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MAC Sugar Sweet Collection Review & Thoughts

Reviews

Overall, MAC Sugarsweet Collection brings back shadesticks and some old favorites, but I don’t feel it has created any new favorites. The shadesticks are creamier this go-round, and they do feel a little softer. While I have always appreciated the original shadesticks for their color pay off, I just never loved the feel of them on my eye lid, so I had to pass them along to friends. I am looking forward to trying out the newer, creamier versions!The packaging on the shadesticks is nicer, too — almost a slick, shiny plastic casing.

What did you think of MAC’s Sugarsweet collection? What are you loving/hating? Tell me in the comments!

Neither the lipsticks or the tricolour lipglasses really grabbed my beauty-strings–there are a few that caught my eye, but nothing that caused my heart to speed up, you know? I am personally not a fan of sheer glosses, which is why the tricolour lipglasses aren’t up my alley either. The eyeshadows are so-so; they all have decent color pay off and texture, but none of limited colors screamed “must have!” I do think the finish of the mineralize skinfinishes is improved over the last few that have come out; there doesn’t seem to be any large, chunky shimmer–much more refined and subtle so it gives you a gentle sheen over a wallop of shimmer.

Temptalia’s Recommendations

Must-Haves: Lollipop Loving, Stars ‘n Rockets, Butternutty, Red Velvet, Peppermint Patti

Nice-to-Haves: Saint Germain, Sweet Thing, Simply Delicious, Tasty, Aquavert, Cakeshop

Skip: Consume Me

Get in-depth reviews on each of the items from this collection!

Lipstick ($14.00)

  • Bubbles is a frosty silvery-white almost. It’s semi-sheer, so despite being somewhat colorless, you could still wear it without fear. It isn’t as pink as the original Bubbles lipstick.
  • Lollipop Loving has a sheer, coral-ish base color with green-gold shimmer. It didn’t seem as green as the original version launched with Heatherette.
  • Saint Germain is a cool-toned bright pink. It’s quite opaque, and the texture is very creamy. It isn’t necessarily a color for everyone, but it can be worn with colored lipgloss to make it more wearable, too.
  • Sweet Thing is a semi-sheer fuchsia-pink with fuchsia-purple shimmer. It reminded me of Fun ‘n Sexy from Fafi. It looks pretty, but I definitely know I’ve seen this color before!
  • Touch is a creamy, semi-sheer brown color. It looks like it has some warmth to it, and I am curious to see how this will look on me. It’s permanent, but I figured I should give it a shot since I really don’t own any brown lipsticks!

Tricolour Lipglass ($17.50)

  • Consume Me is a super sheer, lightly shimmered gloss. It really doesn’t have any color from swatching it.
  • Just Dessert is a sheer, medium neutral pink. It has more color than Consume Me, but again, they’re all fairly sheer by nature.
  • Simple Delicious is a peachy-pink with gold shimmer gloss. It’s a very pretty color, but with its sheerness, I’m not sure just how much color will appear on your lips. It’d look nice over coral lipsticks — like Lollipop Loving.
  • Tasty is the most pigmented of the five, and it is a fuchsia kind of color. I imagine it’s easily paired with Sweet Thing lipstick.
  • Triple-Yum is a bronzy-brown with lots of gold shimmer. It’s almost as pigmented as Tasty, so I am hopeful some color might transfer to the lips!

Eyeshadow ($14.50)

  • Sugarshot is a pale white-gold kind of color. It’s pretty frosty, and it reminds of Nylon, Phloof!, etc.
  • Dear Cupcake is a velvety pink-coral color. It has a satin finish, so it looks almost matte, but it does have a light sheen. The color itself reminds me a bit of Paradisco eyeshadow, but the textures are entirely different.
  • Stars ‘n Rockets is a fuchsia-purple duochrome with good pigmentation. This is one of my favorite colors made by MAC, and it is definitely worth getting if you don’t have it already.
  • Aquavert is a pale, minty-green shade. It’s not a teal; it is more of a green — like a pale spring green. It could be more pigmented, but it’s a nice color to own, because MAC does not have a permanent color all that similar to it. This is a repromote (it came out with Lure).
  • Club is a brownish-red duochrome with shimmer that leans greenish-teal. This is part of the permanent line.

Shadestick ($16.50)

  • Cakeshop is a greenish-casted gray with a frosty finish.
  • Lemon Chiffon is a frosty, pale white with a hint of white gold in it. Reminded me of a yellow-toned Phloof!. Both this and Cakeshop would make good bases, because they are light and should grab color well.
  • Butternutty is a pale pink-nude color with the same frosty finish as the other shadesticks.
  • Penny is a deep coppery color. While it is pretty, I find it isn’t as versatile as lighter shadesticks, because it tends to eat color. This is a repromote.
  • Red Velvet is a deep medium pink with low level frost/sheen (relative to the other four). It reminded me of a less shimmery/frosty Fuchsia pigment.

Mineralize Skinfinish ($27.00)

  • Refined is a soft sheen-finish nude-bronze color. On me (NC25/30), it basically acts as a highlighter, and it only gives me a little bit of sheen and shimmer rather than color (virtually no color for me).
  • Perfect Topping is a pale, pinkish-peach color. This one showed up better on my NC25/30 skin, but it still will probably end up working best as a highlighter rather than a blusher.

Nail Lacquer ($11.00) (Swatches coming soon!)

  • Peppermint Patti is a creamy minty green. It’s fairly opaque–you only really need two coats for it to look smooth!
  • Seasonal Peach is a pretty baby peach-pink with a creamy finish. I had this previously, and it is an excellent color for spring/summer.
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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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132 Comments

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Sandy

I’ve been looking forward to your review Christine 🙂 I’m going in today and so far St Germain l/s, Dear Cupcake e/s and Red Velvet shadestick are on my list. How do you think St Germain will look on me? (I’m an NW25/30). I really hope I can pull it off w/o lipglass. I’m usually too lazy to do both lipstick and lipglass

NuNu

I really really wanted to like the tri-colour glosses, but like you, I too dislike sheer glosses. My Mimmy has already been abandoned. Oh wells more money towards Dior Pop Diamond.

Virginia

At first I wanted to pass on this collection, but the shadesticks have really caught my attention now. Unfortunately I have had bad experiences with the shadestick packaging – my first and only one got a crack in the cap after a few uses and doesn’t close properly any more, so it slowly dries out now – I wonder if others have faced this problem, too?

Danielle

I wonder if i can skip butternutty or not….probably not. 🙂 I am gonna get the MSFs, and sugarshot, maybe….and then lollipop loving! 4 things, maybe 5.

Liana

I totally 100% agree with this review. I just came back from the Mac store this morning. I only bought 3 items from the whole collection since overdosing on Hello Kitty. My 3 must haves are:

Red Velvet- So much more creamier and easier to blend (I put it all over my lid with beautiful iris e/s and star violet e/s in the crease & it was so vibrant and gorgeous because of the red velvet base.

Lollipop Loving & Saint Germain (both gorgeous even when i layered them both together)

Stephanie

Thanks for your review girl! I won’t be able to visit MAC until this weekend or so..but I’m probably gonna buy Sugarshot e/s, Peppermint Patti polish (hopefully it’s there, cause the MAC website already sold out! *sad*), Bubbles l/s, and Perfect Topping because I need a highlighter like that 🙂

Phyrra

I really think I need to pick up Lollipop Loving and Sweet Thing. I don’t have colors like that in my stash.

I already have Aquavert from the Lure Collection. I have Pink Pearl Pigment from the Heatherette collection, and that seems similar to Stars & Rockets?

I didn’t like the shadesticks that I had because I felt like I always had to tug at my eyelids to get them to apply. I only recently heard that I should have been using a hair dryer to warm them up a bit first.

I originally thought the tri-color glosses would be cool, but there’s like no-color pay off. I love MAC glosses for the color, and those just seem kinda lame.

Christine

Sweet Thing is definitely pretty — don’t get me wrong 😉 I just know it’s come out in several versions before, so it’s not unique.

Pink Pearl is very much like Stars ‘n Rockets — maybe a little more intense, actually.

Doreen

I’m definitely picking up Aquavert and Stars ‘N Rockets. My MAC Counter is ALWAYS out of Stars ‘N Rockets whenever I visit (for some strange reason) so I really need to pick that up. Lollipop Loving and Cakeshop seem nice, too. I don’t know if I’ll take Perfect Topping (it looks gorgeous, but I’d rather have a little more of the tan show up. :/ Anyway, thanks so much for the excellent Review!

Tami

I went out this morning and purchased Refined MSF, Aquavert shadow, Cakeshop shadestick, Triple Yum lipglass and Peppermint Patti polish. I’m debating on returning to purchase Perfect Topping MSF and Bubbles lipstick if it is not sold out by tomorrow. I played with the shadestick earlier this afternoon and it looks great especially with the Aquavert layered on top:-)

Tami

This is actually the first time I have ever purchased/used a shadestick. I was very pleased with the results I got:-D Btw, thanks for all your reviews and also the looks you post. Hopefully you will be doing a Sugarsweet look soon *crosses fingers*

sprut

I just spent way too much at mac. 🙂 I got the shadestick in butternutty and then picked up some other things that I have been wanting to try but nothing else from sugarsweet other than the shadestick.

sprut

I picked up the grand duo in moon river and…
eyeshadow – shroom
lipstick – see sheer
blush – pink swoon
Hello Kitty lipstick and lipgloss – most popular and sweet strawberry

Meagan

Got Butternutty, Dear Cupcake and Peppermint Patti. Dear Cupcake looks gorgeous layered on top of Butternutty!

Passed on the lippies – didn’t really catch my eye, and I am waiting to shell out a ton on Rose Romance!

Meta

Thanks for the review Christine! As always it was quite informative and concise!

You’ve helped me in saving some cash! I’m trying to hold back on MAC this year!

Meta

Probably nothing really because as you said, Sugarshot = Nylon/Phloof and Dear Cupcake = Paradisco and I’ve got Nylon and Paradisco (x2 for Paradisco, 1 from a swap and 1 from HK), and because the MSFs didn’t were highlighters for you and I’m darker than you (NC42), so I know they’d definitely won’t do much for me. So I’m definitely giving this collection a miss.

Another resolution that I’m trying stick to is not buying anymore lipglosses and lipsticks. So definitely nothing for me.

Sugarcrumb

Meta, i got the MSF in Perfect Topping and Refined. I used Perfect Topping as an all-over highlighter and i got a nice glowy look and I’m an NC43 =) the shimmer is nice and not chunky or chalky

Ally

I think I want saint germain, dear cupcake, aquavert, cake shop, red velvet maybe butternutty and maybe peppermient patti but i don’t like mac nail polish much so I might look for a color similar in opi. Pass on the Msf’s and sheer glosses. Thanks for the reviews, I look forward to them.
P.S totally want that summer stila eye palette I keep looking back at your swatches.

Kirstin

I bought Lollipop Loving today. XD The MA had me put Simply Delicious over it & I loved the combination, but I’m on a budget, so only the lipstick for me.

I’m lusting after Peppermint Patti! Hoping to buy that one before it’s sold out.

Tamara

I picked up Dear Cupcake, Sweet Thing, and Lollipop Loving today. I really wanted to get Sugarshot from your swatches, but in person it wasn’t anything special–just another frosty white e/s that I’m sure I can dupe. I already own Aquavert, yet haven’t ever used it. I’m still on the fence about the Red Velvet shadestick….?? Can’t decide if I want to get it or not…think I better pick it up now while it’s still available and I regret it…

Angie

Thanks for the review! I checked this out, then went to my MAC store, and sadly, it was as dissapointing as you said, although I wouldn’t doubt you :] the MSF’s were the highlight of this release for me, and they are just pots of glitter on my skin. I think darker ladies would loves these, and I think the colors would really show up. I only got Saint Germain lipstick, and Lollipop Lovin’ although it does seem different than the version I missed out on from Heatherette.

Christine

Hey Angie! I’m both happy and sad that you weren’t impressed — happy because I don’t feel like I misjudged the launch, but still sad because I’d rather ya love it, y’know?

I’m glad you still found a few things to take home 🙂

Skyler

Regardless of how I feel about the products individually, I think they did a great job with the colouring of this collection. I feel like everything follows the theme really well and there’s nothing that feels like it doesn’t belong. I really love some of the names too. 🙂 That aside, I have not received my package yet so I cannot say what I feel about this collection in terms of the actual products, but thank you for your review, as always! I love how detailed you are so please never stop doing that. 😀

Skyler

Haha, for sure! I find there’s always one or two really tacky colours that don’t fit with the rest of the collection. I’ve rarely felt that a MAC collection was completely themed and well-matched. Blonde/Brunette/Redhead and Neo Sci-Fi are two other collections that pop into my head that I feel were very well put together. 🙂

Stephanie

Christine, I went to MAC today to see the colors for myself and WOW, I loved more things than I thought. This is a great collection! I bought Lollipop Loving- I bought it from the Heatherette Collection is it’s about halfway gone, so I figured I better buy a back up. I also bought both MSF….I love thenm! I wasn’t even planning on buying them. Perfect topping is a great highlighter and Refined gived great color to my face. I bought Aquavert, Sugarshot, and Dear Cupcake, I already own Club and Stars and Rockets. I’m not really into the shade sticks… I prefer Paints and Paint Pots, they’re creamier. I love my makeup!!!!

Stephanie

You know….I checked them out at home. The Heatherette one seems a tiny bit more shimmery…i think it might be the Pink casing though. They seem the same. I was going to get Saint Germaine, but it really reminded me of a more pink Melrose Mood….which I love!, but I don’t wear it very much, so it wasn’t really worth it. What did you end up buying?

Stephanie

You must’ve liked the collection a lot too! I think the colors are all unique. I liked the lipglasses, but I have too many! I think I wanna pick up Peppermin Patti, but I’m undecided still. What do you think about the shadesticks? Do you ever really use them?

Christine

I think I would have ultimately only picked up 3-4 items if it was strictly for me!

I rarely used the shadesticks when I had them, because they weren’t very creamy. I am hoping these will be different!

msviolet

I picked up Lemon Chiffon and Cakeshop shadesticks, Refined msf, Aquavert e/s, Sweet Thing Bubbles and Lollipop Lovin l/s. The only gloss that looked worthwhile to me was Tasty, but I had to pass in favor of waiting for Rose Romance. My MA did a look on me using Aquavert with Cakeshop underneath, Shade fluidline above the top lashes, and Lemon Chiffon under the brow as a highlight and it looked amazing! I went in only wanting the polishes and Dear Cupcake e/s but I was pleasantly surprised by some of the other products and ended up totally straying from my gameplan. Dangit. 🙂

Katie

I got to see the collection last week, and after seeing everything I was able to whittle it down to Red Velvet, Aquavert, and Refined. Red Velvet is a gorgeous colour, I’d say it’s pretty much like Dear Cupcake but a but pinker. Aquavert I am desperately wanting, and Refined is gorgeous. The one I tried out had a LOT of the coral in it, so people who are warmer-toned will absolutely love it. It had the least shimmer of any MSF I have ever tried, so it could be very good buffed on with the buffer brush of choice. Perfect Topping is gorgeous, but not a priority for me because I’m starting tanning soon and warmer colours=better. I already have Lollipop Lovin’ and rarely use it, and Stars ‘n Rockets is a favourite of mine. As for Dear Cupcake, I have both Playful and Sushi Flower and the colour is a mix between those two, IMO. Some people have said it’s a mix of Sushi Flower and Angelcake…not true.

Alison

I had always follow your recommandations on Mac launches ever since I started reading up your blogs. So far go good. All recommandations are really worth following and rescue me from indulging on the not so worth it stuffs. I guess after reading your reviews, I can save my money for better loots. Initially I was still lemming on the MSF. Guess I just stick to my BBR till better msf comes along…..
Keep up the good work!! Cheers

Christine

Hey Alison! It really means a lot to me that you trust my recommendations, and it’s even better knowing that they haven’t steered you wrong yet!

I’ve heard some people say that the lightest part of Blonde MSF = Perfect Topping, and the lightest shade of Redhead = Refined actually!

BeautyBitch

All these pictures of the Sugarsweet collection, cupcakes and sweets has left me craving sugar and cupcakes rather than make-up! It’s a shame that those tri-colour glosses are so sheer. They would have been a great fun seasonal novelty item for me, but not if there’s low colour.
Thanks for the great swatches and pictures. I was going to skip the whole collection but I think I might cave and get all 5 shadesticks as I liked the original ones and creamier ones would be even better.

Christine

LOL! I know, right? I just want some freakin’ cupcakes 😉

If you like shadesticks, I’d definitely vote grabbing at least a few! MAC hasn’t put out a new shadestick in QUITE awhile, and while it’s hopeful they will in the future (since they’ve now done it with Sugarsweet), who knows with MAC!

Sweets4uk

me 2! it sucks that we have to wait, but we get to see everyones opinions first so we hopefully dont rush into anything….
st germain is permenant here right?

carriespooner

I went to Mac yesterday and I think this collection is one of my least favorites ever. It reminds me of an Avon Mark collection they did a few years back called Patisserie. I think this Sugar sweet launch is
just not up to Mac’s starpower and it seems like they are putting out color collections just for the sake of putting them out. Lots of repromotes!

The tri color glosses are gimmicky. I found the shade sticks grainy so I’ll need to return the two I got.

I thought the MSF’s were pretty but Mac does do a good job with those.

Dear Cupcake was just not my shade and the other LE Sugar e/s was chunky and a Lustre. Yucky Lustres!

I grabbed Lollipop Lovin since I foolishy swapped my Heatherette one away.

I say “Meh” to this collection and “can’t wait” to stylewarriors.

Christine

I totally agree on the tricolour lipglasses being gimmicky! I’ve heard a lot of people think they’re cheap looking, and I don’t necessarily agree they look cheap, but I see it being a money-grabber than an innovative product!

I’m sorry to hear your shadesticks were grainy — that’s so weird! I hope mine aren’t like that!

cloudburst

For sures are: Aquavert, Dear Cupcake, Cakeshop & the MSF’s (at least one, but probably both).

Maybes: Sugarshot & Sweet Thing

I still have to buy Grand Duos too!

cloudburst

I don’t have either of those pinks, so I’ll pick it up.

Grand Duo, Love Rock, Moon River, Earth 2 Earth & Light Over Dark are the ones I want…I might just get the first I listed now & then get the rest in a few weeks.

MizzMeka

OKAY OKAY sooooo I think I’m getting (this is based off of Christine’s review of course)…Saint Germain (I’m super-duper pressed over this one lol)….Lollipop Loving ( I’m missed the Heatherette collection so this is a must)…Triple Yum (sooo bronze and pretty…I think it will look great with my yellow undertones)…Stars and Rockets….Cakeshop…Butternutty…Perfect Topping…and Peppermint Patti.

WHEW!!! Glad I get paid this weekend lol…

Shaee

just came back from the mac counter.

I was only impressed with butternut, every shade looked good on it.

Sugarshop e/s was chalky and MA had a hard time putting it on.
Aquavert e/s was awesome.
Dear cupcake didnt have a nice pay off.

MSF were very nice. I got refined for myself, i am NC40.

Lipglosses were very sheer… seemed like a waste of money.

Bellissima

I picked up a few things from this collection and some others. I got
Tasty-tricolour lipglass
Refined-Mineralize skinfinish
Red velvet
Cakeshop
Peppermint Patti
I didnt care for the lipsticks, best one i think was lollipop lovin, I have club and star n rockets, I might still get Aquavert.
I also got another Hue lipstick and the new Studio sculpt concealer. Since I’m going to the MAC warehouse sale near Toronto next week I have to save money looool

melika

christine…i’ve been “stalking” your site for awhile, but this is my first comment.
i ditched class wed. night to grab a few things early. ended up with cakeshop, aquavert and lollipop loving.
the last night my nordies had a mac seminar. 50 bucks for a two and a half hour class. granted, everything i’ve learned has been from your site and yt. LOL it was fun though. however the 50 bucks could be used toward product, which coincided nicely with the sugarsweet release. so at nordies i ended up with refined, dear cupcake, and butternutty.
todays look: cakeshop all over the lid, aquavert in the inner corner, satin taupe in the crease, and humid in the outer v.
i’m no makeup guru, but i did get a lot of compliments.
speaking of compliments, let me just compliment you and how wonderful your site it!

Christine

Hey Melika! Thanks for commenting! 🙂

I’m glad you were able to attend the seminar! What was on it on?

It’s so nice to be complimented on your makeup, isn’t it? I’m so glad your look was a hit!

Elise

Thank you so much for the thoughts and review! After seeing this, I need to get a few of those shadesticks, they’re so prettyy;D. Can’t decide between Cakeshop and Butternutty…

Aubree

Oh man, I wanted to skip on this one but I just can’t.

Monday I’m getting aquavert, butternutty, and dear cupcake. I wanted Peppermint Patti, but seriously, who knows if that will be in stock. -__- It’s selling out like mad!

I’m sure I’ll pick up a few more things when I’m at MAC.

Nat

ukkk, definitely looking forward to the shade sticks and that’s about it. Not to much for the pastels. I’m stiill going to wait for style warriors and naked honey =)

Sugarcrumb

I finally got my hands on my sugarsweet collection yesterday (launched on 9 Apr)! i got Aquavert and Sugarshot e/s; Perfect Topping and Refined MSF; shadestick in Cakeshop and I love everything. i didnt find sugarshot chalky at all, it packed on nicely (i used it as a highlight) and it got a little more oomph from just a touch of Prize e/s from Stila (a light shimmery gold). And I used Perfect Topping/Gold Deposit as an all-over highlighter which made my skin glowwwww! (I know, a lot of things to put on but am soooo happy with the results!) Thanks Christine; the swatches and your descriptions realllly helped!

Julie

Great review! I personally like this collection as most of the colours suit me.

I have a nail polish from Sephora by OPI called “A True Romantic” that is incredibly similar to A Seasonal Peach so if you want to get it and want to spend less money (I spent $12 at Sephora), you should consider that one. 🙂

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