Today's post is about MAC Lipsticks.
Did you know?MAC's standard range of lipsticks (not including pro) come in a total of fourteen different finishes providing different looks, coverage and staying power.If you are like me a MAC addict then you'll be very familiar with the finishes and shades that they have to offer. But if your new to mac,With so many different finishes and textures, it is somewhat confusing trying to navigate your way through MAC’s many lipsticks.
Let me give a basic guideline for all the finishes.Yes, I know that’s a lot. Starting with the standard permanent lines,then ill give a intro for the non standard range and in the last you can also know a little about the limited edition and the discontinued series.
As the name suggests, they have no shimmer or sheen.Extremely pigmented, long lasting and creamy with absolutely no shine.A lot of people find this very drying, but personally I think it's the perfect finish for my lips.
Staying power: Around 4+ hours without eating or drinking. Even after that, color is still there but will need re-application to get it looking perfect again.
Coverage: Opaque after just 1 coat
Better suited to: People who like full coverage and don't want to constantly re-apply their lipstick.
My favorites: Russian Red, Please me
RETRO MATTE
Very similar to Matte, but probably even more drying. I love this formula too . There's no moisture in these bullets at all but they're super pigmented.
Staying power: Around 6+ hours
Coverage: Opaque after 1 coat
Better suited to: People who like Matte and don't mind being even more daring intensified shades.
My favorites: Ruby woo, Flat out Fabulous
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SATIN
The Satin finishes are quite matte like the Matte formula, but with a bit of added sheen and a little less drying on the lips.Satin is slightly sheeny but is more pigmented than Cremesheen or Lustre
Staying power: Around 2-3 hours.
Coverage: Opaque after 2 coats.
Better suited to: People who like to have full on color without the drying sensation of matte lipsticks.
My favorite: My favorite out of this group is definitely Faux my most perfect my lips but better, almost identical to my natural lip color; neutral pink with a touch of earthy tones.
AMPLIFIED
When it says Amplified, it means amplified - the colors are very vivid and bright and are not typically for the light-hearted. These lipsticks give opaque coverage similar to the Matte formula, but are much less drying.They apply smoothly and do not tend to dry your lips out,
Staying power: Around 3 hours.
Coverage: Opaque after 2 coats.
Better suited to: People who want full coverage, but don't want the drying finish that Matte offers
My favorites: Craving, VIVA Glam Nicki 2
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AMPLIFIED CREME
Amplified Creme offers the same vividness as the Amplified range, with the same amount of colour payoff, but even more creamy and slightly glossy. I suggest using a clear lip liner around the border of the lips as this has a tendency to feather over the lip line
Staying power: Around 2 hours(without eating and drinking),before it needs reapplication.
Coverage: Opaque after 2-3 coats.
Better suited to: People who want full coverage, but don't want the drying finish that Matte offers
My favorites: Blankety, Girl About Town
CREAMSHEEN
As the name suggests, the formula is very creamy with a glossy-like sheen to it.this is one of MAC’s most popular lipstick finishes. The creamy texture means that they are hydrating to the lips, but the staying power isn't that brilliant.
Staying power: A little less than 2 hours without eating or drinking. I find these finishes almost slippery to wear.
Coverage: I find them a little too sheer ,it needs 3-4 coats to build up the pigmentation
Better suited to: People who like the shine from a lipgloss, but want the pigmentation of a lipstick and who also don't want too much of color.
My favorites: cream cup,Cream D'nude
CREAMSHEEN PEARL
These lipsticks’ formula is the same as the Creamsheen, but with a bit of frostiness throughout. They feel very similar to the regular Cremesheens, but are a little less pigmented and creamy. Apparently combine the shimmer particles found in a frost lipstick and the glossy texture of a creme sheen.
Staying power: A little less than 2 hours without eating or drinking. I find these finishes almost slippery to wear.
Coverage: I find them a little too sheer ,it needs 3-4 coats to build up the pigmentation
Better suited to: People who like the shine from a frosty lip gloss, but want the pigmentation of a lipstick.
My favorites: Sunny Seoul ,Coral Bliss
GLAZE
Probably the sheerest MAC lipstick formula, it provides the most natural finish, while looking glossy.The closest to an actual lip-gloss, but a little more pigmented.
Staying power: Around 1 - 1.5 hours before reapplication
Coverage: Sheer, sheer, sheer and more sheer.
Better suited to: Someone who likes the glossiness of a lipstick but without the stickiness.for people who don't prefer pigmented colors to work but would like a little color.
My favorites:Hue ,Pervette.
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LUSTRE
This formula gives sheer coverage, with a sheen. I find them very similar to the Glaze lipsticks, but with a bit more coverage. They are glossy, so they are not the most long-wearing. Its very sheen and not drying at all. Lips look and feel very hydrated.
Staying power: Around an hour and a half due to the glossy finish.
Coverage: Semi-opaque after 2 or 3 coats.
Better suited to: People who like to have a shine to their lips, with a semi-opaque color pay-off and a fairly good staying time.
My favorites:Hug Me, Patisserie.
FROST
My least favorite finish. The finish on this range is very shimmery which is something which I tend to steer clear of. They give an almost metallic look on application. Quite pigmented and creamy.I think that you have to swatch Frost lipsticks in store, because I find that some are very wearable, while others are not.
Staying power: Around 2 hours.
Coverage: Opaque after 2 coats.
Better suited to: Anyone who likes shimmer or glitter
My favorites: Angel,Crème de la Femme
Non-Standard MAC Lipsticks:
PRO LONG WEAR- LIPCREME
MAC states that this lipstick will last for 12 hours.Although these lipsticks are very long-wearing, they are not drying as the Matte formula.They do not have a glossy finish, but are also not completely matte.
Staying power: Around 8+ hours.
Coverage: Opaque after 1 coat.
Better suited to: Anyone who likes Very long-lasting and semi-matte look which is less drying then matte finish
My favorites: To the future,Perpetual flame
SHEEN SUPREME
The Sheen Supremes are very comfortable to wear and moisturizing. This formula is a lipstick/lip gloss hybrid. They have the color pay-off of a lipstick, but are very glossy like a lip gloss but they are not sticky like gloss. have noticed that the lighter colors can tend to settle into lines on the lips.
Staying power: Around 3 hours.
Coverage: Opaque after 2 coats.
Better suited to: Anyone who likes Glossy, moisturizing, decent color payoff without the sticky feeling of gloss.
My favorites: Insanely it,Bare again
MINERALIZE RICH
MAC’s newest line of lipsticks, the Mineralize Rich line boasts a formula comprised of 77 different minerals. It is a very rich and creamy lipstick formula, even creamier than the Cremesheen formula.
Staying power: Around 3 hours.
Coverage: Opaque after 1-2 coats.
Better suited to: Anyone who likes Creamy, highly pigmented, lipsticks which appear more glossy.
My favorites: Soo good,Wear with flare
MATTENE
Despite having matte in the name, these lipsticks are actually quite creamy and comfortable to apply. Mattene lipsticks are not a permanent product for MAC, but are released with limited edition collections from time to time.
Staying power: Around 4 hours.
Coverage: Opaque after 1-2 coats.
Better suited to: Anyone who likes Creamy, long-wearing, opaque coverage, and a non-drying texture.
My favorites: Delectable,Camden Chic (styleseeker)
DISCONTINUED /LIMITED EDITION SERIES
SLIMSHINE
These were fairly pigmented and with lots of shimmer and shine.
Staying power: Around 1-3 hours(without eating and drinking)
Coverage: Opaque after 2-3 coats.
Better suited to: Anyone who likes not to much color and more of shine and gloss effect.
My favorite: Bare is a smooth pale gray-pink with little shimmer but lots of shine. I would consider this in the same family as Blankety lipstick.
DAZZLE
It was a limited edition series.These had the texture of a semi matte the one thing unique about them was they were loaded with glitters,yes real glitters through out the whole bullet.limited edition, glittery.It doesn't look amazing by itself in my opinion–it seems a little clumpy and gritty (even though it doesn't feel gritty!). There was some glitter shifting, but it wasn't too bad.
Staying power: Around 1-2 hours(without eating and drinking)
Coverage: Opaque after 2-4 coats.
Better suited to: Anyone who likes not to much color and more of shine and gloss effect.
My favorite:Glaringly Hip is a semi-sheer muted peach with brown undertones and pink and white
Sorry this was such a long post, but I wanted to do a complete guide to MAC lipsticks.This little guide should hopefully encourage you to go into MAC and purchase without feeling a little less nervous and a little more product savvy.
Until next time,
Stay Gorgeous,
Ma'as Salama
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