MAC Grey Friday Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Grey Friday Lipstick
It’s Going to Be a Grey Friday
MAC Grey Friday Lipstick ($15.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “blackish-grey with silver shimmer.” It has a frost finish. In the tube, it looks like a steely gray shot through with silver shimmer. When swatched, it’s a semi-sheer to semi-opaque grayish-black with bits of silver and teal micro-shimmer. On lips, it’s a lot less gray/black and is more like insta-vamp by turning my natural lip color into a really dark, muted gray-ish plum color. The only color that came to mind as something similar was Urban Decay Perversion, which is a lipgloss and much, much sheerer (so they look quite different on).
It’s not nearly as intimidating when applied as it looks in the tube, though it is undoubtedly a darker, vampier lip color even in its most subtle application. The color is semi-sheer to semi-opaque and is sheer enough to allow your natural lip color to come through; the redder your natural lip color is, the redder this is going to turn. It applied mostly evenly over the lips, and it wasn’t too dry or too slick. I tested the wear of this shade, and it managed four hours and lingered as long as five, but it was significantly faded at that point. It wasn’t drying or hydrating, and as always, it was vanilla-scented.
There’s also a nail polish with the same name releasing on November 23rd online at maccosmetics.com (and in-store at MAC Times Square), which I don’t have at this time.
Grey Friday
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
MAC Grey Friday Lipstick
MAC Grey Friday Lipstick
MAC Grey Friday Lipstick
MAC Grey Friday Lipstick
MAC Grey Friday Lipstick
MAC Grey Friday Lipstick
Looks awesome! More wearable than I expected. Also, Christine – your eye makeup is rocking 😉
EEkkk I love it but it would love awful on me lol – might just have to get it though so I can sit and look at it and wish 😉
Definitely more wearable than I expected! I thought it would be a hot mess, but I like the effect.
Definitely reminds me of my old favourite Jet. I feel like taking a chance on it!
I agree, more wearable looking than I thought. Still a skip for me though, mostly because it’s not even going to be released in the UK.
Honestly, I just don’t get it. Why would anyone want grey lips? I find that almost all women look so much better with a “normal” colour on their lips – pink, peach, berry, red – and I just don’t get this other stuff.
Simple – it’s fun! Though, this doesn’t really look grey on Christine, imo, it makes her lips look really vampy.
It depends on what kind of look you prefer. If you’re into more “alternative” fashions, having a dusky lip color might better compliment your look. Also, there are a lot of women out there with very deep skin tones who can rock this kind of color like it’s not even a big deal.
Sometimes it’s not about portraying the traditional standard of beauty. Sometimes I like to go wild and crazy and experiment with my makeup and make something fun and crazy and (to me) beautiful! It’s about creating art!!
Why *wouldn’t* anyone want grey lips? I don’t understand why anyone would want to wear neon-pink, orange, coral, etc. on their lips, since those aren’t “normal” lip colors, either.
I don’t really get blue lipstick for example, but this actually looks wearable. If I were younger, I’d totally consider it. At 34 it’s just not “me” but at 22, I would have wanted it.
My lips are much redder than Christine’s, so this would end up looking vampy and purple on me. I’m seriously contemplating getting this, and I’ve so little interest in MAC, it’d be my first lipstick of theirs.
Granted, I wouldn’t have looked twice at this if I hadn’t been so pleasantly surprised at how wearable UD’s Oil Slick lipstick was.
My lips are very red, too, and the Rimmel Kate Moss color in number 14 (I think) is basically the same concept as this, but with a bit more plum already thrown in. I think MAC’s version is just too sheer for the price!
Some of us like the more unusual colours, I’m a goth and I love this sort of thing. It also depends on how you use it. I love it when stuff like this is released!
However, it’s unlikely that I’ll get my hands on it as I’m in the UK…
Woah, that is not what I was expecting. Pass! Thanks so much for reviewing it, Christine!
Is this intended as layering lipstick? Like how black lipgloss can be layered over red lipstick to make it a deeper, vampy colour.
This is all MAC has on it: “Celebrate the busiest shopping day of the year with M·A·C Grey Friday, a colour-coordinated Lipstick and Nail Lacquer duo in dark, sultry shades. Featuring M·A·C Grey Friday Lipstick, a black-grey with silver shimmer, and M·A·C Grey Friday Nail Lacquer, with silver suede pearl. LIMITED EDITION.”
Thanks for that 🙂 I think this would be great as a layering lipstick. I love how factual and thorough your reviews are – if the company does/doesn’t say a product is meant for something, you don’t make excuses for it or factor it into your review. Thanks for all your hard work!
It looks almost like a shade Estee Lauder released a couple of months ago. Theirs was more for layering and was more sheer. The gray-ish shade is great actually for lips colors that are way too light. I’ve made the mistake in buying lip products that look fine when swatched on my hand, but were way too light when applied to my lips.
I love it.
Kind of reminds me of a cool toned version of “O”. Kind of a sheer shimmery lipstick that could pass for a gloss, but since it’s dark there’s still some dimension. But it would also look good over matte black lipstick for a goth look
I was all like “WOW!” and then I was like “MINE! ALL MINE!” and then I was all “What? That looks kind of sheer… cool but sheer” and then I was like “this looks like those Lauder lipsticks that launched over the summer” and now I’m all like “okay I still want it but… I wish it was opaque.” LOL
MAC always plays with my heart! Puts out amazing color lipstick, makes me drool over it, then it’s SHEER! WHYYYYYY!
The MAC promo pics of it show it very opaque… same color, but incredibly opaque. Lipsticks pretty much always look different on me then they do on Christine (she often wears it better), but we clearly apply our lipstick differently. I will not be shocked if it wears on me as an opaque like the MAC promos, not sheer. I suspect it may be very different from the Estee Lauder gunmetal color….and I want that, too. lol
That would be perfect to apply over a violet that’s a little too bright.
This is pretty fantastic. Does anyone know how it compares to the Gunmetal lipstick that Estee Lauder put out a few months ago?
I may need to pick this one up. I probably would layer it over another color, but it think it would look amazing on its own with clean dewy skin and a bit of black liner.
Lauder’s is a bit more sheer! It’s meant to be a ‘lipstick topcoat’, so it’s not quite as pigmented as Grey Friday.
Wow, I like that far more than I thought I would. It’s still not me, but it actually looks surprisingly wearable. I bet it would look amazing layered with a red or plum lipstick.
BTW the eye makeup your wearing in this totally compliments that vampy lip. You look all like sexy Sour Grapes from Strawberry Shortcake 🙂
Looks surprisingly flattering on you, Christine!
I kinda think I love this, but definitely for layering! Like over a nice deep purple or burgundy maybe? It is SO much better than I was expecting it to be, thats for sure!
I have a silver lipstick from MAC from a very long time ago. I used to adore it, so I was tempted to get this one. But now I’m not so sure…an actual plum could do that look more effectively.
I want this, even though I *hate* MAC lipstick! The EL one seemed a bit too sheer, and lacked the depth this seems to have. I just wish it were available at counters…
On, this looks like nothing I would’ve expected. I kinda love it! Very cool. 🙂
ew
I’ll pass. It reminds of the color your lips turn after one of those black blow pops.
This is cool– I like that there seems to be some blue in it. However, I don’t know if I’d actually ever use it, so I think I’ll pass.
Rimmels kate moss collection has a layering lipstick that may be similar
Love things that arre different. Looks great on you!
That would be love things that ARE different. Apparently I can’t spell today 🙂
Wow wayyyyyy more boring than I expected. Why bother when my plum or wine glosses are almost that?
It looks really good on you!
This looks so much prettier on than swatched!!
Yeah, well, it is different! But I was actually expecting it to be way more pigmented, darker…
Estee Lauder released a layering lipstick very much like that.
Hm. I don’t know. I love the swatch and it’s surprisingly nice on you, but…. I don’t know. I think it looks so great on you because of your whole makeup look (is that partially grey-ish eyeshadow that I espy?!). I really like the whole face look & colouring you have on.
But, back to the lipstick, it’s definitely more wearable than I had thought it would be when you first posted the promo photos a while back. I also agree with Angela down below who said it made them think of MAC’s “O,” only in a slightly greyer version. In fact, the more I look at it, the more I really like it. But, all in all, I don’t think it’s for me because of the texture and sheerness, though — like “O” — it may be great for layering. I give kudos to MAC for offering a very different colour, though — as usual — I’d be more enthused about the company if their cool stuff weren’t always L/E.
It looks the way Urban Decay’s Oil Slick looks on me, but without the glitter. but i think that’s discontinued.
Boo, it’s so sheer! I was hoping for a great deep gunmetal like I wore in the 90s…guess I will have to start ordering from Manic Panic again to get some decent vampy colors!
I wasn’t convinced it was workable until I saw the full face pic. I like it, but I doubt I could pull it off.
This actually looks pretty cool!
I’m marveling over how it looks absolutely nothing like the actual lipstick due to its sheerness. Not for me.
actualllly I like it 😀
Christine, you can pull everything off! This colour looks really good on you. It kind of works with your lip colour and makes it slightly purple.
I agree Christine can pull off just about any color eyeshadow or lipstick! She’s the perfect model for different products. Work it Christine!!
hm, not as bad as I thought it would be! Actually, it looks nice on you, Christine! I don’t think I could pull it off, though…I’m way too pale.
Huh…not what I expected but I’m kinda liking it. Still on the fence if I’ll pick it out though. Looks great on you! =)
I had hoped it would be more on the grey side. I really wanted a grey lipstick. I still love it and will be getting it. It’s still unique enough to add to my bajillion lipsticks. Love how it looks on you Christine.
I have ombre plans for this beauty! I’m getting it and likey I’ll get a back up too!
You look like an upscale Goth! Not for me but you really pull it off 🙂
What do you mean by “upscale goth”?
I totally love your whole goth-esque look you have going on here! I love this eye makeup on you!
I don’t think I would have much occasion to be able to wear this, but I salute all of you who do/can rock this lip color.
It actually reminds me a lot of a cooled down version of MAC’s Icon–with is kind of a grayish frosty taupe. And like Icon, which is a bit shy of opaque too, I think it would look awesome with a lip liner to give it more defined edges. 🙂
Im sad, I thought it was opaque.
This actually looks pretty cool, especially with your eye makeup!
All I can think is you can get Oil Slick lipstick from Urban Decay for $3 right now…
This looks exactly like that gray Kate Moss Rimmel lipstick that came out recently and is meant for layering. Totally not what I expected. I think I’m going to have to break the MAC chains on this one and skip it. Honestly, I own Lady Grey, Gargoyle’s Glance, and Dusky Plum by Morgana Cryptoria, all variations on gunmetal gray that are way more opaque than this. It’s a shame they didn’t make this an opaque matte.
Wanted it until I saw the swatches.
Just like ruffian gold.
🙁
why so sheer?!
Womp womp. This looks a lot like Urban Decay’s Oil Slick lipstick, which I (also) thought would be a lot more opaque. Boo! 🙁
oh that looks really nice! I have a silvery sheer Dior lipgloss that would be a perfect match!!
Looks similar to the Estée Lauder gunmetal luminizer
i actually like this a lot more than i expected.. Its not something i would personally wear, but i do really like it 🙂
While it looks really nice on your skin color and on the overall face shot, on the close ups of your lips, it looks dirty. Like you have a little shmutz on your face. I’m not a fan.
Interesting…now I might be a little color blind but to me it looks like a deep plum swatched, not grey at all, seems to me like a very deep plum would look the same. Considering how safe I play it with my makeup this is not for me.
Reminds me of the Estee Lauder Gunmetal Luminizer lipstick they brought out but this is darker.
looks nice on you, but i don’t think this would go well with my fair -olive undertone skin, would make me look sallow!
I wouldn’t dare to wear it public. It is too dark for me.
It looks great on you.
rimmel does one just like this 🙂
Haha, I was about to say that! I saw it yesterday and was like, “Wait a second, this is totally a dupe for Grey Friday.”
Hmm. Not sure about this. It looks rockin’ on you but my lips aren’t pigmented like at all so it’ll be straight up grey on me. I could see it being nice for layering but I doubt I’d reach for it often. Probably a pass for me but I’m glad it’s better quality than a lot of le mac items of late.
nice!!!!
For lipstick swatches, it would be awesome if you could post a photo of your full face without the smile too. It’s very helpful to see the overall effect of a lipstick for the whole face, and especially with a relaxed mouth as that’s what is default for most people. 🙂
The lip swatch is already like that (not smiling) – I’m not looking to add any additional photos at this time since we already have three shots – studio lighting, flash lighting, and full-face. Sorry!
I don’t blame you. You’ve already got a great set-up and system that has taken years to hone. Keep up the great work! <3
I am beyond disappointed with this color. It is NOTHING like the promo pic. Since I’m stuck with it, I might as well find some use for it. Do you have any suggestions as to what lipstick may look good with ” Grey Friday ” layered over it?
You could do a purple/berry – it will darken and deepen the color!
Try just wearing it a few times and breaking it in a little. When I wear mine, it only takes 1-2 coats and it is completely opaque. There is no way I could use this as a layering color. I’m one of about a dozen women in a makeup forum who have all found it to be fairly solid, off-black or silver-frosted black, and so has my daughter. It only looked sheer on me like this the very first time I tried it. Don’t give up!
I’m so curious… I’m thinking about getting it just for the sake of trying it in person.. haha
Grey Friday looks just like a lipstick MAC had in the 90s called Jet. It was a greyish black lipstick. I remember it fondly. Although I have a mocha complexion, I don’t usually feel comfortable wearing blackish lipsticks. This does look attractive on you, Christine. You’ve sheered it out nicely.
I like how this looks nothing like the picture they posted on Facebook
So glad I saw this first, I don’t think I want it anymore.
-_-
One of the Kate Spade for rimmel limited edition fall shades looks similar but a bit more purple toned
Weird! I’m very surprised how wearable that is.
A dupe for this is Urban Decay Oil Slick it’s $3 on the website. The color payoff is the exact same, sheer, black with silver glitter.
I was going to skip it until I saw it on you, IT’S FABULOUS! wow is what I am saying. 😛
this shade reminds me so much of gun metal by estee lauder. So i am passing!
Umm on your lips it looks straight up brown to me which is scary because I hate brown lip colors. I REALLY hope it doesn’t look like that on my lips.
Oh! I’m so disappointed. I should’ve read this review before purchasing. I wanted to try something really different and got sucked in by the limited 1 day only. The Facebook picture looked like a matte opaque true gray. This is a sheer metallic finish with sparkle! I have a million sheer lipsticks and glosses with shimmer. I wanted something unique and different. Shame on me for just looking at the Mac promo photo and taking it at face value. 🙁
Omg it sold out b4 I could push the send button
check out RIMMEL LIPSTICK NUMBER 15..FOR A BETTER GRAY LIPSTICK PLUS ITS PRETTIER AND CHEAPER YALL!!
Anyone who missed out on this should check out Urban Decay’s Oil Slick. It’s really similar. And it’s on sale for $3 on Urban Decays website!
I would never have given this a second thought until seeing this, I am considering purchasing!
Oh, how I wish I had this lipstick! If any of you ladies aren’t pleased with the color payoff or the product, send it my way! 😉
Looks like a pretty solid dupe for Urban Decay’s Blackout if any of your readers are sad they missed their chance to pick up Grey Friday! Although being that Blackout is currently on sale for $3, it’s probably on the verge of being discontinued…
Argh I meant Oil Slick I’m toooooo stoned sorry