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MAC & Ruffian: Lipsticks Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick

MAC & Ruffian: Lipsticks

MAC and Ruffian have teamed up to launch an online-only collection that features three sets of glue-on nails (to be shown shortly) and three lipsticks: Ruffian Gold (gold glitter metallic), Ruffian Naked (pale peachy nude), and Ruffian Red (classic rich blue red). The collection is available online now. Each lipstick is housed in traditional MAC packaging–a matte black tube with a rounded cap–and has the same vanilla-scent as other MAC lipsticks. Each of these is $14.50.

  • Ruffian Gold is a semi-sheer sparkling bronzy gold. It’s mostly gold and more molten gold micro-glitter suspended in a sheer color base. This has a frost finish. MAC Liquid Lurex is more multi-colored. MAC Front Lit is paler and more opaque. Dior Or Etoile is similar but lighter. MAC Tanarama is lighter. MAC Gel is fairly similar applied, though it is more bronze. I would recommend layering this over a red lipstick (and I have an upcoming post with it over Ruffian Red–stay tuned).
  • Ruffian Naked is a rosy beige with a creamy texture. This has a matte finish, though it felt more like a satin to me. I didn’t see much peach in this; it kept looking pink on me. It’s similar to MAC Myth, perhaps slightly lighter. MAC Innocence, Beware! is pinker. MAC Fleshpot is a touch lighter.
  • Ruffian Red is a just slightly blue-based medium-dark red with a fair amount of brightness. This has a matte finish. I swear, on me, this reads almost neutral to warm, even though it’s described as a blue-based lipstick. MAC Russian Red is darker, deeper. MAC Red Racer is a little brighter. Maybelline Very Cherry is bluer. MAC Ruby Woo is slightly darker and bluer-based. Giorgio Armani #404 is similar but shimmery. Make Up For Ever #43 seems fairly close. Guerlain Garconne is darker.

I didn’t have any problems with the three shades.  They applied as they should–Ruffian Gold didn’t feel too gritty and the glitter spread evenly for the most part, while Ruffian Naked and Ruffian Red had just enough creaminess to glide easily across the lips to deposit rich, opaque color. Ruffian Naked is slightly creamier than Ruffian Red.  I typically get four hours of wear with MAC’s lipsticks, and a shade like Ruffian Red would wear longer (as most reds do), around six to eight hours. Ruffian Red did stain my arm after only being on it for 10-15 minutes (as did Russian Red and Ruby Woo).

MAC & Ruffian: Lipsticks Review, Photos, Swatches

A
9
Product
10
Pigmentation
10
Texture
9
Longevity
4.5
Application
94%
Total

MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick

MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick

MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick

MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick (Diffused Flash)

MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick (Studio Lighting)

MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Gold Lipstick

MAC Ruffian Naked Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Naked Lipstick

MAC Ruffian Naked Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Naked Lipstick

MAC Ruffian Naked Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Naked Lipstick

MAC Ruffian Naked Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Naked Lipstick (Diffused Flash)

MAC Ruffian Naked Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Naked Lipstick (Studio Lighting)

MAC Ruffian Naked Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Naked Lipstick

MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick

MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick

MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick

MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick (Diffused Flash)

MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick (Studio Lighting)

MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick
MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick

MAC Ruffian Red Lipstick
MAC Ruby Woo, Ruffian Red, Russian Red Lipsticks

72 Comments

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fireinthehead Avatar

I got all 3 today, Ruffian Red is a great red and it’s definitely warm, way warmer than Red Racer which looks pinky by comparison. Also, It’s a lot darker than Lady Danger which looks super orange by comparison. 
Ruffian Nude is a no-lip look on me, I’m about NC15. Great texture on this one, so smooooooth 😉
The Gold is super pretty but it is a little itchy on its own to me (though it does look nice by itself so I might just suffer through LOL) good for layering with all your warm toned lippies.
 
oops! I think I just wrote a mini review lol

akaTheBride Avatar

@KleeneMelle81 Ich hoffe, den wird’s in Deutschland geben. Ist wohl noch nicht 100%ig sicher!? Und ist maccosmetics exclusive.

schni_na Avatar

@akaTheBride Warum hab ich das jetzt bloß angeklickt? Wirklich ein wunderschöner Farbton. Trägst du auf deinem Profilbild Russian Red?

viva Avatar

I’m so disappointed in the Ruffian Red description! I’ve been waiting for a true, cool blue-red – Ruby Woo, Russian Red, and Red Racer all turn orangey on me.

Pawsha Avatar

So glad I saw this, was just going to order the red lipstick. It says its a blue based red, this clearly looks orange based and dont want that at all. No sale for me on any of these.

Driamorena1 Avatar

You are truly a money save! Every time I see something “only online” for Mac. I have to buy all of them just in case I miss something good….this time I see that I didn’t, LOL

coquis Avatar

Great post!  Yesterday I ordered Ruffian Naked,I am obssesed with Naked lipsticks, probably own way too many :).
Ruffian Gold looks a little bit like Out Minxed to me, it’s pretty.

Ruca Avatar

 @coquis Me too; I think I’m turning into the queen of the nudes. I actually ordered all 3 since I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect gold and my HG red for a while. I suspect Ruby Woo may be what I’m looking for in a red. With this collection, I would have loved to have seen Illamasqua’s Trash and To Catch A Sailor swatched next to the gold, but I think I can already see the differences; TCAS is more opaque and has a little beige to it, for example. I didn’t like Trash at all–it was very tinny on me and didn’t even look gold!

18thCenturyFox Avatar

@Stephanie I am with you- I also think its a shade many could pull off, esp. depending on lipliner, eye MU and skin tone

Quinctia Avatar

Welp, that gold might end up being my first Mac lipstick.  Just have to decide if it’s going to give much of a different effect on my pigmented lips than UD’s Midnight Cowboy…

alejandra Avatar

 @Christine (Temptalia)  Aside from the lipstick swatches, that whole natural kind of thing you have going on in the pictures makes you look beautiful :3 I never thought you needed any of the bright eyeshadows or anything, you look amazing when you do something neutral and let your skin show through 😀

+RYOU+0013+ Avatar

First off, I’ll say I LOVE the pictures, Christine! You did a wonderful job with the lighting. <3I think I’m going to pick up both Ruffian Red and Ruffian Gold, although I wasn’t planning on buying anything.

SaraXOX Avatar

Unrelated but I loooove your brows here. You look glowing and gorgeous in these pics Christine!
And thank you for convincing me to finally pick up Russian red, those comparison swatches showed me that it is (hopefully) the red I’ve been looking for. (not too bright, cool toned and slightly darker)

Sandrine Avatar

Wow! I love the way the studio lighting images came out this time. Very clear and crisp. Way better than before when the right side of the picture is almost overexposed.

ariel36 Avatar

Hi Christine! You look SOO beautiful (and I like the gold way more than I thought I would. It looks great on you, though I just can’t see an occasion on which I’d realistically wear it. )
🙂 May I ask what skin care regimen you’ve been using? You’re skin just looks so clear and glowing!! 

luxlosangeles Avatar

You take my very breath away, with the Ruffian Gold look!  You’re so beautiful done “up,” but this simple look is divine!  You’re such a pretty woman!

ZoeStellman Avatar

Hey, just wondering what is the difference between Ruffian Red and Red Racer. Going back and forth on ur pics that u took, and i can’t quite tell. Missed out of Red Racer, so wanna know if this is a good dupe for it?

ZoeStellman Avatar

Hey, what is the difference between Red Ruffian and Mac Heartless? missed out on that lipstick, so just wondering if its a good dupe?

Emme Avatar

 @Christine (Temptalia) Do you have Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy lipstick? Does it compare to Ruffian Gold at all? I really love the look of that, but I found out yesterday that the Ruffian Collection won’t be released here and now I’m looking for an alternative. Thanks in advance!

aisha afraz Avatar

hyee i m aisha i like ur ruby woo lipstick. i live in pakistan how can i get this color and plz suggest me i want to take oil control based foundation but i m confused because after few hours my base getting darker i have warm medium can u suggest me how can make my base long lasting an tell me the true lose powder color to.i m interested in dream matte mouse base by maybelline because it easily avilable in pakistan .suggest me the right no of that that looks natural an i can easily wear it in parties too.thank u i m waiting ur reply…

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