MAC Quite Cute: Overall & Recommendations

OVERALL, Quite Cute is a cool-toned, pastel-themed collection that will prove tricky for those with warmer and/or darker complexions.  The lipsticks, nail lacquers, and plushglasses are the better products from the collection, based on quality, with Playing Koi being a total miss within the lipsticks launched (very dry, clingy texture).  Plushglasses are relatively sheer, as designed to be, and so they’re easier to wear and more suitable across skin tones than some of the other products from Quite Cute.  I found the mineralize blushes from this launch rather powdery, and combined with the pastel color palette, the blush can easily look more powdery and almost ashy on medium to dark complexions.

On the surface, Quite Cute is reminiscent of Sugarsweet, but this launch lacks balance.  Too many pastels, too many cool-toned colors without brighter, warmer, or contrasting colors to support the color palette of Quite Cute.  This collection will best suit those with paler skin tones, because pigmentation is lower overall, and then naturally, cooler undertones will find this more flattering than warmer skin tones.  Please understand that by no means am I saying warmer or medium/dark skin tones cannot wear this collection–but you may find it less flattering right out of the box and need to figure out how to pair it and with what–most likely products outside of the collection.  I’m a firm believer in anyone can wear any color–it’s about having confidence and how you wear it that matters.

If you love pastels, I think you may still like this collection–but the quality seems lower here and makes this a less-than-impressive collection.

Photos, Reviews, Swatches

• Blushes: Giggly, Miss Behave, Sakura
• Cutie Eyeshadow Quad
• Lip Pencils
• Lipsticks
• Nail Lacquers
• Plushglasses
• Video Review

Check out recommendations, what to check your stash for, what to skip, and recommendations by skin tone!

Temptalia’s Recommendations

must-haves: In Synch lip pencil

nice-to-haves: Candy Yum Yum, Playtime lipstick

skip: Cutie Eyeshadow Quad (poor quality)

Check your stash for…

SAINT GERMAIN (permanent), BOLDLY BARE (repromote)
IN SYNC (repromote)
NAKED (repromote).

Skip if you have…

• Skip I LOVE U if you have EVER SO RICH; the former is slightly more pigmented but they are similar.
• Skip PLAYTIME if you have STYLE CURVE; though slightly different, they are comparable enough.
• Skip LITTLE GIRL TYPE if you have CHINA GLAZE LIGHT AS AIR; they’re very similar.

Recommendations by Skin Tone

Please note that this section is merely suggesting shades that would complement a particular skin tone better than other shades, but these lists are meant to be rather exhaustive of the entire collection; it’s not reflective of must-haves for your skin tone or products recommended to purchase at all. When it comes to cooler/warmer skin tones, these are products that lean noticeably cool/warm and therefore complement the corresponding skin tone better (but it does not mean you can’t wear a warmer product if you’re cooler!).

• light skin tones: Playing Koi, Saint Germain, Quite Cute lipsticks; Girl Loves Boy, I Love You plushglasses; Cutie Eyeshadow Quad; Sakura blush
• medium skin tones: Giggly blush;
• dark skin tones: Giggly blush
• cool undertones: Saint Germain, Quite Cute lipsticks; Girl Loves Boy, I Love You plushglasses; Cutie Eyeshadow Quad; Sakura blush; Ice Cream Cake, Little Girl Type, Mischievous nail lacquers;
• warm undertones: Giggly blush; Mischievous nail lacquer;
• universally flattering shades: Candy Yum Yum, Play Time lipsticks; Miss Behave blush; Bubble Tea, Fashion Fanatic plushglasses; Boldly Bare, In Sync, Naked lip pencils;

MAC Quite Cute Collection: Video Review

Not just first impressions but a video review, since I filmed this after swatching/reviewing 70% of the collection and could speak more deeply about the products.

MAC Quite Cute:  Plushglass

MAC Quite Cute Plushglass ($18.50 for 0.14 fl. oz.) include four new and limited edition shades from the upcoming collection, which launches in-stores on April 7th. The four shades include: Bubble Tea (creamy pale nude), I Love U (creamy mid-tone purple), Fashion Fanatic (creamy pale pink), and Girl Love Boy (bright light blue pink).

• Bubble Tea is a semi-sheer peach beige with soft white micro-shimmer.  It seems like it would be similar to Big Baby.  (Note:  this looks pinker/redder  on my lips, because my lips were reacting to the plumping ingredient in the formula.)
• I Love U is a semi-sheer, pink-tinged lilac with soft white micro-shimmer. It’s a bit milky, though it doesn’t settle into lip lines too badly.  It seems similar to Ever So Rich, which was limited edition.
• Fashion Fanatic is a sheer, pale yellow-based pink with white shimmer. On my lips, it doesn’t add much color, just adds glossiness and shimmer. Any clear gloss with shimmer will dupe this.
• Girl Loves Boy is a semi-opaque, blue-based cotton candy pink with a cream finish. I hurried through the swatching of this, but I did try to even it out, since it moves around and will push and pull in places. It has some milkiness to it, so it will settle into lip lines. This is the most pigmented shade of the four. It’s more pigmented than Fashion Scoop but paler than Right Image.

my thoughts on the formula: MAC Plushglass is heavily vanilla scented (sweeter and more potent than any other MAC lip product I’ve come across) and is a plumping gloss. These seemed to have a much stronger plumping factor (because I couldn’t wear them, see below) than I remember them having, but it has been years since I have tried one. Plushglass is non-sticky and tends to be sheer to semi-sheer. The texture is not quite as creamy as Cremesheen Glass but reminiscent of them.

I cannot wear Plushglass. It causes an allergic reaction (you can actually see how my lips are turning splotchy), so I swatched these as quickly as I could, so they are a bit messy — my lips were already splotchy just from doing one swatch, but I know that without lip swatches the post would be worthless. It is a bit weird, because previously, I don’t remember having problems wearing Plushglass and considered it a rather mild plumping formula (I actually remember not feeling any tingle before), but whether my reaction has changed or these are more potent, that is no longer the case for me.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Quite Cute Plushglass in Bubble Tea and I Love U

MAC Quite Cute Plushglass in Bubble Tea and I Love U

MAC Quite Cute Plushglass in Bubble Tea and I Love U

MAC Quite Cute Plushglass in Bubble Tea and I Love U

MAC Quite Cute Plushglass in Bubble Tea and I Love U

MAC Bubble Tea Plushglass

MAC Bubble Tea Plushglass

MAC I Love U Plushglass

MAC I Love U Plushglass

Fashion Fanatic, Girl Loves Boy

Fashion Fanatic, Girl Loves Boy

Fashion Fanatic, Girl Loves Boy

Fashion Fanatic, Girl Loves Boy

MAC Fashion Fanatic Plushglass

MAC Fashion Fanatic Plushglass

MAC Girl Loves Boy Plushglass

MAC Girl Loves Boy Plushglass

MAC Quite Cute Lipstick Swatches, Photos, Reviews

MAC Quite Cute Lipsticks ($14.50 for 0.10 oz.) feature four shades new and limited edition shades, plus one repromote (Saint Germain). The shades included are: Candy Yum-Yum (matte neon pink), Quite Cute (creamy bright whitened lavender), Saint Germain (clean pastel pink), Playing Koi (creamy white peach pink), and Playtime (creamy intense violet).

• Candy Yum-Yum is a neon, magenta pink with a matte finish. It’s nearly glowing in its brightness. On me, the blue undertones seem to be pulled out. I feel like I’ve seen this color, but whenever I compare it to a possible dupe, it isn’t pink enough (purpler instead). It’s pinker than Madly Magenta cream colour base (from Stylishly Yours, ’10). It is surprisingly creamy and not at all clingy for a matte. The closest I found was Petals & Peacocks, which is several degrees brighter (Give Me Liberty of London, ’10).
• Quite Cute is a semi-opaque pale lavender with a semi-glossy finish. It has a cremesheen finish, and it has the same texture, but the finish seems glossier to me. It’s a paler, sheerer version of Blooming Lovely (Give Me Liberty of London, ’10). Pinker than Lavender Whip.  On cooler skin tones, this is easier to work with, while warmer skin tones may want to pair with a more pigmented lipstick/gloss.
• Saint Germain is a really pale, cool-toned pink that is blue-based. It’s been released several times, and you can see an older swatch here. It is best suited for those with cooler skin tones. The closest permanent dupe is Snob, but I believe this was mad epermanent last year.
• Playing Koi is an opaque pinky peach with a satin finish. Honestly, this lipstick looked like garbage on my lips–it highlighted every single imperfection and amplified them ten-fold. I exfoliate my lips every few days, and for reference, I exfoliated right before doing this swatch! The color itself is like Angel and Hue had a baby.
• Playtime is a semi-sheer magenta purple with soft sheen and shimmer. It has a cremesheen finish. It’s similar to Style Curve (from Stylishly Yours), but this is purpler, less fuchsia.

my thoughts on the formula: MAC Lipsticks are vanilla-scented but taste-free. I typically get four hours of wear, but some of the lighter lustre and glaze finishes tend to disappear by hour three. Amplified cremes and amplified finishes, however, tend to go beyond four. I find the formula comfortable to wear and not drying (but not moisturizing–a couple of the matte shades can be drying).

The Glossover

	MAC Quite Cute Lipstick Swatches, Photos, Reviews B-
	They act and feel like your average MAC lipstick (according to its finish). Actually, the matte finish of Candy Yum-Yum was surprisingly comfortable (and not at all matte-like). Playing Koi’s texture brings out the imperfections of the lips and makes them look dry, even though it does not feel like a particularly dry lipstick.
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 7/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 3.5/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Quite Cute Lipsticks in Candy Yum-Yum and Quite Cute

MAC Quite Cute Lipsticks in Candy Yum-Yum and Quite Cute

MAC Quite Cute Lipsticks in Candy Yum-Yum and Quite Cute

MAC Quite Cute Lipsticks in Candy Yum-Yum and Quite Cute

MAC Quite Cute Lipsticks in Candy Yum-Yum and Quite Cute

MAC Candy Yum-Yum Lipstick

MAC Candy Yum-Yum Lipstick

MAC Quite Cute Lipstick

MAC Quite Cute Lipstick

MAC Matte Lipstick

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick

MAC Satin Lipstick

Playing Koi, Playtime

Playtime, Playing Koi

Playing Koi, Playtime

MAC Playing Koi Lipstick

MAC Playing Koi Lipstick

MAC Playtime Lipstick

MAC Playtime Lipstick

MAC Quite Cute Collection: Nail Lacquers

MAC Quite Cute Collection ($14.00 for 0.4 fl. oz.) features three light shades of limited edition nail lacquer. They include: Ice Cream Cake (creamy blue pink), Little Girl Type (creamy pale lavender), and Mischievous Mint (creamy pale blue mint).

• Ice Cream Cake is a darkened cotton candy pink with a strong blue base with a cream finish. I used two coats. It is similar to Essie’s Splash of Grenandine–slightly more blue-based.
• Little Girl Type is a light lavender with a cream finish. I used two coats. It is similar to China Glaze’s Light as Air.
• Mischievous Mint is a bluish mint green with a cream finish. I used two coats. It is bluer but similar in lightness to China Glaze’s Re-Fresh Mint. This is much, much lighter than last year’s Peppermint Patti, and it is a blue-based mint green.

my thoughts on the formula: The consistency was thick but watery–not terribly so, but noteworthy nonetheless. I used two coats on all, because it was difficult to get thin to medium-thin coats because of how the brush splayed out. In all three polishes, the bristles of each brush were a bit wonky, which made it more difficult to get really clean, even coats. I recommend being patient, because the slight wateriness in the formula will cause streaking if you apply before the coat dries down.

The Glossover

	MAC Quite Cute Nail Lacquers Swatches, Photos, Review B-
	The formula wasn't too difficult to work with, but it could be improved. Make sure you roll these before applying, because these definitely needed some mixing to minimize the watery consistency.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 8/10 Texture 7.5/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 3.5/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

Ice Cream Cake, Little Girl Type, Mischievous Mint

Ice Cream Cake, Little Girl Type, Mischievous Mint

Ice Cream Cake, Little Girl Type, Mischievous Mint

MAC Ice Cream Cake Nail Lacquer

MAC Ice Cream Cake Nail Lacquer

MAC Ice Cream Cake Nail Lacquer

MAC Ice Cream Cake Nail Lacquer

MAC Little Girl Type Nail Lacquer

MAC Little Girl Type Nail Lacquer

MAC Little Girl Type Nail Lacquer

MAC Little Girl Type Nail Lacquer

MAC Mischievous Mint Nail Lacquer

MAC Mischievous Mint Nail Lacquer

MAC Mischievous Mint Nail Lacquer

MAC Mischievous Mint Nail Lacquer

MAC Quite Cute Collection: Giggly Mineralize Blush

MAC Giggly Mineralize Blush ($23.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a new and limited edition duo-toned blusher from MAC’s Quite Cute Collection, which will launch in-stores on April 7th. It’s described as a “light pink with pearly plum heart.” The outer color is a darkened bubblegum pink with subtle blue undertones, while the heart itself is a frosted berry plum. When swirled together, the result is a heavily pinked plum with a soft, frosted sheen.

The Glossover

	MAC Giggly Mineralize Blush Swatches, Photos, Review C+
	The pigmentation on Giggly was the best out of the three mineralize blushes, and while it, too, was powdery, it did not sheer out too much when applied, which was an issue the other two had.
	Product 7.5/10 Pigmentation 8/10 Texture 7.5/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Giggly Mineralize Blush

MAC Giggly Mineralize Blush

MAC Giggly Mineralize Blush

MAC Giggly Mineralize Blush

MAC Giggly Mineralize Blush

MAC Giggly Mineralize Blush

MAC Giggly Mineralize Blush

MAC Giggly Mineralize Blush