My Winter Nails: MAC Ice Parade Mini Nail Lacquer Kit

A belated New Year's present to me, that I only recently received (thanks to the otherwordly delays in the domestic post this past holiday season), was something I've been eyeing for quite some time now: the Dazzlespheres Mini Nail Lacquer Kit from this year's Ice Parade/Holiday 2011 collection.


Now, in theory (and in reality), I have enough nail polish to last me well over a decade, but this little selection of shades made my pupils dilate each time I came across them; so, naturally, I needed them in my life! The shades are (as shown from l to r): Style Tip, Much Adored, Dark Angel and Mistletoe.

Let's take a closer look:


Style Tip is one of those cream "mannequin nails" shades, a soft, muted beige-pink shade. Those particular shades are the hardest to suit my skintone, since I find they often look "dirty" on my nails - this, however works lovely! Style Tip required 2 to 3 coats to achieve an opaque finish (depending on thickness and steadiness of your hands during the application).


Much Adored is a beautiful shimmery milky white, shot with the prettiest golden pink shimmer! If you know me by now, you've probably figured out that I don't usually go for "girly" or "princessy" shades, when it comes to my makeup, but this is exactly how I'd describe it and I don't mind it all; I love the "polished" effect it gives (swatch is taken after 2 coats)!


Dark Angel is a deep, dark violet shade, in a cream finish, despite it being labeled as a frost (god knows why). Beautiful dark shade, but the formula wasn't the best: this one definitely needed 3 coats to achieve that bottle opacity.


Finally, there's Mistletoe, what sold me to this set in the first place: a rich, uber metallic greenish gold. I adore this one! I knew all along that Chanel Peridot wouldn't work for me (I found the greenish iridiscence a little too much for my skintone), so this was the next best thing. One coat would have sufficed, but I added a second one. As I'm typing this, I can't help but smile looking at my statement metallic nails! :)

By the way, this set marks my first experience with MAC nail polish; my thoughts on it: so far, so good. I wasn't 100% wowed by all the shades, but then again I rarely ever am by any nail polish brand. To be honest, the application was probably better than I expected, given the frequent backlash that MAC gets when it comes to their nail polishes.

One thing I would have preferred though is for the bottles to have been a little bigger: each "mini" is about 2.66 ml, which is too little to be considered a "mini" in my book - "teenie tiny" is more like it. Buuut, I do love these shades and they're the only ones I can imagine wearing this season, they really lift my spirits in this super cold (maximum today is -1, yeehaw) and stressed (upcoming exams) time of the year!

Now, I know this is a totally unfair post to you all, since it was a LE/sold out item and all that jazz, but I thought it was worth a mention. I promise the next one will be something more...contemporary!


So, what are you wearing on your nails this time of the year? Do you pick your nail polish depending on the weather?

What's your opinion?

  1. Dark Angel is beautiful. And I pick my nail polish depending on my mood. Right now I am wearing bright (acid?) lime and there is lots of snow outside...

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    1. @Marina(Makeup4all): Oh, I'd love a lime colour on my nails right now, gotta use a bright one to liven the spirit when it's this cold! ;) xx

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  2. I think thats a great set of colors!!!!!!! I love the gold!

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    1. @Tali: It is a great selection of shades, isn't it? Something for everyone too! Yes, I knew you'd like the gold, hehe!!! :) x

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  3. Dark angel looks fantastic! Too bad it takes so many coats :-( I pick my nail polish according to my mood, and right now i have bare nails as i cannot decide if i want to redo a shellac manicure, or put acrylics:P

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    1. @EllysMakeupbag: Oh, I know how it is... (nail) decisions, decisions! I'd love a shellac too - but I cannot justify it, I have so much nail polish that needs to be used uuuupppp!!! :)

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  4. I just love the Dark Angel of all,and it suits so much on your skin tone!Great post and pictures hunni!!!

    xxxx

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    1. @Blushingloves Irene Greece: I'm not surprised that everyone seems to like Dark Angelon me the most, it's the only one that makes the biggest contrast against my ghostly pale skin, lol! Thanks hunni! xxx

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  5. Uh I love Mistletoe and Style tip :D Yeah usually wear darker shades at winter, like grey, plum, navy and more bight colors at summer, love coral and pink on tanned hands <3

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    1. @Emilie Delance: I know what you mean, I was looking at my neon nail polish shades a few days ago, as I was tidying up and I've been reminiscing the summer days ever since!!! :) xx

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  6. uperoxa xrwmata! to perissotero agaphmeno einai to Dark Angel nomizw! sumfwnw me thn eirhnh!

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    1. @Lydia: To Dark Angel υπερισχυει σε ψηφους, lol! Thanx for the comment dear! x

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  7. Dark Angel! Amazing! I've been looking for that kind of dark purple/violet!

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    1. @ElenaKat: Hmm, κ οχι τπτ αλλο, αλλα δεν μου 'ρχεται κ κανα καλο dupe στο μυαλο... Αμα βρω θα σου πω! Φιλιαααα κ υπομονη (σε ενα ζουμι εξετασεων βραζουμε ολοι)! xxx <3

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  8. I absolutely ADORE the first two and the nude one seems to suit your hand so elegantly hun :) xxx

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    1. @fashion written with a lipstick: Thank you doll!!! :) xxx

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  9. Πολυ ομορφα χρωματα ολα! Σπανιο για σετακι να ειναι ολα ωραια.. Το Dark Angel υπερθεικο και σου παει παρα πολυ!! Και το Mistletoe πολυ εντυπωσιακο και μου θυμιζει και λιγο το peridot της chanel που εκανε παταγο φετος

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    1. @beautyincrisis: Πραγματι, προσεγμενο σετακι, γι'αυτο κ μου τραβηξε την προσοχη τοσο πολυ!!! Και οντως, το Mistletoe κ εγω το πηρα σαν εναλλακτικο Peridot, μιας και οι πρασινοι ιριδισμοι δεν θα μου ταιριαζαν καθολου...! Τhanx για το comment girl! :)

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  10. Tina....you are such an enabler. This is the only thing from MAC's holiday collection that I wanted but I was good and told myself no. After seeing your swatches I am going to have such a hard time refraining because they still have this set at my local mac store!

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    1. @Kajal Couture: Oops, lol! Feel free to blame me for any impromptu MAC purchases! :DDD xx

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  11. Happy New Year ^_^/
    Omg, these polishes are fabulous indeed! And they look great on you too :D
    I say a girl can never have enough nail polish ;)

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    1. @Cel: Happy New Year girl, apologies for the late reply! Yes, I know EXACTLY what you mean, I'm desperately trying to finish up my Metro Chic and an old purple Erre Due for months now, but that hasn't stopped me from buying new ones...! It's a disease, that's for sure! :DDD xxx

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  12. Hi! Such pretty shades! I really like the dark purple one, thanks for sharing :)

    Isabel x

    "I" is for Isabel

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    1. @Isabel: Thank you girl, glad you enjoyed it! :)

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  13. Dark Angel and Style Tip are my kind of colours!Absolutely lovely!And who cares if they are LE...!After all MAC repromotes stuff from time to time so swatches are ALWAYS helpful and welcome!;)

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    1. @Athina: Yeah, you're right, who knows when they'll repromote them or a few that look just like them! Thanks for the comment and the overall support! Hope you're well up there! Mwah! xxx

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  14. lovely polish colours

    Greetings from Spain

    http://thetrendyfrog.blogspot.com/

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  15. @The trendy frog: Thank you dear! :)

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