As part of the Holiday Nutcracker Sweet Collection, Mac released various lip kits that make beautiful gifts for the holidays. The lip kits come either in mini version or with full size products, both with a great value. I have six kits in total so I’ll go through each kit and I’ll let you know which one are my favorite and which one are less favorite.
The Mac Nutcracker Sweet Nude Lipstick Kit ($35) comes with four hues of nude mini lipsticks with the cutest packaging. The shades that come in the set are:
Creme Cup (light blue pink in cremesheen finish)
Kinda Sexy (neutral pinky rose in matte finish)
Nouvelle Vogue (soft blue pink in matte finish)
Whirl (dirty rose in matte finish)
The shades in the set are all classics. They are shades that are among the best selling lipsticks in Mac. I like that they’re not totally nude shades but instead you get a good variety of pinky nudes, nude with brown and beige undertones.
Swatches L to R: Creme Cup, Kinda Sexy, Nouvelle Vogue, Whirl
Next up is the Mac Nutcracker Sweet Nude Lipgloss Kit ($35) with three mini Cremesheen Glass and one Dazzleglass all in different shades of nude. The shades that come in the kit are:
Fashion Whim (light beige cremesheen)
Prancin Dancin (copper shimmer dazzleglass)
Pure Delight (light coral nude cremesheen)
Nutty & Naughty (midtone pinky brown cremesheen)
Swatches L to R: Fashion Whim, Pure Delight, Pancin Dancin, Nutty & Naughty
I really like the Cremesheen Glass formula. They all have medium coverage so can be used on their own for a sheer wash of color or as lip toppers. The Dazzleglass is also pretty if you want to add some sparkle to your lipstick. I don’t wear lipgloss that often but when I wear it I always reach for nude shades so this set is perfect for me.
The Mac Nutcracker Sweet Nude Patentpolish Kit ($35) comes with four mini Patentpolish Lip Pencils in different shades of nude. It comes with the following shades:
Pleasure’s All Mine (pale warm nude)
It’s Really Me (warm nude)
Revved Up (creamy peach)
French Kiss (warm caramel)
Swatches L to R: Pleasure’s Mine, It’s Really Me, Revved Up, French Kiss
I’m trying the Patentpolish formula for the first time and I have to say that these are my perfect everyday no fuss lip product. They have enough pigment and add some color to your lips, provide plenty of hydration and make your lips look juicy. Everything that I’m looking for in a lip product.
The MAC Nutcracker Sweet Pink Lip Gloss Kit ($35) comes with three mini Cremesheen Glass and one Dazzleglass shade all in different hues of pink. The shades that come in the kit are:
Fashion Scoop (clear pink cremesheen)
Rags To Riches (plumpink with teal and red pearl dazzleglass)
Charm (intense blue pink cremesheen)
Twirling (deep plum cream cremesheen)
Swatches L to R: Fashion Scoop, Charm, Rags To Riches, Twirling
Now this set is not my favorite not because of the quality but because of the shade selection. I don’t wear a lot of pink shades and if I wear them I prefer either a lipstick or a liquid lipstick. But if you like pink lipglosses this set is a nice one to get. The size of the lip glosses is actually a pretty good size and doesn’t resemble a mini.
The Mac Nutcracker Sweet Red Lip Bag ($39.50 and a $58 value) comes with three full size lip products and a very cute travel makeup bag. The shades are all in this beautiful holiday appropriate red shade and you get a lipstick, Pro longwear Lip Pencil and a Vamplify. You get the following products in the lip bag:
Lipstick in Candy Cane (intense blue red)
Vamplify in Suggestive (intense blue red)
Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Trust in Red (bright cool red cream)
Swatches L to R: Suggestive, Candy Cane, Trust in Red
This is your perfect Christmas party shade in three different formulas. You can mix and match and get a matte red look or add the Vamplify on top and go for a glossy red lip. All in all great for someone who loves wearing a red lipstick.
And lastly the Mac Nutcracker Sweet Pink Retro Matte Kit ($35), a kit with two bonbon pink shades, a mascara and a cute makeup bag. You get a candy pink shade in a Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour and the same shade in a lipstick form. The shades that come in this kit are:
Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Bing Bang Boom (intense warm pink)
Lipstick in Pandemonium (bright clean warm pink in retro matte)
Upward Lash Mascara in Black
Swatches L to R: Bing Bang Boom, Pandemonium
This is my least favorite set because of the shades. I just can’t pull off any bright pinks and that’s why I avoid wearing them. Otherwise the two lip shades are extremely pigmented and very long wearing so if you like to wear bright neon pinks you should check out this set.
So if I have to pick favorites I would go with all the nude sets, they’re all very nice and come with cute packaging. If you like nude shades or if you’re looking for a gift for someone who loves nudes they’re worth checking out and make pretty affordable gift sets.
As of now all the sets that I mention are in stock on maccosmetics.com, some are online exclusives but I know that some you can find in stores if you want to check them out in person.
*PR Sample