MAC A Rose in Harlem & I Got a Man Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
A Rose in Harlem
MAC A Rose in Harlem Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a vivid, medium-dark red with cooler, blue undertones and a satin sheen. It had good pigmentation that covered my lips evenly and sat well on them, though there was a hint of translucency.
The lipstick had a slightly denser consistency, but it wasn’t stiff or difficult to work with, as the product had enough creaminess to it to glide over my lips comfortably. It lasted well for over six hours and felt lightly moisturizing over time. The strength of the pigment did leave a reddish stain behind as well.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Betty Boop Red (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Vieve Muse (P, $26.50) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Hi Striker (P, $7.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Forbidden Love (P, $38.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC PhillipeBlond (LE, $21.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay 714 (P, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Chanel No. 5 (LE, $45.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Laura Mercier Rouge Ultime (P, $32.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Russian Red (P, $19.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Lucky Star (LE, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.1 oz. - $190.00 Per Ounce
MAC Lipstick comes in a variety of finishes, and the pigmentation and wear tend to be dependent on the finish. The sheer finishes, like Lustres, tend to wear for only a couple of hours and have sheer coverage (as designed) and are non-drying.
Some of the original Matte shades have a stiffer, drier formula, while newer ones have a more velvety, silicone-feel to them, and the latter are creamier, more comfortable to wear, and easier to apply, but most Matte shades are quite pigmented and long-wearing, though some are drying.
The Amplified and Satin finishes tend to have good pigmentation, lightly creamy to moderately creamy consistencies with a bit of shine, and moderate to long wear with deeper, richer shades wearing longer. The Frost and Metallic finishes have the most variance between shades with coverage ranging from semi-sheer to opaque with average wear and non-drying to slightly drying formulas. All MAC lipsticks are vanilla-scented but have no discernible taste.
Browse all of our MAC Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Octyldodecanol, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Silica, Tricaprylyl Citrate, Ozokerite, Isononyl Isononanoate, Paraffin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Microcrystalline WaxCera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax Copernicia Cerifera Cera Cire De Carnauba, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Stearyl Stearoyl Stearate, Vanillin, Bht, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Carmine (Ci 75470), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 6 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 21 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
A Rose in Harlem
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
I Got a Man
MAC I Got a Man Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a muted, medium rosy brown with subtle, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had rich pigmentation in a single stroke, which adhered evenly and smoothly across my lips without tugging or dragging during application.
The texture felt lightweight, just creamy enough to glide over my lips but didn’t feel slippery when worn. In the close-up, there seemed to be the faintest amount of product in my deeper lip lines but wasn’t enough to be noticeable in person. It stayed on nicely for five hours and felt lightly hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Anastasia Staunch (P, $18.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- Sephora Classic Beige (02) (P, $14.00) is warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- Kaleidos North (P, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Gabriel Zamora (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- ColourPop WYD (DC, $6.50) is less glossy (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Bun Bun (LE, $18.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop Muneca (P, $5.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (85% similar).
- Anastasia Hudson (LE, $20.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy (85% similar).
- MAC Velvet Teddy (P, $19.00) is lighter, less glossy (85% similar).
- Estee Lauder Naked Desire (P, $32.00) is lighter, glossier (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.1 oz. - $190.00 Per Ounce
MAC Lipstick comes in a variety of finishes, and the pigmentation and wear tend to be dependent on the finish. The sheer finishes, like Lustres, tend to wear for only a couple of hours and have sheer coverage (as designed) and are non-drying.
Some of the original Matte shades have a stiffer, drier formula, while newer ones have a more velvety, silicone-feel to them, and the latter are creamier, more comfortable to wear, and easier to apply, but most Matte shades are quite pigmented and long-wearing, though some are drying.
The Amplified and Satin finishes tend to have good pigmentation, lightly creamy to moderately creamy consistencies with a bit of shine, and moderate to long wear with deeper, richer shades wearing longer. The Frost and Metallic finishes have the most variance between shades with coverage ranging from semi-sheer to opaque with average wear and non-drying to slightly drying formulas. All MAC lipsticks are vanilla-scented but have no discernible taste.
Browse all of our MAC Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Octyldodecanol, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Silica, Tricaprylyl Citrate, Ozokerite, Isononyl Isononanoate, Paraffin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Microcrystalline WaxCera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax Copernicia Cerifera Cera Cire De Carnauba, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Stearyl Stearoyl Stearate, Vanillin, Bht, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Carmine (Ci 75470), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 6 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 21 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
A Rose in Harlem is lovely but I don’t like the packaging of this collection at all – it all looks like cheap stuff I used to buy when I was 12. More and more, like others here, I’ve become annoyed with LE lipsticks (they’re pretty much the only makeup item I finish up, besides eye liners) – you fall in love with a colour and in a year, the love affair ends in heart-break. I’ll check out permanent dupes.
Well, dayum. I have 4 dupes for A Rose In Harlem. Not only that giant punch in the gut, but one of the “possible dupes” for I Got A Man actually is a dupe and I own it. I submitted it. Felt sad doing so, but perhaps another reader loves this one too, but has PML She’s Heaven also.
That sucks. I ended up not having a dupe for A Rose in Harlem, weirdly enough. I own so many reds. But I’m happy I didn’t dupe anything.
A Rose in Harlem is a gorgeous red shade, but dupes of it abound as it is a popular shade. I Got A Man – honestly, where does MAC get these names from?
Oooh I like the looks of I Got A Man, and no dupes for me either! Love your eye look BTW – the contrast of shades, of light and dark shimmer, all masterfully blended together.