The Mac Matte Lip: Heroine (Review and Swatch)

Other than the classic red lip I generally tend to stay away from bright lip colours, but something about MAC's Heroine lured me in and it has now joined my ever growing collection of MAC lipsticks. Heroine is a bright purple matte shade, and as I've stated in previous posts this is my favourite formula, especially when it comes to bright and bold colours. Heroine has been around for quite sometime now, with it initially being part of different limited edition collections, but it was when it was recently added to the matte lip collection that I decided to finally break out of my comfort zone and try it out.

Simply described on the MAC website as a 'bright purple' that would certainly seem true from these photos, however I actually find this to have a hint of pink to it that my impressive phone photography hasn't picked up.  Application was slightly tricky as is always the case when applying a bold colour sans lip liner, however again I found using a lip brush helped things along. MAC do actually offer a matching lip liner that I am keen to try out but I'm not sure I can currently justify the purchase... In terms of how it wears, again like all MAC matte colours it is surprisingly comfortable and doesn't feel drying at all, when first applied it does in fact have a slight sheen to it which then dries down into a more traditional matte finish. I find it to last fairly well and when it does begin to fade it actually looks quite nice as it becomes a more muted pinky/purple shade rather than just a patchy version of what it once was, which I've found to be the case with some other shades.

Heroine is definitely a statement colour that creates a makeup look all on its own, but I also think it works well paired with a variety of different eye makeup looks. I've particularly liked pairing it with taupey/bronzey shadows for an evening look as we draw into autumn, but also think it will work nicely with more gold and coppery tones if you prefer a warmer look. From other photos and reviews I've come across this colour seems to suit so many different skin tones and is universally flattering, I really like how it brings out the colour of blue eyes. Heroine is available now as part of the permanent collection both in store and online and is priced at £15.50 as all the shades are. If you're looking for a bright statement colour that's a bit different from the usual reds and pinks I highly recommend this one!

Jess

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The MAC Matte Lip Collection: Antique Velvet (Review and Swatch)

After resigning myself to the fact that I have to face up to my new adult responsibilities (money, work, rent - help!) and therefore cannot go to Bestival this year, I decided to console myself by treating myself to a few of the shades from the new MAC Matte Lip Collection. Originally, I had planned to review all the shades I have in one post but have since decided it would be much more helpful to talk about each one individually, and first up we have Antique Velvet. I had been eyeing up Film Noir, another MAC offering, for quite sometime now, but held off buying it because it seemed the wrong time of year for a dark brown shade, and I'm glad I did as MAC have since brought out a very similar shade but in a matte formula, my personal favourite.

As can be seen, Antique Velvet is a rich dark brown with reddish undertones. The forumla is matte which I think is the best type for bold colours as it extends their longevity and keeps things from getting too messy and smudged throughout the day. I must admit I did find the initial application a little difficult, although this is mainly due to the fact I don't have a matching lip liner (adding on to the wishlist) so I had to first go in with a lip brush to line the edges of my lips and then go in carefully with the actual lipstick afterwards. When applying in this way it does allow you to build up the colour, so if you want you can wear it as just a wash of colour, although I like to wear it more intensely as can be seen in the below photos.

Apologies for the awkward pictures, it's surprisingly difficult to take a close up photo of your own mouth, but hopefully you can see what a lovely colour this lipstick is. It's definitely one of the more daring colours that I own but I think it makes for the perfect statement lip for autumn, being a nice change from the usual vampy reds and purples seen around this time of year. This colour does tend to wash me out a little but with a little bit of blush or bronzer that can be easily rectified. The staying power is pretty good, I wore this for several hours and only needed to reapply after eating lunch (ramen definitely wasn't a wise choice). It's also incredibly comfortable for a matte lipstick, I didn't find it to be drying on my lips at all which can often be a problem for me. Ultimately, I love this lipstick and highly recommend for anyone to get their hands on it, I think it would suit so many different skin tones and be the perfect colour for the coming months. Priced at £15.50 you can pick it up now from MAC counters or online, although I had to go with the latter as I found it was sold out everywhere when I tried to buy it in store, clearly a popular shade!

What do you think of this colour? Would you personally wear it? Let me know your opinions in the comments!

Jess

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