MAC Tartan Tale: 5 Naughty Little Vices Nail Lacquer

This year, MAC has created a miniature set of nail lacquers, which includes two new (and exclusive) shades as well as three repromotes. The set itself is limited edition.

This includes: Asiatique (creamy classic red), Beyond Jealous (blackened blue green), Nocturnelle (black-as-night black), Vice is Nice (classic metallic gold), and Vintage Vamp (deep black wine).

• Asiatique is a bright, cherry red cream. It applied opaque in two coats, and it went rather smoothly–not streaky at all. This is a repromote.
• Beyond Jealous is a green-teal tinged black cream. This applied rather streakily; I needed three coats to get an even, smooth look. I think three coats was necessary just to achieve total opacity, too. This looks rather black regardless of the lighting, though. This is a repromote.
• Nocturnelle is a dark black cream. Three coats. It’s come out a few times before.
• Vice is Nice is a shimmering lightened gold with soft yellow tones. The finish looks like a metallic frost to me. It did need a full three coats to get an opaque result, and you can see some brush strokes. It is golder than China Glaze Midnight Kiss.
• Vintage Vamp is a deep burgundy-red cream. Like several of the other shades, I did need three coats for this, and the first two layers applied on the streakier side.

Each vial contains 2.5g/0.09 oz., while a full-size polish contains 0.34 oz. There is a total of 0.45 oz. worth of polish in the set, which is just under a polish and a half worth of product. MAC’s Nail Lacquer retails for $38.24/oz., while this set works out to be $56.67/oz.  I would expect a bit more given the price tag.

Given some of the application issues and the overall uniqueness of the colors (low), I don’t know if this would be the best introduction to MAC’s nail lacquers or even a great deal. MAC has done some really interesting shades, but this set does not include those. A black, red, and dark red cream just feel too standard. There’s no reason to settle for streakier, less pigmented formulas at this price point when competitors in this price range do it better. Just from the quality issues I had, it’s not a must-have based on my experience.

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• Product: 24/30
• Value: 7/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: The formula on these is just so-so; the majority needed three coats, and a couple had streaky application.

AVAILABILITY: MAC

See more photos & swatches!

Nail Lacquer: Asiatique, Beyond Jealous, Nocturnelle, Vice is Nice, Vintage Vamp

Nail Lacquer: Asiatique, Beyond Jealous, Nocturnelle, Vice is Nice, Vintage Vamp

Nail Lacquer: Asiatique, Beyond Jealous, Nocturnelle, Vice is Nice, Vintage Vamp

MAC Asiatique Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Asiatique Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Asiatique Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Asiatique Nail Lacquer (Flash)

MAC Beyond Jealous Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Beyond Jealous Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Beyond Jealous Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Beyond Jealous Nail Lacquer (Flash)

MAC Nocturnelle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Nocturnelle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Nocturnelle Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Nocturnelle Nail Lacquer (Flash)

MAC Vice is Nice Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Vice is Nice Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Vice is Nice Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Vice is Nice Nail Lacquer (Flash)

MAC Vintage Vamp Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Vintage Vamp Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Vintage Vamp Nail Lacquer (Natural Light)

MAC Vintage Vamp Nail Lacquer (Flash)