MAC Reel Sexy Nail Lacquers Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC In the Dark… Purple Nail Lacquer
MAC Reel Sexy Nail Lacquers
MAC Reel Sexy Nail Lacquers ($16.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) include these three shades, all of which are creams: In the Dark… Purple (vivid violet), Screening Room (bright mid-tone teal), and Vivid Effect (vivid orange coral).
- In the Dark… Purple is a medium-dark red-toned purple–kind of like an eggplant, but much, much lighter. Reminded me of Fig. 1 eyeshadow actually! It’s not quite opaque in two coats but close. Zoya Kieko is similar but a little dustier.
- Screening Room is a blue-based teal with a cream finish. It’s mostly opaque in two coats. Illamasqua Muse is bluer. Estee Lauder Teal Topaz is a bit lighter, dustier. Orly Viridian is bluer. Cult Nails Let Me Fly is closer, though a bit bluer, and has shimmer.
- Vivid Effect is an orange-coral that’s opaque in two coats. Dior Merveille is similar but has shimmer. China Glaze Poinsettia is redder. Rescue Beauty Lounge Bangin’ is darker.
I’m still recovering from the shock of MAC polishes now being–permanently–available at a whopping $16 a pop. They were $14 just a year ago. A lot of brands increase prices every 12-18 months, and the increase can be as little as $0.50 to as much as $4-5, depending on the base price of the product. MAC has historically raised prices on just about every product once a year, and on products at this price point, it has been $0.50–e.g. lipsticks, eyeshadows, and the like have gone up $0.50 a year, not $2 a year. There’s only 0.34 fl. oz. of polish in the bottle! C’mon! Price aside…
In the Dark… Purple was streaky; it was still a little streaky with a thicker second coat yet not fully opaque after that either. Screening Room was also on the streaky side, though it recovered mostly by the second coat. Vivid Effect was not streaky, and it was opaque in two coats, so that was the best performer of the three shades. It is the most dupeable, though. I don’t have wear issues with MAC’s polish formula; I usually get a week of wear with minor tip wear but no chipping.
MAC Reel Sexy Nail Lacquers Review, Photos, Swatches
MAC In the Dark… Purple Nail Lacquer
MAC In the Dark… Purple Nail Lacquer
MAC In the Dark… Purple Nail Lacquer
MAC In the Dark… Purple Nail Lacquer
MAC In the Dark… Purple Nail Lacquer
MAC Screening Room Nail Lacquer
MAC Screening Room Nail Lacquer
MAC Screening Room Nail Lacquer
MAC Screening Room Nail Lacquer
MAC Screening Room Nail Lacquer
MAC Vivid Effect Nail Lacquer
MAC Vivid Effect Nail Lacquer
MAC Vivid Effect Nail Lacquer
MAC Vivid Effect Nail Lacquer
MAC Vivid Effect Nail Lacquer
They’re nice, but they all look pretty dupable to me
I have only a few MAC nail polishes, I only buy them when they have a VERY unique color. I don’t think they have a good formula to begin with, and I don’t think they’re worth $10 each, let alone $16.
I can definitely go without these.
Screening room is pretty :>
These are pretty but nothing groundbreaking or unusual. They certainly aren’t $16.00 pretty.
I agree!!
Ya i’m over MAC polish, the price hike is unwarranted. However I LOVE your polish swatches, they are the best! I like how you take your time on them to get a really good nice even,neat layer.
Pretty colours, but the formula looks so runny!
I love de Vivd Effect e In The Dark…Purple, all beautiful!!
These are just lesser versions of OPI Pamploma Purple, China Glaze Shower Together and Sally Hansen Kook-a-mango to name a few. Pretty, but lackluster. Boo.
Er, Pamplona Purple. Thanks for the swatches!
I just thought the same; “Screening Room” could be duped with China Glaze “Shower Together” 🙂
I am seriously wondering who are the people buying MAC nail polish why they keep making them!?!!!??
Honestly, the Wet n Wild $2 polishes are better than these…
Aww, we won’t get them till may! I just called the Mac store. 🙁
yes! i think their polishes are one of their worst products!! def not worth the $$ when i can go get an opi or something better quality for $7!
You know, the colors are pretty, not unique, but pretty…I could get on board with them @ their price, if the quality was there! I honestly feel like MAC polishes are equivalent to like $2 polishes that suck, but you buy cuz they are hella cheap and it just doesn’t matter because they were so cheap to get, lol. Totally not worth $16 at all.
16$????? wow! i remember when they used to be 13$. the ones from from their last collection was 15$. why do they keep on raising the price ? its only nailpolish for crying outloud!=)
Vivid Effect looks a lot like Urban Decay Psychedelic Sister!
Thanks for the reviews ^_^
I haven’t found MAC polishes THAT much harder to apply than other brands (maybe I’m getting lucky with picking the best shades, or maybe I’m just a polish whisperer?) but $16 for a smaller-than-average bottle is a bit audacious, especially in light of their price points overall. Most lines that do polish don’t have it priced higher than, say, a lipstick.
A streaky shade is harder to apply whether it’s by MAC or by another brand – MAC just has a reputation for churning out shades with problematic formulas!
Is Screening Room at all similar to Essie’s Go Overboard?
Sorry, I don’t have that.
yummy! pretty colors!
Screening room is pretty but I think I have something in my hoard that looks like it already. These don’t really do anything for me. :/ I’ve never bought a MAC nail polish, and $16 is crazy if the formula isn’t perfect.
My husband bought me Mac’s Breezy Blue the other week and I’ve yet to use it. I too think it will probably be the only one I own based on price and the fact the colors don’t really sand out as anything different.
loveeeeeeeeeeee the purple one!!!
Screening Room looks like a dupe of butter London Slapper