MAC Tarnished Reputation & Bittersweetie Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Tarnished Reputation
MAC Tarnished Reputation Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark orange with warmer undertones and a semi-matte finish. It was richly pigmented with a smooth, lightly creamy texture that was lighter-weight but a little denser in feel when it initially went on. The color applied evenly and lasted well for five hours, while the formula felt non-drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Charlotte Tilbury Only Muse (LE, $37.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Resort Season (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Sun Snatched (LE, $20.00) is lighter, warmer, glossier (85% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Subtle Cider (316) (P, $23.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Lancome Mademoiselle Penelope (353) (P, $32.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Gucci Beauty Agatha Orange (302) (P, $42.00) is more shimmery, warmer, glossier (85% similar).
- NARS Casablanca (P, $26.00) is lighter, glossier (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.1 oz. - $190.00 Per Ounce
MAC Lipstick comes in a variety of finishes, and the pigmentation and wear tend to be dependent on the finish. The sheer finishes, like Lustres, tend to wear for only a couple of hours and have sheer coverage (as designed) and are non-drying.
Some of the original Matte shades have a stiffer, drier formula, while newer ones have a more velvety, silicone-feel to them, and the latter are creamier, more comfortable to wear, and easier to apply, but most Matte shades are quite pigmented and long-wearing, though some are drying.
The Amplified and Satin finishes tend to have good pigmentation, lightly creamy to moderately creamy consistencies with a bit of shine, and moderate to long wear with deeper, richer shades wearing longer. The Frost and Metallic finishes have the most variance between shades with coverage ranging from semi-sheer to opaque with average wear and non-drying to slightly drying formulas. All MAC lipsticks are vanilla-scented but have no discernible taste.
Browse all of our MAC Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Octyldodecanol, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Silica, Tricaprylyl Citrate, Ozokerite, Isononyl Isononanoate, Paraffin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Microcrystalline WaxCera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax Copernicia Cerifera Cera Cire De Carnauba, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Stearyl Stearoyl Stearate, Vanillin, Bht, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Carmine (Ci 75470), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 6 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 21 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.
Tarnished Reputation
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Bittersweetie
MAC Bittersweetie Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.1 oz.) is a bright, medium pinky-red with strong, blue undertones and a natural sheen. It had nearly opaque color payoff that applied evenly to my lips and didn’t emphasize my lip lines.
The texture was lightly creamy, lightweight, and not too thin or nor too thick, so it was comfortable to wear and to apply. It wore nicely for six hours, left a stain behind, and felt slightly hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Becca Candy Apple (DC, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Guerlain Flower Fever (809) (P, $39.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Milani Covet (P, $8.99) is lighter (95% similar).
- Lancome Hot Pink Ruby (364) (P, $32.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Chanel Rouge Majestueux (847) (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Clinique Red-y-to-Wear (P, $19.50) is warmer (90% similar).
- Cle de Peau Red Carpet (LE, $65.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Lancome Lie de Vin (192) (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Nine Lives (P, $23.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Palpitante (102) (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.1 oz. - $190.00 Per Ounce
MAC Lipstick comes in a variety of finishes, and the pigmentation and wear tend to be dependent on the finish. The sheer finishes, like Lustres, tend to wear for only a couple of hours and have sheer coverage (as designed) and are non-drying.
Some of the original Matte shades have a stiffer, drier formula, while newer ones have a more velvety, silicone-feel to them, and the latter are creamier, more comfortable to wear, and easier to apply, but most Matte shades are quite pigmented and long-wearing, though some are drying.
The Amplified and Satin finishes tend to have good pigmentation, lightly creamy to moderately creamy consistencies with a bit of shine, and moderate to long wear with deeper, richer shades wearing longer. The Frost and Metallic finishes have the most variance between shades with coverage ranging from semi-sheer to opaque with average wear and non-drying to slightly drying formulas. All MAC lipsticks are vanilla-scented but have no discernible taste.
Browse all of our MAC Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Octyldodecanol, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Silica, Tricaprylyl Citrate, Ozokerite, Isononyl Isononanoate, Paraffin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Microcrystalline WaxCera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax Copernicia Cerifera Cera Cire De Carnauba, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Stearyl Stearoyl Stearate, Vanillin, Bht, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Carmine (Ci 75470), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 6 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 21 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.
Please explain (again) why the ‘spots’ on Bittersweetie are not problematic.
They’re from the lipstick ‘sweating,’ which can happen when it goes through extreme temperature changes in a short period of time. Mine have dried back down.
Oh dear. I want these so badly. Both for the perfect autumn tones and the simply spectacular packaging. But, then I stop myself dead in my tracks with the reality of our current situation with the Delta variant, being immunocompromised, still having to use a mask on public transit and in places of business or medical offices. I mean, I *could* store it (them?) in my fridge for a future day, but?
I wear lipstick every day at home, it’s part of my small daily ritual pleasures…though that *does* mean I still purchase too much of it. And Tarnished Reputation isn’t a color I’d reach for on me – but man it’s pretty!
If you love it, you could also wear it at home! I’m a bit over the lipstick smudges on masks and wearing lipstick on weekends instead of during the week.
I don’t need these but the packaging is lovely!
Tarnished Reputation is almost my kind of shade, but a little bit too orangey. Great lipsticks though.
Bittersweetie is lovely. I have a dupe, but it’s pretty far down the list so this went to the WL. I know it’s LE, but hope I have some time to decide what I need 🙂 or rather want.