I’ve always been a fan of MAC products, from their broad selection of bold eyeshadows, to their edgy and innovative advertising. Just when I think I’ve seen it all, somehow MAC proves me wrong and sparks my curiosity to try a new product. On a recent trip to Nordstrom, it was no different. I glanced over at the MAC counter and next thing you know I’m walking away with a small monochrome bag filled with repurchases and new findings.
On this particular trip I decided to try the MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour. I’m currently obsessing over matte formulas due to their long-lasting effect and how it makes lips appear larger and more plump. I’ve been going back and forth between the MAC Retro Matte Lipsticks and NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams. I love the idea of being able to apply a shade without having to reapply throughout the day. It’s convenient and makes looking “done-up” hassle-free.
I’m a huge fan of a bold lip so I was quickly drawn to “High Drama” and “Dance with Me” (see swatch above). The colors are absolutely beautiful and apply as opaque as they appear on the tube. I would describe the formula as thick with a mousse-like consistency. It applies wet and quickly dries into a matte-finish.
Like most matte-lipsticks, the formula can be drying on the lips so it’s important to keep your lips moisturized and exfoliated before applying the lip color. I’ve found that using a lip primer (my favorite is MAC’s Prep + Prime) will help maintain the color longer and will also provide a smooth surface to glide the lip color over (especially for matte lipsticks). Again, because the formula is thick and fast-drying, I do not recommend layering the lip color because it will crumble and create small lumps on the surface of your lips. Not a pretty look. I also noticed that with the darker colors I was more self-conscious of my lips out of fear of the lipgloss cracking or separating.
Would I repurchase this product? Yes, I already have, in the shade “To Matte With Love”, it is absolutely stunning (as seen below). However, at a fraction of it’s cost and lasting power, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream will continue to be an all-time favorite. But who says one can’t splurge once in a while? 🙂
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream vs. MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour
Price:
- NYX – 34 shades in the line (12 newly released)
- MAC – 15 shades
- NYX – can last between 6-8 hours before it starts to fade and wear off
- MAC – can last between 3-4 hours before it starts to crack and fade in an unpleasant ombre-like manner
