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MAC Evening Stroll Lip & Cheek Colour Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour

MAC Evening Stroll Lip & Cheek Colour

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour ($20.00 for 0.43 fl. oz.) is described as a “violet cream.” It’s a red-toned purple that can look pinker when sheered out, but it’s still more purple than it is pink, no matter how sheer you go. If you’ve ever wanted a “true purple” blush, this gets you close. I couldn’t think of a comparable blush shade; MAC Azalea Blossom isn’t as purple, and MAC Sakura is much pinker. If you’re looking to replicate it as a lip color, MAC Seasoned Plum is slightly darker, MAC Playtime is pinker, MAC Goes and Goes is darker, less pink, and MAC Go For It is slightly less pink.

This is a new (and limited edition) product and shade. MAC describes the new formula as “[v]ersatile, lightweight all-in-one colour for cheeks and lips … [c]reamy, super-blendable, barely there” with vitamin E. I think the best way to think of this product is like this: you’ve spent all day at the beach, and you don’t have time to go home and get ready for an evening out, so you quickly pat on one of these on your lips and cheeks–you look a little dressed up, but it’s never over-the-top, and it’s always natural and easy-going. That’s the best way I can describe the formula in a big picture sense. (The only problem is that this scenario isn’t exactly hygenic usage of this product.)

As a Cream Blush

If you like matte and loathe words like “dewy” and “glowy,” this isn’t the right cream blush formula for you. These are rather dewy on my normal-to-dry skin, and they never seem to dry down completely for me. It feels a little “oily” to the touch; it doesn’t seem oily or greasy, but there’s some kind of slickness that enables it to be pushed and moved around even after a couple of hours after application. I was expecting it to wear off quickly as a result, and while the two shades I’ve trialed (Evening Stroll and Weekend Getaway) so far haven’t made it a full eight hours, they both wore for six hours before starting to look faded.

The consistency is soft, pliant, and creamy without being too thick (it’s not as thin as the Cremeblend Blushes, but it’s not as thick as the Blushcremes were), so it spreads and applies over the skin easily. Though it’s not sticky, there is transfer when I pressed my finger against my cheek or even just put a cloth against it (I wanted to pretend that it was clothing, because there have been many times where I’ve transferred makeup onto my fiance’s shirt). Because not a lot of product is applied to begin with, it’s not as if it all “kisses” off, but some does transfer over. It is vanilla-scented, though I didn’t notice any odd taste when using it on my lips.

I found the best application method was using fingers, because it enabled it to melt better against the skin and blend out evenly. I also liked the 188 and 130 brushes, and both achieved a similar result, they just took a little longer. It blends well over foundation and on bare skin, though I prefer the look of it over foundation, because I don’t have perfect skin, and it just seemed to make my cheeks look splotchier than usual more often than not, and I felt like my pores were beacons in the night, but I’m also more sensitive to “dewy” finishes.

The spectrum of dewy to oily is always hard to judge, because it really ends up being a matter of taste. There are times where I love the glowy, dewy finish of a product, and a reader will comment about how oily my skin looks–and there are times where I think something makes my skin look oily, and then a reader will comment about the glow! On my skin, it read slightly more pronounced than natural dewiness finish–there was a definite sheen and shine that went and went for nearly the entire time it wore.

As a Lip Color

Oddly, though, when it is applied to lips, it has a tendency to really dry down and set, almost feeling clingy without being sucked into every nook and cranny on the lips. It is incredibly lightweight and natural-looking on the lips. Despite the thin consistency on the lips, it’s not drying. It wasn’t moisturizing, but  it wasn’t drying. I recommend using lip balm prior to applying this product, and possibly exfoliating lips, because it does cling and will emphasize any flakes or roughness on the lips. It’s more forgiving than a true matte lipstick, but it can do so. On the lips, I was able to get four hours of wear out of Evening Stroll.

MAC was very generous with this product; it contains four times the amount of most lipsticks or twice the amount of most blushes (for instance, this is over double the size of the Cremeblend Blushes). This is great, except, this is a tub of product that is best applied with fingers yet cream products are much more prone to inhibiting bacteria. I would use this by taking a small amount out with a clean utensil (like a cosmetic spatula), and then using your fingers at that point. Otherwise, I think this is the type of product that will easily spoil before you finish it. A little goes a long way, both on cheeks and on lips, so this oversized pot of color will last you quite awhile.

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour (Diffused Flash)

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour (Studio Lighting)

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour (Diffused Flash)

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour (Studio Lighting)

MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour
MAC Evening Stroll Casual Colour Lip & Cheek Colour

57 Comments

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corallista Avatar

This isn’t quite my color but the formula seems good. Waiting for the other shade swatches and reviews! You look lovely here Christine!

Kelly Avatar

How bad do these transfer? Because it sounds like a useful product for travelling but I hate transferring my make-up on my friends. Are you going to review the other colours as well? This colour is not really something I would wear so I’m interested in swatches of the other colours.

xamyx Avatar

I like the idea of this product; it seems the trend is toward matching lips & cheeks, which is a past trend I’ve always liked. It’s funny how something can considered “dated”, then all of a sudden, it becomes the latest trend, which is why I’ve never been into following trends. If I like something, I’ll wear it.

LisaOmmert Avatar

I love it! my pores are a little bit enlarged around my nose and between my eyebrows but on my cheeks these should work fine, shouldn’t they?

Kafka Avatar

You really give *the* best reviews. No-one else even comes close. I mean, seriously, how many people would assess the transferability of a product onto clothing?!? It’s like the time you wore a product into a steaming bathroom and then into the shower to assess diff. degrees of waterproof durability. Unbelievable. You’re a gem, Christine.  Plus, you’re funny as hell: “I felt like my pores were beacons in the night”… ROFL!

Brit J Avatar

Ms. Christine, is this product at all comparable to MAC Up the Amp? And, if so, how do they compare? Thanks in advance for your reply?
If anyone else has these two products, please don’t hesitate to respond to my inquiry. 😀

wwendalynne Avatar

Oh my GAWD!  LoL!!  Christine, you look beautiful in pretty much anything, but this one is giving me a giggle fit.  I imagine this would look fab on darker/cooler skin tones, but on you it is positively ghastly.  You are a trooper!  I would use this on halloween.. ’nuff said

Leticia Avatar

This color looks great on you, Christine! I did not imagine it would be so pretty! Then again, it’s lovely on YOU, but I’ll have to check it out in person to see if I like it on me 🙂 ! I definitely don´t have any blush or lip color in my stash that looks like this, so it could be a nice addition!

CarmenChameleon Avatar

I wonder how the color compare to Up The Amp. You should really get yourself an Up The Amp to compare all these new purple shades with, Christine. 

crimson Avatar

christine. casula colour collection and beth ditto collection not launched on nordstrom.com ? 
i ask specific launch date to nordstrom live chat. they don’t have exact date.
they said maybe in july 1st week… isn’t it so far than maccosmetics.com? do you have any information for this?

lilinah Avatar

I am MAD for this color, MAD!!! Natural? No, but i don’t care – i like the occasional dramatic makeup. I have previously gotten Sakura, Azalea Blossom Ombré, Vintage Grape Ombré, Full of Joy.
 
I also really like the way these Colour Cremes feel on the face. I don’t find them too oily. I have slightly dry skin and even with BB Cream on, i had to add a little moisturizer to get them to blend out when testing then on my cheeks. On me, they weren’t too shiny and they wore the full 8 hours.
 
I tested all 8 colors and they were all beautiful, although the orange and the red were not for me. I pre-ordered Evening Stroll, Lazy Sunday (cool pale pink), and Have A Lovely Day (light neutral) – and i’m thinking about getting Keep It Loose (pale peach). I think this is a terrific collection of colors – pale and intense, cool and warm, pretty much something for every skin tone.

lilinah Avatar

For those who think these cremes are “too dewy”, a light dusting of something like MAC Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder will mitigate the glow, without hiding the beautiful color.

Veronica Avatar

Whoa, that’s darker than I expected from the pot, but it’s very pretty worn.  I do own Seasoned Plum, though, so I think it’s close enough that I’ll be passing it up.  🙂

Chelle Avatar

 @Christine (Temptalia) You say “just like” but the tendertones were fruity weren’t they?  (That’s the only reason I asked… love the vanilla scent… despise the “fruit” scent.) Thank you though… you’ve brought me closer to buying this product. I swear you’re like the ultimate enabler. <3

Lumissne Avatar

Just wondering – How does this compare with Lime Crime’s Airborne Unicorn, in terms of colour? As much as I love the colour, I refuse to buy from Lime Crime.

lilinah Avatar

Also:
1. Full of Joy is pale, whereas Evening Stroll can be blended out or bult up for deeper or more intense color.
2. Full of Joy is somewhat frosted, whereas Evening Stroll is a satin creme – there’s some sheen from light reflection, but no shimmer or frost whatsoever.

Kbean Avatar

Hi Christine! I believe this post also covered the general info about the product (not just specific color) & I checked the other posts as well, but didn’t seem to find the answer to my question…I was wondering if these can also be used on the eyes? Thanks! 🙂

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