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MAC Opera Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Opera Lipstick
MAC Opera Lipstick

MAC Opera Lipstick ($17.50 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “dark red.” It’s a medium-dark red with cool, blue undertones and a mostly matte finish. MAC Stunner (LE, $16.00) is darker. MAC Kinky (LE, $16.00) is similar. Bite Beauty Fraise (P, $24.00) is similar. Tom Ford Beauty Ruby Rush (07) (P, $50.00) is similar. NARS Deadly Catch (LE, $26.00) is similar. Kat Von D Hexagram (P, $21.00) is a smidgen darker. MAC Ruby (LE, $16.00) is glossier. Too Faced Melted Ruby (P, $21.00) is glossier. Chanel La Precieuse (317) (LE, $34.00) is cooler-toned. MAC RiRi Woo (LE, $16.00) is darker, more matte. Maybelline Very Cherry (P, $7.49) is darker. MAC Ruby Woo (P, $16.00) is darker, more matte. MAC MAC Red (P, $16.00) is cooler-toned, darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

It’s a richly pigmented shade that glides on easily without tugging, but it doesn’t have a lot of slip, so it stays in place once applied. The color wears like iron and lasts a full six hours and could have kept going. Though not hydrating, it wasn’t drying either, which made it comfortable to wear throughout the day. As it is a mostly matte red, it is more dupable than not, so you may want to check your stash to see what you have that’s similar. It’s a gorgeous red, to be sure, though! MAC’s lipstick formula is vanilla-scented with no discernia=ble taste.

There are four other limited edition (and one permanent shade, Sin, being repromoted) in the collection, which I hope to be able to purchase when they release. The collection releases January 29th online and February 5th at counters and stores.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Opera Lipstick
MAC Opera Lipstick

MAC Opera Lipstick
MAC Opera Lipstick

MAC Opera Lipstick
MAC Opera Lipstick

MAC Opera Lipstick
MAC Opera Lipstick

MAC Opera Lipstick
MAC Opera Lipstick

MAC Opera Lipstick
MAC Opera Lipstick

MAC Opera Lipstick
MAC Opera Lipstick

MAC Opera Lipstick
MAC Opera Lipstick

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Powder
  • MAC Ripe Peach

56 Comments

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Jess Avatar

I know it’s nothing new or special, but I am really digging this lipstick. It’s a great red. I’m also really into the packaging for this collection.

Katherine T. Avatar

Wow, what a gorgeous color and formula!! I hope Sin reviews well, too. After some past duds, so glad to see MAC coming out with a good collection

Katherine T. Avatar

Oh, now I know why Sin sounds so familiar! Ooh, Sin is my kind of color, and I prefer my lipsticks a little drier, because I always have to put SPF 15 lip balm on top anyway. Will put on my wishlist….

Ginny Avatar

I certainly love it, but my collection is saturated with true-red lipsticks so I’ll have to pass. Maybe one of the other reds will catch my eye (but I secretly hope not!)

xamyx Avatar

When one can find more than 2 dupes *within* any given brand, I think it’s time for said brand to slow down on the releases… On my screen, both Kinky & Stunner look nearly *identical* to Opera!

xamyx Avatar

Although not *completely* identical, it’s akin to watching Full House reruns-is it Mary-Kate or Ashley Olsen…? I can never tell the difference!

Jana Avatar

I keep telling myself I will never ever get through all the red lipsticks I own, but I might cave (again) for this one; the shade is so stunning and vibrant, and that packaging and the name!! The design team really pulled on my heartstrings with this one.

Jane Avatar

I literally laughed out loud when I saw that most of the closest dupes were other MAC lipsticks. They really do like this shade of red.

That said, I’m nearly powerless to resist good limited edition MAC lipstick packaging, so I’ll probably pick one up… just maybe a color I don’t already have…

Rachel R. Avatar

It’s beautiful, but I have MAC Kinky, so I’ll save my money. Part of me wants it just for the packaging, but I’m on low buy for awhile.

Katzkann Avatar

Gotta love the blue based reds! That shade looks stunning on you. The earrings are lovely too. Any suggestions for more blue based reds as anything not blue goes orange on me. Oh well.

Sylirael Avatar

It is a nice red!

*struggles to keep eyes open*

I kid. But seriously, MORE red lipsticks? I mean, I know this is a collaboration collection, and I have no idea how the balance of decision making happens between MAC and their collection designers, but I feel like at some point something has to give, right? 😛

JEY Avatar

I love your swatches ! 🙂 I’m looking for a dark red , I already have ruby woo, and it seems that opera is a dupe for that one! RUBY WOO – OPERA – RUSSIAN RED is that order correct? I can not find a comparison between them, hopefully u can help me ! thx 🙂

Reyna Avatar

I just picked this one up. Once I got it home, I realized it looks similar to MAC Glam, which I haven’t opened from last year’s release. Do you think it’s worth keeping both?! Thanks in advance!

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