For $13 retail (for a MK consultant - less if you get them on ebay) MK lipsticks are a decent value - if you can find a shade you like. I have had winners (Passion Pink) and losers (Pink Satin) over the years. Decent formula - not too drying (but not terribly hydrating either). Some shades "wear" better and longer than others (Cremes vs. Shimmers). Decent selection of shades - they change and d/c them all the time (annoying).

I agree with the reviewer who said the lipstick colors are a variation of themselves. But I do love some of the colours. Hibiscus is one of my fave lipstick colors but it seriously dries out my lips. fashion fair tropic pink is it's exact dupe swatched both on my hands and on my lips and it's more moisturising but for the smell! Eek! Sunny citrus and citrus outburst (both mary kay) remind me of mac's morange and cb96. Yet to find out if they are dupes. I like the vanilla scent. Wouldn't say the colors are true to tube cos I hibiscus doesn't look like a fuschia in the tube until applied. I find all the other colours in the line boring and frosty looking. Aplle berry looks pretty though. Would have to check that out

Mary Kay has some great products, but their lipsticks are not among those:( Horrible, waxy perfumed taste/texture, very drying formula and very frosted colors, reminds me of the lipsticks I used to play with as a kid in the 70's

First things first - Anyone who looks at the entire range of MK lipsticks can tell you that there are a few key shades and the rest of the line is a variation of these shades. I wont lie about that. Im not crazy about the entire line with the exception of two colors - the Red and Hibiscus.
'Red' is the best red lipstick I have ever used. The color is a beautiful red that is neither too bright, too orange or too pink. It is a lovely red ruby color and every time I wear it, I get tons of compliments of it. It isn't a red that is too distracting or that will wash you out. It is a very complimenting shade. The lipstick itself stays on all day and it does not dry out my lips.
'Hibiscus' is the other shade that I'm in love with. I love fuchsia lipstick. Honestly, I do. Not many people wear it but I wish more people did because it can be so incredibly lovely. This shade is a little hot but it is still dark enough to not be overpowering or neon.
The quality of the lipsticks themselves is great and leaves lips feeling soft. But anything else other than these two colors? Not worth the trouble.

I haven't tried the new formula. I have just lippies that came in the pink (awful package) and silver packages.
I don't have very dry lips, I don't eat my lipstick...
I liked the colors, they are intense and last enough time for a normal lipstick.
In winter I paired them with lipgloss because they are not hidrating, but they stay well.
Most colors look good on me (NC35) so, I love this lipsticks... but I can't say a thing about the new formulation...

The first Mary Kay lipstick I got was Inspiration, and quite honestly, I think it totally sucked!!! I had to put on about 20 coats before the lipstick even began to show up on my lips, and when it did show up , it was this horrible pink color and it wore off immediately! I also think that this lipstick somehow melted in the tube, and when I opened it, the lipstick snapped in half!!! The only good thing that can be said about this is it's somewhat cheap price ($13.00). Also, when I put it on, it didn't feel like there was anything on my lips, and it also was sort of moisturizing. Overall, I definetely wouldn't recommend this product to anyone, unless you are looking for a piece of junk! I have also heard from a lot of women that Mary Kay has bad products in general. And i have to say that I believe them!

I was talked into buying Whipped Berries. It tasted funny, dried out my lips, and wore off faster than most lip glosses I own. It's slightly creamier than drug store brands, but not as nice as anything I've paid the same amount for at Sephora or Ulta. A total waste of money.

I used to be a Mary Kay consultant, and I just don't get these lipsticks. MK teaches its consultants to make a big deal about all the nasty stuff in competitors' lipsticks, up to and including bat guano, then they go and make lipsticks that smell and TASTE like bat guano.

No matter how beautiful the colors are, I was unable to keep using these lipsticks. That's a real pity, given how much I invested in my product. The packaging is beautiful and truly classy. The colors are true to tube and beautiful. The formula is drying, and although it dries out your lips, it doesn't stay on the lips very long at all. Bad, bad, bad.

In the end, don't waste your money. These are overpriced, underperforming, and the nastiest-tasting lipsticks I've ever tried.

Signature Creme in Orange Crush (why can't I list it that way as its own review?).
A friend who is MK rep pushed this on me as I like bright lipstick in summer. I love the color on me, get compliments when wearing it! It is very opaque though, an old-fashioned texture that goes chalky after a few hours. It works better for me when I mix it with clear gloss to apply.
But moisturizing? Creamy? uhh, NO. And I agree with everyone else about old-fashioned icky perfumey smell and waxy taste.
I'll be looking for this color in a better brand.

I got the new version of the Mary Kay creme lipstick in Apple Berry. It applies well but I didn't get any moisture from the lipstick. The great thing about the lipstick is its well pigmented and doesn't have a funky smell. It has a light vanilla scent added. The packaging is excellent because on the top you can see a color tab on top of the lipstick cap. Apple berry is more for a formal night out. Its too much for a day look. I'm looking forward to buying lipstick from Mary Kay.

I have only one Mary Kay lipstick for now and I agree with some of the other ladies. I chose what was supposed to be a pinkish light frost color, but when it arrived it was more of a brownish mauve in the container. It was so very light in color that even after several applications, it barely was noticeable. I purchased this lipstick about 4 months ago and there is no smell other than the awful smell of the no smell kind of lipsticks. How can companies say their products do not have a smell when the smell is that of an unnatural waxy type aroma? I told my online MK rep. about my dislike of the color and lipstick, but she did not offer me a replacement. The lipstick is creamy, but not long lasting in my opinion. After reading the reviews about the change in formula, and them being kind of like Mac lipstick now as far as the smell, I put I would buy again. I do enjoy the smell of Mac lipstick, and the ingredients that allow the smell to enter the tube. So I would buy MK lipstick again. It is not that expensive, but I would want to go to a party or store and view the colors for myself first.

Someone on our staff is selling MK and I admit - I'm a sucker. I used Mary Kay in the late 80s with much success.
It's not that I dislike the product - my taste is just a bit more refined.
I asked the lady to find me a pink lippie and a coral/orange one. Well the pink came in today and it's nice. Pink Satin - not too much frost - and it really does wonders to my skin tone (GGG here). It's a bit fragrant on the lip and to the nose but the color is overall a good one.
It isn't a spectacular pink but it does the job.

Their lipsticks are very long lasting and don't bleed onto your teeth. The only problem I have with them is they are so drying. The could use a bit more moisture content in them. I always pair their lipsticks with a gloss or clinique lipstick.

I have only tried the neutrals, along with the lip liner and although I am new to using lipstick (until now, never liked it), I am really impressed by the quality of the product as well as of the packaging. I don't like bright colors on myself, so the neutrals line fits the bill for me.

They changed the formula of these lipsticks, not enough pigment, I used to LOVE Fuschia, not any more.

I am a former consultant and I am really excited to see that MK is changing the lipstick formulas, colors, and packaging. I liked the old lippies but the new formula sounds like it will be much more like MAC. I have only tried one color, but it was long lasting and the new vanilla'ish smell and black tube are much more trendy and elegant. I will buy others.

What is it with the people in charge of lip color over at Mary Kay? Their foundations, blushes, powders, etc. are all great, but the lipstick colors always seem "off" - like no matter what the color is, it isn't for me. They are all very high quality lipsticks that are pigment rich, moisturizing and long wearing, but no matter what color I can't get a shade that looks good on me. I have seen shades that look good on other people. On me, they all seem to be too grey (yes, a lot seem to have a silver or blue-grey under-tint or frost that is NOT flattering on me), too blue-y pink, or too pale in general. In a few, the tone is good but the color too dark. For example, the tones in downtown brown seem good, but the color is too intense for me. I think apricot glaze is the only color that looks decent on me. If they had a color that matched me, I'd buy it.

Raisinberry is my favorite all time lip stick. I have used it over 5 years now. Love it!!!

Why does Mary Kay use so much fragrance in their makeup???I really wanted to like this lipstick because of the shade I got was awesome, but it seemed to dry out my lips and then the god-awful smell...Definitely a no-no..

Love how well this stays on - I'm constantly licking my lips, so no lipstick ever stays on for even an hour - but HATE the fragrance!!!! Why does lipstick need perfume in it????????? Who smells someone's lips??????? Anyway, other than the fragrance, this is pretty much perfect. UPDATE----- 1/18/2008 they've changed these and made them fragrance free but vanilla flavored - which I can handle, and now wear lipstick all the time!!! Thanks for the change MK!!!!