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

SWATCH FEST: More OCC Loose Colour Concentrates

Hi guys and girls!

A while ago, I posted swatches of my OCC Loose Colour Concentrates collection. Today, I have a few more swatches to add!

I love these Loose Colour Concentrates because they are super pigmented and at a really attractive price point given the quality!

The latest three I've picked up are: Smote, Technoir and Overlook!

L-R: Smote, Technoir, Overlook

L-R: Smote, Technoir, Overlook

Smote: A deep beige with prominent silver shimmer. It's a bit like a dark version of Clove.

Technoir: A deep blue with a duo-chrome shimmer. The OCC website says 'Dark Navy/Blue Duo Chrome', but I personally wouldn't call it navy (it does look Navy in the pot but doesn't swatch so dark!). The shimmer is like a purple shift and flecks of gold are also visible. It reminds me of Illamasqua's Alluvium but with finer shimmer.

Overlook: A deep purple with a golden shimmer. It's kind of like an eggplant/aubergine colour.

OCC Loose Colour Concentrates will set you back AUD$14 for 2.5gms (told you they were awesome value!). You can purchase them from Lipstick Republic (and remember code 'RepublicVIBs' for 10% off!).

These are great colours for winter! Smote is a great neutral, I love Technoir because I am absolutely in love with Alluvium and Overlook is such a pretty and dramatic colour for winter!

Have you tried any LCC's? Which ones are your faves?

Love,

Your PM x

FOTD: 'Ombre' Eyes Using Lime Crime Eyeshadows

Hello,

I thought I would share the FOTD from my Babette Review. I haven't really shared a FOTD lately and this is one of Mr PM's favourites. He encouraged me to put it in a post!

So here we go!

Please enjoy my dodgy instagram generated photo! lol

I used the following products:

FACE

• Illamasqua Matte Primer
• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #6
• Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Powder in N2

BLUSH

• Illamasqua Blush in Tremble

EYES

• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Kryolan Translucent Powder in TL1
• Lime Crime D'Antoinette Palette - Mercurious (Inner Corner)
• Lime Crime Aquataenea Palette - Seahorse Discourse (Next Colour)
• Lime Crime Aquataenea Palette - Atlanteal (Next Colour)
• Lime Crime Aquataenea Palette - Nautilus Prime (Outer Corner)
• Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette - Bootycall (Highlight)
• Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara
• MAC Fluidline in Blitz and Glitz
• Eyebrows: Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Gaze
• Lashes: Ardell 117's

LIPS

• Lime Crime Lipstick in Babette

I was super pleased with how this turned out, and plan to do the same thing again soon, but with different colours (of course! lol)

Are there any looks of mine that you would like to see featured? You can see any daily FOTD's I post on Instagram (@polishedmakeup)

Love,

Your PM x

DUPE TEST: Lime Crime Babette

Greetings!

For this edition of the dupe test, I will be seeking formidable comparisons for Lime Crime's Babette. I have already reviewed Babette and you can read what I think of it here! 

Anyway, Let's get straight into it:

The contenders!

Up for comparison:

- MAC Betty Bright

- Illamasqua Obey

- Lime Crime Coquette

- Illamasqua Sonnet

- Nars Lodhi

- OCC Lip Tar Hush

(L-R: Hush, Lodhi, Betty Bright, Sonnet, Obey, Babette, Coquette)

Let's compare:

- Hush: Browner than Babette

- Lodhi: Brighter and more red than Babette

- Betty Bright: Similar tone, but pinker than Babette

- Sonnet: Paler and more orange than Babette (also a matte finish)

- Obey: Similar tone but more Orange (also a matte finish)

- Coquette: Browner than Babette (this was here as a comparison!)

The Verdict: No real dupes here but Obey is probably the closest. If you want something similar but less bright, Hush could also be a suitable alternative. Not many Babette worthy dupes in my stash it seems! (Sorry!)

Note: Hush is very similar to Coquette but a bit more pink! If you mix both Coquette and Babette together, it brings up a similar colour to Hush!

Where to get them (in Australia):

- Hush: lipstickrepublic.com.au (AUD$18 for 10ml)
- Lodhi: meccacosmetica.com.au (AUD$39 for 2.2gms)
- Betty Bright: This was a LE colour (sorry!)
- Sonnet: myer.com.au (AUD$25 for 4gms)
- Obey: myer.com.au (AUD$25 for 4gms)
- Coquette: lipstickrepublic.com.au (AUD$21 for 3.5gms)

Are there any dupe tests you would like to see on the blog?

Love,

Your PM x

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: Lime Crime 'Babette' (Review & Swatches)

Hello,

The much anticipated newest lipstick from Lime Crime is out and I have given it a road test to present my findings to you! Yippee!

Babette is a pastel coral. It's a muted, pale colour.

Lime Crime - 'Babette'

Lime Crime - 'Babette'

As you can see from the swatch, it's nice and muted coral. Not really bright but not really deep! It has been marketed as 'Coquette's' pink cousin! I have swatched them side by side for you:

Lime Crime - 'Babette' (left) and 'Coquette' (right)

As you can see, they are somewhat related. Coquette is quite brown, but still has a pink tone (it reminds me of the colour of bandaids lol). Here is Babette in action:

Babette on the lips, Illamasqua Tremble blush, Lime Crime Aquataenea & D'Antoinette Palettes on the eyes!

The wear time was pretty decent considering it's a pale coloured lipstick! I applied it in the morning, and it had pretty much disappeared by the time I had finished my lunch (expected), but a lunchtime re-application saw a good four hours of wear out of it in the arvo! (could probably be longer but I got hungry! lol). I wore it without lip liner and did not notice any bleeding either.

Packaging is Lime Crime's standard purple unicorn tube (which I have no problem with... it works and it stands out in your handbag! woohoo!). As for fragrance, there wasn't one. This I am perplexed by as normally LC lippies have a vanilla-y scent but this had nothing. That being said, I'd rather no smell than a bad one! (However I am curious as to where it went! lol)

I would recommend this for paler skin tones. I know, personally, I tend to shy away from nudes because they make me feel pale and pasty (and like my lips have disappeared). This is a good alternative because it's got a pink undertone. It's still neutral enough to go with everything but has enough colour to give you a bit of life! It also looks great with Illamasqua's 'Tremble' blush (as seen in the action shot!). It's also a good option if you aren't overly confident for wearing bright colours.

Babette will set you back USD$15.99/AUD$21 for 3.5gms. (Great value considering it's such a quality product!). You can purchase LC from limecrimemakeup.com or in Australia from lipstickrepublic.com.au

This gets a big thumbs up from me!

Have you tried Babette? Thoughts?

Love,

Your PM x

p.s. You can view swatches of the rest of my Lime Crime lipstick collection here!

p.p.s. Stay tuned for a dupe test featuring Babette! Coming very soon! (i.e. As soon as I've published this I'll start it!)

SWATCH FEST: MAC Amplified/Amplified Creme Lipsticks

In this post I thought I would share with you my MAC Amplified Creme Collection. Amplified is my favourite MAC finish, hands down! If you ever want to invest in a MAC lippy, I do recommend trying an Amplified Creme. There are a huge range of colours (I have 12 I am swatching for you today) but they range from nude (safe) to bright (out there), so there is definitely something for every taste! The colour is intense and long lasting! Finish wise, they are satin-y-ish. Definitely not matte or glossy! They often leave a bit of a stain (which doesn't bother me but may bother you). With day-after-day wear they can suck the moisture out of your lips a little (due to all the pigments) - so prep well and balm them!

Lets get swatching!:

MAC Amplified Cremes

L-R: Violetta, Dark Side, Craving, Chatter Box, Haute Altitude, Saint Germain 

L-R: Girl About Town, Show Orchid, Full Fuschia, Impassioned, Morange, Neon Orange 

L-R: Violetta, Dark Side, Craving, Chatter Box, Haute Altitude, Saint Germain

Violetta: PRO. Bright violet with a slight blue shimmer.

Dark Side: A deep burgundy (a great choice for winter!)

Craving: A pinky plum colour (this is my favourite non-bright colour!)

Chatter Box: A mid-pink (red based)

Haute Altitude: LE. A dusty pink. It almost looks nude compared to these. (This was released with the Apres Chic collection and may be hard to come by now).

Saint Germain: A bright baby pink.

L-R: Girl About Town, Show Orchid, Full Fuchsia, Impassioned, Morange, Neon Orange

Girl About Town: A bright fuchsia.

Show Orchid: PRO. A bright fuchsia with a blue-ish iridescence. This has got serious shine!

Full Fuchsia: PRO. A bright fuchsia. This is a teensy bit more red than Girl About Town - and has a tiny bit more shimmer.

Impassioned: A red toned fuchsia. Not as deep as GAT and FF. Reminds me of Maybelline's Vivid Rose (*note to self: dupe test!*)

Morange: A bright, clean orange. (this is my all-time fave!)

Neon Orange: LE/PRO. A bright red-toned orange. (This was released with the All About Orange collection and I believe it's usually a PRO colour)

NOTE: Pro Only colours can only be purchased from MAC Pro Stores (check the MAC website for your closest Pro store).

Other colours in the range are:

- Cosmo

- Fast Play

- Brick-o-la

- Vegas Volt

- Up the Amp

- Dubonnet

- Half-n-Half

- Blankety

(You can check the MAC website for descriptions)

MAC lipsticks retail for AUD$36 for 3.0gms. You can purchase from selected MAC/David Jones counters and online from www.maccosmetics.com.au!

Which is your favourite Amplified Creme?

Love,

Your PM x

p.s. If you follow me on Instagram (@polishedmakeup), you can see some of these amplified cremes in action!

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: Bite Beauty Pastille Lipstick in Violet

Good evening! (or day - depending on when you read this!)

In this post I will be sharing my thoughts on the new Bite Beauty Pastille Lipsticks. These have been out in the US for a while but they have just started to surface here!

Bite Beauty pride themselves on producing 'food grade' cosmetics. This means they are safe to eat! (No parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances/dyes, petrochemicals or phthalates! YAY!). They also contain Reservatrol to fight free radicals (this is good!).

I managed to get my hands on Violet and Lilac (I found these colours the most appealing of the bunch - I love brights!).

Bite Beauty Pastille in Violet

This line is inspired by the French Pastille lollies. They are described as a 'Matte Creme' with a velvet finish. Bit of a contradiction because matte and velvet (in my opinion) are different finishes. When I think matte I think Illamasqua and MAC - no shine at all. Velvet is definitely more applicable. The colour is very intense like a matte lipstick, but it has a satin/velvet like shine. It's by no means glossy though!

Violet Pastille in action! (don't mind me looking half asleep!)

I am totally in love with this colour! It is so amazing and bright! (I did not expect it to be so bright actually!). I wanted to keep looking at myself to admire the colour! (is that vain? lol). It is super comfortable to wear too! Not drying at all! (This is fantastic, as most highly pigmented colours tend to suck the moisture out of your lips!). It's a great option if you are still after a bright colour but your lips are a bit under the weather! I did wear this with a lip liner (MAC's Heroine) because I wasn't in the mood for running lips! (Though from wear I tend to believe that it wouldn't be too bad!)

The packaging is simple - grey with a grippy outer. I quite like them because I don't feel like they are going to go flying out of my hands! They do have a fragrance, it's kind of a fruity type - it's a unique compared to any lipstick I've come across. If it was any stronger I would probably struggle to like it.

These are apparently limited edition (so if you are after any, get your hands on them while you can!). 

In Australia, at this stage you can get them from www.stylepatisserie.com. They will set you back AUD$36.95 for 3.7gms of product (reasonable value!).

This colour gets a big amazing thumbs up from me! (I haven't tried the Lilac yet but if it's half as good as this one it will still be awesome!). The other two colours available are: Lavender (sheer lavender) and Rosebud (pink/red).

Have you tried these? Or any other Bite Beauty products? What are your faves?

Love,

Your PM x