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MAC How Tropical, Pillow Talk, Royally Riotous Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches

MAC How Tropical Lipstick
MAC How Tropical Lipstick

MAC How Tropical Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “nude beige.” It’s a yellowed, peachy-beige with warm undertones and a natural sheen. It had semi-opaque pigmentation with a consistency that applied easier after a couple of seconds of warming-up against the natural lip. It applied somewhat unevenly and looked streaky, while the color settled into lip lines from the get-go and only worsened over the next two and a half hours. It was slightly drying as well. MAC Pure Decoration (LE, $17.00) is lighter. MAC Nearly Nude (LE, $17.00) is darker. MAC Salute (LE, $17.00) is less glossy. NARS Biscayne Park (P, $25.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy. Urban Decay Naked 2 (P, $22.00) is darker, warmer. NARS Floralies (P, $25.00) is darker, brighter, warmer. NARS Floralies (P, $25.00) is darker, brighter, warmer. Marc Jacobs Beauty Severine (112) (P, $30.00) is darker, warmer. MAC Sensual Sparks (LE, $17.00) is darker, warmer. Maybelline Truffle Tease (930) (P, $7.49) is darker. Givenchy Beige Deshabille (108) (P, $36.00) is lighter, more muted. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “malty warm nude.” It’s a muted, light-medium peachy beige with warm undertones and fine white pearl. It had mostly opaque pigmentation that tended to settle into lip lines over time, and it was difficult to keep it looking even at all times, as the color would create “lines” when I pressed my lips together. The color lasted for four hours but was slightly drying over time. Guerlain Gracieuse (DC, $51.00) is darker, warmer. MAC Delectable (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery, less glossy. MAC Wholesome (LE, $17.00) is lighter, less glossy. MAC Wholesome (LE, $17.00) is lighter, less glossy. NARS Isola Bella (P, $25.00) is lighter, brighter, less glossy. NARS Het Loo (P, $25.00) is darker. Bite Beauty Pecan (P, $28.00) is cooler. Bite Beauty Cream (P, $28.00) is lighter. Urban Decay Stark Naked (P, $22.00) is less glossy. Estee Lauder Covetous Nude (P, $30.00) is less glossy. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “malty warm brown.” It’s a muted, medium-dark brown with warm, rosy undertones and a natural finish. It had mostly opaque color coverage that went only smoothly and evenly. The consistency was lightly creamy and never pulled at the lips, while the color lasted for four and a half hours and was slightly hydrating. Estee Lauder Dangerous (P, $30.00) is darker, cooler. Urban Decay Carnal (P, $22.00) is lighter. Bite Beauty Marzipan (P, $28.00) is lighter. NARS Het Loo (P, $25.00) is lighter. Tom Ford Beauty Gustavo (LE, $32.00) is darker, cooler. MAC Tabla (P, $17.00) is warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Formula Summary: MAC Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) has a variety of finishes, which results in color coverage, finish, comfort, wear, and texture to vary from finish to finish. Lustres tend to be sheer to semi-sheer with a thin, slippery consistency and wear one to three hours; they are lightly to moderately drying on me, despite their slip. Cremesheens typically have semi-opaque to opaque coverage, wear an average of four hours, are sometimes drying and sometimes not drying, and have a light shine to their finish. Amplifieds have a light sheen, opaque coverage, slightly thicker consistency but is less “heavy” in look compared to satins; they are typically not drying but not hydrating and can wear four to six hours. Satins have less sheen compared to Amplifieds but have similar coverage and wear. Mattes, particularly newer iterations of the finish, have a velvety, silicone-like consistency that makes them easier to apply without drag, and they typically have opaque coverage and wear four to six hours, but they can be drying. Retro Mattes are ultra-matte with a very flat, nearly no-sheen finish, and they are often stiffer in the tube but thinner in consistency compared to satins or mattes; they are often drying but wear four to eight hours. All MAC Lipsticks are vanilla-scented with no discernible taste.

MAC How Tropical Lipstick
MAC How Tropical Lipstick

MAC How Tropical Lipstick
MAC How Tropical Lipstick

MAC How Tropical Lipstick
MAC How Tropical Lipstick

MAC How Tropical Lipstick
MAC How Tropical Lipstick

MAC How Tropical Lipstick
MAC How Tropical Lipstick

MAC How Tropical Lipstick
MAC How Tropical Lipstick

MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick
MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick

MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick
MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick

MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick
MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick

MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick
MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick

MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick
MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick

MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick
MAC Pillow Talk Lipstick

MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick
MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick

MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick
MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick

MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick
MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick

MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick
MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick

MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick
MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick

MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick
MAC Royally Riotous Lipstick

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
  • Laura Geller Ballerina
On eyes:
  • MAC Iced
  • Photosphere
  • Gravitational Electric Cool Shadows
  • Sephora Cocoa Eyeliner

36 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Ginny Avatar

I like Royally Riotous. Is it labeled as a particular MAC finish? I’m allergic to lustre, glaze, and amplified/amplified creme.

Katherine T. Avatar

I like Royally Riotous but I have some similar dupes already. It’s funny how “How Tropical” doesn’t look very tropical at all, it looks like concealer lips to me. And that eye look goes well with the colors!

A Avatar

I like the look of Pillow Talk! Do you know what formula is it? I normally like mac’s mattes, satins and amplifieds, but cremesheens go on patchy on me and proceed to sink into all my lip lines. Not fond of lustres either.

Nancy T Avatar

Now I know I have got to order Royally Riotous, which I hope is different enough from either UD 1993 or MAC Persistence to justify it? I bought MAC Whirl the other day, not ad crazy about it when I wore it out and about, though. Super drying! Then again, it was 110° outside… and a tad too mauvey looking?

Andrew Avatar

Shew, THIS is why I check your blog daily. I had thought about getting How Tropical, hoping that it would be sheerer and would help tone down lips a smidge, but dang . . . this is just crap-tacular. Thanks again for saving me time and money, friend!

Chris Avatar

Hi Christine,

congratulations, the new design of the website is gorgeous! Just one concern: With this lipstick, it says it is limited edition. in contrast to the earlier version of the site, I cannot quite see what collection it is from (maybe I just overlooked it). this might be interesting for readers to add to the “most important facts box” (aside the “Where to buy” – “limited edition”) in case it really is not in the description!

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!