MAC lipstick Archives

There are too many reasons why I am a big fan of lip pencils. They are much longer lasting and you can be very precise with the application as well as define and shape your lip with it more effectively than with regular lipsticks. I tend to gravitate more towards lip pencils especially on days when I know I’m going to be out and about the whole day and won’t have time to keep reapplying lipstick.

Last week I finally managed to pick up MAC lip pencil in Boldly Bare. I’ve been lusting after this since March when I first saw it on Sammi from Beauty Crush in her March Favourites video. But of course whenever I badly want something it is almost always sold out, which effectively makes me want it even more and an obsessive hunt for it inevitably ensued. Finally four months later, and after trolling every MAC counters I came across, it became available again on MAC’s website and I couldn’t have been more thrilled when it finally arrived at my doorstep. I knew I would love it but I didn’t know I would love it ‘this’ much.

Boldly Bare is a peachy-pink YLBB nude shade although the pink tone shows up more on my lip than the peachy tone. Now I’ve never been a fan of any pink shades, I always find them not very well suited to my complexion, but Boldly Bare, despite showing more pink tone on me, is ‘incredibly’ pretty and flattering. It is similar to the famous Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk but it’s peachier, it’s perkier, it’s more brightening and the lasting power is immense. The only downside is the texture, which is not creamy so it can drag a bit on your lip and it’s not the easiest to blend. But adding a gloss or lip balm on top normally solves the problem for me and the colour is so gorgeous and lasts so well that I am wiling to overlook some minor issues.

A final word of warning; I think Boldly Bare is a limited edition so if you think you want to give it a try then better hurry up and get hold of one before it’s sold out again. I know I will be getting another back-up soon :)

While perusing around MAC’s lipstick counter the other day (somewhat a daily habit of mine), I was introduced to MAC Prep + Prime, a primer for your lips. This is quite a new concept to me, we all know the usual drill of applying lip balm before putting lipstick on, but a proper primer for your lip? My first reaction was well surely this is gimmicky and just another way to get us to spend more money. But I was told the primer would prep your lip so the lipstick will go on smoother, and will also allow for the true shade of the lipstick to come through as well as making it last for much longer. What really got my attention was when I was told that the primer would help maintain the healthy condition of your lips, preventing it from darkening and becoming chapped and dehydrated (Yup, unfortunately there is a downside to wearing lipstick all the time). It does seem to make sense if you think there are primers for your face and your eyes, so why not lips too?

Eventually curiosity got the better of me and I decided to buy it and give it a try. So here are the roundups;

1. It does make my lip feels very smooth (the same feeling when you use primer on your face), and hydrated.

2. It gives better payoff to the lip colour I put on top, lipstick also glides on smoother and the texture of my lip with the lipstick on is just gorgeous, no more awkward dry patches on days when my lips are a bit chapped and dry.

3. I also notice that it does make my lipstick last a lot longer than normal and colour doesn’t fade away unevenly.

4. I have to say though that at £13 some people might feel this is an unnecessary item to have and a lip balm might do the job just fine. But after using this lip primer for quite some time I must say this is definitely not the same as lip balm and it does do more than normal lip balm does.

However I do agree that at the end of the day, just like any other products, it is not an absolute must and if you don’t have issues with dry or darkened lip or your lipstick goes on unevenly and does not last then you might just skip this product altogether. But if you do struggle with the issues I just mentioned maybe MAC Prep +Prime for lip is something worth considering.

MAC lip pencil in Boldly Bare is a must-have

Is it important to prime your lip?