SWATCH FEST: Sleek Individual Blushes

Hello,

Time for another swatch fest - this time featuring Sleek Individual Blushes.

I have a lot of love for Sleek's products as they are awesome quality for the price point! They also have quite a bit of variety within their range!

I have four blushes to swatch for you out of the ten available on the Sleek website. These colours, to me, have the most universal appeal - quite a few of their colours have a real red streak (which I avoid like the plague! lol).

Top L-R: Pixie Pink, Sunrise
Bottom L-R: Life's A Peach, Rose Gold

L-R: Pixie Pink, Life's A Peach, Rose Gold, Sunrise

Pixie Pink: A matte mid-pink (it reminds me of Barbie! lol)

Life's A Peach: A matte peachy orange. This is a very soft colour and probably the least pigmented of this bunch (which in a way is good because it's harder to stuff up the application!),

Rose Gold: A deep rose pink with a golden shimmer. This has been labelled as a dupe for Nars' Orgasm (and you can read my dupe test about the two here!). It is a really nice, universally appealing, colour but be warned it is very shimmery so don't get too heavy handed with it!

Sunrise: A dark pink-tinged brown with a golden-yellow shimmer. This might be a bit dark for fellow pasty peeps - it doesn't fuss me too much because I'll give anything a crack, but if you're pale and trying it out, start with a very light hand! I can see this being a great colour for darker skin tones!

These blushes will set you back USD$5.99 for 8gms (is that seriously good value or what?!). You can buy them online from www.sleekmakeup.com. If you love Sleek blushes that much you can also buy them in a palette of three's! (Not quite these colours but similar!)

Have you tried Sleek blushes? Do you have any favourites?

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

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: Sleek i-Divine "Original" Eyeshadow Palette

This edition of 'Under The Microscope' is on the Sleek i-Divine 'Original' Eyeshadow Palette.

Sleek is a UK brand and they have a good reputation for being cheap, but still decent quality! I have quite a respectable collection of their blushes (read: most - which I will slowly flood the blog with over the coming months!). I have also compared their Rose Gold blush in a dupe test!

The Original i-Divine was my first Sleek eyeshadow purchase, and I chose the Original because I thought it had a good variety of colours, all of which I am likely to wear. They are a mineral based eyeshadow (still not sure on the significance of that - a quick squiz of the ingredients list shows nothing special IMO). They are vegetarian friendly but not suitable for vegans. The packaging is a simple sleek (pardon the pun... wait who am I kidding I love a good pun!) black case and has a mirror inside. Each an has 12 shadows. There is also a long handled, double-ended sponge applicator (which when you do the maths, 4 sides doesn't cover the 12 shadows!).

i-Divine Original

i-Divine Original Swatches

All of these colours are swatched WITHOUT primer! As you can see, great colour and pigmentation! (Of course, if you wear with primer you will get even more intense pigmentation!). There aren't any names associated with these colours but they are as follows: (Left to Right, Top to Bottom)

- Matte Black
- Metallic Mid Purple
- Metallic Navy with Blue Shimmer
- Metallic Mid Blue
- Metallic Aqua
- Metallic Grass Green
(next row)
- Metallic Gold
- Metallic Pink with Gold Shimmer

- Metallic Rose
- Metallic Copper
- Metallic Bronze
- Metallic Olive

Fall out of these on the face is minimal, but they can get a bit crumbly in the pan so don't go smashing your brush in there! I have given this palette a work out and I was suitably impressed! It lasted very well and the colour went on intensely. I did not use a primer, but I did cover my eyelids with foundation and set it with powder first. I found that patting them on was more effective rather than brushing!

iDivine in action!

The Sleek i-Divine's come in a whole bunch of different colours (brights, neutrals, you name it!) and can be purchased from www.lipstickrepublic.com.au for AUD$14.95 or from www.sleekmakeup.com if you are OS.

Have you used any i-Divine's? Which is your favourite?
Love,

Your PM x

FOTD: Fancy Function!

Hello,

Last week I went to a function and I thought I would share the makeup look that I did for the occasion! (Sorry they are dodgy phone photos but you'll still get the idea!)

My dress was orange lace over beige so I didn't want to go too gun-ho with colour! I chose a co-ordinating bright lip because I like to be matchy like that! haha. The end result made me feel very glam!

I used the following products:

FACE

• Illamasqua Matte Primer
• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #6
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #1 (used for blending #6 foundation into my neck... I have a very pale neck!)
• Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Powder in N2

BLUSH

• NARS Blush in Deep Throat
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Stereo Rose (on apples of cheeks only)
• Napoleon Perdis Contour Palette (brown contour only)

EYES

• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Kryolan Translucent Powder in TL1
• Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Nude Beach (applied damp with MAC Fix+)
• Sleek i-Divine in Original (brown-y colours used)
• Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Mosaic Gold
• Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara
• Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Liner in Equinox
• MAC Pearlglide Eyeliner in Black Swan
• Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss
• Eyebrows: Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Vehement
• Lashes: Lash Republic's 'The Hunter'

LIPS

• MAC Lipstick in Ablaze

There you have it! I hope this serves as inspiration next time you are having a night out!
Love,

Your PM x

FAVOURITES: My April Picks!

Hello,

Tonight I will share with you my favourite products for the month of April! I was tagged on Instagram to show my favourite products (if you are following me @polishedmakeup then you have already had a sneak peek!) so here they are!:



My April Favourites

Illamasqua Blush in Tremble

I love Illamasqua Blushes because they are a reasonable price point (AUD$28) and you get a reasonable amount (4.5gms). They have a great colour range (including a few bold ones!) and are also very pigmented but still easily blendable. Tremble is such a versatile colour. It is pink but you can get away with wearing it with peachy colours! It's also one that you can't overdo and does blend out nicely! I love Tremble so much that it made my post on my Top 5 Illamasqua Products! This is definitely one colour I reach for a lot!

MAC Blush in Mocha

This is another colour I reach for quite a bit, especially when I want more subdued blush (because it's a bit darker than Tremble). I don't own many MAC blushes but this one I am really happy with! It's like a nude/dusty pink (it's a bit like Illamasqua's Naked Rose for those Illamasqua fans playing along out there!). It's not bright but still quite flattering. Like Tremble, this is another one I love so much that it made my Top 5 MAC post!

OCC Loose Colour Concentrate in Wasabi

OCC's Loose Colour Concentrates have quickly earnt a place in my heart for their awesome colours and awesome value! (They are only AUD$14 for 2.5gms! Yes, $14!!! Awesome!). I have a nice little collection happening (I do plan to swatch it for you!) and one of my favourites at the moment is Wasabi! I am loving the bright Chatreuse/Lime Greens at the moment! (This will probably die off a bit in winter though lol). It's very pigmented and worn with a primer/base you get a bright colour that stays put for hours!

Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Luxembourg

I had already given Luxembourg a review, which you can read here. I was throughly impressed with it, especially for something that's a satin finish (as matte's usually have the longer wear time!). The colour is also great! I thought it was a really deep pink, but silly me didn't realise that it was actually red until I swatched it with a bunch of other red lipsticks for a dupe test! Clever me! I highly recommend it if you are in the market for a new red/deep pink! (I had also ordered Lohdi and Yu, which have arrived! Review in the near future! I'll add it to the list...)

Lime Crime Velvetines in Suedeberry

I looooove Suedeberry. It really does have the velvet finish claimed and it STAYS PUT! I was also pleasantly suprised with Suedeberry's colour too... It's a coral! This makes me rather happy due to my fondness of corals! This is a great everyday colour too! I have already reviewed both Velvetines on my blog and you can read my thoughts on them here!

Illamasqua Lipstick in Eurydice

I am quite fond of Illamasqua lippies for their awesome colours and staying powder! They are matte and wear like a coat of armour on your lips! They barely budge! However, the downside to them is that they can feel quite drying on your lips... particularly if they aren't in the best condition! Any imperfections will show up so scrub up before wearing! Eurydice is a bright fuschia pink! This one is not for the faint of heart and really packs a punch!

OCC Lip Tar in Anime

I LOVE OCC Lip Tars because the colour is so intense and it only takes a tiny amount of colour for maximum effect! They feel light as a feather to wear too! (I do have quite a little collection and I will get around to swatching them for you soon!). The only downside (for me) is that becuase they are so light to wear I feel like I'm going to smear them all up my face! (that is mostly because I'm a clumsy pants!). Anime is a vibrant neon pink! It is so intense and amazing! However, it stays put really well when worn with Eurydice (both of these made the list because I wore them together and it was such an amazing combo!).

Sleek Blush by 3 in Lace

These are a bit on the powdery side, but for 20gms of blush for AUD$15 you really can't go wrong! The pigmentation is still really good considering! (Really good!). The Lace palette has a bright orange, a gold shimmery pink and a bright coral/red. You can (just!) see me sporting the middle one in my Anniversary Dinner FOTD! (I have swatched this on Instagram if you are interested).

Do you agree with my picks? What products are you loving at the moment?

Love,

Your PM x

FOTD: Anniversary Dinner

Hello,

It's been a busy ol' week for me (which is why it's been a bit light on with postings, so my apologies for that!). On Wednesday, the Fiance and I went out for a 4 year anniversary dinner! (no, the dinner didn't go for four years! haha... I wish!). I did a reasonably simple FOTD for the occasion but I was really happy with it and it was very much liked by the other half!

I used the following products:

FACE

• Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Primer
• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC15
• Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Powder in N2

BLUSH

• Sleek Blush by 3 in Lace (Middle only)
• NARS Blush in Seduction

EYES

• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Kryolan Translucent Powder in TL1
• Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Drama
• MAC Paint Pot in Blackground
• Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Alluvium
• Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Mosaic Gold
• Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara
• Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Liner in Equinox
• Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss
• Eyebrows: Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Vehement
• Lashes: Ardell Beauties (I had previously washed/soaked them so they are a bit straighter than normal!)

LIPS

• MAC Mineralize Lipstick in Luxe Naturale

I went for a pale lip due to my bright/bold eyes (and also because I was less likely to end up with my lippy all over my face during dinner... It has happened with brighter colours!). The best part about it was that it was pretty quick to do! WOOHOO! (always keen for a bit of time saving!)

I hope this serves as a bit of inspiration when you are next getting ready for a night out!
Love,

Your PM 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