Archived Post

MAC is Beauty Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches (Part 2)

MAC Call the Hairdresser! Lipstick
MAC Call the Hairdresser! Lipstick

Here are the remaining six shades of MAC is Beauty Lipsticks ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.). All six shades are more dupable than not, but the non-Lustre finishes performed better on the whole. There are a few repromotes here, too, so long-time MAC fans may see old favorites or long-missed limited edition shades. It was interesting to revisit past reviews and find that my experience (and even ratings!) were nearly identical, which at least says there is consistency, even if a lot of those repromotes could have been improved.

Diva-ish is described as an “intense fuchsia [with an Amplified finish].” It’s a medium-dark fuchsia pink with warm undertones and a satin finish. It had mostly opaque color coverage that went on smoothly for the most part, but it looked like it was less forgiving of any imperfections compared to the average shade in this type of finish (just slightly). It wore well for four and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. Kat Von D Berlin (P, $19.00) is brighter, matte. Bobbi Brown Watermelon (P, $26.00) is warmer. YSL Rose Neillia (33) (P, $34.00) is lighter, warmer. Guerlain Insolence (144) (LE, $35.00) is brighter, more matte. MAC Pleasurefruit (LE, $17.00) is similar. MAC Speak Louder (P, $16.00) is more muted. MAC Impassioned (P, $16.00) is brighter. Guerlain Gracy (P, $51.00) is warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Make Me Gorgeous is described as an “intense coral pink [with an Amplified finish].” It’s a brightened, light-medium coral with a hint of pink, warm undertones, and a soft shine. It had excellent pigmentation that yielded full coverage with smooth, even color. It wore well for four and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. Tom Ford Beauty Matthew (LE, $32.00) is more shimmery, lighter. Bite Beauty Sucre (P, $24.00) is darker, pinker. Estee Lauder Eccentric (P, $30.00) is lighter. Bobbi Brown Pink Nectar (P, $26.00) is warmer, more muted. NARS Natalie (P, $32.00) is pinker, more matte. MAC Love Temple (LE, $22.00) is pinker. Bite Beauty Centifolia (LE, $28.00) is lighter. Too Faced Melted Coral (P, $21.00) is lighter, warmer. MAC Toying Around (LE, $16.00) is a touch pinker. Bite Beauty Crush (P, $28.00) is brighter. Givenchy Rose Dentelle (203) (P, $36.00) is darker. Givenchy Brun Createur (103) (P, $36.00) is more matte. Too Faced Coral Fire (P, $22.00) is more matte. MAC Elegant Accent (P, $22.00) is pinker. MAC Watch Me Simmer (LE, $16.00) is brighter, pinker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Real Doll is described as a “light pink-lilac [with a Lustre finish].” It’s a cool-toned, light-medium pink with a hint of lavender and a light shine. It had semi-sheer color coverage that lasted for two hours and pulled into lip lines slightly over time. I also found it lightly drying. It looked a little streaky at times–you have to be very careful not to over-apply as it is very unforgiving if you do. This shade has been released previously. Maybelline Hibiscus Pop (715) (P, $7.49) is brighter. Maybelline Petal Pink (710) (P, $7.49) is lighter, more opaque. Tom Ford Beauty Alexander (LE, $32.00) is darker. MAC To Savour (P, $23.00) is less cool-toned, more matte. MAC A Novel Romance (LE, $16.00) is more opaque. MAC Dress to Impress (LE, $16.00) is lighter. MAC Ladies Who Lunch (LE, $22.00) is brighter. Givenchy Rose Dahlia (210) (P, $36.00) is brighter, more opaque. Bite Beauty Lavender (P, $24.00) is darker. MAC Be Fabulous (P, $22.00) is lighter. MAC Rose Lily (LE, $16.00) is lighter. NARS Roman Holiday (P, $26.00) is darker. MAC Dreaminess (P, $22.00) is lighter, more matte. MAC Divine Choice (P, $22.00) is darker, more matte. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Real Redhead is described as a “mauve nude [with a Lustre finish].” It’s a peachy-brown with a soft shine and warm undertones. It had semi-sheer coverage that added warmth and evenness to my natural lip color. It lasted for an hour and a half and was drying when worn. MAC Pure Vanity (LE, $16.00) is lighter. MAC French Twist (LE, $16.00) is lighter. Chanel Julia (404) (P, $36.00) is darker. Bite Beauty Caramel (P, $28.00) is warmer, darker. Burberry Gold No. 217 (LE, $33.00) is sheerer. Chanel Volage (227) (LE, $34.00) is cooler-toned, lighter. Chanel Satisfaction (89) (P, $35.00) is lighter. Chanel Cheri (61) (P, $34.00) is pinker. Guerlain Galiane (15) (P, $51.00) is more opaque, darker. Chanel Charmeuse (142) (LE, $34.00) is lighter. MAC Naked Bud (LE, $16.00) is sheerer. MAC Touche (LE, $20.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Reel Sexy is described as a “bright coral [with an Amplified finish].” It’s a peachy-coral with a very slight hint of pink, warm undertones, and a satiny sheen. It had mostly opaque color coverage that could be a somewhat streaky at times. It lasted for four and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating for me, but I had some color settle into lip lines over time when worn. This shade has been released previously. MAC Oxblood (LE, $16.00) is darker, warmer. ColourPop Button (P, $5.00) is more matte. Bite Beauty Leche (P, $24.00) is more muted. Bite Beauty Amaretto (P, $24.00) is warmer. Tom Ford Beauty First Time (09) (LE, $50.00) is darker. NARS Julie (P, $32.00) is glossier, pinker. MAC Modern Wow! (LE, $16.00) is darker. Revlon Jungle Peach (LE, $7.99) is lighter. YSL Tender Peach (26) (P, $34.00) is lighter, glossier. NARS Descanso (LE, $25.00) is more matte. Givenchy Beige Plume (102) (P, $36.00) is a smidgen pinker, lighter. MAC Razzledazzler (P, $16.00) is darker. Burberry Pink Apricot (301) (P, $30.00) is more matte. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Silly is described as a “bright white-pink [with a Matte finish].” It’s a brightened, light-medium pink with slight cool, blue undertones and a mostly matte finish. It applied with opaque coverage and a lightly velvety consistency that didn’t pull or drag on the lips. The color lasted for five hours, was a smigden drying on me, and settled into lip lines to a small degree after three hours of wear. This shade has been released previously. NARS Claudia (P, $32.00) is glossier. Sephora Collection Cougar (P, $12.50) is brighter. Illamasqua Luster (P, $26.00) is glossier, cooler-toned. Bite Beauty Kumquat (LE, $24.00) is a bit brighter, lighter. MAC Steady Going (LE, $16.00) is more muted. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Reel Sexy

LELimited Edition. $19.00.
B+
B+
8.5
Product
9.5
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
8.5
Longevity
4.5
Application
88%
Total

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Diva-ish Lipstick
MAC Diva-ish Lipstick

MAC Diva-ish Lipstick
MAC Diva-ish Lipstick

MAC Diva-ish Lipstick
MAC Diva-ish Lipstick

MAC Diva-ish Lipstick
MAC Diva-ish Lipstick

MAC Diva-ish Lipstick
MAC Diva-ish Lipstick

MAC Diva-ish Lipstick
MAC Diva-ish Lipstick

MAC Make Me Gorgeous Lipstick
MAC Make Me Gorgeous Lipstick

MAC Make Me Gorgeous Lipstick
MAC Make Me Gorgeous Lipstick

MAC Make Me Gorgeous Lipstick
MAC Make Me Gorgeous Lipstick

MAC Make Me Gorgeous Lipstick
MAC Make Me Gorgeous Lipstick

MAC Make Me Gorgeous Lipstick
MAC Make Me Gorgeous Lipstick

MAC Make Me Gorgeous Lipstick
MAC Make Me Gorgeous Lipstick

MAC Real Doll Lipstick
MAC Real Doll Lipstick

MAC Real Doll Lipstick
MAC Real Doll Lipstick

MAC Real Doll Lipstick
MAC Real Doll Lipstick

MAC Real Doll Lipstick
MAC Real Doll Lipstick

MAC Real Doll Lipstick
MAC Real Doll Lipstick

MAC Real Doll Lipstick
MAC Real Doll Lipstick

MAC Real Redhead Lipstick
MAC Real Redhead Lipstick

MAC Real Redhead Lipstick
MAC Real Redhead Lipstick

MAC Real Redhead Lipstick
MAC Real Redhead Lipstick

MAC Real Redhead Lipstick
MAC Real Redhead Lipstick

MAC Real Redhead Lipstick
MAC Real Redhead Lipstick

MAC Real Redhead Lipstick
MAC Real Redhead Lipstick

MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick
MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick

MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick
MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick

MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick
MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick

MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick
MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick

MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick
MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick

MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick
MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick

MAC Silly Lipstick
MAC Silly Lipstick

MAC Silly Lipstick
MAC Silly Lipstick

MAC Silly Lipstick
MAC Silly Lipstick

MAC Silly Lipstick
MAC Silly Lipstick

MAC Silly Lipstick
MAC Silly Lipstick

MAC Silly Lipstick
MAC Silly Lipstick

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
  • Clinique Melon Cheek Pop
  • MAC Pearl Blossom Beauty Powder
On eyes:
  • MAC Bouffant Eyeshadow
  • MAC Copperthorn Fluidline
  • MAC Brassy Fluidline
  • MAC Lowlights Fluidline
  • Burberry Trench Eyeshadow
  • MAC Blitz & Glitz Fluidline

81 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Raeanne Avatar

I love Real Redhead and Reel Sexy, so I’m glad to see there are better performing dupes out there. Bite Leche has been on my list for a while. I’m still gunning for Chanel Julia. It’s going to be my graduation present to myself (finishing my masters thesis this week!). 🙂

laura Avatar

How does Reel Sexy compare to the original? I can’t decide between Real Doll, Catty, and Notice Me. They’re so similar, which one did you like?

A Avatar

I wish mac did less lustres.

Was going to say Make Me Gorgeous is pretty (on you at least) but I’d never wear it – but I have both the Givenchy dupes you listed, and love them and they’re two of the colours I reach for most. For some reason Make Me Gorgeous completely crosses the line into “wouldn’t wear” though?

Ginny Avatar

I bought Toying Around when it released, but returned it because it looked too neon on me (fair skin). I suspect Make Me Gorgeous would be similarly neon on me? Weird because I also have Brun Createur, which looks very rusty brown on me.

Liberté Avatar

I’m looking forward for Make Me Gorgeous. I love the color payoff…. I liked also Real Redhead but I was disappointed when I saw it was lustre…..And the color payoff is very poor. Reel Sexy looks very nice and interesting… 🙂 🙂

Nancy T Avatar

I absolutely LOVE Reel Sexy, Make Me Gorgeous and Diva-ish! However, I will only be trying to grab up Reel Sexy and Make Me Gorgeous from this collection. And Maria Moretti lipstick and Summer Wind from the Mia Moretti, and later on down the line because it’s permanent: Siahi. Or a dupe for Siahi. MAC has a MAJOR overload going on!!!

Nicole Avatar

Man, Mac is killing my budget! I am liking “make me Gorgeous” ,”Diva-ish”,”Reel sexy”,and “Silly”. How is “silly” compared to shades like Candy Yum Yum? Is it that bright and in your face or more scaled back?
I wish Mac would have spread these collections out more. I am really going to have to make myself pick hard with all 3 out at once.

Nicole Avatar

Thanks ..now I really want that one I think. I don’t own any of the dupes for that one believe it or not. I have long had Claudia on my wants list though.I just never have known if I would get much wear out of that kind of shade. I really like the looks of the lustres and I have no lipsticks like them. But I’m not buying a drying lipstick that wears a couple of hours. I don’t see how they sell those.
Once again, So grateful to you for busting these out. Now, I have a day or so to think about what I am going to get instead of being too impulsive. 🙂

Christine Avatar

Have you tried Revlon’s Lip Butters, Nicole? I feel like those are similar to the pigmentation and glossiness/shine you get from those finishes like Lustres, but they’re more comfortable to wear. They don’t wear as long as your average lipstick, but at least they’re a lot more affordable (and better in comfort/hydration) so reapplication might not be a big deal 🙂

Nicole Avatar

You know, I actually have a bunch of those from years ago that I held onto. I may have to see if they are still good and/or pick some new ones up. I actually just picked up Petal pink (Maybellline dupe) today at Target. You know, I am so happy you include drugstore brands because unless i am needing something desperately bad, I won’t get a drugstore item because I used to and I felt like because of the hit and miss quality, I was “nickel and diming” myself too much!

Fran Avatar

I like Make Me Gorgeous, but already have Elegant Accent (which I do like very much). I like Diva-ish, too, but think I might prefer Bobbi Brown Watermelon. Silly looks a bit too light for me. Thank you for so many reviews so quickly!

Alex Avatar

I have Button but I still want Reel Sexy haha. I don’t understand how Reel Sexy can look so much lighter and oranger on the arm, but look so similar to Button on the lip swatch, it’s confusing my brain!

El Avatar

I still like Make Me Gorgeous, but to be honest, for all the faff and ridiculousness that is likely to ensue when these actually get released in the UK (assuming they do!), I’d rather just get the Too Faced La Creme if I feel the need for a pinky coral lippy. That’s a permanent shade and I can wander over to the department store and pick it up whenever I feel like it, no web-stalking or store-camping required.

Sammy Avatar

Would you suggest reel sexy or sweet and sour? I’m an NW20. And how would real doll compare to snob? Even though you don’t like real doll I think the color looks cute on you.

Lilac Avatar

Thank you for the review 🙂
I keep wondering whether I “need” Real Doll. I looked up swatches on your page and others and I wonder whether it might be close to Angel, which I could B2M for later? And it seems that it might be just a tad lighter than the Patentpolish Kittenish, which I already have (it looks a bit lighter on me than on you, anyways, so Real Doll might be quite close).
Any thoughts on that from you or others who own these colours would be greatly appreciated 🙂

Sheena Avatar

Hi Christine!

Did you find that the Amplifieds in this collection are more towards Satins rather than their conventional Amplifieds? They amplifieds I have, I don’t tend to reach for, but the colours here are gorgeous.

In terms of opacity/coverage, how do they compare to the Amplified formula of Viva Glam Miley? I have that and I found it a bit to thin that it didn’t fully cover my original lip colour.

I have button but I found it emphasized my lip lines too much, is reel sexy better in that aspect?

Thanks in advance for you help!

katie Avatar

Thanks so much for your reviews!! I was really interested in a lot of these lipsticks. On my order list I had real doll but I think I’m going to replace it with reel sexy after seeing your review! Also I feel like itd be easier to find a color more like real doll than reel sexy. Any suggestions for real doll dupes? Cheaper the better 😉

katie Avatar

Okay thanks so much! By the way I read your reviews before I buy anything, and I’m serious. Your word is god in the make up world!

katie Avatar

I got all my lipsticks and I love reel sexy the most! Thank god for your review!! Also I just had another quick question. Would you prefer MAC’s petite red or mia moretti? They both look so pretty!! But I only need one true red, seeing as I bought make me gorgeous from this collection(though it’s kind of orangey red)

krystal Avatar

Thanks for your reviews
It will be helpful for making decision
‘Make me gorgeous’ looks like ‘Toxic tale’. don’t you?

Ana Avatar

I bought Reel Sexy, Make me Gorgeous and Call the Hairdresser, and the first two look a lot brighter on my lips than they do on pics. Didn’t like them at all! Call the hairdresser though looks amazing. I loved it!

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!