Collection 2000 Shimmer Shades in Blushalicious

 Looking at this picture, I'd never have picked this for an affordable drugstore blush. Each generous square is richly pigmented with fine shimmer and brings to mind Givenchy's Le Prisme Powder Blushes or Jill Stuart's Mix Blush Compact (this review is really really funny by the way).

But not only is it from the drugstore, it's one of the most affordable brands you can find there:

This picture is way too warm, check the above image for more true to life shades 

At only about HKD60 this blush is a steal beyond words. Here's why:

Duped!: YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stain vs L'Oreal Paris Shine Caresse

(L-R) YSL Corail Fauve #12, L'Oreal Bella #604, L'Oreal Lolita #606, YSL Rose Vinyl #15 

This is a bit of an exciting one for me anyway. Because, not only is this a definite dupe, I'd argue it's a BETTER version of its more expensive counterpart.

I'm going to make this as detailed a review as possible so hang on to your hats!

Glossy Stain

Both these glosses have the same unique, almost magical tendencies. They go on like glosses, set to an even, silicone-like layer that continues looking glossy but is waterproof and just about kiss proof and just a little bit sticky. When they wear off they leave a pretty stain behind. Some days I even deliberately blot off the gloss and just slick lip balm over the stain. Both seem to last equally long, I usually only have to touch up after lunch. I also love that they can be used over balm, which makes them so much more comfortable!

Review: Poppy King for No. 7 in #2 Power

No. 7 next to Lipstick Queen's Saint

My apologies to those saw this post without a writeup earlier today. Was stuck in a meeting and couldn't paste the review til afternoon.

My best friend acceded to my selfish demands and brought back the No. 7 Poppy King Lipstick in Power and the lipgloss in Allure from UK last month. Let's take a peek at the Power lippie today.

Good & Bad Posietint Dupes: 2True Lip & Cheek Tint & Etude Fresh Cherry

On the left you see my battered, empty bottle of Posietint that I bought over 2 years ago from the UK. I figure anything I can use for 2 years and use up every single drop needs replacing. So I recently hauled one from the US with the girls. But even when buying from the US spending RM98 doesn't exactly make me happy. So I shopped around for cheap dupes while I was waiting for the new Posietint to arrive. 

The two I tried were 2True Lip & Cheek Tint & Etude Fresh Cherry Tint in Shade #2

2True is a budget English brand that I got a friend to bring back for me. At only GBP1.99 I figured it was worth a shot. The bottle is glass, like Posietint, as is the nail-polish-like brush.

When I first hauled the Fresh Cherry Tints in Shades #1 and #3 this one was sold out. So when I found them back in stock I not only bought one and a backup for myself, I bought some as Xmas gifts. I'm now known as the crazy Tint lady there. It's only RM25.90 each and comes in a handy plastic bottle with a dove-wand applicator. It's not recommended for use as a cheek tint but is perfect for lips.

Review: Australis Creme Colour Blush

I never paid much attention to Australis Cosmetics until the beginning of this year. The packaging is so teen-oriented, I always walked past their rack towards other brands. It's a little like Silkygirl in Malaysia - its not the first display you go to when you want to check out new arrivals.

Until you realise that the brand is full of undiscovered gems.

Take this blush for example. It caught my eye when I was going through a cream blush phase a few moons ago and turned me into an Australis convert since.

(Doesn't it look so pretty against my hat?)

Actually, this little pot of pink is meant for both cheeks and lips. I have tried it both ways and very much prefer using it as a blush instead of a lip colour for three reasons: first, the strong lavender scent makes me a bit wary of putting this near my mouth; second, one of the ingredients makes my lips itch; and third, I feel a bit iffy about double-dipping in pots and all that. A little odd as I ordinarily wouldn't give two hoots about hygiene issues.

It must be the lavender scent which is making me think twice.

I bought this in Dusky Rose, which as you can see from the swatch, is a pretty bright pink blush so it's easy to go overboard and look like Bozo the Clown. The best way of applying this blush is to lightly swipe the surface with your fingers and pat it onto your cheeks, before blending out lightly with a kabuki if needed.

Voila! Instant English rose pretty.

I have tried using a stippling brush but nothing quite beats using the fingers for applying this blush. I suspect that it's because this product contains quite a bit of oil and wax, which gives it a lot of 'slip' and makes it a little sticky.

This blush works best for me on bare skin, with a little bit of primer underneath. It has a tendency to wear off faster over foundation so I only take this out on days when my skin is on its best behaviour and want a bit of a pretty flush on my cheeks.

Something I realised recently is that this product is a deadringer for Bloom's Sheer Colour Cream, from the packaging and texture, right down to the lavender scent.

Australis Creme Colour Blush retails for AUD 8.95 and comes in three colours: Flirtatious Pink, Dusky Rose and Chocolate Truffle. Bloom's version costs AUD 22. Guess which one I am going for?

Duped: Smashbox Muse Palette by Silk Naturals Bon Voyage Shadows

I feel hopelessly in love with the Smashbox Muse Palette ever since I saw it. The absolutely gorgeous postergirl for the collection didn't hurt either. But not only is Smashbox really pricey, the pallete was US$48! It wasn't available in Malaysia.

So imagine my delight when the genius Karen of Silk Naturals duped the pallete in loose mineral-shadow form. And believe me, the colours are GORGEOUS. Here are the four darker shades I bought at US$4 each. You can opt to buy all 10 shades here for US$37.50 - but I like being able to get only the shades I want.


Colours & Formula
Karen really outdid herself formulating these shadows. The finish is shimmery with a delicate translucency that makes even vibrant purple Vacation" wonderfully wearable. They are smoothly blendable and last all day over a primer.

(L-R) Bon Voyage, Vacation, Getaway, Resort

Incidentally, Bon Voyage is the first blue shadow I've bought in years and is currently the ONLY shadow in my collection. I don't use it often, but I'm so in love with it!

Look

The lovely finish of the shadows make even a multicoloured look like this wearable even for office wear! Granted, my eyes really aren't the best to show off colours (and don't I know it!) but I was quite pleased with this look even if I do say so myself. ; )

Crease: Vacation
Outer-V: Getaway
Lower Lashline: Bon Voyage

Conclusion
These shadows are LOVE and they encourage me to play with colours a bit more. I do have a tendency to stick to brown, brown and more brown! I'm considering getting a few more of the darker shades.

Duped: Benefit's 10 Highlighter/ Bronzer Duo (Again)

This is the second Benefit 10 dupe featured on So Loverly! You can read all about the first one here and Kahani's rave on the real deal here

I stumbled upon the new Australis Duo Powders a few days ago and was thinking, "Hmm... This looks familiar... " when lightbulbs started going off in my head.

"NARS Blush and Bronzing Duos! Eh, no... The NARS powders are in separate pans and e.l.f. does their dupe."

Then I got it.

"Benefit's 10!"

So smack me and call me a dodo, it took me that long to figure it out. The square compact, the dual toned powder and the large brush would have had anyone else squealing "DUPE" within 3 seconds. Even the application instructions are similar to Benefit's sexy sweep.

I have only checked these out at Target but from what i have seen so far, the Australis Powder Duos seems a lot more travel-friendly from Benefit's 10. The packaging isn't as pretty as Benefit's 10 as it comes in a plain black square, palm-sized plastic compact. But it seems to be pretty sturdy with a good clip and there are two compartments -- one for the brush and another for the powder -- and a mirror.

A point in the Australis Duo's favour is that this comes in 3 different shades (from left to right in the picture): Sunkissed Glimmer, Rosy Bronze and Sunkissed Gold. Sunkisser Glimmer is more of a highlighter/ bronzer duo whilst the other two are blush/ bronzer duos. I would recommend Sunkissed Glimmer for the really fair, Sunkissed Gold for those with fair to light/ medium tones and Rosy Bronze for darker skin tones. I am personally lemming for Rosy Bronze as a blush/ bronzer and Sunkissed Gold as a highlighter/ bronzer.

I don't have swatches of these (lighting in Target is horrible!) but the powder duos seems to be rather smooth and pigmented with a light shimmery finish. I was pleased to see that it was pretty-discrete shimmery, not in-your-face-disco-ball shimmery.

These would be lovely products for the summer and I think Australis made a mistake by not launching them earlier in the year. However, this doesn't seem to have affected sales as Sunkissed Glimmer was completely sold out when I spotted these the other day.

I haven't had the chance to try Benefit's 10 so I can't say for sure how well these two products compare in quality. Judging from the packaging (travel-friendly packaging is always a big point for me), variety and price, I think the Australis Powder Duo wins out for me. Instead of spending AUD 49, I could buy all 3 duos and have change for a movie.

The Australis Powder Duos is a Target exclusive product so hop over to your nearest Target and check it out!

Duped: Benefit's Ten Highlighter/Bronzer Duo

You may mock it's admittedly ludicrous name, but in being a rather decent dupe of a product over 21X it's cost, Nose Shadow will have the last laugh!

Ok, so that was a tad over the top. But seriously, finding a credible dupe for RM5 is every budget beauty maven's dream! I won't pretend that the Nose Shadow here is the equal of Benefit's Ten in functioning as a highlighter and bronzer, but it may surpass its more expensive rival as a contour palette!

Read on for a comparison.


Found in Daiso (The Curve, Mutiara Damansara) Nose Shadow is marketed as err... powder for contouring your nose. And in actual fact it does work very well as a mini contour palette. In a sturdy plastic case, it features a sheer, matte, medium-dark brown shade for contouring, and a sheer, matte white shade for highlighting.

Because both shades are matte, I believe Nose Shadow surpasses Benefit's Ten for use on an oily nose, and in terms of natural contouring for day-wear all over the face. However, the shimmery pretty bronzy and pale pink shades in Ten make it more glamourous for night-use, and prettier as a day-time bronzer & highlighter.

In a nutshell, Nose Shadow is more natural, and is for straight up countouring. While Ten is more glowy, and works better as a bronzer/highlighter/blush.

Oh, and if you want to do the "Sexy Sweep" I don't see why it won't work just as well with the half-and-half Nose Shadow as it does with Benefit's Ten.

Usage

For both products, my brush of choice is the petite fibre optic blush brush from Silk Naturals. It lays down a sheer and natural amount of pigment that can be built up, and it's small head (1.5cm in diameter) allows precision and control around the nose and under the cheek bones.

I brush the brown/countouring shade down the side of my nose from my tear ducts to my nostrils (Tyra's tip to focus attention on the eyes), under my cheek bones, along my hair-line and the sides of my face (to make my face appear less round), and under my chin to define my jawline. I then dust the white/pink/highlighting shade on my cheek bones, verrryyy lightly down my nose bridge, on my eye brow bone, and on the tip of my chin. And oh, for plumper lips it really does work to dust some highlighter above the top lip, and countourer under the bottom lip.

Then using a tip from Leesha of xsparkage, I blend the highlighter and contourer on my cheeks with a sheer blush and dust face powder over the whole to give it a more natural look.

For more contouring tips, watch Leesha's great video. Warning, it will make you want to rush out and buy that gorgeous Coastal Scents contour and blush palette! (Note I'm rather addicted to Leesha's great vids. Unlike many other You Tubers she's articulate, not-annoying, not too fast or slow, and her videos are pretty educational! Check out "the perfect red lip tute" too).

Guest "Duped": Nivea Visage Anti-Wrinkle Q10 Plus Repair Night Cream

The incomparable Eli treats us to our very-first Guest "Duped" Review! Not only has she found a cheaper version of Nivea's impossibly-long-named cream, she's found a cheaper and BETTER version. Read on!

Nivea’s Australian/ New Zealand television campaign for their Q10 range had my sister giggling like a 3 year old a few years ago. It involved asking a bunch of women with different nationalities what their beauty secret was (the answer was “Q10”). The last was a Frenchwoman who exclaimed, “L’ amour!” before adding, “And Q10.”

As I already have “L’ amour”, I decided to give the Nivea Q10 Night Cream a whirl over winter. My skin peeled badly last winter so I wanted something extra rich this year. I wasn’t impressed. Nivea Q10 did everything a basic moisturiser was supposed to do and kept my nose from peeling all winter but it didn’t do anything extra for my skin.

I was wondering what to buy next when a friend casually mentioned that our local Aldi had brought in their skincare line. My ears pricked up.

(Aldi is a European discount supermarket chain along the lines of Macro and Carrefour in Malaysia. Their products are generally of pretty good quality and really cheap. They are a godsend to poor ANU students on a budget and their chocolate chip cookies are amongst the best things to have happened to Canberra.)

The Aldi’s Siana day and night creams won a few UK beauty awards this year and have been flying off UK shelves ever since. I was very, very curious.

Sadly, Aldi Australia is only carrying their Lacura skincare range (Aldi has two skincare lines: Lacura and Sianna). I decided to give the Lacura Night Cream a go anyway. It was a lot cheaper than other night creams available and had both retinol and Q10.

Does anyone here still remember the old Hazeline Snow cream which used to come in a glass container? Nearly everyone’s grandmother, mother or favourite aunt used to have a jar on stand-by around their dressing table. When you poked your finger into a new jar, the cream would crinkle up like stiff whipped cream before softening around your finger. I used to find it fascinating.

Lacura’s cream texture and smell is almost exactly like Hazeline Snow. It brought back childhood memories of poking around my mother’s and aunts’ dressing tables and of cuddling up against my grandmother after her bath. I nearly bought another jar to give my grandmother for nostalgia’s sake after my first use.

Lacura Night Cream is the best skincare product I have picked up during my 3 years in Australia. It sinks in well into my skin, has refined my pores and caused my blackheads to disappear. I even tried using the cream on a recent back-acne breakout and it cleared up beautifully after a few days.

My mother has sweetly requested that I get 2 jars for her this Christmas.

Both creams come in 50 ml jars but Nivea’s Q10 Night Cream costs AUD 17.99 while Lacura’s version is AUD 7.99. I am sticking to the cheaper version, thank you.

Note: Good grief, now I want a jar of this miracle stuff!

Duped: Make Up For Ever's HD Microfinish Powder

I'm not actually sure who duped who in this case. After all, Make Up For Ever essentially repackaged something that's always been around - 100% silica powder, whereas Pure Luxe Cosmetics is selling it as it is. And LOOK at the price difference? For US$30, you get 0.35 oz (10g) of product, while Pure Luxe sells the equivalent amount for US$6. And for those who really LOVE the stuff, you can get 30g for US$14, three times the amount, less than half the price. So does it work, and how do they compare? Read on:

Does it work?
I only sampled the Pure Luxe offering, and at the price of US$30 a jar, chances are things will stay that way! But so far I am quite addicted to it. It really does provide a pore-less porcelaine finish to the skin. It's glowy, but not shimmery. It's almost ethereal looking at first, but settled down after awhile.

Although the powder is pure white, unless you are very dark skinned, or dusted far too much, it applies translucently. It also controls oil pretty well. I've been using it to set my foundation and with SN's Oil Control Primer underneath my foundation I can stave off the oilies till lunch if I don't get too hot and bothered.

The tiniest bit is enough, my sample will last me quite awhile. =)

How do they compare?
Since I haven't used the both of them, let's let the lovely ladies of Makeup Alley handle this bit for us. These extracts were obtained off the review for Pure Luxe Silica powder:

"I would recommend trying this before buying MUFE's first. I do have some of it and while it's nice, this is just as good as 1/3 the price..........I just love the "finished, polished" great look it gives" - Queenmarie

"The main difference, however, the pure luxe silica, IMO, is not as finely milled as the HD. I could literally feel it on my skin! it kind of sat on top, and made my face feel gritty." - StefieJ
(Note: I'm wondering if she got a bad batch, because if my silica powder was anymore finely milled it'd drive me batty. It's already crazy fine, a sneeze and the jar would be gone in a poof!)

"Make Up Forever has released High Definition Powder. This too is 100% silica. I have both. The MUFE version is a slightly finer mill than PL. The PL performs just as well for half the price. I have to admit that the MUFE version is in a much nicer package!" - MommaMayhann
(But this lady agrees that MUFE is slightly more finely milled.)

So there you are girls, draw your own conclusions. In the mean time, I'm placing an order for a full-sized silica powder and for a powder dispensing brush, so I can dust as I go!

It's here! Silk Naturals Kisser Slicker in Soft (Dupe of Bobbi Brown's Clear Pink)

It's here! My SN Dupe of my HG Lippie is herreee!! And of course I immediately crack it open, swipe it on, and take a pic.

And here's the review, complete with comparison swatches. As you can see, although it is a bright pink it does seem to suit my skintone and look pretty natural on me. It just seems to perk up my face without looking too bright.

Now in the tube, it looks very very similar to the lippie in the palette. (Yes, my palette's broken. You try hauling it around Europe for two years and keep yours intact! At least, it's well-loved.)

But when swiped it's clear that the Silk Naturals lippie is slightly warmer than the original. It goes on pretty similarly, but of course, it is slightly more intense when applied directly in tube form than with a brush.

While I am slightly disappointed that it's not a perfect clone, it may be more wearable as it's more neutral. And anyway, when applied on the lip there really isn't a perceptible difference. So Wheee!

Duped: Benefit's Benetint

Yes, yes, I know that there are as many Benetint dupes as there are of Nars Orgasm. But until now I never got a chance to try Benetint for a day. I got to play with it at an unattended counter in Boots (using the cotton swabs of course), and here's how The Body Shop's Lip & Cheek Stain compares to it. The Cheek of It was reviewed by Kiss and Makeup editor, Zara, here. Dollface, also snapped it up and compares it to Benetint here.

Full reviews of Benetint abound (1169 reviews on Makeup Alley!), so this is more of a look at how TBS's offering compares.

Texture & Application
Benetint is very much a liquid that disappears into your skin very rapidly, leaving a rosy stain. You have to blend fast, and approach with caution because overdoing it can leave you with clown cheeks. TBS's is more of a light gel than a liquid. It gives you slightly more time to blend, but has a higher chance of streaks. I like to apply it with my TBS foundation brush, patting and blending carefully.

On the lips, once coat of Benetint gives more pay-off than TBS. I usually need a minimum of two coats of the Lip & Cheek Stain for colour pay-off. Both lip stains taste funky. I think all of them do. So try not to lick your lips until they're dry, and apply a flavoured gloss or lipbalm over. This also helps prevent your lips from drying out.

Colour
Both tints / stains are a rosy pink. Benetint is ever so slightly warmer in undertone as TBS in shade 01 (I've never actually seen the other shade) is decidedly cool-toned. I like to think of Benetint as a warm, natural red whereas Lip & Cheek Stain is a very deep reddish pink. The difference isn't immediately obvious unless you compare them side by side, and I regret I didn't think to swatch my arm and take a pic.

Wear
This is where Benetint wins hands down. It lasts so much longer than TBS's offering. On the lips, Benetint can last through a light not-too-greasy meal, and it fades more evenly. TBS doesn't, and leaves a ring around your lips. Plus, TBS fades on my cheeks - something Benetint never did.

Verdict
The staggering price difference alone makes TBS my choice. Otherwise, Benetint wins. I'm certainly going to give the even cheapher Collection 2000 offering a try though!

Duped: Clinique Longlast SPF15 8 Hour Gloss

Well its' actually the Deluxe Vs Dirt Cheap column of Kiss and Makeup - it's identical in function to So Loverly's duped column though. Except this time I got to test out both products. So mosey on over to read how these two glosses compared against one another, and if they really do last 8 hours.

Duped: Nars Orgasm Blush & Lip Gloss

I swear I haven't lost my mind. I'm really am suggesting that this unglamorous pile of pink mineral powder is a dupe for both Nars Orgasm blush and the lip gloss - and for a price difference so vast it's unholy. And I claim this dupe because Silk Naturals Mineral Blush in Climax can be mixed with clear gloss to produce a peachy-pink lip gloss with fine gold shimmer particles.

Blush
As you can see, I'm wearing Nars Orgasm on one cheek, and Climax on the other (what a combination of names!). It is actually apparent in the photo that Climax has slightly cooler undertones than Orgasm - Karen admits to adding some plum undertones to create a shade that would a wider range. So Climax is not an exact dupe, but it is a lovely, lovely shade and in person (when you're not staring intently at both my cheeks and contrasting them), you really can't tell the difference.

In terms of application, Orgasm is obviously more convenient as it is pressed. It is also slightly more pigmented , but as Climax is a loose powder that's probably a good thing. My tiny sample of the mineral blush has been lasting me a long time though and I've been reaching for it as both a blush and gloss almost daily. It's just so perfect for that summer glow!

Lip Gloss
Unlike the blushes, I don't have an original Nars Orgasm Lip Gloss to compare - yet. Actually, it was my frustrated longing for a gloss I know I'll love but may never get that made me try dipping my lip brush in Climax and mixing the pigment into the clear lip gloss (L'Oreal Colour Juice in peek-a-boo clear if you must know) to create an "Orgasm" tinted lippie. The fine pigments in this gloss make this lip-mix incredibly long lasting. Unless you sit down to a full meal it won't fade or budge from your lips. I love the result of this experiment so much I've been trying it with all my SN blushes to great success, but this shade remains my favourite. As you can see from the photo, it really works with the blush.

More Nars Orgasm dupes
So great has been the success of this cult product that many beauty companies have tried to duplicate it. My Women Stuff has the most amazing post on Nars Orgasm dupes, complete with comparative swatches, we have ever seen. Check it out!

Duped: Blinc Kiss Me Mascara

Yes, it's a little soon for another dupe post, but I just had to share this good news. It's out! At last, L'Oreal's Double Extemsion Beauty Tubes is OUT. It's not available yet in Boots, but it is in Superdrug (although not on their site) at a promotional price of £7.99 PLUS Superdrug is having a 3 for 2 offer on ALL L'oreal products - including skincare and makeup.

I have been waiting for this mascara ever since reading this reivew by Kiss and Makeup, way back in March. It is a dupe of the cult-favourite, Blinc Kiss Me Mascara because it utilizes the same "beauty tube" technology where each lash is coated in a water resistant tube of mascara, resulting in longer, fluttery, waterproof and smudgeproof lashes that last until you slip them off with warm water. But this is one case where I think the cheaper dupe has exceeded its more expensive rival.

Although I've never tried Blinc's version, previous reviews have commented on the lack of volume or length it provides, but many love it anyway because it lives up to its claims of being waterproof, flake proof, and easy to remove. L'Oreal has matched Blinc on all these counts, and gone one up, by adding its white, fiber-filled base.

The first step uses fibers to add volume and length to your lashes. So when using it, zig zag it at the base of your lashes to gain volume, then concentrate on flicking it on the ends of your lashes, building them up until they're the length you want. I manage to build mine up to previously unseen lengths - almost looking like I had false lashes on. However, I could do with a bit more volume as my lashes looked a wee bit spidery. Still, considering how short and sparse the looking my natural lashes are, I'm certainly not complaining.

Once you've achieved your desired look, it's time to move onto the black topcoat. This can be slightly annoying as it is very sheer and completely un-clumpy. So it can take awhile to coat all your lashes, but once you have you're left with long, fluttery lashes that last and last and last.

And has it lasted? After a day of running around, and getting stuck in a hot crowded tube, my mascara has not budged, smudged, or allowed my lashes to wilt. On my oily skin this has always been a pie-in-the-sky dream for me. What's more, I even did that incredible no-no, I applied mascara to my lower lashes - almost a guaranteed racoon look for me. But this mascara has stood up to even that.

It isn't as easy to remove as I'd like though - or maybe I haven't quite got the knack of it. It took quite a few tries to gently "slip" the tubes off my lashes. But this is a price I'm more than willing to pay for this wonderful dream come true in a tube.

*Disclaimer: The "Duped" column refers only to cheaper alternatives for more expensive products. It in no way implies that the cheaper product deliberately duplicated the pricier version. In some cases, the cheaper product may pre-date the more expensive product.

Duped: Benefit Ooh La Lift

I'll confess that I'm hugging myself with glee over spotting this dupe. Whooda guessed that Boots Time Delay Instant Eye Brightener was a pretty darned good dupe for cult-product Benefit's Ooh La Lift? And even better, with the £5 discount vouchers for this line Boots is handing out from now till May 20 - you'll only pay 50p, yes 50p, for the Eye Brightener!

Now, let me brag a little about how I netted this dupe while I go on to tell you about the products.

When strolling around Covent Garden yesterday I came across a Benefit standalone shop filled with bored shop attendants. So of course I went in to play. Besides the incredibly cute packaging and even cuter names, Benefit's selling point is its problem-solving approach. Ooh La Lift is the brand's solution to tired, puffy, shadowed eyes.

The product comes in a little tube, with a doe-foot applicator. You dot on a shimmery pink liquid that feels cool and tightens as you pat it in. The shimmer and colour serve to brighten up the eye area and to counteract (but not conceal!) dark undereye shadows. The cooling and tightening sensation is refreshing, and is supposed to de-puff, but not having undereye bags, I can't tell you if it works. It's still a fun product, and is meant to be used under and over makeup.

Well this morning, I was back at my regular haunt - Boots (yes I haunt the place), and was checking out the Time Delay line as I have three, yes THREE more £5 off vouchers for it, when I picked up this little pink pot. It too promises to depuff and brighten the eye area, AND moisturise it too. - for only 50p (now I've mentioned it enough). Of course it came home with me.

Instant Eye Brightener comes in a sturdy, surprisingly posh looking, glass jar. It's a pink shimmery cream that feels very light going on. It too has a cooling sensation (although not as dramatic as Ooh La Lift), and when used over makeup, works very well to brighten and wake up my eye area. Since the pot IS mine, I took off my eye makeup (yes, just for you dear reader), to see if it made a difference on its own. And it does! It doesn't conceal undereye shadows, but it definitely lightens them, resulting in a need for less concealer. Plus it feels soothing and refreshing on bare skin. A definite keeper.

(Ps. I am not deliberately plugging the Time Delay line. I'm just more aware of it thanks to aforesaid vouchers)

*Disclaimer: The "Duped" column refers only to cheaper alternatives for more expensive products. It in no way implies that the cheaper product deliberately duplicated the pricier version. In some cases, the cheaper product may pre-date the more expensive product.

Duped: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

One of my mean, sneaky beauty tricks when travelling is to nip into the duty-free shop at the airport and make good use of the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm tester they always have lying around. Dabbed under my eyes and on the apples of my cheeks, this balm does wonders to waken up my travel fatigued, zombie-grey, airline tortured skin.

Much as I've always loved this balm though, I just can't justify its £25 price tag. Now thanks to this dupe by Boots I may not have to. At £8.50, Boots Time Delay Instant Radiance Balm is a steal - especially with the £5 off coupons they're giving out with every purchase £5 and above. So hurry ladies, the vouchers end May 20.

How the two compare
Clarins claims that its balm cosmetically smooths out signs of fatigue, and gives skin a glow. This I can testify to. The peach-tinted, light, shimmery fluid really does work wonders to wake up a tired face. However, the balm also claims to help makeup last longer, work as a facial mask, and will with long-term use promote a radiant complexion. As I don't own the balm I can't speak to these additional benefits, but maybe one of our readers can?

The Boots Time Delay balm doesn't claim to do more than help things along cosmetically. A peachy-pink light liquid with a slightly metallic shimmer, it too wakes up a complexion exhausted by travel, a hard night out, or a long day's work. The non-greasy fluid when used under makeup gives that luminous glow-from-within look that I love for nights out. It also seems to moisturise slightly, and thus far it hasn't caused breakouts.

This dupe may be only skin-deep, and I doubt it will prevent me from using testers in the airport (after all, it means one less liquid I have to get through security), but at least I'll get to take the radiance home.

*Disclaimer: The "Duped" column refers to cheaper alternatives to expensive products. It in no way implies that the cheaper product deliberately duplicated the pricier version. In some cases, the cheaper product may pre-date the more expensive product.

Silk Naturals Blush Dupe Reviews

I was thrilled to bits when Silk Naturals released a collection of duped blushes. After having ordered samples of all (except Lovelace, sorry Syen), I can honestly say I am not disappointed in any of them!

In general, all these blushes are long-lasting, kind to skin, and can be used on the eyes or mixed with lip gloss.

Here are reviews for Silk Naturals Mineral Blushes in Babydoll (clone of MAC Dollymix), Carnal (Nars Sin) , Pretty Plum (MAC Breath of Plum), Forbidden (Nars Outlaw), and Petal (Benefit Dandelion)

Babydoll
A bright, sparkly dolly-pink, Babydoll is a more wearable, slightly warmer version of Tart (Silk Natural's clone of Bobbi Brown's Raspberry Pink). The slight shimmer is very pretty, and the blush itself wakes up your face and gives it a luscious pop of spring-like colour. As the blush is highly pigmented, I recommend tapping out a tiny amount, swirling a fluffy blush in it and applying it with a light hand to the apples of your cheeks.

Carnal & Pretty Plum
As both these blushes are plum-based I would recommend these only for really cool girls. With the right lipstick and eye-shadow I can use these, but find that they don't wake my complexion up the way the other shades do. If applied lightly these blushes look polished and sophisticated. I can see myself reaching more for these in autumn and winter, but not now that summer is finally here!Of the two, I prefer Pretty Plum - it's a lighter, pinker shade than the darker Carnal. Both shades look great with cool-toned lipstick and grey eyeshadow.

Forbidden
This is my first foray into red-based blushes and I love it! When applied lightly it provides a flush of natural colour that sizzles with a nude or red lip and a smokey eye, great for a black-tie look with edge. A heavier application provides a just-in-from-the-cold flush of colour to the apples of the cheek. A perfect neutral blush, I keep reaching for this, using it over bronzers, peachier shades, and under highlighter. This highly pigmented blush has a slight golden shimmer that gives it a natural, translucent finish. Tip: Mix with a clear lip gloss for a perfectly matching lippie. As a lipgloss, Forbidden is a wearable, neutral red shade that you can make as intense or sheer as you please.

Petal (No Pic)
As yet unreleased on the Silk Naturals website, I received Petal as a free sample with an earlier order. The least pigmented of all the blushes, Petal functions in the same way as Benefit's Dandelion (which I have played with and can testify to its similarity) - an all-over-face colour. As a blush, Petal provides a very faint hint of shimmery pink that I prefer to use when I want a really toned down blush to go with a strong eye or lip. I also like to layer it over a bronzer on the apples of my cheek to provide a faint pop of natural looking pink. It is too pink for me to use as an all-over face colour but it is warm enough to compliment fairer and cooler complexions than mine. Although not a great favourite, Petal has its place in my cosmetics arsenal.

Duped: Bobbi Brown Pink Raspberry Palette

Credit for spotting this dupe goes to JenW of Silk Naturals' Forum, and she looks utterly lovely in it too! Thanks to her, I realised that I owned everything I needed from the Silk Naturals mineral makeup range to duplicate the much-coveted Limited Edition Spring 2008 Bobbi Brown Raspberry Pink palette. (Edit: JenW says all credit goes to Karen the creator of Silk Naturals). Although not as convenient as the palette, if its the look you're after you can, thanks to SN, get it for half the price. Best of all, SN's collection isn't limited edition (I couldn't even find a UK link to a site selling the BB Palette. It's GONE!)

For product reviews and prices:

Eyeshadows
Bone and Slate (dupe of BB Stone) are actually dupes from the now extinct Bobbi Brown Stonewashed Neutrals eyeshadow palette. But they duplicate Navajo and Fog well enough to achieve this palette's look. Slate is a medium grey with a tiny amount of shimmer that works well as an eyeliner (when wet) and crease shade (dry). It's highly pigmented and applies smoothly dry or wet. I don't own Bone, but it appears fairly similar to Navajo. For a touch of shimmer I like to dust on SN Eyeshadow in Wink Wink. The eyeshadows retail at $3.75 a pot.

Blush
Reviews online agree that SN's Tart blush is a perfect dupe of BB's Pink Raspberry blush. In the pot, the blush is a terrifyingly bright shade of pink, and it is indeed highly pigmented. Just a few grains are all I need for that delicious pop of berry pink. Although bright, the pink has enough neutral and plum undertones to save it from looking too dolly-bright, and I can see it suiting a wide range of skintones. The price for a full-sized blush (included in the pic's price roundup) is $6.25 but from the minute amount needed, I can see my sample size pot ($1.25) lasting forever!

Lippies
BB's Raspberry & Blue Raspberry Lipsheers are cloned by SN's Berry Nice, and Seedy Kisser Slickers respectively. Both shades are very wearable berries, with Seedy being slightly cooler and lighter than Berry Nice. SN Kisser Slickers are extremely moisturising and last a surprisingly long time. They're faintly sweet and scented with vanilla and chocolate. The scent is not overwhelming (thank goodness) but deliciously pleasant. At $4.25 each I'll be collecting more of these little tubes!

I'm wearing:

• Face: SN Mineral Silk foundation in Buttery Gold
• Eyes: BB Bone (base), SN Wink Wink (highlighter), SN Slate (dry on the crease, wet to line)
• Cheeks: SN Tart
• Lips: SN Seedy

*Disclaimer: The "Duped" column refers to cheaper alternatives to expensive products. It in no way implies that the cheaper product deliberately duplicated the pricier version. In some cases, the cheaper product may pre-date the more expensive product.

Duped: Clarins Pure Melt Cleanser

Zara's rave review over at Kiss and Makeup for the Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel certainly makes me want to run out and buy it. It takes alot to wow a beauty editor and Clarins certainly seems to have done it. Or have they?

She describes the cleanser as a gel that turns into oil when rubbed onto dry skin, and then emulsifies into a milky fluid when touched with water - taking off every scrap of makeup (even waterproof mascara) and leaving the skin clean, but moisturised. All this sounds exactly like the much cheaper product I've been using all along - L'Oreal De-Maq Expert Elixir Concentrate Ultra Makeup Remover (phew that was a mouthful).

For a third of the price, the L'Oreal cleanser does everything the Clarins cleanser does, and it's been around for ages - so perhaps the Clarins cleanser is a dupe of L'Oreal's!

• Changes from gel to oil when massaged in? Check!
• Removes all makeup including waterproof mascara? Check!
• Emulsifies to a milky fluid when wet? Check!
• Leaves skin feeling clean and comfortable? Check!
  

As I haven't tested out the Clarins cleanser for myself, I cannot make a first-hand comparison. However, one of the main differences seems to be the presence of luxurious Marula Oil in the Clarins version, and I suspect (judging from Zara's review), that you need less of the Clarins product than you would L'Oreal.

But for the price difference, I think I can sacrifice a little luxury and waste a bit more product to achieve the same results.

*Disclaimer: The "Duped" column refers to cheaper alternatives to expensive products. It in no way implies that the cheaper product deliberately duplicated the pricier version. In some cases, the cheaper product may pre-date the more expensive product.