MAC Kiesza: Dearly Beloved Lipstick and Thunder Kiss Vamplify Lipgloss

Today, MAC launched their collaboration with Canadian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Kiesza. The collaboration is a four-piece capsule collection that includes two new and limited edition products, and two permanent products that help finish off the look. It is a small release, and is available online and in select MAC Store locations in North America only. The Kiesza collection sees the launch of one new and limited edition shade of lipstick, and one new and limited edition shade of Vamplify Lipgloss, which is described as MAC's "most dramatic lipgloss yet. Infused with a new colour-boosting technology, the formula is loaded with high-powered pigments that glisten with a delicious shine. One swipe loads lips with attitude, as a combination of lush natural oils polish with impeccable, moisturizing colour. The glossy colour wears comfortably for hours, for a look that comes on strong and doesn't let go." Both are vanilla-scented but taste-free. The lipstick is housed in regular black packaging, and the Vamplify Lipgloss is housed in a regular clear tube with a black lid and a bent doe-foot applicator. Each lipstick contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $21; each Vamplify Lipgloss contains 5 ml of product and retails for $24. Due to the special edition nature of this collection, neither of these products is applicable as a free product for the Back to MAC recycling program.
Dearly Beloved Lipstick
Thunder Kiss Vamplify Lipgloss
Dearly Beloved and Thunder Kiss

Dearly Beloved is a medium-dark neutral muted milk chocolate brown in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and warmer than Stone, more brown than Whirl, darker and cooler than Taupe, and darker and warmer than Café Au Chic Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour.

Thunder Kiss is a deep dark warm fudge brown in a high-shine finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a light-medium, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. There is nothing similar to this in MAC's permanent range, though the colour itself is darker than Antique Velvet Lipstick, slightly warmer than Chocotease Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour, and darker and cooler than Double Fudge Liptensity.

Both of these shades are surprisingly wearable, and widely flattering across all skintones from fair to deep dark. For those who find Stone a little too grey and Whirl a little too rosy, or if you're really just trying to find a true brown that doesn't run too cool or too warm, then Dearly Beloved is really worth checking out. There actually isn't an exact dupe to this shade in MAC's permanent line-up, either, so if you're a big fan of the whole '90s brown lip trend that's been happening for the past two years now, this is really gonna be up your alley. On the flip side, Vamplify Lipgloss makes a comeback with this launch in a gorgeously rich deep dark brown shade. While it can certainly be layered on top of a lipstick or lip pencil for more intensity and shine, I find that this shade is definitely saturated and opaque enough to be worn on its own. I've always been a fan of the Vamplify formula because it goes on totally smooth, creamy, and non-sticky, but is somehow incredibly pigmented and gives opaque colour pay-off. It wears well for up to five hours and stays hydrating on the lips, too. (I really hope MAC makes Vamplify permanent soon — with the discontinuation of both Lustreglass and Dazzleglass, there's definitely room for a new permanent formula.) Whether you know who Kiesza is or not, if you're a fan of chocolatey brown lip colours, these are both worth checking out.