MAC x Guo Pei Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
MAC Brave Red Lipstick
MAC Brave Red Lipstick ($30.00 for TBA oz.) is described as a “bright yellow red [with a Cremesheen finish].” It’s a medium, cherry red with subtle, warm undertones and a natural sheen. It had semi-opaque coverage that applied evenly. The consistency is lightly creamy, particularly once it softens against the warmth of the lips. It lasted for four and a half hours on me and left behind a light stain. It was neither drying nor hydrating on me. This shade is part of the permanent range, so if you prefer to pay less and don’t mind standard packaging, that might be the way to go. Bite Beauty Tannin (DC, $24.00) is darker, glossier (95% similar). MAC Night to Remember (LE, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Oblivion (LE, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar). Clinique Cherry Pop (P, $19.50) is cooler (95% similar). MAC Everyday Diva (P, $25.00) is warmer (95% similar). Chanel Ultrarose (257) (LE, $45.00) is cooler (95% similar). Chanel La Bouleversante (51) (DC, $45.00) is lighter (95% similar). Edward Bess Eternal Passion (P, $32.00) is glossier (95% similar). Besame Besame Red 1920 (P, $22.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC Evening Posh (LE, $19.00) is cooler (95% similar). MAC Audacious (P, $23.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Ruby (LE, $19.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (90% similar). YSL Rouge Cape (83) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). MAC Steam Heat (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar). Guerlain Gala (DC, $58.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar). Smashbox Get Fired (P, $21.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Revlon Provocateur (135) (DC, $8.99) is lighter (90% similar). Too Faced 90210hhh (DC, $22.00) is glossier (90% similar). Guerlain Red Bowtie (022) (P, $32.00) is lighter (90% similar). Guerlain Rouge Parade (820) (DC, $58.00) is lighter (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC Ethereal Orchid Lipstick ($30.00 for TBA oz.) is described as a “mid-tone dirty coral [with a Lustre finish].” It’s a muted, medium coral-orange with warm undertones and a soft sheen. It had semi-sheer coverage, so there was translucency to the color that allowed the natural lip color to come through. The consistency was thin and a little clingy, and it only lasted two hours. It was a little drying on me, which is my typical experience with this type of finish. Marc Jacobs Beauty Understudy (114) (DC, $30.00) is lighter, more pigmented (95% similar). Buxom Two-Timer (DC, $21.00) is more pigmented (95% similar). Bobbi Brown Pink Nectar (P, $28.00) is lighter, more pigmented (90% similar). L'Oreal Luminous Coral (P, $9.99) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Style Surge (P, $25.00) is lighter, more pigmented (90% similar). Chanel Desinvolte (97) (P, $37.00) is cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay Liar (DC, $22.00) is more pigmented, cooler (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Retro Coral (DC, $37.00) is brighter, more pigmented (90% similar). MAC Dreaming Dahlia (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). Bite Beauty Centifolia (LE, $28.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). YSL Coral Aviator (81) (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Hourglass Explorer (P, $32.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Pipa (LE, $55.00) is cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Rise 'n' Shine (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
MAC Zenith Lipstick ($30.00 for TBA oz.) is described as a “light nude [with a Lustre finish].” It’s a light-medium, rosy brown with warm undertones and a soft, pearly sheen. Lustres are typically sheerer and thinner in consistency, but this had a thicker texture (but not thick) and semi-opaque coverage. It was more slippery and comfortable to wear as it didn’t cling, though wear time was only two and a half hours. NARS Little Darling (DC, $28.00) is less pigmented (95% similar). ColourPop Aquarius (P, $7.00) is more pigmented, warmer (85% similar). Urban Decay Vanished (DC, $18.00) is cooler (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Scandola (LE, $55.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Hourglass Believer (P, $32.00) is cooler (90% similar). bareMinerals Nudist (PiP, $20.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Structure (DC, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Guerlain Galiane (15) (DC, $58.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Doe (DC, $21.00) is darker (95% similar). Cle de Peau Silk Scroll (P, $65.00) is lighter (90% similar). Tarte Rum Punch (P, $21.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar). Bite Beauty Pecan (DC, $28.00) is darker (85% similar). Chanel Julia (404) (P, $37.00) is more shimmery, darker, less glossy (85% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Miss Kensington (LE, $37.00) is darker, less glossy (85% similar). MAC Naked Bud (LE, $19.00) is less pigmented (85% similar). bareMinerals Sexpot (PiP, $20.00) is lighter (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Katherine (LE, $36.00) is cooler (85% similar). NARS Barbara (P, $34.00) is darker, more pigmented, cooler (90% similar). Too Faced Topless (DC, $22.00) is lighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
The MAC x Guo Pei collaboration launches online on September 24th at maccosmetics.com, and it will only be available at MAC 5th Avenue in NYC and MAC at South Coast Plaza (in southern California) for U.S. locations.
Brave Red
LELimited Edition. $30.00.
Ethereal Orchid
LELimited Edition. $30.00.
Zenith
LELimited Edition. $30.00.
See more photos & swatches!
MAC Brave Red Lipstick
MAC Brave Red Lipstick
MAC Brave Red Lipstick
MAC Brave Red Lipstick
MAC Brave Red Lipstick
MAC Brave Red Lipstick
MAC Ethereal Orchid Lipstick
MAC Ethereal Orchid Lipstick
MAC Ethereal Orchid Lipstick
MAC Ethereal Orchid Lipstick
MAC Ethereal Orchid Lipstick
MAC Ethereal Orchid Lipstick
MAC Zenith Lipstick
MAC Zenith Lipstick
MAC Zenith Lipstick
MAC Zenith Lipstick
MAC Zenith Lipstick
MAC Zenith Lipstick
I like Brave Red. Whether or not I want to pay the extra for the packaging? Hmmm. So pretty. I may. I wish they could have got a little more creative here though -or a more opaque lipstick. I may not.
I’m so surprised that two were Lustres!
Ethereal Orchid remains on the wish list after this, thanks!
Yay!
Thanks Christine for getting these reviews up so quickly!! You’re a superstar. Brave Red is really beautiful, but I wish they had done a new red that wasn’t part of the permanent collection, but so beautiful in that floral packaging. And I wish Ethereal Orchid was just a little more pigmented. Hmm, I will have to think about this, or check for dupes in my stash
Hope you can figure out whether to splurge or not! 🙂
I had originally planned on getting Ethereal Orchid, but I think I’ll pass after seeing your review! A sheer $30 lipstick should not be drying at all IMO.
Agreed!
It’s so sad. Good colors come in a Lustre finish. I don’t like this formula at all.
They always do 🙁
I really wanted Brave Red for the packaging….but yellow reds don’t look nice on me =[
Aww!
I’ve been working on picking up a red for this fall and Besame Red 1920 has been sitting in my wishlist forever, but I also wanted to see what this one looks like swatched. I prefer the finish and colour of the Besame which I already have in the little matchstick sampler package (aside: surprised as how many wears I can eek out of one little stick).
So far this collection is bust for me. There is nothing really calling my name, but I do think the packaging is very very pretty.
The packaging is lovely for sure!
Brave Red is really versatile. It’s pretty close to neutral and has a slight translucence, so it’s good for layering. You can turn it into a brick by putting it over a brown liner or make it a berry by putting it over a fuchsia liner. And it’s not drying.
That is awesome to know! Thank you for sharing, Ginny!
No problem 🙂 It has become one of my favorites for that reason.
Pretty, but dupable. I like the red, but the other two are too light and subtle for my tastes.
I wish they had only done one Lustre!
Same here. I would have like to have seen a pigmented cantaloupe and a bright coral with this collection. I think either would look great with the blues and golds in the eye palettes.
If I was buying a lipstick from the collection (which sadly I am not due to the prices) I would buy Zenith as it looks beautiful on and is the kind of color I could wear with most eye looks.
Zenith is pretty!
I am super disappointed in MAC’s lipstick color choices for this rather pricey collection. Such dupable shades! And none rate an A- even! Not even going to bother with these!
Although, I now do wonder whether the Zenith dupe of better quality, Nars Barbara would work with my C4.5 skintone?
I think it might work for you, Nancy!
All pretty but dupeable!
True!
The last time I bought a special collection from Mac was Pretty Pretty. The lipsticks were double in price then too. But I loved the colors and it was .15 oz. I am so disappointed with MAC to raise prices thinking it is like Tom Ford. And it is not like Tom Ford is all that either.
I think these are probably 0.15 oz., but I’m honestly not sure 🙁
I still can’t decide which one to get! I only plan getting 1 lipstick because it’s so expensive, and just for the pretty packaging for my collection :)) Christine if you had the choice to get just one of these, which would you choose??
Brave Red, I guess!
Oh I like Zenith for everyday…
Yay!
Brave Red is a lovely shade of red. I would buy it from the permanent range, as I don’t particularily like the textil with a seem on these, I think the seem would annoy me. I’m peculiar like that.
I like Ethereal Orchid, but not enough to pay this much to get it. Had it been an A+, though…
I would love to get my hands on Ethereal Orchid but I’m going to be in Europe on the 24th and these will probably sell out almost immediately on MAC’s website. I really wish they would launch in more than just two stores! 🙁
I already have a Mac lipstick called Brave Red. Is this a re-release of that one?
Yes!
I totally agree. The nicer shades are in Lustre formula. I never liked Lustres. 🙁
Me neither 🙁
I dig the blue quad, Lotus Blossom blush and the beauty powder, but I don’t have the cash to splash on any of it. Wish the 129 weren’t such a shedder so I could justify the money on the brush.
Aw!!
Hi Christine!
I received Zenith in the mail today and once I saw the color in person I was surprised; Zenith looks e x a c t l y like “Masque” from Alexander McQueen Collection. I looked for it in my stash they’re literally the same. Except for the finishes – Zenith’s a lustre and Masque has a satin finish.
Are they any different once applied? Please let me know. 🙂
Masque is pinker on me? I don’t think I have it in my stash, but my swatch of it is pinker and heavier.