Is the 612 Russian Red matte lipstick safe for people with sensitive or dry lips?

The lipstick contains moisturizing ingredients such as castor oil, seed oil and tocopherol that help keep lips comfortable, but it also includes fragrance (vanillin), silica, and several synthetic colorants that can irritate very sensitive skin; users with extreme sensitivity should patch‑test before full application.

What role does silica play in the formulation of this matte lipstick?

Silica acts as an absorbent and film‑forming agent that reduces surface shine, giving the lipstick its characteristic matte finish while helping the pigment adhere evenly to the lips.

Is the 612 Russian Red lipstick vegan or cruelty‑free, and how long can it be used after opening?

The product is not vegan because it contains carmine (an insect‑derived red dye), and MAC is not certified cruelty‑free; as with most lipsticks, the recommended Period After Opening (PAO) is about 12 months when stored in a cool, dry place.

MAC - Make-up art cosmetics • 3 g

612 Russian Red rouge à lèvres mat

Rouges A Levres

Product Insights

MAC's 612 Russian Red matte lipstick delivers an intense, long‑wearing scarlet shade in a compact 3 g tube, formulated with a blend of emollient oils such as castor oil, silicone smoothers, and silica for a velvety matte finish. The formula incorporates a complex pigment system that includes titanium dioxide, iron oxides, carmine and several synthetic lakes, providing deep color but also introducing animal‑derived dyes and potential allergens. While the lipstick offers moisturizing benefits and antioxidant protection from tocopherol and ascorbyl palmitate, it also contains petroleum‑derived waxes, fragrance (vanillin) and non‑vegan colorants, which may be a concern for sensitive or vegan consumers.

Comparative Analysis

Positioned as a high‑impact matte lipstick in MAC’s Russian Red line, it targets professional makeup artists and bold‑look enthusiasts by combining a rich pigment cocktail with emollient oils and silicone to ensure intense color payoff and comfortable wear.

Ingredients

OCTYLDODECANOL, RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL, SILICA, TRICAPRYLYL CITRATE. OZOKERITE, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, PARAFFIN, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX\CERA MICROCRISTALLINA\CIRE MICROCRISTALLINE, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX\CERA CARNAUBA\CIRE DE CARNAUBA, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, TOCOPHEROL, VANILLIN, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE, STEARYL STEAROYL STEARATE [+/- MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), BLUE I LAKE (CI 42090), CARMINE (CI 75470), RED 6 (CI 15850), RED 6 LAKE (CI 15850), RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850). RED 21 LAKE (CI 45380), RED 28 LAKE (CI 45410), RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360), RED 33 LAKE (CI 17200), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140), YELLOW 6 LAKE (CI 15985), YELLOW 10 LAKE (CI 47005)]

84%

35%

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