MAC My Better Half, Off the Record, Stone’s Throw Matte Lip Mousses Reviews & Swatches

My Better Half

MAC My Better Half Matte Lip Mousse ($20.00 for 0.24 oz.) is a brighter, medium red with neutral-to-warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. The pigmentation was semi-sheer to medium, buildable to full coverage with a second layer. The texture felt smooth and spreadable with an airy, lightly watery texture–wet but not truly watery.

This particular shade seemed to dry down more quickly than most shades in the range. The color went on evenly, and while it didn’t do anything for my lip texture, it didn’t sink into my lip lines noticeably. It stayed on well for seven hours and felt a little drying over time.

Top Dupes

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Kat Von D Bachelorette (P, $20.00) is less shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
Colour Pop Dream Easy (LE, $7.00) is less shimmery, lighter, glossier (90% similar).
Chanel Vivant (144) (P, $37.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
NARS Ravishing Red (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Colour Pop Daytrip (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Tarte Daiquiri (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (85% similar).
NARS Pop Life (P, $27.00) is more shimmery, more muted, warmer (85% similar).
Guerlain #40 (P, $33.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Lancome Idole (186) (LE, $32.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
NARS Rosa (LE, $27.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).

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Formula Overview

$20.00/0.24 oz. - $83.33 Per Ounce

The product is supposed to have "immediate and long-term hydration" paired with a "long-wearing," "sheer-to-medium buildable coverage" formula that has a "soft matte finish" that wears for "eight hours." All of the shades had the typical vanilla scent (but no discernible taste). The pigmentation was more medium coverage with some getting closer to semi-opaque coverage using one pull of product (applying across my lips using what was on the applicator after removing from the tube). To get sheerer coverage, you'd have to wipe away the excess or spread out with fingertips.

The texture was like a watery mousse; it didn't seem as whipped or as airy as a typical mousse, but it was very lightweight, thin, and had a soft-set--still some transfer initially but wore down to a transfer-resistant finish after a gentle blot or some drinking (where some product transferred onto the glass). The product didn't feel "wet" or creamy after it was applied. The finish was more satiny to me and wore down to semi-matte within an hour and then further mattified after one to two hours of wear. Some shades applied evenly and sat well on my lips, while others were streaky, patchy, or separated along and emphasized my lip lines.

The formula did not seem to be hydrating either immediately or long-term, as I felt like my lips were always drier and a bit worse for the wear after wearing the products for 16-18 hours per day. I did not use lip balm for 48 hours, and my lips started to crack, so I had to resume my normal use of lip balm (at night, while I sleep). They were long-wearing and flexible/comfortable to wear for the most part, and most of the shades lasted five to six hours with some lasting closer to the eight hours claimed. I didn't experience any feathering/bleeding during wear.

Browse all of our MAC Matte Lip Mousse swatches.

Ingredients

Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Diisostearyl Malate, Kaolin, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polyethylene, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Nylon-12, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dextrin Palmitate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Vanillin, Phenoxyethanol, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985)]

My Better Half

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

90%

Total

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Off the Record

MAC Off the Record Matte Lip Mousse ($20.00 for 0.24 oz.) is a deep berry with cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had medium coverage in a single layer, which was easily built up to full coverage with a second layer.

The lip color had a lightweight, spreadable texture that was thin, watery, and felt lightly mousse-like but didn’t have the full density I’d expect for a true mousse consistency. The color applied well to my lips with an even layer of product that didn’t sink into my lip lines noticeably (in person, at a normal viewing distance). It lasted well for seven hours and felt neither drying nor hydrating on my lips.

Top Dupes

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NARS Damage Control (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
Lisa Eldridge Skyscraper Rose (LE, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Stellar Beauty Wicked Aura 01 (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
MAC Claretcast (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Kat Von D Miss Argentina (P, $20.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
MAC Marsala (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
Pat McGrath Sorry Not Sorry (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Smashbox Jam On It (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
NARS Full Time Females (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, more muted (85% similar).
Colour Pop First of All (PiP, $7.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$20.00/0.24 oz. - $83.33 Per Ounce

Browse all of our MAC Matte Lip Mousse swatches.

Ingredients

Off the Record

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

91%

Total

Stone's Throw

MAC Stone’s Throw Matte Lip Mousse ($20.00 for 0.24 oz.) is a deep, reddened plum with subtle, cool undertones and a natural sheen. There seemed to be very faint pearl in it, but it wasn’t enough that it looked like a shimmery lip color in person. It had medium coverage in one layer, which was buildable to full coverage with a second layer.

The texture was spreadable, lightweight, and thin with a bit of watery slip to it, and given it had sheerness, it actually applied fairly evenly and didn’t spread into my lip lines as noticeably as I’ve seen this type of color (and finish) do in the past–so I would consider it better than average there. It wore well for seven hours and was non-drying over time.

Top Dupes

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Guerlain #75 (P, $33.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
Bite Beauty Chicago (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
NARS Transeurope Express (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
Pat McGrath Executive Realness (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
NARS Vivien (P, $34.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Chanel Ultraberry (247) (P, $38.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Bite Beauty Plum (LE, $24.00) is warmer (85% similar).
MAC Fig (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
Colour Pop Poison (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
Bobbi Brown Telluride (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).