MAC Spirit of Truth Nail Lacquer
MAC Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth
MAC Spirit of Truth Nail Lacquer ($15.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is a creamy is a deep navy blue. It has a cream finish, but when it dries down, it looks almost like pleather, because it loses a lot of its glossiness. (If you want it shiny, just add a top coat, like Seche Vite). MAC describes this shade as a “navy blue,” which is a fair assessment. Like Obey Me, this shade was plenty pigmented; it was nearly opaque in one coat, though I did two. The formula was equally as impressive as Obey Me with its creaminess and how evenly and smoothly it applied on the nail.
my thoughts on the formula: Historically, MAC doesn’t have a great reputation for their nail lacquers; in fact, some of the feedback I’ve seen on MAC’s nail lacquers mirror Chanel’s! Often interesting and different colors, but many complain of chipping or poor wear. I haven’t experienced this with MAC’s nail lacquers (or Chanel’s). MAC polishes always wear a full week for me, with no chipping, and minor tip wear. Sometimes the formula itself doesn’t lend itself to the most beautiful application, but their creams are most consistent. Spirit of Truth, however, is an exemplary shade from MAC’s polish range.
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- Product: 29/30
- Value: 7/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
final thoughts: This blue will flatter both cool and warm skin tones, because of its deep hue. It is a richly pigmented shade, too, which is always a nice find.
where to buy: MAC
MAC Obey Me Nail Lacquer
MAC Wonder Woman: Obey Me
MAC Obey Me Nail Lacquer ($15.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is a creamy, blue-based red. One of the easiest ways to determine the undertones of a red is to use it sheerly; blue-based reds often look a little pink. MAC describes this shade as a “true red,” and I think it is certainly close, because it doesn’t read cool (and certainly not warm, since it has no orange in its base), but it does have an inkling of blue in it at the very least. This shade has excellent pigmentation, almost a one-coat masterpiece, though I did two. The formula also was insanely fluid and creamy–one of MAC’s bests–it wasn’t too thick or thin, and it applied smoothly and evenly. It does dry down to an interesting finish–it’s not that glossy on its own; instead, it almost looks like pleather.
my thoughts on the formula: Historically, MAC doesn’t have a great reputation for their nail lacquers; in fact, some of the feedback I’ve seen on MAC’s nail lacquers mirror Chanel’s! Often interesting and different colors, but many complain of chipping or poor wear. I haven’t experienced this with MAC’s nail lacquers (or Chanel’s). MAC polishes always wear a full week for me, with no chipping, and minor tip wear. Sometimes the formula itself doesn’t lend itself to the most beautiful application, but their creams are most consistent. Obey Me, however, is an exemplary shade from MAC’s polish range.
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- Product: 29/30
- Value: 7/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
final thoughts: Excellent pigmentation, lovely formula, and the color is certainly something many could wear. It is, however, a red cream, and as such, if you are a nail polish collector, I don’t doubt you have something similar.
where to buy: MAC
MAC Very Important Platinum Nail Lacquer
MAC Cham-Pale: Very Important Platinum Nail Lacquer
MAC Very Important Platinum Nail Lacquer ($13.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is a a metallic pewter with silver micro-shimmer strewn it. It has a frost finish, and MAC officially describes it as a “dirty platinum.” Like Soiree, I found the finish to be much more metallic than that of a typical frost, and it has the brush strokes to prove it! Shown here with two coats, I found it impossible not to have far too many brush strokes messing up the overall look of the polish. I was disappointed in the consistency, too, which was thick and gloppy. The color is gorgeous (I love pewter anything!), but the formula itself is one of MAC’s worst in the past couple years–and I like MAC’s lacquers in general.
MAC Cham-Pale is a limited edition launch (official information and photos here) that is set to launch in-stores on December 26th in North American, January 2011 for international MAC locations. The approximate launch date for online is December 24th. It features color products as well as a few skincare items.
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- Product: 21/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 3/5
- Packaging: 4/5
RECOMMENDATION: Only if you have the patience of a saint!
AVAILABILITY: MAC Cosmetics on December 26th (U.S. stores), January 2011 (International)
MAC Soiree Nail Lacquer
MAC Cham-Pale: Soiree Nail Lacquer
MAC Soiree Nail Lacquer ($13.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is a is a bright, light bronze metallic-frost with flecks of copper shimmer-glitter. It has a frost finish, and MAC officially describes it as a “sparkly light bronze gold.” While it’s a frost finish, it is also a bit metallic. This is really pigmented–swatches are shown with just one coat–and really easy to work with. It dries down quicker than most MAC polishes. It initially reminded me of Dior’s Timeless Gold, but it’s nowhere near it–warmer, darker, bronzer. Zoya’s Austine is the closest dupe I could come up with, but the finish is quite different, and Soiree is darker.
MAC Cham-Pale is a limited edition launch (official information and photos here) that is set to launch in-stores on December 26th in North American, January 2011 for international MAC locations. The approximate launch date for online is December 24th. It features color products as well as a few skincare items.
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!
- Product: 29/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
RECOMMENDATION: This was so easy to work with, and the pigmentation was incredible. Very festive, too!
AVAILABILITY: MAC Cosmetics on December 26th (U.S. stores), January 2011 (International)
MAC Style Clan Nail Lacquer
MAC Tartan Tale: MAC Style Clan Nail Lacquer
MAC Style Clan Nail Lacquer ($13.00) is a mushroom-y brown with flecks of burnt copper glitter-shimmer. They’re flakies almost. This is such a cool polish to see from MAC, and I don’t have any dupes in my stash for this one. It did apply a little streaky, though, so I recommend using a thin initial coat, followed by a thicker secondary coat–or else two medium coats instead of the thicker second coat for a total of three coats. (I’m wearing two coats in the photos.)
It’s totally one of those “pretty ugly” kind of colors, too, because at first glance, you’re like, “oooh!” or “ewww!” and then you may flip-flop a few times on second and third glance!
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- Product: 26/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
RECOMMENDATION: If it weren’t for the slightly streaky formula (but it’s workable, just be patient), I’d give it a higher grade. I still think it’s totally worth having if you’re into collecting more unique polish shades.
AVAILABILITY: Online now, October 28th in-store
MAC Sly as a Fox Nail Lacquer
MAC Tartan Tale: MAC Sly as a Fox Nail Lacquer
MAC Sly as a Fox Nail Lacquer ($13.00) is a rich, darkened red-brown with soft ruby micro-shimmer. It’s actually quite similar to Chanel’s Rouge Fatale–though it has shimmer and is a touch browner–I’d say 85-90% similarity. There is something about red-brown shades that say sexy to me; I wonder if it’s because they have more depth and seem less commonplace than more traditional reds. Two coats for this, and the formula itself applied smoothly and evenly. The brush seemed a little wonky, more out of manufacturing than design, but it seemed a little splayed and thick.
But if you can only find room in your budget for one of the two Tartan Tale nail lacquers… wait ’til you see Style Clan!
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- Product: 28/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
RECOMMENDATION: I think it’s a nice variation on red for autumn, and if you were wanting Rouge Fatale but couldn’t stomach the $23 price tag, it’s a good alternative.
AVAILABILITY: Online now, October 28th in-store
