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MAC It's a Strike Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches

MAC It's a Strike Lipsticks
MAC It’s a Strike Lipsticks

MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “deep burgundy [with a Matte finish].” It’s a deep berry-plum with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had mostly opaque pigmentation that covered the lips with even color. The texture was lightly creamy, which made it glide on without tugging on the lips, but it didn’t slide around or feather on me while worn. This shade was still going strong after six hours, and it was neither drying nor hydrating over that period of time. Make Up For Ever M501 (DC, $22.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC P for Potent (P, $22.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar). Makeup Geek Rocker Chick (P, $12.00) is darker (95% similar). Givenchy Violine Retro (P, $37.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar). Make Up For Ever Daring Mulberry (218) (P, $23.00) is lighter (95% similar). ColourPop Galore (LE, $7.00) is warmer (95% similar). Milani I Am Powerful (P, $6.99) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). MAC Toung 'n' Chic (LE, $18.50) is lighter (90% similar). Pat McGrath Deep Orchid (P, $38.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). Smashbox Femme Fatale (P, $21.00) is cooler (95% similar). Urban Decay CSB (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Sephora Leo (93) (LE, $8.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Plucked (LE, $10.00) is warmer (90% similar). Hourglass I Hide My (P, $34.00) is glossier (90% similar). ColourPop Persuasion (LE, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar). Anastasia #10 (Vol. 1) (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). Hourglass If I Could (P, $34.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Hel's Bells (P, $37.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Srsly (LE, $9.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Joie de Vivre (P, $23.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Perfect Score Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “deep red [with a Matte finish].” It’s a medium-dark red with subtle, cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. The pigmentation was fantastic and covered lips with opaque color in a single pass. It had a velvety consistency that applied easily and didn’t tug on the lips. This shade was still fully intact after six hours of wear, but it started to feel drying after the fifth hour. Dior Splendor (950) (LE, $38.00) is lighter, brighter (95% similar). YSL Fatal Carmin (309) (P, $45.00) is darker (95% similar). Tarte Miami Vice (P, $21.00) is lighter (95% similar). NARS Trans Siberian (P, $26.00) is warmer (95% similar). NARS Mascate (P, $28.00) is lighter (95% similar). Sephora Red Desert (97) (P, $14.00) is less glossy (90% similar). ColourPop Silk (LE, $7.00) is darker (90% similar). Chanel Rouge Tentation (169) (P, $45.00) is warmer (95% similar). Coloured Raine Cherry Blossom (P, $17.00) is brighter (95% similar). Sephora After Hours (23) (P, $8.00) is brighter, glossier (90% similar). Pat McGrath Vendetta (P, $38.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (90% similar). Smashbox Unzipped (P, $21.00) is lighter (95% similar). NARS Shirley (P, $34.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Maison Rouge (P, $23.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar). Make Up For Ever #48 (DC, $19.00) is glossier (90% similar). MAC Salon Rouge (LE, $19.00) is brighter, glossier (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Dominic (P, $36.00) is lighter (90% similar). Tarte Jetset (LE, $21.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Rocker (P, $19.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). ColourPop Goldie (P, $6.00) is less glossy (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “deep burnt brown [with a Retro Matte finish].” It’s a muted, medium-dark burgundy with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good color coverage, though it was not fully opaque, that applied evenly. The consistency felt lightweight, velvety, and was thin overall. It’s more like modern Retro Mattes and less like past Retro Mattes that would drag, tug, and pull painfully. On me, the color lasted for a solid six and a half hours and could easily be worn longer. It was lightly drying after four hours of wear. Shiseido Curious Cassis (RD620) (DC, $28.00) is brighter (90% similar). Maybelline Burgundy Blush (P, $7.99) is warmer (90% similar). Anastasia Brandy (P, $18.00) is darker, brighter (85% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Bad Behavior (LE, $30.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar). Estee Lauder Desirous (P, $32.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Thousand Percent (LE, $6.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Chanel Attraction (494) (P, $37.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Urban Decay Hex (DC, $18.00) is darker, brighter, warmer (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Fetishist (P, $55.00) is darker, brighter (85% similar). Milani I Am Strong (P, $6.99) is darker (85% similar). Illamasqua Growl (P, $24.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (90% similar). NARS Bette (P, $34.00) is darker, brighter, glossier (85% similar). ColourPop Cashing Out (PiP, $7.00) is darker (85% similar). MAC Diva (P, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). MAC Dreaming of You (LE, $19.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Chola (LE, $7.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). ColourPop Infinite Best (LE, $6.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). YSL Reverse Red (18) (P, $39.00) is darker (80% similar). ColourPop Mamacita (DC, $6.50) is darker, cooler (80% similar). ColourPop Sarah (LE, $10.00) is darker, brighter (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “tarnished gold [with a Dazzle finish].” It’s a dirty gold base with multi-colored glitter–primarily pewter, gold, and pink. It had semi-sheer color coverage that was mostly the result of the high density of glitter in the sheerer, lightly glossy base color. The texture is noticeable on the lips, due to the amount of glitter, but I only saw less than a dozen glitter particles stray beyond my lips over the three and a half hours it lasted (though some glitter lingered for longer than that). MAC No Interruptions (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). MAC Metalwork (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). NARS Redemption (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery, more pigmented, warmer (90% similar). Guerlain #777 (P, $36.00) is warmer (90% similar). Surratt Beauty Lame (P, $36.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). MAC Gel (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). MAC Spoiled Fabulous (P, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay Trick (DC, $18.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Brilliance (LE, $22.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Maybelline White Gold (P, $7.49) is more shimmery, less glossy (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Balm Frost (LE, $56.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Tower 1 (LE, $18.00) is cooler (85% similar). KVD Beauty Thunderstruck (P, $22.00) is darker (85% similar). NYX Exposed (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar). MAC Tanarama (LE, $19.00) is more pigmented, warmer (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Rory (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, more pigmented (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

These shades are part of the It’s a Strike collection, which launches August 18th.

MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick
MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick

MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick
MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick

MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick
MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick

MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick
MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick

MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick
MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick

MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick
MAC Babes and Balls Lipstick

MAC Perfect Score Lipstick
MAC Perfect Score Lipstick

MAC Perfect Score Lipstick
MAC Perfect Score Lipstick

MAC Perfect Score Lipstick
MAC Perfect Score Lipstick

MAC Perfect Score Lipstick
MAC Perfect Score Lipstick

MAC Perfect Score Lipstick
MAC Perfect Score Lipstick

MAC Perfect Score Lipstick
MAC Perfect Score Lipstick

MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick
MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick

MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick
MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick

MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick
MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick

MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick
MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick

MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick
MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick

MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick
MAC Bowl Me Over Lipstick

MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick
MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick

MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick
MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick

MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick
MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick

MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick
MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick

MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick
MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick

MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick
MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation
  • MAC Blind Score Casual Colour
  • MAC Trophy Pearlmatte Face Powder
On eyes:
  • MAC Gutter Gal Eyeshadow
  • MAC Bowl Out Eyeshadow
  • MAC 300 Game Eyeshadow
  • Burberry Trench Eyeshadow
  • MAC Bowlarama Eyeshadow
  • Sephora Love Affair Eyeliner

72 Comments

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Arantxa Avatar

I saw swatches of the lipsticks on Instagram this afternoon and I was so disappointed! They did not match their description at all and it seemed like the opacity was not that good at all. I’m really glad I just saw your swatches, because I instantly fell in love with Babes and Balls (what a vibrant color!) and Bowl Me Over. These will be great for fall and winter!

Katherine T. Avatar

I don’t like the name, Babes and Balls, but the color sure is pretty! I’m going to check my stash for dupes, and if there aren’t any, will pick up that up or one of the dupes. Also love Bowl Me Over of course, but I have dupes galore. Do you have the Trophy powder all over your face? I was thinking that powder would be too light, but I love how glowy your face looks.

Christine Avatar

I don’t think it’s like Dubonnet! http://www.temptalia.com/side-by-side/?sbs_1_search=MAC+Bowl+Me+Over&sbs_1=253051&sbs_2_search=MAC+Dubonnet&sbs_2=107108

Wild Bout You is cooler and more shimmery, I believe. Mine molded, so I had to toss a few months ago, so I have to go by memory!

Kylie5 Avatar

I am Glad that there is no colour for me. So I can Save some Money.
Still have not all urban Decay lippies from my wishlist, Mac Troll Collection Haul was expensive and Star Trek is coming and if I nearly forgot the new makeup forever lipsticks.
Sooo many new lipsticks. And I think there is not much Time When the Holiday collections will come out.

Alecto Avatar

I was expecting a lot more dupes for the first three. Babes and Balls is beautiful, but the more I looked at it, the more it looked like UD’s Venom. A Temptalia swatch comparison tells me they’re “close enugh.” (I’m getting a lot of use out of that phrase recently, thankfully.)

Primpcess Avatar

Wow, so I totally thought this collection was going tone a pass when I saw the promo pics. But that I have seen the swatches, I love them all lol. I’m pleased how well the first 3 scored. I may have to go see them in person and try to narrow it down, otherwise I’ll end up with all 4. The first 3 are beautiful for fall (even though I’m soooo not wishing for fall to come), and Who doesn’t love glitter?

chelsea Avatar

Perfect Score and Babes and Balls are just the sort of colours I’d wear this Fall and don’t happen own anything quite like. And after seeing the blush and powder you are wearing in these photos, I’m so afraid I’m about to drop some major $ on this collection.

Jade Avatar

Babes and Balls *makes drooling noise* but I already have Rebel, which I think will be even more similar with Nightmoth underneath it, which is how I wear it. I really don’t know when this deep dark bubble will burst, need to not get carried away hahaha.

Harmonie Avatar

Thank you so so so much for these reviews and swatches. It’s hard to find good ones about ”Bowl me over”, and I really have a crush on it, but I’ve never see it IRL ^^ (just on Mac’s Website). Thanks to you, I know that I HAVE to buy it haha it’s like a need or something 😉
Thank you again from France and keep going, you really do an amazing job !!

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