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MAC Hue Review: Every Shade by Season

MAC is a house favorite for both of us — Liv and I each have our go-to shades. So when we scored every MAC lipstick, blush, and Paint Pot for all 12 color seasons, the results hit close to home. The scoring reveals what MAC fans have felt for decades: these are season-defining shades. Velvet Teddy scores 100% for True Autumn. Ruby Woo scores 100% for True Winter. You don't see perfect hundreds often — and two in one brand is rare.

We ran every shade through TruHue's color scoring engine and matched each one to all 12 color seasons. Below you'll find your YAY shades — the ones that harmonize with your natural coloring — along with the OKAYs worth trying and the NAYs you can skip.

How We Score

TruHue's scoring engine analyzes each shade's undertone, depth, chroma, and contrast against your season's ideal palette. A shade scores YAY (70%+) when it aligns with your coloring, OKAY (35-69%) when it's wearable but not ideal, and NAY (under 35%) when it clashes. The engine doesn't care about trends — it cares about color harmony.

A note on MAC's rebrand: MAC recently renamed their lipstick finishes. The original Matte is now MACximal Silky Matte, and the original Satin is now MACximal Sleek Satin. Same formulas you know — new names on the tube.

MACximal Silky Matte Lipstick: Full Scoring

Here's every MACximal Silky Matte Lipstick shade ($25) scored across all 12 seasons.

ShadeTop Seasons (YAY)Score
Velvet Teddy
Beige nude, warm
True Autumn 100%, True Spring 85%, Deep Autumn 85%100%
Ruby Woo
Vivid blue-red, cool
True Winter 100%, Deep Winter 94%100%
Whirl
Dirty rose, cool-brown
True Autumn 100%, True Spring 85%, Deep Autumn 85%100%
Mehr
Dusty mauve pink, cool
True Summer 94%, Soft Summer 70%, Bright Winter 70%94%
Taupe
Muted taupe brown-pink
Soft Summer 97%, Soft Autumn 97%97%
Twig
Muted brownish-pink, satin
Soft Autumn 98%, True Autumn 81%98%
Modesty
Creamy pink nude, satin
Soft Summer 90%, Soft Autumn 90%, True Summer 75%90%
Diva
Reddish burgundy, cool
True Winter 85%, Deep Winter 79%85%
Chili
Brick red, warm
True Autumn 85%, Deep Autumn 70%85%
Velvet Teddy: True Autumn 100%. Ruby Woo: True Winter 100%. Two perfect scores in one brand — that's why MAC has staying power.

Not sure of your season yet? Take the free color quiz — it takes about 2 minutes.

MAC Blush: Full Scoring

Here's every MAC Blush shade ($34) scored across all 12 seasons.

ShadeTop Seasons (YAY)Score
Melba
Soft coral-peach
True Autumn 94%, Soft Autumn 85%, True Spring 79%94%
Gingerly
Warm peach-bronze
Light Spring 100%100%
Blushbaby
Soft pinkish-beige
Light Spring 93%, Soft Autumn 82%93%

Gingerly at 100% for Light Spring is a standout — if you're a Light Spring looking for your blush, this is it. Melba covers the Autumn seasons, and Blushbaby bridges Light Spring and Soft Autumn with a gentle, low-chroma pink.

Pro Longwear Paint Pot: Full Scoring

The MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($28) is a cream eyeshadow base that doubles as a standalone lid color. Here's how each shade scores.

ShadeTop Seasons (YAY)Score
Painterly
Pale pink-beige
Light Spring 96%, Soft Autumn 83%96%
Bare Study
Soft beige gold pearl
Light Spring 94%, Soft Autumn 82%94%
Groundwork
Mid-tone taupe
Soft Summer 91%, Soft Autumn 91%91%
Bougie
Warm bronze
True Autumn 96%, True Spring 88%96%

Paint Pots are some of the most universally useful products in the MAC line. Painterly has been an industry go-to for eye base — and at 96% for Light Spring, you can see why it disappears into lighter warm skin tones so naturally. If you're a Soft Summer or Soft Autumn, Groundwork at 91% gives you a lid color and a base in one product.

Your Top MAC Pick by Season

Here's the quick version — your highest-scoring MAC shade based on your season, across all three categories.

Your SeasonYour Top MAC ShadeProductScore
Bright SpringBougie (OKAY range)Paint Pot
True SpringBougiePaint Pot88%
Light SpringGingerlyBlush100%
Bright WinterMehrLipstick70%
True WinterRuby WooLipstick100%
Deep WinterRuby WooLipstick94%
Light SummerModesty (OKAY range)Lipstick
True SummerMehrLipstick94%
Soft SummerTaupeLipstick97%
Soft AutumnTwigLipstick98%
True AutumnVelvet Teddy / WhirlLipstick100%
Deep AutumnVelvet Teddy / WhirlLipstick85%

Bright Spring and Light Summer don't have a clear YAY in the shades we scored — their closest matches sit in the OKAY range. If you're one of these seasons, look at Bougie (Bright Spring) or Modesty (Light Summer) as your safest picks, but they won't be a perfect color match. MAC's line is deep enough that your YAY shade is likely out there in a shade we haven't scored yet.

Soft seasons, take note: Twig (98% Soft Autumn), Taupe (97% Soft Summer and Soft Autumn), Modesty (90% both Softs), and Groundwork (91% both Softs) — MAC quietly has one of the strongest soft-season lineups of any brand. If muted tones are your palette, you have real options here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What color season is MAC Velvet Teddy for?
Velvet Teddy scores 100% YAY for True Autumn, making it a perfect season-defining shade. It also scores 85% YAY for True Spring and Deep Autumn. If you're a warm season, Velvet Teddy is one of the strongest nude lipstick matches you'll find.
Is MAC Ruby Woo a good red for cool skin tones?
Yes. Ruby Woo scores 100% YAY for True Winter and 94% for Deep Winter. Its vivid blue-red base makes it one of the highest-scoring cool reds in any brand. If you're a Winter season, this is your red.
Did MAC rename their lipstick finishes?
Yes. MAC recently rebranded their lipstick line. The original Matte finish is now called MACximal Silky Matte, and the original Satin finish is now MACximal Sleek Satin. The formulas are the same textures you already know — the names are new.

Find Your Season

Search any product at TruHue and see your personal score — YAY, OKAY, or NAY.

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