MAC Pret-a-Papier Collection: Overall Review & Round-up

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MAC Pret-a-Papier Collection: Overall Review & Round-up

OVERALL, Pret-a-Papier is a softer, more muted collection for those looking for a more natural look–from eyes to lips to cheeks. I still get a very autumnal feel with this collection, and I think that’s why it has me off-kilter. I’m just expecting to see a little more vibrancy with the summer nearing. I see some loving this for its more neutral feel, but I see others frustrated with the general subtleness of the collection.

Temptalia’s Recommendations

Must-haves: Fold and Tuck Lipglass, Originality Nail Lacquer, Chromagraphic Pencil, Coral Crepe Paint Pot

Nice-to-haves: Made to Order Lipstick, Pret-a-Papier Lipglass, Tissue Weight Eyeshadow, Instant Chic Blush

Skip: Archetype

Skip if…

  • Skip CUT TO FIT if you have shades like Twinks.
  • Skip GAZETTE GREY unless you’re willing to wear it with a darker base to amp up the pigmentation of such a sheer shadow.
  • Skip GARB if you have pinker undertones (if you aren’t able to try it in person), because it may go orange.
  • Skip KRAFT if you have Touch–unless you wear this type of color often–as Touch is incredibly similar, only a smidgen less red.

Don’t forget to…

Check your stash for BAMBOO (permanent), MEMORABILIA (repromote), ARCHETYPE (repromote), LIGHT OVER DARK (repromote), GROUNDWORK (permanent), and C-THRU (permanent).

Product Photos, Swatches, & Reviews

What are you loving? What are you looking forward to?

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About the Reviewer

Christine has normal-to-dry skin with areas of dryness (cheeks, nose, and under the eyes). She has a light-medium skintone with subtle, warmer yellow undertones. Her best foundation matches include: Tarte Rainforest of the Sea in Light-Medium Neutral (best match), Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup in Desert Beige 2N1, Giorgio Armani Maestro Glow in 4.0, Hourglass Warm Ivory Vanish Seamless Finish, Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous in Dusk, MAC NC20/NC25, Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Liquid in Y305 (140). (For more information, please check the FAQ.)

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54 Comments

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Amber

Thank you so much for doing this. I’ve been looking forward to this collection for months! I’m so excited for the beautiful coral paint pot and chromagraphic pencils!!! And definately BAMBOO eyeshadow! My Husband is going to kill me, lol =)

Alia

I know a lot of people are disappointed by how muted this collection is, but I love how everything looks as though it belongs to the same theme. But then, I’ve always been about fall colours, so I’m aleady more than a little biased in favour of Pret-a-Papier ; )

kristen

wow, after your swatches i completely changed up what i wanted. i was originally just going to get the paintpot but quite honestly i wouldn’t get much use of it. i’m going to get fold and tuck lipglass, originality nail laquer, and the lighter chromagraphic pencil.

Noelle

I was really hoping to pick up a lipstick and maybe the gazette grey shadow, but none of this collection looks that great to me. Very Fall, not Summer! Bad timing. Totally saving up for “To the Beach!”

Christine
Light-Medium, Neutral, slight yellow undertones. Normal-to-Dry skin. »

I worry that Coral Crepe might be hard to wear, but since it’s better as a base, I could see it working that way 🙂 Alone, I think it may pull too orange/red.

claudia

Christine, as usual, thanks a lot for all!
This is a totally skip collection for me, except perhaps the chromagraphic pencils. I’m not a gloss person, but I found Pret-a-Papier very pretty.

PJ

I’m living vicariously through you! Thanks so much for the helpful review so I can walk into MAC with an edited list and keep my eye on the prize. Really I just need to not spend until To the Beach which I think is going to be EPIC.

Rita

I’ve been waiting for this collection for my birthday. It suits very well a redhead like me. I’m going to pick at least half of the stuff, but I don’t know about the Dressmaker, Dressmaker though. The only problem is that here To the Beach is supposed to come out at the same time at the begining of May! It’s going to be a HUGE haul – and ruin me!

Chester

Thanks for all your pictures, swatches and reviews, Christine! You rock!!

Overall I really like this collection. It will make a decent addition to my makeup stash.

Oh, and thanks for your “Recommendation/Repromote/Skip” section. It’s very helpful!!

<3 You!

Hazel

I’m still debating over Made to Order and Kraft. I’m just not sure if I’ve any dupes for Made to Order, since I’ve quite a few coral lipsticks!
And Instant Chic is so pretty! Just hesitating as I’ve so many blushers, and it seems quite a similar shade to Hipness, which I already have. =(

But I’m definitely getting Fold and Tuck!

Anitacska

I’m not getting much, probably the coral blush, the two coral lipsticks and the two darker glosses. More money left for the many things I want from upcoming collections. 🙂

Melissa

Christine, thank you SO much for the “Skip if…” and “Don’t forget to…” sections of your review! It’s totally frustrating to buy products that you already own or have dupes of. Your suggestions are the perfect solution to that problem- you rock!!

Alexis

I’m really on the fence with this collection. Nothing is really screaming, “COME BUY ME!” If anything I’d just pick up a back up taupe brow pencil because I love it that much. I do want to check out that coral p/p in person though. It’s very interesting and I know I do not own any cream shadows in that color.

Connie

I already have Light Over Dark from Grand Duos but I highly recommend anyone with medium warm skintones to get it. It’s like an eyeshadow, blush and MSF in one product! Love it!
Archetype I have too but it’s not a really good color.

Would definitely like to check out the Coral Crepe paint pot

Melanie

I’m excited for the chromagraphic pencil. Whenever I want that look I line my waterline with Painterly paint pot. It’s probably not recommended for that area, but it works quite well. It lasts for a few hours, but not all day. I’m looking forward to seeing how long they last for you, because I might end up buying them.

Jenni

I got Originality, Fold and Tuck l/g, and Instant Chic blush 🙂

I’ve heard bad reviews on MAC nail lacquers and wouldn’t have even glanced at Originality if it weren’t for your swatches! I LOVE IT!!! Even though $12 is more pricey than I’d like to pay for a nail polish, this one’s worth it — SO gorgeous. Thank you!

I’m still debating on Made to Order l/s, Dressmaker Dressmaker l/s, Tissue Weight e/s, Gazette Grey e/s, and the Chromagraphic pencil. Although knowing me, I’ll end up getting them tmrw anyway lol

Cat

Wow! Your reviews are getting even better with the ”Dont forget to” and the ”Skip if…” sections! So helpful, THANKS 🙂

Wendy

Thanks for the review, Christine! I usually get products based on your must-have list. 🙂
By the way, do you think Instant Chic would show up/look nice with my NC35 skintone?

Christine
Light-Medium, Neutral, slight yellow undertones. Normal-to-Dry skin. »

I’m wearing it in the Superglass lip swatches, and I had to go back 2-3 times to get it to show (I’m NC25 for reference), so it’ll be very soft. Pretty, but very subtle!

Freya

Thanks for these swatches. I had a couple questions:

1) How similar is Garb Blush to the Spring Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach?
2) How does Fold & Tuck compare to the Spring Lipgloss KUMQUAT? (haha, the name still makes me laugh)

🙂

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