Read ALL about my review process including how I take swatches, photos, and more here.
OK—super quick review because you won’t BELIEVE all the technical difficulties I went through with a 1:45 video…lol. So MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lip Colour. Let’s talk about it.
First I feel like I’ve been hearing about these FOREVER (I follow MAC Senior Artist Romero Jennings—um he’s SUPER talented and so fly and wait until you see his FABULOUS mother who makes cameos on his feed and he posts sneak peeks about new MAC products including these) and then it’s also like “Dag, MAC. Everybody and their momma did liquid lipsticks and you’re NOW coming in the game?!?!”
Anyway, these are very much like any of the other 50 million liquid lipsticks I’ve tried—they go on like a gloss and dry to a velvet matte finish. What makes these standout is the applicator—the shape makes it SUPER easy to control the product (unlike some brands whose liquid lipstick applicators cause nothing but mess and strife) AND you can also use the applicator to line and define your lips. Of course you can use a lip pencil to perfect if you want but in most cases you’re golden with using the applicator.
On first trial I was amazed at how these weren’t sticky and they didn’t feel drying at first. But then I had a meal and as expected some of the product came off. But when I reapplied more, the product felt sticky on my lips and then wound up feeling really dry. I guess if I didn’t have to eat, I’d be fine but let’s be real: I ain’t skipping meals…lol.
I only bought five of the 15 shades and I’m sure because of pigments some of the shades may feel differently on the lips and have different wear times.
My faves out of the five that I bought are Dance with Me and Feels So Grand.
Tailored to Tease: described as a bright fuchsia
Works well for: Most skin tones but those with cooler undertones may love this more
Fashion Legacy: described as an intense fire truck red (blue undertone)
Works well for: Pretty much all skin-tones and especially great on those with cooler undertones
Feels So Good: described as a deep true red
Works well for: Pretty much all skin-tones. This is slightly on the warmer side so if you have warmer undertones, this is great for you.
Dance with Me: described as a deep cranberry red (this is another fave of mine out of the five I got)
Works well for: Pretty much all skin-tones
Recollection: described as an intense bright violet (this is my least favorite of the five I got. It can perhaps be salvaged with a darker liner like Nightmoth, but ain’t nobody got time…lol)
Works well for: This can be tricky to wear on its own for many because it’s SO cool-toned AND super matte, but if you love shades like this, I’m sure you can make it work with a deeper colored liner.
MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lip Colour Swatch Video:
See them in action in this short video on my Youtube channel and SUBSCRIBE for more videos :)
Face makeup I’m wearing can be found here. I didn’t intend to wear this smoky eye makeup for these swatches, but I had filmed a tutorial and wanted to make good use of time and having makeup on…lol. I’ll hopefully upload the smoky eye tutorial soon (provided it looks good…lol) so stay tuned :)
(That’s a typo—should be Feels So Grand*)
Bottom line: These are okay—what makes them standout is the applicator—the applicator is AMAZING. If you see a shade you like and the thirst is real, I say get one MAYBE two. These are permanent so no need to trample thy neighbor to get them.
Price and where to buy: $20 each at MAC.
Recollection and Feels So Grand are beautiful on you! I may need to order Recollection lol
Author
thank you!!!
All of those colors look great on you, but Tailored to Tease looks amazing! Beautiful!
Author
thanks!!!
Do you think they are drier than the matte lipsticks?
Author
Hey boo!
It’s a different kind of dry. I feel like the MAC Retro Matte lipsticks (like Ruby Woo) can be a little difficult to apply and then feel dry as they wear on (although the more I wear Ruby Woo, the less drying it feels on me—I guess the constant application warms up the tube…lol).
But these liquid lip colours apply SO much easier and don’t immediately feel dry but I felt they got drier as they wore on.
recollection looks gorgeous on you!!!! it makes me rethink true purples. feels so grand looks especially great too
Author
Thanks! It’s funny how you guys seem to like Recollection and it’s my least favorite…lol. Cool that we all have different tastes and such :)
What are your thoughts in High Drama and Oh Lady?
Author
I don’t have them so I don’t have any thoughts…lol.
Author
No, but I think High Drama looks pretty from what I saw but it was sold out when I bought online. I haven’t seen either in person so I have nothing to say about them yet :)
I bought Fashion Legacy, went there to buy fell so Grand but it was sold out :(. but I really love Fashion Legacy. yes recollection looks good on you, tell me is recollection similar to heroine? Divine Divine is calling my name, I’m going back for it.
Aww that’s such a bummer that you didn’t like Recollection that turned out to be one of my favorites out of 3 that I bought.
Author
Hey Alexis!
It’s all good…lol. Glad you like it though :)