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MAC A Novel Romance Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches

MAC A Novel Romance Lipsticks
MAC A Novel Romance Lipsticks

In the upcoming A Novel Romance collection (online August 14th, in-stores August 21st), there are six limited edition shades of MAC Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.).

MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “light cool dusty pink [with a Cremesheen finish].” It’s a light-medium pink with cool, blue undertones and a soft shine. It had mostly opaque color coverage that applied evenly without settling into lip lines. The color wore well for four hours on me, but it was a little drying. MAC Ladies Who Lunch (LE, $22.00) is similar.Givenchy Rose Dahlia (210) (P, $36.00) is similar. MAC Rose Lily (LE, $16.00) is sheerer, lighter. MAC Raspberry Swirl (LE, $16.00) is cooler-toned. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

MAC Good Kisser Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “mid-tone fuchsia [with a Matte finish].” It’s a medium-dark fuchsia pink with subtle cool undertones and a matte finish. It almost looks warm-toned against my skin tone. It had rich, opaque color payoff that applied evenly and smoothly, while the color wore well for six and a half hours and left a stain behind. It was neither drying nor hydrating. Charlotte Tilbury Velvet Underground (P) is cooler-toned. MAC Pleasure Bomb (LE, $16.00) is more matte, darker. Givenchy Fuchsia Irresistible (205) (P, $36.00) is darker, cooler-toned. Milani Hot Pink Rage (P, $5.49) is lighter. MAC Moxie (LE, $16.00) is similar. MAC Impassioned (P, $16.00) is warmer. MAC Girl About Town (P, $16.00) is cooler-toned. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “mid-tone brick red [with a Matte finish].” It’s a medium-dark, red with warm, brown undertones and a satiny sheen. It had rich pigmentation that applied beautifully without tugging on the lip. The color stayed on well for six hours and left behind a slight stain. I didn’t find it hydrating, but it wasn’t drying either. MAC Studded Kiss (LE, $16.00) is similar. NARS 413 BLKR (LE, $26.00) is more muted, darker. NARS Majella (P, $25.00) is lighter, brighter. NARS Amsterdam (P, $26.00) is more muted. MAC Extended Play (DC, $18.00) is lighter. MAC Legendary (LE, $16.00) is browner. MAC Deeply Adored (LE, $16.00) is redder. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “deep plum red [with a Matte finish].” It’s a deepened, reddish burgundy with warm undertones and a soft shine. It wasn’t matte to me, and the consistency had more slip than the other matte shades in the collection. The slip made it harder to get really even color, so it looked slightly uneven in places. I had some very light feathering after the fifth hour of wear, though the color lasted well for six hours. It also left a stain behind and was neither drying nor hydrating. MAC Fixed on Drama (LE, $16.00) is lighter, more matte. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Anita (P, $18.00) is darker, browner. MAC Endless Drama (P, $18.00) is sheerer, lighter. MAC Dramatic Encounter (LE, $16.00) is cooler-toned. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Black Dahlia (P, $18.00) is cooler-toned, less brown. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

MAC Myself Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “soft shimmery nude beige [with a Lustre finish].” It’s a sheer, neutral-to-cool-toned pink. It lightens my natural lip color and makes them look less warm-toned, but as it is so sheer, it will look different depending on the level of pigmentation you have in your lips. On me, the color lasts an hour and a half and was drying. It also applied unevenly to a degree. This is a repromote from 2010. Givenchy Rose Ruban (211) (P, $36.00) is more opaque. MAC Flair for Finery (LE, $16.00) is slightly warmer. MAC Feed the Senses (LE, $16.00) is more shimmery, darker. Bobbi Brown Orchid Pink (LE, $23.00) is pinker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

MAC Yield to Love Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “mid-tone rose [with a Cremesheen finish].” It’s a medium-dark, pinky-plum with cool undertones and a soft shine. It had mostly opaque color coverage, and it applied evenly and smoothly. It lasted for four and a half hours, and it was neither drying nor hydrating. Givenchy Framboise Velours (315) (LE, $36.00) is darker, brighter. MAC Splurge (LE, $22.00) is cooler-toned, sheerer. Chanel Rayonnante (145) (P, $34.00) is sheerer, lighter, cooler-toned. Revlon Plum Velour (P, $7.99) is darker, brighter. Urban Decay Rapture (P, $22.00) is more muted. MAC Plumful (P, $16.00) is sheerer. Bobbi Brown Wild Rose (LE, $24.00) is less cool-toned, pinker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick
MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick

MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick
MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick

MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick
MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick

MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick
MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick

MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick
MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick

MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick
MAC A Novel Romance Lipstick

MAC Good Kisser Lipstick
MAC Good Kisser Lipstick

MAC Good Kisser Lipstick
MAC Good Kisser Lipstick

MAC Good Kisser Lipstick
MAC Good Kisser Lipstick

MAC Good Kisser Lipstick
MAC Good Kisser Lipstick

MAC Good Kisser Lipstick
MAC Good Kisser Lipstick

MAC Good Kisser Lipstick
MAC Good Kisser Lipstick

MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick
MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick

MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick
MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick

MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick
MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick

MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick
MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick

MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick
MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick

MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick
MAC Hearts Aflame Lipstick

MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick
MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick

MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick
MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick

MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick
MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick

MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick
MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick

MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick
MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick

MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick
MAC Lingering Kiss Lipstick

MAC Myself Lipstick
MAC Myself Lipstick

MAC Myself Lipstick
MAC Myself Lipstick

MAC Myself Lipstick
MAC Myself Lipstick

MAC Myself Lipstick
MAC Myself Lipstick

MAC Myself Lipstick
MAC Myself Lipstick

MAC Myself Lipstick
MAC Myself Lipstick

MAC Yield to Love Lipstick
MAC Yield to Love Lipstick

MAC Yield to Love Lipstick
MAC Yield to Love Lipstick

MAC Yield to Love Lipstick
MAC Yield to Love Lipstick

MAC Yield to Love Lipstick
MAC Yield to Love Lipstick

MAC Yield to Love Lipstick
MAC Yield to Love Lipstick

MAC Yield to Love Lipstick
MAC Yield to Love Lipstick

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Finishing Powder

146 Comments

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Lotus Avatar

The Hearts aflame or whatever it is.. It brings out the uniqueness of your earrings! Yield to Love looks most flattering, and I’m deflated to see ANOTHER MAC Collection! Do you think any of it is helpful, necessary, or worth it? What would you say to hold money for this month? I always spend at re beginning and regret later when sales arrive but I need what I need.. I’m sour because I’m tempted. Haha 😀 Have you swatched the MUFE palette? Seems respective color-wise after the chrysalis and monarch, the siren, the Nars singles.. Can you tell I’m perplexed? My face is attacking me and I fear it won’t quit.. I don’t understand but it’s depressing so I thank you again for this blog because I’ve been coming in for a place to go and distract myself joyfully. Maybe the Pantone color will be an ocean blue. That would be nice. Of alllllll the myriad new things, may I please ask what you’ll be reviewing? Also, I can’t cover my face so any suggestion? It’s just really bad chin and jaw and a bit up on one cheek. Medications are drying and once in a while I see improvement and that helps sooo much. Isn’t it amazing how much we can be affected by our face? I didn’t go through this in school. I can’t imagine. My heart goes out <333 Let's see the quad? 😉

Christine Avatar

I mean… it always depends on how much you already have. There are people just getting into makeup at any given point, so for someone who has never bought MAC before, these aren’t a bad place to start. If you’ve been collecting and buying MAC for a few years, a lot of these shades are repeats.

I did purchase the Make Up For Ever palette, but I don’t have it yet! The colors don’t seem particularly out of the ordinary from the promo (which can be hard to determine from), so it may be redundant if you already have a lot of palettes!

I don’t really give out too much info about what I’m reviewing, because I plan for way more than I actually end up reviewing (kind of like the tendency to overeat at a buffet!), and if I tell readers I’m reviewing something, I always put a lot of pressure on myself about it, because I feel like I’ve made a promise. It is better for me (and less stressful) to review as I can and be able to make adjustments on the fly if something new releases/arrives that seems like it would be more interesting at that particular moment (this happens a lot).

Are you looking for suggestions on something that you could use to cover up or just something to treat yourself to that’s new? 🙂

Wednesday Avatar

feel better, Lotus! Sorry about your face 🙁 I remember when my hair was falling out a number of years back, I was devastated for weeks on end. I didn’t want to go out of the house. I ended up buying myself a wig and while I only wore it a couple of times, I felt comfort in knowing I had it. Told Harald my partner he was lucky he got to go to bed with a ‘different’ woman.. Yup, retail and sex therapy ..A bit of both works for me 😀 ~grin~grin~

Ammara Avatar

Nice shades, but definitely dupeable. I think it’s generally difficult to produce a totally original shade anymore? I do like how all the shades go with the theme though, and it is so satisfying to see your reviews immediately after the announcement of the collection. Thank you for all your hard work!

Ginny Avatar

Gah. I love Hearts Aflame but I already have Studded Kiss. This one looks a tiny bit more muted, and with better application? I’m just a sucker for MAC’s matte formula.

I like the color of Lingering Kiss but the formula doesn’t look up to par. I wish they would bring back Prince Noir, that is the dark color that I really want!

Rose Avatar

I agree with you! I wish I could get my hands on Prince Noir! I wasn’t able to grab Fixed on Drama either but using Sin lipstick with Nightmoth lip liner seems to work just fine! I’m on the fence with Lingering Kiss here, might just have to pass and stick with Hearts Aflame from this collection!

Ginny Avatar

Sin has been on my “list” for a long time, but I can’t find a good and true swatch of it anywhere. I have Diva, which is pretty darn dark on me (I’m very pale) and I can’t tell if Sin is much darker than Diva, or just a little darker, is it redder, or purpler. And it’s never at my local counter!

Veronica Avatar

Hearts Aflame is gorgeous! I wish there was an exact dupe here…it’s pretty enough I may suffer MAC’s drying nature just for it should I come across it before it sells out.

Toyca Avatar

I love all the matte shades! How do you think hearts aflame compares to Mac diva or Roxo? I have both shades already and find them Very Similar but just different finishes

Brian Avatar

I really like Yield to Love and A Novel Romance. A Novel Romance was definitely not what I expected it to be though. It doesn’t look like a dusty pink at all!

Kenna Avatar

Normally, fall collections aren’t appealing to me, but I’m so excited for these lipsticks and the lipglasses! I’ve been dying for Raspberry Swirl for awhile, and A Novel Romance looks like a great alternative!

Kimmy Avatar

I kind of want all of these. Some do appear to be repeats/similar to other mac lipsticks, but I don’t own that many to begin with so they’d all have a place in my collection. Happy to hear the formula is good as well. As always, will keep my fingers crossed these migrate internationally. Thanks for the swatches Christine! 🙂

olechka Avatar

Hearts aflame kind of looks similar to the Mrs Mia Wallace urban decay LE lipstick! Going to go check out the comparison swatches now.

Reiko Avatar

Is Lingering Kiss similar to the infamous Prince Noir at all? I’m staring at the pictures and it looks browner and slightly lighter, but I’m not sure. XD I am Asian and I have warm skin (NC 15 – 20), would it work for me?

fancie Avatar

A Novel Romance is really pretty but I don’t think I could pull it off. I just love the color though! Good Kisser is probably going to end up coming home with me lol. I just can’t resist pinks and I love warm and bright it looks. I feel like I’m all set on vampy lipsticks but you’re making Lingering Kiss look really tempting!

Jan Avatar

OMG! Myself is one of my all time favorites. It’s a mirror optional, put it on and go color. I actually still have 2 tubes I’ve kept in the fridge since the first release. Can’t wait to buy a couple of tubes of Myself and some of the new deeper shades.

Jennifer Avatar

Hi Christine,

You look wonderful as always :). Thank you for this wonderful service that you provide – coming home from work and vegging out and reading your blog totally makes my evening! 🙂

On another note, how does Bite Beauty’s Fig compare to Yield to Love? I am so tempted to get it, but I think I have 1 or 2 colors in my stash already. I am a sucker for those Rose colors!

August Avatar

MAC’s lipstick and lip gloss colors have been so ridiculously uninspired lately that it almost hurts. It looks like they’re just recycling items that we’ve seen a hundred times before.

Nicole O. Avatar

i don’t currently own a brick red & hearts aflame might be my first .

i didn’t think i’d like it , but it’s my fave of the bunch & i love the brown undertones .

i was thinking about getting lingering kiss , but i have enough burgundy lippies .

Regan Wilson Avatar

Please can you tell me if any of these lipsticks are simulate to Nude Rose that came out years ago in the DSquared collection? I know it’ll be hard to remember, but I’ve been looking so a dupe for so long, I would appreciate any advice you have! Thank you in advance 🙂

Jessica Avatar

Such pretties! Thanks for all the swatching and comparisons you do! I, for one, really appreciate the hard work and dedication. Just wanted to tell you that 🙂

Sylirael Avatar

Yield to Love is very, very pretty! I am ALL OVER the idea of muted mauvy pinks right now. I only own one (sort of: Laura Mercier Antique Pink) but they are *so* awesome for pale skin as well as other skintones, which doesn’t always happen.

I know Yield to Love is on the brighter end (this is MAC after all), but it’s nevertheless a lovely shade.

Evidence is mounting that I need Rapture in my life (in terms of brands that I buy/are availabl :-De to me!)…

Helene Avatar

I actually like them all! Could be you making them look awesome, of course.
I need, want and must have Good Kisser, and how much I want to put a little “a” in front of that 😉
I also love Hearts Aflame. I think I only have a few reds with brown in them, and this one is so much prettier. Yield to Love is a very nice every day colour, I think.
Pity about Lingering Kiss, I must say.
I LOVE the names on these lipsticks. Fun!

Pam Avatar

The hearts aflame looks awesome. I think I’d like the MAC Legendary dupe better. I like the darker brick reds. Too bad the legendary shade is not on MACs website anymore. 🙁 Any other options for legendary?

Christine Avatar

Please check the review for Legendary! Any dupes I knew of it for it would be listed in the review 🙂 You can also always look up dupes on The Dupe List for any shade you want: http://www.temptalia.com/makeup-dupe-list

Any new dupes would show up as it is updated as soon as I post a new review – there are over 20,000 dupes on it.

janechemi Avatar

i wanted ‘good kisser’ but i already have ‘pleasure bomb’. i wanted ‘hearts aflame’ but i already have ‘studded kiss’. i am definitely getting ‘yield to love’ and maybe ‘myself’. thanks for the swatches

Tanuja Avatar

Oh my God ,Good kisser looks fab on you Christine . What. Are the chances it will look bad on me considering both Girl about town and Impassioned look pretty terrible on me ..? ( mainly because of the finish I presume since it’s not my fav )..it’s such a bright , peppy color .

Magdalena Avatar

Christine, do you think a novel romance is comparable to Viva Glam Gaga? I loved that lipstick so much and I still keep the bullet to remind me how much I awesome it was!

Charlotte Avatar

I got good kisser online as most of the lippies sold out before I could get any 🙁
I’m gonna get from the store good kisser hearts aflame and lingering kiss and maybe some of the eyeliners and eyeshadows

Carly Avatar

So I bought Hearts Aflame after coveting the crap out of it since this post, and the two that I got (one was a “refund” for the “wrong shade”… which just ended up being the same shade) and it looks one helluva lot more like lingering kiss than the beautiful brick red I saw in this and MABB’s. Does anyone else have this issue?

Ella - FaB Girls Blog Avatar

Now strangely enough I ordered Good Kisser and Yield to Love, and YTL looks absolutely nothing like it did on Christine. In fact, it’s very close to Mystic from the Alluring Aquatics collection, which I already have – it’s just a little brighte. Don’t want to spend the money when MAC have just added an extra 50p to everything – their lipsticks are a whopping £15.50 now!

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