Lips: MAC's Lipstick in "Pink Pearl Pop" (Cremesheen)

The product being reviewed in this post was purchased by me with my own money. The opinions stated further are my own opinions. I am not affiliated with the brand featured in this post.

Hi everyone. :) Today's post is on a lipstick that I've owned for almost a year now: MAC's lipstick in "Pink Pearl Pop." It feels appropriate to start my reviews of MAC lipsticks with "Pink Pearl Pop" since it is the lipstick that acted as a first impression of the brand for me. And its first impression was successful: I've since purchased a few other colors/finishes from the MAC line of lipsticks.

MAC is popular for its lipsticks. In fact, in the lipstick description box on their official site, MAC writes that their lipsticks are "what made MAC famous." When I first got into makeup years ago and glosses were my thing, I did venture into the MAC brand with some lipglasses and lustreglasses. But I never tried any of their lipsticks until my first visit to California last year, when I finally decided to see why their lipsticks were so popular. It was kind of inevitable, really, considering my soft spot for lipsticks ever since I started with makeup again.

While "Pink Pearl Pop" was never a standout favorite color for me, it introduced me not only to a new line of lipsticks, but to a finish that has since remained my favorite: cremesheen.




THE BASICS

I'm skipping the claims section for these lipsticks because MAC doesn't really make any intriguing claims on their site. They simply describe the lipsticks as "color plus texture." Anyway, onto the basics.

Name: Pink Pearl Pop (A52)
Net Wt.: 0.1 oz./ 3 g.
Price: $15
Finish: Cremesheen (creamy, glossy)

MAC lipsticks are known for their classy packaging: a sleek black bullet with the company logo in silver. The packaging has weight to it, which nicely reflects the $15 price tag - one that's not really that far up in the general price range of lipsticks, but is roughly double the price of drugstore lip products.

The inner packaging that holds the lipstick bullet is the same silver as the company logo. The packaging is very simple and sophisticated, in my opinion. As usual, the bottom of the tube has the color name, number, and other information.

MAC lipsticks are also known for their signature vanilla scent. It really reminds me of sugar cookies, or of the signature smell of the discontinued brand Sugar Cosmetics (at least from what I remember of the smell), which reminded me of the Hot Fudge Sundae flavor of Pop-Tarts. Not the fudge part of the preservative-loaded pastry, but the vanilla filling, and the vanilla frosting...which is very icing-/cookie-ish. I love sweets and I love the smell of these lipsticks. I wouldn't say the scent is strong, but it stays around longer than more subtle scents.


COLOR/SWATCHES

"Pink Pearl Pop" (A52) is a cool-toned medium pink. The MAC site describes it as a "frosted midtonal pink," but I don't notice any frost to this lipstick. In fact, I think that when "Pink Pearl Pop" was released in a new permanent 'collection' (an extension of their permanent line), it was described to have a cremesheen and pearl finish, to reflect on the 'frosted' characteristic. But as far as I can tell, this lipstick is not frosty at all. In fact, it barely has any shimmer. I can only detect shimmer when I've wiped the swatch off my hand and actually searched for the shimmer particles, which, when detected, are evidently fine and scarce.

Swatched on my hand, "Pink Pearl Pop" stays true to the color in the tube, though it does not swatch opaque. It has a transparency/sheerness to it with one swipe that I've found to be characteristic of the cremesheen formula. It's still more pigmented than a tinted balm, and the opacity can definitely be built up to nearly opaque, but these are not a one-swipe-and-go kind of formula, if you want full-on color. Additionally, this color - due to the cremesheen formula - has a nice, glossy sheen to it. It's kind of like a lipstick/lip gloss hybrid.

This swatch and that in the following picture were done with a couple of swipes.

The glossy finish is more apparent in this swatch.

I don't gravitate towards using "Pink Pearl Pop" as much as newer additions to my small MAC lipstick collection because it seems like it may almost be too cool-toned for me at times. Or maybe I'm just not used to wearing a shade of pink this light and bright. Anyway, you can be the judge of that when I show a full-face picture in a bit.


WEAR (WITH LIP SWATCHES)

As a cremesheen, "Pink Pearl Pop" is glossy and has somewhat sheer color payoff, as if it were a combination of a lipstick and lip gloss. Likewise, the formula is very creamy on the lips. It initially looks too creamy/heavy after initial application but, with time, it seems to melt onto one's lips. It has a slight thickness to it that keeps my lips moisturized and helps it to last up to 3 or 4 hours despite the glossy finish.

This lipstick does transfer, and it doesn't hold up well through eating. Regardless, I still love the way this product wears and feels on my lips. I like having long-lasting lip products in my collection for days at work and whatnot, but when it comes down to my overall personal preference, I prefer moisturizing, glossy lipsticks that not only wear off in a shorter amount of time but, consequently, are easy to remove. And the sheerer color of the cremesheen formula is one that personally makes application easier, since it doesn't have to be done as precisely.

This picture is old lol. 

I think "Pink Pearl Pop" looks OK on me in the above picture, but it still doesn't brighten up my bare face the way other colors do. And the brightness of it is a bit more toned down in this picture, since it was taken in the shade. On another note, see how glossy and smooth it makes my lips appear?


OVERALL

MAC's "Pink Pearl Pop" is a lovely, though not amazing, color in a formula that, to me, is nearly ideal. It introduced me to the cremesheen finish that is sheer, glossy, and moisturizing as well as a whole other plethora of finishes and colors. It introduced me to a brand that, while more expensive than drugstore products, is recommended with reason. I think MAC lipsticks have the full package: sleek packaging, variety in finishes/colors, a yummy but not disgustingly overpowering scent, and a justifiable price tag.

Though "Pink Pearl Pop" may not be my favorite color, and cremesheens are just one of a many formulas I enjoy from MAC, I am glad my first impression of the brand was through this product. I would not recommend this particular finish if you prefer more opaque color or thinner formulas. I would not recommend this product if you hate sweet, food-y scents. I would also like to mention that I've read others' experiences with the cremesheen formula being drying, so note that your mileage my vary in that aspect as well.

Otherwise, if you enjoy creamier formulas, shine, and simpler color application, I would recommend the cremesheen finish, perhaps in "Pink Pearl Pop" if the color appeals to you. And I'd recommend MAC lipsticks as a whole to any lipstick lovers out there because, even if none of their finishes are your cup of tea, I think anyone especially interested in lipsticks should give them a try.

I hope this review was helpful to you, and thanks for stopping by. 'Til next time! ('<>')>

~nikki

What's your favorite color/finish in MAC lipsticks? Do you think MAC lipsticks are overrated, or do you find them well-rounded like I do?

The product in this post was purchased by me with my own money. The opinions stated are my own opinions. I am not affiliated with the brand featured in this post.