MAC Sexy But Sweet, Stay Curious, Velvet Punch Powder Kiss Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Sexy But Sweet
MAC Sexy But Sweet Powder Kiss Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium pink with neutral-to-cool undertones and a satin finish. It had a bit more sheen to it for the first hour or so compared to other shades in the range. The texture was velvety and thin, which gave it an incredibly lightweight feel on my lips, but it didn’t sit as well as it could have–definitely did not blur imperfections as marketed! It had semi-opaque color payoff that lasted well for four hours and felt non-drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Pandemonium (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Polaroid Pink (P, $38.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop After Shock (P, $6.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Givenchy Rose Graphique (P, $37.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Maybelline Nocturnal Rose (P, $7.49) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Juniper (P, $28.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Velvet Beauty (LE, $36.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Little Tings (LE, $7.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Fig (P, $28.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Wagasa Twirl (LE, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$22.00/0.1 oz. - $220.00 Per Ounce
MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.10 oz.) is supposed to feel "weightless" with a "blur of effortless soft-focus color." Per the brand, the formula "provides immediate and long-term hydration" while "blur[ring] lines and smooth[ing] lips" and having "zero-shine." They have a bit of shine and slip; I wouldn't call them zero-shine so much as very smooth and more like a natural or soft matte finish. Like any finish with slight shine, they did wear down to a more, flat matte finish within an hour or so of wear. The consistency was lightweight, thin, and velvety with a bit of slip (a little like a silicone primer to me) and was comfortable to wear with a non-drying to lightly hydrating feel.
The pigmentation ranged from semi-opaque to opaque with deeper shades having more coverage. There were a few very light shades, which did not apply as evenly and had a tendency to catch on any imperfections on my lips, whereas the deeper shades went on more smoothly and looked more flattering on as they were less likely to emphasize texture. They lasted between two and a half and six hours with deeper shades, unsurprisingly, lasting longer than the ultra-light ones.
I personally found the scent of these to be noticeably different, both that it was sweeter and less vanilla-based but I also got a strong rubber scent that came through. The scent did not linger for long, so it wasn't something that I detected throughout the wear, but it had a strong, sweet taste that was present until it was gone. Other readers who have smelled the formula in person did not catch any rubber/off-putting scent (my husband thought it smelled weird, not bad per se, but couldn't be more specific), and when I went back to double check each shade, each one of mine still had that rubbery note.
Browse all of our MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Dimethicone, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Polyethylene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Zeolite, Kaolin, Alumina, Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate (Nano), Polysilicone-11, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Flavor (Aroma), Sodium Saccharin, Tocopherol, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Carmine (Ci 75470), Orange 5 Lake (Ci 45370), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 21 (Ci 45380), Red 28 (Ci 45410), Red 30 (Ci 73360), Red 6 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Sexy But Sweet
PPermanent. $22.00.
Stay Curious
MAC Stay Curious Powder Kiss Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a muted, medium copper with warm, reddish undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had nearly full color coverage in one pass paired with a smooth, velvety consistency that was very lightweight and thin but did not feel overly clingy. The product applied evenly but settled slightly into my lip lines, though not enough to be noticeable in person. It stayed on nicely for four and a half hours and felt neither drying nor hydrating while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Lion Dance (LE, $7.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Maple (DC, $26.00) is more shimmery, warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- ColourPop Prince Naveen (LE, $9.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Lucky Cat (P, $9.00) is darker, more muted, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Who Run This (P, $6.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Ring the Alarm (P, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Devoted to Chili (P, $22.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- NARS Berenice (LE, $34.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop 21 Questions (P, $10.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Chanel Rouge Particulier (846) (P, $45.00) is darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$22.00/0.1 oz. - $220.00 Per Ounce
MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.10 oz.) is supposed to feel "weightless" with a "blur of effortless soft-focus color." Per the brand, the formula "provides immediate and long-term hydration" while "blur[ring] lines and smooth[ing] lips" and having "zero-shine." They have a bit of shine and slip; I wouldn't call them zero-shine so much as very smooth and more like a natural or soft matte finish. Like any finish with slight shine, they did wear down to a more, flat matte finish within an hour or so of wear. The consistency was lightweight, thin, and velvety with a bit of slip (a little like a silicone primer to me) and was comfortable to wear with a non-drying to lightly hydrating feel.
The pigmentation ranged from semi-opaque to opaque with deeper shades having more coverage. There were a few very light shades, which did not apply as evenly and had a tendency to catch on any imperfections on my lips, whereas the deeper shades went on more smoothly and looked more flattering on as they were less likely to emphasize texture. They lasted between two and a half and six hours with deeper shades, unsurprisingly, lasting longer than the ultra-light ones.
I personally found the scent of these to be noticeably different, both that it was sweeter and less vanilla-based but I also got a strong rubber scent that came through. The scent did not linger for long, so it wasn't something that I detected throughout the wear, but it had a strong, sweet taste that was present until it was gone. Other readers who have smelled the formula in person did not catch any rubber/off-putting scent (my husband thought it smelled weird, not bad per se, but couldn't be more specific), and when I went back to double check each shade, each one of mine still had that rubbery note.
Browse all of our MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Dimethicone, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Polyethylene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Zeolite, Kaolin, Alumina, Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate (Nano), Polysilicone-11, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Flavor (Aroma), Sodium Saccharin, Tocopherol, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Carmine (Ci 75470), Orange 5 Lake (Ci 45370), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 21 (Ci 45380), Red 28 (Ci 45410), Red 30 (Ci 73360), Red 6 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Stay Curious
PPermanent. $22.00.
Velvet Punch
MAC Velvet Punch Powder Kiss Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a darker pink with subtle, cool undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation in one layer, which applied fairly evenly to my lips but had a tendency to catch around any imperfections on my lips. The texture felt smooth, velvety, and nearly weightless without feeling clingy. It wore well for four and a half hours and felt non-drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- KVD Beauty Mother (P, $19.00) is lighter, more muted (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Mother (DC, $21.00) is darker, more muted, cooler (85% similar).
- KVD Beauty Mother (P, $20.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Afterglow (LE, $10.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop Thirsty (LE, $7.00) is lighter, glossier (80% similar).
- ColourPop Humble Pie (P, $10.00) is lighter, brighter (80% similar).
- Maybelline Nocturnal Rose (P, $7.49) is lighter, cooler (80% similar).
- Anastasia Soft Pink (P, $18.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- MAC Petalhead (LE, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Sephora Rosé (P, $14.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$22.00/0.1 oz. - $220.00 Per Ounce
MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.10 oz.) is supposed to feel "weightless" with a "blur of effortless soft-focus color." Per the brand, the formula "provides immediate and long-term hydration" while "blur[ring] lines and smooth[ing] lips" and having "zero-shine." They have a bit of shine and slip; I wouldn't call them zero-shine so much as very smooth and more like a natural or soft matte finish. Like any finish with slight shine, they did wear down to a more, flat matte finish within an hour or so of wear. The consistency was lightweight, thin, and velvety with a bit of slip (a little like a silicone primer to me) and was comfortable to wear with a non-drying to lightly hydrating feel.
The pigmentation ranged from semi-opaque to opaque with deeper shades having more coverage. There were a few very light shades, which did not apply as evenly and had a tendency to catch on any imperfections on my lips, whereas the deeper shades went on more smoothly and looked more flattering on as they were less likely to emphasize texture. They lasted between two and a half and six hours with deeper shades, unsurprisingly, lasting longer than the ultra-light ones.
I personally found the scent of these to be noticeably different, both that it was sweeter and less vanilla-based but I also got a strong rubber scent that came through. The scent did not linger for long, so it wasn't something that I detected throughout the wear, but it had a strong, sweet taste that was present until it was gone. Other readers who have smelled the formula in person did not catch any rubber/off-putting scent (my husband thought it smelled weird, not bad per se, but couldn't be more specific), and when I went back to double check each shade, each one of mine still had that rubbery note.
Browse all of our MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Dimethicone, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Polyethylene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Zeolite, Kaolin, Alumina, Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate (Nano), Polysilicone-11, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Flavor (Aroma), Sodium Saccharin, Tocopherol, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Carmine (Ci 75470), Orange 5 Lake (Ci 45370), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 21 (Ci 45380), Red 28 (Ci 45410), Red 30 (Ci 73360), Red 6 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Stay Curious really satisfies my recent love affair with warm, rustic lip products! It is lovely!
And I could see Velvet Punch being a perfect shade for summer. It has a nice coolness that thankfully doesn’t go neon.
Stay Curious would be my favourite out of this group – a lovely autumn kind of shade.