30 Days of Lipstick, Day 29: MAC Lustre Lipstick in Ladybug

For Day 29, I chose one of my all-time favourite lipsticks from MAC: the flirty, sophisticated, retro Ladybug ($17.50 CAD at MAC stores and counters). With its Lustre finish, it offers sheer, shiny colour with a slick, comfortable finish. The shade itself it a wonderful warm-toned red that has a modern feel but also harks back to the screen sirens of the 1940s (seems to be a recurrent theme for me, eh? :). Its tomato-red tone makes it similar to both NARS Heat Wave and Besame Carmine lipsticks (which I have reviewed in the past, here: http://vibrantbeautyblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/photo-tutorial-how-to-master-modern-40s.html; http://vibrantbeautyblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/30-days-of-lipstick-day-24-besame.html), but its sheer, nearly glossy finish makes it feel more current than its matte red companions.

Here is a picture of Ladybug in the tube. As you can see, it's received a lot of love from me over the past couple of years, so is a little worse for wear. Hopefully you can still get a good sense of  the shade, though!
 

MAC Lustre Lipstick in Ladybug

And here is a picture of it swatched on my arm (in the middle):

MAC Ladybug (middle) swatched on my arm (MAC NC15 skin tone)

And finally, a few pictures of me wearing it!

Me wearing MAC Lustre Lipstick in Ladybug

With flash

Under artificial light

The Verdict:

Pros:

• Because this is a sheer, non-matte formula, it is perfect for those who want to try out a red lipstick  (maybe fore the first time- exciting!), but are afraid of shades that are too opaque, matte, or overpowering
• This is a wonderful shade of red for those with warm undertones, since it is orange-based
• Excellent quality for the price!
• Gives a retro feel with a modern twist!

Cons:

• This may not be as flattering on those with very cool, pink-toned skin
• Despite the shiny finish, MAC's Lustre formulas can be somewhat drying on the lips

Ladybug has truly been one of the most loved and raved-about lipsticks in my collection- I'm surprised this is the first time I've written about it! It's my go-to when I'm looking for a low-maintenance red shade that livens up my face, or when I want to feel glamorous without having to opt for a super deep or opaque shade. I'm sure it will make frequent appearances over the holidays!

Thanks for reading :)