MAC x James Kaliardos Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Almondine
MAC Almondine Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a soft, medium pink with warm undertones and a fine, golden sheen. It has a Lustre finish, which is a sheerer coverage formula with a stronger sheen. It had a soft, lightly emollient consistency that glided across the lips easily, and it only had minimal settling in my lip lines. The lipstick had semi-sheer coverage that went on evenly–the resulting effect was warmer, pinker natural lip color with shimmer and shine–that lasted for two and a half hours.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Smashbox Nude Beach (P, $21.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Grege 1947 (169) (P, $35.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Smashbox Call Back (P, $21.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Coral Bliss (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Nude Mood (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Shy Shine (P, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Delish (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Julianne (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Lady Stardust (P, $40.00) is more shimmery, brighter, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Ballerina Shimmer (12) (P, $28.00) is brighter (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.
Almondine
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Bloodstone
MAC Bloodstone Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a deep, pinky-red with cool undertones and a natural sheen with fine pink and red pearl. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied smoothly and evenly directly from the tube. The texture was lightweight, creamy without being too slippery, and easy to work with. This shade lasted for six hours and left behind a stain, while the formula was slightly hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Cle de Peau Pillow Book (P, $65.00) is glossier (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Elegant (P, $15.00) is lighter, less glossy (95% similar).
- Chanel Rouge Ombre (89) (LE, $42.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Absolute Power (LE, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Love Drunk (DC, $18.00) is less glossy (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Gash (DC, $18.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Givenchy Rouge Insomnie (12) (P, $34.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Gash (DC, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Unexpected (144) (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Tannin (DC, $26.00) is lighter (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.
Bloodstone
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Coral Bliss
MAC Coral Bliss Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a soft, muted peachy-coral with warm undertones and a soft sheen. It had medium coverage that went on fairly evenly, but it seemed to emphasize the texture of my lips and had some noticeable color that pooled into my deeper lip lines. The texture was lightweight, smooth, and lightly emollient but slid around enough that the wear was only three hours on me. This shade is part of the permanent line as well.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Shy Shine (P, $19.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Smashbox Nude Mood (P, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Flower Beauty Petal Kiss (P, $6.98) is less glossy (95% similar).
- Smashbox Call Back (P, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Dior Grege 1947 (169) (P, $35.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Glazed (P, $22.00) is less pigmented, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Almondine (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Status Quo (LE, $7.00) is lighter, less pigmented (90% similar).
- NARS Orgasm (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
- Clinique Melon Pop (P, $19.50) is 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.
Coral Bliss
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Jasper
MAC Jasper Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a deep, reddish burgundy with cool undertones and a cream finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation with a lightly creamy consistency that didn’t feel too slippery or too firm, so it was comfortable to apply and to wear. The color went on evenly and smoothly, and it lasted for over six hours. The formula was neither drying nor hydrating and left a slight stain behind.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Estee Lauder Brazen (P, $32.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Dior Ultra Poison (883) (P, $37.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Smashbox It's a Mood (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Revlon Black Cherry (P, $8.49) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Inigo (P, $36.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop It's Faux (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Near Dark (P, $57.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Plum Fatale (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Liv (P, $34.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Board Memb'r (P, $20.00) is darker (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.
Almondine looks so pretty on you. Do you think it would do better over a lip primer, tinted balm or lip pencil? It’s a shame that Coral Bliss didn’t do better. Thanks!
I think primer or lip liner would definitely help!
Thanks Christine!
Almondine is pretty! Any thoughts about how drying/hydrating/neither it is?
It was non-drying.
Thank you!
Coral bliss sounds very familiar! i wonder if it’s been released in a previous collection? Either ways it’s too bad it did poorly when swatched! Sounded like a worthwhile colour to add to my collection!
It is permanent as I mentioned above! 🙂
Love the reds here!
Me too!
I really like Bloodstone and Jasper 🙂
Yayy!
Aww man, I just hurried over to the site to buy Bloodstone… but I’m allergic to Amplified finish. Sad day 🙁
Oh nooo! 🙁
Jasper is AMAZEBALLS! Such a gorgeous burgundy! But it reminds me of *something* in my stash…Dreaming Of You but darker and shinier?
Then there’s Almondine. Oh how I love shades like this for sheerer, more natural looking nudes! Funny how the SA’s at MAC are always trying to get me to buy Coral Bliss or Peach Blossom, this has a similar vibe, but smoother.
Jasper is really rich! 🙂
Interesting. Light shades got medium to sub-par grades. Dark shades aced it. I do love that Bloodstone
Lustres don’t tend to do that well – short-wear and often apply unevenly!
Bloodstone looks absolutely gorgeous, and I really like Almondine as well. I need more lipstick like a hole in the head, but……
I’m right there with you, haha!
Bloodstone and Jasper look soooo pretty. I know that I have about a hundred dupes for both, but I’m still tempted…
Haha! I KNOW you have at least hundred dupes for those two 😉
Jaspar is a really lovely shade. Good rating too, well done MAC.
It is a lovely color!
I love Bloodstone, but I already have too many reds. But it’s so pretty and I do like MACs lipstick.
It is! But I hear ya, there are tons of great reds out there!
Love Bloodstone, I can see why it’s Temptalia recommended! And Jasper is really nice.
Bloodstone is gorgeous!
I really like Almondine because of the gold flecks – is there a similar MAC color that performs better? It seems so sheer ?
Shy Shine is the same color but it’s also a B! Heh…
It’s designed to be sheer! All the dupes I could think of are listed already – I’m so sorry!
Coral Bliss is such a pretty color! Pity that it settles into lines a bit.
I wish it went on a bit better!
… Doesn’t Shiseido have a color in their red-based line also called Bloodstone? I wonder how it compares to this Bloodstone…
They are not similar, as Shiseido Bloodstone is warm-toned. You can always compare any two through the Swatch Gallery as well! 🙂
Yeah, I took a look, and they’re definitely not! Still both nice colors though. 🙂
These are awesome! I’m trying to find in the post when these are available. Am I missing the date somewhere?
They already released!
That’s strange. I couldn’t find it on the MAC website. For other reviews, are the launch dates posted in the review post? I always have trouble finding that info.
It’s the third collection listed under “What’s New!” Launch dates are always included in the official information post if a brand gives me a date! I posted the reviews for the products in this launch after it launched so there was no need to post a launch date (they are already out) and all links went directly to the collection on MAC’s website.