MAC Who Wants Kandi, Shimmer & Spice, Smarticle Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Who Wants Kandi
MAC Who Wants Kandi Lipstick ($18.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a light-medium pink with warmer undertones and cooler, iridescent pearl. It had medium color coverage in a single layer, which did not build up much beyond that; it was more in the vein of some of the more pearlescent shades in the launch, but unfortunately, this one wasn’t described as sheer. The consistency was lightweight and thinner and felt just emollient enough not to drag on my lips. It lasted for three and a half hours, but there was a touch of product that settled into my lip lines over time. The formula was neither drying nor hydrating on me from what I could tell.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Skew (P, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Nina (LE, $36.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- MAC Plink! (P, $19.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Shy Shine (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Sunny Seoul (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- MAC Almondine (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Urban Decay First Sin (DC, $18.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Chanel Rose Clair (P, $37.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Rinko (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Lady Stardust (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% 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.
Who Wants Kandi
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Shimmer and Spice
MAC Shimmer and Spice Lipstick ($18.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a medium-dark, plummy brown base with flecks of copper, pink, and gold pearl and micro-sparkle. The texture was noticeably gritty and a bit rougher than I’d expect, likely due in part to the thinner consistency that just didn’t suspend the sparkle in enough substance to keep it feeling smooth against my lips. It had medium coverage that did not apply evenly at all. The color stayed on well for four hours and was neither drying nor hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Milk Makeup Buffy (P, $24.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Knowledge (LE, $22.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Rose Pearl (P, $24.00) is lighter, glossier (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Snowdon (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, brighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Ciate Apollo (P, $22.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- Estee Lauder Raging Beauty (P, $32.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Nico (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Daniel (DC, $36.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- Anastasia Chrome Rose Gold (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- NARS Maltese Red (P, $26.00) is darker (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.
Shimmer and Spice
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Smarticle
MAC Smarticle Lipstick ($18.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark copper with warm, red undertones and a satin finish. The color payoff was opaque in a single layer, while the lipstick had a lightly creamy consistency that was a bit thicker on my lips but did not feel heavy. It had just enough creaminess to glide on without tugging on my lips, but it seemed more prone to separating just slightly along my lip lines, though it wasn’t noticeable from a normal viewing distance. It wore well for five and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay The Big One (P, $19.00) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Coyote Ugly (P, $6.00) is lighter, less glossy (95% similar).
- ColourPop Get Money (P, $9.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Soho Sizzle (P, $40.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Anastasia #3 (Vol. 1) (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Bite Beauty Harissa (P, $28.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- YSL Irreverent Cinnamon (313) (P, $45.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
- Dior Ultra Trouble (436) (P, $37.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Virtuous Goji (320) (P, $23.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Chili (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (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.
Ooh, I really love Smarticle! But then again, I also love their own Paramount, PMG Strangé and the much lighter, but similar toned Nars Sheena, too.
This iteration of Shimmer & Spice is just sad. Sounds like sandpaper in a tube.
I’m such a sucker for colors like Shimmer and Spice so I bought it and wear Bite’s Rose Pearl over it – that’s a nice combo.
Shimmer and Spice would be my favourite, but it looked far to sheer for me. Smartcle was of much better quality.
Kandi is a color and coverage I like despite the advertised description. I would consider it.