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Beautynook Top 5 Mac Lipsticks

I could probably make a list like this at least once a year. I know Mac lippies are a bit expensive and other more afforable brands do brilliant alternatives that I have and love, but Mac lipsticks were the first ‘higher end’ makeup I ever owned. I love going into Mac full stop, but coming home with a sleek black bullet full of colour just gets me so excited and less face it they do great lipsticks. You can pick them up in Brown Thomas or in some BT2 and they are priced at 19.50 euro.

So I wanted to compile my top 5 for you. I thought 5 was a manageable number and I could get a good range of colours and finishes into the list, in case you are a Mac newbie or you are just looking for a new one to add to your collection 🙂 I will disclaim and say I am not really a nude lip gal. I have a couple of more nude options in my Mac collection like ‘Lovelorn’ and ‘Myth’ but they don’t really get a whole load of love. I wanted to be honest with my picks, so if you only wear nude lippies…I’m sorry 🙁

First up, I have probably the most wearable out of my 5 picks.

Mac Plumful

This is ‘Plumful’. This is a lustre finish lipstick. You can see from the bullet this is well loved by me.

Mac Plumful

It is a modest berry colour, that I think would suit a multitude of people. It has a lovely sheen to it with it being a lustre, so gloss does not have to be added if you like a glossy finish. It goes with any kind of makeup look and is so easy to wear, you can slap this on on the way out the door and you don’t need to worry about it. It last reasonably well too and will leave a hint of a stain behind when it starts to wear.

Next up I have Plumful’s more intense cousin 🙂

Mac Rebel

This is Rebel and this is a Satin finish lipstick.

mac Rebel

I have blabbed about Rebel a good bit since I have added it to my collection. It’s a medium to dark berry toned shade depending on how intensely you apply it and is cool toned. With it being a Satin finish, it is not completely matte, it has a subtle shine to it which makes it comfortable to wear. I love Rebel for a dramatic night out with minimal makeup, it really makes a statement. If you like a dark lip Rebel is a good option to have in my opinion, I get alot of wear out of it. Again, it lasts really well and is easy to touch up throughout the night or day as the Satin formula doesn’t cling too much to the lips.

‘Girl About Town’ is one of my favourite lipsticks ever ever ever.

Mac Girl About Town

Growing up, I had crap teeth, so in my teens and early 20’s I didn’t experiment with lipstick alot because I didn’t want to bring attention to them. A few years ago I got Invisalign (best thing I ever did). After a few months my teeth were straight and my lipsticks stash started to grow and grow. Girl About Town was one of the first intense colours I ever bought and will always hold a special place in my heart.

It is an Amplified finish.

Mac Girl About Town

This means it packs a bold punch, a little goes a long way. It is a fuschia pink with blue undertones, hello whiter teeth! Although it is nearly a matte formula when on, it’s a creamy lipstick and glides onto the lips really well. I love this shade, it makes you look brighter whatever your skin tone. If you don’t have it, swatch it the next time you are in Mac, it is really worth the look.

 

The last two on this Mac lipstick journey are matte formula lipsticks.

First up is ‘Lady Danger’.

Mac Lady Danger

Lady Danger is one of the coolest lipsticks I own ever, full stop!

Mac Lady Danger

It is bold, it is rich, it is orangey red and it has warm undertones, so not for the faint hearted. I think it is alot more orange than red, but I suppose it depends on who is wearing it that determines that. On me (Mac NC20) it is more orange. Lady Danger lasts a really long time on the lips. Although it’s matte its not the most drying lipstick I have ever used, it doesn’t cling too badly if your lips are not in tip top condition. Not for everyone I know, but I just love it 🙂

 

My last choice is a no brainer. Mac do red lipsticks and they do them well, so one had to creep it’s way into my top 5.

Mac Riri Woo

This is their Retro-Matte lipstick in ‘Riri Woo’.

Mac Riri Woo

This is the red that they collaborated with Rihanna on, but ‘Ruby Woo’ from the permanent collection is pretty much the same when applied, the packaging just pulled me in on this one.

Riri Woo is the perfect cool toned matte red lipstick. It is pigmented beyond belief but it is one of the most drying lipsicks you will ever use. You need to be prepared for that. It lasts for ages too and will stain the lips as it wears but if your lips begin to dry or flake you will feel it and notice it and it won’t be pretty, so you do have to keep an eye on your lips throughout the day or night. It is best applied with a lip brush for precise application as it can drag the lips a bit.

I sound a bit negative saying all of that, but it is so worth it for the lip colour you get in return, just prepare in advance for it!

There you have it. My top 5 Mac lipsticks. I am always in the market for more favourites, so be sure to tell me yours.

xxx

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the dark side

The only things I really like about the colder weather coming is wearing jumpers and changing up my makeup, the rest of it…not so much. My main makeup love in Autumn and Winter is rocking dark lips. I just love how it looks with a neutral eye, and it can really dress up a plain look and give it more dimension. Since the 90’s is alive and kicking in the 00’s, dark lips are so on point at the minute.

I have a few favourites in my collection, so thought I would show you some of my most worn for some lippie inspiration.

 

I think one of the most well down dark shades is Rebel by Mac.

Mac Rebel

Rebel

This is the first darker lipstick I ever bought. I gave into the hype  and I am not disappointed in the slightest! This is the perfect plum colour. It’s a satin formula, pigmented, easy to apply, blue toned and lasts really well on the lips. The flash on my camera doesn’t quite do it justice.

Rebel

 

 

Ok, the next two were just impulse purchases. I have to be honest, they are both nearly the same colour as Rebel, that’s when you know you’re a makeup junkie! I get shopper amnesia!! Saying that, if you couldn’t get near a Mac they are fantastic dupes.

Urban Decay’s Venom is more of a creamy formula with a sheeny finish on the lips, which is comfortable to wear but it tends to wear and move more quickly.

Urban Decay Venom

IMG_3709

I adore the packaging of these Revolution lipsticks, they feel so luxurious in your hands and I love the gunmetal finish. You can find Urban Decay in Debenhams.

Venom

If your budget won’t stretch to the Mac or the Urban Decay heights, Inglot do a fantastic version of the plum lipstick trend, number 293.

Inglot 293

IMG_3740

Like Venom it’s a more moisturising formula than Rebel.

Inglot 293

Inglot do really great lipsticks, this was the first one I have bought, but I definitely will buy more in the future.

I would always try to use a lip pencil with such dark, pigmented colours to help to get a crisp line and even lip shape. Mac’s Currant lipliner is well known to be best friends with Rebel.

Mac Currant Lip Pencil

Currant

 

Sleek do a great version of the colour in the Eau La La Liner collection called ironically Venom too though so no need to break the bank.

Sleek Eau la la Venom

Venom

 

Mac’s Heroine is well…pretty out there as lipstick colours go.

Mac HeroineHeroine

As you can see, it’s purple 🙂 It’s a matte finish with a warm undertone, so if you are conscious about the whiteness of your teeth, Heroine is probably not the best choice for you. Of course, this colour is not for the faint hearted, but it is the pantone colour of the year, so very on trend.

Heroine

 

We are big fans of Sleek Makeup here at Chatterbox. It’s such a great affordable brand. With Boots in Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown  stocking it now too, it makes getting your hands on it even easier. Their matte liquid lipstick in Fandango Purple, for me is a great mix of the plum and purple trend. I think it has elements of both colours incorporated into it.

Sleek Matte Me Fandango PurpleIMG_3718

As the name suggests these liquid lipsticks are a matte formula, so your lips need to be in tip top condition before application. They last really well on the lips though and come with a doe foot applicator so a little easier to apply than straight out of a bullet if you don’t possess a lip brush.

Fandango Purple

Of course, these are by no means all the dark lippies on the market, just a selection of the ones I own and have worn and tested. Are you bold enough to wear a plum or purple lip? I think,just like a red or an orange lip it makes your makeup feel extra special and can make you look like you made an effort when you might have just thrown on some BB cream and mascara. If you are too scared to wear the colour full on, pat it into the lips for a more diffused look, it will still look beautiful.

But I say give it a go, it’s only makeup, you can wash it off 🙂

 

Gemma

xxx