I mean… I had to.
When I originally picked this lipstick up, I was walking into a MAC store knowing only that I wanted to treat myself, but with no idea what exactly it was that I was looking for. As I perused the rows of colourful bullets, the name Velvet Teddy jumped out at me as recognizable. Done!
Velvet Teddy is iconic – it’s got to be one of the most-purchased, well-loved lipsticks out there, and I just had to see what all of the hype was about.
I was not disappointed! The shade is great. The formula is great. Let’s be honest though, how much of this lipstick’s success has to do with precisely the right shade name!? To me, Velvet Teddy is exactly exactly as it’s called, in lipstick form.
Cost
CAD: $29 or $9.67/g
Finish and colour payoff
MAC describes this lipstick as having high colour payoff in a no-shine matte finish. I would agree, although I can absolutely adjust the richness of the colour with more or less pressure or swipes. I like this quality, though.
The matte finish reads as “soft” to me (or maybe that’s just the shade name working its magic).
Formula description
MAC touts this line as having a creamy and rich formula. I’d say for a matte it feels moderately creamy, but I’m not sure I’d describe it as “rich” (especially since my golden standard for a rich, creamy formula is Natasha Denona’s formula on the My Dream Lipstick that I recently reviewed).
I still really enjoy this formula. It’s not “featherweight” (for example, I find Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution lipsticks to feel lighter), but it’s not heavy either, and I do manage to forget that I even have it on fairly quickly.
Being a matte formula, it can be a touch drying at the end of the day depending on my initial lip condition, but it’s not so significant that I’m desperate for a balm at the end of the day.
Shade description
MAC describes Velvet Teddy as a “deep-tone beige”. Honestly, these are not the adjectives I would choose when looking at this shade. It could be my lack of experience in the world of colour, but to me the world of “beige” is generally a light tone, like a nude. So a deep-tone beige would be… Brown?
Okay, so maybe the shade description does make sense, then. A light application looks quite natural on me and warms up my natural lip colour a bit. It could pass as a “MLBB”, and I love wearing it this way! A heavier application does bring out a hint of brown on me, which makes for a lovely cozy look.
Bottom: Three swipes
As an aside, MAC’s promotional images don’t quite translate to my experience – it seems almost like a moderately deep, cool pinky nude on the fairest skin tone. I’m curious to see whether it plays out on a particular skin tone in life!
If you’re curious about the shade, check out this neat article I found on the MAC UK website which discusses whether Velvet Teddy is cool or warm!
Fragrance
That soft MAC vanilla scent, which I love!
Wear
I find this formula wears quite well! Sometimes I find myself reaching for my bullet to reapply out of habit, only to realize that I probably don’t need to! That’s in part thanks to the matte formula and its inherent lasting power, but also due to the shade itself being close to a MLBB for me, so any initial fading is quite subtle and you wouldn’t notice it unless you were close up.
Similar from my collection
On the lips, I’d say this is in the same family as Velvet Teddy are Charlotte Tilbury – Matte Revolution – “Very Victoria” and Colourpop – Velvet Blur Lux – “Band T” (these two are near dupes of each other). Both feel more lightweight to me than Velvet Teddy, but they are matte. Velvet Teddy is warmer, maybe peachy brown shade whereas Very Victoria and Band T are more of a taupe brown.
My gosh, you know what’s a pretty close shade dupe on my arm, but n ,ot on the lips? Maybelline – Super Stay Matte Ink – “Seductress”. This would be great if you’re going for a Velvet Teddy vibe, but you absolutely don’t want to think about lipstick reapplication throughout your day. The Super Stay Matte Ink line really does “stay” on all day. Shade-wise, on my lips Seductress is noticeably cooler.
I also wanted to mention one from my collection that I did not find to be a dupe – that’s Wet n Wild – Mega Last Matte Lip Color – “Bare it All”. To me, this shade is lighter and more peachy than Velvet Teddy. I didn’t love the formula of the Wet n Wild matte; it could just be my bullet, but I find that Bare it All drags on my lips and maintains a presence there that doesn’t feel how I want lipstick to feel. It’s a bit “grippy” in a drying sort of way
Final thoughts
I posted earlier this month that Velvet Teddy was making a lovely summer-to-fall transition shade. It’s one of those versatile, goes-with-anything lipsticks that I’ll continue to reach for throughout the whole year! Forever a favourite. Does that make me basic? Then bring me my pumpkin spice latte!
Have you tried this one? Do you love it? Why or why not?
