Hello everyone!
Seasons may come and go but lipsticks in wearable nude shades will never go out of style. Rounding off my reviews on the MAC Holiday 2015 releases, I bring you my thoughts on three lipsticks that were unveiled last winter as part of the Faerie Whispers collection. If you’re still on the fence about getting anything from this collection even after close to five months, hopefully you’d be able to come to a decision after reading this review!
MAC Faerie Whispers Collection
MAC is known to churn out new releases faster than we can replenish our bank accounts that was emptied from the last haul but apart from that observation, did anyone actually notice how creative and and stunning their promotional pictures usually are? My attention was immediately drawn to the dreamy and ethereal look of the artwork above. Everything is kept to the theme here – the colours, the choice of model (she’s peculiarly gorgeous) and the makeup all fused together to impart a sense of surrealism, just the kind of feeling you’d get in the secret, wondrous world of fairies.
Faerie Whispers promises to enchant with an impressive variety of single eye shadows (eight of them, to be precise) as well as a manageable selection of lipsticks, glosses and other face and nail products in soft, shimmery hues of coral and pink. In other words, don’t expect solid colours or anything matte from this collection.
MAC Faerie Whispers Collection (lipsticks)
MAC Faerie Whispers Collection (lipsticks)
MAC Faerie Whispers Collection (lipsticks)
Once again, I’m slightly bummed out that no effort was put into the designing of the lipstick packaging especially with the gradual climb in their prices. I believe it wouldn’t hurt to add a little sparkle to the box or something.
MAC Faerie Whispers Collection – lipstick swatches
The lipstick shade that I had no affinity with was Gossamer Wing, a dirty beige with a Lustre finish which I reckoned would be non-existent on my naturally pale lips considering how sheer the darker shades already are when swatched on my hand.
#1 Midsummer Night
Midsummer Night is a mid-tone coral nude with Cremesheen finish (US$17)
MAC Midsummer Night
MAC Midsummer Night
MAC Midsummer Night
MAC Midsummer Night
MAC Midsummer Night
This is one bewildering shade, so much so that I had to do a double take when I first wore it. It seems more like a bright orange than coral when I swatch it on my hand but the moment I apply the colour to my lips, the opposite happens! Are my eyes playing tricks on me?
Although Midsummer Night leaves a smooth and moisturising finish, the colour fails to distribute evenly. You may not be able to see it in the pictures but the pigment is, at some parts, segregated from the glossy coating that gives the lipstick the creamy and high-shine appearance. Fortunately, this imperfection is only visible upon closer inspection so it shouldn’t be deterring you from getting it if you like nude shades.
MAC Midsummer Night – swatch comparison
Someone at the laboratory probably took Soft Pout (also a limited edition shade) and added a small percentage of orange tint to create Midsummer Night…
#2 A Sprinkle of Magic
A Sprinkle of Magic is a dirty orange nude with Frost finish (US$17)
MAC A Sprinkle of Magic
MAC A Sprinkle of Magic
MAC A Sprinkle of Magic
MAC A Sprinkle of Magic
MAC A Sprinkle of Magic
I am fully aware that this collection is inspired by the magical realm of fairies and whatnot but I swear some kind of sorcery is indeed going on here because this lipstick literally transforms from a reddish-orange on my hand to a baby pink on my lips. I’ve done quite a couple of lipstick reviews the past few years but never once have I seen any lipstick shade change so drastically when swatched at different places like these ones.
But mysteries aside, I was sorely disappointed by the colour disparity because I had anticipated it to be the “dirty orange nude” on the bullet. Don’t get me wrong – the pink is nice, but I already have tons of similar shades in my stash so I was also hoping to get something different. On top of that, the colour payoff is atrocious as I had to apply several layers on the lips before I could finally see lipstick (it’s great in a way, I guess, since it’s buildable). The finish is also nowhere near what you would expect of a Frost lipstick. The micro-shimmers somehow don’t translate to the alluring shine it promises but instead, make the lipstick look very disintegrated upon application. It kinda reminds me of the texture of asphalt roads – messy, coarse and inconsistent.
MAC A Sprinkle of Magic – swatch comparison
MAC A Sprinkle of Magic – swatch comparison
How is A Sprinkle of Magic a Frost lipstick when it has almost the same texture as my Lustres?
#3 Among the Fireflies
Among the Fireflies is a soft mocha with Cremesheen finish (US$17)
MAC Among the Fireflies
MAC Among the Fireflies
MAC Among the Fireflies
MAC Among the Fireflies
MAC Among the Fireflies
By now you should have picked up on my subtle hint not to blow your money on the lipsticks from this collection but if you’re adamant about owning at least one from every MAC release, then perhaps you should consider getting Among the Fireflies. It feels extremely lightweight on the lips and the soft brown blends into my natural lip colour perfectly without looking too prominent. Furthermore, it is emollient with a close-to-seamless payoff (although only after multiple application to even out the colour). It is easily the best performer among the trio of lipsticks I have featured here.
MAC Among the Fireflies – swatch comparison
What’s more, it’s pretty much a shade of brown that hasn’t been released before!
On the whole, unless you’re into light makeup or anything iridescent, the money is better spent elsewhere. Do you agree with me on this?
Feel free to share your views with me in the comments below!
Thanks for reading!
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