MAC Coral Optix, Forbidden Romance, Love's a Gamble Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Coral Optix
MAC Coral Optix Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a bright, medium red with strong, warm orange undertones and pink, gold, and copper shimmer that give it a more metallic finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation that applied evenly across the lips and never tugged during application. The consistency was smooth, lightweight, and dense enough not to feel gritty (with all of the shimmer/sparkle). It wore well for five hours, left a faint stain behind, and was lightly hydrating.
This shade, along with six other new shades, will launch on June 22nd online and in stores/at counters.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC CB96 (P, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Guerlain Red Strass (327) (P, $37.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel Article (204) (P, $37.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Cruel (P, $18.00) is darker (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Adora (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, less glossy (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Clash (LE, $56.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Maybelline Hot Lava (P, $7.49) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- MAC 5 Alarm (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Sweet Sakura (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, brighter (85% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty How Rouge (340) (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% 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.
Look Using this Product
Coral Optix
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Forbidden Romance
MAC Forbidden Romance Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a slightly muted, medium-dark plum with warm, brown undertones and pink and gold pearl. It had medium, buildable color payoff that glided on easily and yielded even coverage. The lipstick was lightly emollient with some slip but did not feel thick or heavy, so it did not slide around once applied. It wore well for four and a half hours on me and was lightly hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Estee Lauder Naked Ambition (120) (P, $32.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Flesh Fatale (P, $40.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC One of a Kind (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani #526 (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Glamourdaze (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Snowdon (P, $36.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Nico (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Guerlain Air Kiss (304) (P, $37.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Amulet (DC, $18.00) is darker, less glossy (95% similar).
- Guerlain Leather Blazer (013) (P, $32.00) 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.
Forbidden Romance
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Love's a Gamble
MAC Love’s a Gamble Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a light pink with warm, yellow undertones and silver, pink, and gold pearl and sparkle. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied fairly evenly to lips. The texture felt grittier compared to other shades as there was quite a bit of sparkle, while the lipstick base seemed thinner and moderately emollient. The lipstick wore well for three and a half hours on me and was non-drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Pink Power (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Sublime Pleasure (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- NARS Little Princess (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild A Short Affair (P, $0.99) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- LORAC True Beauty (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar).
- Guerlain Romance (DC, $37.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Olga (422) (P, $37.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Pink-kiki (568) (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Mustique (LE, $55.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Tease Maker (LE, $19.00) is darker (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.
Coral Optix is calling my name! Gorgeous, and I’m not usually one for metallics. On the fence about Forbidden Romance but it could be really lovely. Not sure if it won’t look too dark on my paper white complexion for a nice summery shade…
Coral Optix is a bright, fun shade for summer!
Forbidden romance is stunning!! I lovr how it subtly makes your lips look plump and healthy!
It is a fun shade! 😀
I am kicking myself right now for placing *that* order with UD yesterday, because along with Quiver Afterglow Blush, I also ordered Sheer Slowburn Lipstick…
Wish I would’ve waited just one more day, seen Coral Optix, and gone for that instead. This shade looks utterly amazing as the perfect juicy orange-red summer lipstick!
Edit: As I was finishing up writing this, I received an email from UD that my order just shipped, LoL.
Aww! Well, we still have a few weeks until it launches anyway 🙂
Great eyes and a flawless complexion. (As usual.)
Thank you, KJH!
I like Forbidden Romance, but I love Coral Optix. I went from, -Hmm, looks nice, at the first photo of the lipstick itself, to -ooh at the swatch, to -OOOOHHHH!!!!! at the photos of it applied. It’s such a happy summer colour, I think. Sweet Sakura is listed as a dupe and that is one of my summer favourites, though I use it in winter if I feel I want the world to appear lighter. I know, sort of silly, but harmless madness 🙂
Back on track, Coral Optix looks even better than Sweet Sakura, it’s sparkly, and shimmery and looks like so much fun! Yes, I’m smitten 🙂
And generally I’m not into orange lipsticks at all, some tones just seem to resonance with the colour part of the brain, or something.
No that’s it, I can’t keep you reading my sillinesses any longer. I’m just glad you reviewed these!
I think you’ll like Coral Optix if you like Sweet Sakura! 🙂
I love forbidden romance, but if you’re looking for a dupe urban decay’s vice lipstick in amulet is pretty spot on!
That’s great news!
Very pretty. I wish Love’s a Gamble was better. I need some pinks.
I would really like to purchase loves a gamble. Do you know when the UK release is ? ?
I don’t! 🙁
No worries, thank you ??