Meet some of my favorite MAC nude shades this week from the MAC Strip Down collection.
I’m a bonafide twig expert! — self proclaimed, of course. I have twigs in every pocket of every jacket. Literally.
And there are two reasons for this:
- Because I like to wear MAC Twig lipstick
- And because Connor has to pick up all of the twigs she finds whenever we leave the house and adds them to her collection of “treasures that we keep by the front door.”
So, yeah, with the power vested in me by the State of California, I declare myself a twig expert. 😊
MAC Twig is such an old-school favorite. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is not the color of most tiny branches. Really, I don’t know why it’s even called “Twig,” unless somebody somewhere had a dream about a pinkish brown tree…?
Yeah, it’s in the realm of brown, but I think it’s more pink than brown, so if you like the idea of a nude lip color that splits the difference between a Barbie pink and a true brown, a la MAC Paramount, take a look at Twig.
Like other MAC nude lip greats, it’s subtlety different from other nude lip colors in ways that a casual bystanders would have absolutely NO CLUE about. Like my husband — he would never be able to tell the difference between Velvet Teddy and Twig, but you and I? We would.
I think Twig is closest to MAC Mehr, but it’s less pink and more brown. It’s also similar to MAC Whirl, but Whirl is browner than Twig. So, it’s definitely in the pinkish brown family. I’d say that it’s about halfway between Mehr and Whirl.
Definitely NOT the same as Velvet Teddy, though, because it doesn’t have as much beige.
The Satin Lipstick formula is spectacular, too. There’s a light essence of shine, but it reads on my NC42 skin as a matte. I think Twig has all of things most people crave from a lipstick with a flat finish. It’s creamy and buttery…
(Ugh, how many times am I gonna say “creamy and buttery” in a blog post?)
But it is, though. It also hugs your lips like fitted sheets on a tightly made bed, so it smooths any lip creases and wrinkles.
If you’re a hard-core matte person, you’ll probably be OK with this on your lips, but if your lips are even the slightest bit dry, Twig, for whatever reason, could make it worse if you aren’t careful. When I wear it and wash my face at the end of the day, I have to apply lip balm before I go to bed, and then I’m fine the following morning.
If I don’t do that, my lips will feel a little dry (but they won’t peel or anything like that).
Twig is from the permanent line and also part of MAC’s Strip Down collection. Try it! It’s gorgeous, and you know what? It goes well with all of the MAC classics. Satin Taupe, WoodwinkedTexture, Soft Brown — you name it. Any of the old-school MAC greats that will endure until the next millennia (seriously, Connor’s grandchildren’s grandchildren will probably be wearing those colors). Give them a go with Twig.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Jane says
April 18th, 2019 at 7:34 amI think Twig is a perfect nude shade for me, however, as I mentioned before, I had a mini tube and it did feel dry on my “mature” lips. I would consider a good lip balm before I use it again.
Karen says
April 18th, 2019 at 10:38 amHi Jane,
Definitely do prep with a balm first. It’ll make all the difference!
I just got back from Connor’s Easter chapel performance at the preschool and I’m feeling super emo! I can’t believe she’ll be moving onto the next grade up.
Sascha says
April 18th, 2019 at 8:11 amWow, they all look gorgeous! I really need to focus on Mac lipsticks more as I don’t often give them the time of day – whenever I hit the counter it’s always for the base products xx
beautygeekuk.com
Mia says
April 18th, 2019 at 10:32 amTwig is an absolute treasure and you’re right, the satin formula is fantastic. I always recommend it to friends who are too afraid to wear straight up matte finishes.
I totally see future generations enjoying these classic shades 🙂 they’ll never look dated.
Karen says
April 18th, 2019 at 10:38 amHi Mia,
Yes, it’s one of those no-fail lipsticks. Timeless and classic!
Hope you’re having a nice week so far. It’s finally sunny and warm here in Northern California!
Mia says
April 18th, 2019 at 9:29 pmOh, that’s great 🙂 Enjoy the beautiful weather!
It’s been raining nonstop in Vancouver, fingers crossed we get some sunshine too!
Suzanne C says
April 18th, 2019 at 12:09 pmStop making me want these; I just purged at least 10 pinkish-brown lippies out my collection and still have a ridiculous number of them left. Seriously, I had to go to Sephora specifically to buy a lipstick in anything but pinkish-brown. (Oh, the suffering, lol.)
BTW, I’m currently wearing the Maybeline Tatoo Liner that you recommended (in Intense Charcoal), and it seems to be really good so far. Love those budget beauty finds! ~Says the person with over $350 already waiting in her Sephora basket for the Spring Insider Event that doesn’t start for another week. 😊🛒💄
Erica says
April 18th, 2019 at 2:08 pmTwig isn’t really nude on me but it’s a lovely shade!
Chelsea says
April 18th, 2019 at 2:56 pmI love Connor Claire and her twigs! That’s so sweet!
I’ve never checked these out IRL but I can just look at Whirl and know it’ll look terrible on me. Whirl might be pink enough but I struggle with these types of brown.
Diana says
April 18th, 2019 at 2:58 pmI have Mehr its just ok on me but Twig looks like a perfect pink- brown tone. What i really want is Satin Taupe 😍
Erica says
April 18th, 2019 at 7:48 pmAh Twig, my fave ❤️. (And yea, why is it called Twig when it’s way too pink?? You’re funny MAC.)
Barbara says
April 21st, 2019 at 10:24 amIt’s called Twig b/c it used to be called Twiggy after the 60’s model but then she (or someone) threatened to sue so they changed the name!
Erica says
April 22nd, 2019 at 10:29 pmOh wow that’s amazing! Had no idea!
Michele DiCola says
April 18th, 2019 at 8:37 pmI would love to own every Mac lipstick 💄 But twig is fabulous .
Love that Connor Claire is helping you pick up twigs . We seem to have a ton of them everyday .
I use some Eliz Arden 7 Day cream , just a tad on my lips helps any lipstick look better !
Tatiana says
April 18th, 2019 at 8:46 pmI find Twig to be slightly less drying than Whirl or Mehr. Unfortunately both Twig and Whirl go really brown on me and make me look dead. Mehr is more my speed if I wear it with plenty of lip balm.
LindaLibraLoca says
April 19th, 2019 at 1:26 amWe have a similar collection, twigs and stones that need to be picked up wherever we go. I do not own the one Twig I would probably enjoy though, the lipstick. I adore MAC Satin formulas, they are my favorite.
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Allison Cohen says
April 19th, 2019 at 8:27 amOMG I love Twig! That is my kind of shade. I am glad to hear it’s “creamy and buttery”, but my lips are very dry so I guess this formula isn’t for me? 😩😢
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Kim says
April 24th, 2019 at 8:34 amOh, Twig would be way too pink for me. I think Whirl may be the only shade brown enough for me to get away with. 🙂 Ah, yes, the collections. We STILL have rocks that will show up occasionally and I don’t have the heart to throw them out (though the boys forgot they existed 10 years ago). My mother-in-law told me when I got married that she had a box of “treasures” (rocks) that the Hubs still had under his bed at home even though he hadn’t lived there in a decade. She couldn’t throw them out either. But they definitely didn’t come home with us. HAHA! At least I know where the boys got the rock collecting from!