Back in college I volunteered as a peer health counselor, and one of my responsibilities was to visit the different dorms on campus and give presentations on HIV/AIDS awareness. Even though it took a lot of time, it was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done (I felt like I was really helping people).
In a small way, MAC’s Viva Glam program allows me to still feel like I’m helping people, and maybe that’s one of the reasons why I like the limited edition MAC Viva Glam Cyndi and Viva Glam Gaga Lipglasses ($14.50 each) so much.
Well, it doesn’t hurt that they’re gorgeous, too. 🙂
If I had to pick between the two, I think I’d probably go with Cyndi’s shiny coral. Don’t get me wrong — I love Gaga’s creamy light bluish pink, but I tend to find warmer colors a little easier to wear.
That said, if you prefer cooler colors and/or pale pinks, you might have better luck with Gaga.
On top of everything else, both colors come with MAC’s classic sticky texture, long-wearing gloss formula (about four hours) and light vanilla scent (they are unflavored, though).
Swatches from left on NC35 skin: Viva Glam Cyndi, Viva Glam Gaga
MAC Viva Glam Cyndi Lipglass
MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass
The donation resulting from the purchase of a single MAC Viva Glam lipstick or lipglass is enough to provide…
- One school stationery starter pack for a child orphaned by a parent with AIDS
- One month of public transportation for a woman to travel to and from a doctor’s office
- One monthly medication planner to help a person manage their treatment regimen
- One HIV-prevention workshop conducted by a peer health educator
- One pair of school shoes for a child orphaned by AIDS
- One counseling session for an HIV+ woman
- 15 copies of a “Tips to Eating Well with HIV/AIDS” booklet
- Two emergency boxes filled with non-perishable food
- 14 blood glucose monitoring strips
- One rapid oral HIV test
(source)
With the MAC AIDS Fund, the company hasn’t just thrown money at a problem for PR purposes. They’ve created the infrastructure to actually deliver help and services to people in an efficient way. Plus, hello! — the colors are totally hawt! 🙂 Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Tracy says
August 19th, 2010 at 4:57 pmI’ve been waiting for these! Must have Cyndi Lipglass. Must have. 🙂
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Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:22 amYes you must!
dani@callitbeauty says
August 19th, 2010 at 4:58 pmooh, i’m excited for the cyndi lipglass!
the gaga lipglass looks quite runny to me =/
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Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:22 amYeah, I hear ya. I have a hard time with pale pinks, though, so it might look better on you than it does on me. I bet it would look nice layered on top of the Gaga lipstick!
AshBash says
August 19th, 2010 at 5:14 pmi have viva glam gaga lipstick so i’ll go with the cyndi lipglass.
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:21 amCyndi will look pretty on you. 🙂
Mai-Huong says
August 19th, 2010 at 5:21 pmThat Cyndi lipglass looks gorgeous!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:21 amDoesn’t it though? I love it!
Melissa says
August 19th, 2010 at 5:23 pmLOVE these. i might have to splurge for the GaGa one…should i? i never used MACs lipglass, can anyone tell me if they are too sticky? my splurge is juicy tubes.
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:21 amHi Melissa,
They feel very different from the Juicy Tubes. They’re thicker and stickier, for sure. You might want to try a little bit on first to make sure you like the texture.
Gina says
August 19th, 2010 at 5:29 pmI already have the Viva Glam Gaga… but I really want to buy BOTH of these 😀 They’re both so pretty and I love that they support a great cause!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:20 amI think you’ll like them a lot. You usually can’t go wrong with the MAC Lipglasses. 😀
Caitlin says
August 19th, 2010 at 6:04 pmI absolutely LOVE both of these! Cute colors inspired by great artists in support of an amazing cause….whats not to love 🙂
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Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:19 amAwesome! I hope you love them!
Arianne says
August 19th, 2010 at 6:36 pmThe Cyndi lipglass is hawt! I’ll gladly support the cause by buying one of these. 😉
Arianne recently posted … EOTD- Graphic Teal and Blue
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:19 amAnd it doesn’t hurt that they’re really pretty too, right?
TUPRNUT says
August 19th, 2010 at 6:44 pmYAY! I’ve been so excited to see these! I love the Gaga lipstick, but I think I’ll be going with the Cyndi gloss. Thanks, Karen!
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Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:19 amYou’re welcome Tuprnut! I hope you’ve been having a nice summer. 🙂
House of Accessories says
August 19th, 2010 at 7:05 pmBoth are very pretty!!
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Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:18 amYes they are.
Lindsay says
August 19th, 2010 at 7:56 pmI love both of them!
Lindsay recently posted … MAC Viva Glam Gaga & Cyndi Lipglasses- Fall 2010
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:18 amYay!
Michelle says
August 19th, 2010 at 8:03 pmI wasn’t planning to get these but after your pictures and swatches I’m tempted to get both of ’em. I have difficulty pulling off pale bubblegum pinks so I’m leaning toward Cyndi
Michelle recently posted … Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Pink Pop & Coral Reef Chanel Sirop
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:18 amFor some reason I have a hard time with certain pale pinks too. On some women they look gorgeous… but on me I feel like they look like p0rn star lips, LOL!
Marilyn @ Lipgloss and Spandex says
August 19th, 2010 at 8:10 pmI NEED both of these! I have both lipsticks, but I’m more of a lipgloss kind of gal. So excited that they came out with Lipglass versions.
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Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:17 amI don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Both colors are really pretty!
Agnes says
August 19th, 2010 at 8:26 pmi love and have the gaga lipstick but i think this time around, im going with cyndi!
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Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:16 amGreat choice!
Alison says
August 19th, 2010 at 8:41 pmKaren, how similar would you say the Cyndi lipglass is to Lychee Luxe? They look really close to me, but sometimes my laptop monitor likes to play color tricks on me!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:16 amHi Alison,
I’d say Lychee Luxe has is more gold and orangey, while Cyndi is less gold and more red. I did a review of Lychee Luxe earlier this year (along with swatches); if you want to check it out to compare here it is!
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/mac-unsung-heroes-lychee-luxe-lipglass/
Lemme know if you have any more questions!
Karen says
August 19th, 2010 at 9:35 pmI have the Cyndi lipstick and love it, I think I’ll also get it in the lipglass. I’ll probably be stocking up since it’s limited.
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:23 amGood idea! Maybe two tubes?
Melissa W. says
August 19th, 2010 at 9:58 pmThe Cyndi lipglass is beautiful! The Gaga lipglass looks like a milk ad. 😉
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Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:24 amHa ha… Do you wear pale pinks well? It might look cuter on you.
gio says
August 20th, 2010 at 12:58 amThe Cyndi lipglass looks hawt!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:24 amTotally smoking, right?
Nina says
August 20th, 2010 at 6:05 amI always try to pick up Viva Glam stuff when they come out … and even if im loyal to Lychee Luxe ill def get these. Such pretty colors and so complimentary to the lippies!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:24 amIf you like Lychee Luxe you’ll go nuts over the Cyndi gloss!
NIna says
August 20th, 2010 at 10:38 amWhy yes I do!
That might be the one I get. The Gaga is a bit too girlish for me!
Plus I totally love the Cyndi lippie!
Joey Chong says
August 20th, 2010 at 6:09 amMAC Viva Glam Cyndi Lipglass is gorgeous!!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:25 amIsn’t it though? I heart it!
Shiny says
August 20th, 2010 at 7:28 amI also work in a field relating to HIV/AIDS awareness and am amazed by the fact that they donate the whole amount rather than just an undisclosed amount (like a lot of other companies). I try and buy Viva Glam stuff whenever I can, especially the lip palettes at Christmas.
Great article Karen, I bet your readers are going to check out these products the next time they visit a MAC store and keep this information in mind. x
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:13 amHi Shiny,
I didn’t know you worked in this field! Thanks for doing what you do.
Ada says
August 20th, 2010 at 7:33 amI got the Cyndi lipstick so I’m looking forward to the lipgloss for it!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:13 amI bet they’d look really pretty layered together. 🙂
Linda says
August 20th, 2010 at 7:47 amKaren,
Thanks for what the money goes to- I always love the Viva Glam but wow! Consider yourself still an HIV/AIDS educator!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:12 amThanks, Linda. 🙂 Isn’t it nice to know how your lipstick or gloss is helping someone? Yay for Viva Glam!
Stef says
August 20th, 2010 at 8:35 amOh yeah, Cyndi is so pretty! I love the lipstick, but the gloss is making my heart skip a beat!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:11 amTotally! I kinda had a feeling you’d be into Cyndi… CORAL 4-EVA!
Stef says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:06 pmWord to your Mother!
Rachel says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:16 amI just purchased the Cyndi lipstick (I have too many glosses already). I’ve been eyeing it forever and I finally just did it. I also bought Hipness Blush, which I’m excited about. I can’t wait to get them both! I just can’t get into the Lady Gaga color…maybe I’m too pale for it? I also am not into the nude lip thing, so maybe that’s my issue. Thanks for the swatches. They finally gave me the push to buy what I’ve been day dreaming about…
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:26 amYou’re welcome, Rachel. Enjoy your new MAC goodies (Hipness blush = <3, btw!).
Karen says
August 22nd, 2010 at 11:03 amHi Rachel —
Kinda off topic, but I just tried to send you an email and it’s bouncing back. Will you please drop me an email to this address: karen at makeupandbeautyblog dot com?
Deb says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:52 amI have both lipsticks, so I can’t wait to get both glosses! I’m pale and cool-toned, so Viva Glam Gaga is one of my favorite shades!
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Cherry says
August 20th, 2010 at 10:07 amOMG! I’m excited! Can’t wait them to be launch here! I hope they will launch them here too? =( I have both lipsticks, but I guess I’ll just get Gaga one for this. I’m a huge fan of pale pink lips! <3
Sherri says
August 20th, 2010 at 10:16 amGreat products for an awesome cause 🙂
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Lauren Sutherland says
August 20th, 2010 at 11:46 amwhen will they be available at MAC counters? they’re gorgeous!
Cindy (Prime Beauty) says
August 20th, 2010 at 12:33 pmThis reminds me to dig out my Cyndi lipstick–the Cyndi lipglass really does loook gorgeous on you! I too prefer warmer lip shades–if only so I don’t look dead!
Instant Karma (formerly L) says
August 20th, 2010 at 2:26 pmKaren — that’s so cool that you did that volunteering in college. I’ve always been interested in HIV/AIDS prevention, and in virology (science nerd over here, hehe). I haven’t gone to grad school yet, but I’m considering med school so that I can be an AIDS specialist. We need more people working to help those who are infected (and especially where I live — DC has the highest infection rate in the country).
On a happier note, though, the coral is really pretty on you, but I don’t know how it’d look on me. I suppose I could check it out at a counter anyway!
smileyface12346 says
August 21st, 2010 at 7:27 pmi need to save some money!!! i really want the cyndi one. i have the lady gaga lipstick and i realy regret it because its WAY too light for my skin tone!
LoveLifeLive says
September 4th, 2010 at 10:30 pmI bought the Lady Gaga lipglass today and I’m amazed at how great it looks on me! I never thought I’d be able to pull a color lipgloss off and this makes me want to experiment! I completely adore it! How long has it been out so far?
LoveLifeLive says
September 4th, 2010 at 10:31 pmI bought the Lady Gaga lipglass today and I’m amazed at how great it looks on me! I never thought I’d be able to pull a color lipgloss off and this makes me want to experiment! I completely adore it! How long has it been out so far? (Since it’s said to be limited addition for 6 months, I think?)
SteveBeisheim says
September 8th, 2010 at 11:44 amCindy Lauper and Lady Gaga have done so much for the gay community. I wanted to personally thank them for being true to themselves and standing up for what they believe.
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sarah says
October 19th, 2010 at 5:36 pmI have gaga in the lipglass and stick but I want cyndi’s gloss now its gorgeous. how does it compare to the lipstick? such a great cause to support
Elizabeth says
November 17th, 2010 at 2:16 amHi Karen,
I have the Cyndi lipstick but im now considering the gloss aswell! Do you wear them together? Also could you suggest a look for the rest of the face to complement the Cyndi colour. I have medium auburn hair and fair-medium skin (NC20-25). Thanks so much! 🙂