MAC E for Effortless & La Femme Love Me Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
E for Effortless
MAC E for Effortless Love Me Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a rich, deep red with neutral-to-warm undertones and a creamy, luminous finish. It seemed to have a subtle, low-level pearl strewn throughout but not enough to make it appear shimmery to my eye. The texture was lightweight, lightly creamy without being tacky, heavy, or slippery, so it applied comfortably but didn’t slide around over time (I didn’t experience feathering). I was impressed by how smooth it appeared on my lips and how forgiving it was of any minor imperfections in lip texture. It had nearly opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which went on evenly. The color stayed on well for five and a half hours, left a faint stain behind, and was lightly hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Pat McGrath Major Red (DC, $40.00) is cooler, less glossy (95% similar).
- YSL Private Carmine (204) (P, $39.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Hourglass At Dusk (LE, $34.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Sephora Wicked Smart (02) (P, $13.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Juicy (LE, $20.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel No. 02 (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Stellar Beauty Super Sonic 04 (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Becca Ember (DC, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Burberry Military Red (305) (P, $34.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Braised (DC, $24.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$23.00/0.1 oz. - $230.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "lighter-than-air texture" with "all-day moisturization" paired with "intense color and soft shine." They had semi-opaque to fully opaque color coverage in a single layer, and most of the shades applied evenly and smoothly to my lips without emphasizing lip texture or sinking noticeably into my lip lines.
The texture was very lightweight, lightly creamy without too much slip, yet there was a distinctive shine to the finish. The luminosity wore down within an hour or so of wear. The formula seemed like a cross between Amplified and Cremesheens, yet there was no tackiness, and the Love Me formula was much lighter and thinner (without being clingy). The wear has ranged from three to six hours and has been lightly to moderately hydrating. They had a sweet, vanilla scent (typical of the brand) but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our MAC Love Me Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Polybutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax\Cera Microcristallina\Cire Microcristalline, Tocopheryl Acetate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Vanillin, Bht, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Carmine (Ci 75470), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 7 (Ci 15850), Red 21 (Ci 45380), Red 27 (Ci 45410), Red 28 (Ci 45410), Red 30 (Ci 73360), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
E for Effortless
PPermanent. $23.00.
La Femme
MAC La Femme Love Me Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark burgundy with subtle, cool undertones and a luminous finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied fairly evenly across my lips and never tugged during application. I did have trouble with the product adhering evenly to the inner area of my lips, and there seemed to be slight darkening in some of my lip lines on the outer areas of my lower lip (but not in my deeper, vertical lip lines, which was odd!). The consistency was lightly creamy without being too slippery or emollient, so it glided on well but had good adherence. It wore well for five hours and was lightly moisturizing while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Raw Footage (P, $25.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Red Berry (DC, $37.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Becca Merlot (DC, $24.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Tiana (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, more muted (90% similar).
- Revlon Reigning Red (P, $10.99) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Hourglass You Inspire (LE, $34.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Crimson (DC, $37.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Me First (38) (P, $13.00) is lighter, warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- ColourPop Supreme Ruler (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Cool Beets (P, $27.00) is less shimmery, lighter, glossier (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$23.00/0.1 oz. - $230.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "lighter-than-air texture" with "all-day moisturization" paired with "intense color and soft shine." They had semi-opaque to fully opaque color coverage in a single layer, and most of the shades applied evenly and smoothly to my lips without emphasizing lip texture or sinking noticeably into my lip lines.
The texture was very lightweight, lightly creamy without too much slip, yet there was a distinctive shine to the finish. The luminosity wore down within an hour or so of wear. The formula seemed like a cross between Amplified and Cremesheens, yet there was no tackiness, and the Love Me formula was much lighter and thinner (without being clingy). The wear has ranged from three to six hours and has been lightly to moderately hydrating. They had a sweet, vanilla scent (typical of the brand) but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our MAC Love Me Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Polybutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax\Cera Microcristallina\Cire Microcristalline, Tocopheryl Acetate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Vanillin, Bht, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Carmine (Ci 75470), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 7 (Ci 15850), Red 21 (Ci 45380), Red 27 (Ci 45410), Red 28 (Ci 45410), Red 30 (Ci 73360), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
La Femme
PPermanent. $23.00.
These will be available August 1st.
E For Effortless is a stunning shade! Reminds me of my tube of MAC Yoni Crush for some reason?
La Femme is exactly my type of color, though. But, man, are those hard to get just right! This is no exception, but I love it enough to see how it would look with Beet or Nightmoth liner.
La Femme is so pretty with your hair, Christine! It’s a very pretty shade, but I know it would be too dark on me. And E for Effortless is gorgeous, but I’m on a very strict red lipstick no-buy.
Really pretty shades, E for Effortless in particular. I already have Major Red from PMGL however, the finish on this one is particularly pretty and forgiving to lip lines is great. The PMGL doesn’t settle in my lip lines or feather either so I will pass of these.
I know I’m a sucker for MAC lipsticks and deep colors… but these colors are really beautiful!
If they were in Matte or Satin finish I would definitely go for them; I’m not keen on the creamy formula in general (I know this one is described as a mix between Amplified and Cremesheens), but especially for bolder colors.
Gorgeous shades – I really love them both.
Love E is for Effortless, but I have to say I really love the packaging. I may buy them both just for that.
Oh shit. I wasn’t expecting much and on the scroll down “Love Me” just jumped right out. I might be taking a look at that one in store…as if I didn’t already own three dozen reds.
Err… E For Effortless, I mean. Sometimes cosmetics just have too many names.