Archived Post

MAC Cosmetics - The Stylistics Review, Swatches, and Product Images

Overall, The Stylistics proves to be a very lovely, dazzling collection of pearls, baubles, and all-around classy packaging. Indeed, the packaging is incredibly reminiscent of last year’s Couture collection, with a few exceptions; obviously, the embellishments are different from last year’s, but instead of gunmetal, they’ve used a shiny, black metal instead. Last year’s held fingerprints like crazy, and over time, parts of my lipstick tubes have tarnished a bit. As a result, I have to say I like this year’s go-round better, because I always hated how easily you could see smudges on Couture’s packaging. The lipsticks are all luxuriously rich and pigmented, which makes them to-die-for. The lipglasses are lovely, but I’m not as stunned by them as I had hoped to be (I adore this formula – it’s sheer and yet adds so much dimension on top of any lipstick). I was 100% utterly disappointed in the Sheerspark Pressed Powders–they did not give me any pay off except for some chunky glitter. I’m personally wondering if perhaps too much oil had accumulated in the testers from customers, and it just made the product unusable, but we’ll see. I’ll ask at The Stylistics’ party tonight, just to get a clear answer!

See swatches, product photos, and the rest of our detailed review.

Lipsticks

  • In Vogue is a neutral-tan with pink undertones with a fair amount of sheen, but no real shimmer. This would make an excellent everyday lipstick or a go-to to compliment a smoky eye.
  • Soft Pout is a light pink with gold sheen, sheerest of the four lipsticks, but it’s such a gorgeous color. I am in love with the golden sheen that reflects off your lips.
  • Stylistic is a darling bright red with just a touch of pink to lighten it up. It reminds of Rockocco lipstick, which was launched several collections ago, and it was quite a popular one then (it was limited edition).
  • The Scene is my favorite, but when am I not attracted to deep raspberry colors? The Scene is this year’s Red No. 5, but definitely more berry than red. They are very similar, though – Red No. 5 was my favorite from last year, so I’m happy to have a semi-dupe lined up for it.

Lipglasses

  • Conversational is an incredibly sheer white-gold gloss with lots of glossiness, but not a lot of color. I found this the most passable out of the four.
  • Witty is a vibrant red, sure to be a great complementing gloss to both Stylistic and The Scene lipsticks. However, it’s not overly unique compared to several of the glosses in the red family that MAC has put out. The formula makes it worth getting despite that, because it’s such a smooth, non-tacky finish.
  • Tastemaker is a deep raspberry with red reflects, high sheen, and just a gorgeous all-around color. This is my favorite, but like I said, I’m drawn to this color family.
  • Hyper Chic is a neutralish color, a bit pinkish in its undertones, but love the sheen.

Sheerspark Pressed Powders

  • Pave is a light cool pink, but it doesn’t show up as anything other than chunks of shimmer/glitter.
  • Fashionette is the best out of the four, because I can actually see some pay off with this one, but even that took a lot of swipes.
  • Solitaire is a bright white with lots of glitter chunks. A bit too frosty, I would say, for most.
  • Warm Ice is similar to Solitaire – it gives the same effect.

Sheer Mystery Powders are a silky-sheer pressed powder that goes on like velvet. It is the lightest and softest powder I’ve played with, to date. While the price may seem steep, please keep in mind that each compact comes with an additional refill pan, so you actually get two for the price of one compact.

  • Model Chic is ideal for NC/NW15-25 (25s might find this a bit too light, though).
  • Lighthearted is ideal for NC/NW30-45 (45s might find this too light, though).
  • Dark Secret is ideal for NC/NW45 and higher (though it maybe too light for the darkest skin tones).

Accessories

  • Air of Style has not been released in most [if not all] stores yet — apparently there’s been a delay in production.
  • Clutch is fun to look at, but at $75, I can pass on it. I’d rather go for a high-end clutch from a purse designer over a makeup designer, I guess.
  • 129 Brush is absolutely stunning. It is the softest MAC brush I have ever touched, besides the 182 (Couture edition!). I’m definitely debating about adding this one to my collection!
  • 224 Brush is soft, but I didn’t feel like it was very different from the normal 224.
  • 316 Brush is lovely in its vintage-chic casing. If I used a lip brush, I’d probably get this.

48 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.
Heather Avatar

Thank you Thank you Thank you for the swatches!! I too have been waiting in anticipation for them.

So I went to Bendel’s to get my Stylistics and they told me that they were having shipping problems and they didn’t have any product there yet!!! Grrr!!! Luckily, they had testers of the Sheerspark Pressed Powder and the Lipgloss, but I must say I was a little disappointed. The packaging was GORGEOUS but the product was a little disappointing. The Sheerspark Pressed Powder was very tiny and very glittery and the Lipgloss was very sheer. But I really, really loved the packaging so I’m probably going to go back and get the Sheer Mystery Powder. And based on your review I may get a lipstick instead of a gloss.

Tanya Avatar

DOH I guess I should have had more patience and waited to post this in the correct place.

OH OH OH I hit the launch today, in person at the MAC Pro store 🙂 I must say that the pieces were just beautiful in person.

The light powder (model chic) was a lovely match for my skin tone. BUT I decided to pass because the compact was so heavy. The bedazzled look is really pretty, but gosh does it add weight. I am just not willing to carry around such a heavy compact to blot my nose with a little powder.

The shimmer style powders were very nice, I loved all four colors but again, I just felt like the case was too heavy. Though on second thought it might have been useful to have a small (its really quite small) shimmer type powder to be able to carry in ones purse vs the new beauty powders which are all loose. Hmmm maybe I should have picked one up.

The lipglosses and lipsticks were all beautiful colors with just the bedazzled stuff on the end of the tube, but I have a person aversion to square lip products. So I obviously passed on those.

BUT the brushes were amazing! I bought the 129 (the big brush) and am so excited to start using it. The two others were nice also but didn’t feel like must have’s.

Oh and the perfume is making a late arrival debut. Apparently the bottle is behind schedule for being done so it has yet to arrive in the stores (I was told this was true for all the stores). BUT I was able to smell a sample they had hidden in the backroom and I LOVED THE SCENT! My local Pro store is only getting 6 bottles so its VERY limited edition.

Tanya Avatar

Ok so I didn’t “love” the sheerspark powders but I do and did think they were quite lovely. Its really funny that you commented about the oily fingertip thing with the ones at your local store because I had the same reaction when I saw the first display color (can’t remember which it was). However, the color I was taken with was Warm Ice, my MA “ground” her brush into it (it had yet to be used) and really got a nice amount on her brush….she really picked up a nice amount of product (way more than I would normally use), actual product not just glitter. I did think the color payoff was maybe a little minimal but on top of my blush I thought it was very nice…I could see color, not just glitter though it was very rich in glitter and the big kind….not the really small kind like in the beauty powders, which I prefer. In my total non expert option I would say they gave the same color payoff as the beauty powders but with a totally different type of glitter.

Tanya Avatar

I thought the 129 was truly amazing and I just used it to get ready for dinner out and ohhhh it felt like silk against my cheeks 🙂 and it really is a beautiful brush.

Tekoa Avatar

Ah! Just got back from the store. The lipsticks are just snazzy. Like many commenters, I found the Sheerspark stuff to be of puzzling formulation. Very non pigmented and uber chuncky sparkles.

ariele Avatar

I’m bummed to hear about the Sheerspark powders. I thought I might get one of these just for the case, but if I can’t use it, then I don’t need it. I may pick up a lipstick – Soft Pout or The Scene! But other than that, I’ll probably pass on this collection. Thanks, as always, for the great swatches and review!

naomi Avatar

Gosh ! I actually really like some of this collection. I got solitaire as a highlighter and one mystery powder. I got lighthearted powder, but they accidentally gave me model chic. They are holding lighthearted for me so I can get the correct one. The compacts are so pretty and heavy but I just love that. Makes me feel like they are well made and worth the price. Love how the powder looks on me.

Janelle Avatar

How do you like the the Mystery Powders? I’m really intrigued by them… So close to going out & buying one! But I’d love to hear a more detailed review before I spend $45. 🙂

victoria Avatar

Hi Temptalia,

I read your site everyday. I love your honesty and dedication to your fans. I got the powder which I like a lot plus the fact that it’s a good deal and with a great case as a bonus. It’s true the glitter on the sheerspark powders are just a bit too chunky for me. I think I prefer the loose beauty powders, those are just beautiful. I missed out on the Mineralized Skin finishes, do you have any idea if they would come out with new ones soon? I think I would wait for those instead.

Alice Avatar

love your swatches! thank you so much!
I really like the collection,but since I have Quizes and final exams within this two weeks, so I think I have to order it online:(
I want the Mystery Powders, but my skin tone is about NC25~NC30(so is kind of ride in between the Model Chic & the Lighthearted), may I have some advice from you? thanks again~

Alice Avatar

thanks again~
I think what your mean is the lighthearted, right? I just ordered one, now is all about waiting. It is nice to have the free shipping now lol and good luck for your finals!

Kristen Avatar

I really appreciate your reviews as of late. Normally when you’re reading a MAC collection review, it’ll be by someone that doesn’t know the product or by someone completely enamoured by the MAC cult (I can call it that because I am definitely part of it). It’s refreshing to see honest opinions that tell you when to skip and why.. not to simply buy it to collect it.

Christine Avatar

Thanks, Kristen! I love MAC as much as the next girl, but when I come across a product that falls as flat as the Sheersparks, you can bet I’ll let you ladies know!

I’m also a firm believer in buy it, wear it, AND collect it. Don’t let it sit around collecting dust!

Sandy Avatar

Hey there… I’m in need of a little compact powder to have for touch ups when I’m out and about. The Mystery powder came to mind because it would be really cute to whip out this cute little number for my touch ups. The problem I’m having is that I’m told it’s not refillable after you use the refill that came with it because they don’t sell refills for it… is this true? Is it worth the price.. or do you think one of the other powders would be better? I tested the Mystery powder and wasn’t like “WHOA, this is a great powder”… it was just a nice powder in a super cute wrapping. What’s your take?

Christine Avatar

Hey Sandy! The packaging is really, really heavy, so I don’t know if you’d want to lug it around. It comes with a refill, and it seems like MAC is going to continue to relaunch them each December, so you can always grab a new one then. But yes, it is true that they don’t actually sell the refills.

k Avatar

Hi! I missed the stylistics collection when it first came out, and u said it would come out every december?? Or just the refill for powder. I just want it for the mirror case. Thanks.

MAC_GiRL Avatar

THANKZ FOR ANOTHER GREAT REVIEW TEMPTALIA. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SWIIIPE AWAY WITH THIS ONE. BUT YOU ALL SAVED ME. THANK YOU!! IT WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL COLOUR. BUT I GUESS IT JUST ISNT ‘THAT’ WORTH IT. LOL

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!