It’s been years that I’ve been wanting to try out MAC Kinda Sexy lipstick. It hadn’t been locally available before and every time I buy makeup from Nordstrom, I usually forget about Kinda Sexy. So I was a bit surprised when I saw it available at a local MAC store.
Whenever I drop by their store, I usually just look at the new collections which are most of the time, limited items. But the last time I went there, the new collection didn’t appeal much to me.
So I checked out the testers for their permanent lipsticks. Even though I’ve got a lot of MAC lipsticks already, I still haven’t bought enough.
Plus, you know how I get tired of a shade easily and end up selling them or giving them away, only to find myself buying the same shade again after a few months.
Research: MAC Kinda Sexy Lipstick Review
The first group of lipsticks that caught my attention was the bunch of red shades. So I picked a few that looked really beautiful and checked the shade names.
Ruby Woo, Russian Red, MAC Red and Lady Danger. Wow! I really know how to pick them! I already have all those shades in my makeup stash.
Feeling sort of discouraged, I moved on to the group of nude lipsticks. I know that I only have a few nude lipsticks left in my stash, so it’s only right that I buy a nude shade this time.
The first one I picked was none other than Kinda Sexy. When I saw the shade name, I didn’t bother getting a few more lippies to swatch alongside it. This is it! The lipstick that I’ve been wanting to buy for what seems like forever.
COLOR & PIGMENTATION
MAC classifies Kinda Sexy as a neutral pinky-rose lipstick with a matte finish. It leans more warm than cool on me, which is really great because I have yellow undertones.
This is like the perfect MLBB (my lips but better) shade for my NC15-20 skin. Because I’ve been partying less often and getting more sun these days, I’m about NC20 right now.
During the summer months when I get a little more tanned to NC25-30, it will probably wash me out. But that’s something that can be fixed easily with a little bit of makeup.
When swatched on the arm, MAC Kinda Sexy matte lipstick is a medium, warm-toned rosy nude shade with a hint of pink. In the arm swatch photo below, you can see how it is not fully opaque in 1 swipe, especially when swatched lightly like I did here in the photo. Don’t worry, though! It is very buildable. With 2 or more swipes, you can get a more intense and opaque coverage.
With just 1 layer of Kinda Sexy, your lip color will still show through. If you want more coverage, you will simply have to apply a few more layers. Even for the most pigmented of all lips, Kinda Sexy can hide your true lip color.
Because it’s a beautiful nude shade and has good color payoff, Kinda Sexy gets 5 stars for color and pigmentation!
TEXTURE & MOISTURE FACTOR
Kinda Sexy lipstick has a matte formula with a creamy texture. The texture is a bit softer than your average matte lipstick. It’s relatively more delicate than retro matte lipsticks like MAC Ruby Woo.
So, if you live in a city that is hot and humid most of the time, you’d better give this lipstick a little more lovin’ than your regular matte lipsticks.
What I do with lipsticks that melt easily is store them in a cool, dry place. I also put a dehumidifier in my makeup closet to suck up all the extra moisture. I do this not just with soft lipsticks but for any makeup product that easily melts.
MAC Kinda Sexy is not hydrating, although I really wouldn’t expect a matte lipstick to be moisturizing at all. But when it comes to the drying factor, I was fairly surprised that Kinda Sexy is not drying. It doesn’t suck out the moisture from my lips, even without a lip balm or lip primer underneath.
Due to its soft texture, I give Kinda Sexy 4.5 stars in the Texture & Moisture department.
FORMULA & FINISH
The formula of Kinda Sexy is matte, but it gives more of a semi-matte, satin finish. This is fine with me because most matte lipsticks tend to make your lips appear really dry.
It has a lightweight consistency, so it doesn’t feel heavy on the lips. You will still feel that you have lipstick on, but it’s neither sticky nor greasy.
I really love how Kinda Sexy lipstick looks on me. It doesn’t have any shine to it, but there’s a kind of subtle glow that certainly appeals to me.
If you want a bit more of a shiny finish, then simply apply a clear gloss or a light, shimmery gloss on top of Kinda Sexy. You might want to apply the gloss only at the center of your lips to make your lips appear fuller.
As with most MAC lipsticks, Kinda Sexy has the same signature vanilla scent that a lot of us have come to love.
I give it 5 stars for its superb formula and lovely finish.
EASE OF APPLICATION
Having a creamy texture, it glides on smoothly. Well, at least compared to other matte lipsticks like Inglot 408 lipstick.
Because Kinda Sexy has a soft and lightweight consistency, it doesn’t tug on the lips when applying. However, I would suggest that you exfoliate your lips before putting on this lipstick.
Otherwise, all the flakiness of your lips will be unflatteringly highlighted by Kinda Sexy. You will see that it does emphasize the lip lines and fine creases on your lips.
For everyday makeup or a no-makeup makeup look, you can apply a single layer of Kinda Sexy and then just smooth it out with your finger or a lip brush. It’s what I did in the lip swatch photo below.
However, I forgot to exfoliate my lips before taking the pictures, so you can see how it accentuated my dry, flaky lips.
All in all, though, Kinda Sexy is fairly easy to apply. So I give it 5 stars for ease of application.
THE LOOK & LONGEVITY
With MAC Kinda Sexy being a matte lipstick, you would expect it to last well over 8 hours on your lips. Well, I guess that is still possible. But that’s only if you wouldn’t be eating, drinking, or chatting for the duration of the 8 hours.
On my lips, Kinda Sexy only lasts around 4 to 5 hours with minimal eating and drinking. No biting and licking of the lips, and definitely no kissing involved. If you’re a smoker, expect this lipstick to transfer on your cigarette little by little with every puff.
There is minimal to no transfer when drinking cold beverages. However, when it comes to hot coffee or tea, you might experience a bit more transferring.
After drinking a full cup of hot coffee, most of the color is gone from my lips. It’s the same with greasy and oily food.
If you want this lipstick to look more pink and light on your lips, then you can apply just a single layer of it. It does tend to oxidize a little bit on my lips because I’m acidic.
But once it has oxidized, Kinda Sexy still looks pretty on the lips. It just turns a little more rosy and a tiny bit darker and becomes more of a light-medium shade.
To remove it is extremely easy. You can use your favorite lip makeup remover to erase all traces of the lipstick.
Afterward, you can opt to exfoliate your lips or simply clean it with water and then gently dry with a clean towel. Just don’t forget to apply a moisturizing lip balm or oil to hydrate your lips again.
I give it 4 stars because it only has moderate staying power. If it had been more long wearing, then I would have given it 5 stars.
MAC KINDA SEXY DUPES & COMPARISON SWATCHES
The closest thing I could find in my stash that is similar to Kinda Sexy is NARS Raquel Audacious lipstick. Although it still cannot pass as a dupe.
A lot of people say that Revlon Mauve It Over and Wet n Wild Bare It All (902C) are both dupes of Kinda Sexy. I can’t really attest to this because I don’t have both of these drugstore lipsticks. But if you can shell out $17 for the original, then why settle for a dupe? I know I wouldn’t.
PROS
☆ beautiful pinky-rose nude color
☆ perfect MLBB shade for those with light to medium complexions
☆ smooth and easy to apply
☆ highly pigmented
☆ easy to blend
☆ great vanilla scent
☆ not sticky nor greasy
☆ not drying
☆ feels light on the lips
CONS
– might wash out those with darker skintones
– easily melts in tropical or highly humid cities
– applies a bit unevenly when you have chapped lips
– not moisturizing
– not long-wearing
Check Best Price
When you’re feeling kinda sexy, you need to put on MAC Kinda Sexy lipstick on your lips! Just complement it with a smokey eye and a light blush like Chanel Rose Initiale so you won’t be too washed out.
You’re good to go! Spray on your favorite perfume, put on your “kinda sexy” ensemble and you’re ready to go on a date with destiny.
Or just be “kinda sexy” with the “kinda perfect” MAC Kinda Sexy lipstick on your lips!
Final Words: Kinda Perfect
With its beautiful rosy pink nude color, MAC Kinda Sexy Matte Lipstick is the perfect my-lips-but-better shade for women with light to medium skin tones.
It is smooth and easy to apply, but it’s not as long-wearing as other matte lipsticks. Not drying on the lips, but it’s not moisturizing either.
Do you need this lipstick? Yes, you do, if you like nude shades and matte lipsticks.
- Color & Pigmentation 10
- Texture & Moisture Factor 9
- Formula & Finish 10
- Ease of Application 10
- The Look & Longevity 8
