MAC DUPES - NUDE LIPSTICKS

I love reading posts about dupes, so I thought it was about time I'd write one myself!

Now, my theory is that nothing can ever look the same unless it's the same exact product.
Shade, finish, pigmentation, longevity - so many variables make a make up product that it's pretty unlikely to find identical dupes.
Which is why I have multiple drawers full of cosmetics that only at a first, superficial glance might appear SIMILAR to one another. But they're oh so different, and we can create oh so many different looks with each one of them!! ;-)

That said, at half the price than the "original" - if not less -, some products are really more than worthy alternatives!!

So here are some dupes of nude Mac lipsticks I have in my make up collection - they are all European brands so my apologies in advance to anyone who can't get hold of them :(

Left: Mac Blankety - Right: Rimmel Airy Fairy

Mac Blankety - Rimmel 070 Airy Fairy
Airy Fairy is a little more pink and has more of a sheen to it. Pigmentation is very similar.

L: Mac Bare Again - R: Kiko Desert Rose

Mac Bare Again Sheen Supreme - Kiko 403 Desert Rose Crystal Sheer lipstick
Desert Rose is a little darker and more sheer.

L: Mac Peach Blossom - R: Catrice The Nuder The Better

Mac Peach Blossom (limited edition) - Catrice Ultimate Colour 190 The Nuder The Better
The Nuder The Better is more opaque, but the shade is very comparable.

L: Mac Syrup - R: Kiko Inspiration Rosewood

Mac Syrup - Kiko 01 Inspiration Rosewood Virtual Dream Lipstick (limited edition, latest collection Digital Emotion now in store!)
Inspiration Rosewood is more opaque.
(see me wear Syrup in My New Year's Eve make up)

L: Mac Feed The Senses - R: Catrice Gentle Nude Is Back 

Mac Feed The Senses (limited edition) - Catrice Ultimate Shine 190 Gentle Nude Is Back
Gentle Nude Is Back is a little brighter and has more of a sheen to it.
(see me wear Feed The Senses in Mac Feed The Senses)

Ladies I hope this was helpful!! Please let me know if you have more dupes for these!!
I hope you're having a great day,
love ^_^ :-*

IN THE SKY WITH GLITTER / VICTORIA'S SECRET INSPIRED make up look

I wasn't going to write a post about this look because I thought the make up showed up too undefined in the picture, but since on Instagram it received so many Likes - even one from James Molloy (@molloysie), Director of Artistry for Mac Cosmetics in Asia, one of my idols! - I decided to do it anyway!

I find it's reminiscent of Victoria's Secret signature make up look, and they are actually having their highly anticipated annual Fashion Show today!!

I hadn't self tanned my face in a few days and my skin was at its palest (actually meaning natural hahaha :-D), so I had to make some adjustments to my usual make up routine because I am not used to working on my face when it's so light.

I still used my one and only foundation L'Oreal Lumi Magique in the same colour W3/D3 Gold Linen with my Real Techniques stippling brush, but I didn't use my Mac concealer in NC30 because it would have been too dark.
This time I used Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer in 02 Light, which I usually apply only to my undereye area, both under my eyes and on blemishes.

On my eyes I pulled all stops and went for full on gold with my Gold Trinity of Eyeshadows!!
L'Oreal Color Infallible 002 Hourglass Beige (called 888 Iced Latte in the US), the most beautiful champagne shade, to highlight my inner corner and my brow bone
L'Oreal Color Infallible 027 Goldmine, the most blinding true gold, on the centre of my eyelids and on the centre of my lower lash line
L'Oreal Color Infallible 024 Divine Bronze, the most divine bronze indeed, on the outer corner - top and bottom - and to define my crease.

On my waterline I applied Mac Chromagraphic Pencil in NW25/NC30.

Then I lined my eyes with my super thin and precise Japanese eyeliner Le Rose de Versailles from Creer Beaute. I draw a catline on the upper lash line, and I dotted it softly on the lower lash line.

For mascara I used another Japanese product, Lash Expander Edge Meister from Majolica Majorca, the drugstore section of Shiseido, available only in Asian countries.
It's very black and shiny, and it containes small fibres that do expand your lashes, I really like it!! How can you not love such a pretty packaging too!! <3

I didn't use blush or bronzer - no point in bronzing up such a pale skin finish -, and I only contoured my cheekbones with Mac Harmony blush.
Mac called it "blush" but it's a matte taupe ideal for contouring, I doubt anybody use it as traditional blush :-)

Then I went back to L'Oreal Hourglass Beige eyeshadow and used it as highlighter on the top of my cheekbones, down my nose and on my Cupid's bow.
It's my second favourite powder highlighter after Mac Soft and Gentle, with the bonus that it's perfect for travelling because it's so small and compact and it can't break. It's very inexpensive too!

On my lips I used NYX Summer Love lipstick, a GORGEOUS pinky nude. Just SO GORGEOUS.

I finished off the look with Barry M Glossy Tube lipgloss in shade number 4, another beautiful nude pink.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read, and if you would like to see another Victoria's Secret inspired look go to Winter Angel make up look :-*

Love
MJ