If you were anywhere near a MAC counter back in 2016, you probably remember the absolute chokehold the Ariana Grande MAC lipstick had on the beauty community. It wasn't just another celebrity face slapped on a tube. It was the "Dangerous Woman" era. The ponytail was high, the cat-eye was sharp, and the lips were either "bad girl" plum or "good girl" pink.
Honestly, it’s wild to look back at how much that one collaboration shifted the vibe for MAC's Viva Glam campaign. For years, Viva Glam was the gold standard for celebrity charity work in makeup. 100% of the proceeds—every single cent—went to the MAC AIDS Fund. When Ariana stepped in to replace Miley Cyrus as the spokesperson, she didn't just bring her fan base; she brought a specific, moody aesthetic that people are still trying to hunt down on eBay ten years later.
The "Good vs. Evil" Vibe of the First Drop
The first launch in January 2016 was basically a mood ring in makeup form. You had two products that couldn't have been more different.
First, there was the Viva Glam Ariana Grande lipstick. It was a deep, dark, matte plum. In the tube? It looked straight-up black. On the lips, it was this rich, vampy purple that felt very "goth-pop." But here’s the thing: it was notoriously difficult to work with. If you didn't scrub your lips within an inch of their life and use a primer, it could get patchy fast. I remember people complaining that it clung to every dry flake. Yet, we still bought it. Because the color was that good.
Then, you had the contrast: the Lipglass. It was a shimmering, light pink gloss. It was meant to represent the "good girl" side. Super sheer, very sparkly, and basically the precursor to the "glass skin" lip trend we see everywhere now.
Breaking Down the Shades
- Viva Glam Ariana Grande (V1): Deep matte plum. Edgy, high-maintenance, but iconic.
- Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 (V2): A matte orchid pink. This came later in September 2016. It was much brighter, more "doll-like," and way easier to wear for a daily look.
- The V2 Lipglass: A neutral mauve-pink with a bit of shimmer. Honestly, this might be the most underrated product of the bunch.
Why People Are Still Obsessed (And Where to Find It)
You can't just walk into a MAC store and grab these anymore. They were limited edition. That’s the heartbreak of Viva Glam—once the spokesperson changes, the shades usually vanish into the vault.
But the obsession hasn't died down. If you search for Ariana Grande MAC lipstick today, you’ll see listings on Poshmark or Mercari for upwards of $70 or $80. Is it worth it? Probably not for the formula itself—lipstick does expire, after all—but for the collectors? It's a piece of pop culture history.
The R.E.M. Beauty Evolution
It’s impossible to talk about her MAC days without mentioning where she is now. Ariana eventually took everything she learned from those big-brand collabs and launched r.e.m. beauty.
A lot of fans have noted that the "On Your Collar" matte lipsticks from her own line feel like the spiritual successors to her MAC shades. They have that same vanilla scent that MAC is famous for, and the pigment payoff is just as intense, but the formula is—thankfully—a lot more forgiving than that 2016 plum.
The Real Impact Beyond the Makeup
We tend to focus on the swatches and the packaging (which, by the way, had her signature in red on the bullet), but the Viva Glam project was serious business. By the time Ariana’s run was over, she had helped raise millions for the MAC AIDS Fund.
MAC’s model for this is actually pretty incredible. Most brands donate a "portion of proceeds." MAC donates the entire selling price. When you bought that $17 lipstick back in the day, you were literally paying for:
- 254 condoms to prevent HIV transmission.
- One month of public transportation for a patient to get to doctor visits.
- 8 nutritious, home-cooked meals for someone living with the disease.
That’s a lot of weight for a little tube of plum lipstick to carry.
Pro Tips if You’re Hunting for a Dupe
Since you can't easily buy the original anymore without risking a ten-year-old formula, you've gotta get creative. If you’re dying for that original V1 vampy look, look for "Cyber" or "Smoked Purple" in MAC's permanent line. They aren't exact, but they get the "bad girl" vibe across.
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For the V2 orchid pink? You’re looking for something like "Candy Yum-Yum" but a little more muted and purple-toned.
How to Style a Vampy Lip (The Ariana Way)
If you do manage to find a similar shade, remember the 2016 rules:
- Overline slightly: Ari was already experimenting with that rounded Cupid's bow look back then.
- Keep the rest simple: A winged liner and a ton of highlighter on the cheekbones.
- Blot and layer: Deep plums need thin layers. Apply, blot with a tissue, and apply again to avoid the dreaded patchiness.
The Ariana Grande MAC lipstick era was a specific moment in time when "baddie" makeup was just starting to peak. It was dark, it was moody, and it supported a cause that actually mattered. While we've moved on to lip oils and "clean girl" aesthetics, there’s still something about that matte plum signature that feels untouchable.
If you’re looking to recreate the look with modern formulas, your best bet is to head over to the r.e.m. beauty site and check out the "Midnight Shadows" collection. The textures are updated, but the "soul" of those 2016 MAC shades is definitely still there in the color palette.
Next Step: Check your local resale apps like Depop or Vinted, but be sure to verify the "batch code" on the bottom of the tube to see how old the product actually is before you put it anywhere near your face.