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MAC Chen Man Love & Water Collection: Nail Lacquers Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Nail Lacquer
MAC Breezy Blue Nail & Pinkly Fresh Nail Lacquers

MAC Chen Man Love & Water Collection: Nail Lacquers

There are two MAC Nail Lacquers ($16.00 for 0.30 fl. oz.) in the new Love & Water Collection, and they include: Breezy Blue (dark blue) and Pinkly Fresh (mid-tone blue pink).

Breezy Blue is a deep purple-tinted navy blue with a cream finish. I applied two coats (and three coats on the middle finger), but I wasn’t able to get complete opacity. Illamasqua Force is similar but a little lighter. shu uemura Bleu Splendor is darker. Deborah Lippmann I Know What Boys Like is very similar. The formula was watery and thin, so three coats is really necessary in order to eliminate visible nail line.

Pinkly Fresh is a subtly blue-based pastel pink with a cream finish. Essie French Affair is very similar, perhaps a touch lighter. The formula is so, so thick on this one. The first coat was incredibly streaky, and only when I applied a really thick second coat was I able to get a streak-free result. Because of the thicker consistency, drying time seemed longer than average. I used two coats for swatches, though the second coat was deliberately thick, and it was opaque.

I’m not keen on the formula on either of these. At this price point, the formula really needs to be immaculate or else the color out of this world to justify it. How many blue and pink creams are there on the market?

P.S. — Apologies in advance:  I’m super sick, and when I’m under the weather, my hands tend to get really dry, so they are rather tired-looking in these photos!  

MAC Chen Man Love & Water Collection: Nail Lacquers Review, Photos, Swatches

C
7
Product
8.5
Pigmentation
6
Texture
9
Longevity
3
Application
74%
Total

MAC Nail Lacquer
MAC Breezy Blue Nail & Pinkly Fresh Nail Lacquers

MAC Breezy Blue Nail Lacquer
MAC Breezy Blue Nail Lacquer

MAC Breezy Blue Nail Lacquer
MAC Breezy Blue Nail Lacquer

MAC Breezy Blue Nail Lacquer
MAC Breezy Blue Nail Lacquer

MAC Breezy Blue Nail Lacquer
MAC Breezy Blue Nail Lacquer

MAC Pinkly Fresh Nail Lacquer
MAC Pinkly Fresh Nail Lacquer

MAC Pinkly Fresh Nail Lacquer
MAC Pinkly Fresh Nail Lacquer

MAC Pinkly Fresh Nail Lacquer
MAC Pinkly Fresh Nail Lacquer

MAC Pinkly Fresh Nail Lacquer
MAC Pinkly Fresh Nail Lacquer

35 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Emily O. Avatar

Poor Christine, still doing swatches when you’re sick? No apologies necessary!

That being said, MAC has given me no reason to pay $16 for their polishes. My collector mania can’t override all the negatives here. Funny thing is, I remember when MAC polishe were innovative and well formulated. Apparently they don’t.

Lisa S. Avatar

Oh so sad! I’ve about given up on MAC polish. These colors while not unique are so super pretty and really seem to go with the collection. It’s such a disappointment. I did my nails with Style Clan the other day
(Tarten Tale) and it was the same thing, thin, streaky and almost impossible to get really good coverage without doing umpteen coats.

gabi Avatar

I’m so sick of this overflow of MAC collections. One could have a very busy blogging life just by exclusively posting and testing the zillion of collections MAC launches every year.

blkrox Avatar

You’re hands actually look lovely! These are nice shades but I agree not worth the trouble. I will check out the dupes you’ve listed though, thank you!

I hope you’re feeling better soon Christine!

Brooke S. Avatar

$16?!!? SIXTEEN DOLLARS?! I swear they raise their polish prices EVERY release. And their formula is known for being the worst. I can direct you to a nice Wet N Wild shade that’s identical to that pink. SMH.

Mel Avatar

Girl, I would have never known you were sick if you didn’t put up that disclaimer. Wishing you a speedy recovery so I can haz more things to gaga over. Also, can’t wait for an adorable Mellan pic tomorrow! Take care of yourself, we need you.

Quinctia Avatar

I swear, the shot of the bottles, the pink is noticeably watery. But it then applied thick for you, so it reminds me of a Revlon Fast Dry I had once with a contradictory consistency! (Nothing against Revlon polishes in general, but the Fast Dry formula has…issues.)

It seems like MAC’s really phoning it in on the nail polish shades on top of everything else. If you’re not going to try, why bother?

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