MAC Dare You, Lady Bug, Brave Red Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Dare You
MAC Dare You Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a medium-dark red with subtle, warm undertones and ruby red pearl. It had semi-opaque color payoff that applied beautifully to the lips–smooth, even coverage that made lips appear softer and more supple. The texture was lightweight with light slip but still adhered well while being comfortable to wear over the five and a half hours it lasted for.
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, $55.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Authentic Red (LE, $20.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Heat (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Spark (PiP, $18.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- MAC Hot Like (LE, $20.00) is lighter, less glossy (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Wrath (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Cruel (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Revlon Spicy Cinnamon (P, $8.49) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$20.00/0.1 oz. - $200.00 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. $20.00.
Lady Bug
MAC Lady Bug Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a medium red with warm, yellow undertones and a natural sheen. It had a Lustre finish, which is the brand’s sheerer coverage finish, so the semi-sheer to medium pigmentation was no surprise. The texture was thin with moderate slip (though it took a second to warm up and start to melt on the lips) that applied without tugging. It wore well for four hours and was neither drying nor hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Chanel Ultrarose (257) (LE, $38.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Maybelline Hot Lava (P, $7.49) is more shimmery, lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
- Shiseido Toffee Apple (RD308) (DC, $28.00) is brighter, warmer (90% similar).
- YSL Rouge Cape (83) (P, $38.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Guerlain #22 (P, $33.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Impassioned (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$20.00/0.1 oz. - $200.00 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.
Lady Bug
PPermanent. $20.00.
Brave Red
MAC Brave Red Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a medium-dark red with warm, yellow undertones and cream finish with very faint pearl. The consistency was lightly creamy with enough slip to give it a natural shine but it did not slide around while I wore it. It had semi-opaque color coverage that applied evenly and did not gather in my lip lines. This shade stayed on well for almost six hours, left a faint stain behind, and was lightly hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever C405 (DC, $22.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Yoni Crush (LE, $20.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Shiseido Toffee Apple (RD308) (DC, $28.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Snow White (LE, $7.00) is less shimmery, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
- Besame Red Velvet 1946 (PiP, $22.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Jungle Red (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Dolores (LE, $34.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Empowered (04) (P, $13.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Braised (DC, $24.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever C404 (DC, $22.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$20.00/0.1 oz. - $200.00 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.
Ladybug is oh so pretty, it just moved up on my to buy list. It looks perfect for me for summer.
Woohoo!
Brave Red is one of my absolute faves, it should be a cult product but it’s like one of MAC’s little known secrets. It’s a Satin finish but creamier than the typical MAC Satin. Just love the formula and it doesn’t bleed. Very easy to wear red, it just always looks good.
Mine, too, Ginny! Brave Red is a gorgeous color.
These are some nice reds, too! And I don’t own any of these
*3, YET. Never would’ve imagined that it would be Lady Bug that would catch my eye, either, but it did! I love how it reminds me of a glossy lip stain instead of a full-on lipstick. But I won’t be getting it until I wear down a *decent* amount of some favorite reds I already own.
They are!
Nothing like a red lipstick!
True!
Lady bug is so so pretty! Iv eyed it a few times, and I think it’s time I brought it home!
Let me know if you like it, Shannon, when you try it! 🙂
I wore Ladybug to prom! One of my first MAC lipsticks, wore it with a cobalt blue cocktail dress and winged liner. Ahhhh memories!
Aww! That is so cool 😀
Love these classic MAC posts. Managed to talk myself out of the LE gorgeously packaged Brave Red ( was it Guo Pei?) so I had better not fall for the regular. Esp when I have both Besame dupes and have always coveted Dubonnet. When you love a general color, you want it in every possible iteration. Would not be surprised to see Brave in another LE package, though. Absolutely top notch reds.
I’m sure we’ll see plenty of reds like Brave Red from MAC sooner rather than later!
Ooooh – I really like Dare You and Brave Red – gorgeous all year round lippies. Thank you Christine – these are lovely.
My pleasure, Genevieve!
MAC really is all about the red, aren’t they?
They do have quite a few to choose from!
Dare you is my fave here.
I remember seeing Lady Bug a while back and loving it! It’s just a pretty shade! I wish I wore red more often!