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MAC Pret-a-Papier Collection: Nail Lacquer Review, Photos, Swatches

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

MAC Pret a Papier Collection

MAC Pret-a-Papier Collection: Nail Lacquer Review, Photos, Swatches

Even though there are definitely some products I like in this launch, there is no item that caught my eye more than Originality. If you like nail polish, you gotta get it!

Nail Lacquer ($12.00 U.S. / $14.50 CDN)

  • Brown Bag is a muted, darkened flesh-toned shade–nude, as they’d say–but it’s much darker than my skin tone (probably NC20/25 on my fingertips). Perhaps if you’re NC/NW35 or 40 it might be your perfect nude. Nonetheless, it’s a creamy nude with flecks of champagne shimmer strewn through it, and it goes opaque in two coats (and pictured with two).  But I gotta say, Brown Bag is a pain-in-the-behind to photograph!
  • Originality is a gorgeous, shimmering warmed-up bronze with copper flecks. This is truly a stunning shade–it’s almost metallic but not quite–it shimmers and dances. It goes opaque in just two coats (and the swatches are of two), dries to a slightly textured finish but it’s fairly smooth, but it removes easily.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Pret a Papier Collection

MAC Pret a Papier Collection

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Originality Nail Lacquer

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Originality Nail Lacquer

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Originality Nail Lacquer

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Originality Nail Lacquer

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Originality Nail Lacquer

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Originality Nail Lacquer

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Brown Bag Nail Lacquer

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Brown Bag Nail Lacquer

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Brown Bag Nail Lacquer

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Brown Bag Nail Lacquer

MAC Pret a Papier Collection
MAC Brown Bag Nail Lacquer

MAC Pret a Papier Collection

All products featured in this post were purchased by Temptalia.

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In the bottle, I absolutely adored these. Particularly Originality. However, after seeing the swatches, I'm rethinking this purchase... Maybe it would look nice on my toes? Bummer :(

any dupes for orginality??

I don't have any to suggest, sorry!

So glad the majority seem to be more interested in the Originality. More Brown Bag for the rest of us! :-D

I order Brown Bag but after seeing your swatch and seeing in the store, I want the other one too.

How well do these nail lacquers work on acrylic nails?

I don't know - I've never had acrylic nails, sorry!

THat first one is soooo nice. Almost looks like minx

Hmmmm I'd like to see how Originality compares to Mercenary from Style Warriors.

Hi, You can see Mercenary here: http://gallery.temptalia.com/mac-style-warrior-mercenary-swatch It’s darker, less copper/golden.

I'm glad you referred to Brown Bag as "nude." Too often the word "nude" is used just to connote lighter skintone colors, those of white people, without acknowledging the huge array of colors that could accurately be called "nude" or "fleshtone." :)

Oh, happy to do so, lol! Nude to be is pretty much anything that would be a natural skin color. Plus, I mean, what's nude to someone who's NC55 is certainly quite a bit different to someone who's NC15! But yay for being good :)

I agree wholeheartedly!

How does originality compare to mercenary from the style warriors collection?

What is the formula like on these polishes? MAC isn't consistent with quality of formula. If it's great then I am ordering these babies today. Brown Bag will look amazing with my NC44 skin tone!

They seemed fine to me, but I've never had issues with MAC formulations - sometimes they run sheer, but these were fine for me!

I love brown bag a lot more, actually!

Nice Colors... both... but i prefer the Originality :-) Thx for the Review LG

I love Brown Bag nail lacquer it would be GORGEOUS against me! But does the MAC brand really last a long time on acrylic nails if let's say I brought it with me to the nail salon??

I'm not sure -- I've never had acrylic nails, so truthfully, I don't know anything about them!

Paper or plastic? ........Paper Please! :)

Full marks for Originality, as they say lol. Absolutely love it, but can't say the same about Brown Bag, even if it does have that little bit of shimmer in it that lifts it from the dull and boring

These polishes look nice and quite unique compared to other MAC polishes, but MAC polishes usually aren't worth the money for me. I'm skipping these! :/

Meh. Nail polish is the one area that I don't spend a lot of money on. I don't use it often enough to care if it's high end or not.

Like WOW. Originality is just like an amazingly beautiful gold sparkle/shimmer.

Could you do a comparison of MAC Mercenary and Originality? Thanks!

Originality is now on my must-have list and will definitely be making a stop at MAC tomorrow!

Originality vs. OPI's Bling Dynasty?

Swatch of OPI Bling Dynasty is here - http://www.temptalia.com/opi-hong-kong-collection-review-photos-swatches-part-2 Bling Dynasty is more of true gold in comparison to Originality.

OMG Originality is GORGEOUS! It looks like Amber Lights e/s for your nails!!!!

I thought I wasn't going to like Originality...but now I have to get it!!!! just got it....0_0

After seeing the photo of 'originality' on your nails I immediately text messaged my bf to head to MAC and pick it up for me tomorrow [I'm in the middle of final exams right now..no time to head anywhere but the library :(]. He just called me telling me he went there today and they let him purchase it a day early~ Wheee~ Thanks for the swatches Christine!!

Aww, how sweet!! of both your boyfriend & the MAC artist!

Christine are their any dupes for the MAC Brown Bag color? Please let me know.

I'm not sure - I don't have anything like it in my stash, but I'm not an expert on nail polish colors!

I really like the shimmer in brown Bag, but brown polish is really just a no-go for me...too bad :/

Originality looks just like the bronze that came out with the Style Warriors Collection. Csn't remember the name, but its identical.

LOVE Originality! The MAC website really needs to step their game up, I would have thought twice before buying Originality or Brown Bag based on their photographs.

yeah i agree, maybe the website can and should use temptalia.com and christines swatches in their pictures!

LOL! A girl can dream ;) Like I kind of get why they don't... because it's easier just to Photoshop the color on, but at the same time, they should have the ability to snap some photos of real-life crushed up shadow. It isn't THAT time consuming or difficult! Even a relatively amateur photographer (which is giving myself a bit too much credit, lol!) can obtain something more color accurate than the Photoshop swatches!

ill kill for originality!!!

Wow! Originality is so beautiful! I always liked the idea of gold polishes but have never seen one I loved (even Gold Lamme didn't really woo me to be honest), but this one is perfect!!!!

I love the shimmer in Brown Bag

I really like Brown Bag...how does that compare to Abalone Shell from the Spring Color Forecast?

Much darker! It also has gold shimmer, and I believe Abalone Shell has more of a champagne shimmer.

Loving the first!! I think its the only thing I want from the collection.