MAC It's Just Candy, Just Hustlin', Party Sparkle Grand Illusion Liquid Lipcolours Reviews & Swatches
It's Just Candy
MAC It’s Just Candy Grand Illusion Liquid Lipcolour ($21.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a bright, pinky-red with lots of fine pink and red pearl with a few bits of sparkle. (I really just wanted to go with the obvious “candy apple red” description here.) The texture was smooth, light-medium in thickness but lightweight, and had moderate tackiness. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that covered fairly evenly, though in the close-up, I can tell it did not go on quite as evenly as other shades in the formula have for me. This shade stayed on well for five hours and was lightly hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- L'Oreal Be Cheerful (P, $11.99) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Too Faced Ruby Ripe (P, $20.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Boudoir (502) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
- MAC Viva Glam Rihanna (LE, $21.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- MAC Gumdrop (LE, $20.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Chanel Chilli (P, $30.00) is less shimmery (85% similar).
- MAC Ride My Sleigh (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, more muted, warmer (85% similar).
- NARS Shade IV (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Drank the Love Potion (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- NYX Sunrise (P, $4.99) is lighter, brighter (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$21.00/0.17 oz. - $123.53 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "wear evenly" with "megawatt colour" and have a "tingly, cooling sensation" that makes lips "fuller." The coverage ranged from shade to shade, though most were fairly pigmented, and some seemed more multidimensional than others (they seemed just shimmery/pearly). Some shades applied evenly while others were more uneven or pulled into lip lines.
The finish had a lot of shine and shimmer, so any unevenness/settling wasn't as apparent in person as it might appear in close-up photos. The consistency was smooth as it applied and developed a lot of tackiness within a minute or so of application, and the tingling lasted noticeably for 20-25 minutes on me. The glosses lasted between four and five hours on me and were comfortable to wear but was mostly non-drying.
They have a sweet, mint scent and subtle tingle and almost seemed to have a slightly sweet taste, but I couldn't tell as I felt like I was breathing in the sweet mint a bit from the scent alone.
Browse all of our MAC Grand Illusion Liquid Lipcolour swatches.
Ingredients
It's Just Candy
PPermanent. $21.00.
Just Hustlin'
MAC Just Hustlin’ Grand Illusion Liquid Lipcolour ($21.00 for 0.17 oz.) has a darker, beige base with iridescent shimmer and pearl–lots of cooler-toned pearl in violet, aqua, and blue. It brought out a lot of pink tones in my natural lip color–came out looking pinker than I expected as the base was semi-opaque–with a moderate amount of pearl. It had a smooth consistency that applied evenly and spread well with moderate tackiness. I appreciated that the gloss helped minimize my lip lines and helped my lips appear smoother overall. It wore well for four hours and was neither drying nor hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Stratus Update (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Hypnotic (LE, $18.00) is less pigmented (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Blush Pearl (LE, $22.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Future Femme (P, $30.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Candy Flip (P, $20.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Maybelline Lilac Lumi (P, $4.49) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Total Nonsense (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented, warmer (90% similar).
- Becca Amethyst x Geode (LE, $22.00) is lighter, less pigmented (90% similar).
- ColourPop Dreamaholic (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Elite (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$21.00/0.17 oz. - $123.53 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "wear evenly" with "megawatt colour" and have a "tingly, cooling sensation" that makes lips "fuller." The coverage ranged from shade to shade, though most were fairly pigmented, and some seemed more multidimensional than others (they seemed just shimmery/pearly). Some shades applied evenly while others were more uneven or pulled into lip lines.
The finish had a lot of shine and shimmer, so any unevenness/settling wasn't as apparent in person as it might appear in close-up photos. The consistency was smooth as it applied and developed a lot of tackiness within a minute or so of application, and the tingling lasted noticeably for 20-25 minutes on me. The glosses lasted between four and five hours on me and were comfortable to wear but was mostly non-drying.
They have a sweet, mint scent and subtle tingle and almost seemed to have a slightly sweet taste, but I couldn't tell as I felt like I was breathing in the sweet mint a bit from the scent alone.
Browse all of our MAC Grand Illusion Liquid Lipcolour swatches.
Ingredients
Just Hustlin'
PPermanent. $21.00.
Party Sparkle
MAC Party Sparkle Grand Illusion Liquid Lipcolour ($21.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a pale pink with cool undertones and a pearly, metallic sheen. It looked more like a medium pink applied, as it brought out the pink tones in my natural lip color, which came through noticeably due to the medium coverage level. The gloss had a smooth, moderately thick consistency with noticeable tackiness, though it didn’t feel heavy to me. The color applied fairly evenly but didn’t smooth out my lip lines quite as well as other shades have in the same formula (but from afar, I didn’t notice any settling). It stayed on well for four hours and was non-drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Pink Steam (322) (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Blush Pearl (LE, $22.00) is less pigmented, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Luv Spell (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Bewitched (LE, $18.00) is less pigmented, cooler (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Hypnotic (LE, $18.00) is less pigmented (85% similar).
- Huda Beauty Mystical (P, $18.00) is less pigmented (85% similar).
- MAC God Save the Sheen (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- LORAC Pastry Chef (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (85% similar).
- Illamasqua Boost (P, $22.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Surratt Beauty Je Ne Sais Quoi (P, $32.00) is darker, less pigmented (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$21.00/0.17 oz. - $123.53 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "wear evenly" with "megawatt colour" and have a "tingly, cooling sensation" that makes lips "fuller." The coverage ranged from shade to shade, though most were fairly pigmented, and some seemed more multidimensional than others (they seemed just shimmery/pearly). Some shades applied evenly while others were more uneven or pulled into lip lines.
The finish had a lot of shine and shimmer, so any unevenness/settling wasn't as apparent in person as it might appear in close-up photos. The consistency was smooth as it applied and developed a lot of tackiness within a minute or so of application, and the tingling lasted noticeably for 20-25 minutes on me. The glosses lasted between four and five hours on me and were comfortable to wear but was mostly non-drying.
They have a sweet, mint scent and subtle tingle and almost seemed to have a slightly sweet taste, but I couldn't tell as I felt like I was breathing in the sweet mint a bit from the scent alone.
Browse all of our MAC Grand Illusion Liquid Lipcolour swatches.
I’m so glad MAC is coming out with sparkly lip products. This ensures that I won’t be tempted to buy them! They look pretty on other people, just not on me,
Those 1st two, though!
Just Hustlin’ looks out of this world. Very ethereall and alien-esque!
It’s Just Candy is truly as you mentioned, candy apple red! ???
*ethereal. My stupid, jerky thumb added an extra “l”!
These are all really fun.
I don’t think I’d appreciate the tackiness, but these are definitely pretty to look at