MAC PRO Lip Palette – 6 Modern Browns: Photos, Swatches and Reviews

In Fall of 2012, MAC PRO released five brand new Lip Palettes containing six lipsticks each, all of which are part of the permanent line of lipsticks. In this post, I will be reviewing the 6 Modern Browns palette. This palette is full of neutrals that look great on everyone and work with all kinds of looks.

These palettes were certainly designed with the professional makeup artist in mind… They save space in a kit or makeup bag and are convenient to use on set. You don’t have to dig around in your lipstick bag or search through tons of lipsticks in your palette to find the color you’re looking for… Each palette is arranged by color family, so you can just grab one if you need a red lip or another for a neutral brown look. These lipsticks can be used alone or mixed on a palette to create something new and unique.

As an every day consumer, you may or may not be head over heels in love with these… It’s nice to be able to grab one little palette of lipsticks and have all your pinks or reds or oranges right in front of you. The only real inconvenience I can see is that you have to apply these with a brush, but that’s usually a better, more controllable way to apply lipstick anyway! MAC makes great lip brushes that are easy to travel with, so you can toss one into you bag along with your PRO Lip Palette… You can choose between the 316 Lip Brush with a normal, removable cap, or the 318 Retractable Lip Brush that has an open end, but retracts and expands when you push or pull on it (so you can’t lose the cap, but it stays covered in your bag).

Photo taken outdoors in natural sunlight.
Lipsticks swatched on NC15 skin.

MAC Lipsticks typically wear for 4-6 hours… Longer with Prep + Prime Lip and a liner of some sort. They apply smoothly and have good color payoff. MAC Lipsticks have a faint vanilla scent and no taste.

MAC PRO Lip Palettes are available now and are part of MAC PRO’s permanent product line. You can buy them at any MAC PRO store or online at www.maccosmetics.com. They sell for $40 and contain a total of 6g / 0.21oz of product.

Peachstock

Peachstock

Peachstock (Satin):   Peachstock is a “neutral peach” with a Satin finish. It’s a light-medium, neutral peachy nude. Peachstock doesn’t have as much sheen as some Satin lipsticks do, but it doesn’t feel dry. The color payoff and coverage are great, but you may want to apply Prep + Prime Lip underneath this lipstick, as it tends to emphasize dry and chapped spots.

Overall Rating:   4.5 / 5

Application:   4

Coverage:  5

Color Payoff:   5

Texture:   4

Wear Time:   4

Packaging:   5

Half N’ Half

Half N’ Half

Half N’ Half (Amplified Creme):   Half N’ Half is a “creamy pink” with an Amplified Creme finish. It’s a medium, warm toned peachy nude with a soft, creamy type of sheen. Half N’ Half applies very smoothly and give fantastic color payoff and coverage.

Overall Rating:   4.8 / 5

Application:   5

Coverage:  5

Color Payoff:   5

Texture:   5

Wear Time:   4

Packaging:   5

Frenzy

Frenzy

Frenzy (Frost):   Frenzy is a “pinky-peach beige with shimmer” with a Frost finish. It’s a medium, warm toned brown with peachy-pink tones and a warm, golden frost. It is not as intense as it looks in the palette but it has decent color payoff. The coverage is not fully opaque and my natural lip color does show through this lipstick. It applies well, but definitely needs some blending to make it look totally even.

Overall Rating:   4 / 5

Application:   4

Coverage:  3

Color Payoff:   4

Texture:   4

Wear Time:   4

Packaging:   5

Fresh Brew

Fresh Brew

Fresh Brew (Lustre):   Fresh Brew is a “creamed coffee” color with a Lustre finish. It’s a medium, warm toned nude with some peachy tan tones and a semi-sheer sheen. Lustres don’t have opaque coverage or intense color payoff, so I was not expecting that with this lipstick. It is nicely pigmented for a Lustre and applies smoothly. Fresh Brew is a great neutral for anyone and adds a little bit of warm color without being bright. This looks really nice with a smokey eye.

Overall Rating:   3.8 / 5

Application:   5

Coverage:  3

Color Payoff:   3

Texture:   4

Wear Time:   3

Packaging:   5

Taupe

Taupe

Taupe (Matte):   Taupe is a “muted reddish-taupe brown” with a Matte finish. It is a medium to medium-dark, warm toned taupe with peachy-brick tones. It has a subtle, natural sheen that lasts for an hour or two after applying before it turns into more of a true matte. It has full, even coverage and great pigmentation. I like this a lot on medium to deep, warm skintones, although it can be worn by anyone with the right look.

Overall Rating:   5 / 5

Application:   5

Coverage:  5

Color Payoff:   5

Texture:   5

Wear Time:   5

Packaging:   5

Paramount

Paramount

Paramount (Satin):   Paramount is a “reddish-brown” with a Satin finish. It is a medium-dark, intense, warm reddish brown with a satiny sheen. It’s not 100% opaque but has great color payoff and applies smoothly, giving even coverage.

Overall Rating:   4.5 / 5

Application:   5

Coverage:  4

Color Payoff:   4

Texture:   5

Wear Time:   4

Packaging:   5