M∙A∙C Nutcracker Sweet
Available online October 20, 2016
Available in stores on October 27, 2016 through December 8, 2016
#MACNutcrackerSweet
This is gonna sound pretty band-geeky of me (well, I was a band geek), but some of the best flute parts EVER are in the MAC…
Wait — the MAC?
I almost said “in the MAC Nutcracker Sweet,” what!
I meant to say, “in the [actual] Nutcracker Suite,” as in the piece of music from the ballet, and I know this because I played it in high school.
Nutcracker Sweet! In MAC’s case, it’s spelled S-W-E-E-T, and if that doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what planet you’re from. 🙂 Because I love sweet things, and this collection is definitely sweet.
MAC always goes big for the holidays. This post is just about the color collection. There are also a bunch of kits and sets which I’ll be wearing and testing over the next week.
So what do you think of the limited edition packaging?
I think it’s SO pretty — the bright pink, plum and those touches of gold. Right away, my eyes went BIG, and not just because I spotted three of my favorite liners of all time — Prunella, Powersurge (don’t even get me started about Powersurge) and Feline. Yes, they’re re-promotes, I know, but there are also some new things in this collection, like the Magic Dust Eye Shadows, which are indeed magically dusty, but not in a bad way. More like magic makeup fairy dust.
Seriously, why aren’t all MAC eyeshadows like these? They’re smooth, sensationally soft, and when I was swatching them, I kid you not, I just kept going ooh, ah, give it to me…
OK, that sounded kind of nasty…
Let’s just start with the lip products, shall we?
Lips…
Cremesheen Lipstick in Kingdom of Sweet ($18)
WHAT IS IT? I usually shy away from creamy, pale pastel pinks like Kingdom of Sweets because they’re infinitely difficult to wear, especially if you have dry lips. They settle into my fine lip lines, but Kingdom of Sweets doesn’t.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? Yes. Hell, yes. I hardly ever wear colors like this, but I want to wear this one right now. It’s smooth, comfortable and easy to use, which are all the things I want from a pale pastel pink lipstick.
Matte Lipstick in Flamboyish ($18)
WHAT IS IT? I wanna be Flamboyish! This hot pink is BRIGHT, and it reminds me a lot of Candy Yum Yum, which, I believe, is slightly lighter.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? I’m on the hot pink train, toot-toot! Destination Hot Pink Matte Lipstick-ville. So yes, I would hop on the Flamboyish train. It’s smooth for a matte, which, as you know, can be difficult to wear. It’s also opaque.
Amplified Creme in Saucy Little Darling ($18)
WHAT IS IT? Did they name this one after my daughter? They might’ve. Saucy Little Darling is a deep coral red — more coral than red — and I LOVE the MAC Amplified finish.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? I say yes. Well, I’m a coral fiend, but I’m very particular about my corals. This one has a happy brightness to it that I like.
Matte Lipstick in So Good For You ($18)
WHAT IS IT? If cool-toned reds are good for you, this one should be SO good for you.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? Hmm… There are so many fabulous MAC reds, and this one really pops, but I don’t know if it’s different enough than classic reds like MAC Russian Red and MAC Red.
I think it’s cool, but if you already have an extensive MAC red collection, you might not need this one.
Matte Lipstick in Leap of Delight ($18)
WHAT IS IT? Leap of Delight is a tube of deep, dark plummy lusciousness…
SHOULD YOU GET IT? Leap of Delight isn’t a color I would normally wear out of the house, because of how dramatic and opaque it is, but if want a dark purple that makes you feel like a bad-@ss while you do housework, this is the one to get. I wore it around the house while folding towels the other day.
Oh, it’s also a little drying.
Eyes…
Magic Dust Eye Shadow in Dance Flowers Dance ($23)
WHAT IS IT? Incidentally, shimmery light pink Dance Flowers Dance does make me want to dance with flowers. It’s one of the new Magic Dust Eye Shadows, which are super soft and fine.
They feel a lot like the MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadows but are even softer, if you can imagine that, and I love the finish. They have a lovely satiny sheen that’s noticeably softer than a frost.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? I think you should. It’s always good to have light pinks around, especially to use in your inner corners to brighten your eyes. Because this one isn’t too frosty, it won’t emphasize any fine lines that might be lurking in that area.
Magic Dust Eye Shadow in Pretty Dainty ($23)
WHAT IS IT? Pretty Dainty is a dainty coral pink with subtle shimmer in it. It looks a little like MAC Sushi Flower.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? Well, if you don’t have Sushi Flower. 🙂 It’s very easy to blend, and I like how it brightens my eyes. I’m wearing it in my crease in some of these pics.
It’s a great transition shade, too, if you want to use something other than a brown.
Magic Dust Eye Shadow in Rabblerouser ($23)
WHAT IS IT? Rabblerouser is an intensely bright hot pink, but it isn’t as shiny as the other Magic Dust shadows in the collection. I’d say it’s closer to a satin…
SHOULD YOU GET IT? If you’re tired of wearing browns in the crease, yes, Rabblerouser is a fun alternative. It sounds like it would be the thug of the collection, but it’s not! It gets along well with the other colors.
Hot pink can be difficult to wear on your lids, but Rabblerouser isn’t.
Magic Dust Eye Shadow in Forward March ($23)
WHAT IS IT? Forward March is a peachy golden shimmer that reminds me of a pressed version of MAC Melon Pigment.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? I think you should. It really looks lovely with browns, golds and purples. If you’re a warm eyeshadow person, it’s a must.
Magic Dust Eye Shadow in Dark Lullaby ($23)
WHAT IS IT? Dark Lullaby is a deep purple with a hint of subtle shimmer. It’s a little like MAC Trax, but without the patchiness or the gold flecks.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? Yes, if you like gorgeous purples that are super soft, easy to blend and easy to work with.
Magic Dust Eye Shadow in Mustache ($23)
WHAT IS IT? Mustache is a deep black with tiny flecks of gold glitter.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? Mustache deposits more fallout than the other shadows in the collection, but it’s not a big deal. It’s still easy to blend.
Of all the shadows in the collection, though, it’s probably the toughest one to work with for me.
Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline ($16.50)
WHAT IS IT? Feline is a super dark and smudgy black kohl liner with a fantastic name. 🙂 Love it.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? Yes, you should get it right meow, especially if you like smudgy liner looks, because this cat likes to move.
Eye Kohl in Prunella ($16.50)
WHAT IS IT? Prunella is a plummy purple.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? Yes, if you don’t have it already, and particularly if you have brown eyes, because it does werk with brown eyes.
Eye Kohl in Powersurge ($16.50)
WHAT IS IT? Powersurge is a bronzed brown with golden shimmer.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? Well, I have, like, three of these in my makeup bag right now. Yes, you should get Powersurge. I recommend it to people all the time. I love using it to define my eyes on my lower lash line because it doesn’t make my eyes look smaller like a lot of darker liners do.
Cheeks…
Magic Dust Powder in Yum Yum Yum ($23)
WHAT IS IT? Magic Dust Powder in Yum Yum Yum is a soft pink powder with super fine golden pearl.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? Oh, yeah. Another happy pink, Yum Yum Yum is kind of like getting a blush and highlighter in one.
Magic Dust Powder in Sweet Vision ($23)
WHAT IS IT? Magic Dust Powder in Sweet Vision is a pinky peach with golden pearl.
SHOULD YOU GET IT? You should! — if you like gold and NARS Orgasm, because it’s like a golden Orgasm. It’s a little disco, but I love it.
Swatches…
This collection makes me wanna dance. I love the plums, peaches, purples and the touches of gold, and most of it’s easy to wear.
Next up? The holiday kits and sets.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
kwmechelle says
I love Flamboyant & Leap of Delight, especially LoD. I’m all about a vampy, blue(ish) purple, especially in the Fall & Winter. I’ve been contemplating picking up MAC Constructivist so I may have to check these out doing a little (makeup) retail therapy 🙂
Karen says
Hi Kemechelle!
Constructivist is one of my faves. Do you have Heritage Rouge pigment? They look great together.
Been a while since we’ve chatted. How are you?
kwmechelle says
Hiya, dude! I don’t have that pigment but it sounds like I NEED it. I’m well. Super busy these last few weeks but no complaints. And certainly nothing a little makeup retail therapy can’t fix. Guess who’s going to pull the plug & order the Tom Ford eyeliner ? Shame it’s not sold at Sephora but I’m still not totally satisfied with my black liner faves. Desperate times call for for desperate measures!
Agata says
Did you miss the Dark Lullaby swatch? That’s the one I am most excited about. I don’t have Prunella but I think I need to change it!
Love your eye look and your hair-do! Also cannot wait to see the rest of the collection!
CrystalCandy says
Flamboyish is super pretty on you!
Chris25 says
I think I want Saucy Little Darling. I’m undecided on Flamboyish and So Good For You.
Leah Rose says
This collection looks so good, excited about the beauty powders!
Becky says
Woah, the packaging! I love it! Kingdom of Sweets is lovely-I also shy away from those shades usually, it’s so hard to find a decent pale pink! I hear Whisper of Gilt is making a comeback in this collection too-im so excited!
Kiss & Make-up says
So far I got my eye on Sweet Vision. The packaging of this collection is so cute.
Bronte says
I am so, so excited for this collection. I will be picking up a decent bit of this, I can never resist MAC’s holiday collections.
Kate says
MAC holiday is usually meh for me,
but this is cute,
I would actually buy some
thanks
LindaLibraLoca says
So many lovely colors that I don’t really need. But want all the same. I think one of the fairy dust shadows needs to come home with me. Preferably the hot pink one, I can justify that. There is no hot pink eyeshadow in my collection.
yelena says
everything looks gorgeous 🙂 those eyeliners (prunella and powersurge) are so tempting! surprisingly, I like the dark purple lippie, but you’re right, not sure I will actually rock it outside of the house…the packaging of the lippies are gorgeous but I wish they had more mauvy purple tones because I only have a bout a zillion pinks, reds and fuschias in my collection already. but who knows, if I see these in store and they swatch differently on my skin tone, I may just have to indulge!
Kim says
Saucy Little Darling? How cute is that name?! I am such a sucker for pink eye shadow so, of course, I think these are lovely! Regarding the packaging, is it bad that I was sort of hoping the lipsticks would look like actual nutcrackers? The little soldier kind, I mean. 🙂
Valentina Chirico says
What a nice and wearable collection!
I love everything except Kingdom of Sweet which is too pale even for me in winter XD
You’re amazing!!! I can’t stop reading you 😉
xoxo
Ilene says
This collection looks so beautiful. I love kingdom of sweets and wondered what lip pencil would suit it as I’d need to outline to not look washed out.
Karen says
Hi Ilene,
I think a nude with a brown tone might work if you blend the edges. Maybe something like MAC Cork?
Erin says
This collection is so big this year, I’m overwhelmed! I really should get my hand on Prunella, even though my eyes are green it’s pretty radical.
Rachel R. says
I definitely need to try to get my hands on the beauty powders and lipsticks. The eyeshadows don’t impress me terribly much.
Prachi says
Please do a step by step post on this eye look…its gorgeous and perfect for this season!
Hally says
Hi. Does anyone know if the lipsticks are carmine free?
Jean says
Pretty in the pan but blah when swatched. Everything’s too shiny for me. Oh well. Money saved.
Jean says
Btw how did you get the purple color to look light?
Isabel Ried says
Dear Karen,
I was looking for something similar to Nars Dragon Girl in a Mac lipstick. Which one would you recommend, Mac So good to you or Carmine Rouge? Or maybe another one?
I’ve been following your blog for a while and I love it!
Best regards,
Isa