10 Best Red MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

Today, I’ve crafted some of the best red MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations so you have plenty of options when you do your makeup.

A few days ago, we talked about the best nude MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations – today, we’ll be focusing on red lipsticks with famous matte MAC lipsticks like Viva Glam 1, Russian Red, and Ruby Woo.

I was a makeup artist in several makeup stores in London and Paris, and was always asked ‘what lip liner goes with Honeylove?’ or ‘what’s the best MAC lip liner for overlining the Whirl lipstick?.

That’s why I’ve already told you quite a bit about the best MAC Spice lip liner and lipstick combos, and did the same with the Cork lip liner, along with the Mehr lipstick, Velvet Teddy, and Twig.

Today, we’ll focus on all the really famous MAC red lipsticks.

Even if most of these are matte, I have included a couple of Satin lipsticks and slightly glossier options when you want to make those red lips pop!

And if you’d like to learn more about MAC Cosmetics, check out the following guides:

• The Best MAC Whirl Lip Liner & Lipstick Combinations
• The Best MAC Soar Lip Liner & Lipstick Combinations
• The Best MAC Velvet Teddy Dupes
• The Best MAC Whirl Lip Liner Dupes
• The Best Wet n Wild MAC Lipstick Dupes

10 Best Red MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

If you’re planning to buy one of the most famous red MAC lipstick shades, like Russian Red or Ruby Woo, it helps to know you don’t have to necessarily wear red lip liner underneath.

It’s actually easier to craft some crazy MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations with nude lipsticks than it is with bright red shades, but there are still a few I’ve put together over time.

No more wondering what MAC lip liner goes with Russian Red, Brave Red, Viva Glam 1, or Chili – you’ll find all you need in this guide!

Ruby Woo MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

Let’s start with the MAC Ruby Woo lipstick, which, in terms of color, can’t be matched. It’s true you can find plenty of Ruby Woo lipstick dupes here and there, but from the texture to the finish, the MAC version really is the real deal.

It’s far from being one of the most hydrating MAC lipsticks, though – wear the Prep + Prime for lips underneath if you want to prevent your lips from getting overly dry during the day.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations: MAC Lipliner in Ruby Woo

Obviously, one of the best MAC lip liners for the Ruby Woo lipstick is the Ruby Woo lip liner. They’re both the same really bright, blue-toned red color which looks amazing whether you’re a redhead with pale skin, have an olive skin tone, Indian skin, or medium brown skin.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations: MAC Lipliner in Cherry

If you really want the same red lipstick color, use the Ruby Woo lip liner, but for something just a teeny tiny bit darker, the MAC Cherry lip liner is my go-to for Ruby Woo. It’s also a perfect MAC lip liner shade for Russian Red, and one of the most popular lip liners from the brand.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations: MAC Lipliner in Burgundy

You’d usually create red MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations with bright red lip liners, but for Ruby Woo, you can also use the Burgundy lip liner. Really blend out the edges well, and try applying it on the outer corners of the lips so you really have that 3D effect.

Shop MAC Ruby Woo ♦ Ruby Woo ♦ Cherry ♦ Burgundy

Viva Glam 1 MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

I told you many times about the MAC Viva Glam 1 lipstick, which is in my opinion one of the best MAC lipsticks for all skin tones.

In the Viva Glam 1 lipstick, you have a great balance of brown, red, and blue undertones, which makes it perfect whether you have very dark skin or super pale skin.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Cork

One of the best MAC lip liner and lipstick combinations with Viva Glam 1 is the Cork lip liner. Cork is the second darkest brown lip liner you have available in the MAC collection.

It has a warm undertone, almost golden, which means Cork is perfect if you have skin with warm undertones and want to bring out the warmth of the Viva Glam 1 lipstick.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Nightmoth

If, on the other side, you want to bring out the blue tone of the Viva Glam 1 lipstick, use the MAC Nightmoth lip liner all around the lipstick.

It is described as a blackened plum lip liner, and it not only looks amazing with lots of winter mac lipsticks but also with red lipsticks.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Burgundy

Then, obviously, one of the best red matte lipstick and lip liner combinations with Viva Glam 1 is with the Burgundy lip liner. It’s one of the best MAC lip liners for medium and dark skin tones, for starters.

It is also one of the most versatile MAC lip liner shades, as you can use it with anything from clear Lipglass on top to nude pink lipsticks, or any other kind of burgundy lipstick as well.

Shop MAC Viva Glam 1 ♦ Cork ♦ Nightmoth ♦ Burgundy

Russian Red MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

Another one of the most popular MAC lipstick shades for all skin tones is Russian Red, which is definitely one of the most beautiful red lipsticks I’ve ever seen – and I’ve seen a lot.

If I had to rank my favorite MAC red lipsticks, it would go: Viva Glam 1 first, then Russian Red, and then Ruby Woo (in terms of the most famous matte shades). Russian Red is perfect whether you have medium or tan skin, super dark skin, or are pale with blonde hair or red hair.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Burgundy

The first matching lip liner for Russian Red is Burgundy, which brings beautiful darkness to an already quite dark red lipstick.

Like with the Ruby Woo lipstick, use the Burgundy lip liner on the outer corners of the lips to bring a 3D effect and will look more sophisticated than overlining the entire lips.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Chestnut

You can do the same thing with the MAC Chestnut lip liner. The fact that Chestnut is a cool-toned brown lip liner will match the blue undertones of Russian Red perfectly, and it ends up being a teeny bit more wearable than the Burgundy and Russian Red combo.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Cherry

But indeed, one of the best red MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations with Russian Red is the Cherry lip liner.

You have the exact same color for both products, and more than once, I’ve worn the MAC Cherry lip liner on its own because it just looks so darn beautiful!

Shop MAC Russian Red ♦ Burgundy ♦ Chestnut ♦ Cherry

Chili MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

The MAC Chili lipstick is one of the most popular MAC lipsticks for Asian skin, and anyone who has skin with really warm undertones should definitely go for it.

You’ve not only got a great red lipstick here but a strong orange brown undertone stunning to wear whenever you’ve got tanned skin too.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Auburn

I’m really excited about the Chili lipstick and lip liner combos, just because it’s really one of the only red MAC lipsticks which has such interesting combinations.

The first one is with the MAC Auburn lip liner, which has that same kind of reddish brown undertone.

Almost the same color here, and Auburn will bring a little bit of brown around the edges of your lips and would look amazing coated with the Lipglass in Spice as well.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Mahogany

Then, you have the MAC Mahogany lip liner, which has always been one of my favorites. It’s basically the same as Auburn, but where Auburn is red with a brown undertone, Mahogany is brown with a red undertone.

And if you’re looking for the best MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations with Chili, it’s indeed a great lip liner for overlining.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Chicory

Then, if you just want some kind of lip liner to wear under the Chili lipstick, use the Chicory lip liner. It’s literally from the same color family as Auburn and Mahogany, but Chicory is a bit more peach toned, and lighter than both of the other ones.

It’s really that color that you’d use under Chili when you don’t want it to show at all. On a side note, the Chicory lip liner also looks absolutely amazing with the MAC Lipglass in Clear.

Shop MAC Chili ♦ Auburn ♦ Mahogany ♦ Chicory

Diva MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

If you’re ever looking for winter MAC lipsticks, or something to wear for a special occasion, the MAC Diva lipstick is always a great pick.

It goes well on olive skin, super dark skin, and even Indian and really pale skin tones – no wonder why it’s one of the best selling MAC lipsticks.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Burgundy

Probably one of the easiest MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations with Diva is the Burgundy lip liner. There’s really almost no difference between the two shades, actually. So if you’re just looking for a dark red lip liner for overlining the Diva lipstick, Burgundy it is.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Nightmoth

Even darker than the Burgundy lip liner, you have Nightmoth, which will provide a more purple type of vibe. Even with dark MAC lipsticks, you can still overline the color as the brand has a few really dark lip liners available.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Chestnut

If you want to overline the Diva lipstick but don’t want to go for Nightmoth, use the Chestnut lip liner. It’s basically one of the best MAC brown lip liners, great to bring slight contrast to the burgundy color and plenty of other lipsticks, from Mehr to Velvet Teddy.

Shop MAC Diva ♦ Burgundy ♦ Nightmoth ♦ Chestnut

Red Rock MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

If you’re ever looking for the perfect red MAC lipstick for medium skin, Red Rock is a must-have. It’s one of the most underrated MAC lipsticks I’ve ever come across, and the clean, bright red is perfect if you’re looking for lipsticks to wear during summertime.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Brick

First up with Red Rock, I’d apply the Brick lip liner. It’s easy to use, just a little bit darker than Red Rock, and perfect to shade in the outer corners of the lips – and clearly one of the best MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations you could ever dream of.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Chicory

If you don’t want the lip liner to show too much, you can also use the MAC Chicory lip liner.

It brings a more peachy brown color to Red Rock, and how I’d apply it is actually all over my lips, with a few dabs of Red Rock in the center of the lips, just to bring that red kick to my lips.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Mahogany

If you want to find MAC lip liners for overlining Red Rock, the Mahogany lip liner is another great pick. It’s really red-toned anyway, so it won’t be too hard to blend both colors together.

Add some Lipglass in Clear or leave it as is, and wear with some yellow or gold eyeshadow, and you’re done!

Shop MAC Red Rock ♦ Brick ♦ Chicory ♦ Mahogany

Lady Danger MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

Although Lady Danger seems really orange, it’s still categorized as a red lipstick, and it allows for some of the craziest and best MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations.

Lady Danger looks stunning on really dark skin, redheads and blondes, Asian skin and anyone with neutral to really cool undertones in their skin. Olive skin tones, avoid Lady Danger unless you apply plenty of bronzer!

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Chestnut

One of the very best MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations with Lady Danger is with the Chestnut lip liner.

Since Lady Danger is really bright, you can definitely apply Chestnut all around your lips, or just create some shading on the outer corners of your lips – your pick. Just don’t forget to blend both colors really, really well!

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Brick

The Brick lip liner is a dark reddish lip liner with a warm undertone, which means it’s perfect for orange lipstick shades like Lady Danger. Combining orange and red can be tricky, so start by applying the Brick lip liner all around your lips.

Then, add Lady Danger in the middle, and blend the lipstick towards the Brick lip liner so you are just left with the teeniest tinge of red on the outlines.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Beet

Combining raspberry and orange could be tricky, but you can follow the same steps as with the Brick lip liner if you want to wear Beet with Lady Danger.

You could literally go full ‘festival’ look with those lips, so I’d probably either add a cool-toned pink eyeshadow to the mix, or maybe some light matte blue eyeshadow to complete the look.

Shop MAC Lady Danger ♦ Chestnut ♦ Brick ♦ Beet

Brave Red MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

The MAC Brave Red lipstick is from the Cremesheen range, which offers some of the most comfortable MAC lipsticks.

The texture has a sheen to it and less pigment than the matte or satin lipsticks. They’re still well-pigmented and perfect if you’re looking for MAC lipsticks for thin lips, to make them appear fuller.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Beet

The Brave Red lipstick is quite versatile, neither too blue-toned nor too warm-toned. That means you have plenty of options if you’re looking for MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations, and the first one is with the Beet lip liner.

The Beet lip liner is a dark raspberry lip liner that goes amazingly well with shades like D for Danger. With Brave Red, you’d wear Beet underneath, just to allow both colors to mix and give a reddish pink kind of color – like a dark berry color.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Cherry

You can also use the Cherry lip liner if you want to make Brave Red a little bit more red, and a little bit brighter.

I already told you how the MAC Cherry lip liner is amazing to have whether you want to wear some warm brown lipstick on top of it, coral lipsticks, or of course, red lipsticks. With Brave Red, it brings a cool undertone perfect for pale skin and olive skin tones.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Vino

For something even more out there, you could use the MAC Vino lip liner with Brave Red. I know most people just looking for a classic red lipstick look would not go for a dark purple lip liner, but both actually look amazing together.

Either just shade in the outer corners of your lips, or wear Vino under Brave Red to change the color and get a kind of purpleish burgundy result – and couple with green eyeshadow!

Shop MAC Brave Red ♦ Beet ♦ Cherry ♦ Vino

Sweet Sakura MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

The MAC Sweet Sakura lipstick looks amazing on Asian skin, as well as any skin tone with warm undertones.

Without being a straight-up coral lipstick, it does carry a lot of peach in the color, and it’s perfect if you’re looking for MAC lipsticks for spring and summer.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Cherry

One of the best MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations with the Sweet Sakura lipstick is with the Cherry lip liner. You will use Cherry if you want to bring the red shade out from Sweet Sakura, as it will give this Cremesheen lipstick much more kick.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Redd

If on the other hand, you’d like to keep a bit more of the coral undertone of the Sweet Sakura lipstick, use the MAC Redd lip liner.

It’s much warmer, a really orangey type of red lip liner perfect when you want to go for a spring or summer look – and beautiful with orange eyeshadow.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Brick

Then, to make the Sweet Sakura a bit darker, use the Brick lip liner. Since the Cremesheen lipsticks have a really creamy texture, the color can change depending on what lipstick you have underneath.

It’s really fitting that you can use such and such lip liner with Sweet Sakura to upgrade it, and you could even use the Cork lip liner underneath to make it even darker and more of a warm brown.

Shop MAC Sweet Sakura ♦ Cherry ♦ Redd ♦ Brick

MAC Red MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

Kinda kept the best for last here, as even if MAC Red is one of the most underrated MAC satin lipsticks ever released, it’s one of the most beautiful red shades we have from that brand.

It has that hyperpigmentation that all the MAC satin lipsticks boast but also a bit of sheen, which means that when you wear MAC Red, you have a slightly plump lips effect that is oh-so-beautiful to wear.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Cherry

Obviously, one of the best red MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations with such a blue-toned red color is with the MAC Cherry lip liner.

Same kind of color, and since MAC Red has a strong, bright red color and a cool undertone, it really is similar to both Russian Red and Ruby Woo.

With Cherry, you just have something identical in color which will help you achieve a really neat outline.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Half Red

For something a little bit more interesting, you can wear the MAC Red lipstick with the MAC Half Red lip liner. It brings it a tiny bit more darkness, kind of like a shade type of contrast really beautiful whether you have olive skin or fair skin with warm undertones.

Best MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations:MAC Lipliner in Plum

The MAC Plum lip liner is one of the most desaturated dark MAC lip liners – you have a really brown type of purple here.

The mix of shades means you can literally wear the Plum lip liner with pink lipsticks, brown or purple lipsticks – and in this case, a bright red lipstick too.

Shop MAC Red ♦ Cherry ♦ Half Red ♦ Plum

10 Best Red MAC Lipstick and Lip Liner Combinations

There you have them, all the best red MAC lipstick and lip liner combinations! I’ve tried to really put out there all the combos I could think of, whether you’re looking for a lip liner matching Ruby Woo, Brave Red, MAC Red, or Viva Glam 1.

Honestly, as I always say, makeup is made to be experimented with, so really just try out different lipstick and liner combos and see how it goes on your skin!

Until next time!

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