MAC • Soft Pause • Lipstick

*TOP REVIEWER* MaryEllen on 10/15/2009 12:47:00 AM more reviews by MaryEllen

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I love MAC Lustre formula lipsticks, and was excited to see this lovely berry-red added to the collection. This lipstick is slightly more opaque and less moisturizing than other Lustres I have and adore (VGV, Syrup, Sweetie, Midimauve, Sophisto), but by applying it over a bit of lipbalm I get the perfect effect--sheer, just-bitten, berry-stained lips. It is, as other reviewers have mentioned, buildable for a more dramatic effect. The shade is quite cool, but for me it is the perfect fashionable fall/winter berry/red. BTW, this is a great lipstick for fast glam--just add light foundation, liner/mascara, brows, and a touch of blush. And as an added bonus, it makes your teeth look super white!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Pamann on 1/22/2009 7:45:00 PM more reviews by Pamann

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

I am so excited to have found a red that looks good on me. I only found the color because it was a MUA featured review which is so fluke-y that I chanced to read it. It is a less intense version of Odyssey, a plummy red which is in the MAC reg line. Plus the lustre version is a bit less intense and while it doesn't last long if you drink beverages all day(I do) it's such a lovely natural dewy finish all is forgiven on the reapplication! Applied it is the same color as my natural lips color if I bit them. Just a soft flush. MAC lipsticks are the only cosmetic item I buy regularly from this line as the shades are endless and the texture is smoothing and I adore the light scent. I really hope they bring this shade into the line permanantly!

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jaynalisa on 12/25/2008 7:47:00 PM more reviews by jaynalisa

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Red, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Soft Pause is such a beautiful color (albeit L.E.). It's a pretty sheer wine/berry color. I also have and love Hot Tahiti which is a little more "bitten" red in comparison. Both of these colors are perfect if you're just starting to get into wearing red lipsticks or even if you love all reds like me. Even though it's a lustre finish (which I both love because of the colors and consistency but hate because of the poor lasting power), I swear that this color lasts so much longer on my lips than other lustre lipsticks. When I wear it I put a thin layer of balm on first to keep my lips hydrated, then after a few seconds I blot lightly to soak up excess oils from the balm. Next I apply a coat of Soft Pause then blot once then apply again and it looks perfect...for hours! I don't even need a gloss with this! Also looks good with Brick or Whirl lipliners depending on which tones of the lipstick you want to bring out (as long as they're blended first so you don't get that sharp line look). Brick will bring out more red and Whirl will bring out berry. Because it's more of a sheer color, you can still wear a pretty dramatic eye without looking too OTT. HG for sure! Now just waiting for MAC to make this perm...

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*TOP REVIEWER* behappy08 on 11/21/2008 3:10:00 PM more reviews by behappy08

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Very pretty shade of lipstick. On my pigmented lips it looks, brownish/berry but not too dark. A nice color, looks very pretty. The formula is sheer and I like the vanilla scent.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

samanthaapril on 11/19/2008 1:55:00 PM more reviews by samanthaapril

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Based on the colour description on the MAC website, I would have thought this would be a weird dull purply brown colour. But it's actually a great mlbb colour on me; I have a very fair neutral to cool skin tone, dark brown hair and brown eyes, and this colour is really great on me. I think it would probably suit most brunettes, but I know it would look terrible on my mother, who has blonde hair and a very warm, golden skin tone. I would describe this colour as reddish plum, it's not bright, it's almost a natural lip colour, only a bit darker. It would probably show up more if you didn't have very pigmented lips. The shimmer is barely discernable, which is great...I can't stand frosty looking lipsticks.

Update: I've been wearing this lipstick for about a week, and I've noticed my lips are getting dried out, not sure if it's a coincidence or not...but the formula doesn't seem overly moisturizing.

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UberCute on 11/7/2008 11:22:00 AM more reviews by UberCute

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Tan   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I really like this color on. When you first see it, you'll think it seems a bit dark. But try it on. It's nowhere near as dark on the lips and it gives off this very rich, vibrant berry tint. Plus it's not too sparkly OR too matte. Just the right amount of shimmer to look good, but not cheap.

It's one of my faves, and I also like to put it on over other lipsticks. It seems to even out even the most garish colors.

For Lipglass on top, I use Sonic Vibe. The colors aren't nearly the same, but they do compliment each other very well.

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MamaNicole on 11/4/2008 9:16:00 PM more reviews by MamaNicole

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I love this new lipstick from MAC! It's a Lustre formula, so it goes on smoothly and feels very moisturizing. MAC describes this lipstick as a "sheer dark brownish berry", but I get more of a "sheer darkish plummy pink berry". I don't get any brown at all, but it's gorgeous. It goes on sheerly for the first application, and can be layered for more intensity. It absolutely brightens up my face and flatters my NC25 skin. I've been wearing this nearly every day since I got it, and it goes well with different blushes and e/s shades. I will definitely be buying a backup!

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kittycatpainter on 11/3/2008 3:47:00 PM more reviews by kittycatpainter

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Love this new plummy lip shade from MAC-it's a warm, browned plum but isn't too brown for me....reminiscent in tone of Clinique's infamous Black Honey, but with more pigment...yet still sheer. very flattering and subtle shade on my LLL/hazel/brunette coloring. there's some very subtle shimmer to it, but nothing over the top. it doesn't "read" as a frosty shade at all. very natural looking. the closest shade to it in the MAC arsenal might be Sophisto...but that one is a bit more rosy plum (and more shimmery) while this is a warmer, slightly browned plum. Considering picking up a backup, as this, just like many of the best MAC shades....is LE.

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*TOP REVIEWER* highheeled on 10/29/2008 6:51:00 AM more reviews by highheeled

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Another winner from the Red She Said collection! On my NW20 coloring, Soft Pause has a similar effect that Clinique's Black Honey has on me, except I like Soft Pause better. SP is a lovely muted berry with a hint of brown in it that gives it some depth. With one swipe, my lips look flushed and bitten. It's a very buildable color; a few layers give me an elegant brownish berry lip that's very elegant. I feel like SP is in the same family as MAC's O, but I could be wrong.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Winthrop44 on 10/20/2008 4:14:00 PM more reviews by Winthrop44

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I was underwhelmed by Soft Pause. It just looked too brown on my NC15 yellow undertoned self. I have very pigmented lips so that may have been an issue. I think both Sophisto (a rosy rather than brown plum) and Viva Glam V (a pinker shade) would be much more attractive choices than Soft Pause for someone with my coloring.

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NurseKaren on 10/18/2008 12:36:00 PM more reviews by NurseKaren

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

I bought this earlier in the week and absolutely love it. The color is fab and buildable as the previous reviewer stated. Would definitely purchase again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* verybecca on 10/18/2008 10:17:00 AM more reviews by verybecca

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I'm generally not a huge fan of MAC Lustre lipsticks...they just don't seem to care that much about the formula, so they tend to be very drying on me without gloss. Needless to say, I've figured out that if I use balm underneath or a thin layer of a long-wearing, moisturizing gloss, I can really enjoy MAC Lustres. This shade is very similar to Sophisto, however, it's more of a juicy berry, YLBB, healthy lip look when applied sheerly, and a pure deep berry when applied heavily. Sophisto is very similar but it has more true plumminess, and more purple tones to it. I don't see much purple at all in Soft Pause. They both have the same initial sheerness and texture, but I think Soft Pause has subtler shimmer. Soft Pause is my new MAC fave.... MMM NC35

7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No