TUG OF WAR: MAC Cosmetics Ruby Woo vs MAC Cosmetics Russian Red

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the new section of my blog, “TUG of WAR” where I will be comparing various products from the beauty industry and give you my point of view on them so that it becomes easier for you to decide which one to pick. And the first war is between “Ruby Woo”, the ‘touted’ queen of MAC Cosmetics and its worthy opponent “Russian Red” which is from MAC Cosmetics as well.

 

Ruby Woo is an insanely famous lipstick from the house of MAC Cosmetics and every woman and every beauty enthusiastic man on earth dream of owning this beauty. I even know people who don’t wear lipsticks much or just love neutral shades, plans or saves money to buy Ruby Woo. They might not know the difference between a liquid lipstick and a gloss, but they know Ruby Woo. Russian Red on the other hand, isn’t that crazy famous, but is supposed to be the second name which people utter after Ruby Woo and has its own beauty and fan following.
And today, on “TUG of War” we will tactfully analyze these two beauties… Heres to eternal classic red lips…

Packaging:-
Both of them have the same packaging, the traditional MAC glossy black bullet case

Color and Undertone:-
Ruby Woo is a vivid blue-red. Absolutely true to it’s name, it is one of the most beautiful ruby red lipsticks that you can ever find.
Russian Red is an intense bluish-red as well. Ruby Woo has tad more pink to it than Russian Red.

Ruby Woo and Russian Red

As per how much cool or warm toned these lipsticks will pull, it totally depends on your skin color and lighting. 

Texture and Finish:-
Though the colors have almost the same tones, the texture is what makes them totally different from each other.
Ruby Woo is from the Retro Matte collection. Because of this extreme matte texture, the lipstick takes effort to glide on lips and feels quite drying. My lips remain dry throughout the year and they feel ‘desertified’ when I apply Ruby Woo.
Russsian Red on the other hand is from MAC’s normal Matte range. It feels more moisturizing, glides beautifully on my lips and settles into a stunning and comfortable matte finish.

Well prepped lips are must in case of both these lipsticks, especially with Ruby Woo. It can even make the softest of lips feel and look parched.

Color Payoff and Staying Power:-
Both are incredibly pigmented, but due to the dryness of Ruby Woo you have to swipe it across your lips quite a number of times to get that bold coverage. With Russian Red two swipes are enough.  Both of them have fairly same staying power.

Ruby Woo

Russian Red

My Thoughts:-
I had heard about Ruby Woo long before I actually purchased it. I didn’t even know about the brand “MAC” then. People no doubt love Ruby Woo, but along with all the good things I also heard how pain it is to apply and how drying it feels. While researching more about the lipsticks, I came to know about Russian Red and just fell in love with it. I started saving money and finally got my first ever MAC lipstick, Russian Red. And within a year, my love for red lipsticks crazily escalated and I not only bought Ruby Woo, but Riri Woo as well. I love all three of them to the core of my heart. Loved Ruby Woo more for the color and Russian Red more for the texture and Riri Woo for both (sad that it was LE).

Ruby Woo

Russian Red

So Which One to Buy?
Well, this now totally depends on you. If you are looking for the perfect matte red lipstick and are okay with the texture of MAC retro mattes, then you can blindly go for Ruby Woo. It looks flattering on every skin tone and at every age and at any time of the day and year. I have worn Ruby Woo to college, to office, while on vacation, to trips, even when shopping, on dates and to functions; a very wearable shade I must say. Russian Red on the other hand, is also universally flattering and is no less gorgeous, but I feel it look great mostly during evening or night outs. The main difference between these two is their texture. Whatever, I have been purchasing these two and will continue to do so till MAC makes them. For me it is hard to choose one between these two. I carry them both wherever I go and my makeup kitty is incomplete without these two.

I couldn't pick one. But could you? Which one is your favorite? Do let us know :)