As silly as it sounds to get emotional about a lipstick, I got verklempt when I sat down to write about today’s MAC Unsung Hero, Paramount Lipstick ($14.50), because it’s been a such a pivotal color in my makeup life.
My BFF introduced me to it about 15 years ago in college; since then it’s been on my lips or by my side (literally, in a purse or a pants pocket) through some of the most important moments of my life.
In the living room at my parent’s house, I’m wearing it in a graduation picture taken a few seconds after I walked across the stage to get my diploma. The color also holds the distinction of being the very first MAC product I ever purchased (shout-out to the MAC Arden Fair counter in Sacramento!).
When I pulled out Paramount this morning it hit me like a ton of bricks!
Wait — not like that. I mean that I realized I should add it to my list of MAC Unsung Heroes. 🙂
Plus, hello! — it’s a perfect color for fall!
Technically, MAC classifies deep, dark reddish brown Paramount as having a Satin finish, but I think it looks more like a matte on me.
Dark brown matte lips hogged the spotlight in the mid-’90s (gloss was all but MIA), and it wasn’t unusual for gals to wear Paramount year round (I did). These days, though, it’s more of a fall shade for me. I think it looks right at home with the darker plums and reds that I like to wear when the leaves change.
One of the things that has always made Paramount stand out to me is its touch of red. Some brown lipsticks look very flat on my lips, but Paramount’s reddish undertones give it depth and make it a little more interesting to me.
I’ve worn the color so many times that I could probably apply it from the tube while hanging upside down with my eyes closed, but if you aren’t accustomed to wearing darker lipsticks, you might want to grab a lip brush and/or a lip pencil (one option: the reddish brown MAC Lip Pencil in Mahogany, $14.50) to help corral the pigment into place.
Paramount lasts all day long on my lips (even through multiple meals, although I have noticed that when I wear it day in, day out, the formula can be drying. My lips crave a lot of moisture, so I usually prep them with a balm. Whenever I plan to wear Paramount, before I start putting on my makeup, I’ll apply a bit of Clinque Superbalm in Grapefruit first. Once that sinks in, I’ll do the rest of my face, and then when I get to my lips, I usually kiss the back of my hand to blot away the balm before applying a layer or two of Paramount.
If you’re looking for a few fabulous fall lipsticks, consider Paramount next time you visit MAC. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Does your phone have a camera? If it does, you could enter the 2011 Breast Cancer Awareness Month Sign Project and Giveaway right now! (Hint, hint.)
The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Paramount Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mocha Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Oh Baby Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Mulch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Cremestick Liners
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sable Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Ochre Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ricepaper Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Cremesheen Glass Is a Veritable Deelight
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lipglass in Spite
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Impassioned Lipstick (and Watermelon)
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Lip Pencil Is In Synch
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soba Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bombshell Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sunbasque Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Clear Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Humid Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Naked Lunch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Russian Red Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Syrup Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Blushbaby Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Melon Pigment
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sumptuous Olive Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Vex Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Chic Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fast Response Eye Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Strobe Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blot Powder/Pressed
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Subculture Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
- MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V
- MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lychee Luxe Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
P.P.S. I’m serious. You could put together a cool sign and send off a pic to enter The 2011 Breast Cancer Awareness Month Sign Project and Giveaway in, like, seconds.
It looks so nice, though I’m not brave enough to try!
I love dark vampy shades, and totally embrace the brown lip (as long as it isn’t matte, and as long as it’s not surrounded by an even darker lip liner haha)
Paramounts looks GORGEOUS. I can’t believe I haven’t noticed it before- this is why I LOVE your Unsung Heros posts!
This shade looks amazing on you! I will definitely check it out soon!
Viva Glam I was my first MAC lippie. I felt so good to support the MAC AIDS fund.
Ooooh def a perfect fall color. I will have to pick this up!
This is a classic fall colour on you! 🙂 Looks good. I need to find a rich hue like this to suit myself.
Verklempt! LOL yes the good ol’ days of SNL. Love that lippy too 😉
Paramount is my first ever MAC lipstick too!
Oh wow. Somehow I’d heard the name so many times but never given this shade a second glance. Deep browny reds are just about my favourite thing ever and it’s difficult to find good ones these days. Thanks so much for the introduction to Paramount Karen! Picking it up ASAP!
gorgeous lippy will have to pick this one up ….
it does look perfectly fall-y!
Karen, do you want us to make signs for breast cancer awareness month? I was just wondering… 🙂 I’m going to try to get to it this year. Promise!
On a makeup note, Paramount looks fab on you and it’s definitely perfect for fall. I think I might look like a member of the undead wearing it, but it’s a beautiful color.
Hi, Kim. YES! We are doing signs again this year. Right now actually. Here are the deets. I would love to see your sign (and you might even win the big giveaway; lots of great makeup).
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/news/the-2011-breast-cancer-awareness-month-sign-project-and-giveaway/
I used to love this color too. I can’t quite wear it yet due to my blonde highlights. At my next visit to the salon I’ll probably go browner so I can wear vampier lipsticks.
I love red lipsticks but i don’t really know what shade of red looks good on my skin any suggestions? I’m a C40 in mac.
Paramount was my first MAC lipstick. Back in the 90’s I was looking for something that didn’t turn blue toned on me. I got sent to the MAC counter in Nordstrom and haven’t looked back.
Now that the 90’s are back en vogue, I think they should relaunch it as a rebranded LE. Just my two cents.