Forget flash-in-the-pan and fly-by-night colors that disappear faster than you can say, “I’m going to need years of therapy to recover from that Miley Cyrus performance.” The new Retro Matte and Pro Longwear collections are built to last with long-wearing lipsticks, lip liners, cream shadows and pencils ready and waiting to go the distance this fall.
The MAC Retro Matte Collection
Down-and-dirty deets on the new MAC Retro Matte Lipsticks, Pro Longwear Paint Pots and Eye Liners
- Permanent or limited edition: Limited edition
- Availability: Next week! They’ll be online starting the week of September 3, in North American MAC stores/counters September 12, and available some time in September at all international MAC locations.
- Inspiration: Actually? Ruby Woo Lipstick’s matte texture and finish. MAC decided to increase the number of shades available in Ruby Woo’s ultra-flat matte finish.
- Includes: eight matte Lipsticks ($15 US, $18 CDN each) and eight Pro Longwear Lip Pencils ($19.50 US, $23 CDN each)
As someone who experienced the ’90s firsthand and owned several MAC mattes over that time, I have mixed feelings about this encore of matte lips…
To their credit, they last a looong time, which I like. They barely break a sweat after six hours, even through meals, but dayum! — what’s with all the flakes?!
At least these new MAC Lipsticks don’t seem as drying as the old-school versions, based on the couple I wore today, but they definitely aren’t heavy with hydration. I probably won’t be wearing them daily, no matter what, because matte formulas like these usually leave my lips drier than the Sahara.
I gotta admit, though, that flat finish looks really cool…
Can. Not. Wait. to wear the bright pinks and reds with cat eyes this fall.
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pots and Pro Longwear Eye Liners
- Permanent or limited edition: Permanent
- Availability: Available now online, and coming to North American stores and counters September 5; internationally some time next month.
- Inspiration: Vibrant colors and long-wearing cream shadows and liners.
- Includes: 12 Pro Longwear Paint Pots ($20 US, $24 CDN each) and four water-resistant Pro Longwear Eye Liners ($19.50 US, $23 CDN each). There’s also a 242 Shader Brush ($25 US, $30 CDN)
Oh, boy! I’m stoked about the liners and Perky Paint Pot, in particular. Remember it from 2008’s Fafi? Yeah, good times… (Wow, can you believe we’ve been together that long? HOLY CANNOLI!)
The MAC Retro Matte Lipsticks…
The Retro Matte Pro Longwear Lip Pencils…
The Pro Longwear Paint Pots…
The Pro Longwear Eye Liners…
Swatches (for reference, I’m an NC42)
What do ya say? Got your sights set on anything here?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I have seen a trend with the Fixed on Drama lipstick in both yours and Christine’s site. Both have had not so fortunate fates when it comes to the aesthetics, which makes me sad because it is my favorite lipstick on the range!
Debating on getting Fixed on Drama, since it looks so nice on your skintone and I imagine it would as well on a NC30
– Linda
Hi Linda,
It might just be a press sample issue, but if you’re concerned then you might want to check your tube before leaving the store. It’s a fun color and would look amazing on NC30 skin. 🙂
I am a lover of MAC but I am also a lover of bargains and some of the lipsticks shown above you can also find good dupes at the drugstores. One that I really like right now is Milani’s lipstick called Sangria. It stays on for hours and looks really good, they also have other rich colored lipsticks as well. Maybelline is another good one. However, I think these drugstore lipsticks will look really good with the new MAC lipliners. I absolutely loooove them.
This is a great early review.
Those lip colors are fantastic
Yup!
Flat Out Fabulous and Camel Coat, to my wishlist RIGHT NOW!
Great choices, Chic Lapin! 🙂 How about the Lip Pencils? See anything you like?
Thanks for posting this. I am super excited to check all of this out when available. I actually just started buying MAC this past month and racked over $2,500 worth in that time. I am love the new eyeliners and lipsticks. I have super pale skin and it is hard to find good lip colors. Any suggestions with MAC lipcolors?
Shock Value..O-M-G!! I may need a backup of that! Steady Going? Yes, please! 🙂
OMG Strong Willed BE MINEEEE! xD
I’ve got my eye on the Constructivist Paint Pot and the purple eyeliner!
Ok so far my list is:
relentlessly red, all fired up, dangerous, fixed on drama, and flat out fabulous! 😀
These matte lippies are really hot! There’s a few shades that are calling my name…
I love the plumly colour, it’s so pretty! ^_^
All Fired up and Relentlessly Red for me please! Little disappointed with the paint pots – all of them would look rather ashy on my skin tone.
I really like the Runway Hit lipstick but I think I will have to check it out at the counter, I am afraid it might be too pale for me.
Love these…but they remind my of the WnW Mega last lip colors. And I can get those for two bucks a pop. I’m passing.
Pencils looking wow.. very pretty 🙂
I LOVE flat out fabulous it’s hard to find unique but wearable mat colours. I want it so bad!
Thanks so much for this post Karen! 🙂 I LOVE matte lipsticks so I want most of the retro matte collection! 🙂 apart from Fixed on Drama as I think it may be too dark for me (nc20) (I do own Darkside though :/) and Ruby Woo as I have RiRi Woo and well I can pick up Ruby Woo anytime! Flat Out Fabulous looks amazing! :O I think I may get the other 6 & back ups! 😀 xx
I am looking forward to purchasing flat out fabulous and relentlessly red.
Love the review. I am tempted to buy the Prolongwear lip pencil in Trust in Red (I think it would go perfectly with Riri Woo) and also Fixed on Drama. I purchased Flat out fabulous this morning (soon after an email from MAC cosmetics), hope it’s as pretty in person as in pictures!!
Hi Karen !
I really want to buy Fixed on Drama before it sells out but I am afraid I will purchase a “retro matte” version of shade that I already own ! Can you help me out by telling me if it looks like Diva? Do I need both :/
Thanks in advance !
I bought Flat out fabulous and Ruby woo last week. Love both shades:)