MAC “Fashion Sets” Nail Lacquer Swatches & Review

Like Hansel, matching your lips and tips is “so hot right now.” For the past couple seasons, we’ve seen matchy-matchy lip and nail combinations rock the runways and red carpet and, if anything, the trend is growing even stronger. Zac Posen, Donna Karen, Badgley Mischka and Narciso Rodriguez are just a few of the designers who showed paired pout-digit looks for fall.

MAC Fashion Sets Spring 2013

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Of course, MAC was hot on this trend when they introduced the Fashion Sets concept last summer. Well, they’re at it again with four statement making sets of matching lip, nail and eye colors. For years, I’ve spouted off on my dislike for identical tips & toes but, lips & tips, this I can get behind.

Formula & Application: MAC Nail Lacquer is 4-Free(it does contain camphor). 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.

If you’re a longtime reader, you know that I’ve given the MAC formula grief in the past but it has made serious strides in the last couple of years. It flows seamlessly on the nail and self levels. The pigmentation is great with all the shades except the light pink. Even though it’s not at all chalky, it did leave some streaks so I needed three coats. The rest of the polishes give full coverage with two thin coats.

MAC Ablaze is a tomato red creme. MAC describes is as a “bright orange” but there is too much red in it for that. It’s got a hint of pink that gives it a slight coral feel and sets it apart from the other orange-reds we’ve seen this season (OPI My Paprika Is Hotter Than Yours, Essie Hip-anema).

MAC Ablaze Nail Lacquer

MAC Embrace Me is a deep raspberry pink creme. It lives in the same shade neighborhood as Zoya Reagan.

MAC Embrace Me Nail Lacquer

I received all the matching Embrace Me lip products as well, so I did a lip swatch to show you how they pair. I used the Embrace Me Lip Pencil, Matte Lipstick and Lipglass and, as you can see, it creates a punchy, bold look.

MAC Embrace Me Lip Pencil, Lipstick, Lipglass and Nail Nacquer

MAC Heroine is a mid-tone violet creme. I’m not gonna lie, I misjudged this one. I assumed based on bottle color alone that it wouldn’t flatter me; I tend to gravitate to cool purples. Color me wrong! It’s not nearly as warm as I anticipated. It’s actually a lighter version of CND Eclectic Purple, a fave shade of mine. Just another reason you can’t rely on bottle color when selecting a nail polish.

MAC Heroine Nail Lacquer

MAC Silly is a tulip pink creme. It’s bright but not obnoxiously so. I don’t anything quite like it.

MAC Silly Nail Lacquer

Bottom Line: Heroine ended up being the surprise of this collection. It’s one of my new fave purples and proof that I CAN wear warmer purple shades. I just have to find the right one. Ablaze is my other big winner from the collection. It’s a unique take on orange-reds. Embrace Me is nice but not something I see myself reaching for often. Silly’s streaking issues earn it a “pass” from me.

All four MAC Fashion Sets Nail Lacquers are available now on MACCosmetics.com. Some shades are still for sale on Dillards.com, Macys.com and Nordstrom.com. Counter availability will vary. MAC Nail Lacquer retails for $16/ea for a .34 oz bottle

Do you ever match your lips to your tips? If not, is it a look you will try? Are any of these colors calling to you? 

Disclosure: Product samples were provided by MAC. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.