A Guide to MAC Lipstick Formulas

Confused at the MAC lipstick counter? Do you find yourself covered in swatches of countless colours, eventually settling on one to then find you don’t really like the finish of it? -We’ve all been there!

I’ve put together a little lipstick guide of the nine finishes that MAC do. Hopefully this will help you identify your favourite, and make the whole shopping process simpler.

Matte

This is my ultimate favourite formula, and matte simply means no-shine with a really good colour pay-off. The MAC matte lipsticks tend to be really drying on the lips, and will need some prep and aftercare to soothe and moisturise your lips. This is a great choice if you don’t want to be constantly reapplying your lipstick as it’s very long wearing. Click here to see my tips on how to wear matte lipstick.

Retro Matte

The most drying of all of the MAC lipstick formulas and it requires some tugging of the lips when applying it, however it’s also the most long-wearing finish. There isn’t a huge range of colours to choose from, however the colour payoff is amazing, and the colours are very bold and striking.

Satin

This finish has a semi-matte finish with a small amount of sheen. It’s a good choice for people with dry lips, as it conditions the lips and has a decent colour pay-off with opaque coverage.

Amplified

This formula is highly pigmented and they have an opaque coverage. Very similar to the matte formulas, however, they’re much less drying on the lips.

Amplified Creme

These are soft and creamy, similar to the Amplified formula, giving a glossy finish to the lips. They’re not very long-wearing, and have a tendency to bleed and feather due to their creamy formula. This is easily rectified by using a lip liner prior to application.

Cremesheen

The name sums it up, this is a creamy lipstick with a soft shine and full coverage. It isn’t long lasting, so will need some reapplying, but is comfortable on the lips. There are many neutral shades available in this formula, making this one of MAC’s most popular finishes.

Glaze

Glaze lipsticks are very sheer and have a natural finish. They tend to last for the shortest time, but are perfect for those that want just a hint of colour on the lips.

Lustre

The lustre finish is very similar to glaze; sheer coverage with a glossy sheen and doesn’t last very long. The only major difference is that they give slightly more coverage.

Frost

This formula is very shimmery, and varies a lot across the range of colours. I’m not a fan of this formula and I think some of the shades, such as Angel are more wearable than others. They have decent coverage, and last for around an hour or two, before the need to reapply.

What’s your favourite lipstick formula?