MAC Blue India & Vestral White from Give Me Liberty of London
A couple months ago I flipped over the promo pics of the new MAC Give Me Liberty of London nail polish Blue India and it more than lived up to the hype. Known for their iconic collaborations with labels like Comme de Garcons, Liberty of London has teamed up with MAC to create a makeup collection that brings the brand’s prints to life.
The packaging which is based on William Morris’s Strawberry Theif print from 1883 is a makeup collector’s dream come true. I’m one of those people who hoards all of MAC’s specialty packaging. I have a drawer filled with boxes from the Barbie, Heatherette, Hello Kitty, Fafi, Viva Glam etc. I’ll even buy colors that won’t work for me because I’m a sucker for great packaging. If you fit that mold, you’ll die over Give Me Liberty of London. Check out Blue India and Vestral White after the jump! |
Blue India is a deep slate blue gray. It’s moody and utterly fantastic. It’s the first MAC polish in a while that truly had me giddy with excitement to try it. I always enjoy trying new colors but I seriously raced to my polish room for a swatching. The formula on this is a bit thin and watery so I needed three coats but I could care less. The final result is SO worth it.
I dug through my drawers of blue polish trying to find something even relatively close to Blue India and came up short. Slate blues just aren’t the common in the nail world and the best I could do for you is Sally Hansen Gray by Gray and Barielle Slate of Affairs. The Barielle is MUCH more blue and Gray by Gray is lighter and more gray.
Vestral White is a creamy white and a repromoted color. It originally launched with the Holiday 2007 collection Antiquitease and has come back a couple times since, most recently with Hello Kitty. As we all know, finding a great white polish is not easy. Like yellows they’re either too sheer or too streaky. Vestral White falls into the latter category. I applied three coats and even though I let each layer dry in between, I still ended up with streaks and bald spots.
Bottom line: Blue India is an ALU “Must Have” but Vestral White gets a pass. Unless you are a collector, you can find better whites on the market.
The Give Me Liberty of London collection is on sale now at MACCosmetics.com and launching at MAC counters nationwide on Thursday. MAC Nail Lacquers retail for $12/ea.
Are you still as geeked for Blue India after seeing it swatched? Who’s planning to snag a bottle? Do you have any similar colors hanging out in your stash?
Disclosure: A product sample was furnished to me by MAC. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
I just looove Blue India.. fell in love with the color when I saw the promo pics a while back.. wooow its nice
Blue India = love.
I already ordered Blue India
the packaging and the color is a must have!
Beautiful swatches, thank you so much for the fantastic photos and comparisons!
I called my closest MAC counter already this morning to make sure they were getting Blue India in–I will be there first thing on Thursday morning, it’s a gorgeous shade!
I did like MAC’s Cool Reserve recently though, it is the perfect smoky purple.
Thanks for the comparison with the Barielle which I happen to be wearing right now, and I love it. I see more yellow in MAC’s Blue India.
Blue India is gorgeous! I want it.
Could you do a comparison with Illamasqua Muse or P2 Dangerous if you have either of those because I’d be really interestd to see how they compare!
Thanks
Heads up! I bought Blue India today! It’s already up on MAC’s website (and Nordstrom) along with the rest of the Give Me Liberty collection.
I’m so glad you compared it to Grey by Grey. I checked my stash last night but decided I needed Blue India anyway!
i had to navigate away from the site for a minute to buy blue india…love it!!!! can’t wait to rock it.
i may have to put this site on timeout; i’ve spent way too much money on nail polish. my hubby is not pleased (but he admits he loves my nails)!
thanks, girlfriend!
ewww, why would they keep bringing that white back. I have it and it s.t.i.n.k.s.
love love that packaging, though!
Blue India MUST be mine! The makeup bags look lovely too!
I also really like some eyeshadows, especially birds&berries, and
I hope to find at least one lipstick/lipglass that suits me (I love mac lipglasses!).
Yes, I’m a sucker for packaging too. I could buy the powder just for the thrill of taking it out of my purse in front of someone
Anyone knows when the collection is going to be released in the UK? It seems here in Italy we’re gonna have to wait ’till april, but since I’m going to London next week
I got an email from MAC about the release along with free shipping on any order. So I jumped right away and bought Blue India. I’ve had my eye on it since you blogged about it in January.
Wow, Blue India is so pretty!
Want!
Already called my MAC store and it will be mine on Thursday.
Yay!
I pre-ordered and can’t wait to pick up my Blue India at Nordstrom tomorrow (along with the lovely Ever Hip lippie). So a mani is definitely on the schedule for tomorrow night!! Thanks, as always, for sharing all the info with us!
I’m excited to get this polish…color, packaging, everything!
Can’t wait to get Blue India and I’d purchase just for the packaging – also, want to see the lipsticks in the Liberty of London packaging as well! Gorgeous blue!
Thanks for the great comparison pics! Blue India looks great on you. I ordered it yesterday and then started to have second thoughts because I have Gray by Gray. But, your pic made me realize that I did indeed need Blue India too. Thanks!
I like Blue India but the other colors are just blah. I’m so tired of reds, browns, beige and pinks, though I do wear them sometimes if they match my clothes. MAC did well with the packaging as they do most of the time.
Hi Michelle,
Don’t know if u have this yet, but I would luv 2 see comparsion between Blue India & RBL 360. Wondering if close dupes?
Thanks in advance,
Yoli
Hi Yoli! I posted swatches of the new RBLs back in January. 360 is nothing like Blue India. It’s much softer and has more green in its base.
http://www.alllacqueredup.com/2010/01/rescue-beauty-lounge-spring-2010-swatches-review.html
Thanks for swatching these! I have never bought a MAC polish before but I ordered Blue India on Monday and your post makes me excited to receive it!
Wow, the Blue India is nice. I’ve not ever delved into blue or grey polishes but I would try this one. It looks quite wearable!
Is Blue India even close to Rescue Beauty Lounge teal?
I love the look of Blue India, but I don’t get why anyone would wear a straight-up white nailpolish on the entire nail. Does anyone do that?
This color is great !! I have to see if I can find it.
I have been lusting after Blue India since I saw the promo shots months ago. I got more and more anxious as the release date drew near, and placed an online order for it (and some other LoL goodies) the day it launched online, before I’d even had my coffee. I can’t wait for the arrival of the UPS man!
Got Blue India today and Sally Hansen Gray by Gray…the difference to me is minimal, but the SH may be just as hard to find as the Blue India soon. I had to get the MAC after I saw it on Ebay for $21…I was jazzed to get it at the MAC counter for $12.00.
Just bought Blue India today, so gorgeous! I’m planning on putting straight Blue India on my toes, and then layering Blue India with Whirlwind (also MAC). One coat of Blue India on the bottom, then Whirlwind and the another coat of Blue India. It’s drop dead gorgeous. It adds just a slight amount of shimmer, and brings out the blue/green of Blue India.
Hi Michelle:
It’s like two for one here, the polishes are so beautiful and the boxes they come in are collectibles. I see why you collect them, they are works of art. Blue India is as you put it, “a must have.” I want one, I want one, LOL! What other amazing color shades do you recommend that have the gorgeous art boxes?
(((((Love Michelle)))))
Mc Huggs
Well, I’ve never worn anything as wild as blue before… I’m you basic sheer pink kind of girl… but, I have to try that Blue India!! I’m going to go and tell my online beauty group to check out your review as well!! Can’t wait to try it! Looks like Mac online is sold out but it’s available at Nordstom.com. I hope it looks as good on my pale skin as it does on you!
Blue India is awesome! This is my first MAC nail polish, and I’m on day 3 of wear. Only one chip so far, and a quick repair did the trick. This is quite amazing, considering I’m a writer and type all day. Thanks for your reviews, always great