mac dazzlespheres collection

Video Review: MAC Dazzlespheres First Impressions & Swatches

We’re going through MAC’s Dazzlespheres collection, which features lipgloss kits, pigment sets, and even a mini nail set!  First impressions/thoughts along with live swatches!

MAC Pink Lip Dazzlesphere

MAC Pink Lip Dazzlesphere for Holiday 2011

The third (and last!) lip kit we’re looking at is MAC’s Pink Lip Dazzlesphere ($32.50 for 2 x 0.07 oz., 2 x 0.09 oz.), which includes: Fashion Scoop (clear pink), Petite Indulgence (mid-tone bright blue pink), Like Venus (clean light bubblegum pink with red pearl), and Rags to Riches (plummy pink with red pearlized pigments).

The Cremesheen Glasses are listed as 0.07 oz. each, while the Dazzleglasses are listed as 0.09 oz. each (and I specifically say each, because this is how it is labeled). What is noteworthy about that is that full-sized Cremesheen Glasses are 0.09 oz. while full-sized Dazzleglasses are only 0.06 oz. The tubes feel thicker but are definitely shorter than full-sized Cremesheen Glasses/Dazzleglasses, although the clear plastic seems wider/thicker in the kit glosses. The area that contains the gloss seems slightly wider, maybe, but barely. I would hope that those sizes listed are accurate, and if that is indeed the case, then each kit contains $28.78 worth of Cremesheen Glass and $55.50 worth of Dazzleglass. That is a whopping $84.28 worth of lipgloss for $32.50.

• Fashion Scoop is a sheer, milky pale pink with white micro-shimmer. This shade is part of the permanent range. It’s sheerer than The Wee Coquette.
• Petite Indulgence is a cool-toned, blue-based bubblegum pink with a creamy finish. It has semi-sheer color that adds a faira mount of pink to my natural lip color. This shade is a repromote. It’s a way sheerer version of MAC Sassy Lassy.
• Like Venus is a clear gloss with pink and silver micro-glitter. It is similar to a lot of other sheer lipglosses. This shade is part of the permanent range.
• Rags to Riches is a heavily pink glittered gloss with multi-colored micro-glitter. It has a very subtle pink-brown base. It’s part of the permanent range. MAC Tad Saucy is similar.

Cremesheen Glass is a formula that glides onto the lips easily, feels comfortable without being thin or thick, and tends to be on the sheerer side in color. It’s non-sticky (as compared to Lipglass, which is very thick and sticky), and it typically wears two hours or so on me before wearing away. They also tend to be creamier colors, rather than packed with shimmer. Dazzleglasses have a medium-thick consistency with micro-glitter and shimmer. They tend to be sheerer in color with more oomph coming from the dazzle than the base color. They tend to last two to three hours on me and tend to get tacky over time.

The Glossover

	MAC Pink Lip Dazzlesphere Review, Photos, Swatches B
	Both Cremesheen Glasses and Dazzleglasses are designed to be sheerer formulas, so if you like sheer gloss or glosses for layering, these are ideal. With the listed gloss sizes, these are an incredible value.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Neutral Lip Dazzlesphere

MAC Neutral Lip Dazzlesphere for Holiday 2011

The second lip kit we’re looking at is MAC’s Neutral Lip Dazzlesphere ($32.50 for 2 x 0.07 oz., 2 x 0.09 oz.), which includes: Boy Bait (light neutral beige with pearl), Over Indulgence (neutral brown), Bare Necessity (caramel apricot with red and gold pearlized pigments), and Get Rich Quick (warm yellow brown). All of the shades included this kit are part of the permanent range.

The Cremesheen Glasses are listed as 0.07 oz. each, while the Dazzleglasses are listed as 0.09 oz. each (and I specifically say each, because this is how it is labeled). What is noteworthy about that is that full-sized Cremesheen Glasses are 0.09 oz. while full-sized Dazzleglasses are only 0.06 oz. The tubes feel thicker but are definitely shorter than full-sized Cremesheen Glasses/Dazzleglasses, although the clear plastic seems wider/thicker in the kit glosses. The area that contains the gloss seems slightly wider, maybe, but barely. I would hope that those sizes listed are accurate, and if that is indeed the case, then each kit contains $28.78 worth of Cremesheen Glass and $55.50 worth of Dazzleglass. That is a whopping $84.28 worth of lipgloss for $32.50.

• Boy Bait is a pink-beige nude with very subtle, fine silver-white shimmer. It has a milky appearance but is so light that the settling in the lip lines isn’t that noticeable. This is a permanent shade. It’s similar to Estee Lauder Star Pink.
• Over Indulgence is a neutral coral-brown with subtle white micro-shimmer. It has some color coverage, which is unusual for this formula. This is a permanent shade. Urban Decay Heavy is similar but less coral.
• Bare Necessity is a dirty peach-brown with pink and silver micro-glitter. It brings out the pink tones in my natural lip color but mostly adds shine and shimmer. This is a permanent shade. When I first swatched this, it seemed a little darker than what I remembered the shade being, and it actually is a step darker. It’s similar to Chanel Aragonite.
• Get Rich Quick is a medium-dark, orange-toned brown with gold sparkle. This is a permanent shade. MAC Bright & Perky is a bit darker and browner.

Cremesheen Glass is a formula that glides onto the lips easily, feels comfortable without being thin or thick, and tends to be on the sheerer side in color. It’s non-sticky (as compared to Lipglass, which is very thick and sticky), and it typically wears two hours or so on me before wearing away. They also tend to be creamier colors, rather than packed with shimmer. Dazzleglasses have a medium-thick consistency with micro-glitter and shimmer. They tend to be sheerer in color with more oomph coming from the dazzle than the base color. They tend to last two to three hours on me and tend to get tacky over time.

The Glossover

	MAC Neutral Lip Dazzlesphere Review, Photos, Swatches B
	Both Cremesheen Glasses and Dazzleglasses are designed to be sheerer formulas, so if you like sheer gloss or glosses for layering, these are ideal. With the listed gloss sizes, these are an incredible value.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Coral Lip Dazzlesphere

MAC Coral Lip Dazzlesphere for Holiday 2011

There are three lip kits this holiday season, and the first one we’re looking at is MAC’s Coral Lip Dazzlesphere ($32.50 for 2 x 0.07 oz., 2 x 0.09 oz.), which includes: On the Scene (light coral beige), Richer, Lusher (peach coral), Eurobeat (peach coral with gold pearl), and Phiff! (yellow pink with red and sapphire pearl).

The Cremesheen Glasses are listed as 0.07 oz. each, while the Dazzleglasses are listed as 0.09 oz. each (and I specifically say each, because this is how it is labeled). What is noteworthy about that is that full-sized Cremesheen Glasses are 0.09 oz. while full-sized Dazzleglasses are only 0.06 oz. The tubes feel thicker but are definitely shorter than full-sized Cremesheen Glasses/Dazzleglasses, although the clear plastic seems wider/thicker in the kit glosses. The area that contains the gloss seems slightly wider, maybe, but barely. I would hope that those sizes listed are accurate, and if that is indeed the case, then each kit contains $28.78 worth of Cremesheen Glass and $55.50 worth of Dazzleglass. That is a whopping $84.28 worth of lipgloss for $32.50.

• On the Scene is a milky peach-tinted beige with very subtle white shimmer. It’s sheer in color and does settle a bit into lip lines. MAC C-Thru is thicker, more opaque, and a bit less warm-toned. It’s also similar to Fashion Whim. This shade is a repromote but not part of the permanent range.
• Richer, Lusher is a soft, pink-coral with a creamy finish and very subtle shimmer (barely noticeable). It’s semi-sheer on lips. It is part of the permanent range. Chanel Genie is much more orange.
• Eurobeat adds a sheer layer of coral warmth rather than color along with a lot of gold shimmer. This shade is a repromote but not part of the permanent range. It looks like any number of gold-shimmered sheer glosses.
• Phiff! is a sheer, nearly colorless, shade with silver and soft red shimmer. This shade is a repromote but not part of the permanent range. It resembles silver-shimmered sheer glosses.

Cremesheen Glass is a formula that glides onto the lips easily, feels comfortable without being thin or thick, and tends to be on the sheerer side in color. It’s non-sticky (as compared to Lipglass, which is very thick and sticky), and it typically wears two hours or so on me before wearing away. They also tend to be creamier colors, rather than packed with shimmer. Dazzleglasses have a medium-thick consistency with micro-glitter and shimmer. They tend to be sheerer in color with more oomph coming from the dazzle than the base color. They tend to last two to three hours on me and tend to get tacky over time.

The Glossover

	MAC Coral Lip Dazzlesphere Review, Photos, Swatches B
	Both Cremesheen Glasses and Dazzleglasses are designed to be sheerer formulas, so if you like sheer gloss or glosses for layering, these are ideal. With the listed gloss sizes, these are an incredible value.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →

MAC Petite Nail Lacquer Dazzlesphere

MAC Petite Nail Lacquer Dazzlesphere

You’ll find four miniature-sized polishes in MAC’s Petite Nail Lacquer Dazzlesphere ($25.50 for 4 x 0.09 fl. oz.), and the shades include: Much Adored (sheer white pink with pearl), Style Tip (soft pink nude), Dark Angel (goth romantic dark lilac), and Mistletoe (pale gold). Of these, Dark Angel is a repromote, but the other three are new. The set is limited edition, as are all of the other sets from the collection.

• Much Adored is a pale white gold with gold and pink shimmer. As noted in the description, it’s sheer, and I used two coats for swatches; you can still see plenty of visible nail line but there is a healthy dose of shimmer and shine. It’s a warmer sheer, so it helps warm up the natural nail color. It’s less opaque and has different colored shimmer compared to Chanel Pearl Drop. The shimmer in Much Adored looks coppery compared to Essie Kisses & Bisses, which looks pinker.
• Style Tip is a light-medium nude with a hint of pink and cream finish. I used two coats for opaque color. MAC Hangin’ Loose is warmer and more peach-based. Zoya Pandora is closer but has subtle shimmer.
• Dark Angel is a purple-berry cream. I used two coats for swatches, and it was nearly opaque. China Glaze Urban Night is in the same color family but much, much darker.
• Mistletoe is a tarnished gold with a green-tint with a metallic finish. Brush strokes are visible in the finish. I used two coats for opaque color. It looks just like MAC Immortal Gold.

Dark Angel was rather streaky on the first coat, and the second coat seemed to have a touch of streakiness, still. For such a dark cream, I would have expected a more trouble-free application, but it wasn’t bad–just average. Mistletoe was on the thicker side yet a little runny. It flows decently over the nail, and it doesn’t seem too gloppy, but it wasn’t perfect. It didn’t seem as bad as Immortal Gold, even though the two are very, very similar (and the timing is conicidental!). Much Adored and Style Tip didn’t have any application issues. I typically get a week of wear without chipping, just minor tip wear, with MAC’s lacquer formula.

The Glossover

	MAC Petite Nail Lacquer Dazzlesphere Review, Photos, Swatches B
	The kit is a good mix of colors without anything being too traditionally holiday-themed. Two of the four have nice formulas, while two are less-than-nice but not terrible. The smaller bottle will be harder to use for those with longer fingers/larger hands.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 3.5/5
	Where to Buy
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MAC Smoky Blue Crushed Metallic Pigment Kit

MAC Dazzlesphere Smoky Blue Crushed Metallic Pigment Kit

MAC Smoky Blue Crushed Metallic Pigment Kit ($32.50 for 0.40 oz.) is the last pigment kit from MAC Dazzlesphere. It contains four shades: White as Snow (snowy white), Silver Sleet (medium gray), Wintersky (purple blue), and Dark Moon (charcoal). Crushed Metallic Pigments are described as having “intense colour payoff” with “medium coverage” and “highly reflective metallic sparkle.” They are “creamy, crease-resistant, [and] long-wearing.”

• White as Snow is a silver-tinged white with a very chunky, metallic finish. I had similar issues with this shade as I did with Light Violet. Despite pressing the color against the skin, I could not get it to fully smooth out and bind, so there was some loose product prone to fall out, plus sheerness in both the dry and damp applications. It reminded me of Chanel Fantasme.
• Silver Sleet is a darkened gray with a brighter, metallic silver sheen. It has great color payoff whether applied dry or wet. Inglot #448 is less metallic and a bit lighter.
• Wintersky is a purple-tinted blue with silver sparkle and shimmer. It’s fairly sheer and muted when applied dry and picks up intensity when applied damp. MAC Royale is a bit bluer.
• Dark Moon is a charcoal black with lots of silver sparkle. This isn’t a shade I’d advocate using dry, because the sparkle is chunky enough that it doesn’t completely meld with the base color without some dampness. When it’s applied damp, the sparkle adheres and mixes better with the underlying color. The color payoff when it’s applied dry is slightly sheerer. It reminded me of Chanel Mirifique but less black. Bobbi Brown Black Sparkle has more multi-colored shimmer.

In my experience, these pigments wear well as long as you ensure you’ve really “crushed” them against the skin/lid. I’ve worn them with and without a base and the difference is minimal. There is some noticeable but relatively minor fading after eight hours when applied without a base (or mixing medium). For more on how they wear, please see this post where I went in-depth on that particular characteristic.

White as Snow was problematic with a chunkiness in the overall sparkle that made it difficult to apply smoothly and gave it reason to get everywhere. Wintersky is a more unique color but could use a little more oomph in pigmentation. Dark Moon may have some fall out when applied dry (without a sticky base), so have a care or else use it wet. Silver Sleet was the best performing shade of the four, because it was intensely pigmented both dry and wet and applied smooth as butter with little effort. Generally, the finishes are extremely frosted, metallic-like, and add a lot of oomph to a look–but they may be better when mixed and matched with other finishes (like mattes) for more textural contrast as all of these at once can almost look heavy on the eye.

The Glossover

	MAC Smoky Blue Crushed Metallic Pigment Kit Review, Photos, Swatches B-
	White as Snow was problematic with a chunkiness in the overall sparkle that made it difficult to apply smoothly and gave it reason to get everywhere. Wintersky could use a little more oomph in pigmentation, while Dark Moon may have some fall out when applied dry. Silver Sleet was the best performing shade of the four, because it was intensely pigmented both dry and wet and applied smooth as butter with little effort.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 3.5/5
	Where to Buy
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