MAC Smoked Almond, Toast and Butter, Cordovan Liptensity Lipsticks

MAC Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Smoked Almond Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark pinky-brown with warm undertones and a creamy, lightly glossy finish. It was nicely pigmented with full-color coverage that went on smoothly and evenly. The texture felt a little firm in the tube, but it started to melt as I applied it to my lips. The consistency was a little thicker but did not feel heavy, and it did not well up in lip lines as it seemed to self-level after five minutes of wear. This shade wore well for six and a half hours and was lightly hydrating. Chanel Script (218) (P, $37.00) is warmer (90% similar). Colour Pop Grunge (LE, $5.00) is darker (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Pink Buff (P, $35.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Mocha (P, $17.00) is warmer (90% similar). Bite Beauty Chai (P, $26.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Make Up For Ever C107 (P, $22.00) is lighter (90% similar). Bite Beauty Molasses (P, $26.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Toast and Butter Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark caramel brown with warm, reddish-orange undertones and a cream finish. It had opaque color payoff paired with a lightly creamy texture that just barely tugged on the lips initially but started to melt and feel more gel-like from the warmth of the lips. On me, I was able to get six and a half hours of good wear out of the shade, though that’s not the full eight promised. Tom Ford Beauty Gustavo (LE, $35.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Urban Decay 1993 (P, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Tarte Choker (P, $20.00) is more muted (90% similar). Urban Decay 1993 (DC, $22.00) is lighter (90% similar). Colour Pop Tansy (P, $6.00) is brighter, warmer, less glossy (85% similar). MAC Photo (P, $17.00) is darker (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Cordovan Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a dark, reddish plum with subtle, cool undertones and a glossy finish. The consistency was more gel-like and had more slip on the lips, though it was thin and lightly tacky so I didn’t feel like it slid around while worn. It had semi-opaque pigmentation, but the color distributed evenly and smoothly. This shade lasted for seven hours and left behind a strong stain. MAC Dark Side (P, $17.00) is darker (95% similar). Bite Beauty Sugared Maple (LE, $24.00) is lighter (95% similar). Bite Beauty Jam (P, $26.00) is cooler (95% similar). Inglot #293 Lipstick Cream (P, $12.00) is glossier (95% similar). Bite Beauty Bordeaux (P, $28.00) is darker (95% similar). Bite Beauty Beetroot (P, $26.00) is lighter, brighter, less glossy (90% similar). MAC Hang Up (P, $17.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Labradorable (LE, $23.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Marsala (LE, $21.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Buxom Menace (P, $21.00) is warmer (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Formula Overview

MAC Smoked Almond Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is supposed to have “intense amounts of pigment” with a gel-like texture that melts on lips that leaves behind a satin finish and wears for “eight hours.” It’s supposed to be “comfortable” to wear, but there are no claims about hydration–and overall, they were non-drying. The majority of the range varied from semi-opaque to fully opaque in one stroke, while the texture had some body and thickness to it but was not heavy. The consistency feels firmer in the tube, but it became softer and more pliable as it warmed up against the lips. This was also true about how the color settled and looked on the lips–it tended to fill up lip lines without emphasizing them as much after thirty seconds of wear. The formula didn”t have a lot of slip, and it was actually lightly tacky, which helped it stay in place better. The wear ranged from four to eight hours with lighter shades typically wearing shorter than deeper and more intense shades. The finish was anywhere from satin to natural with noticeable sheen, sometimes glossiness, but it often wore to a satin to semi-matte finish after a few hours. The formula has MAC’s typical vanilla scent but had no discernible taste.