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. Moira Orion (P, $7.50) is warmer (95% similar). ColourPop Reversible (LE, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar). ColourPop 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). Too Faced Tickle Me (LE, $16.00) is lighter (90% similar). Too Faced After Hours (LE, $16.00) is darker (85% similar). Natasha Denona Nude (P, $28.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). Urban Decay Chase (DC, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Urban Decay Zap (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, more muted (90% similar). Benefit Thanks a Latte (P, $20.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Laura Mercier Moonlight (PiP, $29.00) is less shimmery, more muted (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). bareMinerals Stay Golden (LE, $14.00) is less shimmery, darker (80% similar). ColourPop Board Shorts (P, $4.50) is 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). ColourPop Static (LE, $6.00) is lighter (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Seductive Rose #4 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar). Auric Disrupt (Cream) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (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). Sleek MakeUP A Vow in Venice (LE, $9.99) is lighter (90% similar). Melt Cosmetics Sleep Walk (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Gucci Beauty Autumn Fire #3 (DC, ) is lighter (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Just Stay (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Brazenly (LE, $17.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Frock Talk (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, more muted (90% similar). MAC Hidden Motive (LE, $17.00) is cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay Velvet (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Anastasia Pink Sapphire (LE, $12.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Babykins (LE, $6.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Inglot #452 (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Makeup Geek Burlesque (DC, $6.00) is warmer (90% similar). NARS Blind Date (DC, $25.00) is cooler (90% similar). Makeup Geek Enchanted (P, $12.00) is warmer (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). ColourPop El Capitan (-, $6.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Put U on Gold (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Early Mornin' (-, $6.00) 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 (DC, $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). ColourPop 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. ColourPop 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 Éclat Énigmatique #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Tarte Iguana Love You (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). ColourPop 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). Pat McGrath Crimson Fire (DC, $25.00) is less shimmery, 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.

* 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