DUPE TEST: MAC Impassioned vs Maybelline Vivid Rose

Hello,

If you are a regular (or semi-regular) follower of the blog, you would have seen that I've posted swatches of my MAC Amplified Creme collection and in that post I thought of a good dupe test: MAC Impassioned vs Maybelline Vivid Rose!

MAC Impassioned (Left) and Maybelline Vivid Rose (Right)

MAC Impassioned (Left) and Maybelline Vivid Rose (Right)

The verdict: Not as close as I was expecting! 

While they are both pink-y, Impassioned is more red and a bit deeper in colour. Don't get me wrong, it's still vibrant, but nowhere near as vibrant as Vivid Rose (the camera doesn't show the brightness but it's seriously amazing!). I was honestly expecting these to be closer, as when I swatched the Maybelline Vivids, Vivid Rose had that real red streak! That being said, if you are makeup minimalist (which I am not), then you probably don't need both! I love Impassioned, but I also love Vivid Rose - I keep swooning over the colour and I really need to hurry up and wear it.

Are there any other dupe tests you would like to see on the blog? Let me know!

Love,

Your PM x

p.s. The PM is on facebook! www.facebook.com/PolishedMakeupBlog

PRODUCT COMPARISON: Dual Phase Eye Makeup Removers

In order to have good makeup, it's important that you look after you skin! Taking your makeup off at the end of your day is important so that the day's grime does not sink into your skin overnight! (Though everyone is guilty of sleeping in it at some time... am I right? lol)

This product comparison is on dual phase eye makeup removers - an essential part of a makeup removal routine!

Why dual phase?

I will try not to get too chemistry nerdy here but hopefully this makes sense! Liquids can be either polar or non-polar. Like dissolves like (so polar substances dissolve polar substances but non-polar and polar won't dissolve each other). You know how oil and water don't mix? This is because water is polar and oil is non-polar - they sit together but don't interact (like two socially awkward peeps at a party! lol). This same theory is applied to these makeup removers! By having both polar and non-polar solutions, it means that there is a greater chance of dissolving all those different products that you've put on your eyes! (Think of it this way: water alone won't clean the grease off your stove! Same thing goes for makeup removers!)

I hope I haven't lost you with that chemistry ramble (the joys of being a chemistry major!).

Dual phase removers are good because they are super effective. In one swipe, 90% of my HEAVY eye makeup is removed! The only part that lingers is mascara - but it just takes a little more soaking and elbow grease to dissolve it! 

I have five different eye makeup removers (on various stages of rotation) that I have tested and they all get the PM's tick of approval! So it's up to you which you choose!

L-R: Maybelline, Napoleon Perdis, L'Oreal, Clinique, Clarins

Maybelline City Rescue Total Clean

70mL for AUD$6.95 (99c per 10mL)

Perks: Great travel size, also suitable for lips

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Duet Makeup Remover

137mL for AUD$39 ($2.84 per 10mL)

Perks: Proudly paraben free, contains ingredients to soothe the eyes

L'Oreal Gentle Eye Makeup Remover for Eyes & Lips

125mL for AUD$12.95 ($1.03 per 10mL)

Perks: Suitable for sensitive eyes, suitable for lips, opthalmologically tested

Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover

125mL for AUD$35 ($2.80 per 10mL)

Perks: Suitable for lips, fragrance free

Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover

125mL for AUD$42 ($3.36 per 10mL)

Perks: Suitable for sensitive eyes, non-stinging

If you are budget conscious, the Maybelline and the L'Oreal are the best options. If you are patient, you may even be able to snare them on sale! (Bargain!) However, the others you could pick up when that brand has a GWP or sale. (For example, I will often buy Clarins when they have a GWP as I also use their skincare!)

While these all work well, my star pick would be the L'Oreal for it's pricepoint and how well it works! (I bought it out of desperation when I had a lippy disaster and I was blown away!)

Hot tip: Make sure you rinse after cleansing - particularly if you want to reapply makeup! And shake them really well before use too!

Have you tried any of these removers? Do you have a favourite?

Love,

Your PM x

DUPE TEST: Pale/Baby Pink Lipsticks feat. Maybelline Pink Pop

Hello,

This edition of the Dupe Test features baby pink lipsticks. After posting my Maybelline Vivids Review, I have wanted to get to work on finding lippies that these bargain tubes of awesomeness are dupes for! So essentially, this post is a comparison of a bunch of lippies to Maybelline's Pink Pop to see which is close (and dupe worthy).

Baby (or pale) pink lippies aren't something that I am stopped in the street for. I generally turn to brighter coloured hues (fuschia pinks, purples and corals). Nonetheless, they are a good choice if you wear soft makeup and want to wear a lipstick that is more exciting than nude!

Lets get to it! Today's subjects:

- Melt 'Darling'

- Illamasqua 'Plunge'

- Maybelline 'Pink Pop' (of course!)

- MAC 'Saint Germain'

- Lime Crime 'Great Pink Planet'

- Coloured Raine 'Confection'

- OCC 'Lovecraft'

- OCC 'Digitalis'

These are all 'cool' pinks (i.e blue based pinks rather than yellow based pinks).

L-R: Melt Darling, Illamasqua Plunge, Maybelline Pink Pop, MAC Saint Germain,  Lime Crime Great Pink Planet, Coloured Raine Confection
OCC Lip Tars: Lovecraft (Top) and Digitalis (Bottom)

L-R: Digitalis, Lovecraft, Darling, Plunge, Pink Pop, Saint Germain,  Great Pink Planet, Confection
(Photo taken with flash)

In both photos, Pink Pop is 5th in from the left.

L-R: Digitalis, Lovecraft, Darling, Plunge, Pink Pop, Saint Germain,  Great Pink Planet, Confection
(Photo taken under a cool light)

- Digitalis: Paler and dirtier than PP.

- Lovecraft: The tiniest fraction purpler than PP, plus it has silver sparkle.

- Darling: Matte and more purple based than PP.

- Plunge: Paler and matte and marginally more yellow than PP.

- Saint Germain: Paler than PP but of similar tone.

- Great Pink Planet: Paler and grayer than PP.

- Confection: A bit deeper and marginally more purple than PP.

The verdict: No real dupes here (sorry!) BUT Lovecraft, Pink Pop and Confection would be suitable substitutes for one another (in other words you probably don't need them all). Either way, it's good to see some swatches!

Also note worthy: Great Pink Planet is a bit greyer than Saint Germain, but if you are trying to be a makeup minimalist you won't need both! (My personal pick of the two would be Saint Germain because it's brighter, but if you're budget conscious go for Great Pink Planet!).

Size & Cost:

- Melt 'Darling': USD$19 (can't find a weight) - note: they don't ship international anymore!

- Illamasqua 'Plunge': AUD$25 for 4gms

- Maybelline 'Pink Pop' (of course!) - AUD$16.95 for 4.2gms

- MAC 'Saint Germain' - AUD$36 for 3gms

- Lime Crime 'Great Pink Planet' - AUD$21 for 3.5gms

- Coloured Raine 'Confection' - USD$13 for 3.5gms

- OCC 'Lovecraft' - AUD$18 for 10ml

- OCC 'Digitalis' - AUD$18 for 10ml

I'm actually quite glad these are all a bit different!

Is there any dupe tests you would like to see? Let me know!

Love,

Your PM x

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: Maybelline Vivids Lipsticks

Good day reader! *twirls moustache* (kidding!)

Today's UTM is on the Maybelline Vivid lipsticks! I picked these up when Priceline had 40% off, and have been meaning to put them up for yonks. However, I did want to wear them first but time is dragging on so I thought best to just get them up! (I will update this post if there is anything out of the ordinary when I wear them!).

There are 8 colours in the Maybelline Vivid's range. I have 6 I will swatch for you (missing from the collection are Neon Red and Electric Orange).

The packaging is simple, transparent coloured cap with chrome-esque edging. All Maybelline lipstick packaging is similar - but the colour of the cap changes depending on the range (the Vivid's are an orange-y red).

Swatch time:

(L-R): Pink Pop, Fuchsia Flash, Vivid Rose, Hot Plum, Shocking Coral, Vibrant Mandarin
(Taken under direct light)

(L-R): Pink Pop, Fuchsia Flash, Vivid Rose, Hot Plum, Shocking Coral, Vibrant Mandarin
(Taken under indirect light)

Pink Pop: A blue based pale baby pink.

Fuchsia Flash: A bright blue based mid pink.

Vivid Rose: A mid pink/red hybrid. (It's not quite red but not quite pink!)

Hot Plum: A purple tinged pink. It is purple compared to the other colours, but it still has a good influence of pink.

Shocking Coral: This is probably the more yellow-toned one of the bunch. A pink based coral.

Vibrant Mandarin: A red-based orange. 

What is good about these - particularly the pinks - is that they all lean a bit blue. When I swatched them, they all exuded a blue tone (though Shocking Coral was a bit more yellow). Regardless, pasty, yellow-hatin folk will like these!

For a 'drugstore' lipstick, I was surprised at how intense the pigmentation was! And these really are bright too! They even managed to stain my arm for the brief five minutes that they were on! They were creamy and even. It does take a couple of swipes to build the colour up, but it does build up easily.

The ingredients:

Normally, I wouldn't include ingredients, but this time I feel compelled (haha!). High end lippies (a la MAC etc) have Castor Seed Oil as the first ingredient. These have Lanolin. Lanolin is an animal by-product from wool (helps keep it waterproof). Therefore, if you are vegetarian/vegan, these probably aren't for you! (Ultimately your decision of course!).

My pick would be Vivid Rose - it's such an interesting looking colour (and at first glance is not a shade I really have in the collection!). There are a few within this collection which are rather dupe worthy, and I will endeavour to get them up sooner rather than later.

These are available from various retailers including Priceline, Chemist Warehouse and K-Mart. The going rate is AUD$16.95 and it gets you 4.2gms of product (very good value!).

Have you tried the Maybelline Vivid's? Which ones are your favourites?

Love,

Your PM x