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).
- Red Racer is a brightened medium red with subtle yellow undertones. It seems a little blue in certain lighting to me, as it has a pinky-red appearance when used lightly, but then it seems a smidgen orange-red at other angles. This has a satin finish, and it’s opaque once applied. I definitely recommend perusing our gallery of red lipsticks, because there are so many shades and you may find one is similar enough for you there. Guerlain Vega is a bit darker. Maybelline Very Cherry is a smidgen darker. Guerlain Habit Rouge is more orange-toned. NYX Chic Red is blue-based. CoverGirl Hot is a smidgen warmer. Bobbi Brown Old Hollywood seems fairly close. Giorgio Armani #404 is also similar but a touch brighter and has shimmer. Chanel Lover is a touch cooler. Make Up For Ever #43 is a little lighter/brighter. MAC Heartless is a smidgen warmer.
- Sail la Vie is an coral-tinted orange-red with a creamy finish. This has a satin finish. When it’s applied, it looks more like a medium-dark burnt orange on my lips. Shades like MAC Neon Orange and MAC Good to Go are brighter, more of a true orange. Givenchy Candide Tangerine is similar but perhaps a smidgen lighter. MAC Scarlet Ibis is a bit redder. Dolce & Gabbana Sheer is very similar. Dolce & Gabbana Fire is a bit lighter. Giorgio Armani #401 is similar, perhaps a little lighter. MAC Korean Candy is a darker orange, but it’s not quite as red-based.
- Salute! is a pale peach-beige with a creamy finish. This has an amplified finish. I actually applied and swatched this twice, because it looked so awful on my lips (and I had just exfoliated!)–it grabs onto every single imperfection on your lips and just amplifies it (ha, ha). It has a fair amount of yellow in it, which is why it looks different compared to other common peaches. Dolce & Gabbana Caramel is darker. MAC Archetype is sheerer and darker. MAC Siss is a bit darker but applies better.
- To Catch a Sailor is a medium beige-brown with a metallic-like finish. This has a frost finish. MAC Pet Me Please is pinker. MAC Gel is more golden. MAC Tanarama is lighter and warmer. MAC Beachbound is more golden. MAC Beigeland is the closest, but it’s less brown.
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 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.
Hi Christine! Thanks for the swatches, really appreciate it! How’s Sail La Vie compared to MAC Lady Danger, in your opinion?
I don’t have Lady Danger, sorry! 🙁
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
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.
@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!
@Christine (Temptalia) @fabiola I agree Salute is a peach with a yellow undertone. Not loving it at all.
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. 🙁
Salute…just, no.
Red Racer is beautiful though!
What are you wearing on your cheeks in the photos?
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) But, as she asked, what is on your cheeks?
@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!
@Christine (Temptalia) @ChaiaMiller Thank you! I love your pink cheeks. = )
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 🙂
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! 🙂
@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.
Hey Chris!
Thanks fo the swatches! Just one questionm tho. How does Sail la Vie compare to Morange?
@Carla Souza It’s not the same – Morange is like Neon Orange but not Sail La Vie, which has a lot of red!
@Carla Souza So chaud is practically the matte finish of sail la vie, I tried them both on the store
I know its a matte, but color wise would you say Ruby Woo is very similar to Red Racer? Thank you.
No, Ruby Woo is darker and very blue-based!
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.
Salute! looks tragic. I can’t believe the MAC girl even tried to suggest I get this one.
I know! I honestly can’t imagine that color looking good on *anyone*.
You look amazing in Red Racer! I’m kind of interested by To Catch a Sailor….
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. 🙂
ugh, i really wanted salute.my all time fave l/s is peachstock,and i thought it would be similar
Maybelline’s 205 Nearly There looks like a very close dupe for To Catch a Sailor.
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
OMG!!! Finally something that is similar enough to Beachbound!!! I need To catch a Sailor <3 Thankyouthankyouthankyou for doing this review <3
Love the red and orange colors but the other two are not that special. I don’t think any of them are that unique tho.
Hi Christine!
I already own Russian Red, would you say Red Racer is different enough to justify having both?
@Nathalie Nicole If you wear red a lot, sure. If you rarely wear it, not really.
this collection needs to hurry up and come out. im going crazy looking at the promo pics (:
awww i wish theres mac here in our place
Is Sail la Vie at all like Lady Danger?
I don’t have Lady Danger!
please get lady danger and swatch it!!! <3
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
*me
I’m about NC30 right now – I hover between NC25/NC30!
want!
Great! im NC32 i can guage now ty 😀
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! 🙂
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..!!
That’s a lot of red!
Your lip swatches are so lovely. In the top lip swatches you look much less stressed. Like “whew” Glad your packages finally came!
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
How does sail la vie compare to Vegas volt?
@TMBJessxox Vegas Volt is a lot lighter!
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:))
@eurocentrix Rockocco is warmer, more orange – http://www.temptalia.com/the-scarlet-season-mac-rockocco-lipstick
Rockocco is more like a mix of Red Racer and Sail la Vie.
I like Red Racer and Sail La Vie! Thank you so much for your honest reviews! Now I can buy them! 🙂
I have Sail La Vie and it’s just gorgeous! Would have got Red Racer too but that was all sold out 🙁 x
the number counting bar has some problems, it says now: 87.5 are loving it and 126.5 are leaving it! How about you? :-/
@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!
@Christine (Temptalia) Maybe it has to do with the same person loving it and then leaving it?
i want to pick sail la vie… its wonderful 🙂
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 🙂
“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
@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! 🙁
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. 🙂
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 ;*
@Jessica Parente All three would work for you!
How does sail la vie compare to made with love? 🙂
@Bani Made with Love looks totally different to me – http://www.temptalia.com/mac-colour-craft-collection-lipstick-lip-swatches
@Christine (Temptalia)
Thank you! 🙂
Ruby Woo is way bluer, Russian Red is also bluer, but both are a bit darker. Morange isn’t like Sail La Vie at all
Does anybody know how Salute compares to OCC Cha Cha lip tar? Please and thank you!
“SAIL” LA VIE HAHAHAHAHAHA. Ahem.
oh Christine your hair looks great! did you do anything different?
@mybeautyboxblog Nope!
I love red racer.
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.
Christine is it me or does this look very very close to Kanga Rouge???
It could be!
How does sail la vie compare to scarlet ibis?
Redder
Christine, I just have to compliment you on the earrings! They’re so cute!
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! 😀
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!
Nyx matte lipsticks in Indieflick is rgw best dupe for Sail La Vie!
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!
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!
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
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!
Red Racer is marginally more comfortable to wear!