MAC Matte Lipstick in Kinda Sexy - "A "neutral pinky rose" in matte finish. Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made MAC famous." - via maccosmetics.com

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy

I am always on the hunt for the perfect nude lipstick. While I have several in rotation for daily wear, my heart still longs for The One. I keep a "To Buy" list so that I can slowly build up an array of nude army, perfect to whip out when I need to look casually put together.

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy

To check off one from my List, I have the latest addition to my lipstick stash, MAC Kinda Sexy described as a "neutral pinky rose" (MAC). This is in matte finish, as I have sworn off buying any other formulas from MAC ever since that Angel love-hate relationship.

Matte lipsticks from MAC are truly great, they offer a lot of pigment without making your lip look dry or parched. With any lipstick, I always prefer using matte finishes as they last longer and don't feel heavy on the lips.

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy

While described as a neutral pink, I think that Kinda Sexy looks more neutral peach on me. The shade is in the same color family with Velvet Teddy (brown-based) that it is light nude-brown except Kinda Sexy is peach-based and really looks great for those with yellow (warm) undertones. For cooler complexions, the peach would have a tendency to make complexions dull and sallow.

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy

(L) No Flash, (R) With Flash

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy

Texture and Formula: Though matte, this applied creamy and smooth. The texture is soft and velvety. It did drag a little bit more compared to other MAC mattes (vs Velvet Teddy, which has excellent, non-dragging texture).

I moisturized and prepped my lips before applying Kinda Sexy and as such, despite the lighter shade it does not look chalky on my lips. The drier formula did somewhat emphasize my lip lines but it didn't settle into creases and also did not flake.

Lip Swatch: MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy (L) No Flash, (R) With Flash

Pigmentation: One swipe with this lipstick gives you excellent color pay-off. The color is opaque and somewhat buildable up to a point. This what I love about mattes, they just give you maximum impact with little effort. The color definitely suited my light Asian skin tones. It seemingly looks "boring" on the tube, it brightened my face without overpowering anything.

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy

Longevity: It is expected for lighter shades to have shorter wear than darker colors just because the pigments will easily disappear and not stay on the lips. With Kinda Sexy I found that I have to reapply my lipstick after a meal. It doesn't completely disappear on my lips but since it doesn't leave a stain, I have to even out any patches that might appear after eating or drinking.

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy

Pros:
- Great shade for light Asian skin tones
- Creamy, smooth texture
- Non-drying formula
- Lightweight and non-greasy
- Relatively long-wearing


Cons:
- Drier formula compared to other MAC mattes
- Tends to emphasize lip lines
- A bit pricey

FOTD: MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy