MAC Work It Out Crystal Glaze Glosses Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Flex Appeal
MAC Flex Appeal Crystal Glaze Gloss ($22.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a muted, berry-tinted translucent base with barely-there pearl. It gave my lips a slightly darker, pinker look but did not add a lot of color or coverage. It had sheer coverage, which wasn’t buildable, that lasted for two hours. The consistency was smooth, jelly-like, and comfortable to wear. The formula was hydrating over time.
The Crystal Glaze Gloss formula is supposed to be an “ultra-moisturizing gloss” that has “an intense, glossy shine.” The texture was soft, smooth, and almost jelly-like–but denser and not quite as slippery. It felt balm-like on the lips and had no tackiness at all (completely unlike most of their gloss formulas) and had a very light vanilla scent. MAC recently released this formula in their Makeup Art Cosmetics collection, and it’s part of the upcoming Work It Out launch that debuts on Thursday.
However, only one of the six new, limited shades for Work It Out is described as sheer, and the formula runs sheer, which is where it falls the shortest. This formula is best for someone who likes tinted gloss that’s hydrating and non-sticky but not someone who wants noticeable coverage. I’ll definitely check back on the official description (to see if it changes) when these officially launch, though.
Top Dupes
- Sisley Paris Berry (5) (P, $50.00) is darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- MAC Fashion Perk (P, $22.00) is darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Guerlain Madame Batifole (860) (LE, $30.00) is darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
Flex Appeal
LELimited Edition. $24.00.
Love Your Body
MAC Love Your Body Crystal Glaze Gloss ($22.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a muted, medium pinky-coral tinted translucent base with a touch of pearl. It made my lips appear warmer, brighter, and glossier without dramatically altering the color. It looked more like a tinted gloss than something with actual coverage. The consistency was jelly-like, comfortable to wear, and had a lot of shine while being hydrating. This shade lasted for two and a half hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Hourglass Cameo (P, $49.00) is glossier (90% similar).
- NARS Chihuahua (P, $26.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Easy Bake (DC, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Sundress (34) (P, $12.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Cha-Cha-Cha (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Fleur d'Eau (192) (LE, $30.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Nectar (LE, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Aurora (822) (P, $30.00) is less shimmery (85% similar).
- Chanel Bliss (181) (LE, $30.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Sensible (15) (P, $34.00) is warmer (85% similar).
Love Your Body
LELimited Edition. $24.00.
Nice Cheeks
MAC Nice Cheeks Crystal Glaze Gloss ($22.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a brownish-tinted translucent base with no pearl. It seemed to add some warmth and deepen my natural lip color just slightly, but it was one of the sheerer and least impactful shades in the launch. The consistency was jelly-like and easy to spread across the lips. It was hydrating over the two hours it lasted.
Top Dupes
- MAC French Kiss (LE, $20.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Tower 28 Almond (P, $14.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Becca Fig/Topaz (P, $24.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Surratt Beauty Au Naturelle (P, $32.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay 1993 (P, $20.00) is darker (90% similar).
Nice Cheeks
LELimited Edition. $24.00.
Oh My Lunge
MAC Oh My Lunge Crystal Glaze Gloss ($22.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a very light pink with warm undertones. It had sheer coverage–and this shade was actually listed as sheer by the brand–that bordered on transparent as there was so little visible tint. I felt like the only difference was my lips look wet and as a result, a little “darker” compared to being totally bare. The texture was comfortable to wear, jelly-like but not too thick, and non-sticky. This shade lasted two and a half hours and was moisturizing.
Top Dupes
- Chanel Bliss (181) (LE, $30.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Nectar (LE, $24.00) is more pigmented (90% similar).
- NARS Chihuahua (P, $26.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Sephora Sundress (34) (P, $12.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Chanel Fleur d'Eau (192) (LE, $30.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Sensible (15) (P, $34.00) is darker, more pigmented, warmer (85% similar).
- NYX Apple Strudel (P, $5.00).
Oh My Lunge
LELimited Edition. $24.00.
Ripped
MAC Ripped Crystal Glaze Gloss ($22.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a raspberry pink with cool undertones and barely-there pearl. This was one of the more “pigmented” shades in the range, though it still looked like tinted gloss rather than regular gloss or lipstick. It deepened and drew out the pink in my lip color while hydrating my lips. It had a smooth, balm-like feel that had a high-shine finish. This shade wore well for three hours on me.
Top Dupes
- NARS Glow Pink (LE, $26.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Too Faced Like a Boss (P, ) is more pigmented (90% similar).
- NARS Easy Lover (P, $26.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Rhythm (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Sephora Pin-up Pink (17) (P, $12.00) is darker, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Sephora Raspberry Punch (21) (P, $12.00) is darker, more pigmented (90% similar).
- MAC Petite Indulgence (LE, $20.00) is more pigmented (90% similar).
- Revlon Berry Allure (DC, $7.99) is more pigmented (85% similar).
Ripped
LELimited Edition. $24.00.
Sixxx Pack
MAC Sixxx Pack Crystal Glaze Gloss ($22.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a bright, light-medium pink with cool, blue undertones and barely-there pearl. It had very sheer coverage that brought out the natural pink tones in my lips but did not really add coverage or color. It looked more like a glossy stain, but it didn’t actually stain as it only lasted for two hours on me. The gloss was non-sticky, jelly-like but not thick, and hydrating while worn.
Top Dupes
- NARS Marquesas (LE, $26.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Tetiaroa (LE, $26.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Sephora + Pantone Universe Foxglove (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Three (Watercolor) (LE, ) is lighter, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Obsessed (P, $20.00) is brighter (90% similar).
- MAC Tender (P, $22.00) is lighter, more pigmented (90% similar).
- NARS Istria (P, $26.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Orgasm (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- LORAC True Beauty (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Not at all WYSIWIG, one would think, looking at the pot, they’d be a lot more pigmented. Boy, is that one run-on sentence. Impulse buyers will be very disappointed, if they pick these up, expecting significant color differences. At least the lipcare aspect is good.
Yeah, I feel like these are missing some info re: sheerness on the listing so we’ll see how it gets updated, if it does, when these launch on Thursday.
Wow, I LOVED pot glosses back in the day and wish they’d come back. I see at least 3 shades that I must have.
Awesome to hear!
They look so pretty on the pots, too bad they don’t perform so well!
They’re hydrating, just not long-wearing or very pigmented!
Question to ask myself: would I really spend $22 on a glossy tinted lip balm?
I’m not so sure. And yet I can definitely see their usefulness. Having one could seriously come in very handy when our very dry, hot season kicks in. Like lip-saving handy. I might get Ripped or Flex Appeal, in that case.
I feel like one is useful, but totally unnecessary to have more than one or two of this type of product to me!
Just heads up …. they are 40% off right now so they are about 12 bucks. I picked 1 up and it’s really good balm for a natural day!
I kind of like these: it’s like a lip balm that looks like a gloss. But I made a pledge not to buy anything limited edition from Mac. So too bad for them!??
Money saved!
Wow, these are all nearly identical on the lips. I hate it when glosses look bright in the pot or tube and are almost colorless on the lips.
Yeah, they run together!
Flex appeal, and nice cheeks are pretty!!!
I wont be picking any up, because I’m one of the types that only needs one sheer lip product, and I already have mine!!
Makes sense to me! 🙂
Ripped is the sheerest red I’ve ever seen!
lol!
So disappointing. Years ago they made colored balms in a pot that were pigmented that I loved. These are nothing close to that.
I’m guessing these are designed to be sheer, though they don’t actually say so.
What a bummer! I don’t know why MAC would come out with these – it’s not exactly the most convenient, sanitary or easy to use product with this format. I like the colour range though!
I can see their purpose, but I think they need a better description of these since they run very sheer!
These will be wonderful for those who aren’t comfortable with makeup. Will give a polished but unmade up look for summer, sports, work outs, etc. Also nice for young girls/women who aren’t allowed much makeup. I would have died for one of these in jr. high. There’s something for everyone!
Reminds me of the Chanel neon jelly glosses!
it’s like you have to choose a colour based only on what makes you happy when you open the jar and see it in there before u apply haha. i feel bad for anyone who buys more than one of these. there’s nooo difference between em! i feel like there’s no market for these in 2017. disappointing.
Are these similar to the tinted lip conditioners MAC used to sell? I personally LOVED those and got so excited when these came out. I hope they are!
The texture is pretty different!