MAC Russian Red Lipglass, Lipstick, Nail Lacquer Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Russian Red Lipstick, Nail Lacquer, Lipglass
MAC Russian Red Lipglass, Lipstick, Nail Lacquer
MAC Russian Red Lipstick ($14.50 for 0.10 oz.) has been such a top-seller that it has now inspired a Lipglass ($14.50 for 0.17 fl. oz.) and Nail Lacquer ($16.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) to complement it. This shade is part of the North America, Europe/Africa, and Latin regions of the collection, so it will be available both online and in-stores. Russian Red is described as “mid-tone neutral red.”
The lipgloss is a little brighter and appears slightly less neutral/less blue-based compared to the lipstick, which I find is almost neutral but leans a smidgen on the cool side. The matching nail lacquer is a very good match to both the lipstick and lipgloss; it’s a nice shade of medium-dark red that is very close to neutral in tone. When you apply the lipgloss over the lipstick, the result is a more opaque, slightly darker, richer looking red pout than if you were to just wear the gloss alone.
Russian Red Lipglass is a rich cherry red that leans just a smidgen orange-red, but it’s very close to neutral. For me, it looks more orange-toned when it’s swatched next to the lipstick (which is neutral to slightly blue-based), but when I look at it by itself, it reads neutral. This is part of the permanent range. It has opaque color coverage. MAC Driven by Love is a deeper, darker red with shimmer. MAC Nitro:licious 2046 is a pinky-red. Illamasqua Succubus is a bit brighter. OCC Stalker looks almost warm in comparison. (9, 10, 9, 9, 4, 4; A-)
Russian Red Lipstick is medium-dark red with mostly neutral undertones, though against my warmer skin, it reads just a little cool-toned. It has a matte finish, and it is part of the permanent range. Maybelline Very Cherry is lighter, more blue-based. MAC Runaway Red is darker, more blue-based. MAC Such Flare! is deeper. Guerlain Habit Rouge is lighter and more orange-toned. MAC Prolong is more blue-based. Guerlain Garconne is darker. (9, 10, 9, 10, 4.5, 4; A)
Russian Red Nail Lacquer is a medium-dark red with nearly neutral undertones (leaning at most slightly blue). It has a cream finish, and it was opaque in two coats. I didn’t have any trouble with the formula, so it applied evenly and fluidly. Chanel Rouge Carat is a little lighter and has shimmer. MAC Get Noticed is a deeper red. Zoya Sooki is a little bluer-based. Butter London Pillar Box is very close. China Glaze Hey Sailor is bluer-based. MAC Asiatique is also close. (10, 10, 10, 9, 4.5, 4; A)
MAC Lipsticks are vanilla-scented but taste-free. Matte finishes like Russian Red typically wear four to six hours on me, and Russian Red wears around six hours typically and will stain. I find the texture of Russian Red lipstick to be creamier than some of MAC’s drier matte formulas, but I don’t find it drying. MAC Lipglasses are also vanilla-scented but taste-free. They are very sticky and have a thick, borderline-goopy consistency. If you prefer gel-like, cushion-y glosses that feel lightweight on, I don’t recommend MAC Lipglass. Because of the tackier texture, MAC Lipglasses do tend to wear a full four hours on me, with some of the darker shades lasting up to six hours (with mostly the color lingering at that point).
Note: I am reviewing each “set” together. After I’ve reviewed all sixteen sets, I will do round-ups for each product type (so all lipsticks together) to deliver an overall Glossover rating. This rating is more indicative of the product type, as the rating that follows this post is an average across three totally different types of products. You can also see the individual scores listed after each product, which are listed in the same order as they are in the Glossover.
MAC Russian Red Lipglass, Lipstick, Nail Lacquer Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Russian Red Lipglass, Lipstick, Nail Lacquer
MAC Russian Red Lipglass layered over Russian Red Lipstick, Russian Red Nail Lacquer
MAC Russian Red Lipglass layered over Russian Red Lipstick (Diffused Flash)
MAC Russian Red Lipglass layered over Russian Red Lipstick (Studio Lighting)
MAC Russian Red Lipglass layered over Russian Red Lipstick
MAC Russian Red Lipglass
MAC Russian Red Lipglass
MAC Russian Red Lipglass
MAC Russian Red Lipglass
MAC Russian Red Lipglass (Diffused Flash)
MAC Russian Red Lipglass (Studio Lighting)
MAC Russian Red Lipglass
MAC Russian Red Lipstick
MAC Russian Red Lipstick
MAC Russian Red Lipstick
MAC Russian Red Lipstick (Diffused Flash)
MAC Russian Red Lipstick (Studio Lighting)
MAC Russian Red Lipstick
MAC Russian Red Nail Lacquer
MAC Russian Red Nail Lacquer
MAC Russian Red Nail Lacquer
MAC Russian Red Nail Lacquer
MAC Russian Red Nail Lacquer
MAC Russian Red Nail Lacquer
I understand you like to wear different looks all the time, but would you consider wearing more neutral looks in lip swatches? Sometimes I feel your eyes clash with or distract from some colors. Just a suggestion.
Hi Ariel,
I very much try to coordinate when and where I can – unfortunately there were 16 different shades, from very, very pale to very, very vampy. If I went neutral, then half of the shades would look incredibly washed out. I was happy with this as a compromise myself! I actually really LOVED how this looked with Rebel and Russian Red 🙂 To each their own, I suppose!
@Ariel
Come on, you gotta be kidding me. Are you even aware on how MANY shades she has to review? You seriously think she has to change her eye makeup everytime she posts a new review? FOR ALL 16 SHADES? Annoying. Give Christine some credit, your comment is a out of line. And oh, this post is all about the LIPPIES / Nail Lacquer. Geez.
@MSPMSP @Ariel
I agree. Christine is doing us a huge service that no one has to do. With this many colors, I’d be overwhelmed to do … Major kudos to Christine, for giving us great swatches so we can make descisions on what we want or don’t in this and every collection. 🙂
@ButterflyMod Well, I’m not sure I’d say Christine is doing anyone a ‘huge service’…this is her full time job after all and she earns money doing it! It’s hardly a volunteer position lol. So I don’t see anything wrong with someone making a suggestion. Personally, I think a more neutral eye would have showcased the lip colours better as well. There’s nothing wrong with making suggestions as reader feedback is a very valuable resource for any blogger.
@ButterflyMod It may be her job but no-one said she had to take 3,500 photos in the span of 24-36 hrs or so, nor to rush to get all the reviews up quickly so that people could make an informed decision on the collection as a whole. She could easily have taken a week to 10 days to do 16 sets and then, yes, I’m sure she would have had time to change her eyeshadow between the various colour groups. But she did it as quickly as she could for *us*!
Frankly, I think she’s a gem. Her thoroughness, speed, massive attention to detail, depth of coverage and, on top of all that, constant responses to every question posed to her are unsurpassed by anyone that I’ve come across on the web.
@Nadia, It may be her job but no-one said she had to take 3,500 photos in the span of 24-36 hrs or so, nor to rush to get all the reviews up quickly so that people could make an informed decision on the collection as a whole. She could easily have taken a week to 10 days to do 16 sets and then, yes, I’m sure she would have had time to change her eyeshadow between the various colour groups. But she did it as quickly as she could for *us*!
Frankly, I think she’s a gem. Her thoroughness, speed, massive attention to detail, depth of coverage and, on top of all that, constant responses to every question posed to her are unsurpassed by anyone that I’ve come across on the web.
@Kafka No, of course no one said she had to do any of that. She chooses to! And that’s because she realizes that that is why and how her blog became as successful as it is now. And yes, she could take 10 days to do 16 sets but if you want your blog to be the number one resource for readers, then that’s not the way to go about it lol. With success comes major ad revenue.
I see the relationship between readers and bloggers as more of a mutually beneficial arrangement. No one’s doing anyone a favour. The nature of blogs/bloggers is such that they very much depend on their readers. So I go back to my point…there is nothing wrong with readers making suggestions. It’s a valuable resource no good blogger would (or should) turn away from. It is what leads to a blogger’s ultimate success.
I just think the poster who suggested a more neutral eye was not out of line. She/he was polite about it. Christine took it in stride and replied. And that should be that.
I have a full time job too and part of that is taking constructive criticism on board to help me do a better job. That’s part of working life. And if someone were to jump in and say about me ‘she’s doing us a favour by meeting this deadline so lay off with your suggestions’…I’d personally find that attitude very puzzling. I’d probably turn around and say ‘I don’t see myself doing anyone a favour, it’s just my job!’.
lol…
I actually thought Christine’s makeup was perfect for all16 shades… In fact, I thought, “I really need that Tarantino palette in my life!” lol.
in all these pictures (of all sets), i prefer the lipstick only, w/o the gloss. loving so many — especially the brown.
also, Christine, i LOVE you in the deeper pinks, this red and that brown. WOW!
I love you website! I wonder if you know which lipstick colors would be good to use, if you are (as I am) kind of pale, and by nature have very blond hair? 🙂
@Freja Marseen Andersen You can wear anything, truly! If you are looking for more contrast, a shade like Rebel looks great. If you want something more every day, you’ll probably like Please Me 🙂
I actually like the lipstick alone more than with the gloss, the color seems deeper somehow. Thanks for the great reviews!
Hi dear, may i know what your thoughts are with regards to the difference of Russian Red compared to Ruby Woo? Because as i’ve mentioned to your Pink Nouveau post, i have Ruby Woo and it’s one of my favorites. But i’ve always been intrigued with Russian Red.. Hmmm… Thanks Christine! YOU ARE THE BEST! Your dedication is just way above the roof. MAC better give you some credit for this 🙂
@MSPMSP Ruby Woo is a little darker/deeper and has a much stronger blue undertone!
oh my, these really look perfect together!
Russian red gloss is still permanent right?
The only thing in this set that is le is the nail laquer?
Just want to be sure they didn’t change it for the set. Thanks
@ButterflyMod Yes – both the lipstick and lipglass are permanent!
First off, this color looks stunning on you!
Second, I need to buy this beeaaauuuutiful lipstick! I must admit, I rarely wear red lipstick but I’m considering getting a little edgier with it and wear it more often ’cause it’s so friggen sexy lol! Russian Red has gotta be mi-mi-mi-mi-mine.
Perfect!!!!! I loved the way lipstick+lipglass worked. =D
this is a really nice combo!
This is a gorgeous shade, but I wish they had selected Ruby Woo instead.. my all time favourite Red lipstick. The lipstick and gloss do look perfect together!
Just out of curiosity, which do you personally prefer: MAC Red, Russian Red or Ruby Woo?
@Kafka Russian Red, since it’s a creamier formula. Ruby Woo and Red are a bit too dry for my taste!
@Christine (Temptalia) Heh, I think that’s why I prefer the Red. LOL. It sticks to me so more. Plus, it’s much, much more blue-based, imo, and I’m a sucker for very blue-based colours. 🙂
I love it!!!
Beautiful! Love the eye makeup you have on too. I need the lipstick and gloss I love red lippies, I only own a handful of MAC lipsticks so far (i’ve always been more of a drugstore makeup girl lol), but will definitely have to try out RR as I’ve been eyeing it for a while now.
Wow, this may be the standout set. I would never, ever wear it, but it looks great!
you look really satisfied wearing the lipstick and the lipglass together!:D
as this is your favourite combo right now!:)
I’m so in love with Russian Red! I feel like I HAVE TO buy this, and the morange set! ABSOLUTELY!
Anyone has a suggestion for a warm red lipstick that will suit NC 30?
I was thinking MAC Dubonnet, since the other reds in MAC seems so bright! (and I can’t afford Guerlain, and Ellis Faas is not sold in my country, fiddlesticks!)
@danza Dubonnet could definitely work — have you thought about Viva Glam I? It’s a very retro red — usually quite lovely on most complexions. It’s not bright either!
@danza I have Dubonnet, and I’m about NC30. It looks lovely! It’s very workable as an everyday red, since it is a bit muted. It’s very creamy and smooth, too, and I don’t find it drying.
The 2 lip products looks gorgeous layered together!
The 2 lip products look gorgeous layered together!
Hey Christine, thank you for all your amazing hard work and dedication.
In your opinion which would be more flattering on someone who’s timid when it comes to bright lips? I have fair nw10 skin, blue-grey eyes and light brown hair. Mac red, Russian red or ruby woo?
@SaraXOX You could get away with all three, seriously! Russian Red would likely be the tamest 🙂
i love it too!!♥
Super sexy!
Christine! I am seriously in love with you right now!! I am SO thankful you swatched all these!! I don’t know what I would have done without all these pics to compare, etc. Probably would have just passed on the whole collection due to the overwhelming choices, combinations! Ha! Or… would’ve picked up a couple by complete randomness and then been disappointed later, and seriously bummed about missing out on some gems! Either way ~ you ROCK my world! Hearts!!!
I have a quick question on the Russian Red gloss too if you have a chance to respond! I have the Wonder Woman Lipglass from the… Wonder Woman collection. =) Not sure if you ever picked that one up or had it to review / still have it. But if you do… I was wondering if you could comment on the difference in base color btw Wonder Woman and Russian Red? Obviously the WW has the glitter/shimmer thing going on that RR does not. But besides that… they seem like they have very similar base colors… but it seems like it would be pretty hard to tell without direct comparison. Or, having an encyclopedic mind of all MAC products and how they compare. ; ) If you don’t have it / never did, no worries! Just thought I would check in case you had any input!
Heart you face!! For reals though… so pretty! ; )
Oh, and I love your eye makeup in these pics. Just to add my two cents. But, as you said, to each their own!
@ninasparr Wonder Woman is a bit brighter, less opaque, more of a pinky red. http://www.temptalia.com/mac-wonder-woman-lipglasses-review-photos-swatches
Thank you!
@Christine (Temptalia) Thanks lady! So excited to finally get my hands on a couple of these! My whole wishlist was compiled via Temptalia swatch research! =)
How does Russian red compare to ruby woo? I have ruby woo and am considering buying Russian red?
Ruby Woo is a little darker and cooler-toned.