The cold weather seems to have taken hold of all the moisture in my being. Lately, I am not satisfied with any of the recent lip products I have purchased. Some formulas are too dry, some start off feeling heavenly and within the hour my lips go from looking like a succulent grape to a shriveled up raisin, and other formulations are just flat-out odd. My latest go-to product for a hydrating red lip has been MAC Huggable Lipcolour in Red Necessity ($20 US/3.2g). The balm-like texture provides hydration, shine, and comfortable wear. The following description is used by MAC to describe Huggable Lipcolours:
When it comes to gorgeous lips, don’t compromise shine for colour. You can have it all in a new formula inspired by Asian trends, hugging your lips in 12 hues that stay bright and luminous for up to six hours. Featuring an array of creamy emollients, Huggable Lipcolour provides a lasting, glossy finish that leaves lips smooth and sculpted.
The Pros:
- Beautiful cool toned raspberry-red color (makes teeth appear whiter).
- Gel-based formula provides a silky texture that glides on seamlessly and truly “hugs” the lips.
- Sheer color tone with substantial color payoff.
- Appropriate for daytime; not as opaque and bold as regular lipsticks.
- Gorgeous shine makes lips appear plump and luscious.
- Milder vanilla scent compared to MAC’s regular lipstick.
- Formulated without parabens or mineral oil.
- Pairs beautifully with drier matte formulas in MAC’s lipstick range, to provide depth and moisture.
- Attractive gunmetal packaging.
- 12 colors in the range to suit every taste.
- A very close dupe for Chanel Esprit 88 Rouge Coco Shine (reviewed here). MAC is a touch deeper in tone and has more of a shine than Chanel. In person, my husband barely saw a difference between the two colors.
The Cons:
- Saturated color requires a mirror for application.
- Not as long-lasting as advertised; on its own, the color and moisture lasted for 3 hours.
- Reapplication is possible, but color build-up can result in feathering.
- Due to the emollient nature of the formula, a lipliner is a must if one wishes to avoid feathering (if this is an issue for you).
- As expected, Red Necessity does transfer easily on a variety of surfaces (cups, faces, other lips, shirt collars…you get the point 🙂 ).
- Limited-edition.
Application:
My favorite use for MAC Huggable Lipcolour in Red Necessity is to pair it with Studded Kiss (a dry matte formula). I prefer to use dabbing motions instead of sweeping the color across my lips. I have serious issues with feathering; therefore, this method works perfectly for my needs. I have worn Red Necessity on its own (lightly) and with a lipliner and the results were equally as lovely.
MAC Cosmetics can be purchased at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Macy’s, maccosmetics.com, etc..
THE VERDICT: If makeup could talk what would it say?
Makeup would tell you if you are in the market for a lipstick that provides surface hydration, saturated color, shine and comfort then MAC Huggable Lipcolours are for you. I truly enjoy this formula, but I have to admit, I was hoping the six-hour claim would be true. Sadly, the “up to six hours” term is an ambiguous statement; bless those advertising executives and their crafty wording. Up next, L’Oreal Extraordiniare by Colour Riche review. Be well and stay safe.
-Maria
Ifmakeupcouldtalk.com is not affiliated with any brands mentioned, all products were purchased by me. *Compensation is not given for any reviews. *Click on each photo to enlarge. *Click on the rose highlighted words to take you to a direct link to each product. *All opinions are my own and based on my experiences. *All photos are property of Ifmakeupcouldtalk.com unless otherwise noted.
I love these too. I bought Rusty and Red Necessity and have not regretted it at all. Thanks for showing the comparison to Chanel Esprit. I missed out on that color..so glad to know I have it now!
Hello Laurie,
I’m glad you found this post helpful. In person, Esprit and Red Necessity are hard to tell apart. MAC Rusty looks like my kind of color and maybe my next purchase. Thank you for your support and comment.
-Maria