MAC Nail Trend F/W 10 Comparisons
MAC Nail Trend F/W 10 officially launches today at MAC counters nationwide. The polishes went up on the MAC website Tuesday and surprisingly they have not sold out. Perhaps due to the craze over Fabulous Felines.
Speaking of Fabulous Felines, if you’re like me and totally intimidated by liquid liner I highly suggest you try the Superslick Liquid Eye Liners in this collection. I swear on my Helmers that they’re so easy to apply, I just may give up my pots of Fluidline and I’ve been using them for YEARS. On to the reason you’re all here. I wanted to give you some color comparisons before the Nail Trend colors sold out so thank you to everyone who submitted swatch suggestions. |
Application tip: I mentioned in my initial review that I experienced some patchiness due to the stiffness of the brush. I found that if I load up the brush with a little extra polish than normal and gently stroke the brush held horizontal to the nail, I get less dragging. Use a very light touch.
The two main requests I had regarding Earthly Harmony were Sephora by OPI Under My Trench Coat and China Glaze Ingrid. Look how brown Ingrid appears when photographed next to Earthly Harmony. Crazy, right? While Under My Trench is lighter and a bit warmer than Earthly Harmony they are much closer in color to each other than Ingrid.
Originally I thought Imperial Flower looked like China Glaze Orange Marmalade but I had the polishes confused in my mind. It was the other orange glass fleck from China Glaze I was thinking of, Orange-Pacific. OP is a smidge darker, much more sparkly and leans a bit more red.
Those of you who suggested butter LONDON British Racing Green as a substitute for MAC Jade Dragon were definitely on the right path. In the bottle I thought you all were crazy but on the nail, they’re not that far off. The shimmer in BRG is small and evenly dispersed while Jade’s is more like a little sister to glass fleck. It’s more subdued but still multi-sized. Color-wise Jade Dragon is more green and a bit more intense. OPI Cuckoo For This Color is nothing like the other two.
Ming Blue has no real substitute in my collection and none of the suggested comparisons made sense next to it so I chose to show two popular OPI’s that are in the same color family to give you a good reference point. OPI Dating A Royal has a similar, though lighter, base color and Yoga-ta Get This Blue has similar shimmer though it’s darker and leans more towards navy.
Rain of Flowers stumped me. Even though I’m not a fan of this color because of how dark it is, finding comparisons wasn’t easy. The base is a deep red grape but the shimmer makes it look blue. The color would be stunning if it wasn’t so dark. I may try mixing in some white polish to see if that makes it a winner.
I saw a request for OPI Ink and I mentioned I thought it might be an opaque Illamasqua Boo!. We were both wrong. I layered Boo! over Illamasqua Baptiste since it’s a reddish purple and it’s so off. OPI Ink is way too light with too much blue in its base.
Bottom Line: While I found no true dupes for the Nail Trend colors, you may consider passing on Jade Dragon, even though I wouldn’t, if you own British Racing Green. The finish is definitely different and the colors aren’t identical but unless you are a green fanatic you might not find it necessary to life like I do. Ming Blue is still a definite must and Earthly Harmony is a great funky neutral for fall.
MAC Nail Trend F/W 10 created in collaboration with Jin Soon is on sale now in the US and launches Internationally in October. MAC polishes retail for $13/ea for a .34oz bottle and can be purchased online from MACCosmetics.com.
I hope these comparisons were helpful. If you have any additional color questions, feel free to email me or post them in the comments below.
Have I helped convince you to purchase a color or has this saved your wallet from unnecessary expense? What Nail Trend colors are on your shopping list? And if you already ordered, what did you get?
Disclosure: Product samples were provided to me by MAC. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
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Yesterday I ordered the Imperial Flower, Ming Vase, and Jade Dragon. Thanks for the comparison swatches!
I think the last picture should have been “Concubine”. You repeated the first picture again.
Oops, that was an accident. I didn’t do a comparison with Concubine because there were no requests for it.
Can I request one now? =)
me too please!
I need most of them!! Great post!
thanks, these are fantastic!!
I really think Jade Dragon looks like OPI Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow Suede with a layer of topcoat. I keep meaning to ask you if you have and/or have tried it – I LOVE the sparkle and the emerald color seems right up your alley. The picture of JD looks darker in this post than in the original, though… but that may be because I’m using a different computer.
I have that Suede but haven’t tried it yet. It’s sitting on my desk longing to be played with. My lighting is different everyday since I use natural light so colors will never appear the same. I try to get them as accurate as possible but lighting differences play a part in that.
Okay so I tried the Suede next to it and even with a glossy top coat they aren’t alike. Aragon doesn’t have the same richness. It looks more muted in comparison plus the base colors are very different.
Sweet. Thanks!
Wow! I just googled searched “here today aragon tomorrow suede” because I was curious about the difference between the two. Yesterday, I spent $13 on Jade Dragon at Nordstrom then went to my usual nail polish shop and saw the suede Here today Aragon tomorrow for the first time. I was wondering what the difference was since I can usually get OPI for only $6.50. And I was planning on asking you! Thanks ALU !!
You are the best! I’m really excited to try on Jade Dragon. Even though it was pretty pricey (I’m only a college student), i sampled it and the application is flawless like you said!
It’s funny how different polish looks on paper. Last night I swatched Earthly Harmony next to Ingrid and they were sooo similar on paper. I also did Ming Blue next to Yoga-ta Get This Blue and they were more similar too, which is why I didn’t get it. I’m not disappointed though, because I prefer Yoga-ta. I stand by my decision to only get Jade Dragon.
Thanks!
Interesting, I swatched them on white paper and they look totally different. Though swatching at night throws everything off.
Hmm… yea, it was at night in artificial light.
That happens to me a lot too. I swatch polishes on paper at night thinking they’ll be good for comparisons and then in the morning I see their true color and realize how off I was. Incandescent light will fool you every time.
What about Chanel’s Vendetta as comparison against Rain of Flowers? Hm, probably not sparkly enough.
Yeah, Vendetta doesn’t have any blue to it or the same kind of base. And the finish is a lot different.
Great comps! Thanks!
thanks for the comps!
Jade Dragon is on its way to me – I finally caved to the Macborg… at least my very first item from them will be green.
Earthly harmony might find a long lost European raised sister in Catrice’s Clay-ton my hero. Same finish, also lighter than Ingrid.
None of these are must haves for me, I’m somewhat dissapointed with the whole collection
China Glaze Meteor Shower looks pretty similar to Rain of Flowers, but less purple. Maybe more like Ming Blue.
I couldn’t help notice the similarities between SOPI’s Under My Trench Coat and Butter London’s All Hail McQueen. Are my eyes playing tricks on me or do they seem similar?
Your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. The colors definitely have similarities. The finishes are different in that McQueen is more sparkly and has the multi-colored sparkle that give a hint of holo in sunlight. Also McQueen is more of a pinkish nude while the SOPI is more tan/yellow based.
I love the shimmers in these! In all pictures, the shimmers are pretty consistent.
Ming Blue is truly lovely.
O-M-G the green and blue are giving me a fever!!! But what is the OPI Cuckoo? I have never heard of it! new?
Cuckoo For This Color is part of the OPI Swiss collection. Here’s Part 1 and Part 2 of my swatches.
This has convinced me that I absolutely need the collection of Jin Soon polishes this fall…order set to go…:) Thanks for the swatches and the comparisons!
Jesus, Illamasqua Baptiste is gorgeous. Is it still in stores + where is a store in Canada I would be able to find it? I feel like it’s a necessary colour to have. I also feel like I should get OPI Cuckoo For This Color.
I know I should probably be likin the MAC colours since this is an article bout them… but what you said at the beginning about bad application really turned me off. I’m not a polishing expert as you are, and I always feel terrible when I spend money on nail polish and it doesn’t look so great when I apply it
I know that Sephora carries Baptiste and Illamasqua.com has it as well. Though I did layer Illamasqua Boo! over top so you’re not seeing Baptiste’s true color. It’s more red grape without the glitter on top. Unfortunately Boo! is only available on Illamasqua.com and it might be sold out by now.
I enjoy these comparisons.
Thank you! I hope they’re helpful.
I still can’t believe it, but I was at the MAC counter today, watched them prepare the display, swatched them all and didn’t buy any. I guess I’m just not a green-a-holic, because while Jade Dragon was pretty, I couldn’t imagine an occasion when I would wear it. Earthly Harmony, the other color I was considering, was just too beige. The Imperial Orange was kind of obnoxious…that said, I grabbed the last bottle of “It’s Not Rocket Science” later at Ulta and I love it
Hey as long as you found something you love, that’s all that matters.
Hi, Thank you for your swatches! Jade Dragon and Rain of Flowers are soooo amazing, and I have to have these two (plus, concubine)! Butter LONDON’s BRG is also gorgeous, but as I’m living in Japan, it seems that there is no choice except for waiting until MAC launchs Internationally. Including butter LONDON, Deborah Lippmann (since I’m a dark green fanatic, their Don’t Tell Mama is what I need the most,) there are so many polish brands that don’t accept international orders….Can’t wait till October! Thanks! =)
Sorry to post this here, but some person stole your OPI Alice In Wonderland swatch pics for ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/OPI-Nail-Polish-Minis-Absolutely-Alice-Mad-Hatter-/120611555552?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0
Thanks for letting me know. Oh ebay, how I hate you!
Fabulous post. I might have to get my first orange with IF…
So fun.
I waaaaaant Imperial Flower.
I have a Milani polish called Enchantment that from the bottle, looks like it might be close to Rain of Flowers from your swatches. I may have to go check RoF out in person tomorrow and get a better idea.
I’ll have to check it out in person but looking at the photographs of Rain of Flowers it has the same finish as LA Girl Flare’s Dark Purple/Rock Star Groupie or Hot Topic’s purple iridescent.
Thank you so much for the comps!!! I like Concubine but not sure of a dupe or near dupe for it.
Sally Hansen has a close match in their Xtreme Wear line. I think it’s called “Red Carpet”, but I’m not sure. I remember because I considered buying it, but I already own CG Ruby Pumps and OPI Smitten with Mittens. I really shouldn’t get another sparkly red! I love the look of Concubine, but I own too many reds.
that is crazy about ingrid!! WOW! thank you for the comparisons! =)
I’d love to see comparisons for the other shades in this collection.
I had a look at this line at the MAC boutique last night and I have to say, while they are all pretty colours, none really moved me. The only one I liked was the green and the exact same thought ran through my head, why buy this colour when I have British Racing Green. The red (Concubine) seemed to close to Ruby Pumps and why buy more when you already have the best. I love your swatch comparisons, they are so helpful.
Ok, so I thought that none of these were special or worthy of the MAC price tag-but Earthly Harmony somehow still made it home with me. ALU swatch runs a bit dark, the actual colour is more greened putty-and the shimmer is like they dumped a bottle of SH hidden treasure into the mix.
I am definitely getting the Imperial Flower one now!
Thanks for doing that!
Fantastic! I was searching for comparison shades and you’ve done them all. Thank you x
Do you think you could do comparison swatches of MAC’s Jade Dragon and China Glazes Emerald Fitzgerald? Thanks!
Yup, I caved. I bought Jade Dragon today, along with the Burmese Beauty quad, The Prowl & Kittenish lipsticks.
this is kind of random but is there any dupes for MAC blue india or any colors similar to it?
you know, it’s funny but whenever I wear Ingrid, I always end up with it looking like this new swatch. For the life if me I can’t get it to look more ‘greige’. How do you do it?
thanks for the comparison pics!
i own British Racing Green but still bought Jade Dragon
I ordered all the nail trend colors and i can’t wait to get them!
Thanks for this website. FINALLY I can see what these polishes look like without having to buy three or four bottles before getting the real shade I want!
You know, the “Rain of Flowers” looks a lot like Chanel’s Vendetta does with a few coats.
Wow! I LOVE “Rain of Flowers”. Too bad MAC products are SO expensive in Canada.