MAC COOK MAC Tendertone Lip Balm Pictures & Review

I LOVE MAC Tendertones plain and simple, and the new COOK MAC Collection features four different shades. They are super moisturizing lip balms that combine the sheen of a lip gloss and the moisture of a lip balm, and they even include an SPF 12. They come in the same little glass pots that the Paint Pots come in, rather than the little plastic pots that the MAC Lip Conditioners come in. If you prefer tubes to pots for sanitary reasons then you may want to pass, but I don't find this to be a problem since I always wash my hands or use a hand sanitizer before applying potted lip products as a general rule.

The texture is best described as having a somewhat gel-like feel that is neither greasy nor sticky. It feels supremely comfortable and emollient on the lips, but if you don't like a fruity tasting lip balm you may not enjoy the strawberry-kiwi flavor. However,  I do find that the flavor fades away a few minutes after application.

While all four shades appear quite pigmented in their pots they are very very sheer on- with almost no real detectable color. In order to get a swatch that was pigmented enough you would really have to scoop out a lot and apply it thickly- which defeats the point since you would never wear it that way.

1) Hot "N" Saucy is a soft cherry red (Limited Edition). It offers the lips a very sheer red wash of color.
2) Hush, Hush is a sheer gold with yellow gold pearl (Limited Edition). This one offers a wash of light golden pearl in a translucent base.
3) Purring is a sheer tangerine with pearl (Limited Edition). I have no idea why MAC says there is pearl in this one- it is very sheer, imparts almost no color, and has no pearl whatsoever. It just offers the lips a faint wash of color.
4) Tread Gently is a soft lime green with yellow pearl. (Limited Edition). This one also has a very sheer base, but it does have lovely sparkling green & yellow pearl.


ACTIVE INGREDIENTS:OCTINOXATE 7.50%, OCTISALATE 2.00%, AVOBENZONE 1.50%

INGREDIENTS: PETROLATUM, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, ETHYLENE/PROPYLENE/STYRENE COPOLYMER, ASTROCARYUM MURUMURU SEED BUTTER, COFFEA ARABICA (COFFEE) SEED EXTRACT, OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT EXTRACT, TRITICUM VULGARE (WHEAT BRAN) EXTRACT, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, WATER, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, ETHYLCELLULOSE, CHOLESTEROL, PENTAERYTHRITYL ADIPATE/CAPRATE/CAPRYLATE/HEPTANOATE, HYDROGENATED DILINOLEYL ALCOHOL, OCTYLDODECANOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, LINOLEIC ACID, OLEIC ACID, PALMITIC ACID, POTASSIUM SULFATE, SILICA, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, ALUMINA, TIN OXIDE, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, BUTYLENE/ETHYLENE/STYRENE COPOLYMER, FRAGRANCE, BHT, PHENOXYETHANOL [+/- MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE (CI 77163), BLUE 1 (CI 42090), BLUE 1 LAKE (CI 42090), CARMINE (CI 75470), RED 6 (CI 15850), RED 7 (CI 15850), RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850), RED 28 LAKE (CI 45410), RED 30 (CI 73360), RED 33 (CI 17200), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140), YELLOW 10 (CI 47005), YELLOW 10 LAKE (CI 47005)] <ILN33874>

Overall assessment: I just love these little pots of sheer & sparkling goodness!

6 ml/ 0.2 fl oz. $15.00 each. All are still available at MAC online if you can't find them elsewhere.