MAC "Pure Heroine" !

Good evening lovely zombies!

I am a SUCKER for purple everything, especially purple lipstick. I snatched up "Heroine" a few years ago when MAC teased us that it was limited edition; before it became permanent. So, when I heard that they were releasing "Pure Heroine" with the Lorde collection, I knew it had to be mine.

I also decided to go one step further and compare it next to Heroine for you. There is a reason for this decision. I went into MAC last week (after I'd already purchased Pure Heroine online) just be see if they had a display for me to swatch. I'd seen swatches online, but you makeup junkies know there's nothing like seeing it in person. I didn't think it my counter would have a display as this collection was an online exclusive, but it couldn't hurt to try and any excuse to visit MAC is a good one. ANYWAY, the rude MAC sells associate (it takes A LOT for me to consider a retail sells person "rude". I'm a pretty empathetic person!) tells me that that "Pure Heroine is just Heroine in Lorde packaging." I looked at her with the deer in the headlights expression, mumbled an "mmmmk" and just moved on. It felt like she was just blowing me off but in retrospect, I should have said something to her- politely of course. 1. Pure Heroine and Heroine are two very different colors; even if similar. 2. they are different formulas- Heroine is matte and Pure Heroine is Amplified and 3. Pure Heroine isn't in special or unique Lorde packaging.

I did send MAC a polite email regarding my experience. I really hope that MAC rethinks the training their employees are receiving and hope they revamp the customer service aspect.

Let's just move right along to the good stuff, shall we?

Pure Heroine is on the left, Heroine on the right. As you may be able to tell from the use Heroine has seen. ;)


MAC descriptions-
Pure Heroine: Deep, rich plum
Heroine: Bright purple







Pure Heroine on mah lips!



I adore both of my pretties. I love that they are similar, yet enough different that it doesn't feel or look like I'm wearing the same lipstick! Pure Heroine has a subtle plum tone that makes it darker on my lips than Heroine. Heroine is much brighter and blue toned on my lips!  I will say that if you're expecting Pure Heroine to look as dark and rich as it does on Lorde in the promo photos, it's not that intense or deep and you may be disappointed if that's the color/look you're hoping for. Other than that, if you're a purple lover like me, you NEED both of these bad boys!

Heroine is part of the core line, Pure Heroine is limited edition, but STILL in stock on the MAC website.

*products in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own and 100% honest.

Vivid Purple Lipstick.. A SHOWDOWN!

Good evening my lovely Zombies!

One of the hottest shades of lipstick/lip gloss right now is intense, vivid red based purples with blue undertones, such as MAC "Heroine". Because "Heroine" was limited edition, I went on the hunt for lip products in drugstores that might be similar to "Heroine" for the people who missed out on it. I found 4 pretty similar colors and one that could be a dead on dupe.

Here is my showdown!

The contenders are:
 MAC "Heroine"- limited edition
Maybelline "Brazen Berry"- Vivids collection
Covergirl "Divine"- core collection
Maybelline "Lavender Voltage"- limited for Fall 201
Maybelline "Vision in Violet"- The Elixirs collection



Don't mind the wonky top of "Brazen Berry". My kid twisted it into the lid. :/


Swatches!




As you can clearly see, right off the bat, "Lavender Voltage" takes the cake in terms of being a pretty dead on dupe to "Heroine." Heroine is matte, where as "Lavender Voltage" is a creme and doesn't last as long on the lips. But this would be a very comparable lipstick for those of you who missed out on or can not afford "Heroine."

"Vision in Violet" is pretty close as well, but it's a gloss. I could see pairing it with "Heroine" for an intense combination!

It's quite fun to have all of these lippies swatched next to each other to compare the similarities and differences. In terms of staying power, "Heroine" and "Lavender Voltage" take the win, but "Brazen Berry" is so lush feeling on the lips and applies so evenly. There is no doubt ALL of these lippies are bright and fun and perfect for a purple lover such as myself.

I purchased these lip products at MAC, CVS, and Walgreen. Go, go forth and buy all the purple!