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MAC The Matte Lip Collection (2015) Review, Photos, Swatches (Part 4)

MAC Instigator Lipstick
MAC Instigator Lipstick

MAC Runway Hit Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “light nude matte [with a Retro Matte finish].” It’s a muted, light-medium pink-coral with a matte finish. The texture is dry and very firm, which makes it harder to apply from the tube as it tugs and drags along the lips. The Retro Matte formula is one best applied with a lip brush to minimize irritating the lips. It had mostly opaque coverage, and it lasted for five hours but the color pulled into lip lines somewhat. The formula was drying over time, which is my typical experience with the Retro Matte finish. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

MAC Please Me Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “muted rose tinted pink [with a Matte finish].” It’s a light-medium pink with subtle, warm yellow undertones and a satin finish. It had excellent pigmentation that fully covered the lips and did so evenly. The color lasted for four and a half hours on me and was neither drying nor hydrating. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

MAC Heroine Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “bright purple [with a Matte finish].” It’s a brightened, pink-tinted purple with a satin finish. It had mostly opaque color coverage that went on evenly and lasted for six hours without being drying (but it’s not hydrating, to be clear). It left behind a reddish-pink stain. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

MAC Instigator Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “deep blackened plum [with a Matte finish].” It’s a blackened, purpled wine with berry-pink undertones that leans slightly cool and has a satiny sheen. It had semi-opaque color coverage, but it has a little more slip to it that makes it look somewhat patchy. It’s not the worst offender for this shade family, but I would recommend wearing a lip liner underneath to minimize unevenness. It lasted for six hours and left a stain behind, but it was neither drying nor hydrating. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as an “intense brown [with a Matte finish].” It’s a muted, dark chocolate brown with warm, mahogany undertones and a satin sheen. It had mostly opaque coverage, which went on fairly evenly, though it wasn’t quite as smooth or as even as a lot of the other matte shades in this launch. It lasted for five hours and was a smidgen drying. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

MAC Runway Hit Lipstick
MAC Runway Hit Lipstick

MAC Runway Hit Lipstick
MAC Runway Hit Lipstick

MAC Runway Hit Lipstick
MAC Runway Hit Lipstick

MAC Runway Hit Lipstick
MAC Runway Hit Lipstick

MAC Runway Hit Lipstick
MAC Runway Hit Lipstick

MAC Runway Hit Lipstick
MAC Runway Hit Lipstick

MAC Please Me Lipstick
MAC Please Me Lipstick

MAC Please Me Lipstick
MAC Please Me Lipstick

MAC Please Me Lipstick
MAC Please Me Lipstick

MAC Please Me Lipstick
MAC Please Me Lipstick

MAC Please Me Lipstick
MAC Please Me Lipstick

MAC Please Me Lipstick
MAC Please Me Lipstick

MAC Heroine Lipstick
MAC Heroine Lipstick

MAC Heroine Lipstick
MAC Heroine Lipstick

MAC Heroine Lipstick
MAC Heroine Lipstick

MAC Heroine Lipstick
MAC Heroine Lipstick

MAC Heroine Lipstick
MAC Heroine Lipstick

MAC Heroine Lipstick
MAC Heroine Lipstick

MAC Instigator Lipstick
MAC Instigator Lipstick

MAC Instigator Lipstick
MAC Instigator Lipstick

MAC Instigator Lipstick
MAC Instigator Lipstick

MAC Instigator Lipstick
MAC Instigator Lipstick

MAC Instigator Lipstick
MAC Instigator Lipstick

MAC Instigator Lipstick
MAC Instigator Lipstick

MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick
MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick

MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick
MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick

MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick
MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick

MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick
MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick

MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick
MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick

MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick
MAC Antique Velvet Lipstick

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
  • Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar
On eyes:
  • By Terry Smoky Eye Palette
  • Sephora Cappuccino Eyeliner
  • Sephora Blonde Ambition Eyeliner

55 Comments

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Ginny Avatar

I was like, there’s more??? Runway Hit is such a nice color, shame 🙁 . I don’t need any more vamp lipsticks but I bet I’ll get both Antique Velvet and Instigator this fall. I see the slight issues with them but they’re such nice colors.

Nicole Avatar

Antique Velvet and Instigator are going on my wish list. I already own Heroin and Please me which I love both on you btw! Runway Hit looks painfully drying-Your poor lips! When I picked up my pre-sale order from Wash N Dry yesterday, the SA implied that this collection was LE. She said I should pre-sale the popular shades such as whirl, etc. because they would sell out. This is a permanent collection, correct?

Christine Avatar

MAC HQ told me permanent (and I asked specifically after receiving the press release, as they didn’t have any end date, which usually is what LE collections have – a date when displays get removed) and also said that none of the existing line is being discontinued (but this bit was to their knowledge, and that they’d update me on that front if it changed).

Rachel R. Avatar

Instigator and Please Me will be on my “to get” list. I already have Heroine (plus three of the four dupes shown). I love the color of Runway Hit, but it sounds so horrible to apply. Antique Velvet is stunning, but way too dark a brown for me.

Rachel R. Avatar

I really hate lipstick that drags. I don’t think I’ve ever tried the Retro Matte formula. I may have a similar color in my stash, anyway.

Katherine T. Avatar

Heroine is one of my all time favorite lippies, so gorgeous ! Antique Brown brings back memories of the ’90s 🙂 Glad Instigator got an A – rating, this is tough shade to get right, but I think I have a dupe in my stash.

Make up tray Avatar

Christine just want to post, these are gorgeous pictures of you. I love your eye makeup!
I will have to see what u are wearing.

Nancy T Avatar

Instigator looks like EVERYTHING I wanted my tube of MAC Media to be!!!! Luckily, I do have great dupes for Heroine and Please Me. Gotta say, I don’t know how you do it, but you look great in ALL of these!

nicole o. Avatar

instigator & antique velvet are on my list .

btw , have you reviewed colourpop’s pitch lippie stix ?

i was gonna compare it to antique velvet , but it didn’t show up in the swatch gallery .

just wanted to double check .

Brenda P Avatar

oh I LOVE Instigator and Antique Velvet! I have a thing for super dark lipsticks but don’t have the nerve to actually wear them anywhere but my bathroom LOL

Sara Avatar

I thought the only points of interest in the collection for me were Studded Kiss and Matte Royal, MAYBE Men Love Mystery, but damn, Antique Velvet is tempting me.

luna Avatar

omg please me, was my very first and only MAC lipstick i bought. i still have it and use it. 🙂 it looks great on NC 20 girls 🙂

Priyanka Elffrost Avatar

I can’t wait for this collection! I’m a huge fan of matte/retro matte lipsticks. The colours are beautiful, although I have like the half of them, but the rest looks amazing enough to grab. Any idea when this collection is coming out in Europe ? specifically in Sweden? 🙂

tyler Avatar

Yes, I had to order 4 from this collection! Ive been kicking myself for not getting instigator and punk couture… I wish they would have brought that one back!

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