Review: MAC Viva Glam I (deep red matte lipstick)





It's no secret that I love me some red lips! Usually I go for a bright red with blue undertones. But not this time! The girl from MAC recommended a red lipstick with brown undertones. Today I will be reviewing MAC Viva Glam I. 
What do I think about this lipstick?


If you're just here to read the review quickly, there's a summary at the end.

A while ago I went to MAC for a concealer, wearing a bright red lipstick. The girl told me I should try a red lipstick with a brown undertone, instead of a blue undertone. That would look more classic with my brown eyes. I tried it on, forgot about the concealer and bought it. Red lipstick is my weakness, but I think you know that by now! 

Colour
The lipstick is from the Viva Glam collection, which means the money you pay for the lipstick goes to the MAC Aids Funds. Now, that's well spent money! MAC Viva Glam I is a deep red, matte lipstick with a cool brown undertone, which is perfect for me! I need cool lipsticks, warm shades look silly on me. The weird thing about this lipstick is that it's a warm colour, but at the same time it's cool toned.. I'm a pro at explaining, as you can read, haha! It's a beautiful shade, perfectly pigmented and it has a phenomenal matte finish. 

In daylight

With flash - here you can see the blue undertones well (pouty pout!)

Formula
Usually I avoid using matte lipsticks because they can be drying and make your lips appear smaller. None of this applies to this lipstick! Better yet, because the lipstick is matte and pigmented, you can make your lips appear bigger by going a little bit outside your lipline, without it looking silly.
The first few times the lipstick is a bit stiff, but after that it's really creamy and not drying at all. Also, once applied you can't feel the lipstick. The lipstick has a subtle vanilla-ish smell, like most MAC lipsticks. I like it, it's not overwhelming at all, really subtle. 


Packaging
Viva Glam I has the familiar solid MAC packaging, that looks like a tampon. I just can't look at my lipstick without thinking of tampons. I'm sorry for the image I brought to your mind, but you can't deny it looks like a tampon!!
The packaging is black and sleek. The reason why the inside of the lipstick is red instead of silver like most MAC lipsticks, is because it's from the Viva Glam collection. 

Lasting power
This is one of the few lipsticks I use without a lip pencil. Usually lipsticks tend to bleed quickly on me, but with this one it doesn't bleed until it starts fading (which makes sense). Without a lip pencil it stays for about 4 hours straight. I like to wear this to work, because at work I have to talk much and lipstick fades quickly. But not with this one.. It stays for approximately 4 hours. Once I tried this lipstick with a lip pencil and then it lasted over 6 hours. I'm not sure how long, because I had to remove it from my lips at a certain point. The lipstick survives a small meal. It nearly survives a sandwich. I'm really impressed!


Left: foundation, bronzer, mascara & Viva Glam I - Right: Foundation, blush, eyeliner + mascara & Viva Glam I

How to wear this bold lipstick?
I love wearing it without any other makeup, with much mascara or just a winged eyeliner and a little mascara on the top lashline.


Retail
I bought Viva Glam 1 at a MAC counter at the Bijenkorf (Dutch store) for €18,50.

A little summary
The pros
  • Beautiful colour
  • Amazing lasting power
  • Solid packaging
  • Doesn't bleed (quickly)
  • Amazing coverage/pigmentation
  • Feels creamy
  • Not drying
  • Doesn't make lips appear smaller
  • Beautiful matte finish
  • Subtle scent, no taste
  • Reasonable price for good quality

The cons
  • Stiff in the beginning, which makes applying hard
  • When removing, it leaves a vague red trace, when not removed quickly

And of course, there's no blog post without Sal being dramatic in front of the camera. See how I hold the lipstick? This lipstick is my nicotine, guys!! (but much healthier and cheaper :)) I'm wearing it every day and without it I feel naked. 

So would I repurchase this lipstick? D E F I N I T E L Y. Is that clear enough? I seriously LOVE this lipstick. Look at the cons. Just two. And I had to think real hard about those. This is one of those lipsticks that goes in my holy grail and never leaves. I wear it almost every day and I feel nekkid when I don't wear it. It goes well with almost every eye look and it makes my lips look so big! I'm going to pay MAC a visit soon to see what other colour they have in the matte range! I'm sold! There was a time that I would never pick a deep red lipstick and look at me now. It's my go-to lipstick! I'm glad the girl at MAC recommended me this one!


What is your holy grail lipstick and why? 
Give me some recommendations, please! :)

40 comments :

  1. Red Lipsticks suits you so well! I'm not brave enough to wear red yet, I'm so bad at applying dark lip colours as well! Even with a lip brush I'm hopeless aha xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Shona! It takes a lot of practice, I agree on that. But once you know how, the results are amazing :) X

      Delete
  2. I love red lipstick! This one looks so nice on you! I want it! I think this might be my next purchase!! Thanks for the review!!
    http://reemz-petitebeautyblogger.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So do I! Thank you! If you purchase it, let me know what you think and I'd love to see a picture of how it looks on you! X

      Delete
  3. I have to say it's really refreshing to see a red viva glam lipstick rather than the classic pinks and purples. I have brown eyes too and I am wondering if brown tones would suit me better than what I currently wear? Even though I love that too! If I had to buy a viva glam, this would be in my top three :) xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this Viva Glam lipstick got a bit neglected by the blogger world because it's the first one! I took a look at a few of your pictures. I think every colour will suit you! That's the big advantage of being a brunette with brown eyes haha :) Lipsticks with brown undertones will make you look more classy and classic, like with me! I can already imagine how it'll look on you. Try it sometimes! :) X

      Delete
  4. I really love that colour! I love Matte lipsticks and I totally love that its part of the MAC Viva Glam collection, I think it is such a great cause and I love that MAC continuously supports the fight against Aids.

    xoxo Bree
    The Urban Umbrella
    http://www.theurbanumbrella.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you like it too! It's a great initiative of MAC and it's definitely a plus in my eyes. I saw some colours that are similar to Viva Glam I, but I'd still go for this one, because I know the money will go to a good cause :) X

      Delete
  5. Love it!! You make me laugh Salita! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm happy I could put a smile on your beautiful face! Glad you like it!:) X

      Delete
  6. Oh Sal, this looks INCREDIBLE on you!

    I've been trying to get into wearing brighter, bolder colours but at the moment I only have one red which is MAC Red. It's TOO bright to wear daily though and now I'm tempted to give this a try!

    Do you have any recommendations for bright pinks? I've had my eye on NARS Schiap :-D

    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahhh thank you so much, Iram! MAC Red is quite bright indeed. Try to build it up by starting with a pink that's a little brighter than what you wear usual. Or you can just start with this colour!
      Any recommendations on a bright pink.. I'm more of a red lipstick girl, but I can think of something! MAC Quick Sizzle is a lovely (matte) bright pink! Or Sleek Loved Up, that's a beautiful shade too :) Another favourite colour (but the lippie itself not so much anymore) is Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie. If I bump into another beautiful bright pink, you'll be the first one to know! :)

      Thank you for your comment, dear! X

      Delete
    2. Almost forgot about the bright pink lipstick that is hot in the blogger and beauty world at the moment: MAC - Candy Yum Yum! I don't get the hype, but it's a beautiful shade :) X

      Delete
    3. Funny you mention Candy Yum Yum because as soon as that hit the shelves I was one click away from buying it. But I don't think it's for me. Who knows, I might give it a try next time I'm in MAC!

      I love MAC Red applied like a stain on the lips (try it, it's beautiful) but I'm trying to get confident wearing full on RED! Thanks for your help honey, I shall look into the shades you mentioned!

      xo

      Delete
  7. i think that red lipstick looks great on you, Sal! And don't forget to earn daily entries in my GIVEAWAY ♥

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wat een prachtige kleur! Hij staat je goed! :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh my! What a lovely shade!

    Reminds me of Russian Red. You have such gorgeous lips! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Russian Red is a bit brighter, but has the same finish indeed! Ah thank you so much, Halima! X

      Delete
  10. I didn't know this shade existed! Gorgeous x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the first Viva Glam lipstick, maybe that's why! Glad you like it :) X

      Delete
  11. I love the color of this lipstick! I love your blog! I just started a new blog, would you like to follow each other?

    -Athenaxo
    modestlysophisticated.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you like the lipstick! And my blog of course, thank you! X

      Delete
  12. Hi! I found your blog through the blog hop! ^^

    I really love this review! :) It's very detailed, which is definitely a plus! I'm not normally a fan of red lipstick but this has me sold! :)

    I've followed you on GFC as well! Do check our blog out, we're fairly new but we're definitely interested in meeting new people!

    xx, Sam
    http://samantha--ashley.blogspot.sg/

    ReplyDelete
  13. Brilliant review Sal!
    As you already know, I'm a great fan of lipsticks and Viva Glam III was one of my favs. I've never tried this one before but I absolutely LOVE it on you!

    I also like the way you copywright your images in a clear but subtle way! I tried to do the same with my lippy stars but I found it looked silly. So this just shows that it can be done - Good on you.

    LiLi Xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. You look gorgeous! Can't beat a red lipstick and a Mac one too!! Xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  15. I just got VGI recently & I LOVE it! Because it has brown undertones it makes for a bad ass vampy lip when lined with nightmoth or currant.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wauw, mooie kleur. Staat je ook écht goed.

    x

    Chicks About Fashion

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hoeveel rode lippenstiften heb jij?! Anyhow, het is fabbbbbolous! x

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hele mooie kleur lippenstift!
    Staat je echt heel erg classy! :)

    Heb je een leuk weekend gehad? :D

    xoxo
    www.its-dash.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Really really pretty shade! Now I wish we had Mac here. Oh well, can't have it all :D
    I lol'd at tampon part!! Never thought about lipstick in that way:P hahahah, you funny ;)
    Xx

    ReplyDelete
  20. I always read about this lipstick, a lot of people told me it's their fave... I don't think I ever own a red with a brown undertone, you officially got me interested in getting this! Plus the fact that it's not drying, I stopped buying matte mac lipsticks because they can be very drying
    So thanks for the review & swatches hun xxxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  21. this is stunning! :D Looks like something I'd actually look nice in!
    you rock red lipstick so well!
    hareem xxx

    ReplyDelete
  22. Looks gorgeous on you! :-) xx

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow. . This lipstick looks gorgeous on you. .. would it go well on tan skin though?

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow. . This lipstick looks gorgeous on you. .. would it go well on tan skin though?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love this lipstick! Great red. So happy you showed it on the lips :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow this is very nice, Im kind of scared of wearing this to work, but i might try it, what lipliner are you wearing?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Love it :) I tried it few days ago, but I got Russian Red :) I think I will get this one too

    ReplyDelete

I bet you have something to say about this! Don't leave me hanging; share your thoughts! :)

Follow this blog with bloglovin

Follow on Bloglovin