Happy International Lipstick Day! It’s the best day of the year for us beauty lovers. As many brands are doing incredible sales on their lip products. My favourite sale of all of them though has to be MAC Cosmetics. I’ve shopped this sale every year for the last 5-6 years and I take it as an opportunity to pad out my already massive MAC Lipstick collection. Now, normally MAC gives us the option to pick one of three of their best selling lipsticks with a purchase on July 29th. But it appears that’s not the case this year. Having said that, the deal they do have this year is pretty stellar. It’s 20% all lip products, which includes their glosses, balms, and liners. But if you buy three or more lip products, that discount bumps up to 30%!
Now, I will admit that MAC’s range can be somewhat overwhelming. There are a lot of colours to choose from. Especially in their Nude range. But I have gone through my entire collection and have picked out the five nude shades that I feel like everyone should try. Some of these are classic shades, others are more recent discoveries. But all of them would be stunning on anyone. Let’s get into it!
SHADE: Fleshpot
DESCRIPTION: Warm Light Beige
The concealer nude to end all concealer nudes. Fleshpot launched as part of the Skin Flicks collection back in 2001 as a satin finish lipstick. And quickly became the lipstick that every millenial party girl had to have. I mean? This lip, no liner, with a deep smokey eye was the look we were all wearing in the club back in 2011 (I remember it well). I also remember the backlash that MAC copped when this shade was discontinued. But, fortunately for us all, they bought it back as a permanent part of their Macximal Satin Collection. These days, I don’t wear this shade on it’s own anymore. But Fleshpot paired with Greige liner? A serve if I ever saw one.
SHADE: Folio
DESCRIPTION: Greyish Nude
Now this is a nude with attitude! Folio originally launched in 1994 as the anti nude lipstick. And is often attributed as being THE lipstick that Angelia Jolie wore most often. It’s super cool tone has been divisive over the years (I’ve seen it often described as cadaver lips). But I genuinely love it. It too was discontinued sometime in the 2010’s I believe. But it was brought back earlier this year. However, while it was originally a satin finish, Folio today is a part of the Macximal Matte family.
SHADE: Thanks, It’s MAC
DESCRIPTION: Taupey Pink Nude with Silver Pearl
When I was planning this post out in my head, I knew I has to include Thanks, It’s MAC as a part of it. Thanks, It’s MAC launched with the Lustreglass revamp that happened back in 2021. And while it took a minute to catch on, it became a fan favourite shade in the line. I’ve seen this shade on so many people and it looks gorgeous on all of them. The lighter finish makes it especially adaptable to any makeup look. And the hint of pearl in the finish gives it a little something extra. This is the shade I would recommend if you’re intimidated by any of the shades I’ve featured prior to this point.
SHADE: Cool Teddy
DESCRIPTION: Cool Deep Tone Beige
Bet you thought I was going to say Velvet Teddy. In all honesty, as much as I love Velvet Teddy, I have been reaching for it’s cooler younger sister way more often these days. Cool Teddy launched this year as part of the MACNudes collection that many of the lipsticks in this post are a part of. I have a whole post that goes into the different MAC Teddy’s. But Cool Teddy on me has that slight hint of cool grey tone to it. This has been one of my go to lip colours as of late.
SHADE: Stone
DESCRIPTION: Muted Greyish Taupe Brown
I remember Stone’s initial launch extremely well. It came out back in 2015 as part of a collection where MAC turned some of their best selling Lip Pencil’s into lipsticks. And Stone came out as one of the best sellers. It was discontinued I believe in 2020. But has now been bought back permaently. Like Folio, Stone has received a formula change. It’s now a member of the Sleek Satin family. Having said that, it is available for a limited time in the Macximal Matte formula as part of their Nocturna collection. Comparing this to the original (of which I have a video on my Insta), new Stone is a little less purple cool and a little more grey brown cool. It’s still stunning, and in my opinion, a little more wearable than the original.
And those are my MAC Nudes! Trust me when I say that this was bordering on impossible to keep to just 5. I easily could have done 10-20. There really are that many. Let me know what your must have MAC Nudes are in the comments. And stay tuned for the future. As I absolutely put in a MAC order for the sale. And spoiler, it’s going to be the biggest swatch post I’ve ever done!
Cheers and love
Emily xo