I walked into Urban Outfitters last weekend and saw a dress that looks exactly like the one I used to wear on first dates (with black combat boots, of course).
The ’90s are back! — and they’re haunting me, but, like, in a friendly ghost kind of way.
Also, this new MAC Metallic Lipstick in Silver Spoon from the new MAC Metallic Lips collection looks exactly like a shade I wore at that time. It was a grayish taupe metallic marvel that I wore with unblended dark purple lip liner, and yes, girl, I thought I looked like hot sh*t, LOL!
Lots of the lippies in this collection, which is available starting today through May 4th, look retro IMO. There are 18 of them, and they’re $17 each.
A new formula
It’s called Metallic, and MAC says it’s a combination of a matte formula and a traditional metallic finish. They feel like a matte, because they’ve got that weight and thickness, but they’re shiny, shiny, shiny!
While the MAC Frost lipsticks have a fine pearl, the Metallics have small and medium-sized pieces of glitter, and they catch A LOT of light. Very eye-catching and beautiful, particularly when you peep them up close.
They last about three hours for me and — surprisingly — aren’t drying. I’m serious, most of the time, matte and metallic lipsticks suck every molecule of moisture out of my lips, but these don’t, which is not to say that they’re moisturizing…because I wouldn’t go that far. I would just say that they aren’t very drying.
I sort of think of the collection as having three parts — the nudes, the basic bolds (your wines, burgundies and pinks) and your cray-cray colors (your greens, blues and “edgy” lip colors).
The nudes are rocking my world
Nude metallics can be tricky, because they can age you and make your lips look very dry when they settle into your lip lines. Thankfully, these are consistently smooth, so they don’t do that, and they aren’t patchy either.
Of the nudes, Pale Rose is my fave. It’s an opaque neutral pink that I can see working really, really well with lots of different skin tones. Definitely check it out.
I also like the bold shades, especially bright green Zerocool, which basically looks like you crushed a glittery shamrock and spread it across your lips. It’s sparkly, green and artsy-fartsy!
The bolds need a lip liner
My issue with the bold colors, though, is that they start to look funky as they fade. The Metallic formula hangs around the edges of my lips more than the center area. For instance, when I wear green Zerocool, it disappears in the center area of my lips after about 30 minutes, leaving behind a very distinct line between the bright green and the naturally pink parts of my lips.
It’s really, REALLY obvious, and not a cute look. I think it makes me look kinda villainous, LOL!
You can kinda diminish the effect if you use a lip liner to outline and fill in your lips first — in this case, with something like Urban Decay Ozone — but you know…extra work.
I like my lipstick to be easy, so I think I’ll be sticking mostly to the nudes.
The final verdict
Definitely check out the nudes, especially Pale Rose, and if you want to “go there” with the bold colors, plan on layering a coordinating lip pencil underneath.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Is it Friday yet? My body wants it to be Friday. I hope you’re hanging in there, girl!
Huh! These are prettier than I thought they would be (the nudes, at least). But…are you sure they don’t veer into scary frost territory from afar? I’ve never been a fan of frost lipstick and have never worn metallic lipstick. I could see myself trying Pale Rose if it really does look more luminous than frosty.
Nope, Pale Rose isn’t frosty at all! I have a fear of frosts and these are more just shiny and pretty.
OMG THAT GREEEEEN!!!! Must find a MAC store today and get that ish!!
Yeah, it’s super cool! While you’re there check out Minted Eye Kohl. If you’re into greens, I think you’ll love it. It would look kinda cool on the lower lash line if you wore it with the lipstick!
Zerocool and Anything Once made me gasp!
I’m loving this whole metallic/holographic trend for lips and eyes this year. Don’t think I personally could pull it off, but I love seeing it on other people!
Hi Kristen,
I didn’t think I’d be able to pull it off either because of my experiences with the finish in past. The new crop of metallics has some seriously stepped up game though!
OMG, I’m with you – those nudes are gorgeous! I can feel my wallet getting thinner already!
Hi Kellly,
They should be extra pretty with a touch of gloss on top, yeah? Which ones do you have your eyes on?
Yes, the nude are really lovely like Modern Manners and Pale Rose and, especially wearable, while the craziest ones are really screaming 90’s are back. Indeed I remember playing with metallic and foil blue and silver back in that decade.
Too bad for the poor lasting power :'( sigh sigh
I haven’t really loved this metallic trend (honestly a lot of the new metallic lip products just look like frosts to me) but these nudes are really lovely, and actually look metallic! I have a feeling I’ll pick up Pale Rose.
OK, not all of these are for me but do I like the nudes!! Amazing – especially Pale Rose <3!
Hi, Karen! How do these compare to the lippies that were in the Star Trek collex? I happen to have Where No Man Has Gone Before on right now. It’s labeled as a Lustre, but the look of it seems similar to one of the nudes you have here.
The nudes are intersting, the rest… Not for me. I had a metallic MAC lipstick that I loved for years, Bronzilla, but it went off, so I had to throw it out.
Wow, those are some interesting colors! I’ll think I’ll stick with the natural colors too. 😉
I think these will make really pretty toppers. I ordered Zerocool to see how I like the formula. It was too unique to pass up.