Colleges could teach courses in ways to pair MAC Subculture Lip Pencil ($13). Seriously, I wear this warm rosy nude with practically everything. EVERY. FRICKIN’. THING. I use it so much that I’ve gone through about four sticks of it over the past few years. It’s a regular Ms. Versatility, boo, and if you two haven’t met, it’s high time ya did.
Many gals, myself included, feel that Subculture’s color matches the natural color of their lips perfectly, which, I know, seems counterintuitive. I mean, why buy a lip pencil in the same shade as your lips?
Well, for the definition, doll. 🙂 I use this creamy, long-wearing, non-feathering pencil to define my pucker with crisp edges when I wear lipsticks and/or gloss, and I also think my lips look smoother and plumper with it on.
When I’m pressed for time (or just feeling lazy), I’ll quickly line and fill my lips with Subculture, and then pop a little clear gloss or lip balm on top. It’s an easy nude lip look that also looks great with smokey eyes.
If you prefer brights, Subculture also plays well with pinks and reds, like cult fave MAC Russian Red. I use it like an anchor (lining and filling with it first) to prevent color from bleeding and to keep vibrant lipsticks and glosses in place.
And whenever a pale lippie comes along that’s a little too light or cool for my lips (hello, MAC Pink 4 Friday!), I use Subculture to warm things up.
Oh, and it loves to be layered atop pink, brown, peach and beige neutrals.
A few colors that play well with MAC Subculture…
- MAC Lipstick in High Tea — a pearly pinkish beige
- MAC Lipstick in Angel — a frosty soft pink
- MAC Lipglass in Florabundance — a peachy pink
- MAC Lipstick in Hue — a soft pale pink
- MAC Lipstick in Blankety — a soft pinkish beige
- MAC Lipstick in Cherish — a soft peachy beige
- MAC Lipstick in Plink! — a warm seashell pink
- MAC Lipstick in Please Me — a rosy pink
- MAC Lipstick in Myth — a pale peachy beige
- MAC Lipstick in Viva Glam V — a shimmery pink
- MAC Lipglass in Nympehtte — a shimmery golden pink
Subculture is a member of MAC’s permanent collection, and it likes to chill on MAC counters, in stores and at maccosmetics.com.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S…
The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
- MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
P.P.S. How was your Tuesday? I’m just about to sit down to dinner with El Hub and Tabs. Two of us are having ravioli, and the other is going with gravy tonight. 🙂
I have to get this! I’m in love! The only MAC Lip Pencil I have is in Dervish.
Dervish is a great shade. What do you like to wear it with?
For me, Chestnut goes with everything, though that might be because of my lip color. I haven’t tried subculture, but now I may have to give it a look!
Thanks for reminding me about Chestnut! That’s a fantastic color.
I just bought this maybe two weeks ago. This lip pencil rocks. You can wear it underneath so many lip colors!
YES! Do you have Viva Glam V, Perri? It looks super pretty with it!
I’ve never worn lipliner before, but that nude lip in those photos look too gorgeous not to try. Are you just wearing a clear gloss over Subculture? (BTW Karen you look amazing!)
Hi Crystal,
Thanks. 🙂 Yup, that’s just plain old clear lip gloss on top. You can also use lip balm or even Chapstick!
I will keep this one in mind! My nude pencil is Smashbox’s Smashing Nude (I think that’s the name, but I’m too lazy to go and check right now).
And can I just say that I’m so jealous that you’re having ravioli??? I’ve been craving it something fierce for the past two days.
Hi Jen,
OOH girl. The ravioli I had was so good — butternut squash from Trader Joe’s. Add a little melted butter, some pepper and parmesan… DELISH!
It looks almost identical to my Body Shop lip pencil in Heather. It was the first lip pencil I ever bought so I let the girl pick it, and it does exactly what you say – same colour as my lips and adds definition. I’ll try this Mac one when I need to replace it! (should think of using it more often)
Hmm now I want ravioli.
I’ll have to pop by Body Shop to check that one out. I’m going to the mall today so hopefully it’s there!
LOL, ravioli kind of rocks my world. Do you have a favorite kind? Mine’s a toss up between portobella mushroom and butternut squash.
Let me know what you think if you find the pencil!
Mushrooms and/or cheese are my favourite actually, especially the four cheese kind hmm.. 😛
That’s a great colour, I think I will have to try it. Thanks for the review!
You’re welcome, Alison! Please let me know if you end up getting it. 🙂
Any drugstore dupes for Subculture? I know Wet & Wild makes cheap lip liners…
Hi LC,
I’ve used the Rimmel 1000 Kisses ones and like them a lot. A few to consider: Cappuccino, Nude and Spice. They’re about $3 each. Here’s a link to them on Ulta.com: Rimmel Lip Liner.
haha, guess what, my fav lipliner is Subcultre, but I also have some other liners like…1000 Kisses from Rimmel, in Nude and Spice also. So I guess we had the same in our minds 🙂
I know you’ll have to put on your surprised face when I say that liners have always sucked the moisture out of my lips. How are MAC’s?
The Lip Liners are great, but you might have to apply a lip balm to prep if it’s the middle of winter and your lips are super chapped.
You might want to consider their Cremestick Liners. They’re twist up (no need to sharpen) and have a very smooth, creamy formula:
MAC Cremestick Liners
There’s a lot of great colors, too! A few faves: Pink Treat, Beurre and Sublime Culture. 🙂
Thank you! I’ve added them to my “need to check these out” list. 🙂 That is the biggest negative about the cold, dry winters – I feel like I need to be dipped in a vat of oil for the day!
Definitely going to pick this one up. I have been looking for a nude liner but just couldn’t decide which one to get…thanks for making the choice easy! 🙂
You’re welcome, Alka. 🙂 If you need any additional nude liner color suggestions please let me know. MAC has several good ones in addition to Subculture.
I’m pretty sure I have this… I may need to work it into my rotation more often!
Yeah you do! I bet it would look really pretty with your fabulous coral blushes. 🙂
How are you doing today?
yah I just checked and I do have it. I thought I had sublime culture as well, but apparently not. I do have a lot of the pale lippies you suggested as well!
I am hanging in there. I’m glad I don’t have to work today. In the past few days my uncomfortableness has skyrocketed, and I’m ready to not be pregnant anymore, LOL.
How are you doing? any big plans for the day?
I’m loving this post and you look so cute! Your hair looks adorable! I’m a person who loves color, but I like this look a lot – I’ll definitely be purchasing this pencil.
Great, Jessica! When you get it please let me know what you think. I hope you love it!
This is a staple in my makeup bag too. I also like the Sublime Culture cremestick liner which is a similar color but in the twist up form.
I have that one too. On me it’s a touch more peachy.
is subculture LE? i want it! 😀
lately ive been using the chromagraphic pencil to line my lips … i line and then smudge the insides a little bit. it gives my lipstick a crisp,clear line. 🙂
Hi Nina,
It’s permanent! Ooh, it would break my heart if it ever went away!
ahh so glad it is! im making a mac order so ill drop this in my shopping cart too! 🙂
Awesome. 🙂 What else are you getting?
peaches blush and a back up of viva glam gaga 2 – it IS the perfect nude! i added subculture!
Your hair and makeup look GREAT in these photos!! I need to get back in the habit of wearing a neutral lip liner. I’m hella lazy about it but it really does provide some much-needed definition to my fading-with-age lip line.
Thanks mkdallas. 🙂 If you need more color recommendations let me know.
Is that a faux bob you’re rockin’? You look fabulous and ready for spring 🙂
That lip pencil looks gorgeous… I hope I can get to a MAC counter this weekend!
Hi JJ,
Yes, it is. I pinned the ends beneath just to try something different. 🙂
Ooh, let me know if you end up picking up Subculture. There’s lots of great nude lip pencils, but this one is my fave.
I am obsessed with this liner also — I wear it with all kinds of nude, pink, and peachy pink lipsticks and glosses. It is perfect!!
I used to wear Stripdown liner — but it pulls much more brown nude on me. Subculture is the perfect pink nude!!
You know, I don’t think I actually own Stripdown. I need to pick it up one of these days!
OMG Karen! You have GOT to get Stripdown. It is the BESTEST (lol) liner for peachy lips. I call it my J-Lo liner. Try it with something like Viva Gaga 2 lipstick and either Pink Lemonade or Lychee Luxe on top. I love it with lipsticks in the range of Jazzed, Dressmaker, Dressmaker too, topped with something like Richer, Lucher Cremesheen, yumm!
Karen! You looks so beautiful in these pictures! And I’m liking the look of that pencil, I might have to go snag it. I’m a firm believer that you can never have too many nude lip products =]
Thanks Gina. I fully subscribe to that belief, too. Which nude lip pencils are your faves? I also like MAC Cork and Spice!
I think my HG pink nude pencil is MAC’s Whirl. I wear that with EVERYTHING too!
I love your ‘Unsung Heroes’ posts!
Love your hair!!!!! 🙂
did you cute your hair, karen? it looks awesome! can i ask where you got it cut?
How does it compare to Chanel’s nude liner?
omg I want, now! it looks very nice 🙂 looking into ordering it right away
btw, I forgot to thank you for your MAC Wonderwoman post – it prompted me to get the Myscira 🙂
Hiyee! I was so torn between Subculture lip pencil and SUBLIME Culture Cremestick liner and I ended up going with Sublime Culture (only because I love the cremestick liner’s staying power). Do you think I chose wrong? I love how you listed which lipsticks to wear with this lip pencil. Thanks, hope you’re having a great day! =)
I ran out on my lunch break to buy this lip liner, all because the picture looked so nice on you! I put it on and put my Kiehl’s mint lip balm #1. The perfect combination! Thanks!
Karen your hair looks lovely with those lowlights! And the lip pencil looks great on you too – all about mastering the colour palette that complements your skin tone, hair colour and eye colour.
Thanks for the tip on this liner! I love the Smashbox waterproof liners that match by skin color. I use that darn liner w/ eveything! I love that it is waterproof, and truly stays on, but I’m always on the lookout for alternatives. Especially since I have to confess to being a MAC ‘ho. I can’t wait to try it!
I have been a MAC fan for years and it was only on my last trip to MAC that I was paired up with the Subculture lip pencil and Oyster Girl gloss. Those two together are my daily lip staple now. I also have tried Subculture with the pink Lady Gaga lip gloss. If you are looking for something with a lot of pink factor, its a super duper cute look.
I love me a nude lip! This liner is at the top of my mac list- thanks Karen! BTW- you went for reddish highlights! Looks great :0
Thanks, Leslie! 🙂
That looks like a great color and would work well for me for a nude lip as well. I’ve been devoted to MAC’s Spice lip liner for years because it works just as well for a nude color however I will have to look for this one
thanks Karen – I also got the pencil and it suits me perfectly as well! 🙂 that’s 2 MAC purchases thanks to you!
I’ve always been curious about this shade! It’s going on my list 🙂 I’ve got Cherry, Summerfruit, Life’s a Breeze, Currant, Grape, and Sublime Culture. Life’s a Breeze and Summerfruit usually get used the most.
Karen, would this work with MAC’s Violetta lipstick? I bought that on a crazy whim last time in the Pro store and now I’m not sure how to wear it, cause the insides of my lips are purple, but the margins are pink. Thanks in advance!
I know this post is older but I am hoping that you can tell me if Subculture will go with the lipsticks Modesty, fan fare, and Velvet teddy. The Mac girl online suggested boldly bare but it looks too orangey brown online.