Truth be told, I’m totally over this blonde Betty wig because I feel completely insane when I have it on. Plus, when the UPS guy came to my door last week, he said I looked like Lil’ Kim. Um, thanks?
But I felt like swatching the new MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 Lipstick and Lipglass today, so I threw it on for just one Barbz pic because it seemed like the right thing to do.
As members of the MAC Viva Glam family, 100 percent of the proceeds from the sales of Nicki 2 Lipstick and Lipglass go to support the MAC AIDS Fund, which helps women, children and men living with HIV/AIDS.
Once again, MAC teamed up with Nicki Minaj, and this year, they’re serving up a pale pastel lavender pink.
It’s a very distinct type of lip look with lots of drama.
The candy color’s fun and MAC didn’t hesitate at all with the pigment, but gosh, they’re not the easiest shades to wear.
I feel the pale, pastel pinky purple contrasts with my NC42 skin a little too much (I’m more of Viva Glam V Lipstick and Lipglass gal, myself), but hey, if that’s what you’re going for and you can pull it off, more power to ya.
PRICE: $15
AVAILABILITY: Available now in the US and internationally at all MAC locations and online at maccosmetics.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S.
For more on MAC Viva Glam, check out…
- Ricky Martin and Nicki Minaj Join the MAC Viva Glam Fam
- MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Swatches and Pictures
- MAC Viva Glam V: An Unsung Makeup Hero
- Viva La MAC Viva Glam! Swatches and Pics of the New Cyndi and Gaga Lipglasses
- MAC Viva Glam VII Is Making Givenchy Blush
- MAC Viva Glam VI Special Edition Lipstick Makes It Official: Lavender Lipstick Reigns This Spring
Sunny says
LOL Lil’ Kim
I think they got more challenging this time around! I can kind of pull Viva Glam Nicki off fine, but this is really more like a stage lipstick 😉
Karen says
You need VG 5 and 6, Sunny!
Alyse says
Pleeeaaaase tell me what makeup you are wearing on your eyes!
Lindsey says
Seconded! Your eyes look amazing.
Karen says
Hi guys,
I’m wearing Laura Mercier Grey Pearl Caviar Stick Eye Colour with MAC Shale. The liner is the new Dior Diorshow Art Pen.
Dawn says
Loving whatever it is you have on your eyes, but eek! that lipstick is a difficult one to wear. I’m very pale-skinned, but I know there’s no way that will suit me
Karen says
It’s a tough color. You still might be able to do the gloss, maybe!
Emily says
Well this is definitely a fun shade of lipstick but probably not practical for most skin tones. Its a novelty item. fun to have but I don’t think I need this one in my makeup collection!
Karen says
So true. I would wear it to a concert or maybe Halloween. To Trader Joe’s, not so much, LOL!
Becca @ The Beauty Sample says
Eeks! yeah that is SO not my kind of shade. But I say that Shale over Grey Pearl=the prettiest thing EVER!! I NEED Grey Pearl so I can recreate that look!
Karen says
Grey Pearl is amazing! You will love it.
YadiQ says
I’ve got nicki viva glam 1 lipstick and its a little hard to pull off – I tone it down with Mac pencil in lasting sensation to give it a little more substance. While 99 percent of all your trials i love on you – this color is sooooooo not you! Tabs text jaz to say so as well!
Karen says
Oh my gah, it’s totally not!! I feel like a hot mess in that shade. Did you ever pick up VG Cyndi? I think that one’s my most recent fave.
YadiQ says
I missed out on cyndi I did get GAGA and its hard to wear – I have the rest of the viva glam collection I think I’m missing one of the numbered editions I forget which it is. I even have viva glam Ricky
Agata says
That lipstick looks kinda scary, def not a lipstick for an every day look. But I agree with everyone else, your eye make up looks amazing!
Karen says
Thanks, Agata. Oh, here’s a plus: Laura Mercier Grey Pearl also works with the Too Faced Boudoir Palette!
Kristina says
I literally LOL when i clicked over and saw the Viva Glam Nicki Photographed on the wig! you kill me. What kind of loon would tell you to lose the personality?? I am so tired of the beauty blogs written so seriously, or every other week write posts complaining about blogging…I say take it up at ALT Summit.
You’re the best, Keep on Truckin Karen!
Karen says
Aw, you’re sweet! 🙂 Sooo… are ya gonna rock Viva Glam Nicki!?
Kristina says
we are the exact same complexion, I may be slight more yellow. It’s not going to be my cup of tea. Only if I really blotted it down and used it as a base for something else but i have similar hues that will do that for me.
Heidi says
The lipglass looks surprisingly wearable. The lipstick — uh, yeah… not so much. But you rock on with your lavender concealer lips! Love your willingness to try anything and show us the results!
Karen says
Hey Heids,
Thanks! Yeah, the Lipglass took some work. I had to pat it down with a finger to spread it out. It’s challenging on its own, but I bet it could be a great layering gloss. Anywho, what’s the plan for the weekend? I’m going out to dinner tonight and to the movies with my friend Cindy. We’re going to watch Warm Bodies, a teenage zombie love story, LOL!
Heidi says
Not sure what the weekend has in store. Brian’s been sick the last couple of weeks and working nonstop so if he doesn’t have to work tomorrow he needs to REST! I’ll probably go see a movie tomorrow. I’m actually really interested in Warm Bodies, even though zombies usually aren’t my thing. I’ve been a huge fan of the star ever since About a Boy (one of my all time favorite movies). Saw him on the Graham Norton Show last weekend and loved how they referred to Warm Bodies as a “zom rom com.”
Martha says
I never comment, but I have to say that the first picture is amazing! The Caviar Stick will be going on my wish list, I just hope my fair skin does it justice. It glows on your eyes!
Karen says
Thanks, Martha! Please tell me you also have MAC Shale!
Jen B says
Oh…that lipstick… There is no way I could pull it off! The lipglass looks like its wearable though!
PS: You look way better than Lil Kim!
Angela @ The Unprofessional Beauty Blog says
This looks like a really fun shade, but unfortunately I don’t think the cool tone is going to work for my skin tone.
Jasmine says
LOL @ the Lil Kim comment! I love the color but sooo not something I can pull off!
Monica P says
Oh, hmm, lilac lips eh? Not for me, but as you say ” if that’s what you’re going for and you can pull it off, more power to ya” .. I totally agree 🙂
Monica
Carina says
LOL love this post, though not so much the lipstick!
musical says
Not my color, unfortunately…but yes, I completely heart your choices of VG5 and VG6. They are ah-mazing, and so versatile!
Stephanieemua says
I love this color… As weird as it sounds I have been waiting for a color like this from Mac. It may look ridiculous on me but I don’t care I WILL WEAR ANY COLOR 🙂 I even wear black, and navy :)! My only issue is its going to make my teeth look yellow most likely!
Anitacska says
The lipstick colour is just awful. The lipglass looks okay on you, but it’s not the best. Maybe if someone’s really pale and cool toned, they might be able to pull them off, but they’re not for me. I prefer reds and bright pinky-reds. 🙂
Marla says
Eyeshadow yes, lipstick- no way! ha!
Jay @ Wayfaring Beauty says
Love the wig and I literally laughed out loud over your postman’s Lil Kim comment (you don’t, for the record!). I think I’ll pass on these shades. I don’t think I could pull them off and they would just gather dust in the back of my makeup bin.
Emi at Project Swatch says
The lipglass works surprisingly well – I actually love it on you – but I don’t see how the lipstick could work on anyone, really. And this is coming from someone who loves purple lips – just not white based purple.
Karo says
Lipgloss is nice but Lipstick no way!
ahhhdri says
Sigh I couldn’t resist the candy colored Nicki 2. I’m going to play around with some lipliners to make it more wearable. But I love the lipglass on you!
Lisa Kay says
I really want to like the lipstick but I think it would make me look like I ate some weird candy. I agree with the others though, your eyes look great.
April says
I really hate the direction they’re going with VG shades. VGV, VGVI, VGVI SE – all killer, wearable shades! Gaga and Nicki shades have all been terrible.
Emily says
Hi! First time commenter here 😀 I feel as if I’m the only one who thinks this shade would be beautiful mixed with her other Viva Glam lippy! Might have to get this one…
Lacey J. says
That color is atrocious. It just ruins your overall look which is otherwise stunning. I wish that Mac would release Mac Hot Chocolate as a Viva Glam color. It is my favorite Mac lipstick I own. I’m not a big lipstick person but I will probably be picking up Viva Glam 6, some time this year. My go to lipstick is actually Viva Glam 2. I just top it with a warm peachy gloss and I’m good to go. I really think that Mac needs to think about the overall appeal of these items. They want to sell alot, so why not make it at least a little more wearable. Yikes. I vote Adell for the next Viva Glam girl!
Maria says
That reminds me of the color I’d get when I’d rub a robin’s egg malted candy on my lips as a kid. Lol! Sometimes MAC swings and misses and this is one of those times.
LC says
These are so awful, I can’t even.
Jennifer says
Just with that name on it I cannot stand it. Hate her with a passion and dislike the white pink’s even more. You are adorable though!
Liz says
OMG!! The shade of this MAC VG Nicki 2 Lipstick & Lipglass is to die for! I loved it! and I’m so excited to get both of it! Again, Thank you so much for review and swatches Karen! XO!
jess says
OMG Nicki what have you done??? She should have picked a more wearable shade! ack! I’m NC20 and I won’t touch it! Gaga was pale enough!
Kiki1988 says
The gloss looks nice, but the shade is haaarrrdd to pull off. If I could I’d be wearing it all the time though, it’s a lovely color!
Karen says
Hi Kiki,
Yeah, it’s a tough color to wear. It sure looks neat though… like candy!
Katie says
Ha love the wig! 😛
I think this would suit a paler skin tone but yore definitely right, they don’t make them easy to wear!
Katie xo
Karen says
Definitely a challenging color!
Crown Princess says
Karen, this would be a lipstick i don’t think anybody would be interested in. But look how many people have commented. The writing i tell ya 😉 Fun post!
Karen says
Thanks, Crown Princess. 🙂 Hope you’re having a nice day!
JuicesnBerriez says
Would it be possible for you to please post the ingredients pictures? If not for this post, but in the future. I know you used to do this a while back. For those of us with allergies, sensitivities, etc, this is good to see. Thanks.
JoJo says
I had to get it so I can play with it & I actually added more to love ll & it gives it a pretty ombré wearable effect. I saw it with plum ll, so I’m going to give it a go & see how that turns out. Crazy that I haven’t tried VG Nicki. That right there looked crazy on me. Any suggestions on how to make it a bit wearable? Tempted to add it to my collection. I’m an NC30.
Heather says
What! Lil’ Kim in the 90s was IT, though! You can’t deny she was the cutest.
Unless you think he was talking about late 2000s Kim. I’m not about to speak for that UPS man.
The lipglass is actually surprisingly wearable and I think it looks divine on you, so it should look good on me (NC40 wut wut). I am going to make that lipstick work, though. Plum liner and maybe Viva Glam Nicki 1 lipglass on top?