MAC Port Red Lipstick

The Scarlet Season: MAC Port Red Lipstick

MAC Port Red Lipstick ($14.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a gorgeous ruby red with gold sheen. I really love this shade, and it’s neck-and-neck with Queen’s Sin as one of MAC’s better red lipsticks. They aren’t identical, as Queen’s Sin is a little deeper, with more berry as an undertone and doesn’t have the same gold shimmer. I love the gold flecks that you see in this lipstick. Port Red isn’t too orange or too blue, it’s just that right shade of true red. Surprisingly, it was launched in May of 2008 (so you may have to do some hunting to find it, e.g. on eBay), but it’s an amazing shade of red for the holiday season as well.

What about you? Would you wear this red?

The Scarlet Season is a series of posts showcasing and featuring my favorite shades of red lips–from glosses to lipsticks that runs through December 2009. You can sure expect to see a lot of red this holiday season!

See more swatches and comparison photos… Continue reading »

MAC Cult of Cherry Lipglass

The Scarlet Season: MAC Cult of Cherry Lipglass

MAC Cult of Cherry Lipglass ($14.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a semi-opaque ruby red with gold shimmer laced throughout. When worn alone (on my lips), it actually brings out the natural pink in my lips while adding some redness to it. It isn’t a bright, true red, though, even though it may look so in the tube. I love to layer Cult of Cherry over other red lipsticks, though, because it really makes the lipstick pop. For instance, one pairing I like a lot is Queen’s Sin + Cult of Cherry!  This was a limited edition shade available from the Cult of Cherry launch back in 2008, but you may be able to find it at a CCO or eBay.

What about you? Would you wear this red?

The Scarlet Season is a series of posts showcasing and featuring my favorite shades of red lips–from glosses to lipsticks that runs through December 2009. You can sure expect to see a lot of red this holiday season!

See more swatches and comparison photos… Continue reading »

MAC Classic Dame Lipstick

The Scarlet Season: MAC Classic Dame Lipstick

MAC Classic Dame Mattene Lipstick ($14.50) is a semi-matte shade of creamy, opaque nearly neutral ruby red. It’s a bright pop of red with a superb formula, and it really is a shame that MAC hasn’t made the Mattene formula (and its lovely shades!) permanent. This shade is certainly fitting to its name–Classic Dame–and it reminded me a bit of Chanel’s Dragon. The semi-matte finish gives the color a bit of glossy sheen without adding any frostiness, and it also makes it moisturizing but still hugs the lips to give you several hours of wear. Anyone else remember Classic Dame and wish they’d make it permanent?

What about you? Would you wear this red?

The Scarlet Season is a series of posts showcasing and featuring my favorite shades of red lips–from glosses to lipsticks that runs through December 2009. You can sure expect to see a lot of red this holiday season!

See more swatches and comparison photos… Continue reading »

The Scarlet Season: MAC Queen’s Sin Lipstick

MAC Queen’s Sin Lipstick ($14.00 for 0.12 oz.) debuted as a limited edition shade in Antiquitease, which was launched in the 2007 holiday season. It’s a stunning shade of brightened up ruby red with a soft frost finish. It applies evenly and opaquely with just two layers, and it hugs lips and ends up having a longer wear-time than the average MAC lipstick. I was really hoping to see MAC release another stunning holiday red this year but no such luck! You can check out some lip color combos I’ve done using Queen’s Sin, if you’re looking for ideas!

The Scarlet Season is a series of posts showcasing and featuring my favorite shades of red lips–from glosses to lipsticks that runs through December 2009. You can sure expect to see a lot of red this holiday season!

See more swatches and comparison photos… Continue reading »

The Scarlet Season: MAC Check Please Lipglass

MAC Check Please Lipglass ($14.00 for 0.17 oz.) is just a sexy bright red lip with the slightest reddish-gold shimmer laced through a rather opaque red base. It’s definitely one of those, “Yeah, my lips are sexy, what are you going to do about it?” kind of shades. It’s one of my favorite lipglasses ever, because the formula is so smooth, rich, and easy to apply. I really wish MAC would re-release this shade or launch one just like it (I’m down with a dupe!), because it is truly a stunning red. The closest permanent shade would be Russian Red, but I’d say you’d have to add a smidgen of Desire to really get something similar.

The Scarlet Season is a series of posts showcasing and featuring my favorite shades of red lips–from glosses to lipsticks that runs through December 2009. You can sure expect to see a lot of red this holiday season!

See more swatches and comparison photos… Continue reading »

MAC Russian Red Lipstick

The Scarlet Season: MAC Russian Red Lipstick

MAC Russian Red Lipstick ($14.00 for 0.10 oz.) is one of the brand’s classic reds–and by classic, I mean, it’s been around forever, worn by numerous celebrities, and embraced as as an iconic shade of true red. It’s a vibrant red with a slight blue-base, but on me, it doesn’t run too cool and almost ends up neutral (not too blue, not too orange) on my lips. It has a matte finish, but it does have a slight sheen when applied. It’s creamy, applies opaque with ease, and it stays put for hours (partially due to the fact that it is a matte). Even though the finish is matte, it’s creamy enough not to be drying (which is a huge plus, as some of MAC’s mattes can be). This is really one of those shades that I feel must be tried at some point in your lifetime, whether you’re a fan of red lips or not!

The Scarlet Season is a series of posts showcasing and featuring my favorite shades of red lips–from glosses to lipsticks that runs through December 2009. You can sure expect to see a lot of red this holiday season!

See more swatches and comparison photos… Continue reading »

MAC Mischief Makers Collection:  Pigment/Glitter Sets

Alongside the lipglass/lustreglass sets are three pigment sets. Each set includes four vials of pigments and one vial of glitter. MAC has them priced at $32.50 a pop, but they denote the value of the set as $39. Again, each set is housed inside a holiday box, so they’re easy to give away as gifts.

I always like the holiday pigment sets, because I think they give people a chance to try out pigments without investing $19.50 per shade (not to mention, you’re very unlikely to ever finish a jar–I never have… not even have I come close!). The only part I don’t love is the vial of glitter, as none of MAC’s glitters are eye-safe, so I just never find myself using them often. However, people do ask what can you do if not use them on the eyes, and my answer is: try them in your hair (e.g. mix with hair spray), mix into a nail polish, dust on your body, or pat onto your lips. Each vial is smaller than a full-size jar, but I really think you get more than you’ll probably need–certainly enough to last you years.

My favorite set was 5 Cool Capers, because I think they brought together some very bold, but perfect for fall/winter, shades. Running a close second was 5 Haute High Jinks, because I am always a sucker for earth tones. I think they’re flattering on a variety of skin tones and they tend to be easy to use (particularly the shades they chose–they all have excellent texture). 5 Sexpot is so-so, but it consists of mostly permanent shades, and I think I’d have liked to see the addition of a gray or silver in it, just for a little more kick.

See swatches and shade breakdowns… Continue reading »

MAC Mischief Makers Collection:  Lipglass/Lustreglass Sets

Every year, MAC offers up holiday kits and sets for giving and receiving.  This year, there are three lipglass/lustreglass sets, each with three lipglasses and two lustreglasses, and all of them are in miniature sizes.  MAC has them priced at $29.50 a pop, and they denote the value of the set as $35.  (Yay, they did the math for me!)  Each set is housed in cute, giftable packaging (as pictured above), so they’re incredibly easy to give as holiday gifts.

The majority of the sets contain a mix of permanently available shades, repromoted shades, and the occasional brand-spankin’-new shade.   Long-time collectors may want to take a quick glance at their stash to see if they already own a lot of the shades (or need to replace some of their old favorites).  I did notice that they repromoted quite a few shades from 2005, which is about four years ago, and I imagine some of those lipglasses may be in need of an update.

Don’t forget — if you like one of the shades that’s permanent but aren’t sure about the rest, consider purchasing it by itself and in full-size! ;)

Overall, I really did like the way these came together. My favorite set was the 5 Models Misbehaving, but I’m also often attracted to bolder lip colors, even if I seldom wear them!  5 Sexy Shenanigans was the lightest/sheerest of the three sets, while 5 Frisky Business was a good mix of soft, medium, and bold.

See swatches and shade breakdowns… Continue reading »

The Scarlet Season: MAC Viva Glam I Lipstick

MAC Viva Glam I Lipstick ($14.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a retro red if I ever saw one. There’s something about it that’s elegant, timeless, and always gets images of blonde bombshells dancing in my head whenever I pull it out. Can you believe Viva Glam I has been available for fifteen years? It was the first shade launched for MAC’s Viva Glam campaign. So, not only are you getting one stunning, classic shade of deep red, you’re doing good while you’re at it, because “[e]very cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass is donated to the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS.” Viva Glam I is a creamy red that’s incredibly matte without being flat.

The Scarlet Season is a series of posts showcasing and featuring my favorite shades of red lips–from glosses to lipsticks that runs through December 2009. You can sure expect to see a lot of red this holiday season!

See more swatches and comparison photos… Continue reading »

The Scarlet Season: MAC Warning Lip Varnish

I can thank my girl Heather for turning me on to one of MAC’s all-time greatest shades of reds.  I remember seeing her rock it, and it was stunning!  I was like, “What’s that?“  I’m sure I’m not the only one who misses the days of MAC Lip Varnish — slick, glossy opaque colors in bright, bold shades. Warning is a high-glossy bright red that goes on opaque in a single layer and clings well to lips. It wears well and lasts a good six to eight hours if I don’t eat (it survives some drinking mostly intact). It was such a shame when MAC decided to discontinue this formula, but maybe one day they’ll bring it back and perhaps even improve upon it…

The Scarlet Season is a series of posts showcasing and featuring my favorite shades of red lips–from glosses to lipsticks that runs through December 2009. You can sure expect to see a lot of red this holiday season!

See more swatches and comparison photos… Continue reading »