[RING! RING!]
ME: Yellow.
EL HUB: Hi, sweetie.
ME: Hi.
EL HUB: How’s it going? Have you had lunch yet?
ME: I’m at Petco.
EL HUB: Getting gravy for Tabs?
ME: No, I’m looking at snakes.
EL HUB: …
ME: And I’m listening to Biggie on my headphones and actually doing The Snake while I watch them.
EL HUB: Not.
ME: Yes.
EL HUB: Why are you doing that?
ME: It’s research…and I’m looking for inspiration to help me write about the new MAC Year of the Snake collection lipsticks.
EL HUB: [LAUGHING] Okay, is it helping?
ME: It is! I’m doing like Don Draper. Remember that Mad Men episode where he said, “Think about it deeply, then forget it. Then an idea will jump up in your face”?
EL HUB: No.
ME: Well he did.
EL HUB: Maybe you could just write about how weird it is to do The Snake in the middle of Petco while actually looking at real snakes.
ME: Hmm… It does sound weird when you say it that way. 🙂
What was the first thing I noticed about the three new lipsticks in the Chinese New Year’s-inspired MAC Year of the Snake collection? That’s easy — their righteous reptilian packaging!
Those intricate snake patterns along the sides of the bullets? So cool! I just love those kinds of little touches. It turns something as ordinary as a tube of lipstick into a little work of art.
MAC included two brights — Cockney and Plumful — and one neutral — Freckletone — with the collection, all of them in the MAC Lustre Lipstick formula, which is one of my favorite MAC formulas on account of how easy it is to wear.
Lightweight, smooth, shiny and moisturizing, the Lustres last for me from 3-4 hours. When I want to wear a lipstick but feel like my lips are parched and desperately seeking TLC, I’ll often reach for a Lustre.
MAC let the fountain flow freely with pigment when they concocted these, and then lit a light under them to crank up the shine. Only a little of my natural lip color still peeks through.
And these do remind me of snakeskins I’ve seen in the past. Same high-shine with the light playing along the scales.
Sometimes with MAC collections, I feel like there’s a piece missing from the puzzle when it comes to the lip products, but here, despite there only being three shades, MAC covered their bases.
Unlike the challenging new Viva Glam Nicki 2 pieces, all three of these are hyper wearable. I could easily see myself throwing all three into a makeup bag and covering all of my lip color needs for a week-long trip.
Bright yellowish red Cockney could put the finishing touches on a classic pin-up look, and neutral peach Freckletone would go great with day looks and/or smokey eyes.
OOH! And I bet plummy rose Plumful would look bangin’ with eye looks in taupe, purple or gray.
Three wearable, comfy lipsticks that look like art in their tubes. Only thing missing: Britney on stage with that cray-cray yellow boa wrapped around her, like that time at the VMA’s…
PRICE: $15 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now exclusively online at maccosmetics.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’m not too excited for the colors as I have about other 2483748975943 similar shades, but I have to say that the packaging and details on the lipsticks are great.
I guess you’ve been collecting for a while!
I love the details on the bullet itself, but I’m not too crazy over the colors. Freckletone looks pretty on you. 🙂
Thanks, Chris El!
Loved the packaging and so looking forward to the eyeshadows!!
The packaging is tops!
I love the packaging but none of those colors appeal to me.
I guess they’re not for everyone. I like ’em!
I loooove Cockney on you! Actually I love all three on you. You wear Freckletone so incredibly well! I think you’re the first person on which I actually like the shade 😉
Aw, thanks girl!
more than the colours, im in awe with the bullets!
They’re awesome!
Freckletone reminds me of Peachstock!
Kinda!
Le sigh. I don’t own a single MAC lipstick. But counting all three of these, my MAC wish list is up to seven lipsticks. Wait…eight. O.O
Once you start, you can’t stop!
i love the way the bullets look 😀 all 3 suit you <3
Thanks, Artemis. 🙂
Freckletone is so pretty. I love light peachy colors on my lips when I have heavier eye makeup. Did you find that freckletone made dry lips show more? That can be a downfall of lighter lipsticks.
Hi Jessica,
Nope, it’s not a problem with Freckletone. I have some dry patches on my lips and it goes on very smooth.
I really love the snake detail and these sound awesome from a moisturizing standpoint. I’m not wild about any of the three colors, though (for me). 🙁
Btw, your look in the first pic reminded me of the girl playing poker in the Ruffles commercial. 🙂 And, speaking of commercials, did you see the Doritos Goat one during the Super Bowl? I thought that was pretty funny!
I missed that one! I’ve only seen snippets of a Doritos one with a guy and a goat?! I’ll have to youtube it.
I think there were some interesting commercials this year. It seemed like several of the ads were aiming to create a certain feeling rather than outright sell the item (Jeep, Budweiser, Ram). I have to admit, I got a little teary with quite a few of them. I blame it on the PMS, LOL!
You weren’t alone. I’ve had many female friends tell me that they got teary over the Budweiser commercial. Of course, one of my friends had us laughing instead (by saying “do you see that trainer? I’d come back, too!”). I think we spent more time chatting than watching the commercials so I missed quite a few. Yes, that’s the Doritos one I meant – the man with the Goat 4 Sale. When the goat screamed for more Doritos, we all busted out laughing.
Plumful, get in my makeup bag! I think I like Freckletone just for the name. I was a little weirded out by the snake print at first but have grown to really appreciate the extra step that Mac took – it is like art on your makeup! I also like how moisturzing they made these. My favorite part of this? Your Petco adventure, lol
Petco is like my home away from home. Tabs sends me there at least once a day to run his errands, LOL!
Glad to hear you’re liking the lipsticks. 🙂
Karen, you crack me up ~~ love Plumful, beautiful color!
I love the design! MAC has really outdone themselves with this collection it looks like! I would love Freckletone, so pretty! Cockney looks fabulous on you!
“And I’m listening to Biggie on my headphones and actually doing The Snake while I watch them.” YES karen! YES! hahaha that made my day 🙂
Yeah, “plumful” is so tempting to get, especially with that snake design but I have tried it and it’s literally my lip color so I’m not sure if I’m down for the idea of spending $15+ when I can just put a light gloss over and call it a day. It is similar to “sweetie” but I’m wondering if it’s got more of a purple hue? Or more coloring than plumful?
Wow! The packaging for this is so cute! And I love the snake design in the lipsticks! (Reminds me of the hello kitty ones, except these are much more intricate :P)
Also, did you use your EF 50mm f1.8 lens to shoot the close ups? I NEED a lens that can do something like that!
I already love plumful and I’ve been looking for the perfect nude/neutral lippie. Freckletone looks promising! I love it on you, my nc42 sistah!
wait a minute…those aren’t real snakes!
See, I am with you on getting inspiration at Petco. I would do it myself, but I got no moves.
In my mind I’m Breakin’ 2, Electric Boogaloo, but I’m really just twitching like an idiot.
I love Plumful on you! Gorgeous!
Cockney looks insanely beautiful on you–it just compliments your skin tone so perfectly and while it’s bright and cheery, it’s not TOO bright, if that makes any sense. It’s really very pretty and I am kinda wanting it now (surprising because I honestly don’t wear lipstick!)
I love freckletone on you! Definitely a great every day color. You should try “Sugarrimmed” Dazzleglass Lipglass by MAC to top it. It would be fab!
OMG I love them all !
Hey Karen, hope you can answer this. I just got freckletone because I loved it on you!! I want to know which lipgloss you think pairs well with that lipstick. Thank you!!
Hi Rosie Posie,
Try MAC Dazzleglass in Girl’s Delight! 🙂