MAC Shocking Revelation & Burning Love Powder Kiss Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Shocking Revelation
MAC Shocking Revelation Powder Kiss Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a rich, pin-red with cool undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation that covered my lips evenly and smoothly in a single layer. The texture was lightweight with moderate slip, which made it comfortable to apply and to wear, as it was thin but did not look or feel clingy. It wore well for five and a half hours and was lightly hydrating over time and didn’t leave much of a stain behind despite its red color.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Charlotte Tilbury Patsy Red (P, $37.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Revlon Bread Winner (P, $12.39) is warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Honey Pie (LE, $6.50) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
- Givenchy Rouge Interdit (13) (P, $34.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Guerlain Daisy Red (729) (P, $39.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar).
- NYX Bloody Mary (P, $6.00) is darker, more muted, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC So Good For You (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Punch (P, $29.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Tarte Cheerleader (P, $20.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Milani Fantasy (P, $8.99) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (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.
Shocking Revelation
PPermanent. $22.00.
Burning Love
MAC Burning Love Powder Kiss Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a deep plum with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had excellent pigmentation that adhered evenly to my lips and applied fluidly without catching on imperfections or getting into my lip lines. The lipstick had a velvety, lightweight consistency that had enough slip to glide but never felt slippery when worn. The color stayed on nicely for six hours and was slightly moisturizing.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Makeup by Mario Amanda (P, $24.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Bite Beauty Mulberry (P, $28.00) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Call Waiting (LE, $10.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC More Than a Woman (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Jam (DC, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker, glossier (90% similar).
- Chanel Cassis (P, $37.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Burberry Damson (No. 425) (P, $35.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop LBD (LE, $10.00) is darker (90% similar).
- NARS Blindfold (LE, $27.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Endangered Red (P, $27.00) 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.
Hey Christine! This might be the first time that I am commenting :). I am a long-time reader and I always consult your blog before buying anything! I really appreciate all the effort that you are putting in the blog (what I especially like is your integrity and that you show us that beauty can also be political (I’m thinking of cultural appropriation or inclusiveness here))
Okay, now comes a swatch related question :D! I am a big hoarder of lipsticks and sometimes I am really surprised to not see a dupe come up I had in mind. I swatched Shocking Revelation in Store next to Relentlessly Red and All Fired Up, and both of them looked extremely similar (more so than Ruby Woo I think), but they didn’t show up in the dupe list! I had this experience several times… Do you think the algorithm could be wrong sometimes? Or are my assessments just a bit off?
Hi Leo,
Are you looking at all of the dupes or just the ones listed in the review? The review only lists the top 10, and there may be significantly more. If a product already has 10-20 very close dupes, I won’t pull 80% dupes. For example, a typical copper eyeshadow is so easily duped that I am already entering 30-50 dupes that are 90-95% close so I’m not going to go significantly lighter or darker to the point where things are only 80% similar. There’s no algorithm that automatically enters dupes – I select each one and enter each one myself. For lip products (except sheer glosses), I compare against the color applied, not just swatched on my hand/arm. You can click “possible dupes,” which is automatically showing similar shades based on color, undertone, and shimmer level, but these are not on the Dupe List – they have to be submitted as they are best guesses but not necessarily dupes.
Relentlessly Red is much pinker on me than Shocking revelation: https://www.temptalia.com/side-by-side/?sbs_1_search=MAC+Shocking+Revelation&sbs_1=360643&sbs_2_search=MAC+Relentlessly+Red&sbs_2=138300
All Fired Up is lighter and pinker: https://www.temptalia.com/side-by-side/?sbs_1=360643&sbs_2=138274
Both look gorgeous, but I’m not tempted (thank goodness). I’m curious to smell them, though.
Despite my original take of this formula, I do quite like the looks of shocking revelation.
I bought Burning Love and I do love the formula and color. It does feather into lines after a while, however.
Feathering is a huge problem for me, so that’s enough to un-tempt me. What do you think about the scent?
Beauties BOTH. I pretty much expected these 2 to rate very well based on what I’ve been watching in live swatching videos, as the deeper, brighter, richer shades haven’t been giving the YT’ers any real issues. Still, those aren’t included wear time or how it looks at the end of it, yours give the extra insight I’m looking for. Shocking Revelation might just be the one that pick!
I have so many similar shades that purchasing either would be crazy but I admit that I am curious about the formula. I have tried other, “powder” lipsticks and haven’t enjoyed wearing them. I am probably going to Spokane, WA, next week so I will have to stop by the MAC counter and see what I think about them. Lovely shades though!!
Lovely shades for everyday and great ratings too.
I think I’m going to need to get one of these powder kiss lipsticks just for the novelty of having a different kind of formula. Both of these are strong contenders, but Burning Love is winning me over.
Aah, this is more like it! I was worried after the first set of reviews that this new range was going to be a major letdown. Love both of these colours, but Burning Love is edging in front for me. Might have to go and swatch these two this weekend!
Same!! I swatched them in store but didn’t try them on my lips. Glad to see these positive reviews.
I think I want Burning Love now..
I picked up Shocking Revelation yesterday. While I expected a very deep, saturated raspberry, I wasn’t disappointed with the color. Very vibrant and on my complexion it’s a true, blue-based red. It’s not quite as bright as Ruby Woo, but it’s sooooo much more comfortable than RW. I can’t wear RW for more than an hour which is really a bummer.
Which is why I also picked up Russian Red yesterday, haha!