BEEP! BOOP! Identity: Robot Karen. BEEP! Program start. Execute command of beauty blog. BEEP! Temporarily commandeer MBB for afternoon. BOOP!
All rogue programs will be deleted from memory. BEEP! Escape is prohibited.
According to my programming — BEEP-BOOP-BOOP-BEE-BOOP! — there is a revival of ’90s makeup underway.
Should you require assistance in finding a new frosty, pigmented lipstick and/or lip gloss — BOOP! — focus your ocular sensors on the nearest MAC counter to your proximity. BEEP!
The new MAC Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipstick ($16 U.S./$19 CDN) and Lipglass ($15 U.S./$18 CDN) are approved for use by robots and humans seeking bold metallic looks. BEEP!
My lipstick-o-meter detects a strong ’90s vibe from warm mauve Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipstick and its silvery frost. BEEP! BOOP!
And my internal lipgloss spectrometer spikes when it analyzes the high glitter content in the cooler mauve Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipglass, with its reddish frost. BEEP!
For maximum metallic synthesis and the pinnacle in frosty robot ’90s-style lips, Robot Karen suggests layering the Lipglass on top of the Lipstick, while keeping the rest of your makeup — eyes, cheeks and skin — matte. BEEP! BOOP! This should highlight your bold lip look.
NON-ROBOT KAREN’S MAKEUP ANALYSIS: As you can see, these shades are kind of tricky to pull off. They’re dark, super frosty, and probably best suited for darker divas and/or members of Club ’90s Grunge Glam.
I can’t say this is my favorite Viva Glam ever (that honor goes to either Viva Glam V Lipstick or Lipglass), but I’ve always loved the idea behind the Viva Glam releases.
You can download (har-dee-har) the Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipstick and Lipglass online now, or wait for them to materialize on North American MAC counters September 11 (and internationally, some time this month.
BEEP! BOOP! End program.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’m glad to see this is a lippie that will look amazingly gorgeous on darker skin!
Love the idea behind the Viva Glam lipsticks. Just wondering if it would have been better to release something a little more wearable? More people would buy it and hence more money would be raised for the AIDS fund?
Oh Karen, I just love you. This post is soo cute! Idon’t like the lipstick but the lipglass is really pretty.
Love you back, Agata!
I think you should try this next time you go to the counter. Hey, you never know!
Sweet! I still have one or two half-used lipsticks circa 1996 that look a lot like this. Keep em long enough, and they come back in style, haha! Seriously, the lipglass is really nice and the lipstick will look fresh and pretty, almost like a frosty neutral, on darker hued peeps.
No seriously!!! I am regretting giving away all of my spaghetti strap dresses, baby tees and plaid shirts. I also had a backpack with a woven design (AND THE WORST STRAPS EVER) that I wish I kept. I should’ve held onto those bad boys!
Not sure I could pull ’em off but I like how they look!
Hi Karen,
The MAC Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipstick reminds me of Chanel’s Sycomore.
Hi May,
Oh yeah! It kind of has that same frosty vibe. 🙂
I like that this is a lip color that is WOC-friendly. I saw swatches of both today & was really digging the Rihanna-esque vibe. Many times I feel like some brands ignore WOC & other minority women with deeper complexions.
While I’m not sure I can pull this off with my NC50 hue, I think I might stop by a MAC counter to play with this one just for the heck of it!
Hi Kwmechelle,
Yes, I appreciate that too. And I kind of love that you want to play with the shade! You never know. Some of my most beloved colors are shades I would’ve never thought would work.
P.S. While you’re at the MAC counter check out the 34 lashes. I’m kind of obsessed with them at the moment.
HAPPY FRIDAY!
I could not pull this one off but it would look amazing on deep skin. Loving the futuristic (or perhaps retro) finish!
Hi Ashleigh!
Yes it would. 🙂 And it’s definitely futuristic and retro at the same time. Time for Robot Karen to go BEEP!
I don’t think I could pull off the lipstick – maybe the gloss on top of lipsticks to darken them. However I agree that they would look amazing on deeper skin tones!
What a very creative way to review something so godawful….love you LOLOL! Great first date lip combo. NOT!!
LOL, thanks Bella. BEEP!
I love this! wondering if there is any difference between “mac icon lipstick”
wich I just bought and Viva Glam Rihanna II
Hi Martha,
They’re kinda similar, but different. They are a similar shade and both have high levels of frost, but Viva Glam Rihanna II is considerably deeper and more pigmented. HTH! Let me know if you have any other questions. 🙂
Somehow you pull it off, Karen! And you’re the first one who does so far for me! I really don’t like the colors MAC picked for this…
I’m totally stuck in the 90s with my lip faves but I could never pull this off. Frosty lips and I haven’t been friends for many years! 🙂
I love your Matrix-y program gif, btw. Also, technically a 90s reference, which I’m sure you knew!
It was on TV the other day so it was on my mind. Also, I did pushups for the first time in ages on Weds (?) and have been literally walking around like a robot because I haven’t been able to lift my arms, haha!
Actually, I think this will look better on lighter complexions! The contrast really makes it stand out and look funky. I have a feeling this is either going to get lost on me or give me smokers lips lol. I love how the gloss looks though! It’s very pretty! I’m still a little iffy on the lipstick though. I’ll definitely have to swatch it in person
I feel like your picture doesn’t look like the same color in Rihanna’s picture. It seems so much darker! Sad 🙁 I mean I’m still gonna buy both though! Thanks for the review and lovely photos. You are a beauty!
Hi Allison,
Thank you! I spend a lot of time and effort on lighting and can assure you that the color of the lipstick in the pics isn’t off. 🙂 It probably looks vastly different on me because we have very different skin tones.
If you want a lighter option try MAC Icon Lipstick. It has the same vibe, but isn’t as dark. HTH!
I agree with Fancie- this would look kinda cool on a super pale chick. Or more dark skinned. Definitely not a good color for most people.
Karen- oh absolutely! Any time I buy mac after reading your blog your colors are spot on! What I meant was on macs page I think it looks much different. Maybe it’s the lighting on Rihanna? Or photoshop… But it just looks much different than I expected. Either way it’s still beautiful and totally going to buy it to support the cause!
Hey Karen! Love reading you’re blog. I freelance for MAC and find your swatches and reviews very helpful when it comes to gaining some extra knowledge on the product. Thank you for your help!
I really like this lipstick & gloss maybe b/c I am NW45 plus it is for a good cost. So why not, oh & it’s limited addition. It looks great on u!!
I guess the brown lips of the ’90s are making a come back? I hope it doesn’t bring the dark lip liner nude middle lip combo lol
The lipstick is very sophisticated
Do you have any recommendations for a MAC lipliner to use with this?