MAC Art Library Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Down to an Art
MAC Down to an Art Lipstick ($18.50 for 0.1 oz.) is a muted, medium rosy coral with soft, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had opaque pigmentation, but it seemed to have a heavier, thicker texture that was prone to emphasizing my natural lip texture and lines to a small degree. I found that as it wore, it separated more noticeably along my deeper lip lines. It had a lightly creamy, denser texture that didn’t tug on my lips and was comfortable to wear overall. It stayed on well for four and a half hours and was non-drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Parker (P, $7.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Uno Mas (P, $10.00) is darker (90% similar).
- NARS Raw Seduction (P, $26.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Jeniffer (22P) (P, $25.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar).
- ColourPop With the Band (P, $7.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Jaclyn Cosmetics Sofia (DC, $18.00) is cooler, glossier (90% similar).
- MAC Princess Incognito (LE, $20.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Laura Mercier Brun Pale (P, $32.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia Hollywood (P, $18.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Classy Lace (156) (P, $23.00) is lighter, glossier (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.
Down to an Art
PPermanent. $19.00.
Soar
MAC Soar Lipstick ($18.50 for 0.1 oz.) is a deep mauve with subtle, cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. The pigmentation was opaque in one layer, which applied evenly and smoothly across my lips comfortably. The texture felt denser, a little thicker than the average lipstick these days, but it wasn’t heavy and wasn’t emphasizing of my texture like Down to an Art was. It wore well for five hours and was neither drying nor hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Mayhem (LE, $27.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay 66 (LE, $18.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Bite Beauty Pastille (P, $24.00) is lighter, warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Milano (501) (P, $38.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Hideaway (DC, $18.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine May She Raine (P, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Revlon Queen of Quartz (P, $10.99) is lighter, glossier (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever C211 (DC, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Backtalk (P, $18.00) is lighter, warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M205 (DC, $22.00) 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.
Soar
PPermanent. $19.00.
You Wouldn't Get It
MAC You Wouldn’t Get It Lipstick ($18.50 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly opaque color payoff in a single stroke, which adhered evenly for the most part, but there was slight separation along my deeper lip lines. It wasn’t noticeable from a normal viewing distance initially but after three hours of wear, the settling visibly worsened. The formula was neither drying nor hydrating over the four hours it lasted total.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Money Side Up (P, $10.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Velvet Beauty (LE, $36.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Brave (P, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Chaser (LE, $26.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Anderson (P, $36.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Fig (P, $28.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Little Tings (LE, $7.00) is glossier (90% similar).
- ColourPop Big Break (P, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Pastille (DC, $24.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Lilac (LE, $29.00) is less pigmented, cooler, glossier (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.
I don’t know about the formula, but I find that this is a really nice assortment of everyday colours that are a little different than a lot of the neutrals I see. It at least gives me some ideas of shades to look for.
Oh, I like all three but especially Soar. I wonder if these will be available in Europe though.
Fingers crossed!!
Out in Europe now! 🙂
Could you hear my ginormous sigh of relief? When I first read that MAC was releasing Soar lipstick, I just knew I had to have it. But now that I see it, I realize it’s not something I need. It’s a very beautiful shade with a great rating, but it’s not a shade that’s so different that I feel I must own it. Whew! Money saved. My no-buy New Year’s Resolution is still intact!
Soar is an absolute favorite lip liner so I’m definitely excited to pick up Soar lipstick!
Exactly what I was thinking at first, but since my Soar lip liner goes with so many shades I already own (today I’m wearing it with Chanel Rouge Coco Mademoiselle), it doesn’t make sense for me to spend money on another matching shade. Or is it? It seems darker than the lip liner.
Finally! Soar made into an actual lipstick! This will *probably* be one of only a few lipsticks I buy this year. This and EL Tiger Eye.
I have a few dupes per each of the other 2 shades, but only Mehr showing up for Soar, and Mehr is only 80% and way lighter and brighter!
I guessed I’d love Soar, but I own and love Milano, so it’s an easy pass. Might look at the lip liner, though, given how close they are.
These would be very popular, every day kind of shades – not out there, but just useful to have in your handbag. Soar is a more interesting shade.
Hi Temptalia. I’m desperate to find a dupe for Sheena by NARS. I purchased one by MAC and it’s ok but Mel Thompson says that Down to an Art is a dupe too. Would you agree? Do you know if NARS will release Sheena again? It’s killing me lol.
Jen.
You can compare any two swatches through our “Compare Any Two” tool, which is on this page as well as in the sidebar of most pages as well as under Swatches > Compare Any Two.
https://www.temptalia.com/side-by-side/?sbs_1_search=MAC+Down+to+an+Art&sbs_1=377938&sbs_2_search=NARS+Sheena&sbs_2=359588
They are in the same family, but the finish + depth are quite different on me! Sheena was limited edition, so there’s no guarantee or expectation that NARS would re-release it!
Hi Christine!
Do you know for sure that these three lipsticks will be in permanent?
Bye from Italy! 🙂
That’s what MAC PR told me when I asked.
Great news! Thanks!