ALU’s 365 of Untrieds – MAC Biker Blue
365 of Untrieds is my personal challenge to weed through the polishes in the ALU stash that I’ve been wanting to try but just haven’t gotten around to.
I’ve had a love/hate relationship with MAC polishes for a long time now. At first it was issues with the formula but that has greatly improved. I used to say that MAC was only good for dark & sparkly polishes but since the formula change that’s no longer the case. Now my major point of contention is with the brush. Can we start some sort of petition to change that horrible stiff brush? I propose MAC switch to the brush in the mini bottles from their Tartan Holiday collection as it was truly fabulous! The current brush is hindering fabulous colors, like MAC Biker Blue, from achieving their true potential. |
Formula & Application: MAC Nail Lacquers are 4-Free (including Formaldehyde Resin). The tall cylindrical glass bottles are topped with a round, rubberized cap and a thick, stiff, round brush. The MAC brush can be your best friend or worst enemy. It allows for perfect polish placement but if you press too hard you’ll end up with patchiness or drag marks, so polish with a light touch.
The consistency of Biker Blue is nice and thin but well pigmented. It flows flawlessly on the nail and would only need two coats if it wasn’t for the brush causing dragging. I barely touched the nail with the brush but it still impedes application. I ended up needing three coats but that shouldn’t be the case. MAC PLEASE CHANGE THE BRUSH!!
MAC Biker Blue is a denim navy blue sparkler. It was released as part of the MAC Jeanius collection, thus the bit of dusty green in its base. It keeps it from being a true navy. The royal blue micro-glitter is apparent in most light but thankfully dries smooth.
When I first applied it, I thought I was looking at a dupe for Barielle Blackened Bleu from the All Lacquered Up Collection but the base of Biker Blue is decidedly blue whereas Blackened Bleu’s is black with teal micro-glitter. The closest I came to finding a twin is the discontinued Revlon Street Wear Midnight. The only major difference is the silver glitter in Midnight.
Bottom Line: I love the color and the finish but it’s not uber unique. While I don’t have a dead-on dupe for it, I have enough sparkly blues to tide me over (hello RBL Under The Stars). I think that damn brush is keeping me from giving this one the thumbs up because I really do love MAC’s retooled formula and the wear time I get from their polishes.
365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: Unless someone knows of a way I can change out the brush on this polish, it’s a SHARE. Yes, I could dump it into an empty bottle but the brushes in my franken bottles aren’t much better.
MAC Biker Blue has been moved to the “Goodbyes” section of MACCosmetics.com so if you want this color, you best get on it. Availability at MAC counters will vary. MAC Nail Lacquers retail for $14/ea for a .34oz bottle.
Thoughts on Biker Blue? Did you pick it up when the collection launched? Who agrees that we should petition MAC for a new brush? Or am I making a mountain out of a mole hill?
Disclosure: A product sample was provide by MAC. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
I almost snapped a bottle of this up from a MAC counter the other day. I was really interested in the purple shine I saw in the bottle, making it look almost like a duochrome. Any of that purple come through on the nail or was I just seeing things?
Hey Maria,
I found the purple really came through in the sun, but definitley use a good top coat over it. It makes the colours show up much better.
I don’t know how MAC got away with such terrible quality nail polishes for so long. They still are not very consistent with their polishes. The other polish from Jeanius looked like it could be pretty but it looked terrible in pictures because of application and formula issues.
MAC polishes (with the exception of Jade Dragon) never manage to rope me in, possibly because I have so many other polish companies I rely on. I usually purchase makeup from MAC and nothing else. Besides, I also own a lot of sparkly blues and I can definitely pass on this one.
I have neveer liked MAC nail polish because I though they were boring and overpriced. This one I LOVE. I was amazed it only took 2 coats for great coverage, It is sooo sparkley (more so with a good top coat) The brush didn’t annoy me but neither did I love it. So glad I bought this one despite my non liking of MAC polish
I didn’t see it until just now, but I think this may be a dupe for LA Girls Punk.
Bye – Bye Biker Blue – I won’t miss it. Have others similar – and KNOW that Zoya as well as others will do this not uber different/new shade a whole lot better down the road. And yes, petition MAC for a better brush – I hate it!I don’t get many MAC polishes because I have been burned too many times ordering them mail order without seeing them (playing with them) in person. No MAC store close at all by 450 miles – and only a MAC counter in a Nordies about 2.5 hr hard drive each way with major expensive parking fee to boot.
I totally agree with you. My favorite polish in the whole world is MAC (molasses) but it is hell to apply because of that brush!
ive never tried MAC polishes, but i never have any desire to because every color they put out just seems soo unoriginal. and for that price, i might as well buy two bottles of china glaze or something. thanks for showing us this one!
I bought this when it came out and I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who had dragging issues. I do like the colour, but wasn’t at all happy with applting it
Where can you buy MAC polishes at?
Oh you must have missed where I linked to the MACCosmetics.com website in my post. You can also buy them at MAC counters in department stores and freestanding MAC stores.
The brush is stiff on MAC n/p; however, I absolutely love the little rubberized handle. It makes it so easy to open a tightly closed bottle and you can get an excellant grip for application. Plus, this is going to sound weird, but I just like the way it feels for some reason. I really love MAC n/p in general!
I agree with the brush being just god awful! I bought this polish as a birthday present to myself. I was really excited because the color looked gorgeous in the bottle. I was so disappointed with the application that I almost returned it back to MAC to get a refund. I kept it only because I like the color too much. These brushes need to change!!
TBH I thought you were swatching Ming Blue for a second time when I saw the thumbnail picture.
i love this color, and i was wondering if you had tried it because it looks similar to RBL’s under the stars.
the brush didn’t give me any problems. i have small nails though so they’re easier to cover.