MAC Cremesheen + Pearl: Lipsticks

I've been really behind on my beauty posts this month. I've found myself actually enjoying summer and being outside (on patios, not in nature), so I apologize if it's seemed as if I've been neglecting this blog. A couple weeks ago, MAC released a new extension collection called Cremesheen + Pearl, which features eight new shades of Cremesheen lipstick and seven new shades of Cremesheen Glass, all of which will become part of MAC's permanent line-up (!). MAC describes Cremesheen lipsticks as "superior colours with rich creamy texture… while natural conditioning agents lock in moisture for a soft cushion and comfort. Light reflecting pearls add amazing high shine and shimmer." MAC's lipsticks are vanilla-scented, but taste-free. 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.

Japanese Maple, Pure Zen, Shanghai Spice, and Peach Blossom

Japanese Maple, Pure Zen, Shanghai Spice, and Peach Blossom

Japanese Maple is a light peach-beige nude in a Cremesheen finish. It is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is less pink than Hue, and darker than Creme d'Nude.

Pure Zen is a light-medium pink-peach nude in a Cremesheen finish. It is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly more pink than Shy Girl, and more peach than Peach Blossom.

Shanghai Spice is a medium warm browned pink-peach in a Cremesheen finish. It is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is more peach than Jubilee, lighter and less brown than Tea Ceremony Sheen Supreme, and more brown than Bare Again Sheen Supreme.

Peach Blossom is a light-medium neutral pink in a Cremesheen finish. It is a new and permanent 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 cooler than Blossom Culture Sheen Supreme, lighter and warmer than Speed Dial, and more pink than Pure Zen.

Pink Pearl Pop, Sunny Seoul, Coral Bliss, and Saigon Summer

Pink Pearl Pop, Sunny Seoul, Coral Bliss, and Saigon Summer

Pink Pearl Pop is a medium blue-toned pink with subtle lilac-pink micro-shimmer in a Cremesheen finish. It is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and much warmer than Lovelorn, brighter than Speed Dial, and cooler than Sunny Seoul.

Sunny Seoul is a medium yellow-toned pink with subtle white micro-shimmer in a Cremesheen finish. It is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is warmer than Pink Pearl Pop, and lighter and warmer than Chatterbox.

Coral Bliss a medium soft pink-coral in a Cremesheen finish. It is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and nearly opaque colour pay-off. It is more pink than Ravishing and Fashion City Sheen Supreme, and slightly more orange than Blossom Culture Sheen Supreme.

Saigon Summer is a medium mandarin orange with subtle gold micro-shimmer in a Cremesheen finish. It is a new and permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more orange than Ravishing, and much more subdued and less pink than Vegas Volt.

While I do feel like some of these shades fill in a gap in what MAC's permanent range was missing before, I felt like many of them are also really repetitive (for example, Pure Zen is almost an exact dupe of Shy Girl, in both colour and finish). MAC rarely adds any new shades to their classic lipstick range, so I'm just not sure why MAC decided not to bring back much more popular limited edition shades to make permanent. That aside, these shades will appeal more to the masses as they are more wearable in general, and the Cremesheen finish is a nice middle ground (they are typically more opaque than Lustre and Glaze finishes, and are more sheer than Amplified, Satin, and Matte finishes). I find them very comfortable to wear, and while not supremely hydrating, they don't leave my lips feeling dry. The wear time is around three to four hours on me with these shades. If you're a fan of the Cremesheen formula or you're looking for some fun, summery shades that aren't too bright, definitely take a look. Either way, you don't have to rush. They are permanent, after all.