MAC Lipstick Collection

When I first started my blog, this was one of the first beauty posts I put up and I have decided to update the pictures with this post showing my current MAC Lipstick Collection because darlyns, those pictures were atrociously ugly (don't believe me; check it out here). Mind you, this is not an impressive collection per say because I only have about nine MAC lipsticks at the moment and I am fine with them. I hope to add more but let’s face it, MAC lipsticks prices are rapidly on the increase. I still remember when these lipsticks were like £11 to £12.50 and now the lowest price is £15.50. Anyway, it’s also worth mentioning that out of all my MAC Lipsticks, four of them were free from Back to MAC so it’s really not too bad. Some were bought because I had a discount (£5 off Debenhams). I think I have only ever bought one full price MAC Lipstick (Velvet Teddy from the US and Love Lorn from Selfridges). Okay, enough rambling now, let's get right into the post...P.S. I know I should have swatched them on my lips but I am working on a video soon so I will let you know when it is up. You can see these lippies in action in the video.



Packaging
I know a lot of people think MAC should do more with their packaging but I honestly think it is really amazing the way it is. It has a classy black packaging shaped in the form of a bullet which I quite like. I also think it is the perfect size as it fits really well in most storage displays and it is very easy to carry around in my make up bag. What else can a girl want? Most MAC Lipsticks have a very slight vanilla fragrance which I don't mind at all although a few people seem to mind. You can't please everyone, can you? MAC Lipsticks are the most common lipsticks people buy when they want to make a jump from regular drugstore lipsticks. I think they are really good quality and the wide range of shades and finishes available  to choose from is the major reason why people keep coming back for more. If you don't want to spend tonnes of moolah on very luxurious lipsticks like Tom Ford Lipsticks, then MAC Lipsticks are a very good place to start (Tom Ford lipsticks just look so luxe!!)



Finishes
I don't think I know all the MAC finishes available but you can always find out from their website. I only have some of  these finishes in my stash and they include: Cremesheen, Amplified, Satin, Lustre and Matte. My favourite finishes have to be Amplified and Lustre because I think they look the most flattering on my lips. Matte Lipsticks have never been my thing but they seem to last longer on my lips although they are such a pain to apply especially Ruby Woo. Satin and Cremesheen finishes are actually good and I still prefer them over Matte finishes.





                                                           MAC Nudes
When I hear nude lipsticks, I always worry sometimes that my lips may end up looking ashy. However, the use of a lip liner is an absolute saviour and I have been able to pull off many naughty nude lipsticks. It is important to note that nude lipsticks vary depending on your skin tone. I tend to go for brownish nudes with warm undertones as they look more flattering than ones with cooler undertones. I love my Nudes and I reach for them many times during the week especially when I am going to work. I feel more classy and professional when I wear them and I tend to reach for them between Mondays -Wednesdays (don't ask me why; I just feel serious on those days)

MAC Shy Girl (Cremesheen)

I think this may be one  of the most popular nudes out there because it looks flattering on anyone and it appears to just adapt really well. I would describe it as soft almost flesh nude with a light peach undertone. I was a little sceptical when I purchased it online (Debenhams had £5 off all lipsticks on National Lipstick Day) because online lipstick shopping is something I avoid especially when I have never swatched the lipstick in person. But my fears were allayed when I actually used it and it’s a really beautiful nude which I also reach for. Although it’s much lighter and leans towards the peachy side, I still like it. I line my lips as always when using it unless it just looks dodgy. I have a brief review here.

MAC Spirit (Satin Finish)

I purchased MAC Spirit in World Duty Free when I went to Nigeria in May 2014 and I absolutely loved it once I swatched it. I was debating on picking it or another MAC Hug Me (my fav but it's finished so not included in this post). I eventually settled with this because I wanted to try something new and I am so glad I did. It has a much darker/richer shade to Hug Me although it can be classified as a nude technically. I would describe it as rosy brown shade with an ever so slight mauve undertone going on. Although it says Satin on the package, I reckon it is more of a matte finish as it is a little difficult to apply but not as bad as my old love- Ruby Woo. I really like it although I secretly wish it had more of a lustre finish as I would have got more use from it. I have a brief review here.

MAC Velvet Teddy (Matte Finish)
I think this was the only MAC Lipstick I really wanted because it was always sold out, no thanks to Kylie Jenner. My lovely friend had to get it for me from the USA and I was so pleased to finally have it in my collection. I am so glad to see that the 90's Nude Lips are back and I love how various skin tones can make it work for them. MAC Velvet Teddy is a lovely Nude brown lipstick with slight pink/mauve undertones. I feel it appears differently depending on how pigmented your lips are. Although it is a matte finish , it feels ever so smooth on application and I dare say it is more of a velvet finish which is super flattering.  It's a perfect every day lipstick shade and I wear it often to work and on days when I have heavy eye makeup. It's absolutely worth the hype and one of my favourite MAC Lipsticks. I have a review here.

MAC Twig (Satin Finish)
This is one of the newest additions to my collection and I picked it up because I had a £5 voucher from Debenhams. I had read a couple of reviews on this lipstick and I knew it was right down my alley. I just love nude lipsticks or lipsticks that are really close to my skin tone. Twig can be described as a deep brown lipstick with a deep brick red undertone (not the most helpful description I know!). I think this looks more like the lipstick Kylie Jenner uses because it can make your lips look much bigger once you line it really well. Twig looks super flattering on my skin tone and it's not a perfect nude per say but it is one I reach for when I want to make a subtle statement with my lips. The staying power is really one of the best I have tried so far. I love it!!






                                                                 MAC Pinks
Apart from Nude Lipsticks, my next favourite shades to rock are pinks. I tend to go for really soft and feminine pinks. I also try to avoid pinks with very cool undertones because I have to work a lot with them for it to appear normal. However, I still love to go for pink lipsticks especially as the week comes to a close. You would usually find me sporting a pink lipstick around Thursday/Friday because I feel a little chilled during those days. I have not found a lot of pinks that work for me hence I have only two in my stash.

MAC Love Lorn (Lustre)

I am always a bit unlucky with pink lipsticks because I find that some of the pink shades I like are too cool for my complexion and the ones with warm undertones are just too drab for me. All that changed when I met up with my current pink lipstick fave-Love Lorn. I picked this up in Selfridges after reading several reviews of pink lipsticks suitable for warmer complexions. I did not even have to swatch any other lipsticks as I knew it was the one. I would describe it as a soft pink shade with warm/neutral undertones that looks so flattering that I wore it almost every day during summer. It is so flattering and I love it. I think I am a sucker for all MAC Lustre finish lipsticks as I think they are the easiest to apply in my own opinion.  I am still on the haunt for more pink lipsticks. I have a brief review here.

MAC Chatter Box (Amplified)
This is also one of the newest additions to my stash and I got it free via the Back to MAC programme. These days I think it may be more difficult for me to get six empties because I don't really buy a lot of MAC products that get finished quickly. Anyway, Chatter Box is a Light Coral Pink Lipstick which is much brighter than I anticipated but it looks great when I use a good lip liner. I actually love this lipstick for Spring and Summer and I look forward to wearing it more. I have to be honest, I have not been wearing it as much as I should but I think this season is the best time. This lipstick makes me feel really playful and I guess that's why I have not been wearing to work as much. I really like the way it applies and I think Amplified and Lustre Finishes are my favourite MAC finishes. The Amplified finishes last a really long time which I think is super impressive.

                                                        MAC Bright Coloured Lippies
Now these are my proper turnup lipsticks and I reach for them more during the weekend or on days when I can't be bothered with my makeup. I find that bright lipsticks make you look like you have made an effort when you really can't be arsed. I am going to be honest; I am still not a bright lippie gal but I have been experimenting more these days especially as the weather is getting warmer. I think the most flattering bright lipsticks on me are Reds and Purples although the right undertone is the key for it to work.

MAC Girl About Town (Amplified)

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you would know I hardly ever use bold lipsticks because I feel it does not look flattering at all on me but MAC Girl About Town is one bold lip that I can actually pull off. It’s a Deep Fuschia Pink Lipstick with cool undertones although it still looks flattering on warmer complexions. I feel so daring when I wear this as it’s such a gorgeous colour. The color pay off is exceptional and it lasts for a really long time in fact you have to actually take it off with an effective eye/lip makeup remover because this baby won’t budge and that’s why I love it. It’s one of the ones I got through Back to MAC.

MAC Vegas Volt (Amplified)

Even though I love nude and understated lipsticks, I find that peachy/coral shades are a little hard for me to pull off so I always approach them with caution. I threw all caution to the wind when I stumbled upon Vegas Volt maybe it was the name or the shade; I don’t know but I loved it even before I swatched it. I would describe it as a Coral shade with a tinge of peach which is ideal for people who are just finding their way into the murky waters of peachy/coral shades. It’s like a toned down version of MAC Morange which is a true bright coral shade but Vegas Volt is much safer and easier to pull off. I love it for Spring/Summer mostly although I am wearing it now in Autumn as it’s a beautiful shade. It’s also part of the stash I got through Back to MAC. I have a brief review here.

MAC Ruby Woo (Matte)

This is actually my second Ruby Woo; I gave my first one to my sister who loves bold lips and I can’t even recall ever seeing her with a nude lipstick shade. She has a much fairer complexion than mine and bright shades suit her really well and she can pull them off....I need a quick dose of her confidence. Ruby Woo needs no introduction as everyone, their mamas and their dogs either own this or have used it at some point. Yes, it is that popular. It is a Perfect Red lipstick with cool undertones although it still suits almost everyone.  I am really surprised at how well it suits me because it has cool undertones but I guess it's one of the exceptions.  It was actually the first lipstick I got through Back to Mac and it is amazing as it suits everyone I know regardless of your complexion. It’s a true red which has a mixture of cool and warm undertones and I guess that’s the reason why it is such a good all rounder. I reserve this mainly for events and I pair with neutral eyes..

Overall Thoughts

That’s it folks. You have all my MAC Lipsticks sussed out and as you can see, it’s not a huge collection but it is certainly made up of MAC lipsticks I actually wear and not ones I have purchased for the sake of it. I don't have any limited edition lipsticks from MAC yet because I am not really keen on them. I just want to get lipsticks I know I will get a lot of use from. Having said that. I think I may try one of the Viva Glam lipsticks because I like their packaging. I hope you have enjoyed this mini review and seen some new lippies you may want to try and let me know which MAC Lipsticks are your favourites in the comment box...x
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