MAC Back in Vogue Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is described as a “peachy nude.” It’s a light-medium peachy coral with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had opaque color coverage with a consistency that emphasized every line and imperfection on the lip while “cracking” as soon as I smiled. It dried down in about thirty seconds, though it was fairly easy to apply and work with. I noticed quite a few streaks when I was applying, but the majority of them disappeared once the formula dried, which was a nice surprise–so better to get fairly even coverage and let the streaks take care of themselves rather than keep fussing with it! It lasted for six hours but was very drying for me. ColourPop Peppermint (LE, $7.00) is darker, glossier (85% similar). Makeup Geek Beach Bunny (P, $12.00) is glossier (95% similar). ColourPop Creme Fresh (P, $10.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). MAC Oxblood (LE, $19.00) is lighter (85% similar). ColourPop Exaggerated (LE, $7.00) is glossier (90% similar). NARS Firecracker (LE, $26.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). MAC My Tweedy (P, $22.00) is more muted (90% similar). MAC Margherita (LE, $19.00) is brighter (90% similar). ColourPop Bloom2Bloom (LE, $10.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty James (P, $36.00) is darker, glossier (85% similar). Dose of Colors Peachii (LE, $18.00) is darker, more muted (85% similar). ColourPop Hades (LE, $8.00) is more muted, cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Chella (LE, $7.00) is cooler, glossier (85% similar). NARS Lodhi (P, $25.00) is darker, glossier (85% similar). Sephora Peach Tart (LE, $14.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). NARS Grotto (LE, $27.00) is darker (85% similar). NYX Daydream (P, $6.00) is more muted, cooler, glossier (85% similar). Urban Decay Kinky (P, $18.00) is lighter, more muted, cooler (85% similar). Too Faced Melted Coral (P, $21.00) is brighter, glossier (85% similar). ColourPop Rayezor (LE, $7.00) is darker, glossier (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Lady Be Good Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is described as a “warm mid-tone nude.” It’s a muted, light-medium peachy-brown with warm undertones and a very, flat matte finish. This one had a dryness to the end result that looked almost powdery, and I did have some issues with the color flaking away here and there unevenly. It was also the fastest-drying of all fifteen shades–about twenty seconds! The color was quite pigmented, but it was very drying, separated from lip lines as soon as I smiled (once it was dry). It looked good for about four hours, and after that, there was too much unevenness/fading. ColourPop Magic Wand (P, $7.00) is glossier (90% similar). Anastasia Spirit (LE, $18.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Rare Beauty Talented (P, $20.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Bite Beauty Crème Caramel (P, $24.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). Estee Lauder Covetous Nude (P, $32.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar). Milani Adore (LE, $8.99) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Wholesome (LE, $19.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar). Urban Decay Stark Naked (DC, $22.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Maybelline Nude Embrace (P, $7.99) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). NARS Biscayne Park (PiP, $25.00) is glossier (90% similar). Givenchy Beige Mousseline (101) (P, $36.00) is glossier (90% similar). Urban Decay Insanity (DC, $18.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (85% similar). Too Faced Sorry Not Sorry (P, $22.00) is lighter, cooler, glossier (85% similar). Sephora Crepe (P, $14.00) is lighter (85% similar). KVD Beauty Noble (P, $20.00) is lighter (90% similar). Too Faced Melted Nude (P, $21.00) is glossier (90% similar). Tarte Get It! (P, $20.00) is cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Echo Park (P, $7.00) is lighter, cooler, glossier (85% similar). Maybelline Clay Crush (P, $7.99) is darker, warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Aquarius (P, $7.00) is glossier (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

FORMULA OVERVIEW | MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is pigmented, liquid lipstick formula that dries down to a flat, matte finish that is mostly transfer-proof. They have a runnier mousse-like consistency; it is not quite mousse-like in thickness, but it is not as runny as some liquid lipstick formulas–somewhere in-between there. The formula of these is thicker than their Pro Longwear Lustre Lipcolours (which is like the OG of matte liquid lipstick to me). The lighter shades are the least forgiving and most of them “crack” as soon as they dry down and I move my lips or smile. They don’t flake off in chunks, and most of them fade relatively evenly. I get slight transfer on occasion when drinking anything more than water (e.g. latte), and while a lot of the color will make it through a meal, it will vary depending on the oil-content of your meal. They do respond well to layering or touch-ups after there is an initial layer done. They dry down within thirty seconds to two minutes (darker shades took longer to dry), and I was able to manipulate the color as it was drying down without lifting the color entirely. Some shades appeared streaky during initial application, but once it dried down, most of the streaks disappeared (kind of like nail polish can self-level). I found the formula moderately drying after three to six hours of wear, and it is one of the more drying formulas I’ve tried, personally. They are vanilla-scented but have no discernible taste.

MAC Back in Vogue Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Back in Vogue Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Back in Vogue Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Back in Vogue Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Back in Vogue Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Back in Vogue Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Lady Be Good Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Lady Be Good Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Lady Be Good Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Lady Be Good Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Lady Be Good Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Lady Be Good Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick