If I tried to corral the coral lipsticks in my makeup collection, gurl, it would cause a stampede. Those corals are wild at heart because I let them run free. I mean, why confine them to summer when they look so good 12 months a year?
Next to pink, coral is one of my favorite lip colors, and those lil’ waxy bullets regularly melt my heart, like today’s Unsung Hero, MAC Cremesheen in Crosswires ($14.50).
It’s a punchy, pigmented pinkish orange, and it’s one of the shades I wear often when I want “look at me” lips. I’ve seen it worn by fair- and dark-skinned gals in a variety of NW and NC tones, and no matter what, I think it pretty much always looks 
hot. It just might be the MAC permanent line’s most wearable coral.
Maybe it’s the pink tones in Crosswires that really set it apart for me. The shade may not be as seductive as some of MAC’s reddish corals (like MAC Viva Glam Cyndi) or as electric as others (like MAC Costa Chic), but it’s sweet, and that’s something I like.
And talk about flexible! When I want to dress it up, I’ll apply two layers with a lip brush, like in these pics here. If I’m in a more casual mood, I’ll dab the tube directly on my lips for a soft, pinkish coral stain.
I think it even looks faboo layered beneath pink, coral and peach lipglosses (have you seen it with Evolution Revolution yet?).
On top of everything else, the color lasts for hours! I’d say it’s one of the longer-wearing Cremesheens in the entire MAC line.
So have you two met before? I bet you’d hit it off. 🙂
The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bombshell Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sunbasque Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Clear Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Humid Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Naked Lunch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Russian Red Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Syrup Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Blushbaby Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Vex Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Strobe Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blot Powder/Pressed
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Subculture Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
- MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V
- MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lychee Luxe Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Thank you very much for the wonderful birthday wishes today. I’m touched beyond words, and I feel lucky to have gotten to know you. I got here to Vancouver just fine. It’s a little overcast but warmer than I expected. Quite beautiful from the little bit I’ve seen so far. Never in my life have I seen so many logs floating down rivers. It’s fascinating! Sleep well, friend. See you in the morning. 🙂
Kaelin Chan says
June 9th, 2011 at 9:03 pmThis color looks stunning on you :D. I’m a red and coral kind of girl, not so into pink or neutral lippies. I’ll be sure to check out this bad baby on my next forray to MAC
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Vijaya says
June 9th, 2011 at 9:05 pmI’ve never tried this but it looks fab and I love Cremesheens. Your Unsung Heroes series is a fave of mine. So many great permanent items get undermined by the fact that MAC releases such a constant stream of l/e collections!
How was your birthday, btw?
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Megan says
June 9th, 2011 at 9:06 pmI’m not even a huge lipstick fan (people look strangely at your kid when he has lipstick kiss-marks all over his sweet little baby forehead), but that just changed some.
I think Tommy’s gonna have to put up with coral on his head, because all I can think of is how amazing this would look under my Lychee Luxe.
Glad you got to Vancouver safely; have a lovely time! And just remember that no many how many margaritas you have, log surfing/rolling is a LOT harder than it look on TV. I, uh, I wish I didn’t know that. 😉
Jessi says
June 9th, 2011 at 9:10 pmOoo, another lipstick to add to my list. You never steer me wrong Karen. Syrup is one of my favorite MAC purchases ever and I never would have bought it without you! I hope you are having fun on your trip!
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Jula says
June 9th, 2011 at 9:13 pmI <3 Crosswires. I wore it for my prom! It will always have a special place in my heart lol
Nadine says
June 9th, 2011 at 9:23 pmHehehe. I’m excited to find out what you think of our city! Hope it exceeds your expectations!
Nadine says
June 9th, 2011 at 9:25 pmAlso, I don’t know how corals work, but they always look perfect!!!
StealMyHeartLove says
June 9th, 2011 at 9:27 pmMAC Crosswires lipstick looks gorgeous on you. It’s very flattering. I need this in my MAC Lipstick Collection. 😉
StealMyHeartLove recently posted … Review- NARS blush in Mata Hari
Tracy says
June 9th, 2011 at 9:50 pmI just bought this the other day and love it!!!
Have fun in Van-Groovy!
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Diana says
June 9th, 2011 at 10:38 pmJust bought this after your Evolution Revolution post last week. LOVE IT!
Rita says
June 9th, 2011 at 10:58 pmIt looks so good on you! I got Crosswires only recently as BtM (which is weird since I got all the 50 corals that are there / have come out recently). I have to try it on again!
Ik says
June 9th, 2011 at 11:02 pmSo have you two met before? I bet you’d hit it off.
ABSOLUTELY! 🙂 I think I love this more than Viva Glam Cyndi.. 😐
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gio says
June 9th, 2011 at 11:07 pmIt looks fab, love it!
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Eesha says
June 10th, 2011 at 2:09 amWent to buy it yesterday, but it was out of stock, in that store. OH I SO MUCH WANT IT….
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nidhi says
June 10th, 2011 at 3:21 amI have this and fanfare..love both..
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Dela says
June 10th, 2011 at 3:33 amLove the way this looks on you! What”s your skin tone? Im a NC 35 and I am guessing it will look good on me as well
Vonvon says
June 10th, 2011 at 4:09 amFrom your MAC Unsung Heroes series, I have already drawn up a list of to-buy-when-I-ever-finish-a-lippie. Looks like the list will grow longer.
But this shade is very pretty! I have been wearing a Jemma Kidd Coral lipgloss for the past few days. love coral shades!
Vonvon recently posted … A Bit Busy New Wedges From New Look
Nina says
June 10th, 2011 at 5:58 amCrosswires is my absolute fave lipstick of all time! it looks awesome and goes well w/ my rather pigmented lips.
im actually wearing it today, paired w/ lychee luxe on top and my paradise cheek powder as blush. makes me feel like sitting outdoors and drinking a fruity drink!
Halley says
June 10th, 2011 at 6:12 amoohhhh this looks lovely. I totally don’t need another coral lipstick (or coral anything, really), but I think I’ll have to go check this out!
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Ariel says
June 10th, 2011 at 6:32 amThat color really suits you, Karen! Great for a summer party, or the 4th of July
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NeenaJ says
June 10th, 2011 at 6:59 amI love Crosswires. I can’t wait for it to start getting hot so I can wear Crosswires and take it from hot to HAUTE!
NeenaJ recently posted … Golden Purple EOTD
Chris25 says
June 10th, 2011 at 7:05 amI tend to not like corals on me. It’s strange because we have the same skin tone, so Crosswires should work for me, but I feel like it won’t. Makeup dilemma…corals: yay or nay? Stay tuned for next week’s episode! 😛
Appu says
June 10th, 2011 at 7:17 amI have See Sheer which is a nice looking coral on me but, I prefer Cremesheens to Lustre so I’ll definitely be getting this! 🙂
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Kim says
June 10th, 2011 at 7:22 amI’m more of a berry person than a coral (the 3 times per year I wear lipstick – HAHA!), but this looks awesome on you. And you’re looking super-tan, btw. Jealous! 🙂
Can’t wait to hear about your trip. That’s very cool about the logs. I watched a special on underwater salvage logging once. Really interesting stuff!
LaurieS says
June 10th, 2011 at 7:51 amCorals scare me a bit because I’m deathly pale but that color looks gorgeous on you.
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Beth says
June 10th, 2011 at 7:55 amWearing this right now! Love this color – scream summer to me.
Amanda says
June 10th, 2011 at 8:14 amLaurieS: I’m also very pale, and a great light coral for us gals is MAC’s Shy Girl. Try it on, and I bet you’ll love it. Perfect for summer, but I wear corals year-round.
Andrea says
June 10th, 2011 at 8:49 amI like this one :There was one of the : Vermous Villans Collections Toxic Tale, but this one u have is a lighter Shade, I saw last Jazzed which looks good too is peach tone from the groove collection didn’t get it either 🙁
Iram says
June 10th, 2011 at 8:55 amoooh that looks gorgeous! I want it now 🙂
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Andrea says
June 10th, 2011 at 9:07 amI like this coral of you , I liked the Coral on vermous Villan Collection Toxic Tales, But i think
this is a beter shade u have, like the pinkish on it. I saw one from the the Groove collection Jazze.
I hope I can find something like u have in cream sheen too.
Gauri says
June 10th, 2011 at 9:35 amI’ve been impressed with MAC Twig. You should try it too..
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alyssa says
June 10th, 2011 at 9:36 ami have crosswires and i LOOVEEE it also is like vegas volt but different! i love this color and it looks so great on you!!!
larie says
June 10th, 2011 at 10:35 amAdding this to the list!
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LC says
June 10th, 2011 at 10:46 amOooh, pretty! However, I already own Viva Glam Cyndi. Do you (Karen and the gals posting on here) think this shade is too similar? I’m deciding on whether or not to order Crosswires online now. Thanks for your help!
Cindy (Prime Beauty) says
June 10th, 2011 at 11:46 amKaren, you had me at coral–I will definitely need to check Crosswires out. Love Cyndi Viva Glam but I like softer corals too. Another great one is Bobbi Brown Sweet Nectar, have you tried it yet?
Soo says
June 10th, 2011 at 12:28 pmI really enjoy your ‘Unsung Heroes’ posts. I never know where to start with MAC products since I only own two lipsticks. seeing highlights helps me out a lot.
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Maria Aguyé says
June 10th, 2011 at 1:52 pmHi Karen! I´m new to your blog, and I like it so much!
Happy birthday!
Julien says
June 10th, 2011 at 5:48 pmHappy belated birthday! It’s too cool that we share the same birthday.
Tiffany says
June 10th, 2011 at 6:10 pmOf course I have this shade and I love it!!
Valeria says
June 10th, 2011 at 7:00 pmThe color is beautiful! I love that we have a similar skin tone, too, so I have a better idea of how it might look on me :p
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Anna says
June 10th, 2011 at 7:38 pmBelated happy birthday Karen!!
I’m glad you wrote about Crosswires! I was consulting with one of my local MAC girls about what permanent lipstick would be closest to Surf Baby Hibiscus – for the inevitable day that my tube runs out 🙁 it’s a bit pinker than Hibiscus but I actually like it better!
I hope you’re catching some hockey fever in Vancouver today. The viewing areas downtown should be especially crazy today!!!
Sarah H. says
June 10th, 2011 at 10:45 pmI just got this the other day, so pretty and totally wearable for daytime.
Heather C. says
June 10th, 2011 at 11:26 pmI agree, this color looks amazing on you!!
yuri says
June 10th, 2011 at 11:39 pmlove the color on your lips, if i saw the lipstick on its on I never would have thought it was coral on the tube it looks super red.
singrsling says
June 11th, 2011 at 12:05 pmKaren,
Happy belated birthday! I am just catching up on over a week of your posts, since I got back from vacay on Tuesday. Hope you are having a great time in YVR! Don’t forget to go to the big park there – it’s gorgeous!
Candace says
June 11th, 2011 at 1:23 pmWhaat foundation are you wearing here? Looks fab!
Kristen says
June 12th, 2011 at 5:57 pmWOW~! talk about a brilliant colour!
Elaine says
June 12th, 2011 at 9:51 pmMMMMM Cremesheens!
AnaGo says
June 20th, 2013 at 1:18 pmHi, i just recently ordered mac crosswires after a whole day of thinking twice..(i just bought velvet teddy and kinda sexy 3 days ago and i havent even used them yet, and here i go again, looking for another one.)ive seen and read a lot of your posts about mac lipsticks and i just love them. Esp the archie’s girls collection! Superb! Anyhoo, i just want to ask what shades of blush should i use with my crosswires lipstick, u know, just for a simple everyday go to look..thanks!