MAC The Matte Lip Collection (2015) Review, Photos, Swatches (Part 2)
MAC Matte Royal Lipstick
MAC Flat Out Fabulous Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “bright plum matte [with a Retro Matte finish].” It’s a brightened, medium-dark magenta pink with a matte finish. It had mostly opaque color coverage that had a lightly dry, stiffer consistency, so it does pull and drag on the lips, but it wears for hours without budging. It was somewhat drying over time. This shade was previously released. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
MAC Pink Pigeon Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “bright cleanest pink [with a Matte finish].” It’s a brightened, fuchsia pink with cool, blue undertones and a satin finish. It was less matte than a lot of the shades in the collection, though it wears down to a more matte finish within a few hours of wearing it. On me, the color lasted for five and a half hours, while the consistency was creamier and easier to apply than the Retro Mattes, so it was more comfortable to wear. It was a smidgen drying over time. This shade was previously released. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
MAC Steady Going Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “light pink matte [with a Retro Matte finish].” It’s a light-medium pink with subtle cool undertones and a matte finish. The texture was noticeably dry and firm, where the lipstick tugged at the lips a lot. It was dry enough where it was harder to apply the color evenly. It lasted for four hours and was drying. This shade was previously released. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
MAC Men Love Mystery Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “lavender violet [with a Matte finish].” It’s a medium-dark, subdued purple with a hint of warmth and a mostly matte finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff with a lightly creamy texture that applied evenly for the most part. On me, it lasted for four and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
MAC Matte Royal Lipstick ($16.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “deep blue [with a Matte finish].” It’s a purpled blue with cool undertones and a satin finish. It had fairly opaque color coverage with a lightly creamy consistency that was slightly thinner than other shades in the Matte formula. It didn’t apply as evenly as I’d like, but it did apply better and stayed on more evenly when applied with a lip brush. It lasted for six and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. It’s a really unique shade, and there’s a brightness to it that’s really exceptional in person. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Flat Out Fabulous
PPermanent. $20.00.
Pink Pigeon
PPermanent. $20.00.
Steady Going
PPermanent. $20.00.
Men Love Mystery
PPermanent. $20.00.
Matte Royal
LELimited Edition. $20.00.
See more photos & swatches!
MAC Flat Out Fabulous Lipstick
MAC Flat Out Fabulous Lipstick
MAC Flat Out Fabulous Lipstick
MAC Flat Out Fabulous Lipstick
MAC Flat Out Fabulous Lipstick
MAC Flat Out Fabulous Lipstick
MAC Pink Pigeon Lipstick
MAC Pink Pigeon Lipstick
MAC Pink Pigeon Lipstick
MAC Pink Pigeon Lipstick
MAC Pink Pigeon Lipstick
MAC Pink Pigeon Lipstick
MAC Steady Going Lipstick
MAC Steady Going Lipstick
MAC Steady Going Lipstick
MAC Steady Going Lipstick
MAC Steady Going Lipstick
MAC Steady Going Lipstick
MAC Men Love Mystery Lipstick
MAC Men Love Mystery Lipstick
MAC Men Love Mystery Lipstick
MAC Men Love Mystery Lipstick
MAC Men Love Mystery Lipstick
MAC Men Love Mystery Lipstick
MAC Matte Royal Lipstick
MAC Matte Royal Lipstick
MAC Matte Royal Lipstick
MAC Matte Royal Lipstick
MAC Matte Royal Lipstick
MAC Matte Royal Lipstick
out of this whole collection , i think matte royal is the clear must-have .
i’m a suckered for blues & purples , so naturally , i was drawn to it ever since i read the press info .
the slight patchiness doesn’t deter me because it’s nothing a lip primer & lip pencil can’t fix .
It looks pretty good at a normal viewing distance – I didn’t notice much until I was testing it!
Ok, I think I can live with the slight unevenness of MR for such a unique colour.
Haha! If you love this type of color, I definitely think it’s pretty good all in all. Lip brush or lip primer should take it the rest of the way.
Men Love Mystery reminds me of Acai from Julia Petit collection. Or not. Maybe I’m just trying to find reasons not to buy them all lol.
I think D for Danger would be closer from what you’ve commented on, though I wouldn’t call either dupes 🙁
D for Danger vs. Acai — http://www.temptalia.com/submit-dupe?sbs=1&pid=196552&dupe=191071
Men Love Mystery vs. Acai — http://www.temptalia.com/submit-dupe?sbs=1&pid=196554&dupe=191071
Men Love Mystery looks kind of interesting. Are there any dupes? I think the link is missing or not working.
Fixed!
I love Flat out Fabulous on you! Pink Pigeon almost seems creamy..
Thank you, Divya! Yes, Pink Pigeon’s texture is a lot creamier compared to the Retro Mattes!
Men Love Mystery and Matte Royal are such nice additions. Matte Royal just needs a liner, perhaps.
I’ve wanted Flat out Fab for a while but just haven’t bitten the bullet. Do you actually find the Retro Mattes more dry than the KVD liquid lipsticks?
I do! They are not as dry as KVD’s Studded Kiss (on average), but I would say it is comparable to the Studded Kiss line in terms of texture. The Liquid Lipsticks cling more but I hardly feel them until hours later, and at least they aren’t painful to apply since it starts off as a liquid!
Interesting. I own a few retro mattes and they are definitely dry but I’m cool with them. I guess I need to get some KVD liquid ones for sure!
Not sure I love any of these but your eye look is really pretty!!
Thanks, Malia!
Matte Royal looks pretty similar to OCC Technopagen without the shimmer.
Kind of – it’s more matte and muted with less brightness to it overall!
How much do you think Men Love Mystery looks like Dominique from the NARS Audacious line? Dom has been on my wish list since it came out, but since I can’t pick it up at Sephora or order it online, I’ve been deprived </3
Here you go! http://www.temptalia.com/submit-dupe?sbs=1&pid=196554&dupe=172263
Is there a release day for these?
May 28th online, June 11th in-stores
I NEED that Matte Royal! Ever since Melt DGAF lipstick got discontinued (and I stupidly missed out on it) I’ve got grabby hands for this one! Would love to hear your thoughts on how this blue lipstick compares to others available from other brands, Christine 🙂 Thanks for posting such awesome swatches!
Hey Sarah!
I compared all of the shades I have that are similar here – http://www.temptalia.com/makeup-dupe-list?id=196553
Perfect! Thank you so much! 🙂
ooh, this collection is going to be horrible for my wallet. matte royal is stunning, i don’t care if it’s seems patchy, i just need it in my life!
Enjoy!
I’m in love with Matte Royal! I also really like Men Love Mystery and might have to add that to my growing lavender lippie collection haha.
Matte Royal is also really similar to Melt DGAF. DGAF was supposed to be true blue, but people who got the second batch of it got a violet blue almost exactly like these swatches. Also DGAF is discontinued so people who wanted it but never got it, this might be a good replacement.
That’s great to hear! 🙂
Men Love Mystery is calling my name, LoL! I have had Up The Amp on my wishlist FOREVER, this looks like it, but most probably with better longevity!
I love Pink Pigeon, and already own it and it comes out of its wintertime holding area right about NOW!
Now while Matte Royal is unique-ish, its splotchy uneven coverage makes me wonder if one could instead use it as a mixing shade with say, Heroine?
That would be an interesting mix! 🙂
I think if you got a blue or purple lip pencil (OCC and Kaoir both have them) it would improve the coverage.
Also heck yeah I think mixing it or using it to make an ombre lip using a purple like Heroin or Gunner would look awesome!
My thought was that if I added a thin layer of Matte Royal before using Heroine, then Heroine might not do that weird thing where it devolves into fuschia after a little while. I really want it to stay violet purple, NOT fuschia!
Flat Out Fabulous and Pink Pigeon are kind of amazing. Men Love Mystery looks really interesting. I was never really drawn to more violet/lavender shades because I thought they looked outdated or corpse-like on me, until I tried Nars Audacious in Anna, which leans more mauve-purple on my lips and it has become my favorite lipstick! I think Men Love Mystery could be a fierce color!
Lavender can be a great shade to wear once you find the one that works for you!
I had a feeling Matte Royal would turn out patchy but I don’t even care. I still need it lol. Men Love Mystery is definitely coming home with me too
Haha!
Flat Out Fabulous is gorgeous, but it will do no good to my already dry lips!
Definitely not one I’d recommend for those with drier lips for sure!
Matte Royal looks gorgeous and since you say it looks good from a regular distance I might have to get it. I might try Nyx Immortal first, just to make sure that bold a color works on me.
It’s unique enough, matte enough, AND dark enough that it actually performed a lot better than you’d expect it to!
I’m not really a fan of mattes, but I’m really intrigued by Matte Royal!
Ah, at least one caught your eye!
Pink Pigeon looks since to me because it’s not flat.
Yay!
Aw, I wish they all performed like Pink Pigeon. That one looks lovely.
That would have made us truly spoiled for choice!
I really like all of these, proven by the fact I have at least one dupe for each. Money saved, I guess.
Maybe next time!
Matte Royal is a great unusual color, so kudos to MAC for releasing it. However, it is not quite blue enough yet 🙂 From your comparison swatches, Disciple looks about the colour I was hoping for, maybe I should look into it sometime. I would have to order it from abroad and I don’t know whether I’ll like the formula; that´s why I`m hesitant.
I think NET-A-PORTER has some Illamasqua, but I’m pretty sure it’s not the full line 🙁
Thanks! 🙂
There is also a new blue liquid lipstick coming from KvD 🙂
I love Men Love Mystery, even if the name is a little weird. Matte Royal is very nice too but I already have Poetry, but will last me forever and ever for as much as I actually wear it. I’m wondering if MLM is anything like OCC Hoochie, which I keep forgetting I have and thus never wear!
Poe… not poetry… this is what happens when I post from my phone!
You gotta break out Hoochie!
I have flat out fabulous and Pink Pigeon. I think for sure I’m going to have to get Matte Royal. I am on the fence about Men love mystery. I will need to try that one on. Christine, do you think you will get the new additions to Tom Ford’s permanent collection of lipsticks? I see that he has added a pretty violet in the matte range-“Velvet Violet”..it looks gorgeous! I’m debating on that one or a couple of these!
I did order them, but they’re not here yet!
Oh Yay! That could be a rough day for my wallet! Your the best!:)
Matte Royal is gorgeous.
It is a pretty color!
Matte Royal. Amazing. I might buy my first MAC lipstick.
OOOH! 🙂
Again pretty colors. Except for Flat out Fabulous, the other colors are too opaque for me to wear. I’m too old for the Matte Royal.
The colors look great on you with your wonderful smile.
I swear one can never be too old for blue!
I agree! I intend to be wearing blue when I’m 90! I think my grandma would look amazing in a purplish-blue color, and she’s 94!.
Christine, you wear these brights so well! I love your neutral eye look with every shade.
Thank you, Stephanie!
Oh, my! Men Love Mystery shall be mine. 🙂
Woohoo!
Wow, Matte Royal is great! It looks very similar to Nyx’s Immortal (from the “Wicked” line), only that one is glossy.
Flat-Our Fabulous is one of my usual go-to shades, but I know that if I want to wear it, then I need to sleep with loads of lip balm on and then scrub them with a toothbrush in the morning. Otherwise, no way! But you’re right, it wears LIKE IRON.
LOL! Trade-offs, right? Forever wear but the texture! Do you use lip balm at all on it during the day or just endure? 🙂
Ohh, Matte Royal looks stunning!!! Don’t know if it’ll clash with my skin tone, but I’ll have to try it ….and I just told myself after this weekend, no more lipstick! By the way, I really like Men Love Mystery on you. I’m obviously a sucker for purples 🙂
Hope you can try it, Becc!
Ohh, Steady Going is soo tempting, being retro matte (which I don’t have) and pretty neautral, compared to the other colors, but your rate makes me doubt whether I should get it. Oh well, on the other hand, it’s good that they are permanent and I won’t have to rush and get it as soon as it comes in 🙂
If you have a counter or store nearby, maybe you could try it, but Retro Mattes can be really stiff to work with (very long-wearing, though).
Love Matte Royal and Men Love Mystery. Purple and now blues are my must haves.
They’re awesome!
Men Love Mystery is the shade that i’ve been looking for my whole life. lol It’s the perfect ACTUAL wearable purple; not too pastel or too dark. I will also pick up matte royal.
Yayyy!
I love Men Love Mystery, it’s a must have for me. I will almost certainly have to buy Matte Royal as well.
Of all the ones in this post the olnly one I don’t want is Steady Going, it would not look good on me, and I wouldnt look good, wearing it.
I’m so glad you’ll enjoy Men Love Mystery!
Hey Christine I was wondering if there is a difference between the original and new release of steady going?
Not that I could tell. Both versions were equally disappointing!
Thanks
How does Men Love Mystery compare to Dodgy Girl?
Not at all! http://www.temptalia.com/submit-dupe?sbs=1&pid=165996&dupe=196554
I love your eye look in these photos.. smoky and yet still bright enough not to overwhelm. Tutorial? hint hint.
I will give it a ponder 😉
Ahhhhhh when I first saw Matte Royal I really loved the color but every swatch I’ve seen has been pretty underwhelming. I need it to go on a little better if I’m gonna invest in it. I’ll probably decide when I can swatch it myself.
Upon first glance, I wonder if Men Love Mystery is anything like RiRi Boy. Obviously it’s not the same retro matte finish and I think RiRi Boy is a touch pinker but that was one of my favorite LE releases and if they are similar enough I’ll be buying it for sure
If you apply with a lip brush, I think you’ll enjoy it more!
I honestly don’t think I can pull off Matte Rpyal, but dammit, I’m gonna try it on!
Do it!
Matte Royal is a must have. It will sell out quickly online
It is permanent!
Is this pink pigeon the same from the iris apfel collex?
Yes!
Oh there are some I’m definitely going to have to snap up. I like that some of them are lipstick versions of their lip liners. Also, does anyone have a recommendation for a lip liner to pair with Matte Royal? I have no idea where to find a good quality blue lip liner.
I wonder if one of MAC’s Chromagraphic pencils might work (I’m not sure though, as some aren’t lip/eye safe, so I never remember the specifics).
Is Men Love Mystery close to Lavender Jade?? I already have that one so I’m wondering if they are similar enough for me to skip this one! Thanks 🙂
http://www.temptalia.com/submit-dupe?sbs=1&pid=196554&dupe=191006
Much more different than I thought! I guess I do need Men Love Mystery lol thank you!!
I can’t wait to buy the matte Stone and matte Royal. I’m going to play like a toddler and marry my Ruby Woo to the matte Royal and see what color the baby will turn out to be LOL! ( I like to play mad color scientist with my lipsticks)
Enjoy ’em, Yelitza!
How does Men Love Mystery compare to Riri Boy?
Please click the links for the shade – they show comparison swatches/dupes!
I got Matte Royal and I love it, but it’s a tiny bit patchy. Do you know some lip liner that could go well with it?
I don’t 🙁
Hey! I wanted to know how you fell about the retro matte line from mac… Are they such a pain to apply? I ordered runway hit and i really hope it will feel ok on my lips. I have never tried the retro matte line ever before so i am very concerned. Also is there any shade of lipstick you can not pull off? (I’m jealous:))))
Hi Cora,
Please see individual reviews as it can vary from shade to shade!
I went to MAC today expecting to walk away with Matte Royal. I’ve never bought a blue lipstick, but I had a beautiful cobalt eyeliner I wore as a lipstick for a party and received tonnes of compliments on it, so I was willing to take the plunge.
Alas, MR looked dreadful on me – with my ‘fairest’ skin (I wear Nars Siberia) and dark hair I looked like a corpse. It was patchy on my lips, but I would’ve looked past that and just used a primer/liner if the colour had worked with my skin tone. So sad. But I left House of Fraser with Nars Dragon Girl instead, which I’ve been eyeing for months.