MAC Cool Snow Ball Mini Lipstick Kit Review, Photos, Swatches
Cool
MAC Cool Snow Ball Mini Lipstick Kit ($29.50 for 0.15 oz.) includes a muted plum, muted pink, and a muted coral, which made it a good set for someone who likes softer, more muted and traditionally “wearable” shades. They were consistent with MAC’s lipstick formula overall. I was, however, confused why this was the “Cool” kit, when I felt all shades were warmer, whereas the “Warm” kit included a really blue-based red (but they are all correctly labeled/attributed as I have them here!).
Value
A full-sized MAC lipstick retails for $17.50 and contains 0.10 oz. or costs $175.00/oz. The set contains $26.25 worth of lipstick.
Cool
LELimited Edition. $29.50.
Cocktail Kiss
Cocktail Kiss is a muted, dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had rich color coverage in a single layer with a smooth, lightweight consistency that was creamy enough to glide on without tugging but did not slide around when worn. The lipstick stayed on nicely for five hours and was neither drying nor hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Bite Beauty Glace (P, $24.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Bite Beauty Chutney (DC, $24.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Slow Burn (P, $28.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Omi (P, $38.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- NARS Thunder Kiss (P, $34.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Rhubarb (DC, $26.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Venus in Furs (P, $38.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk (P, $34.00) is lighter, cooler, glossier (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Pepper (DC, $26.00) is warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Pinkberry (P, $32.00) 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.
Cocktail Kiss
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Boca
Boca is a muted, medium pink with strong, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had good pigmentation that covered the lips evenly and smoothly, but there was enough slip that color pulled into some of my deeper lip lines. I also had trouble getting the product to adhere as intensely to my inner area of my lower lip compared to the rest of my lips. This shade wore well for four and a half hours and felt non-drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Pout About It (P, $22.00) is darker (90% similar).
- NARS Barbara (P, $34.00) is warmer, glossier (95% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Blush (P, $28.00) is glossier (95% similar).
- MAC Pretty Natural (LE, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Desirable (P, $32.00) is lighter, glossier (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Addison (P, $36.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Café (DC, $24.00) is cooler, glossier (90% similar).
- Shiseido Desert Quartz (RD124) (DC, $28.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Naked Dream (LE, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Pale Mauve (DC, $37.00) is lighter, cooler (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.
Boca
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Kinda Sexy
Kinda Sexy is a muted, medium coral with warm undertones and a satin finish. The color payoff was very nearly opaque, while the texture had a velvety, silicone-like feel as it was smooth but not particularly emollient. It applied evenly across the lips, but I noticed the color pulled away at my deeper lip lines just a bit (not too noticeable from a normal viewing distance). On me, it lasted for four and a half hours but was a smidgen drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Guerlain Warm Almond (159) (P, $36.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Sephora Melon (P, $14.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Dose of Colors Hey Girl (LE, $16.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- Hourglass True Love Means (LE, $34.00) is glossier (90% similar).
- Tarte Homeslice (P, $20.00) is darker, less glossy (90% similar).
- ColourPop Parker (P, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Burberry Pink Apricot (301) (P, $35.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Sweet MamaStarrr (LE, $19.00) is glossier (90% similar).
- ColourPop Peppermint (LE, $7.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- Anastasia Kiss (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler, less glossy (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.
Cocktail Kiss is exactly my kind of shade…I already have three of the dupes. The others are too light and would wash me out. How is it that you look good in every shade of lipstick, Christine?
Seraphine,
Yes, what sorcery is this that she can pull off every shade? I had to!! How often does one get to use the word sorcery, LOL.
Hi Christine, Is the Boca shade the same that launched on the Julia Petit collection?
Yes!
These shades are nice but too pale for my hyper-pigmented lips.
These are really lovely shades.
Lovely shades, but far too pale for me.
These colors look great on you!
I am so on the fence about this cute little set. I am cool toned but I have red hair so I wear both tones. Cocktail Kiss looks great, but I’m a little concerned that Boca and Kinda Sexy might be too light. You described them as “medium” pink and coral but they look very light on your lips. My skin tone is Light or Fair/Light. I guess I should head to Nordstrom and see if they are carried in my local store and have testers. I am so all about minis these days
Ooh, I have cool toned skin and had my eye on these shades. I’m glad they brought back Boca for this! It’s more interesting that they chose rare shades. I already have like 5 dupes for Cosmo, Velvet Teddy, et cetera…
I love Cocktail Kiss! I hope they release it in the permanent line after the holidays.
I was drawn to this trio immediately when you first posted the snow ball series but I was thrown by the term cool, and forgot about them.
Now that I’ve seen them on you, there is nothing cool about them–perfect!
I have a dupe for Cocktail Kiss but not the others, so I might have to indulge. 😉
OMG I need cocktail kiss to become permanent!!! Its so pretty!