Archived Post

The Scarlet Season: MAC Classic Dame Lipstick

MAC Classic Dame Lipstick
MAC Classic Dame Lipstick

The Scarlet Season: MAC Classic Dame Lipstick

MAC Classic Dame Mattene Lipstick ($14.50) is a semi-matte shade of creamy, opaque nearly neutral ruby red. It’s a bright pop of red with a superb formula, and it really is a shame that MAC hasn’t made the Mattene formula (and its lovely shades!) permanent. This shade is certainly fitting to its name–Classic Dame–and it reminded me a bit of Chanel’s Dragon. The semi-matte finish gives the color a bit of glossy sheen without adding any frostiness, and it also makes it moisturizing but still hugs the lips to give you several hours of wear. Anyone else remember Classic Dame and wish they’d make it permanent?

What about you? Would you wear this red?

The Scarlet Season is a series of posts showcasing and featuring my favorite shades of red lips–from glosses to lipsticks that runs through December 2009. You can sure expect to see a lot of red this holiday season!

See more swatches and comparison photos

MAC Classic Dame Lipstick
MAC Classic Dame Lipstick

MAC Classic Dame Lipstick
MAC Classic Dame Lipstick

MAC Classic Dame Lipstick
MAC Classic Dame Lipstick

MAC Classic Dame Lipstick
MAC Classic Dame Lipstick

34 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Q Avatar

Red lipstick intrigues me. I’m a redhead with a fair complexion and I’ve been searching for a red lip for ages. I think I’ve found one in the Amorous dazzleglass crème but it’s not permanent, either. I’d love to see a feature on perfect reds for various skin tones/types. *hint hint*

Christine Avatar

Hey Q!

I did: http://www.temptalia.com/best-eyeshadows-lipglosseslipsticks-blushes-for-fair-skin

For cool-toned fair skin, I recommended MAC Dubonnet and NARS Trans Siberian. For warm-toned fair skin, I recommended MAC Viva Glam I. Those are my top recommendations 🙂

Q Avatar

Just saw this ’cause I’m a dope and didn’t enable e-mail follow-ups, but I stumbled across Dubonnet a couple weeks ago and even being somewhat warmer-toned, I think my skin is still neutral enough to pull it off. I’m telling myself that, anyhow, because it’s GORGEOUS. I’d never have worn red lipstick before, but yes, it’s pretty incredible. Thanks!

Almost black. Avatar

I’m fair and a redhead and I found my perfect red lipstick – Chanel Rouge Allure Laque – 75 Dragon! It’s simply amazing how good it looks on me! Never thought it would. 🙂

Sarah Avatar

I really love Classic Dame, and use my one tube very sparingly. I think it gives a very retro lip. I really think it should be permanent so I can wear mine more! I have Russian Red, but the matte quality of Classic Dame is what I like so much.

Rachel Avatar

Ahhh!!! I’m so jealous you have one of those, and I don’t! I totally ignored a lot of the mattenes when they were first released, and I have since been kicking myself for not getting Classic Dame. The only ones that I got when they first came out were Rapturous and 40s pink. I super duper want them to bring them back so I can get Classic Dame. Looks great on you btw!

Kristen Avatar

Absolutely agree. This is my favorite red lipstick! Perfect texture, great “not so in your face red”, very easy to wear, even for daytime. I have no clue as to why they don’t keep such a fantastic product in their permanent line. I can never decide right away whether or not I want to stock up on a product, but then after a few months when I decide I love something, it’s gone. 🙁 Plus, who wants to start using a new product that’s been sitting in storage for a year or more? I just figure, MAC has so many products that I like that another will come around that I will like just as much in the future, or they will re-promote. I hope! 😉

Luisafer Avatar

OMG…2nd thing I want to get this weekend!!!
Beautiful color and great prize!!! thanks for letting us know about this… found the 2nd one for me of the scarlet season!!!

Rebecca Avatar

I love this Mattene! Ahhh, I saw it at a CCO and didn’t buy it because my haul was already out of control (and I have soo many red lippies in every brand/formula already), but now I am wishing I got it. Maybe I will have to go back and buy it this weekend, even if it IS an hour drive away. LOL Make it (and all other Mattenes) perm MAC!!!

Sarah Avatar

This is one of my favorite reds– probably second favorite behind MAC’s Ruby Woo and I love it desperately. They need to make it (and many others in the mattene line) permanent and now. I saw several tubes at a CCO store in Florida and didn’t pick up another (I’m nearly out of my original) and now I’m kicking myself for that decision. Everything about it is absolutely wonderful. And reading your description is just so much fun!

noha Avatar

what’s the different between this, Dubonnet, and Russian Red??? I’m goin crazy i like ’em all, but don’t know which suits me the best.. i’v fair complexion. Any help plz? And Christine r the 3 still on Sale??

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!