MAC Après Chic: Mineralize Tinted Lip Balms

Last Thursday, MAC released their first post-holiday colour collection called Après Chic. It is inspired by "natural glamour [that] appears effortless." This collection is comprised of 30 products —19 of which is new and limited edition, three of which are re-promotes, five of which are new and permanent, and three of which are permanent. Après Chic sees the release of five shades of Mineralize Tinted Lip Balm, all of which are new and limited edition. Mineralize Tinted Lip Balm is "a liquid lip balm that adds moisture while providing the right pop of colour and mirror-like shine." They are "enriched with a special, nourishing 77 Mineral-Rich Complex." They are vanilla-scented but taste-free, and have slanted-tip applicators. Each Mineralize Tinted Lip Balm comes in regular clear sparkly plastic squeeze tubes with black caps, contains 10 grams of product, and retails for $22.50.

Slanted-tip applicator

Nice & Simple, Slightly Nude, Stay Warm!, Pure & Tender, and Rosy Romance

Nice & Simple is a light-medium golden tangerine with gold micro-shimmer. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is lightweight but creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has low pigmentation and sheer colour pay-off. It is more gold than Rising Sun Cremesheen Glass.

Slightly Nude is a medium tangerine orange. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has low pigmentation and sheer colour pay-off. It is more orange than Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass.

Stay Warm! is a light warm baby pink. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly. Due to the milkiness of the shade, there can be a little bit of unevenness when worn. It has low pigmentation and sheer colour pay-off. It is like a shimmerless version of Paper Lantern Cremesheen Glass.

Pure & Tender is a light-medium melon pink. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has low pigmentation and sheer colour pay-off. It is like a shimmerless version of Imperial Light Cremesheen Glass.

Rosy Romance is a medium-dark fuchsia pink with subtle pink micro-shimmer. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has low-medium pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It is less cool and more shimmery than Loud & Lovely Cremesheen Glass.

I didn't think I would like these at first, because they kind of reminded me of those dreaded Suntints. But I was pleasantly surprised! These are actually quite moisturizing when worn, and they add a really nice shine; this is what I imagine a true lip balm-gloss hybrid to be. They are, for the most part, quite sheer, but it does tint the lips with a hint of colour (Rosy Romance is the most pigmented of the five, and imparts a more obvious tint of colour). They are lightweight and non-sticky, and feel very comfortable to wear. They wear a good three to four hours before fading as well. It's a good time of year for them to be released, too; they're perfect for layering on top of lipstick instead of gloss for a dose of moisture and shine. A good option for people who want gloss but have really dry lips.