Archived Post

MAC Claretcast, Eros, Life's Blood Liptensity Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches

MAC Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark pinky berry with subtle, cool undertones paired with a satin finish. It had full color coverage that applied evenly and smoothly, with just a bit of tugging initially but became easier to glide on as it melted against the lips. The texture was light-to-medium in weight, lightly tacky but comfortable to wear over a six and a half hour period. The formula was a smidgen drying after four hours of wear. ColourPop What If (P, $10.00) is lighter (95% similar). YSL Forbidden Burgundy (12) (DC, $34.00) is glossier (90% similar). Bite Beauty Aubergine (DC, $24.00) is warmer (95% similar). Too Faced Melted Berry (P, $21.00) is glossier (95% similar). Lisa Eldridge Skyscraper Rose (LE, $36.00) is brighter, cooler, less glossy (90% similar). MAC Off the Record (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Love Crime (P, $57.00) is more muted, cooler (90% similar). Dior Ultra Pulse (870) (P, $37.00) is less shimmery, more muted, cooler (90% similar). Rare Beauty Heroic (P, $20.00) is darker, more muted, less glossy (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Seduce Me (128) (DC, $30.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). Guerlain Deep Pink (525) (P, $34.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (90% similar). NARS Vera (P, $34.00) is warmer (90% similar). Estee Lauder Unattainable (P, $32.00) is more muted, warmer (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Dangerous Beauty (P, $57.00) is lighter (90% similar). Giorgio Armani Drama Berry (510) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, glossier (90% similar). Rare Beauty Ascend (P, $20.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (90% similar). ColourPop Malibu Sunset (LE, $10.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Tarte Popsicle (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). ColourPop First of All (PiP, $7.00) is more muted (95% similar). Hermes Rose Velours (78) (LE, $67.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a bright, medium fuchsia pink with cool, blue undertones and a satin finish. The texture was denser and pulled more than other shades, and while I could feel it melting, it did not melt as much and was always a big draggy going on. It had good pigmentation, but it was harder to get smooth, even application; I expect this one to be more unforgiving on those with drier or flakier lips as well. The color lasted a solid six hours, left behind a pinkish stain, and was non-drying. Burberry Bright Pink (233) (P, $34.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Cooper (LE, $36.00) is darker, less glossy (95% similar). Bobbi Brown Raspberry Pink (DC, $37.00) is darker, less glossy (95% similar). Bite Beauty Bellini (DC, $24.00) is less glossy (95% similar). Hourglass Leader (P, $32.00) is darker (95% similar). Bobbi Brown Hot Rose (DC, $37.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy (90% similar). Givenchy Fuchsia Angora (204) (P, $37.00) is less glossy (90% similar). ColourPop Heaven (LE, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Bite Beauty Miami (LE, $26.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Bite Beauty Pink Lady (DC, $24.00) is lighter (90% similar). Guerlain #70 (P, $33.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Jasmine (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, less glossy (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Voila! (120) (DC, $30.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty I'll Teach You (Lip Color) (PiP, ) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Bite Beauty Sangria (DC, $26.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Ashley (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, less glossy (90% similar). Revlon Cherries in the Snow (004) (P, $9.99) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Velvet Underground (P, $37.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (90% similar). Dior Ultra Atomic (660) (P, $37.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Roll the Dice (118) (DC, $30.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Life’s Blood Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a bright, medium red with neutral-to-cool undertones that has a lightly glossy, cream finish. It is the combination of brightness and undertone that seems to appear a bit warmer on me, though to my eye, it is neutral-to-cool. It had nearly opaque pigmentation, and the color went on evenly and smoothly while the consistency seemed to fill in lip lines and made my lips appear fuller and smoother. This shade wore well for six and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. Tom Ford Beauty Naomi (LE, $36.00) is lighter, more muted (95% similar). Estee Lauder Boldface (P, $32.00) is more muted (95% similar). Stellar Beauty Super Sonic 04 (P, $22.00) is warmer (95% similar). Clinique Cherry Pop (P, $19.50) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar). Tarte Juicy (LE, $20.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Carmine Rouge (LE, $19.00) is more muted, less glossy (95% similar). Maybelline Wicked (P, $12.99) is less shimmery, glossier (95% similar). Chanel Rouge Captivant (86) (P, $42.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar). Hourglass Icon (P, $32.00) is darker (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Jasmin Rouge (P, $57.00) is lighter (95% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Oh Miley (200) (P, $30.00) is warmer (95% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Screen Siren (P, $34.00) is more muted (95% similar). Urban Decay The 405 (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar). Givenchy Heroic Red (321) (LE, $36.00) is warmer (95% similar). Hourglass My Icon Is (P, $34.00) is warmer (95% similar). Make Up For Ever Iconic Red (400) (P, $24.00) is lighter (95% similar). Givenchy Rouge Insomnie (12) (P, $34.00) is lighter (95% similar). Guerlain #25 (P, $33.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Mulling Spices (DC, $21.00) is more muted, cooler (90% similar). Burberry Poppy Red (309) (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Formula Overview

MAC Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is supposed to have “intense amounts of pigment” with a gel-like texture that melts on lips that leaves behind a satin finish and wears for “eight hours.” It’s supposed to be “comfortable” to wear, but there are no claims about hydration–and overall, they were non-drying. The majority of the range varied from semi-opaque to fully opaque in one stroke, while the texture had some body and thickness to it but was not heavy. The consistency feels firmer in the tube, but it became softer and more pliable as it warmed up against the lips. This was also true about how the color settled and looked on the lips–it tended to fill up lip lines without emphasizing them as much after thirty seconds of wear. The formula didn”t have a lot of slip, and it was actually lightly tacky, which helped it stay in place better. The wear ranged from four to eight hours with lighter shades typically wearing shorter than deeper and more intense shades. The finish was anywhere from satin to natural with noticeable sheen, sometimes glossiness, but it often wore to a satin to semi-matte finish after a few hours. The formula has MAC’s typical vanilla scent but had no discernible taste.

MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Claretcast Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Eros Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Life's Blood Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Life’s Blood Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Life's Blood Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Life’s Blood Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Life's Blood Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Life’s Blood Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Life's Blood Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Life’s Blood Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Life's Blood Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Life’s Blood Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Life's Blood Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Life’s Blood Liptensity Lipstick

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
  • Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
  • Marc Jacobs Flesh & Fantasy Air Blush
  • Laura Geller Ballerina Baked Gelato Illuminator
On eyes:
  • Giorgio Armani #9 Eye Tint
  • Giorgio Armani #10 Eye Tint
  • Sephora Blonde Ambition Eyeliner

38 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Lifestajler Avatar

Even though I usually stay away from anything other than a matte finish, I must say I like the finish of these (after the shine fades away a bit). Out of the three, Claretcast is my fav!

Lifestajler Avatar

I haven’t noticed any major dryness issues when it comes to matte lipsticks (maybe retro mattes are a bit tricky). Also, I always use Blistex lip balm which does wonders for my lips.

Kristin P. Avatar

Not the commenter, but I usually opt for mostly matte finishes too. I try to keep very well-hydrated, and put on lip balm at the beginning of doing my makeup so my lips are well-hydrated by the time I get to my lipstick at the end. I also have a lunch break during my work day, so I fully remove my lipstick, eat, then put on lip balm for the rest of my lunch. Once my lunch break is over, I freshly reapply my lipstick. And to deal with any flaking or other dead skin texture, I brush my lips with my toothbrush every time I brush my teeth! I’d say I’m pretty firm about it, but definitely don’t do it hard enough to break the delicate skin. It’s the easiest and most effective (and most free!) lip exfoliant around!

Deborah Avatar

If only I could wear these gorgeous bright lipsticks I would have to own a few of them! I love the colors! The finish looks so healthy – just a bit of shine!

Susan Dowman Nevling Avatar

I like Lifeblood and Claretcast best however I’m not certain how Claretcast will actually look on me. I have the melted dupe and it is almost neon on me. Maybe due to the different lip colors. Hmmm.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!