What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.
Honestly, why doesn’t all makeup come in sticks? It would make my life waaaaay easier.
This is my new favorite thing in the whole wide world — even though I’m pretty sure I say that all the time.
Sorry. 🙂
It’s MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Colour Stick in Lilacked, and it’s $22 and part of the permanent line.
The Colour Sticks are stick versions of the MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pots (ones I love: Constructivist, Soft Ochre and Bare Study).
SO MANY brands make their own cream shadows sticks, but MAC’s are some of my favorites, and I like them for a couple of reasons. First, there’s obviously the colors. There’s a wide range, but I don’t have anything else quite like Lilacked in my collection.
It’s a peachy golden lilac, kind of like if MAC Satin Taupe Eye Shadow had a makeup baby with MAC Woodwinked, and then that baby grew up and got together with NARS Lhasa and popped out another makeup baby…
Granted, that’s a lot of makeup babies.
I like the consistency and the way it feels, too, because most cream shadow sticks are either super thick and hard to push around on my lids, or they’re too thin and slippery and hard to control. They just end up all over the place.
The MAC Pro Longwear Sticks, on the other hand, feel just right, and I can put them exactly where I want, which avoids one of my big struggles with eyeshadow, which is when I put something on my lids and it goes all over the place, and before you know it you’ve got, like, shimmery black eyeshadow from your lash lines up to your eyebrows.
They also last. I can put them on in the morning, and they’re still going strong at night.
I think that Lilacked looks lovely all by itself or with a little liner, but you can also layer it under other eyeshadows. My favorite combo is with Lilacked on my lids, and then I mix a bit of MAC Woodwinked and MAC Wedge on the same brush (just swirl the same brush in both pans). Then I blend that on top of Lilacked. It’s good stuff.
If you wear MAC All That Glitters, Saddle, Mulch, Amber Lights, Woodwinked, Satin Taupe, Wedge or Soft Brown, you’ll love Lilacked for layering.
PRICE: $22
AVAILABILITY: Available now in the MAC permanent line
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The MAC Unsung Heroes series (a subset of my regular Unsung Makeup Heroes series) features some of my all-time favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
If you’re looking for permanent collection ideas or inspiration, there are literally hundreds of unsung makeup heroes posts in the MBB archives. These 20 are just the tip of the iceberg.
Chris25 says
I’ve been so out of the loop with MAC, I didn’t realize they put the paint pots in stick form. I need this. It will be easier to apply than using my fingers in a pot.
Karen says
Yes, try them, they’re amazing.
Diana says
This is my all time favorite color. I will layer it with Laura Mercier African Violet for a more intensity.
Karen says
That’s a great idea for a combo, Diana! Trying it right now! 😀 What else do you like to layer it with?
Diana says
I tend to use guava a lot with it. So mainly shadows from the top row of the Laura Mercier Artist Palette. I need a new one of those, used up all my favorite colors. I use the dark brown color as eyeliner.
Karen says
Looks I’ll have to bust out my LM Artist Palette. It’s been a while, so it’s time. 🙂 Have you ever tried Laura’s makeup brushes? I have several from some holiday kits and they are SO good.
Agata says
That’s really pretty. Do you have any other favorite shades from that line?
Karen says
Hi Agata,
Yes, I have a few! They’re neutrals (big surprise): Bitter Clove, Tea Leaves and Tabby.
Kiss & Make-up says
Oh now this looks nice! I’m not a color stick kinda girl though, but it looks very pretty.
Karen says
Super pretty!
Sherry Rooney says
What color lipstick are you wearing in the picture of the Mineralize Skinfinish? It makes you look like a movie star!! So pretty!!
Erin says
Ohh, that is nice!
Michaela says
Hi Karen, thank you for this really useful MAC Unsung Heroes reviews that I can refer to every now and then. Whenever I go to MAC to get my free lipstick after recycling six used products, I’m at a loss and often get confused as to which lipstick I could get. I can rely on your reviews since you are a loyal MAC user. Which makes me wonder, with all the makeup companies teaming up with YouTube make-up bloggers, MAC should really team up with you and put out curated products of a palette of your choice! Btw, did you ever do a review or write about what MAC eye shadows you’d pick if you ever made your own palette? I’d like to read that from you someday!