MAC Retro Matte: Lipsticks (Part II)

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. 
All Fired Up, Flat Out Fabulous, and Fixed on Drama
All Fired Up, Flat Out Fabulous, and Fixed on Drama

All Fired Up is a medium-dark vibrant warm fuchsia-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 slightly more pink than Relentlessly Red, and darker than Impassioned.

Flat Out Fabulous is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned magenta in a Retro Matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is on the drier, stiffer side, so there will be some tugging or pulling upon application, though it goes on evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more purple than Candy Yum-Yum, and more purple and more matte than Girl About Town.

Fixed on Drama is a dark warm burgundy 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 slightly lighter and more brown than Media, and darker and less red than Diva.

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 (with the exception of Flat Out Fabulous), 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.