MAC High Drama Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is described as a “deep dark plum.” It’s a blackened plum with cool undertones and a matte finish. While a lot of the darker shades actually out-performed light and medium shades, this one was more of a miss. It needs at least two coats, if not a lip liner underneath just to manage some of the unevenness/streakiness present in the shade itself. It had semi-opaque coverage and a longer dry down time (two minutes). On me, it wore for seven hours and was moderately drying after four hours of wear. MAC Fallen Angel (LE, $21.00) is cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Darling (LE, $7.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). MAC Oh Lady (P, $21.00) is cooler (95% similar). Too Faced Maneater (P, $22.00) is glossier (90% similar). Makeup Geek Risque (P, $15.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Tarte Acid Wash (P, $20.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande (LE, $19.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar). Tarte Bonfire (P, $22.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). MAC Self Portrait (LE, $21.00) is darker (95% similar). Makeup Geek Rocker Chick (P, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar). Make Up For Ever M501 (DC, $22.00) is lighter (90% similar). Smashbox Femme Fatale (P, $21.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). ColourPop Alchemist (P, $10.00) is lighter (85% similar). KVD Beauty Motorhead (DC, $21.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Notion (DC, $6.50) is cooler (85% similar). MAC Sumac (LE, $19.00) is darker (85% similar). KVD Beauty Damned (P, $20.00) is warmer (85% similar). Makeup Geek Vain (P, $15.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). MAC Sin (P, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Pat McGrath Deep Orchid (P, $38.00) is lighter, glossier (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Oh Lady Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is described as a “deep wine.” It’s a muted, medium-dark berry with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff where the natural lip still peeks through (and will ultimately influence the color and tone of it if you have stronger color in your natural lips). The texture was a little thinner and runnier compared to other shades in the range. This shade wore for seven and a half hours and was moderately drying after five hours. ColourPop Panda (P, $7.00) is cooler, glossier (85% similar). MAC High Drama (P, $21.00) is warmer (95% similar). Smashbox Femme Fatale (P, $21.00) is brighter, cooler, glossier (90% similar). ColourPop Darling (LE, $7.00) is warmer, glossier (95% similar). Makeup Geek Rocker Chick (P, $12.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). MAC Fallen Angel (LE, $21.00) is darker (90% similar). Tarte Wet Suit (P, $22.00) is darker, glossier (85% similar). MAC Babes and Balls (LE, $19.00) is glossier (90% similar). ColourPop Alchemist (P, $10.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Make Up For Ever M501 (DC, $22.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar). Tarte Hangry (P, $20.00) is lighter, warmer, glossier (80% similar). Milani Embrace (LE, $8.99) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Viper (DC, $6.50) is lighter (85% similar). ColourPop Bad Habit (DC, $6.50) is lighter (90% similar). Maybelline Berry Bossy (DC, $7.49) is lighter, glossier (85% similar). MAC Acai (LE, $19.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (80% similar). ColourPop Notion (DC, $6.50) is darker, more muted (85% similar). Illamasqua Shard (P, $24.00) is warmer (85% similar). Chanel Muted Fuchsia (124) (P, $40.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). MAC Fashion Revival (LE, $19.00) is lighter, warmer, glossier (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

FORMULA OVERVIEW | MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is pigmented, liquid lipstick formula that dries down to a flat, matte finish that is mostly transfer-proof. They have a runnier mousse-like consistency; it is not quite mousse-like in thickness, but it is not as runny as some liquid lipstick formulas–somewhere in-between there. The formula of these is thicker than their Pro Longwear Lustre Lipcolours (which is like the OG of matte liquid lipstick to me). The lighter shades are the least forgiving and most of them “crack” as soon as they dry down and I move my lips or smile. They don’t flake off in chunks, and most of them fade relatively evenly. I get slight transfer on occasion when drinking anything more than water (e.g. latte), and while a lot of the color will make it through a meal, it will vary depending on the oil-content of your meal. They do respond well to layering or touch-ups after there is an initial layer done. They dry down within thirty seconds to two minutes (darker shades took longer to dry), and I was able to manipulate the color as it was drying down without lifting the color entirely. Some shades appeared streaky during initial application, but once it dried down, most of the streaks disappeared (kind of like nail polish can self-level). I found the formula moderately drying after three to six hours of wear, and it is one of the more drying formulas I’ve tried, personally. They are vanilla-scented but have no discernible taste.

MAC High Drama Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC High Drama Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC High Drama Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC High Drama Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC High Drama Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC High Drama Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Oh Lady Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Oh Lady Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Oh Lady Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Oh Lady Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Oh Lady Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick

MAC Oh Lady Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick