Review Time: MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

Review Time: MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

Let me throw this out there- as much as I like Mac lipsticks and I think they're great- I've never been a fan of the price.

Because let's face it- $15 for a lipstick is steep, especially considering the drugstore has been really great about putting out new formulas for lips all the time. Milani in fact has a really great line of lippies, and Wet n' Wild is known for making dupes for MAC lipsticks for awhiiiiile now.

But when it came to my birthday, my mom was really nice about it and went through my Pinterest boards looking for stuff she knew I'd want. This lipstick in particular was something she bought for me.

So Ruby Woo is one of those reds that tips a little to the cool side- it's more obvious when you sheer it out though. The formula is definitely matte but it's not uncomfortable and gross to wear- it's actually quite nice. I've even layered it with lip balm to create more of a red stain (which btw, IS SUPER PRETTY).

 At one point I even got brave and used it as a cream blush and you know what- it is exceptionally flattering.

It's kind of hard to tell on here because I barely put it on and also there's a little bit of a filter because I wanted the color on my lips to look more true to the swatch- but just keep in mind my blush is from the lipstick.

(Also, how adorable is the mug Roger got me? I love him. He is a precious gem in my world.)

So here we go:

Pros: A nice matte without looking gross, packaging is very nice, the formula is comfortable to wear, color lasts awhile, color looks great on pretty much everyone on the planet, easy to convert into a lip stain or blush, and layers easily with other lipsticks or glosses.

Cons: The price is ridiculous, it's not by any means a rare or special color, transfers onto coffee cups and the like, and it's kind of a color you have to commit to (so maybe not for the faint of heart?).

Here's my gripe with expensive lipsticks and I'm sure you've all heard it before- I would never spend that much unless the color was something I couldn't find a duplicate for (such in the case of my beloved Prune Daisy from Dior). If I get something like this for a gift- 99% of the time I split it in half for myself to play with and the other half goes right into my makeup kit for work- because frankly, my work is more important to me than playing around with expensive lipsticks. Sorry, I'm not sorry.

If you're like me and you're like, "I really want this, but I'd rather spend less"- here's a list of dupes for you to try out:

Wet n' Wild- Stoplight red (slightly less matte)

NYX- Chic Red (slightly cooler/slightly less matte)

Revlon- Really Red (pretty much identical)

Revlon- In the Red (pretty much identical)

NYX matte lipstick- Perfect Red (pretty much identical)

So here's my overall recommendation- Try out a red like this either in the drugstore format or splurge and buy the real thing. I think it's very flattering, easy to wear, and if you're scared of the matte- you can always layer a gloss over the top for some shine.

-SamanthaK