MAC Hellebore, Ambrosial, Marsala Liptensity Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
MAC Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a dark purple with warm, pink undertones and a creamy, lightly glossy finish. It had good pigmentation but was not “one-stroke” coverage. After about half of a pass on the lips, the consistency started to melt and felt more gel-like as I applied it, but it tugged a bit initially. The color applied fairly evenly, but the application would benefit from a lip liner underneath for better, more even coverage overall. This shade lasted nicely for six and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. Urban Decay Speedball (DC, $18.00) is lighter (95% similar). ColourPop Leather (DC, $7.00) is lighter (95% similar). Smashbox Bride of Chucky (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Strong Woman (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Jawbreaker (DC, $18.00) is cooler, less glossy (90% similar). MAC Own the Look (LE, $19.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar). MAC Punk Couture (P, $19.00) is darker (90% similar). Maybelline Violet Vixen (DC, $7.49) is cooler (85% similar). NARS Kirat (P, $34.00) is darker (85% similar). Urban Decay Pandemonium (DC, $18.00) is cooler (85% similar). Smashbox Violet Riot (P, $21.00) is cooler (85% similar). Melt Cosmetics Recuerdos (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, cooler, less glossy (85% similar). KVD Beauty LUV (P, $19.00) is lighter (85% similar). Urban Decay Cloud9 (LE, $18.00) is lighter (90% similar). Sephora Orchid (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, cooler, less glossy (85% similar). Bite Beauty Aquarius (LE, $26.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Revlon Stir the Pot (P, $12.39) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar). Sephora What's My Secret (05) (P, $13.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Urban Decay Pandemonium (P, $18.00) is cooler, less glossy (80% similar). Shiseido Future Shock (215) (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a bold, medium-dark fuchsia magenta with pink undertones and a natural sheen. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied evenly and smoothly. The consistency was lightly tacky but wasn’t uncomfortable to wear. It wore well for six and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. Make Up For Ever C207 (DC, $22.00) is darker, more muted, less glossy (95% similar). Maybelline Hot Plum (DC, $7.99) is less glossy (95% similar). MAC Daddy's Little Girl (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). NARS Silvia (P, $34.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Sitting Pretty (DC, $10.00) is more muted (90% similar). MAC Night Blooming (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). Burberry Brilliant Violet (P, $34.00) is more muted, warmer (90% similar). YSL Fuchsia (19) (PiP, $38.00) is darker, more muted, warmer (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Pablo (DC, $36.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Beetroot (DC, $21.00) is more muted (90% similar). Givenchy Ultravioline (24) (P, $34.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Frenemy (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Laura Mercier Rose Mauve (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Bite Beauty #010 (LE, $36.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Estee Lauder Thrill Seeker (420) (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Bite Beauty Dragonfruit (DC, $26.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). Hourglass Protector (P, $32.00) is darker, more muted, warmer (85% similar). MAC Invite Intrigue (LE, $19.00) is more muted, less glossy (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Jack (P, $36.00) is lighter (85% similar). Urban Decay Anarchy (DC, $22.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish berry with subtle, cool undertones and satiny sheen. It was richly pigmented with full color coverage and a smooth, light-medium thick texture that sat exceptionally well on the lips. The more gel-like consistency made my lips look smoother and fuller. The color wore well for nearly eight hours before it would be time for a touch-up, while the formula was just a smidgen drying after six hours of wear. Maybelline Plum for Me (P, $7.49) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Bite Beauty Mulberry (DC, $24.00) is more muted (90% similar). Bite Beauty Sugared Maple (LE, $24.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar). Bobbi Brown Grenadine (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Bite Beauty Jam (DC, $26.00) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop First of All (PiP, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar). Inglot #293 Lipstick Cream (P, $12.00) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop Malibu Sunset (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). NARS Damned (P, $27.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar). ColourPop Oh Baby (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Pat McGrath Wrecked (DC, $40.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Bite Beauty Pavlova (P, $24.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Guerlain #80 (P, $33.00) is more shimmery, more muted, warmer (90% similar). YSL Forbidden Burgundy (12) (DC, $34.00) is lighter, glossier (95% similar). Pat McGrath Sorry Not Sorry (DC, $40.00) is lighter (90% similar). Giorgio Armani Drama Berry (510) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Laura Mercier Plum Sublime (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Bite Beauty #096 (P, $18.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Ivar (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Brocade (DC, $37.00) is cooler (95% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Formula Overview
MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is supposed to have “intense amounts of pigment” with a gel-like texture that melts on lips that leaves behind a satin finish and wears for “eight hours.” It’s supposed to be “comfortable” to wear, but there are no claims about hydration–and overall, they were non-drying. The majority of the range varied from semi-opaque to fully opaque in one stroke, while the texture had some body and thickness to it but was not heavy. The consistency feels firmer in the tube, but it became softer and more pliable as it warmed up against the lips. This was also true about how the color settled and looked on the lips–it tended to fill up lip lines without emphasizing them as much after thirty seconds of wear. The formula didn”t have a lot of slip, and it was actually lightly tacky, which helped it stay in place better. The wear ranged from four to eight hours with lighter shades typically wearing shorter than deeper and more intense shades. The finish was anywhere from satin to natural with noticeable sheen, sometimes glossiness, but it often wore to a satin to semi-matte finish after a few hours. The formula has MAC’s typical vanilla scent but had no discernible taste.
Hellebore
DCDiscontinued. $21.00.
Ambrosial
DCDiscontinued. $21.00.
Marsala
DCDiscontinued. $21.00.
MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick
MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick
Ambrosial is a stunner. Looks very even and smooth indeed.
It is a nice color!
Marsala is my favorite but I have Beetroot!
Money saved!
They look gorgeous! My favourite is Hellebore, just love that purple!
They have a nice finish!
So glad Hellebore did reasonably well. It’s arriving today along with Claretcast! Marsala is really pretty on you. I may need to pick that up as well!
Can’t wait for you try your new lipsticks, Michele!
I really like Marsala and it looks great on you Christine! And while Ambrosial won’t work on me, it’s still a really pretty color.
Thank you, Aj!
Marsala is right up my alley! Might have to check this out!
Hope you can test it, Carrie!
What a stunner Marsala is …. wwoooohhhooooooooooo
It is!
Wow, Hellebore is really pretty, but I need to check my stash for dupes. If nothing, I will grab. I usually have to use a lip liner for bold purple lipsticks anyway, so not a big deal to use one.
I bet you have something close!
Christine, when you test the longevity of a lipstick, do you eat/drink while doing it? I mean, I’m ok with reapplying it after a meal, but I hate lipsticks that come off after a mere cup of water (I drink a LOT of water, so that really gets on my nerves).
I don’t eat unless it wears longer than 6 hours, then I usually eat with it on. I used to skip meals, but my body/brain doesn’t take that well anymore. I drink coffee, but I long ago changed the way I drink out of a cup to minimize lipstick transfer.
Very excited to See all the other colours. Ambrosial looks so creamy and intense. Really good.
They are already in the Swatch Gallery! I posted a sneak peek of all the swatches a bit ago 🙂
I love hot wet these look on the lips without it being too creamy. It’s a shame MAC keeps bringing out LE formulas and it takes years for them to make them permanent.
They have that tackiness that helps them stay on a lot better than a true glossy/balmy lipstick would! I just don’t know why they’ve done such huge press/push for this launch when it is LE!
MAC wasn’t kidding when they said this was their most pigmented lipsticks yet! I love the intensity, but it looks moisturizing as well!
I actually don’t agree with that claim – a lot of them are pigmented, but they have just as pigmented (or more pigmented) shades in their other ranges 🙂
All three are gorgeous! The colors just pop of the screen, which I’m geussing doesn’t come close to capturing their true depth. I really want to see these in person. Just phenomenol-looking shades. <3
Hope you can check ’em out soon, Rachel! 🙂
I am really digging Hellebore and Marsala, both look very rich in the pigment and smoothness department for such deep shades!
Yummie! These look great! Marsala is a top favorite from all three here.
Hopefully I’ll see them soon in my local store. Thank you!
I went by MAC to look at these yesterday and was really impressed with Marsala but I have so many lips in that color. I love it! I picked up Burnt Violet!
MAC is getting on my nerves LOL
Because I feel like they keep repackaging colors they have and trying to pass it off as a new shade. And this is coming from a major MAC stan