MAC Cosmetics

The MAC Alluring Aquatic Collection Extra Dimension Bronzers and Blushes Are Making Waves With Me

May 2nd, 2014 by Karen 20 Comments

Contrary to popular belief, mermaids aren’t always able to rely on sunshine and brisk sea breezes for bronzed skin and beautifully sun-kissed cheeks.

I mean, have you seen the beaches here in Nor Cal?

Holy crap, man! Most of the time they’re freezing cold and the skies are overcast.

But that’s where blush and bronzer come in, because even if you’re a mermaid, selkie or siren, you will find a way to get some color on your face and cheeks, high tides, cloudy skies and rough seas be damned!

The new MAC Alluring Aquatic collection, which crashes on shores this month, makes it easy to look like you’ve been lounging in a seaside sun-drenched seashell all day, thanks to its two Bronzing Powders ($27.50 each), two Extra Dimension Bronzers ($33 each) and two Extra Dimension Blushes ($27.50 each).

The release splashes ashore May 15 at maccosmetics.com and May 22 at North American MAC counters (internationally some time in May).

I’ve been wearing the Extra Dimension Bronzer in Delphic and Extra Dimension Blushes in Sea Me Hear Me and Seduced at Sea this week, and as a part-time mermaid (my regular job as Tabs the Cat’s personal assistant prohibits me from making the jump to full-time), I can say that all three have made a big splash with me.

MAC Extra Dimension Bronzer in Delphic — Extra Dimension Bronzer in Delphic

Starting with Delphic Extra Dimension Bronzer, I can’t recall ever seeing MAC release a bronzer version, so I’m beyond thrilled to see this soft brick tan with its touch of barely-there golden shimmer.

I’ve been using it to add all-over warmth to my skin by sweeping it beneath my cheekbones, around the edges of my face and across my forehead, where it deposits just the perfect amount of color to the skin without that heavy, obvious, powdery look that some powder bronzers leave behind.

The new-ish Extra Dimension formula, which is sort of a combination of a cream, liquid and powder in the same pan, feels soft to the touch — almost creamy — and I really, really love it, not only because it blends easily and looks natural (the bronzer doesn’t sit on my skin like some powder bronzers do), but it’s also long-wearing. I get from 8-10 hours.

Delphic has a finish that’s just about perfect, and I’m crushing hard on this one, big time. It looks matte at first, but when you look closely you can see a slight sheen. The fine shimmer also gives it even more depth.

And then there are the two blushes in beige pink Sea Me Hear Me and neutral plum Seduced at Sea.

MAC Extra Dimension Blushes in Sea Me, Hear Me (left) and Seduced at Sea (right) — Extra Dimension Blushes in Sea Me, Hear Me (left) and Seduced at Sea (right)

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The MAC Alluring Aquatic Lipsticks, Lipglasses and Lip Pencils Are off the Port Bow

May 1st, 2014 by Karen 23 Comments

Dear MAC Makeup Sirens of Alluring Aquatic…

Hey, ladies! I know y’all are busy reclining on the rocks and beguiling sailors with your songs and whatnot, but when you have a spare minute, ideally some time before your new 32-piece Alluring Aquatic summer collection arrives on May 15, can we schedule a quick conference call?

I’d like to discuss a major issue I have with the five Lipsticks, five Lipglasses and two Lip Pencils in the collection — specifically, I wish I could wear each and every one of them, like, all at the same time.

Four of the five MAC Alluring Aquatic Lipsticks

Frankly, I am jealous of the hydra, your mythical multi-headed pal, because he doesn’t have to choose among the pearly nudes, neutral pinks, plummy bronzes and vibrant violets. It’s totally not fair!

I, being a mere human (sigh), am relegated to wearing a single lip look at a time. ‘Tis a Greek tragedy of epic proportions.

But it’s not my fault! I have a weakness for nude lips, particularly in smokey eye looks using eyeshadows in unexpected colors, like the shimmery blue, green and plum Extra Dimension Eye Shadows from the MAC Alluring Aquatic collection.

I love the femme fatale look of glistening eyes and glossy nude lips, and I can totally get that by lining my lips with light nude What Comes Naturally Lip Pencil before filling them in with Lustre Lipstick in Siren Song (a pale sheer beige) or Frost Lipstick in Pet Me, Please (a light shimmering mauve).

A layer of either the seductively sparkly Clear Water or creamy nude Peachstock Lipglasses on top, and I, too, feel like a magical creature of the sea.

Oh! — and the pinks in this collection? Both neutral pink Matte Lipstick in Enchanted One and creamy rose Cremesheen Lipstick in Mystical are neutral enough to work with both warm and cool skin tones and perfect for a day at the office, whether you spend said days on sea cliffs singing enchanting songs or pushing paper at your desk (damn those TPS reports!).

MAC Alluring Aquatic Lip Pencils in Half-Red (left) and What Comes Naturally (right) — Lip Pencils in Half-Red (left) and What Comes Naturally (right)

I like both of the lippies worn either by themselves or with a touch of light bronzy pink Water Deities Lipglass or plummy bronze Seducing Sound Lipglass on top, which makes them even more alluring.

And how about those big parties at the Parthenon? Well, when I need enough drama to party with Zeus and Athena, vibrant violet Cremsheen Lipstick in Goddess of the Sea, deep violet Lipglass in Modern Lure and soft burgundy Lip Pencil in Half-Red perfectly accompany shimmery statement eyeshadows.

Yes, MAC Makeup Sirens, I believe that you gals know where to find me, since I can hear you singing your songs of makeup seduction practically every single day. Have your people call my people, and let’s set up a time to talk.

Sooner than later, yeah?

MAC Siren Song Lustre Lipstick — Siren Song Lustre Lipstick

MAC Mystical Cremesheen Lipstick — Mystical Cremesheen Lipstick

MAC Pet Me PleaseFrost Lipstick — Pet Me Please Frost Lipstick

MAC Enchanted One Matte Lipstick — Enchanted One Matte Lipstick

MAC Modern Lure Lipglass — Modern Lure Lipglass

MAC Clear Water Lipglass — Clear Water Lipglass

MAC Peachstock Lipglass — Peachstock Lipglass

MAC Water Deities Lipglass — Water Deities Lipglass

MAC Seducing Sound Lipglass — Seducing Sound Lipglass

MAC Alluring Aquatic Lipstick swatches from the left: Siren Song, Mystical, Pet Me Please Me and Enchanted One — Lipstick swatches from the left: Siren Song, Mystical, Pet Me Please Me and Enchanted One

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The MAC Alluring Aquatic Collection Extra Dimension Eye Shadows and Pearlglide Intense Eye Liners Are off the Starboard Bow

May 1st, 2014 by Karen 32 Comments

Wait.

Quiet, now.

Do you hear that?

That song…?

It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.

Oh, my goodness! I think I know what it is. That’s the siren song of the new MAC Alluring Aquatic collection.

Gah! Lure me in, why don’t ya? — with your lustrous teal packaging, Neptunian theme and the inviting Extra Dimension formula that makes me want to dive into your shimmery waters without fear or hesitation.

Yeah…this stuff sings to me.

MAC Alluring Aquatic Collection — The MAC Alluring Aquatic collection

The release splashes ashore May 15 at maccosmetics.com and May 22 at North American MAC counters (internationally some time in May).

The packaging…I lurves it. Shimmery, shiny and teal, and the little water droplets make it unlike anything I’ve seen before, at least that I can remember.

The ship sets sail with 32 pieces — a good many of them lipsticks and lipglosses — with a couple of lip pencils and plenty of beautiful pieces with MAC’s Extra Dimension formula (eyeshadows, bronzers and blushes). There are also a couple of liners, nail polishes, regular powder brushes, a makeup bag and a few other tidbits (full list down below).

Soft, shimmery eyes, chrome nails and glistening skin characterize the collection. Think cheeks with a soft, satiny sheen. Harsh is not the operative word.

The lips vary widely from warm nudes to neutral pinks, deep violets, bronzes and plums, giving a MAC Alluring Aquatic siren a lot of lip choices.

MAC Alluring Aquatic Extra Dimension Eye Shadows — Alluring Aquatic Extra Dimension Eye Shadows

I love it when MAC includes Extra Dimension products in their collections because of how well those blasted things blend, and how amazingly long they last.

Don’t be scurred of the shine and frost you see here, even if you’re afraid of shimmer, because in these looks I’m wearing the shadows rather intensely. Overall, I think they’re quite wearable.

I packed them on with the MAC 233 Split Fibre Eye Shadow Brush from the collection, but a MAC 217, with its fluffier domed shape, would deliver a lighter wash of soft, shimmery color.

I’ve been playing with four of the six Extra Dimension Eye Shadows this morning, and here some quick thoughts…

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Lorelei

MAC Lorelei Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, a golden beige — Lorelei Extra Dimension Eye Shadow

Lorelei is otherworldly! What a lovely golden beige and a great everyday color. I think it also has hints of peach in it…

I love it just buffed all over the lids. I know that it looks a little frosty in the swatch, but that’s partly due to the flash. It’s not quite as shiny in person (more of a subtle sheen), and I think it looks gorgeous with peaches and golds, like — ooh! — Indianwood Paint Pot or Woodwinked. You could do Woodwinked on the lid, Lorelei in the inner corners and lower lash lines and Soft Brown in the crease.

Yeah, awesome.

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Legendary Lure

MAC Legendary Lure Extra Dimension Eye Shadow — Legendary Lure Extra Dimension Eye Shadow

MAC calls Legendary Lure Extra Dimension Eye Shadow a deep cerulean…

I love that word — cerulean. 🙂

On my NC42 skin, it reminds me of a simpler MAC Club without Club’s flash of reddish brown, so basically a tantalizing teal-ish gray.

I love those peacock feather colors, ya know? I can’t wait to wear this one with a deeper green, maybe something like MAC Tarnished Eye Kohl.

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Fathoms Deep

MAC Fathoms Deep Extra Dimension Eye Shadow — Fathoms Deep Extra Dimension Eye Shadow

Fathoms Deep, which is technically a deep blue, interestingly enough looks more like a dark gunmetal periwinkle on me (Lots of blue shades often lean purple on my skin tone… Weird!).

Since I’m a sucka for smokey eyes, all I want to do with this one is smudge a black liner all over my lash lines and smoke it out on top.

I’m looking forward to trying it with the nude lip shades from the collection, like Peachstock Lipglass, for a summery smokey eye.

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Soul Serenade

MAC Soul Serenade Extra Dimension Eye Shadow — Soul Serenade Extra Dimension Eye Shadow

As for deep plummy brown Soul Serenade Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, it’s also sure to lure smokey eye fans.

With these shadows, because they are quite shiny, I like to add a matte shadow up in the mix. For me, whenever I wear shiny shades like these, I like to have something matte or satin to balance everything out, like I actually took one of the Extra Dimension Bronzers from the collection and put it in the crease.

That’s not a rule, mind you. If you like the full-on shine, girlfriend, go for it. Sometimes I do too.

Pearlglide Intense Eye Liners in Black LIne and Black Swan

MAC Alluring Aquatic Pearglide Intense Eye Liner in Black Line (left) and Black Swan (right) — Pearglide Intense Eye Liner in Black Line (left) and Black Swan (right)

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The MAC Maleficent Collection Conjures Crimson Kisses and Chiseled Cheeks

May 1st, 2014 by Karen 49 Comments

Sorcery is a brutal business. Between the handsome princes hell bent on thwarting your dastardly plans and the difficulty in procuring eye of newt and other essential ingredients, there’s the whole time-consuming nature of conjuring and the plotting of evil deeds.

A successful villainess doesn’t even have time to touch up her lips these days, what with all the demand for demon summonings and whatnot.

Can you imagine the mighty Maleficent, star of Disney’s upcoming movie and MAC’s latest collaboration, pausing in the middle of a curse to grab a lip brush to reapply her red lipstick?

Please. It makes perfect sense that MAC, in working with the dark sorceress herself, would populate the new MAC Maleficent collection with lip products that last a supernaturally long time.

I’m no sorceress, obviously (well, not yet, but who knows what the future holds!?), but I’ve been wearing the True Love’s Kiss Lipstick, Anthurium Pro Longwear Lipglass and Kiss Me Quick Lip Pencil from the release this week, and all of them last a solid 6-7 hours — more than enough time to cast a fireball spell, cook a big batch of witch’s brew and/or frighten some local villagers.

Of the 14-pieces in the release, many of which are re-promotes from the MAC permanent line, the lip products conjure up some seriously stunning red lip magic for me. Total musts for crimson lip lovers.

MAC Maleficent Lipstick in True Love's Kiss, Pro Longwear Lipglass in Anthurium and Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Kiss Me Quick — Lipstick in True Love’s Kiss, Pro Longwear Lipglass in Anthurium and Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Kiss Me Quick

In Disney’s Maleficent, which comes out this summer, Angelina Jolie plays the allegedly devilish Disney sorceress of Sleeping Beauty fame, who may or may not have been the villainess she was once portrayed to be. The film chronicles Maleficent’s “true” rise to power.

Yes, MAC totally has a thing for the bad gals (remember Venomous Villains?).

The Maleficent collection has a vastly different color story than the Maleficent portion of Venomous Villains did. Where VV’s cool-toned purples, blues and greens drew upon Maleficent’s skin and wardrobe from Disney’s original Sleeping Beauty, the new collection evokes Maleficent’s evil elegance, with bold neutrals for eyes and cheeks and, of course, that intense red lip.

In the Maleficent movie posters I’ve seen, Angie has a whole scary/cool thing going on — super contoured cheeks, bold red lips, striking eyes in neutral tones. No green skin like the original Disney character, but more of a chilling gray…

She kind of looks like a witchy version of one of Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love video girls from the ’80s, which I think is pretty damn fabulous!

MAC Maleficent Collection Sculpting Powder in Sculpt and Beauty Powder in Natural — Sculpting Powder in Sculpt to contour and Beauty Powder in Natural to highlight

With the exception of the grayish skin (really, though, would ya want that, anyways?), the look could be recreated with the 14 products in the MAC Maleficent collection — if you wanted to, that is.

But here’s the kicker that will probably peeve more than a few MAC fans: most of the pieces are re-promotes with limited edition packaging, and MAC does charge a little bit more for them.

Yes, you’re mostly paying for the packaging here, unless you don’t have some of these products.

And I sure do like the packaging! Like that logo, which looks like black wings, and the wings look like crows (Maleficent has a thing for corvids), which also form the shape of the letter “M.”

It’s on the main pieces — the quad, lip products, the cheek/face powder and the polishes.

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Yummy Mimosas and MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line in Apricot Blend

April 22nd, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

MAC Apricot Blend Studio Sculpt Shade and Line — Wearing the new MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line in Apricot Blend

I love mimosas… Last weekend I had a very nice Apricot Blend.

Oh — you thought those two things were related? No, I meant to say, “I like mimosas, and last weekend I wore Apricot Blend.” 🙂

It’s one of the eight recently released MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line trios — $21 eye makeup trios with two coordinating eyeshadows and one powder liner in each.

You can wear them wet or dry (wet makes the colors more intense), and each of the pans has coordinating colors — some matte and some shimmer, depending on the pan.

Apricot Blend has a matte orangey brown (like MAC Bamboo), a shimmery beige (like MAC Shroom) and a matte reddish brown liner (which is basically like MAC Costa Riche Eye Kohl in powder liner form).

On me they last about 8-10 hours when I wear them with an eyeshadow primer, which is pretty great wear time. They’re available now at MAC counters, stores and online.

MAC Apricot Blend, a champagne beige/dirty berry brown/warm coral peach (pearl/matte) — Apricot Blend, a champagne beige/dirty berry brown/warm coral peach (pearl/matte)

I wore this one, Apricot Blend, a lot last weekend to hang out with ye olde parents, 1) because I didn’t think sparkly glitter was appropriate for Easter brunch and din-din with the folks, and 2) because Apricot Blend caught my eye earlier in the week and looked fairly wearable and neutral. I decided to give it a try, after which I pretty much wore it all weekend long.

I call this my “warm orangey matte brown in the crease, with a shimmery, peachy beige on the lid, along my brow bone and in the inner corner; and a soft reddish brown liner mixed with black eyeshadow on the upper lash line with a warm reddish brown powder liner smudged along my lower lash line” look.

Yes, that’s a very long name… 🙂

The look is very similar to something I do all the time with other MAC products, but this time I used Apricot Blend.

What else am I wearing?

On my eyes: Katy Perry Lashes, MAC Costa Riche Eye Kohl (lower water line), Guerlain Blackjack Liner (upper water line) and MAC Carbon (mixed with the darker brown from Apricot Blend and applied along the upper lash line).
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MAC Unsung Heroes: Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil

April 21st, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

MAC Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil, $19.50

I staunchly support giving matte pinkish beige MAC Staunchly Stylish Lip Pencil ($19.50) time in the spotlight right now because of all of the peach and pink shades that came out with the spring collections, which I think it works so well with — especially neutral and warm pinks and peaches.

It’s one of those lip pencil perennials you can wear year round, but it’s really in its element now.

It can also rock with corals, I’ve noticed.

Not so much with intensely orange or red ones, but with quiet corals that have a peachy pink bent, it’s all gravy.

I know it looks kind of dark in the swatch, but it’s like the color of nude lips on a kisser. The perfect barely-there lip pencil, and talk about flexible.

Staunchly Stylish is like the yoga master of lip pencils; it goes with so many colors!

Non-drying, it skates across my skin without tugging at all, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it moisturizing. It doesn’t make my normally cray-cray dry lips worse, though, and that’s pretty good. When I wear it my lips don’t get flaky or dry.

It also lasts a long time, fading slowly over the course of 8-9 hours.

MAC Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil with Revved Up Patentpolish Lip Pencil — Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil with Revved Up Patentpolish Lip Pencil

Oh! — if you happen to have the new MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencils in creamy peach Revved Up, yellowish pink Go For Girlie or mauvey pink Kittenish, I think Staunchly Stylish looks fab with those shades, as well as creamy peach Lots of Laught Lipglass…

And creamy pink Carousel Lipglass from the MAC Playland collection.

And light pink Toying Around (super pretty!).

And the Mineralize Glasses in Lovingly Yours (a pinkish nude) and light cool-toned peach cream Be Nice.

Seriously, it can do so much! Please give it a try one of these days.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection

At the MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Cafe, You’ll Find the Perfect Color Blend

April 21st, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

MAC Olive Blend Studio Sculpt Shade and Line — Wearing the new MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line in Olive Blend ($21) on my eyes

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: Hi, welcome to the MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Line Cafe, where we serve fresh eye makeup blends, all day, every day. My name is Betty, and I’ll be your Beauty Barista this morning. Can I get you one of our trios?

KAREN: Hi, Betty. I’m not sure what I want yet… This is my first time here, and your menu is HUGE!

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: No problem at all. Take your time. If you have any questions, just let me know. Each of our Studio Sculpt Shade and Line products comes with two powder eyeshadows and a powder eyeliner, which you can wear wet or dry, so the number of potential color combinations can be a little daunting. But that’s what I’m here for.

All eight of the new limited edition MAC Studio Sculpt Shade and Lines ($21 each), available now at MAC stores, counters and maccosmetics.com

KAREN: I’m so excited! Let’s see… I can’t figure out where to start, Betty. Halp!

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: OK, well, how about we start by taking a quick look at the eight blends we have here in our display case? Do any of these catch your eye?

KAREN: Hmm…

Well, I think I like this pan [she points at the one with khaki and rose gold colors]. Is that a good one?

MAC Olive Blend, a rich rose-gold/deep olive green/ dirty olive (pearl/matte) — Olive Blend has a rich rose-gold, a deep olive green and a dirty olive (pearl/matte)

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: That’s Olive Blend! Excellent choice. It’s one of my top three.

KAREN: So pretty…

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: It is! Yup, it’s really great if you want something subtle, neutral and shimmery with a little more oomph than a basic brown or beige.

KAREN: It’s an interesting combination of colors. Kind of unusual.

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: I know, right? Khaki and rose gold? But they go together like peanut butter and jelly.

[She holds it up in her hand.] I just wore it last weekend. I did, like, a smokey, sultry look with the khaki eyeshadow in the crease, the rose gold on my lids and the darker khaki smudged out on my lower lash lines. Then I applied the darker khaki again on my upper lash lines using a wet brush, popped on some false lashes, and I was good to go.

KAREN: I would totally do that!

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: I used a MAC 224 and 217 to apply. Yeah, it looked like the kind of eye look that takes forever to buff and blend, but because the Studio Sculpt Shade and Line shadows are so soft and creamy and don’t have any fallout, I barely had to do anything at all.

KAREN: GURL, that’s music to my ears. You don’t even know. How’s the wear time on this cutie? My boss has me working these crazy-@ss long hours, so I need my eye makeup to last, and I don’t really like to mess with touchups…

BETTY THE BEAUTY BARISTA: If you use a good primer, you won’t have to worry about touching up at all! — another reason why I love these so much. Whenever I wear one with an eyeshadow primer, they last for, like, 8-10 hours with hardly any fallout, creasing or fading.
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The MAC Proenza Schouler Collection Clothes Lips, Eyes, Nails and Cheeks in Casual Cool Girl Style

April 10th, 2014 by Karen 42 Comments

I’m working the catwalk every single day, son. Every. Single. Day!

First, they said I was too short, and I was like, “BAM! Here’s your too short.” I’m 5’1″, and I can stomp-walk and hip-pop with the best of ’em!

Look out, Tyra, Naomi and Linda.

Why, just this morning I walked the cat for Proenza Schouler…

Mangrove Lipstick on my lips, and Rich Experience and Black Ice Pro Longwear Eyeliners on my eyes, all three from the new MAC Proenza Schouler collection

Wait — you didn’t think I was talking about actual runway modeling, did you??

GURL! 🙂 I was talking about actually walking my cat. He’s leash trained.

Sometimes it’s more like sitting with my cat, because he doesn’t always like to walk, but still — my take on cat walking is far removed from the world of high fashion.

The high stakes world of professional pet assisting…

Today, though, it was a little less far removed from fashion because, get this — I actually wore makeup inspired by the catwalk on my cat walk. 🙂

Enter MAC Proenza Schouler, the brand’s latest fashion collaboration.

Proenza Schouler, the New York-based women’s wear and accessories line, was founded in 2002 by designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez (interesting factoid: they met while attending Parsons School of Design).

The guys are well known for their refined outlook on casual cool girl style, and the 15-piece limited edition collection by MAC seems very much in line with that to me. I certainly see pieces here that cool girls would wear.

With two ombre blushes, four nail polishes, two lip pencils, two eyeliners, four lipsticks and a face brush, all decked out in limited edition packaging, the collection feels dressed up without trying too hard. It’s makeup for gals who like wearing makeup to accentuate a feature or two, and who may not necessarily reach for three different eyeshadows to wear in the crease on the daily. You know what I’m sayin’?

The MAC Proenza Schouler Collection: Some Thoughts…

Availability: Arriving online April 21; at MAC stores and counters April 24; and at international locales some time in April.

Lustre Lipstick in Woodrose ($22)

MAC Woodrose Lustre Lipstick — Lustre Lipstick in Woodrose ($22)

Lustre Lipstick in Woodrose ($22): LOVE the MAC Lustre formula. My dry lips are like, YES! every time I pull a Lustre lipstick out of my purse. They’re just so blasted hydrating and comfortable.

On me when I wear it by itself, Woodrose, a sheer, silky light beige, can look very cool-toned — almost gray. I have to pair it with either a warmer lip pencil or a gloss to keep from looking like a zombie, but if you crave cool-toned nude beiges, it might suit you well.

Satin Lipstick in Pinkfringe ($22)

MAC Pinkfringe Satin Lipstick — Satin Lipstick in Pinkfringe ($22)

Satin Lipstick in Pinkfringe ($22): Technically a Satin, which usually comes with some shine, this cool-toned flamingo pink almost looks like a matte to me. I think I like it more in the tube (so pretty!) than I do on my lips, as it has a knack for settling into my horizontal lip lines and catching on any flakes.

You may have better luck with it than I do if your lips aren’t as dry as mine, but I find myself having to do a lot of prep work to make this one work for me.

Matte Lipstick in Mangrove ($22)

MAC Mangrove Matte Lipstick — Matte Lipstick in Mangrove ($22)

Matte Lipstick in Mangrove ($22): This orangey matte red is cray-cray smooth and darned near flawless. One pass completely covers my lips without a semblance of patchiness or weirdness. I call it a MAC Lady Danger kissing cousin. They’re both very similar, but I think Mangrove is slightly redder and more orange. But not much.

Lustre Lipstick in Primrose ($22)

MAC Primrose Lustre Lipstick — Lustre Lipstick in Primrose ($22)

Lustre Lipstick in Primrose ($22): Like a more pigmented version of Clinique’s classic Black Honey Lipstick, this smooth operator is absolutely beautiful. is absolutely beautiful.

A sheer berry plum Lustre, it’s not exactly the kind of color I’d typically wear in spring/summer, but I’m looking forward to spending quality time with it in fall — early fall, before lips have transitioned to full-on deep and vampy.

I think it would look particularly striking on darker damsels/dudes.

MAC Proenza Schouler Lipsticks — Lipsticks clockwise from the pale beige: Woodrose, Mangrove, Pinkfringe and Primrose ($22 each)

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