If you follow me on Twitter, you may know that I had quite the unfortunate experience in MAC recently.
I know for a fact that in Canada you can Back-to-MAC (bring back 6 empty MAC containers)
for a lipstick, an eyeshadow or a lipgloss.
I asked a few people if I could do that in the UK & they all said YES, but only in the PRO stores.
So, I go there & the woman working calls me American (IN A MEAN WAY)
& said "I don't know how things work where YOU come from."
I was straight up PISSED.
BUT this isn't what this post is about, is it?
A few days later, I couldn't stand staring at my 6 empties any longer,
so I decided to just bite the bullet & get a lipstick.
I really didn't WANT any MAC lipsticks, but I don't have any mattes so I wanted one of those.
I originally thought I would get Taupe, but upon swatching I realised it was a bit TOO brown for me.
Luckily, Christiana was with me & said "what about this one!?"& held up Velvet Teddy.
Neither of us had heard much about it, but swatched against Taupe you could see it was much more pink.
I don't have too many nude colours, so I'm really glad I went with this one.
Gotta say, I love the matte formulation. It wasn't drying AT ALL & it had pretty good staying power!
On the lips it definitely looks like a brown-nude, but it's in no way orangey which is what I fear Taupe would do for my lips.
I know Barbara loves Taupe & it looks FAB on her!
HOWEVER, since I'm so pale I have to do some tweaking!
Mainly out of my own curiosity, I decided to swatch Velvet Teddy next to Jubilee which is another brownish colour I have from MAC.
Obviously they're different formulations, but you can see Jubilee is MUCH more of a reddish-brown.
I can still make it work, but Velvet Teddy is brown without being TOO dark if you know what I mean!
I highly recommend it for a fair skinned girl looking to find some sort of darker nude shade!
Have you heard much about Velvet Teddy? What are other Matte lipsticks from MAC that you love!?
I think I'm hooked!
ah, i like this shade. Good investment despite the shitty customer service.
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriends sister always returns the 6 empties for a new one ... you clearly just got a total idiot sales person.
You should keep them and try another store x
Melx
www.mediamarmalade.com
The MAC service never fails to disappoint me. I went to TWO pro stores in central london! I don't know what to believe anymore, haha! xx
DeleteAh i hate when the people working at makeup stores/counters are rude. But that lipstick looks really good on you. I think you'd also like half n half by MAC! I really want to try taupe myself :)
ReplyDeleteI hate it too! It just doesn't make sense because don't they WANT to sell us stuff? Half 'n Half is SO pretty! It's on my list! x
DeleteI must admit I've never bought MAC since I was 19 and had a bad experience. The girl at the counter in Norwich took one look at me and said quite honestly "love, you need help" ... which maybe I do (!) but she could have been a little nicer! So now I'm mentally scarred and I've not shopped at MAC since!
ReplyDeleteHowever, this lippie looks stunning on! I like the fact it's not that weird orangey colour that most nude lipsticks go and this definitely looks like the sort of colour I could wear.
Great review! xxx
Tigerlily - UK Fashion, Lifestyle & Beauty Blog
I had a similar experience a few years ago which completely put me off for awhile! Not ALL staff are like that, but it seems like I always get the rotten one of the bunch! It's definitely not orangey at all! Really nice colour for fair skin, actually! xx
DeleteHi! I have Lady Danger, which is one of my favourite MAC colour! It is a bit drying, but the colour is to die for! I also have my eyes on Kinda Sexy, but need to swatch it "live" (I don't have a MAC store near where I live). x
ReplyDeleteKinda Sexy looks SO pretty! If only I could just buy them all! xx
DeleteRussian Red! You HAVE to get Russian Red- no lipstick collection is complete without it, IMO! It looks blue-toned but it actually swatches as a neutral red, I think. If I had to choose between one of my red lipsticks and throw away the rest, it would have to be it! xx
ReplyDeleteI hardly ever wear bright red lipsticks, but Russian Red is so appealing to me, haha! Might have to get it just in case ;) xx
DeleteThis is why many people are too intimidated to goto MAC counters because of idiot people working there, you can back to mac anywhere...I've done it at my local counter.
ReplyDeleteP.s. Lipstick shade really suits you x
So true. I just don't understand it! I've even written a LETTER to MAC a few months ago because the service was SO awful & I heard nothing back! I don't really buy too much from them anymore & I think it's partially because of the shitty service! x
DeleteSome MAC people can be such asses! I think MAC hire for pushing power rather than good sales persona. Funny how that works since I and most people I know avoid MAC counters like the plague?
ReplyDeleteI love velvet Teddy! I totally bought it because the name is cute but it's looks so good on pale skin :)
xxx
You hit the nail on the head with that one, haha! Whenever I see a MAC counter I really have to think twice about going in. Quite sad really! xx
DeleteI'm fair skinned and LOVE velvet teddy! been wearing it for about 2 years now its just great and so long lasting for me :)
ReplyDeleteI've never actually done the back to mac before as it takes me so long to use something up so not got 6 empties....so sorry for this question, but at the mac pro stores (are they just mac stores that aren't in concessions?) you can back to mac for an eyeshadow!? i know you can get a lipstick at the concessions. thanks xx
You've been in nude lip heaven for two years! Why haven't I heard of this before!? I'm not sure how it works in the UK (well they said you can only get a lipstick) but in PRO stores (freestanding stores) in Canada you can get an eyeshadow a lipstick or a lipstick! Don't understand why it's not the same all over the world!! x
DeleteYeah that is weird! Sorry to hear about your experiences of the sales assistants being rude. I HATE that! On a side note I found a girl who works at my local mac concession who is really nice! :O Last summer there was an event on at my local department store and the beauty (including mac) had 10% off. I went over to look for a new foundation and explained I had never tried any from mac before and being so pale was wary of foundation in general. To cut a long story short she ended up giving me 3 generous sized foundation samples and a free mini primer to try out. I would have saved about £2 if I'd committed to buying a full size there and then but I deffo gained more than £2s worth of product as it took me AGES to finish off my pots. She's sold me a few things since then and I now only look out for her haha. At least they're not all bad, but its a shame the good ones seem to be so few and far between :S
DeleteThanks!
xxx
ugh How annoying. Great purchase despite having to deal with a complete doorknob.
ReplyDeleteI may go and have a looksie at this myself.
Ugh I find people so rude in MAC sometimes too!! I can't believe that particular sales assistant was so mean to you! ..Velvet Teddy looks beautiful by the way :):) xxx
ReplyDeleteDo you know, I have neverrrr heard of this lipstick before! It looks gorgeous as I have very pale skin too. Sometimes I just cannot face going into MAC if I'm having an angry day.. they can be so patronising I just leave in a huff ha! X
ReplyDeleteI was the same way! I'd never even HEARD the name before! I'm loving it! I've worn it three days in a row which is completely unheard of for me! If the staff weren't half as patronising, they'd sell SO much more stuff! x
DeletePlease Me is a beautiful Matte! I'm definitely a fan as they have such amazing staying power! x
ReplyDeletehttp://boscy.blogspot.com
Ou, I saw that one & it's GORGEOUS! Can't believe I've just starting discovering matte lipsticks!
DeleteI think this is a gorgeous colour but im unsure if it will turn out different on me as it looks different in the bullet.
ReplyDeletehttp://thefashiondistrictnlc.blogspot.com/
You should definitely try it on. I hate trying on lipsticks in the store, so I just hope for the best, but you MAY have to do some disinfecting! It is really gorgeous if it works for you! x
DeleteI hate poor customer service, it's disgusting!.. great post.. x
ReplyDeleteI always Back to MAC - and that's at a counter (Newcastle), not even a stand alone store. Never had any problems at all.
ReplyDeleteThis colour looks great on you.
I think it's just certain stores do it, some don't. I really have no idea, but it's quite frustrating! x
Deletethis looks very similar to revlon 'mauve it over' on the lips considering its a matte finish to!
ReplyDeleteim still yet to invest in a mac lipstick, im also very pale put more pink toned. what would you recommend as a first mac lipstick that would be suitable for every day?
many thanks, hugs + kisses! ell :)
This is such a nice colour! Loving it on your lips. I'm just starting to love matte lips look. x
ReplyDeleteMe too! I never thought I'd like matte lipsticks & it's been my new obsession!! x
DeleteI may try one of their matte shades after you saying that it wasn't drying at all, I've been always afraid to try them since my lips chap really easily! This looks so pretty on you xx
ReplyDeleteI love the color! It looks beautiful on you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer! x
DeleteI've just bought viva glam nicki today but I really want this now. I definitely have way too many vibrant lipsticks and I think it's about time I bought some more natural looking ones. Thanks for introducing me to this shade!
ReplyDeleteRebecca-Louise
autumnleaves-x.blogspot.com
That's kind of how I felt! I have SO many plum & red lipsticks! I never even think to wear a nude! I'm really into nude colours at the moment! xx
DeleteThis looks like such a nice way to wear nudes! Must check this out
ReplyDeletewww.nikscritsx.blogspot.com
I don't put up with sales people anymore. I just tell them in a firm tone to direct me to their manager in two shakes, or there will be problems. :) I like Velvet Teddy.
ReplyDeleteI was so mad. I didn't ask for the manager, but I let the woman have it! I swear I'm gonna get arrested one of these days because I get FURIOUS! Anyway, at least I like the lipstick! x
DeleteI'm so sorry that you were treated so shabby! That sucks. The MAC Mattes that I love are Force of Love, Quick Sizzle and Candy Yum Yum. I'm also a fan of the amplified cream finish, with shades like Show Orchid, Fusion Pink, Violetta and Girl About Town.
ReplyDeleteMy nude type shades are Blossom Culture, Myth, Snob and Shy Girl.
I've never heard of Force of love OR Quick Sizzle! I'll definitely have to get back in there! I LOVE Violetta! It's on my list! Thanks for the great suggestions! x
DeleteMAC are terrible for hiring a lot of, quite frankly, bitchy staff. I have been to mac counters and stores in 4 countries and I have left every one of them empty handed due to there being NO service. They glare at you then completely ignore you. Not a pleasant experience. Other brands like Chanel and Clinique have far better staff.
ReplyDeletehttp://macaroonsandcandyfloss.blogspot.com
So, so true! I've been to about 4 different airports, and 3 different countries and the service is universally shit. HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN!? The staff at other counters have always been for the most part pleasant! xx
DeleteEw I detest the way some of those ladies are! I understand that maybe they deal with a lot of snotty mean girls too but come on, it's common decency to be nice! anywhooo beautiful shade! <3
ReplyDeleteYeah that's true. I can imagine the type of customers they deal with, but if someone's trying to be nice & the STAFF is rude-that just does't make sense to me! x
Deleteoh this colour is fabulous! You should also check out "Mocha" although much more brown (and not matte), it is absolutely fantastic and so often overlooked! Lovelovelove your blog Estee! Lots of love from Sydney
ReplyDeletesupreetsparkles.blogspot.om.au/