MAC Dark Desires Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
MAC Black Night Lipstick
MAC Black Night Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “black with red and gold pearl [with a Cremesheen finish].” It’s a muted, gold and red-shimmered black with subtle, warm brown undertones and a soft shine. It had semi-opaque pigmentation, and it applied better than the majority of the black lipsticks MAC has released, but the Cremesheen finish definitely gave it a more emollient consistency. It does pull into lip lines slightly over the four hours it wears. Make Up For Ever Edgy Black (422) (P, $23.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). MAC Street Thing (LE, $19.00) is cooler (85% similar). KVD Beauty Nayeon (P, $19.00) is cooler (85% similar). Maybelline Pitch Black (DC, $7.49) is more muted, cooler (85% similar). Smashbox Bankrolled (P, $21.00) is lighter, less pigmented, cooler (90% similar). MAC Metal Head (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Urban Decay Oil Slick (LE, $18.00) is lighter, less pigmented (90% similar). MAC Kling It On (LE, $19.00) is lighter (85% similar). MAC Nightly Ritual (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). NYX Chambord (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar). Urban Decay Oil Slick (DC, $22.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC Heavy Petting Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “burgundy [with a Cremesheen finish].” It’s a muted, medium-dark plummy red with warm undertones and a natural sheen. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied fairly evenly, but it could have applied better. The texture was lightweight, while the formula was neither drying nor hydrating and lasted for four hours. MAC Sweet Succulence (LE, $19.00) is cooler (95% similar). Laura Mercier Merlot (P, $26.00) is more pigmented, warmer (90% similar). bareMinerals Queen (PiP, $20.00) is lighter (95% similar). Bite Beauty Plum (LE, $24.00) is darker (90% similar). Bite Beauty Bordeaux (DC, $28.00) is darker, more pigmented (90% similar). MAC Venomous Violet (LE, $17.00) is cooler (90% similar). Smashbox Fig (PiP, $21.00) is darker (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Velvet Orchid (LE, $57.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Sterling (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar). Bite Beauty Infuse (DC, $24.00) is darker (85% similar). MAC Viva Glam III (P, $19.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Blow (210) (P, $30.00) is darker, more pigmented, warmer (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Make Me (Lip Color) (PiP, ) is darker (85% similar). Burberry Oxblood (53) (P, $34.00) is darker, brighter (85% similar). Maybelline Divine Wine (P, $7.99) is darker, less glossy (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC Ring My Bell Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “pale cool neutral [with a Glaze finish].” It’s a light, muted beige with subtle, warm undertones and a champagne frost. It had semi-sheer color coverage with a noticeable amount of shimmer. The color pulled into lip lines over the three-hours it lasted on me. I could see it working better mixed or layered with another lipstick. Tom Ford Beauty Holden (DC, $36.00) is lighter (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Orlando (LE, $36.00) is warmer (90% similar). Sephora Take a Spin (41) (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC High Tea (P, $19.00) is less pigmented, warmer (90% similar). MAC Metalwork (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). MAC Romantic Breakdown (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Buxom Nudist (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). NARS Adriatic (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar). ColourPop Jic (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, less pigmented (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
These three lipsticks are limited edition and are from the Dark Desires collection, which launches online on November 24th and arrives in-stores on December 3rd.
Black Night
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Heavy Petting
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Ring My Bell
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
MAC Black Night Lipstick
MAC Black Night Lipstick
MAC Black Night Lipstick
MAC Black Night Lipstick
MAC Black Night Lipstick
MAC Black Night Lipstick
MAC Heavy Petting Lipstick
MAC Heavy Petting Lipstick
MAC Heavy Petting Lipstick
MAC Heavy Petting Lipstick
MAC Heavy Petting Lipstick
MAC Heavy Petting Lipstick
MAC Ring My Bell Lipstick
MAC Ring My Bell Lipstick
MAC Ring My Bell Lipstick
MAC Ring My Bell Lipstick
MAC Ring My Bell Lipstick
MAC Ring My Bell Lipstick
Thank god I don’t like these! Spent too much money on makeup lately ^^
Phew!
I will skip these shades, but I love your eye makeup!
Thanks, Lily!
I am so disappointed in Black Night. I wish this was more opaque.
Me too!
Same here.
My thoughts exactly. What a letdown.
The names of all the lipsticks in the summary is black night!
Fixed, so sorry for my mistake!
Man I was excited for Black Night, but for me “semi-opaque and pulls into lip lines after 4 hours of wear” is a big red flag that it will be a mess on me before I’ve even finished my coffee.
It /might/ look cool layered over a matte black lipstick or something dark red/burgundy, but I don’t know if I’m willing to spend money on a lipstick that I would have to layer :/
I bet you could layer it over a matte black!
I wish the black was either more opaque or more sheer. If it was more sheer with tons of glitter I’d be all over it. As it is you might be able to layer over some red or purple liners for a cool effect.
I wish it was more opaque myself!
Christine you look so cute with that eye makeup! 🙂
Thanks, Ra! I actually HATED it, lol!
I hope you mean you hated the performance, not how you looked in it, because it’s super-flattering. (I know, you look great in almost everything, but… ). This would make a very beautiful evening or party look–I have no idea if you do things like that (I don’t, and from what you post, your weekends sound as laid-back as ours!), but IF you did, you should wear this. Really dazzling.
I actually like all three of these!
Yay!
I feel like both Black Night and Ring My Bell would be great on top of a more opaque, substantial lipstick/stain. They’re very interesting and I’d hate to see them not work out in some way :/
The lipsticks look ok…but who would notice with your fabulous eye look!!!! Love it!
Agree with the other commenters on the black – too bad I would have liked to have added a black to my collection. I love Heavy Petting but I’ve recently bought so many lipsticks in that general color range (med-dark plummy reds, burgundys, oxbloods, etc.) I am asking “do I really need another”? I am baffled as to how Ring My Bell goes with this collection; unless they wanted to add a more neutral lip for the darker shadows they are releasing. I guess I’ll see how the other items fair before I decide what, if anything, I’m going for.
not for me thanks, but I like your eyes!
The lipsticks are ok, not great in my opinion, but your eyes are absolutely Stunning !!! Please review the Charlotte Tilbury Nocturnal Eyes kits soon—I’ve been eyeing them since they came out, but there are so few reviews and swatches. If they are good, I want to grab one before they are gone
As weird as this may seem, I really love Black Night! I would use it as a topper over deep burgundy or red to give it a smokey, less bright look. I think that would look insanely good!
Heavy Petting also has my interest as a less intense berry-red. Something I’ve been wanting for some time.
Ring My Bell is….Idk? “Gotta see that one in person” type of shade!
Cremesheen is my least favorite of their formulas. Looks & feels peculiar, so I will skip these. Your eyes look fabulous & I want all of those products! Thank you for sharing the info on that.
i wish black night was more opaque! idk why but heavy petting looks to me like when you finish eating something with a deep burgundy lip color. i think i’ll skip… and thank god bc my first ever sephora order came and i did quite a lot of damage hah
Every time I see a photo of a super dark lipstick on here I get so excited and it ends up being sheer… brands need to take note from UD blackmail
Aww man these do not look how I imagined they would 🙁 I think they would look better if they were more opaque.
when will they come out!!?? i actually really liked Black Night
Caro, the collection is available online today (11/24).
Christine I LOVE your eye makeup in this post. Can you tell me what you used?
Hi Dana,
It is already listed in the post – either in the sidebar or at the end of the post (depending on the width of your window/device) under “The Makeup Look.”
MAKE-UP LOOK
ON FACE:
Make Up For Ever HD
ON EYES:
Charlotte Tilbury Nocturnal Cat Eyes to Hypnotise in On the Prowl
Silver Leopard
The Huntress
ON CHEEKS:
theBalm Cabana Boy Blush
theBalm Hot Mama Blush
I’m not into any of these! I think that’s the first time I have ever said that! I need to go lie down. Lol.
Thanks for the review – these are an easy pass for me! I can’t even count all the $$$ you have saved me over the years…
I had hoped these would be more opaque. However I must say I like Black Night quite a lot. Ring My Bell is interesting, at least for me. I just wonder how I’d look in it. It might work as it’s not milky, I just can’t wear anything white-based on my lips. That’s a real zombie alert.
Love your eye makeup Christine – it is beautiful.
But no, I don’t really like these lipsticks and Ring my Bell is just awful. Heavy Petting (loathe the name) is probably the best of the bunch – but it is so very dupable.
I was more hyped by the PR pics than these. Too bad 🙁
Aw, I wish Black Night would’ve been a hit. I’m loving your eye makeup!
I love all 3 lippies on you! The Black Night looks very Gothic, perfect for this time of year. Personally I love the Heavy Petting shade, I love the red/purple in it, could see myself wearing it ?.
I surprisingly love the first one on you.
Sheer black lipstick, man. Why on earth do they love to make them sheer. If you’re reaching for the black to start with you probably aren’t thinking, “You know if this were only like 85% pigmented I think I could really get away with it on Casual Friday this week. Wait–you say this only comes in sheer?! Perfect! I’ll pair it with a hint of peachy blush and some light brown eye shadow. I can at last rest assured that I look like a respectable businesswoman who really knows how to kick off her heels!”
It’s actually a cute color as is, but I think it would be much more exciting as a nuanced shade of opaque, softened black. When I see sheer black like this I always assume they’re intended as mixing or layering colors, but if that’s the goal, wouldn’t it have been more efficient to do them as Lip Mixes or something? To say nothing as my hesitance to buy colors that don’t look the way I want on their own, it feels like getting one thing for the price of two or three…
Also I think it’s really funny how tame the other two are for all the provocative imagery and raunchy color names of the launch. Well played, MAC. lol. Looking forward to seeing the eye glosses too, though of course I remember your feelings about the gloss in the Cinderella launch and probably would have agreed if I had been the one with the sticky, creasing eyelids.
Not a huge fan of how these look alone, but I think they’d look awesome over colored liners.
I could see Lupita N’yongo looking gorgeous in Black Night!
disappointing ?
Huh, I actually like Black Night a lot more than I thought I would – and Heavy Petting a lot less!
Your makeup looks amazing!! 3 different looks just by changing the lipstick and they all look so different but equally gorgeous 🙂
Thanks, Candice!
I’m surprised MAC didn’t pick darker shades and a more opaque formula for this collection. I was expecting some killer vampy lipsticks and this is disappointing. I like Black Knight but it would have been SO much better in a satin or amplified finish.
Heavy Petting is so gorgeous! I might have to pick that one up. Black Night is cool, but I wish it was more pigmented.
Ugh, so disappointing that the dark colors had to be Cremesheens, especially for a collection like this! You’d think they’d go for mattes or even satins.
pro discount is applicable?
You’d have to check with MAC!
I actually love all four of these lipsticks, and I don’t think it has ever happened before that I purchases an entire lipstick collection. I love mattes, but there is something about these glossy darks that I believe makes them more wearable for a corporate workplace (the plum and purple, that is).
Heavy Petting is my favourite, such a wearable yet dark plum (it is darker on my rosy lips than on you, Christine, but I don’t mind that).
I actually really like Black Night. I think black lipsticks can look gorgeous, but still lack the courage to wear them. This one is a slightly friendlier than usual black (glossy, not fully opaque), but still extremely stark on lighter medium skin like mine. When I apply Mac’s My Inner Femme (a friendly orange red) on top of it with a lip brush, the colour turns into a gorgeous blackened red. I never get such a colour with just one lipstick – most vampy dark reds pull pinkish/purplish on my rosy lips. I am very happy with this combo!!
The purple, which I think you have not featured, is also quite wearable due to its glossy nature.
Thanks for the review, Christine! It made me consider this collection, and I am very happy with them!
I’m glad I could help, Chris! 🙂
I love heavy petting. I use it with Burgundy as lipliner and it stays for hours.
On my lips it looks darker than on yours, especially with the lipliner underneath
I don’t use lip liner in photos!