MAC Lip Gelees: Lush & Bright, Preppy, Shift to Pink, Resort Life
Last but not least… the lip gelees aka the best part of the collection, IMO! Okay, let me condition that: if you like shimmer/glitter, check out the lip gelees. If you don’t, you won’t like them. Sorry, these are DAZZLING. And more dazzling than Dazzleglass, too… Also, please note that, like dazzleglasses, these lip gelees do look prettier and more shimmer-tastic in real life. It’s hard to pick up on the multi-reflective, shimmering water feel and look of these in a photograph.
Oh, and by the way? These come with a whopping 0.5 oz. of product. That’s over three times as much product as lipglass. That’s nearly ten times the amount of product in a dazzleglass. Lip Gelees are one of the most affordable lipglosses by the ounce — $28 per ounce.
The news may be old, but the feelings are still raw. MAC has changed up their packaging for their pigments, which are loose color (often multi-purpose). The MAC website, just today, updated and not reflects the new jar packaging.
This post is extremely image-heavy (22 images, 4mb), so please be patient if it takes awhile to load. If you like this post, please feel free to link to it, but we would really appreciate if you did not hotlink the images! Thank you!! :)
Because this post is designed to give you a very detailed insight into the differences between the sizing and packaging of both the old and the new…
After dumping a new jar and an old jar, seeing it in real life, looking at the heighths, widths, density, etc., I suspect you’re losing around 1/2 teaspoon worth of pigment. It may be more, it may be less, depending on the pigment in question. (I estimate roughly 4 teaspoons of pigment per old jar, on average.) You’re still getting plenty of pigment for your money–likely more than the majority of us will use up in a lifetime. Pigments often differ in texture and density; they’re not all made alike. Some are very chunky (e.g. Kitschmas) while others are very smooth (Vanilla). At the end of the day, I think you’re still getting much more than you think (and you’re not getting as little as you think).
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the winners — agree, disagree? Surprised? Thought they were a shoe-in from the get-go?
Best Beauty Tool: MAC 217 Brush
14.6% of voters just have to have MAC’s 217 Brush! shu uemura’s Eyelash Curler (10.0%) and Clarisonic (9.4%) came in second and third, respectively.
Best Lipgloss: MAC Lipglass
MAC Lipglass continues to be the favored lipgloss amongst readers with 19.8% of votes. MAC shouldn’t worry, though — its various glosses all held the top four spots in this category. MAC Dazzleglass (15.8%) and MAC Cremesheen Glass (8.9%) came in second and third, respectively. MAC Lipglass won in 2007, but MAC Dazzleglass won in 2008. But for 2009, we’re back to Lipglass!
Best Lipstick: MAC Lipstick
MAC Lipstick continues to be a strong, now three-time winner, with 46.5% of votes. YSL Rouge Volupte (9.9%) and Chanel Rogue Allure Laque (6.0%) come in a distant second and third, respectively.
Best Highlighter (Face): NARS Albatross Blush/Highlighter
NARS Albatross Blush/Highlighter is certainly a reader-favorite this year, winning with 13.0% of the vote. MAC’s limited-edition Perfect Topping Mineralize Skinfinish (11.4%) and Benefit High Beam (11.0%) came in second and third, respectively.
Best Everyday Blush: NARS Orgasm Blush
NARS Orgasm Blush (now a two-time winner) really must give you that lovely, natural glow that we all seek, because 30.2% of you thought it the perfect everyday shade. Benefit CORALista (8.3%) and MAC Dainty Mineralize Blush (7.4%) came in second and third, respectively.
Best Primer (Face): Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
With 15.8% of votes, Smashbox Photo Finish Primer managed to edge out MAC Prep & Prime (14.8%) and become a two-time winner. Coming in third was Make Up For Ever HD Primer (12.2%).
Best Foundation: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation
Now a two-timer winner, Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (11.6%) just barely beat out two incredibly strong contenders: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (11.4%) and Revlon ColorStay (11.4%) — and yes, MAC and Revlon tied for second!
Best Tinted Moisturizer: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer picked up this award with 21.3% of the vote, with Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer (9.8%) and MAC Studio Moisture Tint (8.9%) coming in second and third, respectively.
Best Nail Polish: OPI
OPI is no doubt a reader favorite, as it received 45.6% of your votes. China Glaze (22.1%) and Essie (5.8%) came in second and third, respectively.
Best Exfoliator (Face): St. Ives Apricot Scrub
St. Ives Apricot Scrub (19.3%) wins for the second year in a row! MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator (17.0%) and Clarisonic (8.8%) came in second and third, respectively.
Best Moisturizer: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel won again this year, with 9.5% of the vote, but Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (9.3%) kept it close. Philosophy Hope in a Jar (8.9%) came in third.
Best Cleanser: Cetaphil
Cetaphil (14.6%) really, really barely won out over Philosophy Purity Made Simple (14.6%) — like it came down to just a few votes. As I watched the votes come in, they would change places regularly, but Cetaphil won it at the end of the day. Clinique Liquid Facial Soap (11.5%) came in third.
Best Makeup Remover: MAC Wipes
MAC Wipes make taking your makeup of a breeze with 14.4% of the vote. Lancome Bi-Facil (13.5%) and Neutrogena Makeup Removing Cleansing Towelettes (9.8%) came in second and third, respectively. Lancome Bi-Facil won in 2008 but must give up its crown to MAC this year.
Best Body Scrub: St. Ives Apricot Scrub
For the second year in a row, St. Ives Apricot Scrub continues to reign supreme with 17.5% of the vote. The Body Shop scrubs (11.7%) and Bath & Body Works scrubs (10.7%) came in second and third, respectively.
Best Shampoo: Herbal Essences
Herbal Essences wins our new-for-’09 category, Best Shampoo, with a mere 12.1% of the vote. Shampoo, on the whole, varied quite a bit, with 27% voting other. Pantene (11.9%) and Frederic Fekkai (6.3%) came in second and third, respectively.
Best Conditioner: Pantene
Pantene may be second in shampoo, but they’re your number one for conditioner with 12.4% of the vote. Herbal Essences (9.2%) and Kerastase Conditioning Treatment (6.3%) came in second and third, respectively. Like Best Shampoo, the vote was more scattered across the board amongst the nominees (other only received 7.8% of votes).
This is an archival post, meant to help direct anyone looking for certain information or reviews regarding collections MAC released in 2009.
U.S. Launch Date: January 8th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: February 5th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: February 12th, 2009 (Unveiling Parties February 3rd, 2009)
U.S. Launch Date: March 5th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: February 5th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: March 12th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: March 19th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: April 2nd, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: April 23rd, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: April 30th, 2009
Launch Date: June-August 2009 at Duty Free Shops, requires international ticket
U.S. Launch Date: May 28th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: June 11th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: July 2nd, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: July 9th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: July 9th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: July 9th, 2009 (MAC Store Exclusive)
U.S. Launch Date: July 23rd, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: July 23rd, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: July 30th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: August 20th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: August 27th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: August 27th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: September 10th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: September 17th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: September 24th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: September 24th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: September 24th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: October 15th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: October 15th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: November 5th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: November 25th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: December 26th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: December 26th, 2009
U.S. Launch Date: December 26th, 2009
Oh, many, many lipsticks and glosses have been highlighted over the past three months (roughly 55 in sum). Here’s a general summary and link round-up of all of the reds from the series. I also included a list by price point, in case you’re looking for a budget-friendly red or an ultra luxe shade.
Over the next few days, I’ll break it down and highlight some shades together with photos and commentary. Stay tuned!
Givenchy Elegant Pearl and Tender Pearl Gloss Interdit Ultra-Shiny Color Plumping Effect ($24.50 for 0.21 oz.) are two new, limited edition shades from Givenchy’s holiday collection. They’re sheer, pearlescent, and they pack a shimmering punch.
Elegant Pearl is a sheer, bright silver with white and silver shimmer. On lips, it gives lips a cooler, paler look with silver sparkle and a glossy sheen. It did remind me of MAC’s She-Zam Dazzleglass, which was another limited edition shade for the holiday season. Givenchy’s gloss is smoother and the shimmer much finer, which are both pluses in my book. (Oddly enough, MAC’s Dazzleglass is priced at $300/oz. while Givenchy is around $115/oz. — Dazzleglass only has 0.06 oz. of product!)
Tender Pearl is a sheer, neutral baby pink with gold and pink shimmer. It goes on as an almost milky, soft baby pink with sparkles of pink and gold – almost multicolored. It adds some color, but it’s not opaque – it really just made my lips look pinker, plusher, and paler.
This gloss formula is non-sticky and fairly hydrating with a perfume-y scent (though not as synthetic or as overwhelming as brands like Guerlain and YSL–neither of which I mind, but worth noting for those that do). It is supposed to plump up lips, but I didn’t notice any tingling or even noticeable plumping for that matter. The high gloss finish does make lips look more noticeable.
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! :)
Recommendation: If you like sheer, sparkling glosses, you might like these limited edition shades!
Availability: Sephora
Chanel Jupiter Glossimer
Chanel Jupiter Glossimer ($27.00) was a limited edition shade of orange-y red gloss with multicolored sparkle. I was happy to see it is still available through Bloomingdales, if this is your kind of red–you may even find your local Chanel counter still has some stock leftover from earlier this year as well. Glossimers have a very special shimmer about them; they’re smoother and finer than MAC’s Dazzleglass and just as dazzling. This is one of my preferred shades of Glossimers, just because it’s pigmented and super shimmery without being sticky or gritty. For a deeper, more opaque look, I’d recommend wearing a red or berry lipstick underneath.
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!
MAC Baroque Boudoir Lipgloss: The Lap of Luxury, Preciousness, D’Nouveau
Every year, MAC presents us with a very limited edition, small-sized collection that’s decked out in more luxe packaging accompanied by equally more luxe prices. This year’s collection is Baroque Boudoir, which is in clear packaging with filigree in semi-opaque white overlayed (but to be sure, they’re not stickers). This year’s collection contains a whopping nine items to covet: three lipsticks, three lipglosses, two shades of Sheer Mystery Powder, and a clutch.
The lipglosses are creamy, hydrating, and they’re non-sticky. They do feel a lot like MAC’s Cremesheen Glass, to be honest. They’re about as sheer, too! The glosses themselves are quality and feel very nice on the lips, but my big issue with these is that they’re just out of sync with MAC pricing (which is part of the point of their luxe collection, I’m sure).
They’re not any better or worse than MAC’s Lustreglass (these are completely non-sticky, Lustreglass is mostly non-sticky), which is priced at $14. I will also point out that this year’s shade range is less unique than years’ past, which is a little disappointing. Pretty colors, but you can find decent dupes or similar shades in the permanent range.
P.S. – I will do lip swatches this afternoon!
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! :)
Recommendation: If you’re a fan of the packaging or love non-sticky, creamy glosses like Cremesheen Glass, you might find these worth the splurge.
Availability: MAC Cosmetics
See more photos and swatches… Keep Reading!
Makeup artist, Karrie, shares this lovely multi-colored look, inspired by MAC’s Jingle Jangle face chart, with us today. You may recognize Karrie from her take on MAC’s Unzipped Look for Halloween! You can see more of her work at her beauty blog.
See more photos! Keep Reading!
