Because of my history as one of the chosen ones for the 2011 Bloggers Obsession collection, I’m asked about MAC Cosmetics often. Mainly it’s two questions. This post will aim to answer both of them, with a little help from an expert!
Question #1 – will they EVER bring back All Of My Purple Life?
Answer: I believe it’s still available in Canada, but as far as I know at present MAC has no plans to bring back AMPL. I wish I had better news for you and hopefully someday there will be a full Afrobella collection of cosmetics somewhere, somehow (hey, dream big)!
Question #2 – What’s the best permanent collection alternative to AMPL? OR What are the best lipsticks for dark skin? OR What are the best MAC lipsticks for my skin tone?
Answer: Good question! There are MAC lipsticks I find myself always going back to, and lipsticks I always find that makeup artists use on me. Still, I can’t claim to be a total MAC expert in the way that my blogging buddies Temptalia or Karen MBB are. I had to reach out to one of my favorite makeup artists, who I KNEW would be able to give me the answers I was looking for. And that person is Nicole Evans, an incredible makeup artist based in Los Angeles.
Every time I’m in L.A and need my face beat to perfection, she is the person I call. Nicole has done my makeup for high profile events like the Beautylish Beauty Social, the BET Awards, the Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon, my EDEN BodyWorks photo shoot, and the Oscars! I absolutely love working with her because her spirit is so soothing and calming, and you can truly see the pride in her work while she’s doing your makeup. Basking in Nicole’s presence makes me feel good and she ALWAYS makes me look beautiful.
From left to right that’s Krystle Rowry, me, Nicole and Luvvie right before the Academy Awards 2012!
Nicole has been working with MAC in Los Angeles for quite some time now, so I know she knows their makeup line inside and out. She works frequently with women of color and is a brown beauty herself – check out her Tumblr for dope makeup inspiration! I had to ask her for her top MAC lipstick color recommendations, and she broke it all the way down into color categories!
Here are the picks for the 25 BEST MAC lipsticks for dark skin and women of color.
Reds:
Plums/Purples:
Oranges:
Pinks:
Corals:
Nudes/Neutrals:
And those are Nicole’s picks as a professional makeup artist. Click here to hire her for your makeup needs, and click here to follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
So what do you think? Do you see any MAC lipstick shades you’re dying to try? Or do you think we should’ve added **insert MAC lipstick color here** to the list? Tell me!
This list is oh-so fabulous! MAC is absolutely one of the best brands for women of color. We picked it too in our 4 best shades >> http://baucemag.com/?p=10919
Love it!
This is an amazing website!! Love it!!!
awwwww i love it!!! ive been looking for pinks 😀
Heroine is another really great purple that I’ve fallen in love with!
Ronnie Red
sadly, none of those work for me..
none? We’re 0 for 25? Wow! What colors DO you like? Or is it just that you prefer another brand?
LOOOOOOOVE this post!
YAY! Happy to hear that!
Love this post!!! I’ll use this a guide when searching for a spring shade. My go to Mac lipstick is “O”. It looks “HAWT” on a variety of skin tones.
What about Media and Honey Love? Those are 2 of my favorites
Wow I’m definitely eyeing that rebel! I’ve been loving the dark plums and I’m a new 21 so I’m trying to explore some higher quality lip sticks. Thanks for this post I will definitely be referencing this when it’s time to go makeup shopping!
Love the list. Ruby woo and violetta are my favourite on it. I think it is missing more pinks especially brighter ones like candy yum yum. They do look gorgeous on some darker tones!
Girl About Town is the best thing to have ever happened to this girl! I love it and I get so many compliments on it!
Love the selection for nudes!!!
Thanks,
Bella
Thank you very much. I have wondered where to begin and this is a great starting point.
I love Cyber. I’ve even used it as a liner with AMPL. I can’t wait to try some of the other colors. Thanks for the list.
I love Jubilee, I love Neutrals 😀
they are my favorite, perfect for all times!
Soooo Pretty
I wish they would bring All of my purple life back! I love purple glosses!
The colors are great but have they improved the scent? The last time I tried MAC lipstick a few years ago it had terrible waxy/oily smell. And no, it wasn’t old. It was a brand new tube in a MAC store. Hope it’s different now! 🙂
Wow..great post..thank you..I was thinking to buy a new lipstick…
Another great post that is a big help to me. Ive been seeking my perfect nude lippy. At the moment I’ve got the Taupe which I am happy with but I like the ones you have in this post too :0)
Thank you for the great list! Plumful is one of the my go-to colors for the fall/winter, and I picked up Lickable last year for the spring/summer. It is one of my favorite pink/fuchsia lipsticks. I bought one of the new MAC mineralize lipsticks in All Out Gorgeous, a nice red that I think is work-appropriate, and I can’t wait to try it out.
This is so useful! Thanks, Afrobella! It’s really difficult to find a lipstick, ugh! I hate going to the cosmetic counter, and then walking away empty handed.
Thanks for posting this. I hate experimenting with lipstick at makeup counters. I am paranoid about germs! Also, I have a hard time finding colors for my medium brown complexion since majority of makeup lines cater to lighter complexions. What colors do you recommend for spring?
Love the pinks.
Thanks for the list. This is a great collection.
Awesome!!!!! I own MAC Girl about town and Brave, both of which I love. I also own MAC Viva Glam VI, but find it almost doesn’t show on my lips (fail, but at least the funds went to charity). Next on my radar is Lustering, but I MUST get my hands on a coral and/or orange lipstick, so this post is great to begin narrowing down the list! Thanks!!!
Love the colours and you 4 ladies look fangtastic(inside family joke)! Afrobella knows her stuff!
I love the see sheer shade. Very natural, not too strong. I got mine from tameraonline.com.
Candy yum Yum is a no no for black women IMO. I bought it and I look like an extra in a Nicki Minaj video. No bueno. Girl About Town is Fabulous, though and love me some Ruby woo and Rebel. I guess no one does brown lips anymore? Film Noir and Photo were my top two back in the day. Also in the nude category Fresh Brew should be there too!
Lol! Thanks so much. was almost getting it.
What about Lady at Play? I LOVE that color!
Thank you so much for this post.
Love this list–thank you so much! I’m an NC 17 and it’s hard to find recommendations.
I have been wanting a coral and orange lipstick for the longest! I was eyeing Morange but wasn’t sure it would work for me. Thank you for this list, now I feel more comfortable trying it for myself!! This is a great list!
The list is missing Odyssey — LOVE! My all time favorite MAC lipstick is Rocker. They brought it back and I missed out but it’s a great red for women of color. I’m going to try Rebel. I love the purples!
is cherish lipstick good for dark skin tones too?
Hi! I am a (very) new Blogger/Make-up Tutorial haver/vlogger (haha) and I love this topic. I own Ruby Woo, Lady Danger (which I am terrified of) Girl About Town, Touched, and Photo (which I think is a great nude for the darker hued woman). I will definitely check out MAC’s plum collection, I am a MAC girl all the way! Please check out my Tutorial! Thank you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMGFGGiA7_A
I stockpiled AMPL and a couple of other lip colors from the blogger collection! I have a couple of unopened tubes — wonder how long they’ll keep?
Anyone if MAC lipstick in smoked purple is still available and anywhere I can buy it in the UK? I’ve looked on the UK website and it’s not there. Is such a nice colour and want it in by kit:(:(
Check eBay. There’s a couple on there and the seller is not from Canada. I saw it on Amazon just today 12/30/13. Good luck!!
I’ve never tried MAC products, but I will admit to wanting the following…
lipsticks…Girl About Town
Show Orchid (a gorgeous hot pink)
Hot Tahiti
On Hold
lip glass…Pink Poodle
blush…Dollymix
Pink Swoon
I don’t particularly like most of the colors featured in this post, simply because they wouldn’t work on me. But I’m sure they would look nice on somebody else. 😉
MAC lipstick Photo is actually a good mix in the coral/nude family. I have been using it for years and love it!
Thank you for this post. I am in the process of stepping up my makeup game. I am doing tons of research. I can do the basics of foundation, concealer, eyeliner and lipstick/lip gloss. I need to increase my skills and my product inventory. I have added your blog to my Feedly.
Also, I clicked the link for Karen at Makeup and Beauty Blog. Since I am a visual learner, I have found that her YouTube videos are fantastic. I have subscribed to them too. Thanks a million. Be blessed.
Underworld used to be my go-to MAC color for YEARS…until it was discontinued and I had to go to Film Noir. Can’t find that much either. They’ve also discontinued my beloved Trance-plant Lipglass. *sobs*
I’m late with this post but I love the color selections!
Thank you for this post. I respect Afro Bella a lot. Sorry to have missed out supporting her lipstick, that is one MAC item I would happily buy. Also I have those MAC colors in various dupes. I’m a dupe fiend. As a former makeup artist, etc. etc. at this stage in my life I do not see the need buy an expensive lipstick I just do color matches using drugstore cosmetics/Sephora brand. I would love to see a blog about dupes. Its a recession not everybody needs nor wants an expensive lipstick. Even if I was a zillionaire I would still use dupes.
“Velvet Teddy” is also an awesome peachy nude for lighter to medium brown skin towns.
sorry, i meant skin tones*
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I saw a link for the all of my purple life somewhere but I can’t find it! Darn it!
Morange is so juicy, really great for summer.
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I too am a lover of all things Mac lipsticks…and there were quite a few of favs missing from the list. Some of their best for brown girls: Velvet Teddy (neutral), Up the Amp (Purple/Pinkish), Sin (deep burgandy), Vegas Volt (Coral)
I think Diva goes pretty nicely with some darker tones, its a lovely red 🙂
For a darker color, DIVA matte looks GREAT on women of color as well
Flat Out Fabulous is an awesome pink
Dive and SIn are great deep reds for our tone
“O” is an awesome copper/ nude tone for our skin as well.
*Diva
I am anxiously awaiting a Summer 2015 update on the Best Mac Lip color for our gorgeous complexions. How much longer?
I love mac lipsticks. I am a 56 year old beautiful black women. My question is i love the deep plums and bergundy colored lipsticks. Are thr colors to dark for some one my age. I have a medium brown complexion.
Cyndy, try Diva, Dark Side, Media, Sin, Rebel. Awesome colors for woc.
Just a suggestion : Would like to see these on actual “lips” /person .. Hard to tell which colors would look good on me from the sticks
Love love this website 1st te on it was really helpful
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS SITE. IM OF AN ORANGE/BROWN COMPLEXION AND PRETTY MUCH A MAKE UP VIRGIN. I SAY THIS BECAUSE RARELY DO I WEAR ANYTHING BESIDES LIP BALM. DURING THE HOLIDAYS I FOUND MYSELF AT A MAC COUNTER. AFTER A MAKEOVER I PURCHACED OVER 500 BUCKS WORTH, THE FOUNDATION MADE ME LOOK LIKE A GHOST. I TOOK IT BACK AND THE MANAGER RECOLORED ME. I LOVE WITHOUT YOU AND HONEY LOVE, VIVA GLAM 4 AND SIX, VIOLETA, AND SO MANY MORE.
This site was incredibly helpful. I am a light/medium tone women of color. Love MAC lipsticks. My go to Pinks are Hug Me, Verve, Retro, Fast Play, & Half & Half. My go to Browns are Touch, Photo, & Fresh Brew. Sorta scared of Reds… have Taupe & Paramount…. Any suggestions for Reds & Neutrals?
I agree and think this is some of the best lipstick for dark skin!
Great list.you have all my favourites apart from paramount. It’s a really lovely shade.