MAC Retro vs Del Rio vs Paramount Lipstick Swatches + Review

If you’re looking for anything from plum to brown MAC lipstick shades, you’re going to love the three lipsticks I’m reviewing today.

I thought of doing a complete comparison of MAC Retro vs Del Rio vs Paramount with swatches because the three satin lipsticks are very similar – at least in the tube.

My time working at MAC Cosmetics in Paris and London helped me gather the best of MAC, from lipsticks to blushes and eyeliners, and I’ve got oh-so-many of their popular products to share with you.

Today though, for whoever is fair-skinned and looking for fall MAC lipsticks, you’ll find three new favorites today.

However, for anyone with medium skin, dark skin and Indian skin, you’ll easily wear the MAC Del Rio, Paramount and Retro lipsticks on a daily basis.

Keep reading to find out everything about these three beautiful muted shades!

MAC Retro vs Del Rio vs Paramount Lipstick Swatches + Review

I used to write quite a lot about MAC when I first started blogging a few years ago, and some of my first lipsticks from the Canadian brand were actually true-blue brown lipsticks: Antique Velvet and Whirl.

Another one caught my attention early on as well, Paramount, which Jennifer Aniston used to wear during the 10 seasons of Friends.

Then, working at MAC in London after moving away from Paris made me fall in love with the products even more, especially the lipsticks.

Lately, I’ve bought a lot of the shades I used to have back in the day, and since I know that lots of people are wondering about the difference between Retro, Del Rio and Paramount, you’ll be able to clearly understand it today.

Which range are MAC Retro, Del Rio and Paramount part of?

MAC Retro, Del Rio and Paramount are all part of the Satin lipstick range.

The satin lipsticks are more comfortable to wear on the daily than the matte lipsticks of the brand.

However, in my experience, they also get more matte as time passes, making them a great option if you’re looking for comfortable lipsticks and a somewhat matte finish.

Are MAC Retro, Del Rio and Paramount popular?

Out of the three lipsticks, and from my experience working at MAC, the Paramount lipstick is the most popular.

Since it’s a beautiful brown lipstick, it is easier for medium and dark skin to wear Paramount on a daily basis, where Del Rio and Retro have more obvious red undertones.

If you’re looking for nude MAC lipsticks for fair skin, here are a few shades to look out for, and some of the most popular as well:

• Velvet Teddy
• Modesty
• Hug Me
• Yash
• Thanks, It’s MAC

If you’re looking for nude MAC lipsticks for medium to tan and dark skin, other shades to look out for are:

• Business Casual
• Mocha
• Sweet Deal
• Taupe
• Creme in Your Coffee

For really dark skin, beautiful everyday MAC lipsticks would be:

• Antique Velvet
• Consensual
• Soar
• Devoted to Chili
• Film Noir

Read: The Best MAC Lip Liners for Medium Skin

What season are MAC Retro, Del Rio and Paramount most suited for?

Del Rio, Retro and Paramount are mostly suited to fall and winter if you have pale or fair skin, unless you want to go for a more vampy look.

For medium to dark skin, these three lipsticks make for beautiful everyday lipsticks, and can therefore be worn whenever you feel like it.

What skin tone are MAC Retro, Del Rio and Paramount most suited for?

Retro, Del Rio and Paramount all have a brownish undertone to them, with Retro being the most red lipstick out of the three.

None is so warm-toned that olive skin cannot wear them – actually, I have fair olive skin and all three look incredibly good on with my NW15 skin.

They are part of what I call the magical MAC lipstick shades, those that can suit absolutely anyone.

Whether you have skin with warm undertones or skin with cool undertones, Paramount, Del Rio and Retro will look good on you.

In the case of Paramount, if you have cool skin, I would however recommend wearing a little bit of bronzer so as not to clash with the color, which, despite its red undertone, is still pretty warm-toned.

Read: The Best Summer MAC Lipsticks

MAC Retro vs Del Rio vs Paramount Review: Details

Now let’s get into this comparison of Retro vs Del Rio vs Paramount!

Here’s how MAC Cosmetics describes each of the colors:

Retro: Muted peachy-pinky brown
Del Rio: Muted plum-brown
Paramount: Reddish-brown

All three of these lipsticks are described as being brown, but aside from Paramount, none of the lipsticks are truly brown, as you can see from the picture below.

The three lipsticks weigh 3g and have that characteristic vanilla scent when you open the tube, a scent which sadly, does not linger on the lips.

By the way, another lipstick that seems to be part of the same color family as Del Rio, Paramount and Retro is the Twig lipstick.

Clearly, it’s a pink lipstick, but its strong brown undertone actually makes me feel like it’s at least part of the same family as Del Rio.

You know, just like the Mahogany, Auburn and Chicory lip liners resemble each other a lot, each with the same undertones but different intensities and shades.

Read: The Best MAC Lip Liners for Fair Skin

MAC Retro vs Del Rio vs Paramount Review: Swatches

The swatches above and below show MAC Retro first, then Del Rio, then Paramount.

Although the lipsticks in the tubes really look similar (and the swatches as well, to be frank), we can clearly see the differences when they are swatched.

Retro, instead of being a muted peachy-pink brown, is more of a soft burgundy lipstick.

This one on warm skin looks absolutely amazing, so if you’re looking for fall MAC lipsticks for Asian skin, for instance, that’s one that will always make your makeup look impactful yet elegant.

When you compare Retro vs Del Rio, you quickly see that Del Rio has more of a purple undertone to it – exit with the red, in with purple and brown.

The Del Rio lipstick also feels a tad cooler-toned, darker as well, and for anyone looking for those instagrammable muted shades, it’s a great pick.

Read: MAC Mehr vs You Wouldn’t Get It Lipsticks

When it comes to the Paramount lipstick, it’s a true brown lipstick with a strong red undertone.

Every time I wear Paramount, I feel like I’m wearing chocolate in a way – on medium, brown and dark skin, this one is oh-so-gorgeous!

Shop MAC Retro • MAC Del Rio • MAC Paramount

Read: MAC All Fired Up vs Flat Out Fabulous Lipsticks

MAC Retro vs Del Rio vs Paramount Review: Thoughts

Now, all three are perfect winter MAC lipstick shades, perfect for fall as well whether you have pale or dark skin.

The satin lipsticks from MAC have been my favorites for years – I do love a good matte or Amplified lipstick, but these have an unforgettable formula that keeps you coming back.

I’ve actually got a lot of other satin lipsticks to review for you, and if you’d like to find a nude shade in this range, here are a few recommendations:

• Cherish
• Mocha
• Spirit

Comparing Spirit, Mocha and Cherish feels a bit like comparing these three today, as they resemble each other quite a bit in the tube – but again, the undertones are what always makes the difference.

Read: The Best MAC Powder Kiss Lipsticks

What Lip Liners for MAC Retro vs Del Rio vs Paramount?

If you’re looking for matching lip liners for Retro, Del Rio and Paramount, here are the exact picks for each:

• Retro: Half Red lip liner
• Del Rio: Plum lip liner
• Paramount: Mahogany lip liner

However, you are not restricted to just one choice; I love creating all kinds of colorful and nude lipstick combos and almost never wear an exactly matching lip liner because I enjoy having the option to be creative.

After all, I’m an ex-makeup artist, and color is made to be creative.

These three lipsticks are very long lasting and require minimal touch-ups after eating – provided you don’t eat very oily foods with them on.

If you’d like to make them last longer, wear a lip liner after applying a lip primer.

My favorites are the MAC Prep + Prime for lips and the 3ina Lip Primer, both excellent, simply with different formats and textures.

Shop MAC Retro • MAC Del Rio • MAC Paramount

Read: The Most Hydrating MAC Lipsticks

MAC Retro vs Del Rio vs Paramount Lipstick Swatches + Review

And this is it for this full comparison of MAC Retro vs Del Rio and Paramount!

I think you’ve gathered these are incredible fall lipsticks in my opinion, at least for pale and fair skin.

We have many more muted shades available in the MAC Cosmetics collections, but I do feel that Paramount, Del Rio and Retro are way too underrated.

People usually keep buying the same shades; Velvet Teddy, Mehr, Kinda Sexy and Taupe – all matte lipsticks and all gorgeous, but these three have something on me I really can’t explain!

Shop MAC Retro • MAC Del Rio • MAC Paramount

Until next time!

Other MAC Swatches

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