MAC Nutcracker Sweet Gold Pigments & Glitter Kit Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Gold Pigments & Glitter Kit
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Gold Pigments & Glitter Kit ($35.00 for 0.28 oz.) contains two Pigments and two Glitters. I don’t think this set is worth it unless you’ll use the Glitters included. MAC’s Glitter formula, while it might say it can be used alone, needs an adhesive companion product to function well, and it isn’t eye safe.
MAC Pigment is supposed to have “buildable coverage” with “rich colour” and a long-wearing formula. MAC’s Pigments have more to them that really helps the powder blend and bind together, so they can be used dry or damp but do not need a primer or mixing medium to function. I tend to get eight-hour wear with most shades, and most shades are medium to opaque dry and fully opaque damp. The more finely-milled, almost satin-like in feel, shades tend to be a bit sheerer overall.
MAC Glitter is supposed to have a “high-level sparkle effect” that can be used on face, body, and hair (but it “not recommended for use around eyes”) and “applied directly to the skin or combined with [other] products.” They really can’t be used on their own, because it is just loose glitter, so without using some other product, it gets everywhere and doesn’t stay where you’ve applied it. It can work using an adhesive base or primer (Too Faced Glitter Insurance, Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy, etc.). I don’t love that the Glitters are included in holiday kits, because they are listed as “not eye-safe.” I would rather four eye-safe Pigments. Since MAC did state that they can be applied directly to skin, I tested them on cheeks. The swatches are over Too Faced Glitter Insurance, which is an adhesive base.
Value
- Pigment: $22.00 for 0.15 oz. or $146.67/oz.
- Glitter: $22.00 for 0.15 oz. or $146.67/oz.
- Set Values: $23.47 worth of Pigment, $17.60 worth of Glitter
- Total Value: $41.07
* Note: Some pigments are sold as “Sized to Go,” which are priced at $10.00 for 0.09 oz. or $111.11/oz. I normally use the price per ounce of full sized products to determine value, but I wanted to point out that mini Pigments are also available (and are, oddly, a better value, by price per ounce, than full size).
English Gilt is a light-medium, golden brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had semi-sheer color coverage applied dry and mostly opaque coverage applied damp. It was really easy to work with on the lid, as the consistency was soft, smooth, and adhered well to bare skin and blended out nicely along the edges. The color started to crease after eight hours of wear. Colour Pop Reversible (LE, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar). Too Faced Tickle Me (LE, $16.00) is lighter (90% similar). Colour Pop Sparkler (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery (90% similar). MAC Permanent Press #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Dior Smoky Sequins #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (90% similar). NARS Himalia (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #2 (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). Natasha Denona Nude (P, $28.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). Urban Decay Chase (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Too Faced After Hours (LE, $16.00) is darker (85% similar). Urban Decay Zap (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, more muted (90% similar). Laura Mercier Moonlight (PiP, $28.00) is less shimmery, more muted (85% similar). Benefit Thanks a Latte (P, $20.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Urban Decay Dirtysweet (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, more muted (85% similar). Gucci Beauty Starlight (DC, $37.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (85% similar). bareMinerals Cognac (PiP, ) is darker (80% similar). Colour Pop Board Shorts (P, $4.50) is darker (80% similar). bareMinerals Stay Golden (LE, $14.00) is less shimmery, darker (80% similar). Dior Fire (584) (P, $29.50) is darker, more muted (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Heritage Rouge is a deep plum with warm, red undertones and a pearly sheen. It had medium color coverage applied dry, which was buildable to more opaque coverage with two to three layers. When I applied it with a damp brush, it was fully opaque. The powder had a soft, smooth texture that applied well to bare skin and blended out with ease. This shade wore well for nine hours on me. This shade is available individually. Estee Lauder Bordeaux (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). Colour Pop Static (LE, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Seductive Rose #4 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar). Make Up For Ever D826 Fig (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Anastasia Rosette (P, $12.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Kat Von D Queen (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar). Anastasia Pink Sapphire (LE, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar). Inglot #452 (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Melt Cosmetics Sleep Walk (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Makeup Geek Burlesque (DC, $6.00) is warmer (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Just Stay (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). Makeup Geek Enchanted (P, $12.00) is warmer (90% similar). MAC Frock Talk (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, more muted (90% similar). MAC Plummed (LE, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Sleek MakeUP A Vow in Venice (LE, $9.99) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Velvet (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Gucci Beauty Autumn Fire #3 (DC, ) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Brazenly (LE, $17.00) is darker (90% similar). Colour Pop Babykins (LE, $6.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Hidden Motive (LE, $17.00) is cooler (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Gold is a light-medium gold with warm undertones. It had light-to-medium sized glitters, and as a result, it really was only functional with an adhesive base or primer–it just sheered out and would move around on the skin otherwise. Milani Golden Eyes (LE, $4.99) is less shimmery (95% similar). MAC Gilt Gourmet (DC, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Colour Pop El Capitan (-, ) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Put U on Gold (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). Colour Pop Early Mornin' (-, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Goldmine (P, $12.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Too Faced Lemon Zest (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Stila Wanderlust (P, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Stargazer (P, $20.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Chanel Vision (LE, $32.00) is less shimmery (85% similar). Makeup Geek Asteroid (P, $12.00) is lighter (85% similar). Lit Cosmetics Rich & Famous (P, $12.95) is more shimmery (90% similar). Colour Pop Outside the Lines (-, $8.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Lit Cosmetics Beach Baby (P, $12.95) is less shimmery (85% similar). Stila Gold Goddess (P, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (80% similar). Urban Decay Oz #1 (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Reflects Rust is a bright, medium-dark reddish copper with warm, orange undertones and a mix of finer and moderately fine glitter and sparkle. The Reflects range is a more finely-milled type of glitter, so they are easier to use, particularly if your aim is more even, opaque coverage. It still needed an adhesive base to perform with any longevity, though. Colour Pop Hard to Empress (LE, $7.00) is darker, more muted, cooler (90% similar). MAC Flame-boyant (PiP, $17.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Coloured Raine Love Love (LE, $6.99) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Fenty Beauty Mars on Fire (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). Chanel Ãclat Ãnigmatique #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Tarte Iguana Love You (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Pat McGrath Crimson Fire (DC, $25.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Colour Pop Our Secret (LE, $4.50) is lighter (85% similar). Lit Cosmetics Heartbreaker (P, $12.95) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Dose of Colors Sizzle (P, $20.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Lit Cosmetics Glittergasm (P, $12.95) is cooler (85% similar). Huda Beauty Fling (LE, ) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty TFX15 (LE, $36.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). MAC Reigning Riches (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, more muted (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Gold
LELimited Edition. $35.00.
English Gilt
LELimited Edition. $21.00.
Heritage Rouge
PiPPermanent in Palette. $21.00.
Gold
PPermanent. $21.00.
Reflects Rust
PPermanent. $21.00.
* Note: Glitters are shown over Too Faced Glitter Insurance.
MAC Gold Nutcracker Sweet Pigments & Glitter Kit
MAC Gold Nutcracker Sweet Pigments & Glitter Kit
MAC Gold Nutcracker Sweet Pigments & Glitter Kit
MAC English Gilt Pigment
MAC English Gilt Pigment
MAC English Gilt Pigment
MAC Heritage Rouge Pigment
MAC Heritage Rouge Pigment
MAC Heritage Rouge Pigment
MAC Gold Glitter
MAC Gold Glitter
MAC Gold Glitter
MAC Gold Glitter
MAC Reflects Rust Glitter
MAC Reflects Rust Glitter
MAC Reflects Rust Glitter
MAC Reflects Rust Glitter
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Pigments | Look Breakdown
Heritage Rouge is really nice. I feel like I’ve seen it before though. Was it re-released or something? Wait, no it’s a perm I think.
I’m kind of disappointed about the quality of these kits, since I’m just starting to get into the pigments since an MA used one on me at the Nordstrom beauty trend event last Saturday. At least they didn’t put my favorite pigment colors into sub-par sets, though đ — that would be a more frustrating disappointment!
Love these gold, plum, rusty red colors! I’m going to stop by the MAC counter next week and pick up a pigment to try, to see if they will work on my oily lids.
Can’t wait to hear how it goes, Katherine!
Hi Christine! I have a quick question. Did the last two shades (Gold & Rust) get low ratings because they need a base?
Yes, they did – if MAC hadn’t put that bit about wearing them alone, I would have only tested with glitter adhesive.
Those pigments are super pretty, but I don’t think they’re worth buying the whole set exactly for the reason you stated above- I don’t really have a use for loose glitter that isn’t eye-safe, as nice as it is to look at. lol
I hear ya! It is basically a waste of a slot if you aren’t into glitters đ
Sweet. I will pick this one up.
Another STUNNING eye look! Yep, you’re getting caps this time đ Heritage Rouge is a gorgeous shade, wowies.
Sad. I really would have loved to get Heritage Rouge and English Gilt, but not 2 glitters, though. I do wonder whether Reflects Rust could be used with TF Glitter Glue as a center lid accent as it is very finely milled? It doesn’t look any worse than say an UD Moondust?
But I would never try it unless I knew for 100% certain it was safe.
It’s looser and doesn’t have the same type of binding/base formula as Moondust, so you might find it has more fall out or is harder to apply evenly overall, but it should work with TF Glitter Glue.
I don’t get why these aren’t safe to use around the eye area or the lips… I mean where else would you use them?
In general, people use them there, even though they are not safe for eye (and/or lip) usage per FDA.
Love the shades together, but those with a lot of fall out could be a bit tricky for your eyes.
Man that sucks âšī¸ī¸ I already ordered this without realizing it wasn’t safe. People wear glitter on the eyes all the time? I have reflects bronze and pearl and I have worn them on the eyes without even thinking because I thought they were intended for that. ? Now I will have to return it or something.
An easy pass for me. I love the pigments, and I have dupes for them đ
As I wrote in the comment to the other pigment/glitter set, I don’t use the glitters, Rust is lovely colour, though.