MAC Crosswires Cremesheen Lipstick: Review, Swatches, Dupes

Review, Swatches, Price, Dupes of MAC Cremesheen Crosswires Lipstick

By Contributor: Surabhi

For as long as I can remember, I haven’t ever found any coral or orange lipstick that I can wear without looking like a total wannabe. Somehow I couldn’t find something suitable for my Indian skin tone (I’m a NC40 at MAC), so I’d stick to my comfort zone of pink lipsticks. But how much can you wear just pink! Some outfits demand a coral-ish shade, and so I walked into the MAC Store determined to pick out a coral colour, trying very hard to stay away from the pink lipsticks segment! But once I laid my hands on MAC Crosswires

, I couldn’t believe I had actually ever lived without this shade. That’s what I will review and swatch today.

Now, it definitely took some time to single this one out, what with Vegas volt being too bright and See Sheer being too muted. Crosswires is the most flattering shade of coral with pink undertones, making it flat-out fabulous! Especially with summers approaching, this is exactly what you need in your purse.

My Review:

The watermelon vendors have been laying out their stalls, and so have the Ice-gola walas. You can see people planning their vacations whilst sipping on that thanda-thanda cola. Late night ice-cream cravings have suddenly increased and so has your electricity bill, what with the air-conditioner being used pretty much all through the day. Yes, you know exactly what I’m trying to say; summers are almost here. And what would spell summer better than a gorgeous shade of coral on your lips with an envious glossy finish. Say hello to the perfect summer lipstick- MAC Crosswires !

Texture:  Ooooh the texture is amazing. Crosswires feels like butter and doesn’t make me feel like I’m actually wearing any lipstick. The creamy formula feels almost nourishing for it doesn’t dry out the lips at all. A lot of people tell me that they have experienced dry lips with Cremesheen lipstick finishes, which might have been true for some shades, but this one definitely doesn’t count amongst them. It has a beautiful shiny appearance, which is exactly what you need in the sultry, summer months.

Pigmentation: Cremesheen finishes from MAC are known to have decent pigmentation with glossy finish and that’s precisely what Crosswires delivers. Even a single swipe is enough for suitable colour coverage coupled with soft sheen. Although, personally I like to build the colour on my lips and apply at least 2 coats of this lipstick, till I’m satisfied with the shade. Again, this might be only me, but trust me, once I’m done, the pretty coralish colour with hints of pink is to die for. If I had to describe this coral shade in the shortest possible manner, I’d say its- summer in a tube!

Longevity: Cremesheen finishes have decent longevity and true to their claim, it stays put for good 4-5 hours. Even when it does fade away, the buttery formulation leaves my lips looking moisturized and with a faint coral shade.

Packaging: MAC Crosswires has the classic MAC Packaging in its signature shiny-black cover. The time-less travel friendly design can certainly never go out of style.

Good-points of MAC Crosswires Cremesheen Lipstick:

• The texture is satin-like & feels buttery on my lips- which I love!
• This shade is picture-perfect for the summer months ahead. Plus, it will definitely suit most Indian skin tones.
• It easily lasts 4-5 hours and fades away leaving a lovely coral-ish tint on my lips.
• This doesn’t make my lips dry, even hours after putting the lipstick on.
• The glossy finish looks beautiful.
• It’s is a classic day-to-night shade. The colour is buildable so the more you swipe, the more intense the shade turns, making it ideal for those night-outs. (Cannot stress enough on this)
• It has that classic MAC Vanilla fragrance, which makes me feel all pretty while putting it on.

Not-so-good-points of MAC Crosswires Cremesheen Lipstick:

• Those with pigmented lips might need more swipes to build the colour, for it can seem almost sheer on their lips.
• At that price, I’d expect better longevity.
• Horrendously expensive. Like Oh-em-gee!

Price: Rs.1450

VNA Rating: 4/5

Dupes of Crosswires: Lakme Coral Care, Inglot Lipstick Refill #73,

Will I purchase this again? I probably would not, but that’s not commenting on my love for this shade. Its simply because I’m guessing this one tube would last me a long, loooong time. I’d have probably discovered other coral lipsticks by the time this gets over.

In a nut-shell: Oh, like I said, it’s Summer in a tube! What else would you need to know before you run straight towards that MAC counter to get your hands on it, right? It’s an absolutely stunning shade of coral, and it will definitely get you a number of compliments. If like me, you’ve been hunting for that one true coral/orangish shade that flatters your skin tone, then this is where your search will end. Next time, you’re at a MAC counter, swatch it and you would know what I mean.

Have you used MAC Crosswires Cremesheen Lipstick? Share your reviews with us.