MAC Viva Glam Sia Lipstick

For those who don't already know about MAC's Viva Glam program, it is a series of lip products of which 100% of the entire selling price goes to the MAC AIDS Fund. Since its inception in 1994, there have been six lipstick shades added to the permanent Viva Glam line-up, but MAC also appoints celebrities every year to be their Viva Glam ambassadors to help raise HIV/AIDS awareness. To date, MAC's Viva Glam campaign has raised $450 million globally to help men, women, and children infected and affected by AIDS and HIV. Every Viva Glam lip product that has been launched since 2010 has been named after the celebrity ambassador(s) of the year, with Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper in 2010, Lady Gaga again in 2011, Nicki Minaj and Ricky Martin in 2012, Nicki Minaj again in 2013, Rihanna twice in 2014, Miley Cyrus twice in 2015, Ariana Grande twice in 2016, and Taraji P. Henson twice in 2017. 


For 2018, MAC has appointed Australian singer-songwriter, Sia Furler, as their Viva Glam ambassador. Sia has been in the music industry for over 20 years and has had numerous #1 singles on Billboard charts as both a singer and a songwriter. She is best known for her albums 1000 Forms of Fear, which features the hit singles, "Chandelier" and "Elastic Heart," and This is Acting, which features the hits "Cheap Thrills" and "Alive." She is also known for her collaborations with David Guetta, Flo Rida, Eminem, and Zayn Malik, as well as for her songwriting for Rihanna, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, and Katy Perry, among others. 

Today, MAC will be releasing Sia's first Viva Glam shade. For this launch, we will only be seeing a lipstick shade for Sia, and not a lipstick and lip gloss pairing as in previous years. Viva Glam Sia is limited edition and will be available for six months going forward. As with all MAC lip products, it is vanilla-scented but taste-free. Each Viva Glam Sia Lipstick comes in special edition glossy black packaging with Sia's logo printed in red around it, and the signature Viva Glam red metal casing. Each lipstick contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $22. As it is for charity, Viva Glam Sia is not redeemable as a free product in the Back to MAC recycling program. 
Viva Glam Sia Lipstick
Viva Glam Sia Lipstick

Viva Glam Sia Lipstick is a medium-dark neutral-cool brightened cherry red in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade, and will be available for six months going forward. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is creamier and very slightly darker than Ruby Woo, lighter than Russian Red, warmer than MAC Red, and lighter and cooler than Viva Glam I.

I genuinely think Sia is someone who is perfect to represent MAC's Viva Glam campaign. She's passionate, talented, unconventional, and globally popular but still maintains integrity and privacy. She has one of the most unique, powerful voices in pop music, and has overcome multiple challenges over many years to become one of the most respected artists in the pop music industry. It's these characteristics that I think make an ideal Viva Glam ambassador. Anyone who has seen Sia will know that she has become iconic for her black-and-white wig and her bright, cherry red lips, so it makes sense that Sia's first collaboration with MAC would be her signature red. It's universally flattering among all skintones, and will definitely appeal to fans of Ruby Woo (which is still MAC's best-selling shade of all time). Or, similarly, if you were looking for a creamier, smoother, but still matte version of Ruby Woo, this would be your closest bet. That having been said, MAC is a brand that is well-known for their reds, so Viva Glam Sia has a ton of dupes within MAC's permanent range (even more if you collect the ones from limited edition launches). While I understand the decision behind launching the red lipstick for Sia, I really hoped that they would come out with something fun and unique and slightly quirky, like Sia herself. That having been said, the creation of this lipstick is for an amazing cause, so if you're on the market for a beautiful cherry red, this one is definitely worth getting.
The MAC AIDS Fund is one of the most effective charities I have ever seen a cosmetics company identify with, and it still blows my mind that MAC helps this charity on a daily, on-going basis with their Viva Glam program. Not only that, but they don't just donate a portion or the proceeds to this cause — it's 100% of the selling price of any Viva Glam product. This is a really worthy cause, so if you're not personally a fan of Viva Glam Sia, it's worth checking out any of the other Viva Glam shades that may be more wearable or flattering on you.