MAC Retro Matte: Lipsticks (Part I)

This Thursday, MAC will release a new collection in-stores called Retro Matte. Inspired by the stunning popularity of their famous Ruby Woo lipstick, "MAC has revamped the lipstick legend with invigorating, bold shades... in Ruby Woo's signature finish to create a look that's feminine yet fierce." Retro Matte is comprised of 16 products —11 of which are new and permanent, and five of which are permanent. Retro Matte will see the release of eight shades of lipstick, of which seven are new and permanent and one is permanent (Ruby Woo, which will not be reviewed here). Each lipstick comes in regular black packaging, contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $18. These shades are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program at all locations. 
Relentlessly Red, Dangerous, Runway Hit, and Steady Going
Relentlessly Red, Dangerous, Runway Hit, and Steady Going

Relentlessly Red is a medium-dark vibrant warm pinked red in a Retro Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is on the slightly drier side, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and cooler than Impassioned, and warmer and more pink than MAC Red.

Dangerous is a medium-dark vibrant orange-red in a Retro Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is on the slightly drier side, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is less orange and less bright than Lady Danger, and more red and much brighter than So Chaud.

Runway Hit is a light-medium warm coral-pink in a Retro Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is on the slightly drier side, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more coral than Please Me, and brighter and more coral than Brave.

Steady Going is a light cool-toned cotton candy pink in a Retro Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is on the slightly drier side, but it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and warmer than Pink Nouveau, and slightly darker and warmer than Snob.

Fans of matte lipsticks, rejoice! Here are seven brand new shades of matte lipsticks that will join MAC's permanent range. For those who are wondering what the difference is between a regular Matte lipstick and a Retro Matte lipstick, Retro Mattes have higher pigmentation and are less creamy. Because of the slightly drier, stiffer texture in these, they do wear longer than any of MAC's other finishes. And these are completely, 100% matte, whereas there some of the creamier mattes still have a very faint sheen. I do find that these in general go on quite a bit smoother than Ruby Woo, which tends to tug and pull on the lips — the texture is somewhere in between MAC's regular Matte lipsticks and Ruby Woo's Retro Matte finish. I don't recommend these lipsticks for those who have perpetually dry lips as these are not meant to be hydrating, and in fact, can be drying on the lips, but they do look absolutely stunning on — very chic and polished and fashionista-esque — and that should be reason enough to exfoliate and slather on that lip balm at night so you can rock these all day long.