Currently Obsessed: MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolours

Hi, everyone! If you've been scoping out my Instagram lately, you'll know that I've been posting non-stop about MAC's Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolours. When I saw a preview for these new offerings about a month ago, I was instantly intrigued. First off, that packaging! I'll go into more detail below, but I think they are such a neat take on the classic MAC lipstick bullet. Second, the shade range looked totally fabulous. I hadn't been this excited for a new MAC release in some time, so my first stop after work the day of their release was the Eaton Centre MAC store. I was ready to swatch and play! 

MAC describes the Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolours as a new take on the classic matte lipstick that offers "robustly saturated shades" (from maccosmetics.ca). It promises bold colour with a long-wearing "liquid suede finish". 

The display for the collection was as colourful as expected, with a retro-inspired promo image and all 15 shades from the range presented in a geometric arrangement. I immediately went to town swatching several of the shades and, after narrowing down my options, left with two of the Liquid Lipcolours. After another week of lusting and ruminating, I picked up another two colours to round out my current collection. 

Packaging

Let's get back to the packaging, shall we? The outer boxes are the same as any MAC lip offering, semi-matte black cardboard with white lettering. As for the Liquid Lipcolours themselves? I mean, look at them! I've heard that people have mixed feelings about the design, but I personally think they are ingenious and adorable. The black twist-off lids look identical to MAC's iconic black lipstick tubes, while the bottom halves are made of sturdy, clear plastic, are longer than a typical MAC lipstick, and allow you to see the shade inside (which is extra handy). 

The applicators are an adaptation of the typical doe foot. They are relatively long and narrow and have a pointed tip that I find really helps with a precise application. It fits into corners of the lips perfectly and also helps to trace the lip line quite well! 

Here is a close-up of the applicator: 

Shades and Swatches

The four shades I've selected (so far) are:

Fashion Legacy- described as "an intense fire truck red", I find it to be a classic, slightly warm-toned red that is bold, yet totally flattering

High Drama- described as a "deep, dark plum", this is a deep berry wine that looks near-black when layered and worn at full intensity

Dance with Me- described as a "deep cranberry red", this is a cooler raspberry red that's not quite vampy, not quite bright, and incredibly pretty

Recollection- described as an "intense bright violet", this is a beautiful vivid mid-tone purple that is bold and unique, yet still quite wearable.

Here are swatches of each on my inner arm (MAC NC15 skin tone):

Wear Time

These claim long-wear and that has definitely been my experience! They've blown me away in this regard, actually. About 5 minutes after applying the swatches on my arm, I rubbed them vigorously with a cotton pad. As you can see, the colour barely budged! 

The performance of these lip colours during a meal is what has impressed me most. The first time I wore one of these to dinner (Fashion Legacy), I could see the lipstick transferring on my glass and napkin (I was eating cheesy pasta, after all), but I was terrified to look in the mirror afterwards. I expected it to be everywhere! But when I finally peeked at my reflection I was so pleasantly surprised! Despite some transfer of colour during the meal, there is so much pigment in these lipsticks that enough stayed on my lips by the end of dinner that I didn't have to re-apply. And there were no smudges or bleeding. Impressive! 

In a true experimental fashion, I wore Fashion Legacy to brunch with my blogger friends last weekend in an attempt to replicate these findings. And I did! Here's a shot of me after devouring buttery baguettes and eggs with Hollandaise sauce. As you can see, the colour is still intact! The colour is a bit deeper along the edges of my mouth, but it was light years away from the dreaded "lip liner only" look that can happen as a lipstick wore off. It looked nearly as good as new. My blogger buds were impressed! 

I did re-apply the lipstick after brunch and, after a bit of shopping, met up with another friend for a movie. We then grabbed some post-flick grub; namely, a pint of beer and a plate of cheesy nachos. When I got home, I expected my lips to look a mess (I mean, beer and nachos!), but that was not the case. Check it! 

Yes, my lips did look a bit dry and uneven, but the pigment of the Liquid Lipcolour just clung to my lips so well. Beer, cheese, and guacamole could not make a dent! 

Liquid Lip Colours with Completed Makeup Looks

Fashion Legacy

Perhaps my fave of the bunch. Such a classic, flattering red! Makes me feel like a '40s Hollywood screen siren.

High Drama

Man I feel like a badass sporting this shade! The blackened berry is dramatic, yet still totally wearable. 

Dance with Me

The deeper berry red that brightens the complexion and really makes me want to dance! I think this would be flattering on just about everyone. 

Recollection

I love me a purple lip and this one is ultra cool! It is the most patchy of the shades I've tried, but when applied carefully, it looks pretty fabulous. 

An Overview

Pros:

• These are intensely pigmented. A little goes a very long way! 
• The wear time is tops! Though not transfer-proof, your lips will still look painted and even after a meal! 
• These are essentially smudge-proof. If you accidentally brush your lips or have a drink of water, these will not move! 
• The applicator is super functional- the pointed tip allows you to paint inner corners and edges of the lips quite easily
• Though these are far from hydrating, I find these significantly less drying than other matte liquid lip colours I've tried
• The shade range is comprehensive- from nude, to berry, to red, to ultra vampy!
• The packaging is adorable! Unique, but honours the MAC aesthetic perfectly. 

Cons:

• Because these are so pigmented, if you make an application mistake it's a bit tricky to fix
• If not applied carefully, these can look a bit uneven on your lips. But if you take your time (I paint the bottom lip, then the top lip, without blotting or rubbing them together), even application is totally do-able
• Though touch-ups are rarely necessary, the effect can be a bit uneven if you add another layer after eating (though only if you are scrutinizing them up close)

If you cannot already tell, I'm totally smitten with these! Like every other matte liquid lipstick I've tried, they are not without flaws, but I think I can safely say they're my favourite! The shades and pigmentation are beautiful, the applicator is completely functional, and the wear time can't be beat. And that packaging! My Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour collection will undoubtedly grow in the coming months. At the the moment I'm eyeing up Tailored to Tease (the fuchsia of the bunch) and To Matte with Love (a soft, everyday mid-tone rosy berry). I'll keep you posted when my stash grows!

Are you interested in the MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolours? Did I tempt you? Which of these shades is your fave? What's your favourite liquid lip colour formula?

Thanks for dropping by! xo

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