MAC, It Was Fun While It Lasted

Oh MAC., how you've failed me!  I remember how, in the in late 90's and early 2000's, I loved MAC and being able to purchase a MAC lipstick was a big deal. They are one of the cheaper "higher end" makeup brands out there. I loved their exotic colors and artistry. I had so many of the Lip Glass-- Gloss, Oyster Girl was my favorite, and their shadows were all the rage! But in the end, the Lip Glasses would just be a big hot, sticky mess and my hair would always fly into the goo.  Flash-forward to 2015 and oh how my opinion of this brand has changed.

They still have all of the funky colors, but they just don't last.  In my search of a dupe for my favorite lipstick, I came upon a YouTube video, where the Vlogger swatched the MAC Matte Lipstick brand. I was interested in a few colors so I went to the MAC store at the mall, not the MAC counter at Nordstroms, mistake # 1. 

Every time I've walked into this store I have been completely disappointed with their inadequate service.  It doesn't matter if there's no one else in the store, or if it's filled with people, it's always so difficult to get someone to answer my questions, say hello or help me.

Since I already had a few colors I was interested in, I just started swatching on my arm. Finally a sales associate asked if I needed any help.  I whipped out my favorite NARS color, Greta, and asked if they could match it.  At MAC's $16 a tube I didn't mind buying a dupe from their store. The sales associate was showing me colors she liked, for her skin tone. I'm fair, she wasn't, get my drift? The colors that looked good on her, were not colors that looked good on me.

I settled on a matte color called All Fired Up, which the MAC site describes as a "bright fuchsia matte". I don't know, maybe I bought the wrong All Fired Up, because in the tube it looks like a brick red, on my arm it looks like a brick red, and on my lips it looks like a brick red. Oh and swatched next to Greta, it looks like a brick red. 

Now the formula. I know that they are matte, so I didn't expect a shiny or creamy finish. This lipstick felt chappy, easily rubbed off (and I applied a liner) and was one of the most drying matte lipsticks I've used this summer.  You can't just reapply if it wears off because then it gets cakey. The second time I applied this lipstick, I could see it settle in the lines of my lips. It's not advertised as a long lasting lipstick, so I expected that.  I had to take it off the second time I applied it because it was just too drying. 

One swipe of Greta, takes 10 swipes of All Fired Up to get a similar look. 

Below is a color swatch of Greta and All Fired Up.  You can see that this is definitely not a bright fuchsia. 

The matte color is All Fired Up (bright fuchsia), from MAC and the creamy finish is Greta

I don't know about you, but to me that's not a bright fuchsia. That is only one swipe of Greta and four swipes of All Fired Up.

Another thing I hated was that when I opened my MAC package, I had the wrong color and had to go back to the store to exchange it, that made me a sad monkey.  They couldn't even grab the correct color.  When I swatched these side by side in the store, the color was almost the same.When I got home  and in the natural light, it looked orange. 

When the sales girl asked me what color I brought in to swatch,  I simply replied, "Only the best color and lipstick on the planet." 

Because of all the mishaps and mislabeled colors I give MAC's matte lipstick, in All Fired Up, 2 Gerber Daisies out of 5.

“Nobody looks good with brown lipstick on.” 
― Frank Zappa

No Frank Zappa, they do not!!

NARS Audacious: Daring Colors Finding the Perfect Lipstick

I'm obsessed with makeup. What can I say, except that I feel better when my face is "done up". I have fair skin, dark eyes and dark hair, so a little bit goes a very long way.

I am so behind on this review. The NARS Audacious lipsticks have

NARS Audacious in Greta

been out for over a year, but I never got around to writing a review.

I love NARS makeup.  I always have. The Audacious line is my absolute favorite brand of lipstick.  I wish I could purchase all the colors that I love, but at $32 a tube, I have to control my urges.

The lipstick itself comes in a sleek, all black tube and has a magnetic lid. Surprisingly though, in my purse, the lid stays on better than other lipsticks I've owned. The NARS label is stamped right on the lipstick. When these lipsticks were launched back in September 2014, there were (and I'm assuming still are) 40 shades. Some were exclusive to NARS Boutique Stores and Barney's, while the others could be found in Nordstroms and Sephora.

I originally read a review of these lipsticks in Elle Magazine and instantly fell in love with the colors Fanny and Greta.They're described on the NARS site as a  "Rich Berry" (Fanny) and "Wild Azalea" (Greta). I went to Sephora first, hoping that both colors would be in stock. While there, I only found Fanny and was so disappointed to learn that at that time, they didn't sell Greta. Fanny ended up being way too dark for my skin tone. The salesgirl recommended that I try Janet, described on the NARS site as being a "Deep Magenta". The color looked good on me, but my heart was still set on Greta. So with that, I was out the door without my lipstick (sad panda).

I decided to try Nordstroms next. I was so happy to discover that Nordy's did carry Greta. The color was so amazing on my skin tone, my mother even encouraged me to buy the lipstick and that's a rarity! I still regret that I didn't pick up Janet because that was a beautiful color too. **Now, Greta can also be found at Sephora, which makes me a happy panda.

The range of colors for this brand is absolutely stunning. There's a perfect color for every girl, or boy. They range from barely there nudes to deep vampy. I would have loved Liv, a "Deep Aubergine" during my 90's "Goth" phase.  Everybody on YouTube seems to love Dominique, a "Pink Lilac", but I just can't seem to like the color.  First off it would make me look dead and completely washed out. But Dominique seems to be the color that sells out the fastest and I think that's a color that can only be found at the NARS Boutique Stores and Barney's. They can keep that color because I hate it.  I am curious about Michiyo, a "Vivid Pink" because that color looks beautiful as well.

NARS Audacious in Greta

The formula of the lipsticks can only be described as perfection.  Whatever NARS did, they did right.  They glide on so smoothly and they don't bleed or feather. Most dark, vibrant colors in other brands feather on me. I really hate the extra step of a lip liner, so if I can do without, I'm a happy girl.  I really don't need a liner with these lipsticks. One or two swipes is good enough, because they are so pigmented. I really can't rave enough about them.  I use a brush to scoop out all of it so that it doesn't go to waste.  I did try on Michiyo and that formula felt a little different.  It didn't seem to be as creamy. I wore it around for a bit, but Greta is by far my favorite and I haven't been able to find a dupe for it. 

All in all, I can't rave enough about this line of cosmetics.  I'm always looking for amazing bargains, however I will fork out my $32 for my Greta and maybe one day I'll buy another.

**Updates

The NARS Audacious lipsticks get 5 out of 5 bright pink, Gerber Daisies!   

To quote the very beautiful and very stylish Audrey Hepburn, "I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick."