MAC Viva Glam VI Lipstick ($14.50 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “warm terracotta-plum with pearl,” and it has a lustre finish. Lustre finishes have sheerer color coverage, and it is definitely true with Viva Glam VI. This is a very easy to wear color, because it’s incredibly neutral–not just in the color itself, which is a rosy terracotta, but it”s not too warm or cool. Like many of the other shades in the Viva Glam family, it is wearable across skin tones.
It wears just under three hours on me (I typically average four), and I find that lustre finished lipsticks are not moisturizing. I also find that this particular finish doesn’t always apply evenly. It is vanilla-scented, like other MAC lip products are, and the tube has metallic red detailing in the logo and inside the tube in the spirit of Viva Glam. 100% of the selling price of each Viva Glam lipstick goes towards the MAC AIDS Fund.
I wish lustre finishes were more moisturizing and applied more evenly. I find that because they do not last long, you are often left with random shimmer bits and bobs, while the color fades quickly.
Product
8.5/10
Pigmentation
8.5/10
Texture
8.5/10
Longevity
7/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Urban Decay Gilded Baked Bronzer ($26.00 for 0.26 oz.) is described as “bronze shimmer with veins of gold.” It’s a baked powder with swirls of gold and bronze within a warm, orange-peach base. Gilded is a gold shimmered orange-tan.
When applied, despite the more glittery look of the powder, it has a much more refined part-shimmer, part-sheen finish on the cheeks.I was worried the apparent shimmer would translate into a “Stop! Look! I have pores!” effect, but it was a gorgeous glow of golden warmth. I think it looks better in person than in photos–there is some subtlty that is lost. Though it was beautiful once applied and looked delicate but delectably bronzy, it did not wear all day–it made it to six hours and by the eighth, it was mostly gone.
At first glance, it seems like the price is around average, but in comparison the previous Baked Bronzer, it’s not. The original Baked Bronzer contained 0.35 oz. and retailed for $24. The newly packaged and relaunched Baked Bronzer line only contains 0.26 oz. but retails for $26. I checked the ingredients for this version against the previous version, but they are the same. I don’t expect most to rocket through the bronzer, whether it is 0.26 oz. or 0.35 oz., but it is always disappointing when a product relaunches and quantity gets decreased. I felt like someone was try to pull a fast over on me!
I didn’t receive boxes with my Urban Decay samples, but luckily, Urban Decay lists the ingredients on their website (kudos!): Talc, Paraffinum liquidum (Mineral) Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Simmondsia Chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, BHT.
I wish it lasted a bit longer, because I could make a stronger recommendation for it. If you're rarely out and about for six hours or more, then you probably won't mind the shorter wear, but it is still disappointing--especially when Urban Decay has so many long-wearing products in their arsenal!
Product
8.5/10
Pigmentation
9/10
Texture
8/10
Longevity
7/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
MAC Quite Cute Lipsticks in Candy Yum-Yum and Quite Cute
MAC Quite Cute Lipstick Swatches, Photos, Reviews
MAC Quite Cute Lipsticks ($14.50 for 0.10 oz.) feature four shades new and limited edition shades, plus one repromote (Saint Germain). The shades included are: Candy Yum-Yum (matte neon pink), Quite Cute (creamy bright whitened lavender), Saint Germain (clean pastel pink), Playing Koi (creamy white peach pink), and Playtime (creamy intense violet).
Candy Yum-Yum is a neon, magenta pink with a matte finish. It’s nearly glowing in its brightness. On me, the blue undertones seem to be pulled out. I feel like I’ve seen this color, but whenever I compare it to a possible dupe, it isn’t pink enough (purpler instead). It’s pinker than Madly Magenta cream colour base (from Stylishly Yours, ’10). It is surprisingly creamy and not at all clingy for a matte. The closest I found was Petals & Peacocks, which is several degrees brighter (Give Me Liberty of London, ’10).
Quite Cute is a semi-opaque pale lavender with a semi-glossy finish. It has a cremesheen finish, and it has the same texture, but the finish seems glossier to me. It’s a paler, sheerer version of Blooming Lovely (Give Me Liberty of London, ’10). Pinker than Lavender Whip. On cooler skin tones, this is easier to work with, while warmer skin tones may want to pair with a more pigmented lipstick/gloss.
Saint Germain is a really pale, cool-toned pink that is blue-based. It’s been released several times, and you can see an older swatch here. It is best suited for those with cooler skin tones. The closest permanent dupe is Snob, but I believe this was mad epermanent last year.
Playing Koi is an opaque pinky peach with a satin finish. Honestly, this lipstick looked like garbage on my lips–it highlighted every single imperfection and amplified them ten-fold. I exfoliate my lips every few days, and for reference, I exfoliated right before doing this swatch! The color itself is like Angel and Hue had a baby.
Playtime is a semi-sheer magenta purple with soft sheen and shimmer. It has a cremesheen finish. It’s similar to Style Curve (from Stylishly Yours), but this is purpler, less fuchsia.
my thoughts on the formula: MAC Lipsticks are vanilla-scented but taste-free. I typically get four hours of wear, but some of the lighter lustre and glaze finishes tend to disappear by hour three. Amplified cremes and amplified finishes, however, tend to go beyond four. I find the formula comfortable to wear and not drying (but not moisturizing–a couple of the matte shades can be drying).
They act and feel like your average MAC lipstick (according to its finish). Actually, the matte finish of Candy Yum-Yum was surprisingly comfortable (and not at all matte-like). Playing Koi’s texture brings out the imperfections of the lips and makes them look dry, even though it does not feel like a particularly dry lipstick.
Product
8/10
Pigmentation
9/10
Texture
7/10
Longevity
8.5/10
Application
3.5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
MAC Cosmetics, April 7th in-stores, approximately April 4th online
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Ice Cream Cake, Little Girl Type, Mischievous Mint
MAC Quite Cute Collection: Nail Lacquers
MAC Quite Cute Collection ($14.00 for 0.4 fl. oz.) features three light shades of limited edition nail lacquer. They include: Ice Cream Cake (creamy blue pink), Little Girl Type (creamy pale lavender), and Mischievous Mint (creamy pale blue mint).
Ice Cream Cake is a darkened cotton candy pink with a strong blue base with a cream finish. I used two coats. It is similar to Essie’s Splash of Grenandine–slightly more blue-based.
Little Girl Type is a light lavender with a cream finish. I used two coats. It is similar to China Glaze’s Light as Air.
Mischievous Mint is a bluish mint green with a cream finish. I used two coats. It is bluer but similar in lightness to China Glaze’s Re-Fresh Mint. This is much, much lighter than last year’s Peppermint Patti, and it is a blue-based mint green.
my thoughts on the formula: The consistency was thick but watery–not terribly so, but noteworthy nonetheless. I used two coats on all, because it was difficult to get thin to medium-thin coats because of how the brush splayed out. In all three polishes, the bristles of each brush were a bit wonky, which made it more difficult to get really clean, even coats. I recommend being patient, because the slight wateriness in the formula will cause streaking if you apply before the coat dries down.
The formula wasn't too difficult to work with, but it could be improved. Make sure you roll these before applying, because these definitely needed some mixing to minimize the watery consistency.
Product
8.5/10
Pigmentation
8/10
Texture
7.5/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
3.5/5
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!
Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
MAC Cosmetics, April 7th in-stores, approximately April 4th online
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Revlon Carnation (025) ColorBurst Lipstick ($8.99 for 0.13 oz.) is a medium-dark, blue-based pink with a soft, frosted finish and subtle fuchsia-magenta shimmer. It’s nearly opaque in color, and it doesn’t feel heavy to wear, despite the creaminess and pigmented formula.
my thoughts on the formula: Revlon’s ColorBurst lipsticks glide on easily, have decent color pay off (inevitably, pigmentation does vary from shade to shade–some are semi-sheer, others more opaque), and are scent-free. They are comfortable to wear without clinging to lips, though I don’t find them moisturizing. The biggest downside is they only last two to three hours (lipsticks wear an average of four hours on me), so the wear time could be improved.
The lipstick is packaged in a matte black case with a quilted pattern on the front and the Revlon logo/print embellished on the lipstick itself. I like the matte finish, because it doesn’t hold fingerprints, and because it’s not rubberized (like NARS), it doesn’t hold onto dust and powder remnants either.
I wish these wore a little longer! The length of wear is the most glaring downside to the product, and it's a shame, because I love how these are unscented (no cloying, synthetically sweet scent that so often plagues more affordable lipstick brands). I will admit that I personally had trouble shelling out $8.99 for one, though.
Product
8.5/10
Pigmentation
9/10
Texture
8.5/10
Longevity
7/10
Application
4/5
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!
Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil Blending Brush($16.00) debuted in the past couple of months, and it is a very small, domed pencil brush designed to blend and feather products like Urban Decay’s Shadow Pencils. It is made out of PET (recycled plastic bottles), so the bristles are synthetic and vegan-friendly. The brush itself is small–around 6mm or so in length–and it can be used in the crease, smudging of colors (on the lash line or elsewhere).
I found the brush wasn’t tapered enough to be a really great crease brush but too dense to blend out colors with ease. The fluffiness was lacking, and so while it could deposit color well enough, it didn’t provide the soft, airy feel that seems to make blending nearly effortless. I also wish the tip itself was a little more tapered and had a touch more give.
Funny enough, I didn’t find it useful in softening the edges of the 24/7 Shadow Pencils much; it worked better with powder eyeshadows. I felt like the creaminess of the 24/7 Shadow Pencils got eaten up by the brush and the result was more of a smeared look, rather than something feathered at the edges.
final thoughts: I’ve liked Urban Decay’s new brushes, but this one was a bit of a miss for me. It was designed to blend out the 24/7 Shadow Pencils, which I felt is where it performed the worst, and it didn’t excel in the other ways I tried it either.
