Written Reviews

This gloss is absolutely gorgeous. It's a medium, sheer pink with cool-toned shimmer. The texture is thick and somewhat sticky, but sits comfortably on the lips and has a long wear time. I find this gloss to be quite moisturizing. The packaging is terrific, with the elongated, tapered sponge applicator and clean, square tube. And the scent is amazing. It's like caramel!

After having missed the boat with the last release of this gorgeous lip color, I thought I'd just have to let the idea go and either find a dupe or live without the perfect bright purple lipstick that I so craved. And then MAC heard my cries and released this into the permanent line! Huzzah! I picked it up today and immediately applied it in the car. And it's glorious. Even though it's a matte shade, it doesn't dry out my lips like their matte formula usually does. It's actually quite weightless and comfortable. It applies at full opacity with one swipe, but I have noticed that it is just ever so slightly patchy in the center of my bottom lip. I've not yet applied it over P+P Lip, however. I suspect it'll perform better over that. It's super long-lasting. I've gone through a bottle of water and a hot tea and while there is transfer, it doesn't migrate all over my mouth or look super-faded. It also does not feather, which is practically miraculous on me. I'm so glad I picked this up. Violetta was a touch too sheer for my liking - I need full coverage on my not-pigmented-at-all lips. So the re-launch of this amazing color is a godsend.

I own several of China Glaze's lacquers, and I really enjoy all but Sunset Sail (only because that color pulls some very unflattering undertones on my skin). I find the pigmentation to be on point, and the slimline brush as opposed to a bulky "one-swipe" style makes it much easier to apply the color on my small nails. I use two coats, because my nail chip easily, and I find that even without a topcoat, the longevity is pleasantly surprising. With a topcoat, I get a good solid week of wear with minimal chipping. I don't experience any gloopiness or streaking/bubbles when applying this lacquer either, which is always a plus. The only thing that drives me nuts is the quick drying topcoat. It performs beautifully, but it's quite runny, often with big drips of it sliding down the brush and causing a mess. If I wipe the excess on the edge of the bottle, it removes too much of the product and not enough is left for my nail. And it smells horrendous. But again, the performance of this topcoat is terrific, so I continue to sing its praises in spite of its drawbacks. All in all, a great brand.