MAC Ruffian Manicure & Lipstick Swatches & Review
MAC Ruffian is a new collection from New York designers Brian Wolk and Claude Morias from Ruffian. The collection consists of three sets of ready-to-wear stick-on nails and coordinating lipsticks.
There are three sets in all and each contain 24 pre-glued stick-on nails in various sizes.
- Spectator Nails – Cream weith black half moon, black french tip and black Ruffian insignia (creme)
- Demoiselle Nails – Ruffian red with white half moon and black french tip (creme)
- Demilune Nails – Matte black with chrome gold half moon (matte)
- Ruffian Naked Lipstick – Pale peachy nude (matte)
- Ruffian Gold Lipstick – Gold glitter metallic (frost)
- Ruffian Red Lipstick – Classic rich blue red (matte)
I have to say, I am generally not a fan of any press or glue on style nails. They never seem to fit correctly and never, ever look remotely real. But let’s see if these are any different.
Demilune, Ruffian Gold Lipstick
Demilune, Ruffian Gold Lipstick
Demilune
Demilune is a matte back with chrome gold half moon. I admit the idea of this color combo and style is pretty cool. But the look on glue-on nails…maybe not so much.
The nails are extremely easy to apply actually, and there were many smaller sizes, which is great because I have small nails. They come pre-glued in the package, so all you have to do is figure out which size work for which nail and presto! Make sure your nails are free & clear of any and all polish beforehand so they stay on better.
They do stick pretty well actually. They claim to not leave any residue when you remove them but I definitely had some residue on a couple nails when I took them off.
I have some other complaints also. The black edges weren’t smooth, there were tiny jagged edges, which you definitely don’t want on your nails. Also, while they stuck to the nail well, they didn’t lay completely flat. So the gold edge was raised above my cuticle. Not cute.
Another small complaint I have, which is more of personal preference than anything else, is that they are WAY longer than I like my nails. No can do.
Ruffian Gold
Ruffian Gold
Ruffian Gold Lipstick is a glittery, frosty gold. This isn’t really a color I would ever wear on its own, however it could add an extra oomph to a pink or coral matte or creme lipstick. I didn’t really think it was that special though in general on its own.
Overall: Honestly? I’m not very impressed. I didn’t think the nails looked at all realistic, and they didn’t lay flat or have smooth edges. The gold lipstick isn’t really anything amazing either. I haven’t see the Ruffian Red Lipstick in person, but that is the one thing out of this whole collection I would be interested in.
Availability: Now at MAC through July 16th.
Pricing: Manicure sets ($25), Lipstick ($14.50).
How do you feel about glue-on or press-on nails?
-Kelly
Note: MAC is not cruelty free.
Do you like this product?
Uh, you’re right. Maybe I just haven’t mastered the trick of using press-on manicures, or maybe I haven’t found a good one, but it’s also a very “no can do” situation here. Also, jagged edges? REALLY???
The lipstick is kinda nice. I can see it has potential layered over another shade, but I already have a gloss that does about that.
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny´s last post…Is there Really a MAC Satin Taupe Dupe in the NYX Rock and Roll Trio?
The nails look beyond fake & cheap. The lipstick is very pretty & I think would be good when you want some gold to accent your base lip color, but not add the shine of a gloss. Still, I’d rather try to find a cheaper version of it.
Sadly, I have to agree. The nails looked to be of poor quality, which surprised me because MAC usually pays attention to the details.
Still, it was interesting to see you wearing this nail design, Kelly! It sure is dramatic.
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Erm — are the nails stuck on upside down?
Nope that’s the way they are supposed to be.
Yea, I agree. I saw these on another blog and they looked very unrealistic. The pointy ones looked even worse, yuck. I think these are a major fail for MAC.
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Oh my goodness, those manicure sets are $25?! That is outrageous. For that price I would take a Chanel nail polish any day. Not too impressed with this collection at all. I really wish MAC would just release a few great collections a year, rather than constant hit or miss ones.
Very interesting, I liked these a lot when I thought the gold part would go on the tips!
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I’ve never tried press on nails, as I think they feel of them would drive me crazy.
The gold lipstick looks nice on you!
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I still think for a one time need (like a photo shoot) these would amazing!
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Thanks Kelly for this post! I’m really funny about “press on” nails but these are spectacular and I’m glad to finally see a post where someone has actually applied them.
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I used to wear press-on nails all of the time and didn’t have too many. They were great to wear for nights out and dates.
After a while, however, it becomes like “whats the ponit?”
You have to spend time finding the right sizes and matches in each set. You have to file, sometimes cut. Carry glue with you wherever you go as there is always that inevitable one or two that fall off. They don’t last more than a few days so the cost involved really adds up. People would always ask if they were “real, had them done, or pressed on”; I wasn’t fooling anyone.
So I grew out my nails and never looked back. I look back at that period and think “what was I thinking??” THIS way is so much better and easier! Not the other way around!
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I kind of like the look of the lipstick, but the nails are awful. $25 for them seems a bit crazy to me!
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They look good but I think I’d have the same issues you describe, with them being too long etc.
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The nails are cool but I dont need them or would buy them. I love the gold lipstick!!
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Waaah-waaah. Although I will give them credit for having an assortment and having them pre-adhesive-d, they just look fake.
I can’t do press-ons. I have some that I got off of Etsy that have really cool designs and I wore them exactly once for a party. They never fit exactly right and they look fake. Then, like Christina said, if people comment on them you have to say, yeah, they’re fake, lol.
The lipstick is nicer than what I expected in the tube, but perhaps not necessary. Like Sunny mentioned, there are a lot of glosses that do similar things.
LMAO, I thought the gold was meant for the tips!!! Now I REALLY don’t like them!!! I am so happy you did not purchase either of these for the review.
I LOVE the color combo; but not a fan of fake glue on nails! I would buy these if they were like the polish strips by Sally Hansen (I know you don’t use her products), but they are SO easy to apply!!! Good review though!!!
That half-moon doesn’t look very… half-moonish. I’m not into fake nails in general, but for me these fail on the design level as well – it looks like a poorly done ruffian when it should look *perfect*.
The gold lipstick looks awesome on you. I ordered it online, and will wear it alone.
I’m not a fan of press on nails but I really like the color combination, I might try it on my own nails.
The lipstick looks cool if you like layering your lipsticks, which I don’t.
Those nails look Dollar Store-ish–not like something from MAC!
I think the nails look awful, to be honest. I like the lipstick and I can see it working well to layer on top of other colors.
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EEEeeee! The nails look too fake. And I think they were trying to make them look sophisticated but they look like something I’d find in a little girl’s dress up kit.
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They look very cool but I wonder if they’d annoy me. The length would be fine since I wear my nails long but the black looks a little weird to me.
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I think press-on nails are generally a bad idea, but I find those just awful.
The lipstick could be nice.
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I just received the Ruffian Gold and Ruffian Red lipstick. I’ve been looking for the perfect red lipstick and this has the right amount of warm and blue based tones. Layering the gold over red lipstick makes it even better.
I really love Ruffian Gold, I wish there was a cheaper drugstore alternative.
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I love the Ruffian design on these (shiny gold + matte black? Yes, please!), but don’t really like press on nails, either. But actually, I really love the gold lipstick! I think I’ll have to count up my empty containers and Back2MAC for it!
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