MAC Smoked Almond Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark pinky-brown with warm undertones and a creamy, lightly glossy finish. It was nicely pigmented with full-color coverage that went on smoothly and evenly. The texture felt a little firm in the tube, but it started to melt as I applied it to my lips. The consistency was a little thicker but did not feel heavy, and it did not well up in lip lines as it seemed to self-level after five minutes of wear. This shade wore well for six and a half hours and was lightly hydrating. elf Drive (P, $9.00) is lighter (95% similar). ColourPop Lay Over (P, $10.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). NARS Sheena (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Smoked Almond (P, $19.00) is lighter, less pigmented (90% similar). Maybelline Mauve for Me (P, $7.49) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Mrs Kisses (LE, $37.00) is lighter, warmer, less glossy (90% similar). Gucci Beauty Peggy Taupe (204) (P, $42.00) is warmer (90% similar). Giorgio Armani Desert (522) (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter, glossier (90% similar). Make Up For Ever Fearless Valentine (110) (P, $23.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Estee Lauder Peerless (P, $32.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Clinique Satin (16) (P, $19.50) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Chanel Opportunity (112) (P, $45.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Tarte 5 O'Clock (P, $21.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Cocoa (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Laura Mercier Brun Naturel (P, $32.00) is darker (90% similar). Becca Mocha (DC, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Tarte Siesta (P, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Lawbreaker (LE, $18.00) is cooler (90% similar). Dior Ultra Tender (325) (P, $37.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Revlon Sparkling Honey (006) (P, $9.99) is lighter, less pigmented, warmer (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Toast and Butter Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark caramel brown with warm, reddish-orange undertones and a cream finish. It had opaque color payoff paired with a lightly creamy texture that just barely tugged on the lips initially but started to melt and feel more gel-like from the warmth of the lips. On me, I was able to get six and a half hours of good wear out of the shade, though that’s not the full eight promised. Anastasia #4 (Vol. 1) (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). Jaclyn Cosmetics Hot Toddy (DC, $18.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Gustavo (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop Cinnamon (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Anastasia #8 (Vol. 1) (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar). Tarte Choker (P, $20.00) is more muted (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Hot Cocoa (P, $28.00) is lighter (85% similar). Urban Decay 1993 (DC, $18.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay 1993 (DC, $22.00) is lighter (90% similar). Becca Tawny (DC, $24.00) is lighter (85% similar). Giorgio Armani Sospiri (105) (P, $38.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Automatic (Right) (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar). ColourPop Dulce de Leche (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). MAC Photo (P, $19.00) is darker (85% similar). Bite Beauty Hard Cider (P, $24.00) is cooler (85% similar). Tarte Boardwalk (P, $21.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). NYX Maison (P, $6.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Pat McGrath Leatherette (LE, $40.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Tansy (P, $7.00) is brighter, warmer, less glossy (85% similar). Jaclyn Cosmetics Tipsy (DC, $18.00) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Cordovan Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a dark, reddish plum with subtle, cool undertones and a glossy finish. The consistency was more gel-like and had more slip on the lips, though it was thin and lightly tacky so I didn’t feel like it slid around while worn. It had semi-opaque pigmentation, but the color distributed evenly and smoothly. This shade lasted for seven hours and left behind a strong stain. Bite Beauty Jam (DC, $26.00) is cooler (95% similar). Bite Beauty Bordeaux (DC, $28.00) is darker (95% similar). Wet 'n' Wild Dark Wine (P, $0.99) is lighter (95% similar). Inglot #293 Lipstick Cream (P, $12.00) is glossier (95% similar). MAC Dark Side (P, $19.00) is darker (95% similar). Tarte Soul (LE, $20.00) is darker, less glossy (95% similar). Bobbi Brown Cool Beets (P, $27.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Red Berry (DC, $37.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Labradorable (LE, $25.00) is warmer (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Crimson (DC, $37.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Shiseido Vortex (216) (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, more muted (90% similar). Bite Beauty Sugared Maple (LE, $24.00) is lighter (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Near Dark (P, $57.00) is darker (90% similar). Revlon Reigning Red (P, $10.99) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Sephora Super Bold (13) (P, $15.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). MAC Hang Up (P, $19.00) is darker (90% similar). Urban Decay Raw Footage (P, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Liev (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Bite Beauty Beetroot (DC, $26.00) is lighter, brighter, less glossy (90% similar). MAC La Femme (P, $23.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Formula Overview

MAC Smoked Almond Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is supposed to have “intense amounts of pigment” with a gel-like texture that melts on lips that leaves behind a satin finish and wears for “eight hours.” It’s supposed to be “comfortable” to wear, but there are no claims about hydration–and overall, they were non-drying. The majority of the range varied from semi-opaque to fully opaque in one stroke, while the texture had some body and thickness to it but was not heavy. The consistency feels firmer in the tube, but it became softer and more pliable as it warmed up against the lips. This was also true about how the color settled and looked on the lips–it tended to fill up lip lines without emphasizing them as much after thirty seconds of wear. The formula didn”t have a lot of slip, and it was actually lightly tacky, which helped it stay in place better. The wear ranged from four to eight hours with lighter shades typically wearing shorter than deeper and more intense shades. The finish was anywhere from satin to natural with noticeable sheen, sometimes glossiness, but it often wore to a satin to semi-matte finish after a few hours. The formula has MAC’s typical vanilla scent but had no discernible taste.

MAC Smoked Almond Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Smoked Almond Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Smoked Almond Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Smoked Almond Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Smoked Almond Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Smoked Almond Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Toast and Butter Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Toast and Butter Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Toast and Butter Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Toast and Butter Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Toast and Butter Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Toast and Butter Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Cordovan Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Cordovan Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Cordovan Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Cordovan Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Cordovan Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Cordovan Liptensity Lipstick