MAC Nutcracker Sweet Red Retro Matte Kit Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Red Retro Matte Lip Kit
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Red Retro Matte Lip Kit ($45.00 for 0.59 oz.) includes a full sized lipstick, liquid lipstick, and mascara. In this set, the lipstick is a new, limited edition shade, while the liquid lipstick is part of the permanent range, which I tested and reviewed last year (please note, I did not retest or retake swatch photos, but I did compare swatches to ensure color accuracy between the two). The lipstick was somewhat disappointing (even setting aside the drying factor of the finish), and there are just so many better matte reds out there. The Retro Matte lipstick and liquid lipstick formulas tend to be drying, though they are often very long-wearing and pigmented, so they’re both formulas with trade-offs. Some love the long-wearing power of the Retro Matte ranges, while others prefer reapplication with a more comfortable formula.
Value
- Lipstick: $17.00 for 0.10 oz.
- Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour: $21.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.
- Mascara: $23.00 for 0.42 fl. oz.
- Total Value: $61.00*
* Note: if you do not use the mascara or the makeup bag, the value to you would only be $38.00.
Nutcracker Rouge is a bright, medium red with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque color coverage, and it was surprisingly less pigmented than most Retro Mattes I’ve tried. The texture was more velvety but thin, and it was a struggle to spread the color across the lips evenly. It felt clingy on the lips, and while most of the color hung around for a good six hours, some of the color had faded away more noticeably around the center of the mouth. The formula was drying on me after three hours of wear. Kaleidos Wild Apple (P, $12.00) is darker (95% similar). ColourPop Trust Me (P, $6.00) is darker, brighter, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Superbloom (P, $10.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Fighter (LE, $7.00) is brighter, warmer (90% similar). NARS Clash (LE, $27.00) is more muted (90% similar). Chanel La Bouleversante (51) (DC, $45.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar). NARS Bonifacio (LE, $27.00) is lighter (90% similar). Too Faced Rebel Heart (P, $22.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). NARS Hyde Park (P, $25.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). YSL Rose Curieux (14) (P, $39.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC High Heels (LE, $21.00) is darker (90% similar). KVD Beauty Bachelorette (DC, $21.00) is brighter (95% similar). NARS Cruella (P, $27.00) is warmer (95% similar). NARS Jungle Red (DC, $28.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). MAC Pure Luck (LE, $22.00) is more muted (85% similar). Urban Decay 714 (DC, $18.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar). Too Faced Lady Balls (P, $21.00) is darker, brighter (85% similar). NARS Sandrine (LE, $34.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). MAC Feels So Grand (P, $21.00) is darker (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Fashion Legacy is a bright, medium-dark orange-toned red with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had rich pigmentation with a smooth consistency that delivered even coverage. It was easy to apply and dried down in about a minute or less. The color wore well for seven and a half hours, but the formula was moderately drying after four hours of wear. ColourPop Lullaby (LE, $6.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC Lady Danger (P, $19.00) is lighter, brighter, glossier (90% similar). NARS Intrigue (P, $26.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (90% similar). Urban Decay 714 (P, $18.00) is cooler (90% similar). ColourPop First Class (LE, $6.50) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). ColourPop Succulent (LE, $6.50) is lighter, brighter, cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay Temper (DC, $22.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar). ColourPop Kismet (P, $7.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Scarlet Ibis (LE, $19.00) is lighter, brighter, glossier (90% similar). KVD Beauty Santa Sangre (P, $20.00) is darker (85% similar). MAC Dangerous (P, $19.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Melt Cosmetics Miss Argentina (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar). Milani Desire (LE, $8.99) is cooler (90% similar). Maybelline Craving Coral (P, $7.99) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Wild Ginger (P, $55.00) is lighter, warmer, glossier (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Nikita (Left) (LE, ) is cooler (90% similar). Maybelline Siren in Scarlet (P, $7.99) is brighter, better quality, glossier (90% similar). MAC Von Teese (LE, $19.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar). KVD Beauty Gold Blooded (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, glossier (95% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty How Rouge (340) (P, $26.00) is cooler (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Red
LELimited Edition. $45.00.
Nutcracker Rouge
LELimited Edition. $19.00.
Fashion Legacy
PPermanent. $21.00.
See more photos & swatches!
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Red Retro Matte Lip Kit
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Red Retro Matte Lip Kit
MAC Nutcracker Sweet Red Retro Matte Lip Kit
MAC Nutcracker Rouge Lipstick
MAC Nutcracker Rouge Lipstick
MAC Nutcracker Rouge Lipstick
MAC Nutcracker Rouge Lipstick
MAC Nutcracker Rouge Lipstick
MAC Nutcracker Rouge Lipstick
MAC Fashion Legacy Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour
MAC Fashion Legacy Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour
MAC Fashion Legacy Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour
MAC Fashion Legacy Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour
MAC Fashion Legacy Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour
MAC Fashion Legacy Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour
Hey Christine, do you know if they are going to sell the makeup bags separately? I have dupes for all the lipsticks in those kits but would LOVE to have that cute makeup bag! Btw, could you maybe take a photo with the bag and your hand so we can have an idea of the size of it?
As far as I know, they are just included in the kits!
They are alway just inlucded int he kits each year. 🙁 I want these bags as well. lol
I wonder why they don’t do bags… they already make them – I’m sure they’d sell plenty!
I think the last time they sold smaller mac up bags like this as part of a collection was for Hello Hitty.
Disappointing for matte lip lovers to have one shade be excellent and the other, so weak! (Luckily for me, matte lips are not my thing… )
The Retro Matte Kits, while interesting in theory, do not seem to be that great 🙁
Oh yikes, so rare to see a red lipstick score C+ 🙁
I know! Reds usually do well.
These aren’t for me color wise.
Easy skip!
It’s a shame that the Retro Matte wasn’t up to snuff, but that liquid lipstick is pretty!
It was odd that MAC came out with them and they weren’t… great.
No, the “value” of this set to me is zero. And Natalia would shell out just for the bag. So much for ‘values’…
I was only calculating the dollar value but leave subjective value up to you, of course! 🙂
I’m really looking forward to all the holiday sets. I think this is such a fantastic value set and you get so much for the price!
Awesome! 🙂
The quality on the regular matte red shade is fairly abysmal. Yikes. I was in MAC earlier today doing the presale of the Copper Cheek duo, and 2 other items. Thank goodness this wasn’t anywhere close to being on my wishlist, as I have some great reds in my stash!
I’m so glad you were able to do a pre-sale, Nancy!
Me too! They no longer take CC info, but they will pull one for you if they’re sure you will come in. They know me well enough to know I’ll hit that store on the 27th!