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MAC Constant Craving, Ceaseless Energy, Preserving Passion Versicolour Stains Reviews, Photos, Swatches

MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain ($24.00 for 0.28 fl. oz.) is described as a “mid-tone blue pink.” It comes out of the tube as a light-medium, bluish pink with a cream finish, but it “sets” and yields a slightly darker, more fuchsia-tinted pink, though it still had a lot of the milky quality of the initial color still present. The texture was a little thicker overall, and this one applied messily–it was uneven and settled into lines very easily. This was one of the worst-applying of the ones I’ve tried thus far. The color lasted for six hours and was drying over time. Too Faced Peach, Please! (P, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar). Anastasia Dusty Lilac (-, $16.00) is darker (90% similar). Urban Decay Savage (DC, $26.00) is darker (90% similar). Jouer Regent (P, $17.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Silly (LE, $21.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Pink Nouveau (P, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Love Buzz (LE, $20.00) is darker (90% similar). L'Oreal Florid Pink (LE, $7.99) is darker (90% similar). NARS Bait (LE, $26.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Unlimited Style (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery (85% similar). MAC Heart Heist (LE, $21.00) is lighter (85% similar). MAC Speed Up (LE, $20.00) is lighter (85% similar). Chanel Pinctada (214) (LE, $30.00) is darker (85% similar). NYX Sugar Cookie (P, $5.00) is darker, brighter (85% similar). Fenty Beauty Bubble Binge (LE, $19.00) is darker (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Ceaseless Energy Versicolour Lip Stain ($24.00 for 0.28 fl. oz.) is described as a “bright raspberry pink.” Fresh from the tube, it is a bright, medium cotton candy pink with strong blue undertones, which develops into a medium-dark, raspberry pink with cool, blue undertones. The color applied smoothly and yielded semi-opaque coverage, but some of the color settled into lip lines. On me, the color lasted for six and a half hours and was lightly drying. ColourPop Sing Along (LE, $8.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Throw a Spare (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Not Sorry (378) (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Milani Ravish Raspberry (06) (P, $5.49) is brighter (90% similar). MAC Charm (LE, $20.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar). MAC Fashion Perk (P, $22.00) is warmer (85% similar). Urban Decay Quiver (DC, $26.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). MAC New Love (P, $22.00) is lighter (85% similar). Revlon Fuchsia Finery (DC, $7.99) is lighter (85% similar). Chanel Tocade (182) (P, $30.00) is warmer (85% similar). Revlon Pink Pop (DC, $7.99) is lighter (85% similar). Maybelline Sassy (P, $7.99) is darker (85% similar). Hourglass Ballet (P, $28.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). Maybelline Amethyst Potion (045) (P, $8.99) is more muted (85% similar). MAC Girl About Town (P, $21.00) is cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Saloon (LE, $10.00) is warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Pony Up (DC, $10.00) is less pigmented, glossier (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Preserving Passion Versicolour Lip Stain ($24.00 for 0.28 fl. oz.) is described as a “deep wine.” It’s a medium-dark, reddish plum with subtle, cool undertones. It had semi-opaque coverage that applied evenly and smoothly. The color lasted for the full eight hours and was slightly drying. MAC Peer Pressure (LE, $20.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Exposed (P, $54.00) is brighter, warmer (90% similar). Maybelline Caviar Couture (050) (P, $8.99) is lighter (90% similar). Giorgio Armani #601 Plum Vinyl (P, $38.00) is cooler (90% similar). Chanel Distinction (21) (P, $34.00) is lighter (90% similar). NARS Chez Claude (LE, $26.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). MAC Spare Me (LE, $20.00) is darker, more muted, cooler (90% similar). Revlon Embellished (DC, $7.49) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). NARS Staying Alive (LE, $26.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Chanel Caractere (P, $30.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Vice (DC, $26.00) is lighter, brighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

FORMULA OVERVIEW | MAC Versicolour Lip Stain ($24.00 for 0.28 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a hybrid gloss and stain formula with a glossy shine, long-wear (eight-hours, specifically), “jelly-like texture,” and “stay-true colour.” Interesting discovery: under “usage” (on MAC’s website) the following is there: “As with many lips stains, lips might feel slightly dry over time … Product not recommended for use on overly dry or sensitive lips.” There is some good, specific information about these, though for color payoff isn’t as clear, so based on the fact that these are a gloss/lip stain hybrid (neither of which are typically opaque), I would expect noticeable color with translucency–like stained glass. The majority are fairly pigmented and are true-to-form as a lip stain, and they have a moderate shine. The consistency is thin, watery initially and develops into a slightly thicker, lightly tacky texture as it “sets.” It is one of the least-tacky textures of this type of formula (as it is similar to ones like YSL Glossy Stains, Giorgio Armani Ecstasy Lacquer, Tom Ford Patent Finish, L’Oreal Color Caresse). Some shades emphasized and gathered into lip lines, which may be due to the slightly thinner overall consistency (compared to other like formulas). The wear ranged from six to eight hours and was lightly to moderately drying over time. The formula has a subtle vanilla scent but no discernible taste.

MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Constant Craving Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Ceaseless Energy Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Ceaseless Energy Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Ceaseless Energy Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Ceaseless Energy Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Ceaseless Energy Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Ceaseless Energy Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Ceaseless Energy Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Ceaseless Energy Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Ceaseless Energy Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Ceaseless Energy Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Preserving Passion Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Preserving Passion Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Preserving Passion Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Preserving Passion Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Preserving Passion Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Preserving Passion Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Preserving Passion Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Preserving Passion Versicolour Lip Stain

MAC Preserving Passion Versicolour Lip Stain
MAC Preserving Passion Versicolour Lip Stain

29 Comments

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Gillian Avatar

Ceaseless Energy and Preserving Passion are gorgeous! Would you choose these over YSL glossy stains? I get on with the glossy stains OK but they do cause my lips to shrivel up a bit. I take it that these would be the same, right? I don’t know if I should avoid these or try them out. ?

Nancy T Avatar

Because I love a dark lippy, I am of course drawn immediately to Preserving Passion. An obvious choice for me, I’d say!
However, the one I really would buy out of these surprised me: Ceaseless Energy! I think this could finally be a “Barbie” pink that I could actually pull off. That stained glass effect gives it *just* enough translucency that it wouldn’t clash so harshly with my olive coloring.

Katie Avatar

I was waiting for your verdict on these, Christine! 🙂 I really like the look of Preserving Passion. How does the color compare to YSL Fuchsia Dore #14? Thank you.

Morena Avatar

I would have liked to see how it looked as a stain, after the gloss is gone. That’s really the breaking point for me as to whether I would buy it or not. I’ve already been go ogling and searching around for videos, before anyone mentions so.

Christine Avatar

All photos are shown after they “set” to the final color — the gloss and color remain intact for 6+ hours. It’s not the type of product where the gloss portion really goes away. They stain the color you see right here in photos 🙂 They don’t get darker or lighter as I waited for each one to develop prior to photographing. Hope that helps!

Nora K Avatar

I purchased Constant Craving 2 weeks ago, I haven’t had any issues with drying (never really an issue with my lips in general). But I have to say, the color on you looks fuchsia, on me it stays a mid-tone milky pink with blue (I have mid-tone light/neutral undertone to my skin). I understand how these hybrid gloss/stain/balm work, I have about 8 from YSL, and 6 from L’Oreal, so I am a fan…this is the weakest formula so far. Saying that I have not tried Tom Ford’s version yet (tried to check them out on a visit to Dubai they didn’t have them yet).
I used to put this on very carefully to avoid streakyness, but now I just apply it so my lip line looks nice, as the color settles the streaks sort themselves out.
This formula doesn’t last! The shine is gone within the hour, and the stain within 3 hours. There is not condition balmy feeling left afterwards like you get with the YSL and L’Oreal formula’s. I would say save your money up and get the YSL version (L’Oreal had discontinued as far as I can tell).

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