MAC x Caro Daur is a matte beige brown lipstick, a part of the MAC influencer collection. TBH I was super skeptical with this MAC influencer collection. To start with, I didn’t even know who Caro Daur is (I live in Germany). Second, she is a blonde & blue-eyed lady, which means our color palette is usually super opposite with each other.

Going online for swatches for my skintone didn’t help either – there weren’t any. So the only thing left to do was to go and find them at a local MAC store. Here is what I found out:

MAC x Caro Daur Lipstick Has a Cinnamon Tone

It’s actually looks like a warm toned brown on my skintone. This pic is taken on daylight.

MAC x Caro Daur swatch on NC42, daylight
MAC x Caro Daur swatch on NC42, daylight

MAC x Caro Daur On

It’s surprisingly easy to wear, this is a pic of me trying it out (note: the new MAC Pro store at the Hackeschermarkt Berlin is really nice)

MAC x Caro Daur On Medium Dark Skintone
MAC x Caro Daur on Medium Dark Skintone

Comparison with other Lipstick shades

It’s actually very similar with MAC Persistence. I tried both on, and Persistence is a tad darker, but I’d easily skip if you have Persistence. MAC Whirl is possibly the shade to go if you need a cooler tone since it’s a tad pinker.

Other shade that looks quite similar but not really when swatched on my skintone.

Swatches (L-R):
Comparison with other MAC Lipsticks (L-R):
Here are other similar shades I have.

Swatches (top to bottom): MAC Liptensity in Smoked Almond, Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in 1993, The Face Shop Ink Lipquid in BR01 Marsala, Kat von D Lolita II, MAC Caro Daur, Charlotte Tilbury Stoned Rose
Swatches (top to bottom): MAC Liptensity in Smoked Almond, Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in 1993, The Face Shop Ink Lipquid in BR01 Marsala, Kat von D Lolita II, MAC Caro Daur, Charlotte Tilbury Stoned Rose

Final verdict: An Accidental Nude Shade?

It is one of the closest shade I have to a nude shade that is not washing me out.

MAC x Caro Daur
It looks so different on me than on Caro Daur in the promo picture.

Definitely one of my favorite colors, and the matte texture is a plus point in terms of how it looks on the lips. Unfortunately MAC mattes still leave my lips slightly feeling waxy and dry. In that regards, I find myself reaching more for Charlotte Tilbury Stoned Rose if I can, just because texture wise it’s far superior.

Should you get it? It’s definitely very pretty if you’ve a similar skintone like me (medium dark, warm, NC42/44). Karin from Innen & Aussen, for example,  didn’t like it on herself (she’s blond, blue-eyed with pink, fair skin). It looks great on Glam & Shine, who’s fair-skinned, with brown hair and brown eyes.

It is matte, which means I like the look of it, but this one unfortunately more on the waxy side. Do check if you have a similar color on your MAC collection. I don’t think it’s worth getting another one and a slightly pricier point if you have Whirl or Persistence. You can still order it if you’re in Germany (MAC doesn’t sell the shade in other countries, as we in Germany can’t order the lipsticks the other influencers have created), for 22,50€ at MAC or Douglas.