MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick: 30 Years On, Is The Iconic Red Still Worth It?
MAC Ruby Woo has been the world's bestselling red lipstick for three decades. I've worn it at every major life event since 2003. Here's my honest, long-term review.
Jessica Thompson
Senior Beauty Editor · July 8, 2025
MAC Ruby Woo launched in 1999. It's a blue-toned, matte red lipstick in MAC's classic bullet format. It has been the world's bestselling red lipstick for most of the past 25 years. I've owned at least 12 tubes.
What Makes It Special
The shade is the thing. Ruby Woo is a true blue-red — not orange-red, not berry-red, but the classic Hollywood red that works on every skin tone from the palest fair to the deepest brown. The blue undertone brightens teeth and makes the color pop in a way that warm reds don't.
The formula is a retro matte — drying, opaque, and absolutely non-budging. This is not a comfortable lipstick. It's a statement lipstick.
Wear Time
Exceptional. Ruby Woo stays put through meals, drinks, and hours of talking. The matte formula means it doesn't transfer. It does require a lip liner to prevent feathering on mature lips.
Final Verdict
MAC Ruby Woo has earned its 25-year run. It's not the most comfortable lipstick, but for a classic red that lasts all day and works on every skin tone, there's nothing better at $22.
Where to buy
About the reviewer
Jessica Thompson
Senior Beauty Editor
Jessica Thompson spent 12 years as a working makeup artist before deciding she'd rather write about products than carry seven brushes in her purse. Based in Brooklyn, she covers everything from drugst...
