This is the most Googled red lipstick by MAC – and it may surprise you

A recent study found that MAC lipstick is the most popular beauty product in the UK and US. So which red shade is the favorite?

flatlay of five different coloured lipsticks
(Image credit: Netrun78 via Getty Images)

Ask any beauty lover what the most iconic make-up product in history is and they'll probably say the best red lipstick – and one of MAC's best selling shades could easily claim the title of the most popular red in history.

Although the best mascara and blush are definitely up there with the best, few make-up products have the historic reputation of a classic red lipstick.

From the shade Elizabeth Arden created for the suffragettes to the red lipstick Queen Elizabeth wore for her coronation, red lipstick has been a part of many a historical moment. So which one is MAC's most popular shade? Keep reading to find out.

What is the best MAC red lipstick?

Easily one of the most famous shades of red lipstick is MAC's Ruby Woo, with the brand confirming to woman&home this is its best-selling red. This iconic shade is a go-to for many a famous face, including, Rita Ora, Taylor Swift and Rihanna, who released a limited edition version "RiRi Woo" in 2013. 

"Ruby Woo is the definition of a style statement," explains Lyn Desnoyers, the brand’s Executive Director of Makeup Artistry, on MAC’s website. "When it came out it looked like no other colour: the brightness of the shade and the distinct texture took it away from a traditional, classic red. It changes depending on what story the wearer wants to tell… it’s not a one-note red."

MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo, $19/£17.50

MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo, <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=kXQk6%2AivFEQ&mid=41340&u1=hawk-custom-tracking&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.maccosmetics.com%2Fproduct%2F13854%2F52593%2Fproducts%2Fmakeup%2Flips%2Flipstick%2Fretro-matte-lipstick%23%21%2Fshade%2FRuby_Woo" data-link-merchant="maccosmetics.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$19/£17.50

A blue-red shade that promises to suit everyone, with zero shine and 12 hour wear.

That said, a recent study by Lookfantastic found that Russian Red was the most Googled red MAC shade, and the brand's 13th most popular shade overall. (If you're wondering, Velvet Teddy comes out on top as the most-Googled.)

Clearly we're all so well-versed in the power of Ruby Woo that none of us feel the need to Google before we buy! Which MAC lipstick shade is your favorite?

Lucy Abbersteen

Lucy is a UK-based beauty journalist who has written for the likes of Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, OK!, Women's Health and more, as well as contributing to woman&home. Her work covers everything from expert skin and haircare tips to the latest product launches and the show-stopping beauty looks spotted backstage at London Fashion Week. During her career she's interviewed some seriously famous faces, from Little Mix to Drag Race royalty The Vivienne, as well as chatting to the industry's leading hairdressers, dermatologists and make-up artists.