I don’t get influenced easily when it comes to fashion. I know myself, what I like, what fits me, what I want to express and project. Wishlists are formed meticulously, and decisions are made with patience and in due time. I want it, but I don’t need it now. There’s a vision.
Admittedly, makeup is where I experiment more freely. It’s also where I get influenced the most. The application process is creative and fun, a ritual. It feels more affordable than clothes, but it actually isn’t. What’s up with that?
There’s this common misconception: makeup is a treat you can toss in a bag for months, forget about, or never use again without feeling guilty. But what about adding a 12 euro second-hand top to your cart after days spent creating the perfect moodboard and negotiating the price? Is it the space makeup occupies? In your drawer, on your shelf, on your face?
Why do I feel guilty when I don’t wear my clothes, but not when I don’t use that lipstick?
Makeup expires…but does it really? coughs in type B
Let’s backtrack for a second. Somehow, spending 100 euros on three mac lipsticks feels easier than spending the same on a vintage Prada skirt. In my mind, clothes come with responsibility, care, and precision. I owe it to them to pay attention and be intentional. But makeup? That’s where I’m carefree. My algorithm feeds me endless lip combos and niche, cool-toned glosses. It knows I need to decompress. Yet I rarely stumble upon creators with facial features similar to mine.
At a time when everyone looks the same no one looks like me.
Lips are full, noses are small, eyes are lifted, eyebrows are either bleached or ultra-thin. I never thought I’d start creating makeup content, but here we are. I’ve been getting requests to share the products I use, the combinations I create, and the tips and tricks I learned. If I can’t find people that look like me to draw inspiration from, maybe this feeling is still more common than I thought.
Anyone else curious about the revenue the mac’s 40% lipstick sale brought in? Any guesses?
And yes…I also bought some lip products. I was intentional with my purchases; wasting product or buying for content isn’t on my list.
lip pencils
Let’s start with lip pencils and liners that frame our gorgeous lips. I’ve really enjoyed seeing content that pushes the limits of liner application. Changing the shape with a fresh, creative, even editorial approach, without obsessing over fullness and overlining, is sooooo refreshing.
Stone has become my all-time favourite lip pencil. It’s also the only cool-toned one I own that isn’t 100 years old. As I’ve started experimenting more with makeup (especially lip products) I realised I’d benefit from a darker liner. I do love a dark, vampy lip from time to time.
The intention was to get two liners that complement almost all the lipsticks I own. Chestnut is a deep brown pencil that works with both warm and cool-toned dark browns. Sharp and precise or smudged into an abstract haze, Chestnut elevates anything you layer it with. Why not add bold contrast by pairing it with Acting Natural, Alone Time, or your favourite nude in the centre? I especially love it with Chintz from the Bringback limited-edition line. A deep bronze, ’90s metallic frosty-rust dream.
The second lip pencil I picked is Nightmoth. Purple hues and undertones have been quietly pulling me into their orbit. Am I starting to add colour? Chestnut covers all my nudes and browns, but Nightmoth’s subtle purple elevates my aubergine and plum shades. And if you’re feeling creative, try it with a lipstick in a contrasting hue or tone. A light pink? A dusty yellow layered with a squirt gloss?
lipsticks
Acting Natural and Alone Time were two of my best lipstick purchases of all time. Initially, I was torn between Fleshpot and Acting Natural. Fleshpot had gone viral, everyone was swatching it, hunting for it, comparing it to similar shades. But when I swatched it myself, it felt too warm-toned for me.
Reliving the excitement of a concealed lip from the ’00s was my top priority, and acting natural turned out to be the perfect shade for me. And oh so hot with a smokey eye!
Although wearing it alone feels more authentic and natural (given my personal references from pop culture, media, tumblr and my past self), pairing it with a darker liner instantly transforms it into the perfect lip-contouring product. I’d suggest Stone if you’re as obsessed with ’90s and early ’00s makeup as I am, but honestly, it will work beautifully with whatever liners you already own.
This lip combo? I’ve never worn it outside. I lined my lips with Nightmoth, added contrast with Acting Natural, and topped it with the squirt gloss in Jet (which I also just bought). Jet added a muted, juicy touch that absolutely fascinated me.
Alone Time might be the lipstick that never fails to excite me. I’ve seen countless creators use it, and it somehow looks different every single time, depending on skin tone, undertone, and product pairings. My lips have a naturally cool-toned nude tint, so Alone Time enhances it with a glossy, luminous layer. I hope it never gets discontinued, I think it’s genius.
Alone Time lined with Stone is simply magical. At least it feels that way on me. Subtle yet bold, sophisticated yet with a hint of attitude. It can work as a muted base for a smokey eye or graphic liner, or become the protagonist when paired with soft eyes.
Hodge Podge came as a free gift with my order. I’ll admit, I tried to swap it for something else, but eventually decided to give it a chance. Pleasant surprise: it’s a beautiful, rich, deep mocha/caramel nude. I honestly thought it would pull orange on me, but look at that!
When paired with Chestnut, the cool tones in its formula emerge, creating a beautifully contoured, layered dark lip with a twist. I’m curious what tones Nightmoth might bring out. Should I try it next?
Now for a serious confession: I’ve been avoiding dark lipsticks for a while now. I’m trying to tone down the witchy edge of my appearance. I almost always wear black, my hair is long and black, my eyebrows are thick and dark, and my eyes are also dark. You see where I’m going. Adding a dark lip automatically tips the scale towards full-on goth, a concept I’m consciously steering away from, softening certain elements of my appearance to keep balance.
You’ll notice that my nails are always nude. The main reason for this commitment is my fascination with nails as an extension of the skin and body. There’s something grotesque about it that I find irresistible. The second reason is to soften certain elements and styling choices that might otherwise push the look toward harshness. After years of testing, I’ve found my holy grail: Buns Up by Essie. It matches my skin tone and fits seamlessly into my whole concept.
Still it’s high time I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and try to wear a dark lip while maintaining a soft side. I’m still working on it. I was torn between Cyber (a dark purple) and Film Noir (a deep brown). My ultimate dilemma: avant-garde vs vintage. I went with vintage, a nostalgic touch, a different reference sphere.
While Chestnut works beautifully with Film Noir, I’m tempted to see how Nightmoth would play with it. What undertones might surface? Should I try it?
bringbacks
My interior design references lean towards mid-century, chrome, plastic, curves, futurism, and space age, which naturally translates into frosty, metallic ’90s and early ’00s makeup. So when the Bringback limited-edition line dropped, I didn’t hesitate.
Bubbles is incredibly versatile. Wear it alone as a statement, or as a sheer frosty wash adding dimension and character.
Pair it with your favourite liner for definition, or use it as a topper over lipstick.
Same goes for Haku, though this one has undeniable attitude and personality.
Let me know if you want me to share Chintz too! It’s my favourite from the metallic Bringback line.
My full mac lip product list, including limited edition and discontinued lipsticks.
M·A·CXIMAL silky matte lipstick
d for danger
M·A·CXIMAL sleek satin lipstick
LUSTREGLASS sheer-shine lipstick
splash of cran [not available]
patisserie [not available]
M·A·C bringbacks
bubbles [limited edition]
haku [limited edition]
chintz [limited edition]
squirt gloss stick
retro matte liquid lipcolour
uniformly fabulous [not available]
so me [not available]
powder kiss liquid lipcolour
not your sugar plum [not available]
lip pencils
What’s your favourite mac lip product or combo? I’d love to know what you use the most. Is there another pairing you’d like to see that I haven’t included?
Let me know in the comments, I’ll use your feedback for a part two!
A per usual, some highlights from the playlist I had on:
Die Another Day – Madonna
Moan – Trentemøller
Six Feet Underground – Parov Stelar feat. Claudia Kane
The Bitter End – Placebo
Sunglasses at Night – Tiga & Zyntherius
Despair Hangover Ecstasy – The Dø
You Take My Breath Away – The Knife
My Love – Kovacs
Confide in Me – Kylie Minogue
Dreams – The Game
currently writing a MAC piece too! I think the lipstick sale got us ALL :') wonderful article, and you're gorgeous!