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

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

DUPE TEST: Illamasqua 'Excite' vs Sleek 'Lace' Blush by 3!

Today's edition of the DUPE TEST is comparing Illamasqua 'Excite' and the Sleek 'Lace' palette.

Let's get straight into it!

Top: Sleek 'Lace'
Bottom: Illamasqua 'Excite'

In the pan, the blush on the right of the sleek pan is the closest to the Illamasqua blush. However it's not quite the same story swatched... 

Top Three Swatches: Sleek 'Lace'
Bottom: Illamasqua 'Excite'

In the swatch, the blush on the left of the Sleek pan is closest to Excite. However, Excite is a touch redder. Though it is more intensely pigmented and this is where it could be getting the red hit.

The verdict: Pretty darn close!

Weight:

Illamasqua: 4.5gms

Sleek: 20gms over 3 colours

Price:

Illamasqua: AUD$28

Sleek: AUD$14.95

These are great colours for summer. I look at them now and screw my face up all "What was I thinking?!", but I was in love with orange blush in the warmer weather! (Lets face it, pink can be a bit ho hum after a while!)

Sleek is definitely a good buy, and you get three colours in one palette - great if want some variety! However, I do lean towards the Illamasqua one in terms of quality (the Sleek ones are a bit more chalky in comparison). So, even if you only want the one colour, the Illamasqua is still a good investment - it is very competitively priced compared to other  'high-end' blushes in the market!

Ulitmately, you need to weigh up what would be best for your needs!

Where to buy:

Illamasqua: From selected Myer counters in Australia, www.myer.com.au or www.illamasqua.com (they do ship internationally too!)

Sleek: Selected online Australian retailers such as www.lipstickrepublic.com.au or from www.sleek.com (if you're international).

Are there any dupes you would like to see compared on Polished Makeup? Drop me a line and I'll see if I can oblige!

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

DUPE TEST: MAC Royal Sunset vs Illamasqua Tremble

Good evening,

While I'm still on my blogging roll (this is post #6 for today!), I thought I would treat you all to another dupe test. I'll have a break from lipstick and focus on blush!

This edition puts MAC's Royal Sunset against Illamasqua's Tremble. Royal Sunset was released with MAC's All About Orange Collection and was one of the first items to sell out! As soon as I had seen swatches of it, I instantly thought of Illamasqua's Tremble. Illamasqua's Tremble is one of my favourite blushes and was featured in my Illamasqua Top Five.

Tremble (Left) and Royal Sunset (Right)



Tremble (Left) and Royal Sunset (Right)

Royal Sunset is described as a soft cool peach and Tremble is described as soft lilac pink. I don't know where the lilac really comes into it, but Tremble is certainly alot more pinker than Royal Sunset. Royal Sunset looks like a pale pink blush in comparison. Definitely cool but don't really know where the peach is hiding (it's very faint!).



Size:

Illamasqua: 4.5 grams
MAC: 6 grams

Price:

Illamasqua: AUD $26
MAC: AUD $41

The Illamasqua is better value both in initial outlay and cost per gram ($5.78/g vs $6.83/g).

VERDICT: Not as close I was expecting. If you are not that fussy and want a really good versatile blush, Illamasqua Tremble would be a great substitute.

Are there any other blush dupes that you know of?
Love,

Your PM x

DUPE TEST: MAC Sounds Like Noise vs MAC Tart & Trendy

Hello,

Here is another edition of DUPE TEST with MAC's Sounds Like Noise (SLN) and Tart & Trendy (T&T).

Both of these lippies are LE. SLN was released with the MAC x Hayley Williams collection and sold out within hours in Australia (can't speak for overseas but I was suprised at how quick it sold out here!). T&T has recently been released with the All About Orange collection. At the time of posting, it is sold out online but some stores are only just getting stock, so if you are keen to get your hands on it you may get lucky! (Note: It's only certain stores that are getting AOO, so you may need to check your local counters for info!).

Sounds Like Noise (Left) and Tart and Trendy (Right)

Sounds Like Noise (Left) and Tart and Trendy (Right)

SLN is a matte finish, whereas T&T is a lustre. Both, however, have been described as a bright neutral orange lipsticks (not much difference there!). They look pretty dead on in the picture, but in real life Tart & Trendy is the tiniest fraction yellower!
Size & Price:

Both colours are 3.0gms for AUD $36

VERDICT: Pretty darn close! You really would be splitting hairs to tell them apart. If you missed out on SLN and it's still a lemming, see if you can still get your hands on Tart & Trendy!

Have you spotted any dupes recently?
Love,
Your PM x

DUPE TEST: Stila Gemma vs MAC Heroine

Hello,

I have just posted a review on Stila's Color Balm Lipstick in Gemma (which you can read here), and it has prompted a dupe test which you may find handy.

Today's subjects are Stila's Color Balm Lipstick and MAC's Heroine.

Gemma (Left) and Heroine (Right)

Heroine has been one of MAC's most hyped about colours, particularly of late! It was recently re-promoted with their Fashion Sets collection (which is where I picked it up) and everyone seemingly wanted to get their hands on it. If you are one of those people that missed out, hopefully this helps!



Gemma (Left) and Heroine (Right)

A dupe test is always made a bit harder when the finishes are different. Heroine is matte whereas Gemma is a glossy finish. Gemma also has a very slight shimmer. The colours are of the same intensity/tone, but Gemma is a tad more red based, and Heroine is a tad more blue based.

Size & Price:

Stila: 3.5 grams of product for AUD$36

MAC: 3.0 grams for AUD$36
(+1 for Stila here!)

Availability:

Stila: Mecca Cosmetica (In-Store and Online)
MAC: Sold out. (But you can purchase MAC from www.maccosmetics.com.au or from select Myer/David Jones Stores)
(Stila also gets the +1 here as it's readily available)

VERDICT: Not quite dupes! Stila is a good alternative if you a) desperately want Heroine and can't function without it, b) you can't stand mattes and want something more mositurising or c) you want a colour nice bright purple.

More dupe tests coming your way very shortly!
Love,

Your PM x

DUPE TEST: Stila Tangerine Dream vs MAC Morange

Hello,

If you have read my last blog post you would know this one is coming!  I have reviewed the Stila After Glow Lip Colours (you can read my thoughts on them here). While I was swatching I came up with a suitable (and quick) dupe test to share with you! *drum roll...*

Stila After Glow Lip Colour in Tangerine Dream vs MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick in Morange

If you have at all read my blog before (or know me), then you would likely know of my love for Morange. It would have to be my all-time favourite lipstick and the colour is awesome! No disgusting yellow undertones here! Woohoo! I am always hunting down orange lippies for the next best thing (yes you can still get Morange but it's just an impulse of mine to look! haha). Inadvertently, I had purchased Tangerine Dream because it seemed nice and bright and glows under UV (lets face it if Morange was blacklight reactive I'd be set for the rest of my life! haha).

Anyway, let's get cracking!:

Tangerine Dream (Left) vs. Morange (Right)

Before I swatched them I thought they were close, but they really aren't as close as I thought. Morange is infinitely times brighter (and looks so bright next to Tangerine Dream even though it's not well conveyed in the photo) and more opaque too. Tangerine Dream has a redder undertone, which is definitely visible in the picture (but don't let it fool you, it's not red!). Apologies too for the staining from the other Stila colours! (My hands hold onto EVERYTHING!).

Size & Price:

Stila: 2.9 grams of product for AUD$25

MAC: 3.0 grams for AUD$36

Availability:

Stila: Mecca Cosmetica (in Store and Online)
MAC: Select Myer/David Jones Stores and Online

VERDICT: Definitely not dupes! Stila though is a good alternative if you a) don't want to fork out for the MAC or b) you want something a bit sheerer that still delivers a good pop of colour.

Have you got any dupe test suggestions? I would love to hear them!
Love,

Your PM x

DUPE TEST: MAC 'Viva Glam Nicki' vs Wet 'n' Wild 'Pinkerberry' vs Lime Crime 'Geradium'

Hello,

If you have been regularly following my blog, or you have stopped by before, you may have previously seen my Lime Crime 'Geradium' vs MAC 'Viva Glam Nicki' Dupe Test.

I promise I'm not running out of material, but I actually have a new player to compare to LC and MAC! WOOHOO! Since posting my first dupe test, I have heard word getting around that Wet 'n' Wild's Megalast Lip Colour in 'Pinkerbell' is a good dupe for VG. Lucky for me, I had it (and shame on me it was in my discard pile!) and I thought once again that I better see what the fuss is about...

If you have read my last dupe test, you will see some of the same information (luckily this ISN'T a university assignment and I can get away with cutting and pasting some of my own work! lol) BUT I will have NEW photos (yay!) and add a bit more info to help you make an informed decision!

So let's get cracking!:

Product stats:

WEIGHT
WNW: 3.3 gramsMAC: 3.0 grams
LC: 3.5 grams

PRICE
WNW: AUD$6.95 (you could possibly find it cheaper from a US based site)

MAC: AUD $36 (MAC is notorious for having product rip offs! Please don't risk it and buy from a genuine and authorised retailer!)
LC: AUD $21 (when purchased from an Australian Retailer, or US$16 from LC direct)

SMELLWNW: What smell?
MAC: YUM
LC: YUMWet 'n' Wild doesn't have a scent but MAC and LC are vanilla scented.

This time, WNW is miles ahead in value! Only $6.95 and you get 3.3 grams of product! Quite reasonable! A good thing to remind you of is that MAC Viva Glam products donate the whole sale price (that's all of the sale not wholesale lol) to those living with/affected by HIV/AIDS. Neat. Also worth noting, while the Wet 'n' Wild doesn't have a scent. I don't think this is such a bad thing! While the vanilla scent of LC/MAC is nice, strong scents do my head in and I won't wear the product no matter how pretty I think it is! So while it doesn't make WNW overly exciting, it's not necessarily a down side.

(L-R: WNW Pinkerbell, MAC Viva Glam Nicki and LC Geradium)

(L-R: WNW Pinkerbell, MAC Viva Glam Nicki and LC Geradium)

 As you can see, you can barely tell them apart in the tube (but of course that doesn't always tell the full story!). Swatched on the hand, you can see subtle differences amongst them. LC is definitely darker and is also a bit more red toned than the others. At this point, WNW and MAC are the closest. Usually when I do a dupe test, I colour in half my hand putting the products here, there and everywhere to make sure I can accurately and honestly report what I see. Today you get my scribbles (products are marked):



To summarise:
- LC is more red (and darker than MAC and WNW)
- WNW is more yellow than MAC but approx the same colour intensity
- MAC has more pink undertones than LC and WNW

FINAL VERDICT: NOT DUPES! (JUST...)

Some people probably would say that they are dupes but I am picky and would say they are different. Either way, they are all good substitutes for one another!

Which do you need? Well, you probably don't need them all (but if you're a collector you could buy them all and be comforted by the fact they are SLIGHTLY different! lol). Which one you choose is entirely up to you, your budget, and what colour would suit you best!
Which should you get? Value wise, WNW is the clear winner. However, LC is Vegan friendly and MAC supports charity so ultimately the decision is yours! :)

WHERE DID I BUY MINE?

WNW: www.crushcosmetics.com.au (a great site for international makeup brands!)

MAC: www.maccosmetics.com.au (I live too far away from a MAC Counter!)
LC: www.limecrimemakeup.com (I bought mine the day it came out! lol)

Until next time,
Happy dupe spotting!
Love,

Your PM x

Limited Edition DUPE TEST: MAC's Ronnie Red

Hello,

Have you ever gawked over a soon-to-be released limited edition product only to miss out when it was released?

Well, lament no more! My series of "Limited Edition" dupe tests aim to help you get through your grief with some suitable (dupable) alternatives!

On the radar tonight is MAC's Ronnie Red from the Archie's Girls collection. This collection was much anticipated and sold out like HOTCAKES online! (the hottest hotcakes you could ever think of). I made a special trip (well, we made a day of it) down to my closest MAC Pro store where I had all my lustings on hold.

Ronnie Red is a bright matte red. Beauty blogger Temptalia (www.temptalia.com) gives it a big thumbs up and describes it as an "incredibly long-wearing red" (I would put my two cents in but naughty me hasn't worn it yet! Whoops).

I have chosen Ronnie Red as the focus for the dupe test, due to the popularity and hype of the collection. There are some other LE MAC's that I will be swatching for comparison (which I know isn't 100% helpful but they were in my tin and you might be lucky enough to have one!) but I feel Ronnie Red was the more suitable focal point for this test!

I have dug through my collection and found nine potentially suitable matches for Ronnie Red. So here we go:

(L-R: Luxembourg, Dragon Girl, Charmed I'm Sure, Aphrodite, Red Passion, Ronnie Red, S.T.O.P, Tramp, Retrofuturist, Absolute Power)

I will compare the following to Ronnie Red:

- NARS Luxembourg: Suprisingly, I would say this is the closest of the lot. It has the pinkish base like RR, but still plays red. It is a fraction more pink but you're really splitting hairs to tell them apart in majority of types of lighting! (I'm pretty sure the men in your life wouldn't notice!). The finishes, however, are a tad different. Luxembourg is glossier, but does dry off (if that's the right term) to a more matte finish. (P.S. I have put Luxembourg "Under the Microscope" here)

- NARS Dragon Girl: Also reasonably close but it's more matte and slightly less pink than RR.

- MAC Charmed I'm Sure: The finish is the same but CIS is darker, with a more a blue rather than pink in RR. This one was also a LE.

- Napoleon Perdis Aphrodite: Not that close. A deep, blue based red and no pinky undertone like RR.

- L'Oreal Colour Riche 297 Red Passion: Closer to NP Aphrodite than RR but a tad brighter than Aphrodite.

- Ka'oir S.T.O.P: Not even close. It was closer in the tube. I was expecting it to be much brighter bit it's kind of like a haemolysed blood red (there's the nerd in me coming out again!).

- Illamasqua Tramp: A more yellow based and deeper red than RR.

- Lime Crime Retrofuturist: Brighter and less pink than RR.

- MAC Absolute Power: Another LE. It's the same toning as RR but is a bit darker.

So which should you pick? In terms of closest to RR, Luxembourg is very close but throws more pink, Dragon Girl is also very close but is more matte and throws more red. Absolute Power (another MAC LE) is also similiar but is darker. Both Dragon Girl and Luxembourg would be suitable subsitutes if happened to miss out. If you find mattes too drying for your lips, I would lean more toward Luxembourg too!

I hope this helps if you happened to miss out on Ronnie Red.

Happy dupe spotting!

Love,

Your PM xx

p.s. I've now added labels to all my posts, so if you are in the web view you can find other posts in similar categories! x

DUPE TEST: Nars Orgasm vs Sleek Rose Gold

Hello again!

I'm on a bit of a blogging roll again tonight so I thought I would treat you to a second post! (don't you feel special? lol). It's another DUPE TEST! Woohoo! 

Nars Orgasm (also covered here) is Nars' best selling blush! (I wonder if the popularity is due to the name?? lol). If you've ever searched ebay for Orgasm (*refrains from making inappropriate pun*), then you may have seen its dupe test competitor: Sleek Rose Gold.

Everywhere you look, you see Sleek touted as a formidable Nars dupe... But is it really?

Admittedly, I bought the Sleek one first for this reason... but still ended up buying the Nars a few months later anyway (can you say, makeup collector? haha). So lets get to it!

Firstly, here are the important product stats:

WEIGHT
Nars: 4.8 gms

Sleek: 8 gms

PRICE
Nars: AUD$45 (I purchased mine from Mecca Cosmetica)

Sleek: AUD$12.95 (I purchased mine from crushcosmetics.com.au)

The Sleek definitely smashes it out of the park in both weight and price! Outstanding value for sure!

Now for some photos!:


Nars (left) and Sleek (right)

This photo sums up why I think this whole dupe test is a bit of a joke... They look NOTHING alike (except for a bit of gold shimmer!). I always had in my head that they were different I just never got around to swatching them to actually check! However, a discussion of Sleek on IG tonight (feel free to follow, I'm @ebdog!) made me decide to bite the bullet and finally test them! Now lets see what they look like swatched:



Nars (left) and Sleek (right)

Ok, I will have to admit I am eating a bit of humble pie right now... I can totally understand why people would call it a dupe. However, to me, a dupe is something that is COMPLETELY identical. These are not. I would be inclined to call them sisters. The Sleek blush is a darker pink and has a more prominent shimmer. Nars is paler and has less of that gold shimmer. Both are very pretty blushes! I am certainly not upset that I have both. I would be more likely to reach for the Sleek in the winter-time because it's that bit darker!


MY VERDICT: NOT DUPES!

Do you need both? If you aren't fussy, definitely not! If you do want both shades of blush, probably!

Which should you get? In terms of value, all roads point to Sleek, which is a clear winner. I would recommend the Nars over Sleek if a) you have a paler complexion, b) you don't feel confident wearing stronger blush colours, or c) if you can't deal with lots of gold shimmer.

So there you have it! I hope this was of some use for you for next time you agonise over a blush! I best finish off my humble pie and catch some z's!

Happy dupe-spotting!
Love,
Your PM x



DUPE TEST: Turquoise Pigments!

Happy Saturday!

As promised on my facebook page (are you following? facebook.com/PolishedMakeupBlog) today's post is a DUPE TEST on Turquoise Pigments.

I don't know what it is about turquoise/teal colours, whenever I see them I am always drawn to them like a bug to a bright light! There's something about them that I find really pretty! I always need to exercise a bit of restraint becuase I think "no, I have something like this already". Although, when delving through my pigment tin, I was suprised I only had 3 Turquoise Pigments (green on the other hand... phwoar! I probably should have done today's DUPE TEST on that! If you guys are keen to see them, please let me know and I can do one!)

I quite like loose pigments and they are usually my go to for eyeshadows. I find these days I reach for loose pigments over pressed shadows. I like that they are so pigmented and it doesn't take much effort to get a good pop of colour. They also blend out really easily and nicely.

Today's products in question are: Napoleon Perdis' Loose Eye Dust in "The Life Aquatic", Illamasqua Pure Pigment in "Chasm" and Inika Mineral Eye Shadow in "Turquoise #22".

Firstly, here are the important product stats:

WEIGHT
NP: 1.8 grams
Illamasqua: 1.3 grams
Inika: 1.2 grams

PRICE
NP: AUD $35
Illamasqua: GBP 15.50 (About AUD $25)
Inika: $25

WHERE TO BUY (AUS)
NP: David Jones, napoleonperdis.com, adorebeauty.com.au
Illamasqua: illamasqua.com (i bought mine on sale), selected Myer stores.
Inika: inika.com.au, adorebeauty.com.au
FEATURES
NP: Flip up lid with non-spill sifter.
Illamasqua: Slip-off lid with large hole sifter.
Inika: Screw off-lid with sifter.

At this point, NP is the definite front runner for the fact it is almost clumsy-proof. The non spill sifter means that if you drop it, you won't lose the whole pot of pigment (the other two will lose much more pigment if you happen to drop them!). To use it you shake it while the lid is closed to release a little bit of pigment! Only down side to NP adding their sifter is you don't get as much product as you used to when compared to their old packaging (but you are less likely to spill it!). Value wise, Illamasqua is the front runner! However, the NP works out about 40c per gram more, so still good value!

Now for some photos!: 


NP (left), Inika (bottom), Illamasqua (right)

You can (just) see the sifter in the NP pan. My Inika pigment has already spilled everywhere and I am yet to take the sticker off (I really wish it wasn't so messy!). At this point the Illamasqua and NP Pigments look the most similar.

NP (left), Inika (middle), Illamasqua (right)

NP (left), Inika (middle), Illamasqua (right)

At this point, the Inika one is the real difference. The NP and Illamasqua pigments have a gold shimmer, which isn't present in the Inika. Therefore, if you are looking for a 'cooler' turquoise, I would recommend the Inika. Between the NP and Illamasqua, the Illamasqua pigment has a touch more gold, as well as a more multi-coloured shimmer.

FINAL VERDICT: NOT DUPES!

Which should you get? If you're after a cooler-based shimmer, Inika. If you are clumsy, NP. If you want value, Illamasqua.

This was a bit of a failed DUPE TEST, especially compared to my last one (perhaps my eyes are too trained and fussy to different colours!). Nonetheless, turquoise is a great colour to have to jazz up your eye makeup. You could wear a pop on the inner corner, smudge it along your bottom lash line or mix it with a sealer gel to create an eyecatching eye-liner. Try it out next time you are looking for something different!

Happy dupe-spotting!
Love,
Your PM x

DUPE TEST: Lime Crime 'Geradium' vs MAC 'Viva Glam Nicki'

Welcome back! (or hello if this is the first time you are venturing to my blog!)

Today's post is something that has somewhat been a 'hot topic' on the internet of late: The comparison of Lime Crime's Lipstick 'Geradium' and MAC's Lipstick 'Viva Glam Nicki'.

Lime Crime released Geradium, the latest lipstick in their colourful collection, on Valentine's Day (which was the Friday in Australia). As soon as I saw it I HAD to have it (mostly due to them having a sale and becuase I have all their other lippies! lol) BUT I did not think to ponder what I had in my stash first. My bad.

Soon after, a lot of comparisons started popping up comparing LC and MAC and here I am thinking "OH DEAR...". Nevertheless, I've FINALLY decided to get around to comparing the two to see what all the fuss is about (thank you blog!). So here are my results from the 'dupe' test! (this is starting to feel like a university lab report now! lol)

Firstly, here are the important product stats:

WEIGHT
LC: 3.5 grams
MAC: 3.0 grams

PRICE
LC: AUD $21 (when purchased from an Australian Retailer, or US$16 from LC direct - but shipping is $11 so either buy lots or wait for a sale - or both!)
MAC: AUD $36 (MAC is notorious for having product rip offs! Please don't risk it and buy from a genuine and authorised retailer!)

SMELL
LC: YUM
MAC: YUM
(both vanilla based and tasty!)

OK, so LC is the definite front runner at this point based on weight and price (and value for money is a good thing!) HOWEVER, every cent from the sale of VG Nicki goes towards helping those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS (definitely an awesome thing MAC does there!). So if you want to look good AND do your bit for charity too, VG is a good option!

Now for some photos!:


LC (Left) and VG (Right)

 

LC (Left) and VG (Right)

As you can see, in the tube you would be splitting hairs to tell them apart... Not much difference at all! (Except for the fact I've used VG but yet to use LC). But as some of you may know, looks can be deceiving and quite often products can look different when swatched! So lets see how the swatches come out...

LC (Left) and VG (Right)

 

LC (Left) and VG (Right)

Would you believe it... They're DIFFERENT! (JUST!)
They are a bit more punchier in real life too compared to the photos, definitely nice and bright and not for the faint of heart (or colour!)

On the skin, Geradium throws a bit more red, where as Nicki throws a bit more pink! They are both great colours and I am glad I have both (but I am a bit of a collector and I'm fussy so I can get away with it!)

FINAL VERDICT: NOT DUPES!

Do you need both? Probably not! (Definitely not if you aren't fussy either!)
Which should you get? If you are going for better value, LC. If you want to do your part for charity, MAC. If you want a slightly more red tone, LC. If you want a bit more pink, MAC.

Do bear in mind the celeb-sponsored Viva Glam's (such as Viva Glam Nicki) don't stick around for ever - so if you want it, get it while you can. Geradium is definitely a good alternative if you can't get your hands on the MAC one. Lime Crime also pride themselves on being Vegan friendly and don't test on animals (I can't comment on MAC for this one because I am not 100% sure).

So there you have it! I hope this was of some use for you. I will try and do a look in the not too distant future using Geradium (especially because I haven't used it yet!).
If there are any "DUPE TEST" colours you would like to see featured please let me know! (If I have them I will happily oblige!).

Happy dupe-spotting!
Love,
Your PM x