MAC Viva Glam III: Lipstick for a Good Cause, from my Boyfriend

If there are two facts most pertinent to this post, it's that a) I love MAC lipsticks and b) my boyfriend gives amazing gifts. Despite these profound truths, the paths of these facts have rarely crossed in the past. Let me explain. My boyfriend hates giving obvious gifts. If it's something perching eagerly on a wishlist of mine, he won't touch it. He prefers to give the gifts that I didn't know I wanted, but always needed. And he's usually spot-on. My lighting box, for instance. But due to his gifting ethos, in our five years together he has yet to buy me a stitch of makeup. While this has never been an issue for me (I'm more than capable- too capable- of buying my own beauty products), a girl does like to be treated to something frivolous now and again.

I was spoiled in just this kind of way this past Wednesday night, when Adam and I were out to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of our first date. After a failed attempt to catch a movie to round off the evening (crazy, over-crowded, post-Golden Globes movie theatres!), I think he could sense that I was feeling a bit deflated. We decided to take a stroll home through Toronto's convenient underground PATH system, which just happened to navigate us past the Eaton Centre MAC store. As if reading my makeup fantasy-laden thoughts, he stopped mid-stride and asked "What if you went into MAC and picked out any product of your choice?". After a brief, incredulous, flustered exchange, I knew he meant business. So into MAC, I sprinted skipped sauntered. 

My excitement quickly melted into overwhelm, realizing that I really had to hone in on the one product that I was most craving at the moment. After perusing the lipsticks, however, I recalled a recent review I'd read and immediately locked on my target. Viva Glam III Lipstick, it was!

MAC Viva Glam lip colours are among my favourite beauty products to buy. Not only has each of the shades been stunning, unique, and on-trend, 100% of the selling price of Viva Glam items goes to the MAC AIDS Fund, helping those living with HIV/AIDS across the globe. If that's not beauty for a good cause, I don't know what is! 

MAC Viva Glam Lipsticks ($19.00 CAD) come boxed in identical packaging to other MAC lipsticks. Here is the familiar black box, followed by the full ingredient listing of this particular formula:

The Viva Glam Lipsticks are packaged in MAC's iconic black bullet tube, but feature bold red detailing to symbolize its connection to their charity. A meaningful and beautiful touch! 

After reading this review of MAC Viva Glam III Lipstick, I definitely had a "where have you been all my life?" moment. The first Viva Glam campaign that overlapped with my MAC fanaticism was Viva Glam V, which kind of left the first four offerings in the range rather distant and foreign to me. Boy, was I in the dark! 

Viva Glam III is a deep, warm-toned plum with noticeable brown undertones. It really hearkens back to the year 2000 when it was originally released. Then, lips were all about being bold, matte, and fabulous! Viva Glam III indeed has a Matte finish, but possesses a subtle sheen that prevents it from looking flat on the lips. 

Here it is swatched on my inner arm (MAC NC15 skin tone)...

... and a closeup of it on my lips...

... and finally, in the context of a completed makeup look:

As you can see, Viva Glam III is undoubtedly deep and vampy, but not so much so that it seeps into goth territory. And while it does have brown undertones, the plummy hues at the base of it make it quite wearable and flattering! The wear time on this, as with other MAC Mattes, is phenomenal (lasts nearly intact after a meal) and saturation and pigmentation is intense. This can leave lips feeling slightly parched, but a touch of balm before applying and after removal should remedy this.

Overall, I am so in love with this lipstick! It's become a new favourite shade for Fall/Winter and I couldn't be happier with where the money from this purchase is going. Plus, it's always fun to discover a long-existing shade that has finally crossed your radar. Better late than never!

Pulling back to the bigger picture, I have to reiterate what an ultra sweet and timely gesture it was for my boyfriend to purchase this item for me. It goes to show that gifts don't have to be large and luxurious, but often the factors of perfect timing, an element of surprise, and a touch of frivolity can combine to create the ultimate treat! Three cheers for my boo ;)

Am I the only one who has just discovered the beauty of Viva Glam III? Is the shade up your alley? Does your partner often treat you to beauty-related gifts, or do you leave that up to yourself?

Thanks for reading, as always! xo