MAC for Iris Apfel Lipsticks Review, Photos, Swatches

Christine — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:00:18 +0000

MAC Flamingo Lipstick

MAC for Iris Apfel: Lipsticks

There are four limited edition (and one permanent) shades of MAC Lipstick ($14.50 for 0.10 oz.) in the Iris Apfel collection: Flamingo (light milky bright coral), Morange (loudmouth orange), Party Parrot (bright red-pink), Pink Pigeon (bright cleanest pink), and Scarlet Ibis (bright orange-red).

Flamingo is a pink with a hint of coral that yields semi-opaque color coverage, which is more coverage than your average lustre finish gives. It has that natural-looking sheen that you’d expect from a lustre as well. This has a lustre finish. It’s lighter than MAC Blossom Culture. It’s less intense but close in hue compared to MAC Ever Hip. It’s similar to Guerlain Rose Desir.
Morange is a bright, medium orange with a subtle sheen to the finish and opaque color coverage. This has an amplified creme finish and is part of the permanent range. It’s similar to oranges like MAC Good to Go, MAC Neon Orange, and Illamasqua Flare.
Party Parrot is a neon medium-dark pink with a natural matte finish and opaque color coverage. This has a matte finish. VS Be Mine is less intense. Lancome Posh Pink is not quite as bright. OCC Queen is redder. MAC Scandelicious is similar but glossier. MAC Full Fuchsia is bluer-based. Tom Ford Pure Pink is a bit pinker.
Pink Pigeon is a bright magenta pink with a natural matte finish. It has opaque color coverage. This has a matte finish. Milani Rose Hip is brighter and pinker, MAC Florida is lighter, MAC Show Orchid is slightly pinker, MAC Candy Yum Yum is purpler and brighter, NARS Schiap is pinker, and MAC Love Forever is not as bright.
Scarlet Ibis is a reddened orange with a natural matte finish and full color coverage. This has a matte finish. It’s a little redder compared to Givenchy Candide Tangerine. It is similar to Giorgio Armani #405 with a matte finish. Estee Lauder Wild Fire is a touch lighter. Dolce & Gabbana Sheer is similar but a touch brighter.

MAC lipsticks come in a variety of finishes, so the color payoff, texture, and wear can vary based on the finish alone. In this collection, we have mostly mattes. The matte formula on these is comfortable to wear without being drying; I actually would have pegged them as amplified cremes or satins, because they didn’t cling like some of MAC’s original matte finishes do (think Ruby Woo; none of these are similar in texture). Lustres tend to wear off quickly and dry out my lips, so they’re not my favorite finish. Amplified cremes are really opaque, creamy, and comfortable to wear. Because of the intensity of the pigmentation in these shades (except Flamingo), these will wear longer and have a tendency to stain. I’ve worn Morange for six hours in the past, and I tested out Scarlet Ibis for wear, and it wore for six hours and left a bit of a stain. MAC lipsticks are vanilla-scented but taste-free.