MAC Scorching Haute Nail Lacquer ($18.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is described as a “super glitter magenta.” It’s multi-sized magenta glitter suspended in a clear base; it has very small sparkle, micro-glitter, and then larger circular glitters. Zoya Carly is darker with a blacker base and less glittery. China Glaze Senorita Bonita is purpler and less glittery. Nubar Petunia Sparkle has a blacker base. Urban Decay Xanadu is not as dense, has darker purple glitter (rather than magenta). SpaRitual Shooting Star has a blacker base and shimmer rather than glitter. It’s opaque and densely-packed with glitter in two coats–and I was a bit surprised, because one coat didn’t inspire confidence it would turn opaque, but it did. That’s actually great news, as it makes it a more versatile polish–you can layer one coat over another polish or wear this alone with two coats. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, and it applied well while the glitter spread evenly across the nail.
MAC Tropical Nail Lacquer ($18.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is described as a “super glitter bronze.” It has a chocolate brown-tinted base with copper and bronze small/medium glitter suspended in it. I wasn’t able to think of any dupes for this one, and the only shade that I considered was China Glaze Ick-a-bod-y, which is larger orange glitter in a black base. I didn’t have the same luck with this shade as I did with Scorching Haute, as this one wasn’t opaque in two coats, and the glitter did not spread evenly. It tended to stick wherever the brush first was applied, but if you pulled the brush across the nail, most of the glitter stayed at the other end. I had to push it forward for more even glitter coverage. I applied one thin coat with two thicker coats on top on my middle finger, and I was able to get more opaque color but the result is on the thicker side. The consistency was on the watery side.
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Riot Gear was only somewhat streaky on the first initial coat, but a second coat evened it out and covered any of the remaining streaks from the first coat. It was the best of the four MAC polishes I swatched yesterday. It was very nearly opaque after two coats, but at certain angles and when there was more light, there was a hint of visible nail line. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, so it applied without pooling along the edges. I usually get a week of wear out of MAC’s polishes with minor tip wear but no chipping.
It's one of the better polishes that I've swatched from the recent collections, though it is not without its downsides. At this price point, it should be better.
Product
8.5/10
Pigmentation
9.5/10
Texture
8.5/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
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Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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It’s a very spring-themed color, and mint is certainly a trendy color at the moment, too, but MAC ruins the color with an awful, streaking formula. The consistency was slightly watery, and the formula applied streaky from the first coat, but even a second coat applied with visible streaking. I even tried applying a few different ways and times, even trying three coats, but nothing made it look better (the swatches show two coats, for reference). The color coverage seemed like it would be mostly opaque if not for the streaks and watery patches. This polish did want to pool along the edges, so you really have to make sure to keep your fingertips level.
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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MAC Confectionary Nail Lacquer ($16.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is described as a “light blue pink [with a cream finish].” It’s a pale, pastel pink with a neutral-cool undertone and a creamy finish. MAC Delicate has barely-there shimmer, but it is similar. Cult Nails Enticing is slightly pinker and has white micro-shimmer. Nubar Pink Lily is a touch pinker but very close.
Streaks, ahoy! This was a troublemaker of a polish; it was all streaks and nothing but. Two coats and there was still so much visible streaking–it wasn’t just the first coat that was being difficult. The color coverage was semi-opaque, as the nail line still comes through quite a bit, even if you overlook the streaky application. It’s such a shame, because I could see someone really loving the delicate look of pale pink–and the sheerness would give it a very soft look. (Of course, it’s not described as sheer.) The consistency was just a bit watery but didn’t pool along the edges. I usually get a week of wear out of MAC’s polish with minor tip wear, which is the most consistent characteristic I’ve experienced with the polish.
It's such a shame, because I could see someone really loving the delicate look of pale pink--and the sheerness would give it a very soft look. (Of course, it's not described as sheer.)
Product
6/10
Pigmentation
8/10
Texture
8.5/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
2/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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MAC Bleu Velvet Nail Lacquer ($16.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is described as a “light periwinkle blue [with a cream finish].” It’s a dusty, bluish purple with a cream finish. Unfortunately, I couldn’t think of anything that was all that close to this shade. Zoya Caitlin is much, much darker. Zoya Skylar is a bit bluer, sparkly, and several shades darker. Neither of those two really compare to this shade.
I like the colors MAC chooses for their nail lacquers, but I am, more often than not, incredibly disappointed by the quality and application of their formula–particularly because their price point is higher (it is more expensive than their regular lipstick and eyeshadow!). If you’re going to put a more premium price tag on your polish, you have to make sure your formula is on point. I think that the bristles MAC uses for their brushes are too sharp or large. The formula wasn’t too thick or too thin, and the color coverage seems to be there–if it weren’t for the streakiness. I tried applying a thinner initial coat followed by a thicker second coat, but unfortunately, the thicker coat couldn’t cover all of the streakiness.
The color is rather unique (to me), as I don't have anything like it in my stash, but it's streaky and hard to apply as a result, because the color doesn't look even.
Product
7/10
Pigmentation
9/10
Texture
8.5/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
3/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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MAC Silly Nail Lacquer ($16.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is described as a “bright pink cream.” It’s a light-medium pink with neutral undertones–it looks almost warm-toned against my skin tone–and a cream finish. MAC Vagabondage is bluer-based. MAC Saint Germain is also bluer-based. MAC Snob is warmer and slightly darker. MAC Pinkly Fresh is cooler-toned. OCC Femme has a similar coloring but has shimmer.
This was the let down of the four polishes, because it was very streaky and milky on the nail. The first coat was extremely streaky, but a second, even thicker coat did not hide the streaking entirely. It had a thick consistency, so it made getting thinner coats difficult to do and had a tendency to pool along the edges. I had to be really careful to keep my nails level so that the polish didn’t bulge on the edges. It was mostly opaque after two coats. I typically get a week of wear with MAC’s polish formula with minor tip wear but no chipping.
This was the let down of the four polishes, because it was very streaky and milky on the nail. I felt like the bristles of the brush were really coarse/sharp and made the streaking worse.
Product
7.5/10
Pigmentation
9/10
Texture
7.5/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
3.5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
