MAC Studded Kiss.
My red lipstick collection grows on a weekly basis. What can I say, at heart I’m more Marilyn M. than Bridget Bardot. Red lips are sensual, bold, colorful, confidence boosting and just so darn pretty to look at. In high school, when all the girls were sporting frosted pink lips, I was sporting the brightest red Brucci lipstick I could find (it was the 80’s…don’t judge). So when MAC came out with the Punk Couture Collection mid-December, I knew MAC Studded Kiss ($15 US/ 3g) was the color for me.
MAC Studded Kiss.
MAC Studded Kiss ingredient list.
The Pros:
- Burgundy-red color with a brown undertone.
- Matte formula allows for minimal transfer when drinking.
- Lasts an astounding 5-6 hours depending on your lip activity.
- Layers well over my Daliia Lip Stain in My Best Friend’s Red (here).
- The matte texture allows for a gloss to be layered lightly on top.
- Applies smoothly for a matte formula without any tugging or pulling.
- Can be worn as a stain during the day and full-on for the evenings (lip balm is still need in both cases).
- Formulated without parabens with the typical vanilla fragrance (not my favorite, but better than perfume scented lipsticks).
- Pairs beautifully with MAC Red Necessity Huggable Lipcoulour for added moisture and dimension (review coming soon).
- Would look spectacular on darker-skinned beauties.
- Unbeatable price for the amount (some drugstore lipstick are up to $12).
The Cons:
- The matte texture will latch onto any dry spots on your lips.
- The matte formula tends to dry out the lips after the two-hour mark. A gloss or lip balm is needed throughout the day.
- Oddly enough, I did experience slight feathering around the third hour of wear; a lipliner is recommended.
- Limited-edition, already sold-out online. I was able to call Nordstrom and reserve the last tube in-stock. According to Nordstrom.com new shipment is scheduled to arrive the beginning of February.
MAC Studded Kisses lip swatch.
MAC Studded Kiss full face.
MAC Studded Kisses with Red Necessity Huggable Lipcolour on top.
L-R swatches:
MAC Studded Kiss, Tom Ford Black Orchid, MAC Red Necessity.
Comparison Reds:
L-R: in natural light
Dior Diorific, Guerlain M27, Guerlain M69, Laura Mercier Sienna, MAC Studded Kiss, Kevyn Aucoin Blood Roses, Nars Majella, Shiseido RD501, Mac Viva Glam I, Lime Crime Velveteen in Red Velvet, Estee Lauder Ruby Glow.
L-R: with flash.
Diorific Diorling, Guerlain M27, Guerlain M69, Laura Mercier Sienna, MAC Studded Kiss, Kevyn Aucoin Blood Roses, Nars Majella, Shiseido RD501, Mac Viva Glam I, Lime Crime Velveteen in Red Velvet, Estee Lauder Ruby Glow.
L-R:
Diorific Diorling, Guerlain M27, Guerlain M69, Laura Mercier Sienna, MAC Studded Kiss.
L-R:
MAC Studded Kiss, Kevyn Aucoin Blood Roses, Nars Majella, Shiseido RD501, Mac Viva Glam I, Lime Crime Velveteen in Red Velvet, Lauder Ruby Glow.
Wear Test:
Lip color remaining after one swipe with a baby wipe.
Lip color remaining after two swipes with a baby wipe.
Lip color remaining after scrubbing my arm with a baby wipe.
As predicted, MAC Studded Kiss (as most red colors) leaves behind a noticeable stain and lasts well even after my battle with a baby wipe 🙂 **Please ignore the scratch on MAC Viva Glam I…the perils of taking down Christmas decorations.
MAC Cosmetics can be found at Nordstrom, maccosmetics.com, Bloomingdales, etc..
THE VERDICT: If makeup could talk what would it say?
Makeup would tell you if are in the market for a reasonably priced burgundy-red lip color, then MAC Studded Kiss lipstick would make a good investment. Despite Studded Kiss’s lovely color and longevity, the drying formula hinders a first-rate review. Of course, this is a very personal distinction and may not effect others. Regardless, will you be tracking down this shade or move on to something else? Be well and stay safe.
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.
About Maria Pia
Great suggestion using MAC Studded Kisses with Red Necessity Huggable Lipcolour on top!!! I never would have thought about this combination, thanks!
Hello Ali,
I hope you will try this combo, it is amazing! Thank you for the support and comment.
-Maria
I’m totally getting this color! I know what you mean by drying, but I’ve come to expect that from MAC matte formulas. You and I are the same coloring and I going to rock this color all day everyday. The Guerlain M69 looks nice, but as you said, you can’t beat MAC prices for lipsticks. Thank you for such a detailed comparison.
Hello Stacey,
I am glad you like this color, it is lovely. I always seem to “forget” how drying MAC matte formulas can be. Studded Kiss was so appealing, I think I wanted to “will” it to be more hydrating..It does make a dynamite color when paired with Red Necessity (to boot, the two MAC lipsticks are cheaper than Guerlain M69)..Thank you for your support and comment.
-Maria