MAC Nymphette vs. NARS Orgasm {Dupe!}

If you've read my blog before you know I love the color gold.  Love.  And another one of my favorite colors is peach, so put the two together and naturally you will create the most beautiful shade of lip gloss ever.  Since I love these colors so much I sometimes find that I have very similar products in my collection...

Nymphette was the first gloss I ever bought from MAC and it's still one of my favorites.  Its the perfect top over almost any pinky/ nude lipstick and yet beautiful on its own as well.  

NARS Orgasm blush is a cult favorite.  So much so they extended their Orgasm line to include an illuminator, lip gloss, nail polish, and one of their famous multiples.  When they reformulated their lipglosses and Sephora offered a deluxe sample of their Orgasm gloss as a Beauty Insider 100 Point Perk, so naturally I snatched it up.  Once I brought it home, swatched it next to Nymphette and found their almost exact dupes for each other.  If you own one you probably don't need the other.  

Direct Comparisons

	MAC Nymphette	NARS Orgasm
Color	Nymphette is a true peach color with finely milled gold micro glitter running through it.	Orgasm is more of a pinky- coral (so a tad brighter) with the same gold micro glitter.
Texture	Like most MAC glosses Nymphette is quite sticky, but the stickier the gloss the longer the wear time.	Orgasm has a much smoother and silkier texture.
Scent	That delicious MAC vanilla smell but a more muted glossy version.	I can’t really place the scent here.  It smells to me like that generic lip gloss scent.
Price	$18 CDN	$29 CDN
Availability	MAC counters, stores, and online	NARS counters, Sephora, and online

MAC Nymphette, NARS Orgasm

MAC Nymphette, NARS Orgasm

What do you think?  Dupe or not?  Have you tried either of these glosses?

| Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin |

xoxo

Ordering Makeup Geek Eyeshadow {First Impression}

In case you didn't know... The Makeup Geek website is amazing.  It is such a comprehensive site with video tutorials, forums, reviews, etc.  When you're shopping for eye shadows they have photos of their shadows swatched next to others within a similar color family.  This allows you to easily chose the right colors to create certain looks or perhaps even the perfect palette.

I have heard so many great things about Makeup Geek products so I started looking around for fun. I wasn't exactly planning on making an order- but, once I started looking I found it difficult to narrow my shopping cart down to only 10!   You will hear these eyeshadoes being compared to MAC cosmetics over and over but they retail for literally half the price.  You can purchase them in a pan for $5.99 (American) or in a compact for $7.99. I also found a page on the MUG website where Marlena (creater of Makeup Geek) shows an in depth comparison with side by side swatches to various MAC eye shadows allowing you to find similar colors for much less.  It's a great resource and if you're interested you can find it here.  

Since a little while ago I purchased a MAC 15 pan palette insert (and only two shadows to go in it at the time) I was hoping that these pans would fit into it.  I found it was really difficult to find a straight forward answer reading other reviews and even when you compare their weights MUG is heavier, meaning you receive a little more product in a MUG pan.  If you're reading this asking the same question then:

YES- Makeup Geek pans fit into the MAC palette inserts however, they are not magnetic so you will need to attach a magnet to the back in order to adhere them safely into the palette.  If you are using a ZPalette (which I recommend) you do not need additional magnets.  Read about my ZPalette here. 

MUG Single Eyeshadow Pan in Burlesque

"As Makeup Geeks, we stay true to who we are. Cosmetics are not used to change ourselves but to enhance the exquisite and unique people that we are. To be a Makeup Geek means to be a reflection of our inner beauty.
XOXO, Marlena"

Ordering to Canada:

As I mentioned above, the Makeup Geek website is extremely user friendly.

Shipping was affordable (around $7 to Victoria, BC) but it took around 3 weeks from date of purchase to receive my package.  Three days until I received my shipping notice/ tracking number and another 2 weeks it was in my hot little hands.  Another thing worth mentioning is that when the charge went through onto my Visa the total cost was converted to American dollars- which is fine- but it wasn't something that I was aware was going to happen  or had even thought about before my purchase.  The conversion increased the total cost of my order by around $12- food for thought if you're planning on doing the same.

Despite it all, I was so pleased when my package finally arrived! It was in a small box with both foam peanuts and bubble wrap to ensure none of my shadows were broken (nevermind that I dropped my phone on 3 of them after recieving them- cries real tears).  The pans themselves came in small windowed cardboard envelopes with white and pink design and a note/ mission statement signed from Marlena.

What I Bought:

Beaches and Cream
(Kind of) Compares to: MAC Bisque
Beaches and Cream is much warmer than Bisque, I wouldn't personally consider them to be dupes. On the Makeup Geek website it is described as a "creamy matte natural beige with just a hint of peach," I put this shadow in my cart last minute when I saw the photo of it swatched next to Cinderella- the two shades compliment each other beautifully!  I also think it will serve as a great wash of color during the summer with a light warm brown in the crease.

Cinderella

Not only does it look beautiful paired with Beaches and Cream. I thought this color would compliment my Naked3 palette, it's beautiful.  I would describe it as a pale pink shadow with peach shimmer.

Creme Brulee:

Compares to: MAC Tete a Tint (now discontinued)

When I recieve this color I was a little disappointed at first glance because I thought it looked too similar to Beaches in Cream, however, to my (pleasant) surprise it swatches a lot deeper than it first appears in the pan.  A follower on Instagram also told me that this is the perfect everyday crease color. It is described as a "medium sand color with a soft matte finish."

Hipster

Compares to: MAC Patina

"A dark sand and light taupe tan with slight shimmer." I love taupe shades and I know that this is a color I will get a lot of use out of.  Adding a shade with some shimmer into an otherwise all matte look can really complete the look and give it some dimension.

Latte

This shadow is just a touch darker than Hipster and of course matte. It is the perfect neutral brown.  I have plans to wear this as a quick and easy crease color.  Love. 

Cocoa Bear
Compares to: MAC Brown Script 
I was very hesitant with this color because I'm not usually drawn to warm colors and in certain lights Cocoa Bear is a very red-toned brown.  It is also one of the most talked about and popular Makeup Geek shadows and after playing with this a little bit today I understand why!  I know it is going to be such a versatile color in my palette.

Brown Sugar:
Compares to: MAC Twinks

This is my kind of color! It's a warm toned shimmer shadow, described as a "copper brown".

Prom Night 

Compares to: MAC Satin Taupe and Urban Decay Mugshot (Naked3)
This color is almost identical to Mugshot so if you have the Naked3 palette you may want to pass on this one.  This being said, it is beautiful and extremely pigmented.  

Burlesque

Compares to: MAC Cranberry
I died when I swatched this color. I'm in love. It's described online as a "deep metallic burgundy" or "the perfect color" (go ahead and quote me).

Sea Mist
I'll admit- I'm a neutral kind of girl and I don't stray far from browns and the occasional purple so this shadow was a bit of a wild card.  However, the day I was shopping online I had just watched a Jaclyn Hill Spring Makeup Tutorial and was feeling inspired.  It's a beautiful green- teal and I'm excited about incorporating a little more color into my eye looks (baby steps).

Collection of Makeup Geek shadows

First Thoughts:

After swatching these shadows I am so impressed the formula- her matte shadow in particular are so buttery and creamy which is how I know that they will be easy to blend.  I can't wait to begin using them to create looks.  I did notice that two of my shimmer shades, Cinderella and Sea Mist, were a bit powdery when I swatched them so it will be interesting to see how they translate on a brush.

Overall, I'm really pleased with my choices and I'm excited to use them and create a more formal opinion.  Make sure to stay tuned for a more in depth review of these shadows, as well as a Prom 2014 look and a DIY on how to magnetize and organize your palette!

What is your favorite Makeup Geek eye shadow? 

xoxo

* UPDATE: I tried to magnetize my MAC palette but ended up switching to ZPalette! If you're curious about more information or a direct comparison- you can find it here.

#BLOGGERSDOITBETTER: MAC Dupes

Bargain:
noun

Something bought or offered for sale cheaper than usual or expected.
Creating a look for less 

 Or... my first thought: dupes.

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm vs. MAC Matte Lipstick

Revlon (left) vs. MAC (right)

One of my favorite drug store products are the Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balms, they're pigmented, they last a long time, and they're crayons! I'm a big fan of crayon style lipsticks or balms because they're not only cute but easy to work with. My sister introduced me to the Matte Balm line when she bought me "Shameless" for my birthday around Christmas time last year and when I went in to swatch the rest of the line I couldn't help but recognize a lot of similarities between them and some iconic MAC matte colors.  I chose five of what I believe to be the closest color dupes.

Starting from the left:
Revlon Standout vs. MAC Viva Glam I
Standout tends to be a bit brighter on first swatch but you can build the color up to be almost a dead ringer for Viva Glam I, which has been sold by MAC since 1994(!)  A deep dark red which is classically beautiful, especially when paired  with a bold winged liner.
Revlon Sultry vs. MAC Craving and Twig
This is the shade that inspired this post. I picked it up from a local Shopper's and when I got home I noticed it was similar to my MAC Twig lipstick (far right), but I also thought it seemed similar to Craving (swatched directly to the right of Sultry and on my wish list.) Craving, even though it is an Amplified finish, is a much closer match because they are both more rosier- pink whereas Twig, a satin finish, is much more of a muted brown pink.
Striking vs. Lady Danger
I'm loving this red- orange shades especially for summer.  I find Lady Danger to be a bit bolder and orange-r on first swipe but once again Striking is easily built up for a bolder color.

(Striking/ Lady Danger repeated)

Shameless vs. Heroine

I've seen these two compared before and although they are similar were the biggest stretch for a match in my opinion.  Shameless is a tad darker and it is the only one who's texture is a bit chalky and uneven. 

Showy vs. Candy Yum Yum 

Finally, this is the match I was most excited about.  The colors truly are an exact match.  Showy is everything cult followed Candy Yum Yum is famous for a bright, neon, matte, blue- based pink.  It just may be my next purchase as I have been dabbling with Candy Yum Yum for a long time.  

Direct Comparisons:

	Revlon	MAC
Pigmentation	Bold and buildable	Bold
Scent	Peppermint	Vanilla
Longevity	Long wearing	Long wearing
Price	$6.99- $11.99 CDN	$19 CDN

My only dislike of the Revlon Matte Balms is the scent.  It throws me off to have such a bold color smell like a peppermint chapstick.  However, considering the price difference, I think I can get over it or at least work around it.  One final note is when washing the swatches off my arm I couldn't help but be impressed with both brand's staying power.  I took this photo after scrubbing them with a makeup removing wipe!

Don't forget to search #Bloggersdoitbetter on Twitter to find out how other "Bloggers Do Bargains Better"!

xoxo