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MAC Hey, Sailor Lipsticks Review, Photos, Swatches


MAC Red Racer Lipstick

MAC Hey, Sailor: Lipsticks

MAC Hey, Sailor! Lipsticks ($15.50 for 0.10 oz.) include four shades: Red Racer (bright yellow red), Sail la Vie (bright mid-tone orange), Salute! (neutral peach), and To Catch a Sailor (highly frosted tan).

First, to those who wanted Red Racer and Sail la Vie, never fear–there are several retailers still yet to launch the collection online, and it’s still not out in-stores (except PRO stores). I wish I could have posted the lipsticks sooner, but I did not have all of them (and ironically, I was missing both the shades that sold out) until 7PM last night!

Truthfully, I was a little surprised that both sold out so quickly, because they seemed dupeable (from the descriptions), but they are certainly lovely shades and wear and apply well to boot.  I really say this as a gentle reminder that makeup is supposed to be fun.  Sometimes the adventure and efforts it takes to track down just that particular shade can be fun and exciting, but when it takes a turn for aggravating, frustrating, and upsetting? that’s when it’s too much. And never be afraid to mix and match–you might be surprised just how much you can dupe if you mix two or three products together!

The only shade that was problematic was Salute!, which applied awfully on my lips. I thought maybe it was just because it was the first lip product I swatched, so I tried it on again, but it looked just as bad (the second attempt is what is shown below).  It just catches on imperfections that a lot of other lipsticks don’t (for instance, To Catch a Sailor was swatched second).  All four shades were opaque, and they had good, creamy consistencies that enabled easier application.  I tested the wear of To Catch a Sailor (three hours) and Red Racer (five hours with a light stain).

MAC lipsticks are vanilla-scented but have no discernible taste. They’re typically packaged in a semi-matte black tube, but these are in a glossy, navy blue tubes with white striping. The finishes of these lipsticks were not at all problematic, and even though To Catch a Sailor has a very metallic finish, it wasn’t drying (but not moisturizing).

MAC Hey, Sailor Lipsticks Review, Photos, Swatches

A-
9
Product
10
Pigmentation
9
Texture
9
Longevity
4
Application
91%
Total


MAC Red Racer Lipstick


MAC Red Racer Lipstick


MAC Red Racer Lipstick


MAC Red Racer Lipstick (Diffused Flash)


MAC Red Racer Lipstick (Studio Lighting)


MAC Red Racer Lipstick


MAC Sail la Vie Lipstick


MAC Sail la Vie Lipstick


MAC Sail la Vie Lipstick


MAC Sail la Vie Lipstick (Diffused Flash)


MAC Sail la Vie Lipstick (Studio Lighting)


MAC Sail la Vie Lipstick


MAC Salute! Lipstick


MAC Salute! Lipstick


MAC Salute! Lipstick


MAC Salute! Lipstick (Diffused Flash)


MAC Salute! Lipstick (Studio Lighting)


MAC Salute! Lipstick


MAC To Catch a Sailor Lipstick


MAC To Catch a Sailor Lipstick


MAC To Catch a Sailor Lipstick


MAC To Catch a Sailor Lipstick (Diffused Flash)


MAC To Catch a Sailor Lipstick (Studio Lighting)


MAC To Catch a Sailor Lipstick

* I purchased Red Racer and Sail la Vie. Salute! and To Catch a Sailor were press samples.

87 Comments

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Joceline Avatar

Hi Christine! Thanks for the swatches, really appreciate it! How’s Sail La Vie compared to MAC Lady Danger, in your opinion?

ButterflyMod Avatar

Lady Danger is way more Red, red-orange-coral and more intense color, because of its Matte finish. Sail La Vie I say is closest like Christine mentioned to Neon Orange by Mac.
Sail La Vie looks more like an Orange with some red in it , like an Orange -Red , than a Red-Orange if that makes sense.
 
If you have “Neon Orange” or “Morange” you don’t need Sail La Vie 

fabiola Avatar

I really like them all on you. Maybe salute with a more orange blush would look pretty too like style blush or peaches maybe? I preorder that one, but I don’t know if it would work on me. The brighter color lipsticks are amazing on you. I just have got too many bright lipstick from iris apfel, shop cook, and real sexy, that I wanted to get salute. Do you think is closer to peachstock? Thank you so much Christine.

Christine-Temptalia Avatar

 @fabiola Peachstock is definitely very different – I originally was thinking it would be a dupe, but they’re really not close at all! Peachstock is warmer, more peach, more orange – the yellow tones of Salute are really distinct!

Veronica Avatar

Red Racer is the only one of these that I really caught my eye, but you’re right about it being dupeable.  It’s close enough my NYX Chic Red that I won’t consider it a big deal if I miss out n it.  The packaging is adorable, but it’s kind of a bummer about how much of a let down the collection was over all.  🙁

Christine-Temptalia Avatar

It’s listed in the FAQ! 🙂
 
In the photos for Red Racer and Sail la Vie — On eyes: MAC Crystal Avalanche, Barefoot, Feeling Fresh, Nautical Navy, and Jaunty eyeshadows, MAC Handforged Powerpoint Eye Pencil; Hourglass Film Noir Mascara; MAC Blessedly Rich Lipglass. In the photos for Salute! and To Catch a Sailor — On eyes: MAC Feeling Fresh, Barefoot, and Jaunty eyeshadows; MAC Blue Stripe Powerpoint Eye Pencil; Hourglass Film Noir Mascara.

Christine-Temptalia Avatar

 @ChaiaMiller   Oh! I thought I listed everything I was wearing in the FAQ! The cheeks are Refined Golden in the first two, then it’s Fleet Fast and Launch Away in the other two. So sorry – gosh I’m such a moron!

whitneydonnasmith Avatar

Just by looking at Salute on your lips, I can tell that it wouldn’t look good on me either, maybe it’s just good for certain skin tones… But the rest are gorgeous 🙂

MSPMSP Avatar

How would you compare Red Racer to Ruby Woo and Russian Red? Really curious, because i have both shades and am afraid i’d be adding another red shade with not much of a difference from my old 2. Same goes with Sail La Vie, i have Good to Go, but passed up on Morange. Would you recommend me to get this? Thanks Christine! 🙂

Christine-Temptalia Avatar

 @MSPMSP Ruby Woo is darker and much bluer – Russian Red is also more blue-based and darker but not as dark or as blue-based as Ruby Woo.
 
Good to Go is like Morange, which is like Neon Orange, but it’s not like Sail La Vie.

wwendalynne Avatar

I’m giggling like a schoolgirl over the Salute..  Sorry Christine, you wear practically every shade so wonderfully, it is a shock to see something on you that just doesn’t work.  The rest of the lippies look fabulous on you as usual 🙂 That being said, they all look rather dupeable and this collection is just not hitting any ‘must have’ notes with me.  I just have to see that navy eyeshadow before I walk away from this entire collection with my wallet unscathed..I’m such a sucker for dark blues and wore MUFE Navy Blue 60 today which is one of the most beautiful navy shadows I have ever found.

Deb Avatar

Hey Christine,
 
I greatly appreciate (and continue to be wowed by) the time and commitment you put into this blog. This isn’t your ‘job’, it’s a labour of love and it shows. That you do it for the makeup lovers among us is a gift. Your site is the first I check for pictures and reviews before I buy because I really appreciate how thorough you are.
 
I hope you don’t feel that you need to explain the timing or prioritization of your reviews; we appreciate what you do when you are able to do it. 🙂

Joanne_ Avatar

sail la vie is such a gorgeous color and you’re right it is easily dupeable and that’s why i skipped out on it.  other than that, i don’t see anything in this collection that wows me

Caitlin Mary Avatar

OMG!!! Finally something that is similar enough to Beachbound!!! I need To catch a Sailor <3  Thankyouthankyouthankyou for doing this review <3

Dulce Baez Avatar

Ms Temptalia 😀 what skintone are you… im sure youve probably mentioned before… im just curious cause if we’re both similiar skintones than i can expect colors on you to look similar on my… lol sorry

Milchy Pe Avatar

How would you compare Red Racer to Ruby Woo and Russian Red? Really curious, because i have both shades and am afraid i’d be adding another red shade with not much of a difference from my old 2. Same goes with Sail La Vie, i have Good to Go, but passed up on Morange. Would you recommend me to get this? Thanks Christine! 🙂

Neha Avatar

Nice review once again Christine and loved the way you have expressed your attitude towards make up.. There was a time when I just had2-3 lipsticks and I used to be content with them.. Now, it seems as if I am constantly running after finding the perfect one specially reds.. Last week I bought MAC Ruby woo, Russian red, Chili, VG 1 but that wasn’t enough.. Yesterday I got NARS Heat Wave too(my Lord, its gorgeous)..And now looking at the Red Racer , I have visited MAC site n times..But after reading the whole review, I want to and should be content..!!

Katrice Avatar

Your lip swatches are so lovely. In the top lip swatches you look much less stressed. Like “whew” Glad your packages finally came!

Joanna Avatar

the way salute! applies on your lips is the exact same way creme d’nude applies on mine. drives me CRAZY!!! i wanted to love it since everyone else does but i can’t stand when lipsticks apply so splotchy and messy
 

eurocentrix Avatar

Hey Christine, would you have MAC Rockocco to compare the Red Racer to it? Hmm
Thanks so much for the post btw.. have been looking forward to it:))

Christine-Temptalia Avatar

 @wenjing We have no idea how to fix it, and we have spent hours trying – we’ve gone through the logs, and it says +1/-1 for votes; there’s no reason it should be giving 0.5 scores at all.  I’m really sorry!

kasiaj85 Avatar

Red Racer is also pretty similar to the limited Kanga Rouge lipstick, almost impossible to tell the difference! and it’s similar in color (but different when it comes to texture) to Eden Rouge Mattene 🙂

t_zwiggy Avatar

“98.5 are loving it and 138.5 are leaving it!” I really wonder who that half person is 😛
 
It seems to me like the red and orange lipstick (and orange gloss) are the only good quality products in this entire collection :S

Christine-Temptalia Avatar

 @t_zwiggy We have no idea how to fix it, and we have spent hours trying – we’ve gone through the logs, and it says +1/-1 for votes; there’s no reason it should be giving 0.5 scores at all.  I’m really sorry! 🙁

Emme Avatar

Strangely enough, I really LOVE Salute! Although I don’t apply it as opaquely as you do for swatching. I always use either a hint of lip balm or MAC Prep + Prime for lips before I apply any lip products. But I have found that paler or very opaque colours (Snob, Blankety, Salute, Gaga 2) look best when I just dab or stipple them on my lips, because if I swiped them, they’d look masque-like. Salute is an orangy nude on me, with just enough colour to not make me look washed out. 🙂

Jessica Parente Avatar

I look forward to buy a red lipstick. What do you think it would be fine for a blonde/brown eyes/ nc30?
Red Racer, Ruby Woo or Russian Red? or other one?
 
thanks ;*

pinkrickjamespony20 Avatar

I have sail la vie and lady danger and they are nothing alike at all for the people asking. I was invited to a MAC prerelease party for this collection at which they sold out of red racer before I could buy it. It is nothing like any if the matte shades people are mentioning. I am thinking it’s a lot like Heartless which I already own but I wear red lipstick like every day so I’ll probably buy it when it comes out in stores. There are also Revlon shades Fire&Ice, Love that red, etc. in this shade range. I just collect MAC lipstick so it’s worth it to me.

madeange Avatar

Ladies, a quick FYI for those of you interested in a cheaper version of Sail La Vie (or if your your local MAC stores are sold out) I have found a shade that’s nearly identical! I was desperate to own it ever since it was announced so I immediately started looking for similar shades to calm me down until the actual collection launched. I found Revlon’s Moon Drops Lipstick in Orange Flip (#710, in the green tube) is almost IDENTICAL. I went to get my Sail La Vie today (while wearing my Orange Flip) I swatched SLV on my upper lip while wearing Orange Flip on my lower lip… Ever so SLIGHTLY less red than SLV but almost identical. I like the formula too, has kept my lips mousturized all day and haven’t had any feathering. It was sooo similar I walked out of the MAC store empty handed… and feeling damned good about it! 😀

TaneshaCaswell Avatar

I’m quite deep (MUFE HD 178) and I bought Sail La Vie. I likeit but I don’t think I’ll be rocking it without a clear or darker gloss.
Secondly, I know you say Salute applied awfully but it looks amazing on you, Christine!

Stinii Avatar

The best dupe for Sail La Vie is Indieflick From the Nyx Matte Lipsticks! When i bought Sail La Vie and tried it on It reminded me of a color l worn and when i swatched it, they were the same! the finish is a little bit different but super close!

Framontico Avatar

I picked up Sail La Vie a few days ago and wore it for the first time today. It’s absolutely stunning. I got many compliments on it! It matched my shirt PERFECTLY, haha. It wears for a long time as well! I’m so so SO glad I purchased it – I was on edge when I did! One of my new favorite lipsticks!

Bella2010 Avatar

So the sail la vie is not identical in color as lady danger? I just purchased lady danger online and fell in love with the color but then after i purchased I saw the sail la vie and was considering purchasing that one instead, but from pics i see online sail la vie looks like it has more of a coral color then red tones, its hard to distinguish since i have not seen both shades in person, i own russian red but wanted a brighter red, and lady danger seems to fit well since it doesnt look like its 100% coral

Coleen Avatar

Hi Temptalia! I just want to know which shade you think is better when it comes to MAC’s red lipstick line: Russian Red or the new Red Racer shade? Thanks!

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