MAC Both Cheeks & Straight Fire Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches

Both Cheeks

MAC Both Cheeks Lipstick ($19.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a vibrant, medium-dark magenta with cool, blue undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly opaque color coverage that applied evenly, but something was off about the texture was it slipped into my lip lines noticeably, which gave my lips a more textured look. The consistency was lightweight with moderate slip, but it didn’t feel too creamy yet it pulled away along my lip lines. The color stayed on well for six hours, left a stain behind, and was a bit drying after five hours of wear.

Top Dupes

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NYX Sweet Pink (P, $6.00) is cooler (95% similar).
MAC Flamboyish (LE, $18.50) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (95% similar).
Kat Von D Backstage Bambi (P, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
Estee Lauder Neon Azalea (P, $30.00) is lighter (90% similar).
MAC Smoked Rose (LE, $18.50) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Electric Pink (15) (P, $54.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Make Up For Ever C207 (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker, glossier (90% similar).
Kat Von D Backstage Bambi (P, $20.00) is more muted, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
YSL Rose Ink (3) (P, $36.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Bite Beauty Nearly Neon Fuchsia (LE, $26.00) is darker (90% similar).
More dupes -- click to see the full list!

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.

Browse all of our MAC Lipstick swatches.

Both Cheeks

Limited Edition

7.5

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

7.5

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

84%

Total

Straight Fire

MAC Straight Fire Lipstick ($19.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a deep red with subtle, cool undertones and a barely-there, metallic sheen. The color payoff was opaque in a single layer, though the texture was firmer and denser, so there was some tugging on my lips when I tried to apply it in a fluid stroke. I found the best way to apply this was in shorter strokes across my lips, which was more comfortable and still conducive to full coverage, even application. It wore well for five and a half hours but was a touch on the drying side over time.

Top Dupes

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Colour Pop Let's Play (LE, $5.50) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Urban Decay Love Drunk (P, $18.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
NARS Pierce (LE, $26.00) (90% similar).
MAC Rocker (P, $18.50) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Colour Pop Coquette (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, glossier (90% similar).
Urban Decay Singe (P, $18.00) is lighter, glossier (85% similar).
Sephora Hong Kong by Night (27) (P, $8.00) is warmer (85% similar).
Colour Pop Silk (LE, $5.50) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
Coloured Raine Cherry Blossom (P, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter, glossier (85% similar).
Milani Mattely In Love (06) (LE, $8.99) is lighter (80% similar).
More dupes -- click to see the full list!