Showing posts with label dupes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dupes. Show all posts

Sunday

Beauty Empties | January 2013: Special Perfume Edition


Something a little different for my Empties Review Series this month - a special on a few perfumes I've finished up recently.  I'll still be doing a normal finished products review at some point over the next few days, so keep a look out for that coming up.



Britney Spears Fantasy (Original) - maybe repurchase 

This was my second bottle and I have a third waiting to be cracked open.
Personally I'm not too keen on the scent, but the fellas sure are! It's like catnip for boys.  Nice boys. Not like the weirdos attracted by Jean Paul Gaultier's Classique, but more on that later.
It's unbearable sweet and candyflossy, with a hint of something darker and spicier.  What more could a fella want? For me it's just too synthetic and unsophisticated.  But it'll do wonders for your pulling ability if you're under 30.  Over that milestone and I'd give it a miss unless you're just after 'a bit of fun'.
Boots often have it on amazing offers.  This 30ml bottle was nabbed for around £13, so don't pay over the odds for it if you're tempted.

Chloe Eau de Parfum - definite repurchase (already have!) 

What can I say about this perfume other than I think I've found my signature scent.  It's like fresh, floral, sweet and just reminds me of clean linen.
I loved it from first sniff and have received so many compliments on it.  The only downside is that it's a bit TOO popular, saying that I haven't smelled it off that may other gals.    For some reason the name 'Chloe' just won't stick in my head so I keep telling people it's 'Clinique'.  I think it must stem from a subconscious urge to keep this scent all to myself.
When I first got it and asked my ex what he thought of it, proferring up my neck for sniffing he said 'it just smells like you'.
I took it as a compliment.
Some of you 80s lot might remember the discontinued Givenchy L'Interdit, if so, it smells a lot like that.  I had a sample vial of it when I was about 10 and made it last for years, with stolen sniffs here and there.  I never did get a full bottle but that's okay, 'cos I've got Chloe now.

Katie Price Stunning - no repurchase; I'm done

This is an interesting one because while I'm done with the sickly sweetness, I would recommend it to you!
It's a TOTAL DUPE for Dior Miss Cherie and I've gone into it's cheeky sameness here (link)
Dear old Katie Price, you can just imagine her saying 'Stunnin'! Emphasis on the 'nin'.  She did good though, and having owned both scents and confirmed there is no discernible difference, Stunning actually lasts longer on the skin, even my ginger 'Teflon' skin.
It's a much cheaper alternative to Dior Miss Cherie, just never take it out in public and never admit that it's not The Real Thing.


Dolce & Gabbana The One - maybe repurchase

I adore this perfume, but again, so do so many others! I would consider repurchasing but would most likely go for the 'Rose' version as it's just that bit more feminine and less synthetic.
Gorgeous sophisticated scent and pretty bottle, but unless you have a Travalo it's not a good option to carry around in your bag or on holiday as it's super heavy.
The only drawback with this perfume is it just doesn't linger, I feel like by the time I get to work, the scent has evaporated.

Marc Jacobs Daisy - no repurchase; I'm over it

This was a present from an ex, and although I did indicate it was what I wanted, I was bored of it by the fourth spritz.  It's just a bit bland (good option for an office scent though as it's unobtrusive) and a few years ago everyone seemed to be wearing it.
It was a slog to get the bottle finished, I actually can't believe I'm done with it!
In four years of exposure to light it didn't oxidise or discolour and the scent remained true, so that's one thing it's got going for it.



Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue - maybe repurchase; not anytime soon

Love love love this perfume, on the dry down it smells mouth watering.  This is about my sixth bottle of it so although I will repurchase at some stage, I feel we need a bit of distance right now.
It's another one of those perfume like Daisy that EVERYONE was wearing a few years ago, but I feel like it's gone off the radar so it would be a good option to revive if you're looking for a all-round perfume that is perfect for the office but also sexy enough for a night out.

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique - no repurchase; I like not being approached by weirdos too much

My second bottle of this was a mistake, but I'd bought a mini of it first time round and felt we weren't 'done' yet, so of course I had to go and ask for the Christmas giftbox-set.
I think this perfume smells different on everyone, and although it's very popular, I never notice it on anyone when I'm out and about, I think it does a really good job of blending with your own skin's chemistry to create something unique.
Unique is one word for how it must have smelled off my skin because it simply attracted all the weirdos of the day.  This one shady Russian dude proposed to me on the street - twice - when I was wearing this.  I 'm pretty sure he didn't even realise I was the same person on both disturbing occasions.
I'd heard about the male attention Classique can inspire, and in all honesty, it's what prompted me to buy it all those years ago out of curiosity because at the time the scent was definitely far too 'mature' for my liking.  But don't be tempted, it only inspires the kind of attention you don't want from the kind of blokes you definitely don't want!


Have you tried any of these perfumes? What would you repurchase/definitely not repurchase?




Top 10 £1 MUA Eye Shadows (+ MAC Dupe)


Here are my top 10 eye shadow picks from the Superdrug £1 MUA range.  If you are starting out in make up  I strongly recommend you check out this range, especially these eyeshadows.  The best bit is that I got this whole set for £10!

I cannot fault these shadows in terms of weight (you get a whopping 2g), pigmentation, consistency and blendability, not mention the stunning shade range.  You have all your staple neutrals as well as a few bright pops of colour.  I hand on heart prefer the quality of these shadows to MAC (although I'm not a huge fan of MAC's e/s quality, they do have a fantastic array of colours).

I accidentally bought two Shade 2s, and didn't realise they were the same, so there are 11 shadows in the image above and below, but only 10 different shades in total.  They come in two finishes - matte and pearl, the latter being by far the best.

Shade 9 - Pearl: this is the most gorgeous electric purple with a blue duochrome which has actually shown up stronger in the photo that it is in real life.  There is actually a little more pink to it.  It works really well on brown eyes but also enhances my own eyes which are blue.  It might not be wearable for everyday, but it's a stunning colour to have in your collection if you want something a little different.

Shade 4 - Pearl: this pinky lilac compliments shade 9 nicely and makes blue eyes appear to have a green tinge.  

Shade 10 - Pearl: this gun metal purple creates a sophisticated smoky eye with a difference.  It has just enough shimmer to give the look dimension. It also works well in the crease over Shade 10 or 9.  

Shade 3 - Pearl: this is the perfect silver shadow - I have some which don't come off opaque, but this really does.  I sweep it all over my eyelid and finish with a flick of black eye liner.  

Shade 2 - Pearl: this is the pale cream shade I bought twice, but I can use it as a cheek and browbone highlight so I'm going through it pretty fast.  It's also a great inner corner eye highlight.   

Shade 1 - Pearl: this is also a great highlight shadow but has more of a golden tinge so it works better with browns and greens.   


Shade 7 - Pearl: I don't wear a whole lot of green eyeshadow because I have blue eyes, but I couldn't resist this moss green for whenever I have the urge to go green, or St. Patrick's day! 


Shade 11 - Pearl: this was one of the first shadows I picked up from the range.  It's a great soft brown which reminds me of MAC's Satin Taupe.   



Shade 12 - Pearl: I'm not overly impressed with how this shadow has photographed as this one is a great dupe for MAC's Club.  It's a greyish brown to look at but has green duochrome and an ever so subtle hint of a reddish brick shade.  It's a very sophisticated, complex shade for such a budget range.


Shade 14 - Pearl: this greenish gun metal shade is perfect for me as I get my 'green' hit without it clashing with my own eye colour too much.  Another great option for a smoky eye other than boring old black.  




Swatch time!

In natural daylight

From left to right: Shade 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14




With Flash

From left to right: Shade 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14













I cannot recommend these eye shadows enough.  Not all Superdrugs carry the MUA range, but if you're in London check out the ones on Oxford Street, Shepherd's Bush, Queensway or Kilburn as they definitley do. You can also order MUA products online.


Enter my Oral B Power Toothbrush giveaway here

Thursday

Let's Get Fresh: My Favourite Spring/Summer Scents


I really enjoyed putting together my favourite Autumn/Winter scents post so thought it would be a good idea to do one now that Spring is here and the sun's come out to play!

I am a complete perfume junkie so these are just the fresh 'springy' scents from my collection, I have a few sweet ones too which I'll probably do a separate post about.  Many of these were gifts and a few are very affordable.

First up, I have a dupe for you:


This must be my 5th bottle of D&G Light Blue.  It's a decade since it was launched and is a bit overexposed these days, but when it first came onto the market it was unlike any other scent.  Although it's light and refreshing it's more complex than first impressions suggest and comes into its own on the dry down.  I only spray it at the back of my neck, under my hair or onto my clothes as it doesn't have the greatest reaction to my skin's chemistry and smells slightly funky on me.

Here are the notes:
Top Notes - Granny Smith Apple, Sicilian Cedar, Bluebells
Middle Notes - Jasmine, White Rose, Bamboo
Base Notes - Cedarwood, Amber, Musks


The best affordable dupe I've found for Light Blue is Next's Paradise which is £12.50 for 100mls.  The bottle you see in the photo is well over a year old and its packaging has been updated since.



For those who may be sick of D&G Light Blue but still want some depth and originality to their spring/summer scent you need to check out ckIN2U her - I love this scent but not once have I ever caught a whiff of it off anyone else.  At Boots it's currently £27 for 50mls but I nabbed this one last Christmas for around £12.50 as part of a boxset.  The first bottle I ever had of this was a present otherwise I doubt I ever would have tried it.  It evokes fond memories for me as it's the scent I was into when I got with my boyfriend.  The only thing I don't like about this perfume is its horribly minimalist cheap-looking bottle.  It's sweet but ever so slightly masculine - classic CK I guess! and extremely hard to describe, so here are the notes:

Top Notes -  Grapefruit fizz, Sicilian Bergamot, Red Currant Leaves
Middle Notes - Sugar Orchid, White Cactus
Base Notes - Neon Amber, Vanilla Souffle, Red Cedar

Not sure what how Amber can be 'Neon' or how 'Vanilla Souffle' is different from plain old vanilla...these two notes form a common theme amongst my perfumes, but Red Cedar and Red Currant Leaves are certainly new to me and may explain why this scent is so different from anything else I've come across.



I don't think I've ever had a bus or tube journey where I didn't detect Marc Jacobs Daisy, but I think everyone is over the hype of this perfume now.  I myself ran out of steam with it half way through the bottle, but if I leave it alone for a couple of months I always return to it with a reinvigorated affection.  The bottle goes a long way in making this perfume attractive - I don't think it would have reached the same fame if it came in a container like CK's offering.  The new version of Daisy, Eau So Fresh is extremely similar to the original, but a good option if you've been thinking of taking the plunge but want to break away from the herd a bit.  I enjoy this fragrance, but won't be repurchasing.


Before Benefit's wildly popular Crescent Row collections, their most famous fragrance offering was B Spot.  It's essentially summer in a bottle - very zingy, citrus and just sweet enough.  I wouldn't have bought this perfume but received it as a free gift when I bought a couple of make up products.  It reminds me of Ralph by Ralph Lauren, the quintessential summer fragrance.  I keep this one in my desk at work for a refreshing spritz on a stuffy summer afternoon.  It's on sale now at Debenhams for only £13.25 for 50mls.


If I could only choose one perfume to wear for the rest of my life, Chloe EDP would be it.  It can take a while for scents to grow on me, but with Chloe, it was love at first sniff.  I've since finished this bottle and am just waiting to finish up a good number of my other perfumes before I repurchase this as I know they would get neglected and oxidize on my shelf!  The bottle is gorgeous but sadly the silver tarnished, which is the only downside about this product.  Also, it's on the pricier side at around £36 for 30mls.  Chloe is truly my signature scent, I always receive compliments when wearing it and it doesn't react badly with my skin's chemistry.  Whereas some fresh perfumes can foray into quite masculine territory, Chloe is the ultimate feminine fragrance and the rose comes through loud and clear.  If you haven't tried this one I urge you to...just don't buy it - I don't want y'all smelling like me!

Top notes: pink peony, freesia and lychee
Middle notes: magnolia flower, lily of the valley and rose
Base notes: cedar wood, amber and honey

Other honourable mentions go to Lacoste Touch of Pink which is a nice variation on the original, and Lanvin's Rumeur, which I picked up a massive bottle of at Portobello market for £10.  While I do like it, it is a bit cloying as it's a bit too heavy on the patchouli.

What are your favourite sunshine scents?

Wednesday

Kat Copies: NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Bangkok v. Lacura Soft Rose

NARS Bangkok, Lacura Soft Rose

Remember last month when I reviewed the 'made for my lips' gorgeous NARS Pure Matte lipstick in Bangkok but lamented the £18.50 price tag?  Well, I've found a budget friendly dupe!  Behold Lacura Beauty's lipstick in 108 Soft Rose found at Aldi supermarket for a grand total of £1.99!




It comes in a sleek pewter bullet which gives a satisfying 'click' shut.  I first spotted this lippy when I was in Aldi in Manchester last August but they were all sold out with only the tester left.  My friend Angel (highheelsandlipgloss.com) took a trip to the Hounslow store recently and kindly picked this up for me.






In the tubes the lippies look pretty similar...


NARS Bangkok, Lacura Soft Rose


Swatched with flash on you can see that Soft Rose is a lot glossier, because of course Bangkok has a matte finish.

With flash: NARS Bangkok, Lacura Soft Rose


You can really see how similar they are without flash...


Without flash: NARS Bangkok, Lacura Soft Rose

I prefer the texture of Soft Rose as Bangkok needs lipbalm under or over or it just feels far too dry.  Bangkok is also slightly dark for me while Soft Rose is the perfect 'my lips but better shade' and a bit of size-enhancing shine on my small lips is always welcome!  Despite the lush texture of Lacura's lippy, it is pretty long lasting.

Lacura Soft Rose
NARS Bangkok
Lacura Soft Rose

Lacura Soft Rose comes in pretty substantial, hygienic packaging.



The only drawback is Aldi stores can be quite few and far between, especially in London.  But the Lacura range has lots of gems worth checking out so if you're near an Aldi at all you should get down there!


Tuesday

E.L.F Haul & Swatches #3 - Benefit You Rebel Lite Dupe



Oh yes, it's e.l.f. haulin' time again!  Only a little one this time...



My main reasons for this haul was a little email that popped into my inbox informing me about a £3.50 tinted moisturiser with SPF20!  A free postage Facebook code may have been involved too :) Mailing lists are enablers ¬_¬



First impressions: not impressed that the tube looks half empty...
 



...and slightly horrified at how yellow the lightest shade - Porcelain - is.  See kids, this is what happens when you jump the gun and order instead of waiting for beauty blog swatches!
 


In its defense, it is luxuriously creamy and well pigmented for what is supposed to be a sheer product. After I got over the initial shock of the hand swatch I tentatively dabbed some onto my face and I'm relived that is doesn't look anything near as yellow on my face once blended.  It also has a nice refreshing scent.  That must be the aloe and cucumber.
e.l.f. Tinted Moisturiser in Porcelain


I'm not sure what use this dupe discovery will be to you, as I am not a fan of Benefit's You Rebel Lite AT ALL.  It doesn't give me near enough coverage - a good moisturiser and pressed powder is a million times better and less yellow.  However, I know there are many that LOVE this stuff, and in my opinion, e.l.f.'s product is the superior in texture and colour.  If you're NC20-25 it should be a pretty good match.


Benefit's You Rebel Lite

Left: Benefit, Right: e.l.f.


I chose this £1.50 eyeshadow palette purely for its name - Ethereal.  These palettes are tiny but the shadows are good quality for the price.
 


It seems like I've been waiting for the Studio stippling brush to come back into stock for years, so I pounced on it when it finally became available.  It's not as densely packed as my Coastal Scents or Ingot ones, but it's not bad for cream products, or £3.50.




The smudge eye sponge is pretty much what you'd expect, but given that e.l.f.'s eye blending brush is my all time favourite eye brush, I expected great things from its younger sister, the eye crease brush.  Sadly the bristles are very short and stumpy and it feels scratchy on my lids.  Wouldn't recommend.
 



As I get older I notice I'm getting that 'old lady lipstick' effect around my lips more often and especially when I use a bold colour, and nothing could look more tragic, so I'm hoping this Lip Lock Pencil, which is like a waxy stick, will help fix my lippy in place, away from the dreaded fine lines around my mouth.



There are still many products on my e.l.f. wishlist, so lots more bargain hauls to come!
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