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MAC Pret-a-Papier Collection: Lipsticks Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Lipsticks: Made to Order, Kraft, Dressmaker Dressmaker, Archetype

MAC Pret-a-Papier Collection: Lipsticks Review, Photos, Swatches

None of the lipsticks blew me away — they don’t quite seem to make it there. Taken as a whole, they’re almost too similar to each other. I think looking at the collection overall, it feels like there are no punches of color or vibrancy. For a summer collection, it definitely feels like something we’d see in the fall. I had trouble with the consistency of Archetype and Dressmaker, Dressmaker to apply evenly and smoothly on lips, but Kraft was true to its amplified finish. Made to Order is a very soft, glossy lustre that applies evenly, so I did like that one.

Lipstick ($14.00 U.S. / $16.50 CDN)

  • Archetype is a yellowed nude with a lustre finish, but it almost feels like a lustre-frost. Archetype is best applied on freshly exfoliated lips, because it really will accentuate any flaw or bit of dryness you have on your lips–not such a pretty sight! This was originally released with McQueen, a few years back.
  • Dressmaker, Dressmaker is a semi-sheer, glossy coral-peach in a lustre finish. I want to love it, because it’s coral-ish, but the way it looks on my lips is just so-so. If you wear a creamy gloss on top, I think it’d come together better.
  • Kraft is a creamy, nearly opaque brownish/reddish beige with an amplified finish. It’s a fairly darker shade, but it has a beautiful finish and feel.
  • Made to Order is a semi-opaque, glossy darked coral-pink with a fuchsia-pink sparkle in a lustre finish. Of the three lustre lipsticks in this launch, Made to Order is definitely the best–it gives even, smooth color while still delivering the glossiness that is inherent in lustre finishes.

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Lipsticks: Made to Order, Kraft, Dressmaker Dressmaker, Archetype

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Archetype Lipstick

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Archetype Lipstick

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Dressmaker, Dressmaker Lipstick

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Dressmaker, Dressmaker Lipstick

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Kraft Lipstick

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Kraft Lipstick

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Made to Order Lipstick

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Made to Order Lipstick

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Lipsticks: Archetype, Dressmaker Dressmaker, Kraft, Made to Order

All products featured in this post were purchased by Temptalia.

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96 Comments

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diana Avatar

you make them all look so pretty! I like dressmaker dressmaker and made to order, I know you weren’t crazy about any but which one would you pick out of all of them?

alice Avatar

I see the uneven finish of the two lipsticks you mentioned, but they all look good on you. Thanks so much. Kraft is what I wanted to see, and the color did not disappoint. Lovely on you too!

Alex Avatar

love that last coral!!! thanks so much for this…can u do that list u usually do telling us what musthaves are?!?! u have never steered me wrong.

Emily Avatar

I really like all of them but Archetype! Christine, do you happen to know if any of them compare to MACs Ever Hip or Smashbox’s Splendid?

Emily Avatar

So then, if I have both Splendid and Ever Hip would you saw Dressmaker, Dressmaker is a pass, or a go…I really love both the peach/coral ones in this collection.

Andrea Avatar

I’m actually surprised I kind of like Kraft.. I’m dissapointed though in the two coral-y colours though, which I was really excited for 🙁

Cherie Avatar

Thanks Christine!

I have Ever Hip and Fresh Salmon… How would you compare those with Dressmaker Dressmaker and Made to Order? Do I need any of these two? Maybe not DD due to the things you mentioned above… Thoughts? I’m a huge coral lover 🙂

Christine Avatar

Fresh Salmon isn’t like either of these, and Ever Hip isn’t really. (I’d say both of those are nicer, actually.) Made to Order is most similar to Smashbox’s Splendid from what I can remember, but it’s pinker. I think if you like coral, Made to Order is a nice way to go for a more toned down coral.

victoria Avatar

it’s great to have you wear them for us. the lipsticks are mostly kind of orange tone but your teeth still looks sparkly white, i’m envious. what’s your secret?

Tiso Avatar

Thanks for your efforts – great swatches/pics on the entire collection. I need Kraft and Made to Order. The Coral Paint Pot looks great on you! Gives me hope I can pull it off too! 😀

Ziru Avatar

I was so excited about this collection because it’s supposed to release on my birthday. I was eying Dressmaker, Dressmaker, but now not so much. Gonna save my birthday money and spend it elsewhere!

PJ Avatar

All of those look really pretty on you though! I’m a NW40 so I think Archetype might not make an impact but do you think the others would work?

Hazel Avatar

Hello Christine, how do you think Made to Order compares with Fresh Salmon from Spring Color Forecast?? And, do you think Kraft would look less brown on medium pigmented lips? I do love the finish so much!

Thanks for the lip swatches they are great! =)

Petra Avatar

Wow, I know you’re not very impressed with them, but I think they look gorgeous on You! 🙂 Corals suit you so well – and I really like the entire look, i hope you’ll be posting it as a FOTD. 🙂

I know You said Archetype is the one you’d skip, and i see why, but i still really like how it looks on you – it seems very warm and sparkly, from farther away. Do you think it’s anything similar to Guilty Kiss (think it was from Antiquitease, and I remember it to be quite sheer)? I’m also eyeing Dressmaker, dressmaker, because i really like how soft it looks. (I really shouldn’t buy any more lipsticks though, I just can’t finish them up at this rate. 🙁 )

margot Avatar

Before seeing swatches, I would have wanted Dressmaker, but now that I’ve seen it, I think I’ll get Made to Order instead, much nicer color !

Steph Avatar

I’m loving Dressmaker, Dressmaker! But I like lighter & brighter pinks & lots of corals for summer. By the way, these all look FANTASTIC on you. They look great with your skin tone: I’m so much lighter than even an NC15, most of these would make my lips look dirty.

Katie Avatar

You’re right about them looking too similar to each other. Also, I feel like they’re geared toward warm tones, but I like Made to Order so maybe I’ll check it out =)

Vern Avatar

I must say that all four of these colors look gorgeous on you. I actually like all four now. Their not too bright but just right and a wearable corals.

Meghann Avatar

I really really like archetype. It’s a very nice nude color, worked very well with my skintone, (nc44/45ish w/o red undertone of 45 and ash of 44). I had on siss today with my smokey eye look and replaced my lip color with archetype and it did really well. May go back and get it later.

Petra Avatar

Yay, it’s so good to hear someone liking Archetype! I’m on the opposite specktrum, around nw/nc20 – would You recommend it to girls with fair skin?
Btw, makeupalley had only good reviews about this lipstick (although there were only few reviews), promising. 🙂

love Avatar

hey, christine…thanks so much for adding pics of your entire face to help showcase the lip swatches. it really makes a difference to see the variety of lip colors against your full face…it reveals how the color plays off your skin tone, hair and eye color. please consider making this a regular practice with all your future lip swatches. VERY helpful, thank you!

phuongk Avatar

christine, after looking at this swatches i was determined to get dressmaker, dressmaker. looking at the promo pics, i would have passed but thanks to your new addition of the full-face photo, i knew the l/s was the perfect coral nude i had been looking for!!! kudos to you for your awesomeness.

on a non-mac note, i recently tried some bobbi brown lipsticks and they are nice. perhaps that is another brand you can start looking into?!

Mara Avatar

Hi Christine,

I’m desperately searching for mac-slimshine ‘ultra elegant’ dupe! Do you think any of these compare? If not does anyone have dupe ideas?

Kraft looks like it may close to it but….i dunno :S

bella Avatar

Oh, I absolutely love these on you! Even Archetype, it’s a great color on you even if the finish is so so 🙂 Dressmaker Dressmaker is my fave on you though, or Made to Order 🙂

Hay Mich Avatar

I know this is an older post but I’m considering buying Dressmaker, Dressmaker or Made to Order online and I can’t decide between the two. I have very fair skin with pink undertones and brown hair and hazel eyes. Do you have any advice for me on which one would look better?

Brittany Avatar

I know this is hella late…but how do you think Kraft compares to 4N from the N Collection? Do you think they could be dupes? And if not can you recommend a dupe for 4N if you know of one? Thanks hun!

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