The Hunt For The Perfect Lipstick -- M-A-C Satin Lipstick #AB6 ("M-A-C

It's 0100 and most sane folks are asleep. Me? I'm writing makeup reviews. Today, I'm writing about M-A-C Satin Lipstick #AB6, "M-A-C Red".

The short review: Really very nice, considering I'm not a big fan of satin makeup. M-A-C is starting to become my go-to brand these days for quality facial makeup, and the fact that they've got such a huge bunch of lipsticks to choose from makes them even better.

Longer review follows the jump-cut...


Candidate: M-A-C Satin Lipstick, #AB6, "M-A-C Red" (Make-up Art Cosmetics, Inc.)

Purchased: M-A-C Store, Columbia, MD

Cost: $14.00 per tube

Brand Info: M-A-C Cosmetics, Inc.
Founded in 1985 by Frank Toskan (a Canadian photographer and makeup artist) and Frank Angelo (Canadian salon owner). Both men shared a frustration with the quality of cosmetics available to customers and even noted major weaknesses in so-called "professional" cosmetics that didn't hold up under bright lights, hot sets, TV appearances, etc. Together with Toskan's brother-in-law, chemist Vic Casale, the three men began designing a new line of high-pigment and long-wearing cosmetics for "All ages, all races, all sex" (the company's first motto) that would later grow into the fashion industry product of choice. (It's a dirty little secret that most celebrities and models who appear on magazine covers wear M-A-C cosmetics, even if another name, such as the brand said spokesmodel/celeb is supposed to be promoting, is credited.) M-A-C was bought by Estee Lauder Cosmetics, Inc., in 1994, and today M-A-C is the "fashionista/edgy" arm of ELC.

M-A-C's lipsticks are mostly wax-based, making them far more durable than the petroleum jelly/lanolin/water/touch-of-paraffin lipsticks other companies make. They also come in over 120 colors and 8 formulas:

-- Amplified (lip plumper + matte finish)
-- Amplified Creme (lip plumper + creme finish)
-- Frost (intense color pigment + high frosty pigment content)
-- Glaze (sheer)
-- Lustre (intense color pigment + lower frosty pigment content)
-- Matte (intense color pigment and no shine)
-- Retro Matte (intense color pigment, no shine, harder and waxier formula--think 1940's red lipstick)
-- Satin (high pigments, creamy texture, no frosty pigments, more water content for shine)

The Tube: Black plastic, matte finish, tubular shape a bullet-shaped top and a silver ring at the mid-tube join. The letters "M-A-C" are written around the top at the join. A pewter sticker with black lettering on the bottom bears the company's official name ("Make-Up Artist Cosmetics"), their country of origin ("Canada"), and the color and color number ("M-A-C Red") (AB6).

The Product: As cherry red as cherry red gets. The product itself is a traditional bullet shape with a tear-shaped delivery point.

The Application: Very smooth application. Perfect point on the tip makes sculpting around the corners and cupid's bow easy. Goes on almost exactly like it looks in the tube, and has a very light shine due to its water content.

The Taste: Mild vanilla.

The Blot: The first blot removes most of the shine, making the final product appear more matte. Nice, cherry lip print. A second blot produces only about half the color I expected give the increased water content, which is nice.

The Wear: Typical edge of the cup, top of the chewed-on pen, bite of sandwich stains, but other than that, it wears like iron but feels really light for such an intense lipstick. It fades off gradually but evenly--no blotchyness.

The Verdict: The color is awesome, the feel is great, and the price is not bad at all for a high-quality lipstick (plus, M-A-C has an environmentally friendly recycling program: Return your empty tubes/eye shadow containers/etc. for a discount off a replacement). I'm in love with M-A-C, and if you haven't tried it, you should. This lipstick is a great place to start.