MAC Who Wants Kandi, Shimmer & Spice, Smarticle Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches

Who Wants Kandi

MAC Who Wants Kandi Lipstick ($18.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a light-medium pink with warmer undertones and cooler, iridescent pearl. It had medium color coverage in a single layer, which did not build up much beyond that; it was more in the vein of some of the more pearlescent shades in the launch, but unfortunately, this one wasn’t described as sheer. The consistency was lightweight and thinner and felt just emollient enough not to drag on my lips. It lasted for three and a half hours, but there was a touch of product that settled into my lip lines over time. The formula was neither drying nor hydrating on me from what I could tell.

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MAC Skew (P, $18.50) is darker (90% similar).
MAC Plink! (P, $18.50) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Chanel Rose Clair (P, $37.00) is darker (85% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Rinko (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
MAC Sunny Seoul (P, $18.50) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
MAC Shy Shine (P, $18.50) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
MAC Almondine (LE, $18.50) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
Urban Decay First Sin (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Nina (LE, $36.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
Smashbox Easy (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
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Formula Overview

$18.50/0.10 oz. - $185.00 Per Ounce

MAC Lipstick comes in a variety of finishes, and the pigmentation and wear tend to be dependent on the finish. The sheer finishes, like Lustres, tend to wear for only a couple of hours and have sheer coverage (as designed) and are non-drying. Some of the original Matte shades have a stiffer, drier formula, while newer ones have a more velvety, silicone-feel to them, and the latter are creamier, more comfortable to wear, and easier to apply, but most Matte shades are quite pigmented and long-wearing, though some are drying. The Amplified and Satin finishes tend to have good pigmentation, lightly creamy to moderately creamy consistencies with a bit of shine, and moderate to long wear with deeper, richer shades wearing longer. The Frost and Metallic finishes have the most variance between shades with coverage ranging from semi-sheer to opaque with average wear and non-drying to slightly drying formulas. All MAC lipsticks are vanilla-scented but have no discernible taste.

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Who Wants Kandi

7.5

Product

7.5

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

78%

Total

Shimmer and Spice

MAC Shimmer and Spice Lipstick ($18.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a medium-dark, plummy brown base with flecks of copper, pink, and gold pearl and micro-sparkle. The texture was noticeably gritty and a bit rougher than I’d expect, likely due in part to the thinner consistency that just didn’t suspend the sparkle in enough substance to keep it feeling smooth against my lips. It had medium coverage that did not apply evenly at all. The color stayed on well for four hours and was neither drying nor hydrating.

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Milk Makeup Buffy (P, $24.00) is darker (90% similar).
Bite Beauty Rose Pearl (P, $24.00) is lighter, glossier (85% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Snowdon (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, brighter, warmer (80% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Nico (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Daniel (DC, $36.00) is lighter (85% similar).
MAC Forbidden Romance (LE, $18.50) is lighter, brighter, warmer (80% similar).
Estee Lauder Raging Beauty (P, $32.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar).
Urban Decay Amulet (P, $18.00) is lighter, less glossy (80% similar).
Too Faced That Girl (LE, $22.00) is cooler (80% similar).
Estee Lauder Naked Ambition (120) (P, $32.00) is lighter, brighter (80% similar).
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Formula Overview

$18.50/0.10 oz. - $185.00 Per Ounce

Browse all of our MAC Lipstick swatches.

Shimmer and Spice

6.5

Product

7.5

Pigmentation

6.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

70%

Total

Smarticle

MAC Smarticle Lipstick ($18.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark copper with warm, red undertones and a satin finish. The color payoff was opaque in a single layer, while the lipstick had a lightly creamy consistency that was a bit thicker on my lips but did not feel heavy. It had just enough creaminess to glide on without tugging on my lips, but it seemed more prone to separating just slightly along my lip lines, though it wasn’t noticeable from a normal viewing distance. It wore well for five and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating on me.