This year’s mini sets from MAC are presented as “chapter two” of A Tartan Tale. The minis are packaged in keepsake metal tins, and for the first time, a set of mini nail polishes joins the lineup (previous years’ offerings have included mini eyeliners).
I had a hard time deciding how to swatch the pigments. Everything looks luscious and lovely over a base, but are those pictures the most helpful? I ultimately decided to swatch the glitters over a base (moisturizer on my arm) because they don’t stick without one. The pigments I swatched dry. If I have time, I’ll go back and do the pigments again over a base.
The pigment sets are $32.50 each (for five little vials). The vials are too small to fit a brush into, so you’ll have to tap your pigment out onto something. Or you could empty the whole vial into a more convenient container (like a screw-top jar). The pigments and glitters are also multifunctional: you can mix them with nail polish, put them in your hair, use them as highlighter, or use them as eyeshadow.
Gilded Green reminds me a bit of Spiritualize. I wondered if Most Darling was like Tea Time, but regrettably, I don’t have that one to compare. And is Jigs & Jive not stunning?
The lipgloss sets are $29.50 each. Fab Fun (in 5 Sassy Pink Lassies) struck me as a very Chanel-Glossimer-type color. I’m sure several folks will be pleased to see Mimmy (repromoted from Hello Kitty) in 5 Sassy Coral Lassies. Mimmy, by the way, is a bit more sheer than Jest for Fun. It’s more coral, and has a few pink and gold sparkles.
I was a little disappointed that MAC went so literal and “Christmas” with the nail polish set. Five Naughty Little Vices contains black Nocturnelle, red Asiatique (repromoted from Dame Edna), dark, slightly blued green Beyond Jealous (repromoted from 2009 Nail Trend), deep vampy red Vintage Vamp, and gold frost Vice is Nice. The set is $25.50.
