There’s something moody about the polishes in the new MAC Nail Trend F/W ’09 by Jin Soon collection — not PMS moody, but Joy Division/black lipstick/angry love poetry kinda moody.
The bulk of the colors in this eight-piece collection feel dark, serious and hard-edged. The closest to puppies-and-flowers is Cool Reserve ($12), a creamy grayish purple.
Coincidentally, it’s my favorite!
Cool Reserve
I’m drawn to Cool Reserve’s softness and femininity. Some of the other colors, like Dry Martini (a creamy dark khaki), feel almost masculine to me. They’re cool, but not my style at the moment.
There are different strokes for different folks, though, so take a look at the rest of the swatches and let me know what ya think…
For Fun
Dry Martini
Beyond Jealous
Dance All Night
Rich, Dark, Delicious
From left to right: Overlaquer top coat, Underlaquer base coat
While at the counter today I had some de ja vu/vu ja de — a few of these colors looked awfully familiar.
Cool Reserve bears a resemblance to Putt-E-On Me by Barielle ($8), For Fun looks like Demi by Zoya ($6) and Beyond Jealous could pass for Envy by Zoya’s ($6) sister.
Even though these colors aren’t groundbreaking, I’ll give MAC mad props for stepping up their nail game.
These polishes apply smoothly with rich, shiny, even color, and they chip considerably less than the MAC lacquers of yore.
For die-hard MAC collectors, this might be a fun launch to check out.
Hawt in here
It’s hotter than Hades up in my apartment right now! The only thing keeping me cool is my trusty fan and a tall glass of green iced tea.
What’s your favorite hot day drink?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Oh yah, MAC’s Flirt With Fall false lash collection also dropped today, too. 🙂
love that grey-purple! but its soo darn expensive!
.-= sher’s last blog post… Early prezzies + Another Giveaway =-.
Hi Sher,
Barielle’s is similar (a little tad darker) and cheaper. You also might want to check Taupe Drawer from Pure Ice ($2). Sandy, one of the commenters, says it looks similar. 🙂
I like the Cool Reserve, it’s an interesting color but doesn’t seem to shiny. Also I like ‘For Fun’ cause I’m crazy about purple this season, dunno why. Looks more shiny than the other and I think I will try it. Hope it last long:)
.-= Tavia’s last blog post… Dior-JazzClub Collection – Makeup trends fall-winter 2009-2010 =-.
Hi Tavia,
It’s pretty shiny… plus, you can always remedy the sitch with a good top coat, right?
I’m in love! I can’t wait to get these in the mail!
.-= Jess’s last blog post… dirrtyxx: Definitely shed a bunch of tears during the past two hours. =-.
Hi Jess,
🙂 Yay! When will yours be coming in?
Love cool reserve, yet agree its too expensive for my budget right now. Recently, I bought a similar color “taupe drawer” from a brand called pure ice (cost 1.99). Its a great alternative; have received lots of compliments.
Hi Sandy,
Thanks for the drugstore dupe recommendation! 🙂
Is it just me or does Cool Reserve look like MAC copied OPI’s Parlez-vous OPI? I’m holding my bottle to the screen and ain’t seeing a whole lot of difference.
My first week at school is over! God, I’m so tired. I have a seemingly endless pile of reading to do too. One chapter and two stories for Gender & Sexuality, three (very boring and mind-boggling, mind you) chapters for Physical Geography, two chapters for Social Psychology in a book that hasn’t come to my house yet. I finished my Children’s Lit homework and that’s it. My brain feels like spaghetti.
At least I went to all my classes unlike a certain younger brother I know. He actually thinks he can do 16 credits and work at the same time. With the rate he’s going, I hazard he bit off a bit more than he can chew.
I hope you’re keeping Tabs cool too! Pets overheat so easily! It’s been raining here all day today along with being cold. Ugh.
Hi Kate & Zena,
I was wondering when you were going to start classes. Do you like your professors?
Tabs is currently holding court in the bathroom. The tiles are nice and cool in there. 🙂
I have to agree with you Karen, Cool Reserve looks amazing. I’m not one for lavender or grey, but I think that might change – I saw a concrete shade by Maybelline and it looked awesome!
Girl, I understand you. Today it was so hot here in Buenos Aires I thought I would melt. I mean, we’re still in Winter! (Hello, Global Warming!) And I’ve a cold, yeahhh!!!
BTW, I just had a couple of spoons of dulce de leche, and I remembered you while eating it. I think you mentioned you liked dulce de leche some time right? LOL 😀
.-= Marce’s last blog post… Givenchy Gold Sequins Prismissime – Review Detallado =-.
Hi Marce,
Oh, that sucks. I hate being sick when it’s hot out. I hope you feel better soon!
And yes, dulce de leche is my FAVORITE. I could eat an entire jar of it if left to my own devices.
Cool Reserve is lighter and slightly cooler/bluer than Parlez-vous OPI (that’s actually the finger/toe combo I’m going to do), and Putt-E-On Me pulls less purple and more brown. Yes, I own them all. It’s a sickness. 😛
Also got Dry Martini and Beyond Jealous. I’m wearing Dry Martini now and I love it! I call it Army surplus nails and I love the kinda gritty edginess it has! I’m saving Beyond Jealous for colder weather, I think it will look great with all my coats!
Hi Glosslizard,
That’s a great nickname for that color. I should wear it with my camo capris!
Dry Martini and Rich, Dark, Delicious will be mine….Buhahahah lol
.-= Apple Diva’s last blog post… Every Little Step =-.
Hi Apple Diva,
LOL! Dry Martini will look so pretty with your skintone.
Give my nephew a big kiss for me!
I’m feeling the greens this season but I have to say I like Beyond Jealous far better than Dry Martini. The olive tone just doesn’t feel right to me. As far as the other four shades, I’ve found lookalikes in my collection so I’m happy about that.
Hi Sole,
Nice! You practically have the entire collection at your fingertips already.
I’m thinking Beyond Jealous will look cute on toes.
Oh, and thanks for the swatches Karen! It always helps to get an up close look! I’m feeling the iced green tea too! I drink it all day (alternating with water) during the summer. I like to throw a couple of fresh mint leaves but I don’t have a garden right now.
Hi Sole,
Yum — I have to try that tomorrow. 🙂 I love mine with honey… I bet mint would give it an extra kick!
Do you think you might get any of these polishes?
yep, i like cool reserve
Hi Rachel,
It’s so pretty, huh?
How’s your evening going? I’m waiting for Project Runway!
I’m loving beyond jealous. I have a thing for those almost-but-not-quite-black looks.
Karen,
I started Monday. I have classes Mondays (1:00-6:45), Tuesdays (4:00-8:50) and Thursdays (2:00-4:45). I’m beat because all my classes are “block classes,” meaning they meet once a week so it’s a lot of reading and a lot of homework. I didn’t think I’d be so beat after my first week. I took an hour long nap with Zena when I came home I was so tired. It’s not the homework that’s kicking my ass, it’s how long I’m in class at a time (2 hours 45 minutes).
I really like my lit teachers. My Gender & Sexuality teacher I had for Women in Literature. I took that class because she was teaching it.
My Children’s Literature teacher likes to give us candy and we sit with our desks in a circle. She’s a great teacher. I was eating Smarties the entire class while reading children’s books like The Rainbow Fish, Stellaluna, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, I’ll Love You Forever and I Wanna Iguana. I totally have a children’s books list going. I lost a lot of my childhood books (bad movers) and I forgot a lot of the names so as I find them, I’m writing them down so I can get them! I have a total soft spot for children’s books. I’m a 4-year-old at heart.
I don’t yet have an opinion on my Geography and Psychology teachers. We haven’t done a “real” class yet in either. Obviously, I wouldn’t be part of choir if I didn’t like my choir director. It may be my fun class but if I had a truly horrible director, there’d be no way in he-dookie I’d take the class.
Dry Martini looks great!
.-= Blovet Beauty’s last blog post… *WISH LIST * =-.
I agree with another poster – cool reserve reminds me of an OPI color from last years French inspired line. I’m painting my nails with Beyond Jealous right now and i bought For Fun (my next toe color) I’ll let you know my thoughts in a minute….
I like these colors. Rich, Dark, Delicious & Dry Martini will be mine =)
.-= Marisol’s last blog post… Shopping is my middle name =-.
hi karen – i just finished testing out beyond jealous and i’m on the fence about the color – it reminds me of ‘Here today…Aragon Tomorrow’ but not as emerald from the new OPI Espana collection. Maybe the natural sunlight will be the better judge. Suffice to say, I am a fan of the thick opaque consistency! Maybe I’ll trade Beyond Jealous for Dry Martini…
Can’t wait to try out For Fun.
The grey purple is gorgeous but expensive 🙁
Ooh and exciting news: I might be crossing the pond sometime in September 🙂 I’m still waiting for an email back from two of my Canadian friends. If I can stay at their places then I’ll book my plane ticket. So exciting!!
Wow Karen, these colors are beau-ti-ful!
I bought Dry Martini. I own hundreds of polishes, but nothing like that, so I had to have it! I really like polishes that are the opposite of what “nail polish” used to be (i.e. pink).
ooooh! I am loving “For Fun,” reminds me of my fave YSL nail lacquer (color #43…cannot find…booo!!!) that I love with all my heart. I am def. going to get this. Btw your nails look so pretty! Love the length!
I LOVE “Beyond Jealous” and “Rich, Dark, Delicious”. I’m very attracted to deep, dark Prussian blues and rich espresso browns lately.