DUPE ALERT: Mac Rebel

Why, hello there!
Quick blog post because I'm too excited to wait.

So as we all know, Fall is here, (finally!), and that means it's time to break out all the "deeper" and "darker" makeup (even if it's too hot to wear sweaters and scarves, sad face). Recently, I've purchased the lipstick Rebel from Mac. I know, I'm late on the bandwagon on this one, but I wasn't sure if it would look good with my hair color and/or skin color. But, low and behold, I went into Mac (I get in so much trouble there) and tried it on, and I ended up really liking it. It is more out of my comfort zone and I didn't think I had any other color like it (until now).

Today, I tried to clean out my lipstick collection and found another "plummy" shade. At first I just threw it aside and then decided to take a double look at it. I swatched it on my hand and was shocked by the color. I rushed to go get Mac Rebel and I found myself a pretty close dupe! Yay!

Left: Mac Rebel // Right: Wet 'n' Wild 908C

Mac Rebel: $15.00 // Wet 'n' Wild 908C: $1.99

Now that's an incredible difference in price.

These two shade may not look like too similar in the packaging. It seems as though Mac Rebel is more plum and 908C is more of a red-ish shade. But, once you swatch it, it becomes a whole different story.

                                     Top: Rebel // Bottom: 908C (both above pictures) with flash

Left: Rebel // Right: 908C (above without flash)

In my opinion this is an amazing dupe, especially when swatching them. But I really wanted to put them to the test and decided to apply them to my lips.

 Without Flash // Top lip: Mac Rebel // Bottom Lip: 908C (excuse my peeling nose)

With Flash //Top lip: Mac Rebel // Bottom Lip: 908C (excuse the uneven lipstick line)

Now I did notice that Mac Rebel did apply much more easily and smooth. While both of them had the same pigmentation, I felt like 908C was a little drying on the lips and felt the need to apply some sort of moisturizing lip balm/gloss to my lips. Overall, though, these are incredible dupes of each other.

These lipsticks do act as stains if you have them on your lips long enough. Even when I tried to scrub my lips with a makeup remover/soap it left a baby pink tint on my lips (which was not what I was expecting).

Have you found this dupe already? Do you have any other dupes you'd like to share? Should I make this a series when I find more dupes?  Leave them in the comments below as well as suggestions for future posts! 

Time for sleep, Goodnight!

Collection Corner: "the Balm"

Hello Lovelies!

 As a huge fan of makeup and a huge collector, I tend to have a few (or many!) makeup items from a bunch of different brands (Duh!). But today I plan to focus on one of my favorites, The Balm. 

 This makeup brand can be found online at http://www.thebalm.com/ and they have been rumored to be sold at TJ Maxx, but I have yet to confirm that. Also, they are sold from time to time, at a very discounted price, on HauteLook  (everything I've bought has been from HauteLook). You can register free for this website at http://www.hautelook.com/short/3OD0a, (I recommend this website a lot, and no I'm not affiliated or sponsored in any way).

But anyway, on to the collection! 

Now I understand this isn't the biggest collection of makeup but 7 products was enough at least to start a collection blog post, right? Oh well, that's besides the point. As you can see in the pictures above I have two eye shadow palettes, four blushes and one highlight. (If you want a more in depth review of any of the products mentioned, definitely let me know).

So let's start with the eye shadow palettes

Rockstar Palette - $39.50

So cute how it has a play-off-word of different musicians/bands. This palette has a mixture of shimmer and mattes (some more satin feeling). The highlight is obviously shimmery and is the same color as the highlight I will show you in a little bit. The blush is sort of a matte finish and reminds me a lot of an upcoming blush too. The lip stains are pretty sheer but can be buildable. (Again, if you'd like to see a more in depth review of any or all of these products please let me know! This is more of a haul rather than a review).

Nude 'Tude - $36.00

How can you not love the censored bar/eye shadows of the packaging! Wins me everytime! Again, this is a mixture of shimmery and matte eye shadows.This palette also goes from light to dark (left to right) which I think is brilliant. (Do you want swatches?)

Now on to blush (these also claim to be able to use as a shadow too, I have yet to try that)!

Cabana Boy - $21.00

This subtle, shimmery, dusty rose blush is a great edition for the upcoming fall months. 

Frat Boy - $21.00

This matte, coral-peach blush will be sure to suit any skin tone!

Down Boy - $21.00

Such a pretty, basic, essential baby pink blush!

Hot Mama! - $20.00

This blush is sure to win you over (and is probably their most known). The peachy-pink alone is enough to go 'gaga' for, but adding in the slight gold shimmer is something unique about this particular blush!

Lastly, we'll move onto highlight (which can also be used as a shadow and works GREAT as both).

Mary-Lou Manizer - $24.00

Giving the skin an obvious glow, this honey toned highlight is very pigmented.

So there you go, a quick little haul, or "collection" of all the products I own from the brand the Balm. I feel like this is an overall great makeup brand and you definitely get your money's worth with the amount of product in each package (maybe enough to last a lifetime....maybe). Swatches are already made! If you guys want me to post them, let me know! :)

Thank you for reading! And give me some feedback on how I'm doing, and what you'd like to see in the future! Have a wonderful day! 

New L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Matte and La Laque Lip Colors Reviews & Swatches

Hello my lovelies!

Today I'm here to talk about the new limited edition L'Oreal Color Rich Le Matte and La Laque lip colors! They caught my eye at Target and I had to snatch a few up to share. 

When seeing the display, there appeared to be 8 colors in this line, 4 matte and 4 laque (shiny/glossy finish). There were a few pinks, a majority of reds/red-like colors, and a few nudes. The two shades that I thought I'd start with are 409- Matte For Me (top in picture above) as well as 411- Never Laque-ing (bottom in picture above). Obviously I wanted to try one from each "texture", if you will, so I landed on these two to test out. I got them for $7.99 each at Target but I'm pretty sure they range anywhere from $7-10, depending on the store.

 These are twist up lip crayons that almost mimic the raved about jumbo lip pencils but they also have a slimmed point at the tip that helps your precision when applying.

409- Matte for me is a corally red shade (I'm terrible at describing, I will get better. Swatches are below) and is the matte shade of the two. It claims (as well as the other mattes in the line) to have a velvety texture and to be full coverage. In my testing them I can definitely tell you that it holds up to these claims! This color went on so smoothly and had GREAT coverage. It also applied very evenly as well. When put on lips you can definitely tell it dries, but does it comfortably. To me it almost feels like a satin finish, especially when first applying.

Throughout the day they also seemed to wear pretty evenly which is something everyone (at least a majority) looks for in a lip color. (You don't want that weird line of no color on your lips.....)

409 Matte For Me^

The other color I picked up was 411- Never Laque-ing. This is more of an everyone-can-wear-it shade. It's a nice, I would almost say dusty rose pink (forgive my descriptions). It claims to have a shiny finish and also be a full coverage lip color. Again, I can say with confidence, that they are spot on with these statements. 

Never Laque-ing has an amazing, creamy texture when applied to lips and definitely has shine! It's a beautiful color.

411- Never Laque-ing^

FINAL THOUGHTS: In my opinion these are great lip colors and they feel like butter when applying! I'm definitely going to go and pick up more shades when I get the chance.

GRADE: A

 Unfortunately, as stated above, L'Oreal has said on their display that they are limited edition. This makes me really sad because they are such lovely lip products! So I'd advise you to go and snatch them while you have the chance!

What do you think of the new L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Matte and La Laque Lip colors? Let me know!

(This is my first blog post and I'd love feedback so tell me how I did in the comments below!)