MAC Showing Skin, Primordial, Fashion Punch Lipglasses Reviews & Swatches
Showing Skin
MAC Showing Skin Lipglass ($17.50 for 0.1 oz.) is a light-medium beige with soft, warm undertones and faint pearl. The color was much less shiny/glossy compared to the majority of Lipglasses I’ve tried–I almost thought this was a lipstick when I was editing the photos! The texture was smooth, lightweight, sticky, but a little thinner and less tacky than the average Lipglass. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that went on somewhat evenly, but it definitely sat in my lip lines to a noticeable degree, which isn’t uncommon for shades in a creamier finish that are this light. It lasted for four hours and was hydrating while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Body-con (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Maybelline Tease (P, $7.99) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Bailey (P, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- NARS Guyane (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Moonglow (314) (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Skin Deep (344) (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- ColourPop Just Cuddle (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented (85% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Smokey Pink (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Ticklish (P, $8.00) is less pigmented (80% similar).
- Sydney Grace Cassie (P, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$21.00/0.1 oz. - $210.00 Per Ounce
The Lipglass formula is supposed to be āpigmented, very shiny and can impart subtle or dramatic colorā that can be worn āon its own, over lip pencil or lipstickā and will ācondition lips.ā MAC could use an update on the description as some shades are more pigmented than others but several are sheerer and likely intended to be that way. The formula has a very glossy, high-shine finish with a light-medium weight and moderate tackiness.
I have found that newer Lipglasses (over the last couple of years) are smoother and not quite as tacky as the formula was many years ago. They wear from three to six hours on me and are usually lightly hydrating. MAC recently updated the shade range and packaging for the range (though the formula was said to be unchanged), so worth noting is that with that packaging change came a reduction in quantity to 0.10 fl. oz. (was 0.17 fl. oz.), which may matter for some but not everyone.
Browse all of our MAC Lipglass swatches.
Showing Skin
PPermanent. $21.00.
Primordial
MAC Primordial Lipglass ($17.50 for 0.1 oz.) is a muted, yellowy brown with warm undertones and a cream finish. It was a more unusual shade with the stronger (but muted) yellow undertone, and as there were so few glosses that even were within the realm of similar, I pulled lipsticks as possible dupes. The texture was smooth, moderately tacky, and thicker but not heavy. The color went on fairly evenly, but the product itself settled into my lip lines noticeably. Between the color, finish, and formula, some of the settling wasn’t a surprise, but it may be a deal-breaker for some. It stayed on nicely for four and a half hours and was moisturizing while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sephora Desert Dreaming (73) (LE, $8.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
- elf Hustle (P, $9.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Nacho Cheese Explosion (LE, $21.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Dose of Colors More Creamer Please (LE, $16.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Yours to Try (P, $28.00) is lighter, more pigmented, less glossy (85% similar).
- NARS Liguria (P, $28.00) is more shimmery (85% similar).
- NARS Floralies (P, $25.00) is less glossy (85% similar).
- Dose of Colors No Shade (LE, $16.00) is lighter, more pigmented, glossier (85% similar).
- MAC Burnished Beige (LE, $19.00) is cooler, less glossy (85% similar).
- MAC Nifty Neon (P, $19.00) is brighter, more pigmented, less glossy (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$21.00/0.1 oz. - $210.00 Per Ounce
The Lipglass formula is supposed to be āpigmented, very shiny and can impart subtle or dramatic colorā that can be worn āon its own, over lip pencil or lipstickā and will ācondition lips.ā MAC could use an update on the description as some shades are more pigmented than others but several are sheerer and likely intended to be that way. The formula has a very glossy, high-shine finish with a light-medium weight and moderate tackiness.
I have found that newer Lipglasses (over the last couple of years) are smoother and not quite as tacky as the formula was many years ago. They wear from three to six hours on me and are usually lightly hydrating. MAC recently updated the shade range and packaging for the range (though the formula was said to be unchanged), so worth noting is that with that packaging change came a reduction in quantity to 0.10 fl. oz. (was 0.17 fl. oz.), which may matter for some but not everyone.
Browse all of our MAC Lipglass swatches.
Primordial
PPermanent. $21.00.
Fashion Punch
MAC Fashion Punch Lipglass ($17.50 for 0.1 oz.) is a medium, peachy-coral with warm, gold shimmer. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that did not apply as evenly nor did it sit as well on my lips as would be ideal–it pulled into lip lines and there were a few areas that didn’t seem to have as much coverage as other areas. The consistency was smooth, medium in thickness, and tacky, though I didn’t find it to be on the bad side of heavy/gluey! It wore well for four hours and was hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Maybelline Nude Illusion (060) (P, $8.99) is lighter, glossier (95% similar).
- MAC Imperial Light (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- NARS Zambeze (LE, $26.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop B (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Spanking Haute (LE, $20.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Soft Nude (P, $24.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Surratt Beauty Au Naturelle (P, $32.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Myth (P, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Love Nectar (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel Sensuel (11) (P, $34.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$21.00/0.1 oz. - $210.00 Per Ounce
The Lipglass formula is supposed to be āpigmented, very shiny and can impart subtle or dramatic colorā that can be worn āon its own, over lip pencil or lipstickā and will ācondition lips.ā MAC could use an update on the description as some shades are more pigmented than others but several are sheerer and likely intended to be that way. The formula has a very glossy, high-shine finish with a light-medium weight and moderate tackiness.
I have found that newer Lipglasses (over the last couple of years) are smoother and not quite as tacky as the formula was many years ago. They wear from three to six hours on me and are usually lightly hydrating. MAC recently updated the shade range and packaging for the range (though the formula was said to be unchanged), so worth noting is that with that packaging change came a reduction in quantity to 0.10 fl. oz. (was 0.17 fl. oz.), which may matter for some but not everyone.
Browse all of our MAC Lipglass swatches.
Even if these had A+ ratings, I’d find this a bit of a snooze-fest but then I’m not a fan of nude lipsticks or glosses, etc. But with these mediocre ratings, I can’t help but feel sad for those who like these sorts of colours.
I don’t really like these shades as they tend to make me look lifeless, but for those who are keen on them, this is poor offerings from MAC.
Genevieve, so often when I read your comments, I can’t help wondering if we’re thinking with the same brain! I think I’ve joked before (though it doesn’t seem that much of a joke, to be honest) that you’re my Southern Hemisphere “twin”!
Primordial is such a unique colour, I might just have to check it out in stores and see jf it could work for my colouring!
Finally a trio of lip products where I don’t like any of them. At least not on me, anyways. Which is fabulous for my wallet’s sake, haha!
Hmmmm … I wish Primordial had been more pigmented and less sinks-into-lip-lines. Ah well — maybe I’ll play with a tester next time I’m near a MAC.
Despite the C rating Iām actually still very interested in Showing Skin! I love that colour as a gloss and will have to give it a go in store.