REVIEWSDAY: M.A.C. Lipliner in Cherry

As you may have heard, because I have mentioned it on the blog whenever possible, my beautiful and amazing co-author Noll bought me M.A.C. Russian Red matte lipstick for Christmas. This is my first ever M.A.C. lipstick and I love it (ooh I wonder what my favourites post on Saturday will be...?) and everyone ever who has recommended it on the internet is SO right. I have been seriously enjoying using it for the past month or so, but have also noticed that even though it is amazing by itself (it really doesn't budge), lots of people pair it with M.A.C. Lipliner in Cherry. Given that my lipstick application skill is mediocre at best, and intrigued to see what exactly lipliner has done for people after the 90s, I thought perhaps now was the right time to try one and see what all the fuss is about. I think I get it now.

L to R: L'Oreal Color Riche in Blake's Pure Red, M.A.C. Lipliner in 
Cherry, M.A.C. Matte Lipstick in Russian Red

First off, Cherry really is the best match for Russian Red, it is just spot on. On my hand on the left there I have shown the lipliner with two lipsticks, one either side - Russian Red on the right and L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Blake's Pure Red on the left. The L'Oreal one is not a bad dupe at all for Russian Red, but it is just slightly more blue (you can read me raving about it here, also a seriously good lipstick). Cherry and Russian Red are just exactly the same though, I would say even more in real life than is showing up in that photo. I included the L'Oreal one though not just because it's a good dupe if you can't afford M.A.C., but because my one criticism in my review was that it bled a bit, which I have never really experienced before.

M.A.C. Lipliner in Cherry

M.A.C. Matte Lipstick in Russian Red on top
 of M.A.C. Lipliner in Cherry

So a good choice so far in terms of colour, but in terms of it being my first ever lipliner? I can tell I need a bit of practice, but I am starting to see why people use them. Apart from stopping lipstick bleeding, it really does make it easier to apply, because a pencil is easier to control than a lipstick bullet, so doing the outline you can actually keep roughly within the lines of your lips, which is exciting, and then if you fill them in as well you can be really pretty haphazard with the lipstick application and so long as they're a good colour match you won't be able to tell even a little bit.

Apart from making application easier though, the lipliner really didn't budge so I definitely think if you have a lipstick that bleeds, like the L'Oreal one, or even a super great one like M.A.C. Russian Red, it also means you can do normally-impossible lipstick things like eating and drinking (and breathing?) and you won't get the dreaded nineties lip fade in the centre. To be honest, you could even wear the liner by itself I think, but I do prefer the ever-so-slight satin finish from the lipstick over the top and it feels less drying this way.

Overall I am really happy with this purchase, because it really has done what I hoped it would, and I could not ask for a better colour match. I don't think £12.50 is too much for what it does, because I think it is worth it if you're using an expensive lipstick to make it the best it can possibly look, and then also to stop bleeding with cheaper lipsticks.

As I had feared, finally succumbing to M.A.C. is probably not going to be good for my bank balance because I really can see what good quality the (lip) products are. I am already seriously considering getting another lipstick and lipliner duo, perhaps a more natural colour in the vein of Velvet Teddy or Twig... What do you think? Have you tried lipliner and do you think it is worth it? And any other suggestions for my next M.A.C. purchase...?

P x 

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