MAC Dare You, Delish, & Epic Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Dare You
MAC Dare You Lipstick ($18.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark red with warmer undertones and a fine, pearl shimmer and luminous sheen. It had good color coverage with a lightly emollient texture that had a touch of tackiness, which helped it adhere well despite having a glossier finish. The lipstick applied evenly and stayed on well for five and a half hours. It was lightly hydrating over time. This shade is part of the permanent range.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Shiseido Bloodstone (RD503) (DC, $28.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Velvet Cherry (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Velvet Cherry (P, $57.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Authentic Red (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Heat (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- YSL Burgundy Love (85) (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Chanel Rouge (P, $37.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Spark (DC, $18.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Hot Like (LE, $19.00) is lighter, less glossy (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Wrath (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter (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.
Dare You
PPermanent. $19.00.
Delish
MAC Delish Lipstick ($18.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a medium, orange-toned copper base with gold and pink pearl. It had medium, buildable coverage (up to semi-opaque) pigmentation with a smooth consistency that was thin without being clingy. The color applied without tugging and did not settle into my lip lines, nor did it emphasize my lip texture, which some frosted finishes can do. It lasted for three and a half hours on me and was neither drying nor hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Nudiste (LE, $55.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Breeze (P, $0.99) is warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Nina (LE, $36.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay First Sin (DC, $18.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Revlon Pink Pearl (P, $8.49) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Smashbox Easy (P, $21.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Carolyn (LE, $36.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Almondine (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- NARS Orgasm (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Spanish Flame (02) (LE, $53.00) is warmer (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.
Delish
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Epic
MAC Epic Lipstick ($18.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark purple with neutral-to-warm undertones and a cream finish. It had rich color payoff with a smooth, lightly creamy texture that applied evenly and smoothly across my lips without dragging. This shade stayed on well for five and a half hours and was lightly hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Beach Nut (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Violet Riot (P, $21.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M502 (DC, $22.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- MAC Leap of Delight (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Shameless Violet (P, $32.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Makeup Geek Savvy (P, $15.00) is darker, more muted, warmer (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Taro (LE, $26.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Pandemonium (P, $18.00) is darker, brighter (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Jawbreaker (DC, $18.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Ozzy (LE, $21.00) is lighter, brighter (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.
I LOVE your earrings. They’re 100% my style and they look gorgeous on you.
Thank you, Aline! I like how they look… off my ears but am undecided about them on me… and so it was nice to hear 😉 I don’t wear hoop-style earrings as the piercing in one ear is wonky!
WOW! What a cool surprise to see 3 of the freebies reviewed!
I’m torn. Ordering online means a $25 minimum purchase. In-store or counters means getting up super early and catching the first trolleys, standing on line in the heat, and dealing with obnoxious peeps. ?
For me, it will be Epic or Delish, though. Even though I ❤️ Dare You, I just have a redick amount of reds. Delish looks just like a Jane lipstick I wore tons during the 90’s! But my hair was heavily highlighted and spiral permed back then…
Do you recall Epic, Nancy? I recognized most of the shade names, even I didn’t necessarily use or have them, but Epic was not just new to me… but to the database, which has a lot of the back catalog in it from when I used to collate all the MAC info, lol.
Nope! Epic didn’t sound familiar in the least. It is a beauty, but I totally don’t remember it.
Delish is one I had heard of, same with Moxie (Tanarama, Chintz, too)
I have been wearing Mac for years also and never heard of Epic!
I don’t really need another lipstick; but, who am I kidding? Of course I do!!! I got in early on the National Lipstick day fun and picked up Epic with my order. I am glad that it scored so well with you, as darker purple shades can be more miss than hot. And, as always, every color looks beautiful on you.
I had never heard of Epic, LOL! That was the only shade we didn’t have in the database, so that was crazy to me.
Epic is exactly what I’m looking for! Thanks for the review; I really hope I can snag one tomorrow! =D
No problem, Vi!! Good luck.
Delish is very pretty, but I’m wary of MAC frosts based on previous experience, in which the grittiness really bothered me.
Delish seemed pretty finely milled to me – more pearly than glittery/sparkly.
Thanks. My only experience with a MAC frost was with On and On, which felt like lipstick mixed with sand. I wound up using it for a Back to MAC after just one wearing. Delish sounds much better!!!
You’ve made me change my mind about Delish and Epic! Delish reminds me of Nars Orgasm bullet form lipstick. They all look great on you btw. i hope I’m able to snag Moxie or Delish tomorrow!
I’d say that Delish runs a little peachier/coppery in base, but they have a similar effect on lips!
Dare You is a gorgeous red shad. Love it.
Such a lush red!
I love those earrings!
Thank you! They are handmade by Yukojewelry on Etsy! 🙂
I know we’re hear for lipsticks but our eye look and earrings are stunning!! (MAC’s Dare You is my pick of the bunch.)
Thank you! They are handmade by Yukojewelry on Etsy! 🙂
Delish is pretty, got it this morning with a Warm Soul blush purchase.
So glad you were able to score one, Lily!
Your eyeshadow matches Epic perfectly! I ordered dare you this morning, I just can’t get enough with reds 🙂
Thank you! 🙂 Enjoy Dare You!
No out the door early on a Sunday for me!! Ordered a fix plus and snagged Epic!
Nice!