MAC for Gareth Pugh: Ascension Nail Lacquer Review, Photos, Swatches
Sunday, November 20th, 2011
MAC Ascension Nail Lacquer
MAC for Gareth Pugh: Ascension Nail Lacquer
MAC Ascension Nail Lacquer ($23.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) is described as “grey with blue-violet reflective pearl.” It’s a murky grayish-green with a grayish-purple iridescence that comes together in a duochrome finish. The duochrome is definitely there, but I think some of the sheerness prevents it from really shining. When you look at the nails head-on, it is mostly a murky purple-gray, and then when you tilt and angle your nails, the murky green-gold comes through. It’s very, very similar to Wet ‘n’ Wild Grey’s Anatomy, which is a known dupe for the pricier Deborah Lippmann Wicked Game. MAC’s version is more pigmented than Grey’s Anatomy, where three coats was almost opaque, while there was still a lot of visible nail line at three coats with Grey’s Anatomy.
It’s only a smidgen less than regular MAC lacquers–0.34 oz. for $15.00 normally–although, I guess going from 10ml regularly to 9ml is a 10% decrease! The packaging is a heavy, square glass bottle with a glossy black cap. The bottle is rather large–larger than Deborah Lippmann–but the actual polish is just enclosed in a thicker glass surround.
I haven’t tested the Gareth Pugh polishes for wear, but I usually get a week of wear with minor tip wear with MAC’s nail lacquers. The formula wasn’t too thick or thin, and it flowed evenly across the nail. It does have a more metallic finish, so you will see some brush strokes.
The Glossover
It's a funky color overall, and even though there are other shades like it, I could see this being one of the more popular shades out of the three nail lacquers in the launch.
See more photos & swatches!
MAC Ascension Nail Lacquer
MAC Ascension Nail Lacquer
MAC Ascension Nail Lacquer
MAC Ascension Nail Lacquer
MAC Ascension Nail Lacquer
MAC Ascension Nail Lacquer
Product & Review FAQ
Where can I purchase it? How much is it?
MAC Cosmetics, November 23rd, 2011, $23.
Is it limited edition?
Yes.
Any dupes?
It's very, very similar to Wet 'n' Wild Grey's Anatomy, which is a known dupe for the pricier Deborah Lippmann Wicked Game. MAC's version is more pigmented than Grey's Anatomy, where three coats was almost opaque, while there was still a lot of visible nail line at three coats with Grey's Anatomy.
W&W Gray's Anatomy was totally opaque for me in 3 coats. For the price of this one you can buy a WHOLE DOZEN W&W-GA at any drugstore, pass them out to your friends and have a big matchy-match manicure party! woohoo!*:•;°:•°:°•:*•*:•*°°
LAME! Chanel-peridot is similar and way prettier!! for that price? Another reason why I don't use MAC, there are better brands on everything MAC does. Price is a concern? I'D rather drugstore brands over MAC anyday!!!
Just had this swatched at the counter, and it's a dupe of OPI Katy Perry Collection "Not Like the Movies" which I own.
It is pretty similar to " Péridot " of Chanel I think. It's beautiful though. Regards from France !
Looks exactly like a shade I have from OPI's Katy Perry collection... :/ Not worth the $22 price
I'd be tempted to buy it just to display the bottle!
What if you'd put two coats over a black base? Would the iridescence show up more?
It looks absolutely gorgeous in the bottle. However since I already have the WnW polish, I may skip on this.
That's actually pretty cool. Not sure if I'd drop $23 on it, but it does make for an eye-catching set of nails.
Looks nice on the nails, but so much better in the bottle. Not worth the price tag...especially if Wet n Wild has a dupe, even if it's not as opaque.
At least this one seems to be duochrome-yay!
If there are people living in Holland/Germany/Swiss/Belgium,... and your drugstore carries Catrice This colour is just like Catrice's Iron Mermaiden and it's only EUR 2,49!!!
I say skip this, and just invest in Wicked Game from Deborah Lippmann.
This is quite similar to Sinful Colors "Let me go" . Especially after two coats. It also costs 2.99
It looks gorgeous in the bottle, but on the nail...meh. For the price I'd want something without an easy dupe.
Wonderful color, i'm definitely after it!!
This is really pretty. I might try to find the Deborah Lippman version of this color, as I don't have any DL polishes yet. I'm not planning on buying anything else from this collection, though, so if I can't find the DL version, I may cave and just get this one.
wow!! what a funky shade.
Pretty but I think another good dupe is Orly's Space Cadet or Hard Candy's Beetle. What are your thoughts Christine?
I don't have Hard Candy's Beetle, but Orly's Space Cadet is really a different color altogether, IMO.
hmmmm, I have both Beetle and Space Cadet and I thought Space Cadet looked pretty close but it is a bit darker. I just bought my SC so maybe a different batch makes the difference, I don't know? I far more trust your opinion than mine.....lol. Your the makeup expert. Thanks for the reply though.
That's a crazy chameleon effect. I might pick it up because of it's uniqueness.
There is NO WAY in sweet Jesus I am paying $28 CAN for that nail polish!!! It looks exactly like SOPI Mash-Up, OPI Not like the Movies and a $2 dollar polish: WetnWild Grays Anatomy!!! SOOOOOOOO unoriginal and disappointing!!!!
I love wet n wild grey's anatomy. I bought drug store nail polish after almost 4 years and I can't believe how much wear time I got out of a $2 polish (6 days to be exact). In the past I bought MAC nail polishes but they always end up chipping in a day so as much as I think the packaging is beautiful, I'd skip this and settle for Grey's Anatomy any day. Nonetheless, it's still a beautiful color but definitely not unique.
4 coats of greys anatomy does the trick for me, skipping this nail polish. But it is gorgeous packaging,
So pretty in the bottle but on the nail it's a pass. More of a spring color anyways.
Noooo! It looked SO much cooler in the bootle :( Darn it, it's nothing special really...
Wow it looks waaay prettier in the bottle...still a nice color though!
I really can't wait to try it! It's different. So many brands are getting to be so alike it's ridiculous. I own hundreds of colors and obviously alot are alike-but I'm in the business so you need a shade different here and there. It's cool!
it reminds me of the opi katey perry silver polish..
OMG! I love it! Its gorgeous. Definatly going to have to buy this x
There is also a Catrice polish that looks almost identical. Can't recall the exact name, but it had something to do with mermaids... Mermaiden?
Iron mermaiden :) I think the opacity of that one should be better than this :)
Huh... Kind of reminds me of the Venomous Villains polishes....
it looks quite lovely in the last image.
Just WOOOOOOW
I first thought about Gray's Anatomy. If you don't want to splurge on MAC's nail polish just put a white nail polish under 2 coats of NYC's and it goes opaque! :)
Oh, finally, something that I really want from this collection. Thank Goodness, the packaging is too pretty to pass up!
Whoa, that *is* very similar to WnW lol
WANT!!! But now you mentioned dupes, I will pick up Grey's Anatomy for size.
omg this looks so pretty!!!!! can't wait for the rest of the swatches!
This looks SO similar to OPI's by Katy Perry Not Like the Movies. The only thing is OPI's seems to be a little darker, but still it's the same duochrome colors. Does it not??
Woah, this is really a stunning color!
I would have expected the polish to be more reflective like it is in the bottle. I already own Grey's Anatomy so this is a pass.
It's so much more sheer than I was expecting based on looking at the bottle! I think I would give it a B too.
Last picture makes it look gorgeous, but I'm not sold on it based on the other ones.
It looks lovely on the nails, but a lot cooler in the bottle.
I agree,if it looked like it does in the bottle while on the nails I would definitely be purchasing this!
TWENTY-THREE DOLLARS? Ugh. I know, couture collection, Gareth Pugh, cool packaging, blah blah blah, but Dior is $22/.33 oz. Chanel is $25/.4 oz. This is more expensive than both. I have a ton of polish so the size isn't a big deal to me but the high price is a huge, huge turn-off. Especially $23, it's like a number pulled out of thin air. $20? Okay. But those extra three dollars? Noooooooo. If you really want to treat yourself you can get the Lippmann and save $7! As it is I already have Grey's Anatomy, so I'll grit my teeth at the ugly bottle and save my $23 for something else.
woooooah :D kewl :))) i wish i could fiiiiiinally stop biting my nails :((( but i just cant... i have so many polishes... and there are so many that i want, but my nails are just to short and ugly for me to do anything with them. and i just cant get myself to stop :(((( aww so beautiful, i would buy it, but then again, it would just lye around. :(
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