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MAC The Matte Lip Collection (2015) Review, Photos, Swatches (Part 2)

MAC Matte Royal Lipstick
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.

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 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 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 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 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

MAC Matte Royal Lipstick
MAC Matte Royal Lipstick

MAC Matte Royal Lipstick
MAC Matte Royal Lipstick

MAC Matte Royal Lipstick
MAC Matte Royal Lipstick

109 Comments

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nicole o. Avatar

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 .

Christine Avatar

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

Ginny Avatar

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?

Christine Avatar

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!

Ginny Avatar

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!

Brittany Avatar

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

Sarah Avatar

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!

Alice Avatar

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.

Nancy T Avatar

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?

Nancy T Avatar

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!

Irene Avatar

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!

Lilac Avatar

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.

Kelly Avatar

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!

Nicole Avatar

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!

Susan Dowman Nevling Avatar

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.

Jules Avatar

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.

Bea Avatar

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 🙂

Natalia Avatar

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 🙂

Rosemar Avatar

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

Anne Avatar

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.

Kristy Avatar

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 🙂

Yelitza Avatar

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)

Cora Avatar

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:))))

Kayt Avatar

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.

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