Cook MAC Tendertone Lip Balm: Review & Swatches

They're back! MAC has finally repromoted their Tendertone Lip Balm as a part of the Cook MAC collection released on February 9, 2012.  Like the crazy lip product gal thast I am, I headed out on the day the collection was released and picked up all four tendertones released with this collection.  I have not used a Tendertone since 2010 or so when they were last released and I used all of my one and only one up.  These little potted lip balms always seem to fly off the shelves so I stocked up!

Tendertone Lip Balms are MAC's SPF 12 version of a glossy lip balm.  They come in a glass pot - much like the Paint Pot packaging.  They have a distinct strawberry-kiwi fruity scent to them, unlike the usual vanilla scent that seems to be very distinct with all MAC lip products.  It is very fruity and a little artifical smelling but I do enjoy the fruitiness - reminds me of spring and summer.  The scent is very reminiscent of lip smackers lip glosses.

This time around, MAC repromoted four shades of Tendertone Lip Balms: Tread Gently, Hush, Hush, Purring & Hot N' Saucy.   Tread Gently is a sheer yellow (or soft lime-green) with pearl that shimmers yellow-pink (and a little blue-green). Hush, Hush is a shimmery, sheer warm bronzy-gold with pearl that reflects yellow-gold-pink.  Purring is a sheer, shimmer-less, tangerine-orange. Despite what MAC descriptions says, Purring does not have any shimmer or pearl to it.  Hot N' Saucy is sheer, shimmer-less cherry red.  All of the Tendertones, though slightly intimidating in the pot, are very very sheer.  They give the lightest wash of colour, if at all. These swatches are much more pigmented than how they appear on my lips.

From L to R: Tread Gently, Hush, Hush, Purring & Hot N' Saucy (natural light)

From L to R: Tread Gently, Hush, Hush, Purring & Hot N' Saucy (direct sunlight)

From L to R: Tread Gently, Hush, Hush, Purring & Hot N' Saucy (direct sunlight)

MAC Tendertone Lip Balms retail for $14.50 USD / $18 CAD for 6ml / 0.2 oz of product.  The packaging as mentioned is a glass pot - the only distinction for this collection was the gingham print sleeves that were placed around the general MAC packing (Tendertone's come in a white MAC-emblem embossed box).   Tendertones in particular came in a pretty pink gingham box.

Overall, they are hydrating but not great if your lips are extremely dry/problematic.  These are meant as light hydration for normal lips.  These are very glossy and smooth - they feel like a glossed balm.  Light in texture as well.  The staying power is around two hours on my lips - if I don't subconsciously lick my lips often.  For me, these function more as a gloss than a balm and work with almost any colour, unlike sticky lipglass.  Are these worth it?  If you adore lip products or are on the market for a very glossy, sheer, lip balm then sure.

Did you pick up any Tendertone Lip Balms?  Have you tried them? What do you think?

xo, Chanel