MAC - With a vast array of makeup must-haves, the most extensive shade ranges, a constant stream of limited-edition collections and those futuristic, sleek stores full to the brim with hypnotising hues, it's enough to send any makeup lover into a frenzy. I've been there, constantly googling swatches, compiling most-wanted lists and lusting after anything and everything MAC. Like a moth to a flame, I was unable to innocently walk past a store without popping in.
Now that my whirlwind love affair with MAC has calmed down, I'm left with a MAC lipstick collection that I half adore and half regret because I struggle to wear them often enough to really get my moneys worth. Don't get me wrong, I still pick up a new purchase every once in a while, but now I'm much more clued up on what suits me and which lipsticks I know won't be abandoned at the back of my drawers.
MAC really don't do things by halves, and their formula range is just as ample as the tonne of colours on offer, with nine finishes making up the classic lipstick lineup. That isn't even counting the separate lipstick variations that MAC make, such as the Pro Longwear or Mineralize ranges. Personally, I favour creamy and moisturising finishes over matte, which you'll notice from looking at my collection choices.
With practically all of the MAC lipsticks that I've tried, there is a strong pigment payoff, and the majority sit nicely on the lips. Those with a frost or matte finish tend to be more drying than others, but of course that's only to be expected. In terms of lasting power, I'd say that most wear extremely well, but those with a glossier formula need to be reapplied more often to keep them looking fresh. All MAC lipsticks have an instantly recognisable, fake vanilla scent to them which is far too sickly for my preferred taste, but this soon wears off and becomes undetectable once applied.
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| MAC Jubilee Lipstick Swatch |
Jubilee (Lustre) - Jubilee was my first MAC lipstick purchase, and I still love it. It's a subtle peachy-brown nude that is just so easy to wear and has an undertone that suits my complexion best. This is definitely one that you can top-up without a mirror. It may not be a stand-out shade that will turn heads, but I love how it can pull a look together, especially when wearing heavier eye makeup. Free from shimmer but with a lustre finish, MAC Jubilee has a glossy texture. Its lasting power is pretty weak, so you'll definitely have to slot this one into your handbag when wearing it!
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| MAC Viva Glam V Lipstick Swatch |
Viva Glam V (Lustre) - First off, you can never feel guilty or have buyer's regret when picking up a MAC Viva Glam lipstick as 100% of the money you pay for one is donated to charities supporting gender, sexual, racial and environmental equality. Whilst you're bagging a little treat, you're also helping out such a worthy cause. Viva Glam V is a reddy-brown nude, but the gorgeous golden shimmer running through it transforms this somewhat inconspicuous shade into something more special. You can apply a sheer swipe for a toned down, my-lips-but-better look (cliché central) or ramp it up with a generous helping to create a striking frosty look. Even though this shade has a lustre finish, it's saturated with so much heavy shimmer that it does leave behind a slightly gritty texture.
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| MAC Ultra Darling Sheen Supreme Lipstick Swatch |
Ultra Darling (Sheen Supreme) - Ultra Darling is a pretty pink-coral shade which contains a light dusting of very fine, white shimmer. The formula of the Sheen Supreme range is just incredible, being so juicy and glossy that lips are left with a vinyl shine. Having the texture of a thick gloss paired with a hit of pigment, these lipsticks glide onto the lips and provide a sheer wash of colour that you can easily build up to become stronger. The glazed finish does feel slightly stickier than other MAC lipstick formulas, so this lipstick isn't a long-hair-friendly choice when it's windy, believe me! Although, even when the glossiness has faded, lips are left with a slight stain of colour, which is great if you can't be bothered to reapply often.
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| MAC Speak Louder Lipstick Swatch |
Speak Louder (Cremesheen) - Speak Louder is a bright fuchsia pink with hints of orange to warm it up, making it a great, wearable option if you shy away from really out-there shades or avoid blue-toned shades. It's not quite as full blown as other bright lipsticks but still packs a punch. The moisturising cremesheen formula is a pleasure to wear but offers much longer wear than glossier formulas. Be warned - even after wearing Speak Louder for minutes, the colour holds on for dear life and can't be removed without a fight. The colour is so gorgeous that it's worth the extra effort to wash off, though!
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| MAC Costa Chic Swatch |
Costa Chic (Frost) - Costa Chic is a perfect summer classic and a coral through and through. Having a frosted finish, it can be rather drying, so I'd steer well clear of this one whenever your lips are chapped. Applied very heavily straight from the bullet, it can end up looking extremely fake. Softly applied to exfoliated lips prepped with lashings of balm and then blotted, though, this colour can look sensational. The orange tones can look stark and wash pale skin out, so I tend to reach for Costa Chic only when I'm more tanned.
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| MAC Insanely It Sheen Supreme Lipstick Swatch |
Insanely It (Sheen Supreme) - Insanely It is an almost neon, blue-toned fuchsia shade infused with purple shimmer (the swatch doesn't do it justice!). Like I mentioned before with Ultra Darling, the formula of this lipstick range is smooth, creamy and almost gel-like. Considering how buttery they are, beware of keeping them in warm places as they melt easily. The Sheen Supreme range is more expensive than regular MAC lipsticks and I do find I finish these lipsticks more quickly than others due to how soft they are, which may be something to bear in mind when purchasing.
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| MAC Impassioned Swatch |
Impassioned (Amplified) - Impassioned is the brightest colour in my MAC collection, being super intense and almost neon thanks to the amplified formula. It's an orangey-pink and is so pigmented that it provides opaque coverage with minimal effort. Paired with a toned-down eye look and a lightly covered complexion, this shade looks stunning. Feeling like your skin isn't looking its best? Slick some Impassioned on and it will detract focus away from any blemish blues. This shade does leave lips stained when worn for a while, meaning that it lasts such a long time on the lips without the need for too many touch ups. I love not having to worry about constantly checking a mirror to see how a lipstick is wearing off when I'm out and about!
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| MAC Rebel Lipstick Swatch |
Rebel (Satin) - Rebel is a deceiving shade as it doesn't translate as dark on the lips as it looks in the bullet. Sitting somewhere between a rich raspberry and deep blackcurrant, this purple-burgundy tone has a bright, vibrant undercurrent to it. Depending on my mood, I either layer this up for an edgy, vampy look, or dab it on lightly and pat it in with my finger for a less dramatic finish. Perfect for autumn/winter, it has a satin finish, which is long lasting but also feels more comfortable than a matte lipstick. As I'm sure you can imagine, due to it being so dark, this is another stainer. To keep this strong colour from bleeding around the lips, I always make sure to use it alongside a lipliner. It's not 100% necessary to use one, and I haven't paired it with one in the swatch photo above to ensure that the true colour is shown, but it does prevent any staining over the lip edge.
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| MAC Craving Lipstick Swatch |
Craving (Amplified Creme) - Craving is a rich pinky-purple shade with an amplified creme finish. A great choice if you're after a plum colour but don't want anything too dark and dramatic. This is definitely a sophisticated, more grown-up shade. Fail to look closely enough and you could completely miss the fact that this shade contains the tiniest amount of fine shimmer. Highly pigmented, creamy and long lasting, it's hard to find fault with the amplified formula. This is one of the MAC lipsticks I wear most on a day-to-day basis.
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| MAC Shy Girl Lipstick Swatch |
Shy Girl (Cremesheen) - Shy Girl is a love/hate shade for me. As my lips have quite a dark rose undertone, sometimes I think the light, peachy nude with silver shimmer is too pale for my complexion, making me look washed out and a bit dead. On other occasions, I love it and end up going through a phase of wearing it every day. Being a cremesheen, it's creamy (of course) and has a glossy finish to it. If I go a little wild with this one and layer on too much, it can sit on the lips, slip around and sink into any lines, which puts me off wearing it more often as I have to be careful when applying. Out of all my MAC lipsticks, this is probably the one I regret purchasing the most as I just don't get enough wear out of it.
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| MAC Hot Tahiti Lipstick Swatch |
Hot Tahiti (Glaze) - Hot Tahiti is one of the most recent additions to my collection, bought especially for the winter season. Although the raspberry red colour seems quite rich and deep in the bullet, the light, sheer formula leaves more of a buildable tint on the lips. Completely free from shimmer but having a glazed finish, this lipstick gives the lips a juicy look. Less shiny than a lustre or cremesheen and more comfortable to wear than a satin or matte, the glaze lipsticks have a perfectly balmy, gel-like texture. I also find that they stick around for longer on the lips, too, without being overpowering.
MAC's classic lipsticks cost £22. Limited special edition lipsticks cost £25.
Are you still crazy about MAC lipsticks?
AGB X
2 comments
I'm amazed that even the darker, brighter MAC lipstick colors look so PERFECT on your lips. So that shows no matter whether bright or neutral the lipstick colors are, they look beautiful on you!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAw, that's so sweet of you. You've made my day! Thanks, lovely x
DeleteThanks for taking the time to read this post and leave a comment! I try to reply to each and every one of them within 24 hours! x