MAC MACximal Silky Matte Lipstick Swatches + Review

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The complete review of the new MAC MACximal Silky Matte lipsticks with swatches, from nude lipsticks like Velvet Teddy to red and mauve lipsticks!

As an ex-makeup artist who has worked for several MAC stores in Paris and London, I can’t see myself ever disliking the brand – in my opinion, the lipsticks alone make MAC Cosmetics a brand worth checking out.

And with the new MACximal Silky Matte lipsticks released a few months ago, MAC has amped up their game, with a formula that I cannot get over.

Smooth, long-lasting, ultra pigmented, everything about these new matte lipsticks is to be praised – keep reading and you will see swatches of many (many!) of these new lippies!

MAC MACximal Silky Matte Lipstick Swatches + Review

Since I already had lots of MAC matte lipsticks in my stash, a while back, I decided to write a complete comparison between the MACximal lipsticks and former shades, a lot of which have been reformulated and/or renamed.

That’s the case of the beautiful Velvet Teddy lipstick, that’s the case with the very nude Honeylove lipstick, and that’s the case with the Mehr lipstick, a favorite for many with its soft mauve shade.

I would definitely recommend you check out this comparison with the former shades, as some of them has slightly changed in undertone and tone – but if you’re starting out on your MAC Cosmetics journey, just know all these new shades are really just stunning!

Nude MAC MACximal Lipstick Swatches

Let us start with the nude MACximal Silky Matte lipsticks – these are the shades I’ve picked up:

MACximal Lipstick in Honeylove
MACximal Lipstick in Mull It to the Max
MACximal Lipstick in Warm Teddy
MACximal Lipstick in Cafe Mocha
MACximal Lipstick in Viva Planet
MACximal Lipstick in Viva Equality
MACximal Lipstick in Whirl

Like all the new MAC MACximal lipsticks, these offer 3.5g of product, where the old MAC lipsticks offer 3g, for a price of $25; cheaper than the classic MAC lippies!

The 8 shades I’ve picked up all have different undertones, but it’s pretty clear to see that some have seen their undertones changed.

For instance Honeylove, which used to be rather warm-toned, is now much pinker – still amazing to wear in lip combos, in my opinion.

Here’s how MAC Cosmetics describes these nude shades:

MACximal Lipstick in Honeylove: Light beige toned rose

MACximal Lipstick in Mull It to the Max: Dirty peach

MACximal Lipstick in Warm Teddy: Dirty warm nude

MACximal Lipstick in Cafe Mocha: Mauvey pinky nude

MACximal Lipstick in Viva Planet: Creamy Subdued Pinkish-Beige Mauve

MACximal Lipstick in Viva Equality: Deep Neutral

MACximal Lipstick in Whirl: Dirty rose

When I first got the MACximal Whirl lipstick and Viva Equality, I thought they looked very similar, and they do – however, Viva Equality is tad warmer-toned than Whirl.

And where the classic brown Whirl lipstick had a stronger grey undertone, I have found the MACximal version to have more pink in the color.

These two are clearly perfect MAC lipsticks for medium skin and some dark skin tones, but for anyone who loves to 90s lip look, they are definite must-haves.

Honeylove and Viva Planet, on the other hand, are now two of the lightest MAC lipsticks, great if you have pale skin or love creating lip combos with darker lip liners like Soar, Whirl, or Half Red.

And when it comes to Warm Teddy and Cafe Mocha (while Cafe Mocha is a revamped version of the Satin lipstick Mocha), these are also two really beautiful everyday shades for warm skin, whether you’re Asian or tend to tan easily.

Read: 4 Beautiful 3ina Lipstick Colors To Shop at the Drugstore

Pink and Mauve MAC MACximal Lipstick Swatches

I also purchased 8 pink and mauve lipsticks from the new MACximal collection:

MACximal Lipstick in Velvet Teddy: Deep tone beige

MACximal Lipstick in Sweet Deal: Midtone nudey pink

MACximal Lipstick in Twig Twist: Soft muted brownish pink

MACximal Lipstick in Captive Audience: Pinkish plum

MACximal Lipstick in Get the Hint: Warm rose

MACximal Lipstick in You Wouldn’t Get It: Midtone pink

MACximal Lipstick in Mehr: Midtone mauve pink

MACximal Lipstick in Soar: Midtone cool mauve

The pigmentation and lasting power of the new pink, mauve and berry lipsticks in the MACximal lipstick range is consistent.

Most of the mauve and nude shades, like Velvet Teddy, Sweet Deal and Twig have seen their undertone/shade changed, which is really a shame in my opinion.

However, and while I do love the Satin lipsticks, the fact that MAC turned shades like Captive into Captive Audience or Twig into Twig Twist means they are now longer lasting…

So well – when a makeup brand reformulates their products, not everyone is going to be happy, right?

Read: Flormar Dewy Lip Glaze & Lip Liner Swatches

Orange and Red MAC MACximal Lipstick Swatches

Lastly, we have the orange and red MACximal lipsticks:

MACximal Lipstick in Forever Curious: Pinky red

MACximal Lipstick in Sugar Dada: Brownish orange red

MACximal Lipstick in Over-Statement: Burnt orange with intensity

MACximal Lipstick in Ring the Alarm: Milky pink red

MACximal Lipstick in Viva Heart: Intense Brownish Blue-Red

MACximal Lipstick in Avant Garnet: Rich dirty red

MACximal Lipstick in Go Retro: Muted peachy pinky brown

MACximal Lipstick in Antique Velvet: Intense brown

Forever Curious is the one lipstick I am happy MAC reformulated: oscillating between pink and red, the color is full, just bright enough to remain discreet for everyday wear, and simply gorgeous for spring and summer.

While I do love wearing the occasional coral lipstick, provided it’s pink enough to match my olive skin, I’m not that much into bright orange lipsticks.

However, if you have warm skin, Sugar Dada and Over-Statement might be shades you will love, especially since they are pretty unique amongst all the colors we’ve come to know from MAC Cosmetics.

Read: Drugstore Nude Brown Lipgloss Combos for Fair/Medium Skin

There might be a slight difference between Ring the Alarm, Viva Heart and Avant Garnet, but the difference is there.

Ring the Alarm is the darkest of the bunch, and Avant Garnet is more blue-toned, a beautiful maroon lipstick shade to have for fall and winter.

Viva Heart, which is the reformulated Viva Glam 1 lipstick, hasn’t seen its color change that much. It is, however, much more comfortable, and retains its balance of blue and brown that matches so many skin tones effortlessly.

Read: Barry M Lip Liner Dupes for MAC Whirl, Half Red & Soar

Go Retro, which is the reformulated Satin lipstick Retro, matches some of the MAC lip liners better, like Half Red or Burgundy – it feels a tad brighter and lighter than the OG.

And when it comes to Antique Velvet…

This one, in addition to being one of my first brown lipsticks from MAC, was also one of my three first shades ever – it used to highlight the dry skin on the lips pretty badly, and the new formula is much more comfortable.

Read: Kiko 3D Hydra Lipgloss & Smart Fusion Lip Liner Review

MAC MACximal Silky Matte Lipstick Swatches + Review

All in all, the MAC MACximal Silky Matte lipsticks make for a collection of beautiful shades, consistent in quality, pigmentation and lasting power…

So what’s not to like, really?

As I’d told you in my comparison of popular MAC lipsticks with the MACximal lipsticks, I wish some of these new shades had not seen their color reformulated; Velvet Teddy, Honeylove, Sweet Deal, even, which is one of my fave mauve lipsticks from MAC.

However, I can’t deny that the colors stay on for hours on end, do not mark the fine lines and dry skin on the lips, and probably smell even better than the classic MAC lipsticks used to, so…

That’s a win anyway!

Until next time!

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The Working Line

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Sam is a certified fashion makeup artist, a freelance writer, a blogger and a digital nomad. Since 2019, she roams around the world, from London to Rome and shares her knowledge about makeup, scented candles, travel, blogging and the digital nomad lifestyle.

MAC MACximal Silky Matte Lipstick Swatches + Review

MAC MACximal Silky Matte Lipstick Swatches + Review

Nude MAC MACximal Lipstick Swatches

Pink and Mauve MAC MACximal Lipstick Swatches

Orange and Red MAC MACximal Lipstick Swatches

MAC MACximal Silky Matte Lipstick Swatches + Review

Other MAC Swatches

Other Lip Swatches

Other Makeup Swatches

Other MAC Lip Posts

Other MAC Lip Combos

Other MAC Posts

Other MAC Dupes

Other Makeup Shops & Brands

Other Beauty Products

Other Nail Polish

PIN IT FOR LATER

The Working Line