silky Matte lipsticks also offer a heavier feel, much more luxurious.

And while I am not one to like change, especially in my makeup products, the packaging is actually closer to vintage MAC lipsticks than to the classic black tube we know, and do feel sturdier.

In this full guide slash review, I am offering you a full MAC MACximal Lipstick Comparison with the following popular – and now discontinued MAC lipsticks (or soon-to-be discontinued):

• Honeylove
• Mull It Over
• Just Curious
• Velvet Teddy
• Smoked Almond
• Mocha
• Sweet Deal
• Twig
• Mehr
• Soar
• Whirl
• Retro
• Del Rio

Peach and Nude MAC MACximal Lipstick Swatches – Comparison With MAC Honeylove, Mull It Over and Just Curious

We’ll start with the comparison of the following shades:

• MACximal lipstick in Honeylove vs MAC Honeylove
• MACximal lipstick in Mull It to the Max vs MAC Mull It Over
• MACximal lipstick in Forever Curious vs MAC Just Curious

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Honeylove vs MAC Honeylove Comparison

Where the MAC Honeylove lipstick used to be a soft nude lipstick with neutral undertones, making it perfect whether you have olive skin or pale warm skin, the MACximal lipstick in Honeylove is now much pinker.

This is one of the very popular MAC lipstick shades that shouldn’t have undergone a change in color, in my opinion, but it is still amazing for neutral skin, olive skin and skin with cool undertones.

PS. Doesn’t the MACximal Honeylove lipstick remind you of the now-discontinued Satin lipstick in Fleshpot?

Read: The Best MAC Lipstick Dupes from Makeup Revolution

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Mull It to the Max vs MAC Mull It Over Comparison

As I am not completely sold on the Powder Kiss formula, nor on the color of the MAC Mull It Over lipstick, the change in color in this one is much more pleasing to me.

Where Mull It Over used to be a quite peachy coral lipstick, the MAC MACximal lipstick in Mull It to the Max boasts both more red and more brown in a slightly darker shade.

It is still a perfect MAC lipstick for Asian skin, and tan/medium skin can also wear the MACximal Mull It to the Max lipstick more easily.

Read: The Best MAC Lip Liner Dupes from Barry M

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Forever Curious vs MAC Just Curious Comparison

I was already very fond of the MAC Just Curious lipstick, and the birth of the MACximal lipstick in Forever Curious is one I am very happy about.

Where the Just Curious lipstick is brighter and slightly warmer toned, the new Forever Curious lipstick is more of a warm pink MAC lipstick, gorgeous for spring and summer.

Read: The Best MAC Lipstick Dupes from Sephora Lipstories

Nude MAC MACximal Lipstick Swatches – Comparison With MAC Velvet Teddy, Smoked Almond and MAC Mocha

Let’s keep going with other very popular nude MAC lipsticks revamped in the new MACximal formula:

• MAC MACximal Lipstick in Velvet Teddy vs MAC Velvet Teddy
• MAC MACximal Lipstick in Warm Teddy vs MAC Velvet Teddy
• MAC MACximal Lipstick in Cafe Mocha vs MAC Smoked Almond
• MAC MACximal Lipstick in Cafe Mocha vs MAC Mocha

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Velvet Teddy vs MAC Velvet Teddy Comparison

The difference between the MAC MACximal lipstick in Velvet Teddy and the former, ever-so-popular MAC Velvet Teddy is quite huge, and it is, in my opinion, one of the shades that shouldn’t have seen a revamp.

Where the former MAC Velvet Teddy lipstick offers a good balance between brown and pink, the MACximal Velvet Teddy version is much more pink, and lighter.

Still perfect to wear on its own, especially on fair and pale skin – if you are looking for good nude pink MAC lipsticks for redheads and blondes, the new Velvet Teddy lipstick is a great choice.

Read: The Best MAC Lipstick Dupes from Wet n Wild

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Warm Teddy vs MAC Velvet Teddy Comparison

The upside of having a new MAC Velvet Teddy lipstick in a pinker version is that MAC Cosmetics also released the MAC MACximal Warm Teddy lipstick.

This one slightly reminds me of a lighter version of MAC Taupe, which was also reformulated, in a warm brown lipstick shade easy to wear for warm skin, like medium skin and Asian skin.

The difference between MAC MACximal Warm Teddy and the regular MAC Velvet Teddy lipstick lies mainly in the warmth – Velvet Teddy appears much pinker than Warm Teddy.

Read: The Best MAC Lipstick Dupes from Golden Rose

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Cafe Mocha vs MAC Smoked Almond Comparison

Even if the MACximal lipstick in Cafe Mocha is supposed to be the new version of the Satin lipstick Mocha, I thought I’d show you a comparison with Smoked Almond as well.

The Amplified lipstick in Smoked Almond, reformulated from the Love Me lipstick range, is slightly warmer than Cafe Mocha, with more orange undertones, and very slightly darker.

Read: The Best MAC Lipstick Dupes from Kiko Gossamer

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Cafe Mocha vs MAC Mocha Comparison

The difference between the MACximal lipstick in Cafe Mocha and the regular Satin lipstick in Mocha is almost invisible – Cafe Mocha is simply a tiny bit more brown-toned.

I love my brown lipsticks, and something tells me that Cafe Mocha will soon become one of MAC’s best selling lipsticks – and perfect if you’ve been looking for shades similar to Mocha in a matte finish.

Read: The Best MAC Lipstick Dupes from NYX Suede Matte

Pink and Mauve MAC MACximal Lipstick Swatches – Comparison With MAC Sweet Deal, Twig, Mehr and Soar Lipsticks

On to some of my favorite mauve lipsticks ever, most of which are perfect for fair olive skin (as a reminder, I have an NW15 skin tone):

• MAC MACximal Lipstick in Sweet Deal vs MAC Sweet Deal
• MAC MACximal Lipstick in Twig Twist vs MAC Twig
• MAC MACximal Lipstick in Mehr vs MAC Mehr
• MAC MACximal Lipstick in Soar vs MAC Soar

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Sweet Deal vs MAC Sweet Deal Comparison

We have a big difference between the MACximal lipstick in Sweet Deal and the former, oh-so-gorgeous Sweet Deal lipstick – the new version is lighter, and more brown than the former lipstick shade.

Like Honeylove, this is one of the shades I think should not have been changed, as we had waited for such a wearable mauve shade for so long, and Sweet Deal was actually one of the newcomers in the matte lipstick range.

However, if you have fair olive skin, or dusky skin, the MACximal lipstick in Sweet Deal is still one of my favorites to recommend, and indeed much more comfortable than the former version.

Read: The Best MAC Lip Liner Dupes from NYX

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Twig Twist vs MAC Twig Comparison

Like Sweet Deal and Honeylove, the Twig lipstick is such an institution of the MAC Cosmetics products that I think it was not the best move to change the color.

The MACximal lipstick in Twig Twist is darker, with a slightly more purple undertone than Twig, which, like Velvet Teddy, used to offer a good balance between brown and pink.

However, this also means that Twig Twist is a better everyday MAC lipstick for Indian skin, medium and dark skin (with a darker lip liner around) than the lighter Twig lipstick used to be.

PS. On the pictures, MACximal Twig Twist is the one right above the first MAC Mehr lipstick.

Read: MAC Sweet Deal vs Del Rio vs Natural Born Leader Swatches

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Mehr vs MAC Mehr Comparison

The MACximal Lipstick in Mehr is not that different from the former, and so popular matte lipstick – it is only a tad slighter, and brighter than the Mehr lipstick.

It’s still a great mauve pink lipstick for olive skin, with the difference that with a slightly brighter color, pale skin and skin with cool undertones will be able to wear it more easily.

Read: MAC On Hold vs See Sheer vs Business Casual Lipstick Swatches

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Soar vs MAC Soar Comparison

Another big difference here between the MACximal lipstick in Soar and the former Soar lipstick, released a few years ago in the matte range.

The MACximal Soar lipstick is indeed a tad darker than the regular Soar lipstick, with a redder undertone – perfect to wear with the Plum lip liner.

I suspect the Canadian makeup brand to have re-released the lipsticks in these particular color schemes to better match their incredible lip liners, by the way.

So, the MACximal lipstick in Soar would suit Plum or the Burgundy lip liner better, where the new Warm Teddy lipstick would suit Spice or Chicory lip liner better, etc.

Read: MAC You Wouldn’t Get It vs Mehr Lipstick Swatches

Brown and Red MACximal Lipsticks – Comparison With MAC Whirl, Retro and Del Rio Lipsticks

Lastly, we will be comparing some more brown and maroon lipsticks:

• MACximal lipstick in Whirl vs MAC Whirl
• MACximal lipstick in Viva Equality vs MAC Whirl
• MACximal lipstick in Go Retro vs MAC Retro
• MACximal lipstick in Go Retro vs MAC Del Rio
• MACximal lipstick in Soar vs MAC Del Rio

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Whirl vs MAC Whirl Comparison

Big difference between the MACximal Whirl lipstick and the former matte brown lipstick – the MACximal version is indeed a tad lighter, and a bit more pink than the popular shade we’ve come to know.

Even if the Whirl lipstick is one of my favorite MAC lipsticks, especially for medium skin and brown skin, the MACximal Whirl lipstick shade is actually easier to wear for many, many different skin tones.

It’s actually more of your perfect 90s brown lipstick, and reminds me of the discontinued Persistence lipstick, which used to be one of my very favorites.

Read: MAC All Fired Up, Flat Out Fabulous + Spice Lipglass Swatches

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Viva Equality vs MAC Whirl Comparison

I have gotten three of the new MACximal Viva Glam lipsticks, and they’re all prettier than the next – the Viva Equality lipstick is one of them, an incredible shade many people will absolutely love.

Compared to the Whirl lipstick, the MACximal Viva Equality lisptick is warmer-toned, a bit peachier, and gorgeous on tan skin.

Whether you’re looking for a winter or summer MAC lipstick shade, that’s the kind of nude lipstick that will suit any season.

Compared to the MACximal Whirl lipstick, Viva Equality offers more orange – it does seem like Whirl was split into these two shades, just like the Velvet Teddy lipstick was (that’s just speculation on my part and probably not true).

Read: MAC Thanks It’s MAC vs Hug Me Lipstick Swatches

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Go Retro vs MAC Retro Comparison

The MACximal Go Retro lipstick is a great addition to the brand, and one I completely understand as the former Retro and Del Rio lipsticks were quite similar, very muted.

The Go Retro lipstick is a tad lighter and more red than the Satin lipstick Retro, and makes for the perfect celebration or fall MAC lipstick shade.

Read: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss Lip Butter Review

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Go Retro vs MAC Del Rio Comparison

Go Retro was supposed to be the Retro lipstick revamped, not the Del Rio lipstick, but I still felt like showing you the difference in case you’re still wondering about which shade to pick up.

The Del Rio lipstick, compared to Go Retro, is darker with a slightly more muted undertone, and both are great for special occasions and to be used as winter MAC lipsticks (on pale/fair skin).

The difference also lies in the texture – Del Rio is a satin lipstick which gets a bit more matte as the day goes by, and the Go Retro lipstick is completely matte from the get-go.

Read: The Best Barry M Products

MAC MACximal Lipstick in Soar vs MAC Del Rio Comparison

I also thought I would show you the difference between the MACximal Soar lipstick, which we’ve seen earlier in this comparison guide, and Del Rio.

It’s quite clear that the Del Rio lipstick is muted burgundy lipstick, where the new Soar lipstick is much more purple, and cooler-toned.

The Del Rio lipstick would suit many more skin tones than the Soar lipstick, too – with a stronger red undertone, Del Rio is a perfect lipstick for dark skin and medium skin with warm undertones, for instance.

The Soar lipstick, however, is even more beautiful on dark skin with blue undertones, olive skin or neutral skin.

Read: Sol de Janeiro Delicia Drench Body Butter Review

MAC MACximal Lipstick vs Classic MAC Shades: Swatch Fest

There you have it, my complete comparison of the new MAC MACximal lipstick shades and former popular MAC lipsticks – which have now been discontinued to give way to this new, incredible range!

I’ve said it before and will say it again, some of the popular shades should not have seen such a change.

Twig Twist, Honeylove, Soar – it’s a shame these exact colors don’t exist anymore, as they clearly are among some of the most wearable shades the brand used to carry.

But, I have to say that the formula of the MACximal lipstick range is so incredible, with many new shades that will remind you of other discontinued MAC lipsticks, that they’re definitely worth the splurge.

Until next time!

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