Lipstick Chronology #22: MAC Pink Nouveau

Name: MAC Satin Lipstick in Pink Nouveau

Date Purchased: Feb. 2013

Grade: A

Notes: The end of one series means the resumption of another! It’s time for an installment of my Lipstick Chronology. For the past few months, I’ve been reviewing my lipsticks and lip glosses in the order in which I bought them. I chose the phrase "Lipstick Chronology" in part because it evokes one of my academic interests, the history of time measurement. In the Renaissance, scholars used to compile "wonder cabinets" filled with artifacts from different eras; these cabinets (or, in some cases, whole rooms) served as timelines of a kind, illustrations of the development of human culture. I think of my blog as my own wonder cabinet, a timeline of my approach to beauty.

Anyway, I've been thinking about how best to complete my chronology. I still have a lot of lipsticks to get through, so I might end up reviewing some of them in groups (e.g. all five of my Maybelline Vivids in one post). Pink Nouveau is pretty much sui generis in my collection, though. I've never been crazy about medium pink lipsticks, but this one is a notable exception. 


Many mid-tone pinks lean nude-ish, but Pink Nouveau is too bright and clear to read as neutral. At the same time, because it's not pale and white-based, it doesn't look porny (Snob and Saint Germain, I'm looking at you). It's a happy, summery, vaguely retro color, a slightly dusty blue-based pink. I can imagine Mrs. Robinson wearing this with a turquoise paisley shift dress and big pearl earrings.


I've now tried five MAC lipstick formulas--Matte, Amplified Creme, Satin, Cremesheen, and Lustre-- and Satin has to be my favorite. It's a semi-matte formula lying somewhere between Amplified Creme, which is so soft and creamy that it has next to no lasting power, and Matte, which can be drying. Pink Nouveau is fully opaque and lasts several hours, but it sits comfortably on my lips and wears off evenly. It also looks good with polka dots.

(Admittedly, the formula doesn't make my lips look less dry than they already are. Sorry.)

Outside on a sunny day:


Indoors, still in natural light (edited on 7/17 with a more color-accurate photo; same outfit and supporting makeup because summer isn't for thinking):


Yes, I've given up all aspirations to creative makeup in this weather. Taupe eyeshadow, mascara, bright lip, out the door.

I made some comparison swatches to give you an idea of how bright, yet how un-fuchsia, Pink Nouveau really is. Left to right: Maybelline Make Me Pink (lighter, sheerer, cooler), Pink Nouveau, Maybelline Fuchsia Flash (darker, brighter, glossier), and MAC Candy Yum-Yum (darker, brighter, more matte).


Surprised at the similarity between Pink Nouveau and Fuchsia Flash, I decided to do some creepy half-and-half lip swatches. Here's Pink Nouveau on the left and Fuchsia Flash on the right, in direct sunlight:


Not dupes at all, it turns out! Fuchsia Flash looks almost purple next to Pink Nouveau. Excuse the insane dryness of my lips today.

Finally, I've decided to go on a no-buy for the month of July. There's nothing I musthaveomg right now, so I'm content to rotate through my fuchsia and coral lipsticks and save my money for some new clothes. Can you believe I don't even own a maxi skirt? Scandal.

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