You Like It? I Luvvv It!!! Pt. III

MAC, L'Oreal? Yep, cause I'm worth it!

Love the way I puts it on so perfect,

wipe the corners of my mouth so I work it.

When I walk down the hallway, they can't say nothin'.

Oh, oh oh, my lips so luscious!

The way I spice it up with the MAC-MAC brushes.

L'Oreal got them Wa-watermelon Crush-es.

That's probably the reason all these boys got crushes!

What you know 'bout me?

What you, what you know 'bout me?

What you know 'bout me?

What you, what you know...

is that my lip gloss is cool,

my lip gloss be poppin'!

I'm standin' at my locker

and all the boys keep stoppin'!

What you know 'bout me?

What you, what you know 'bout me?

What you know 'bout me?

What you, what you know...

is that my lip gloss is poppin',

my lip gloss is cool!

All the boys keep jockin'

and chase me after school!

Thanks to Lil' Mama we officially have an ode to lipgloss. I can't think of a beauty product more deserving of such accolades. After all, it was probably the first experience with makeup for most of us. And it still continues to be my personal favorite! That is why I am constantly in search of the perfect one! In my search, I have found that I own several different brands with similar shades. You guessed it, there are many lipgloss/lipstick dupes out there! So here's my list.

Enjoy!

If you like=You're gonna love

Lipglosses/Lip Liners/Lipsticks

Chanel Black Tie Glossimer = Milani Desire

Chanel Blizzard Glossimer = Wet ‘n Wild Bronzeberry Gloss

Chanel Electric Glossimer = Prestige Vinylwear Lipgloss in Merengue

Chanel Giggle Glossimer = Neutrogena Chic gloss

Chanel Glaze Glossimer = Prestige Vinylwear Lipgloss in Glaze

Chanel Spark Glossimer = Prestige Lipgloss in Spark

Chanel Twinkle Glossimer = Prestige Vinylwear Lipgloss in Alloy

Chanel Vamp Lipstick = Wet 'n Wild Blackest Red Lipstick

Chanel Nude Liner = Max Factor Liner in Nude

Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick = Maybelline Drippin Honey Wet Shine Lipstick

Lancome Bonfire Juicy Tube = L'Oreal Colour Juice in Melonade

Lancome Chai Freeze Juicy Tube = NYC Liquid Lipstick Pen in Kerry

Lancome Dreamsicle Juicy Tube = Prestige Vinylwear Lipgloss in Mica

Lancome Miracle Juicy Tube = Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds Liquid in Fairy Romantic

Lancome Simmer Juicy Tube= L’oreal Strawberry Smoothie Color Juice

MAC Girlfriend Liner = Prestige Lip Liner in Baby

MAC Mahogany Liner = Prestige Lip Liner in Auburn

MAC Plum Liner = Revlon Colorstay Plum Liner

MAC Stripdown Liner = Rimmel Femme Fatale

MAC Spice Liner = Wet 'n Wild #712 Liner

MAC Chai Lipglass = Bonne Belle Lip Lites in Cappuccino

MAC Clear Lipglass = Wet 'n Wild Glassy Gloss in Clear

MAC C-Thru Lipglass = Milani Secret

MAC Dreamy Lipglass = Wet 'n Wild Precious Metals Lipgloss in Sugar Plum

MAC Explicit Lipglass = Bonne Belle Lip Lites in Shoutin' Sugar

MAC Freezefrost Lipglass = Wet 'n Wild in Shimmy Shimmer

MAC Fancy That Lipglass = Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds Liquid in Marquise Peach

MAC Impish Lipglass = Rimmel Vinyl Lip in Eastend Snob

MAC Lovechild Lipglass = Rimmel Snog Lipgloss

MAC Lust Lipglass = L’oreal Color Juice in Passionfruit Squeeze

MAC Lychee Luxe Lipglass = Neutrogena Lipgloss in First Blush

MAC Nico Lipglass = L'Oreal Glass Shines in Luminous Lilac

MAC Nymphette Lipglass = Rimmel Lip Gloss in Airy Fairy

MAC Oh Baby Lipglass = Milani Serendipity Gloss

MAC Oyster Girl Lipglass = Neutrogena Lipgloss in Tickled

MAC Prrr Lipglass = L’oreal Color Juice in Mai Tai

MAC Russian Red Lipglass = Prestige Vinylwear Lipgloss in Sleek

MAC Viva Glam V Lipglass = Milani Taboo

MAC Acrylicka Lip Lacquer = Maybelline Lip Polish in Mauvie Star

MAC Love Nectar Lustreglass = Milani Coral Shimmer Lipgloss

MAC Blonde on Blonde Lipstick = Wet 'n Wild Gold Rush #770A

MAC Bubbles Lipstick = Wet 'n Wild #516A

MAC Carnal Lipstick = L'Oreal Wine and Dine

MAC Creme de la Femme Lipstick = Milani Pink Chiffon

MAC Dainty Cake Lipstick = NYC Firefly #306b

MAC Delish Lipstick = Wet 'n Wild Ice Cream

MAC Diva Lipstick = Jane Lipstick in Really Raisin

MAC Film Noir Lipstick = L'Oreal Colour Endure Lipstick in Hot Fudge

MAC Flavour Lipstick = Maybelline Lipstick in Nude Pink

MAC Frenzy Lipstick = Revlon Lipstick in Bamboo Bronze

MAC Frou Lipstick = Bonne Bell Lipstick in Vanilla Volts

MAC Grid Lipstick = Bonne Bell LipGear in Traffic Jam

MAC Haku Lipstick = Wet 'n Wild #546A

MAC High Tea Lipstick = Milani Sheer Lipstick in Amaterro

MAC Hyper Lipstick = Revlon Lipstick in Granite

MAC Lame Lipstick = Prestige Lipstick in Sorbet

MAC Modum Lipstick = Almay Lipstick in Malt

MAC O Lipstick = Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Copperglow Berry

MAC Sequin Lipstick = Almay Sequin One Coat Lipstick

NARS Orgasm Lipgloss = NYC Sungold Lipgloss

NARS Pillow Talk Lipgloss = Rimmel Vinyl Lip Star in Be A Star

NARS Turkish Delight Lipgloss = Neutrogena Moisture Shine in Groove

Stila Apricot Lipglaze = Prestige Fuzzy Navel Jet Stream Gloss

Stila Jane Lipstick = Rimmel Birthday Suit Lipstick

You Like It? I Luvvv It!!! Pt. II

As promised, I am posting my coveted eyeshadow dupe list, I just have a few tips before. The two most important qualities I look for in an eyeshadow are pigment and performance. Pigmentation is the intensity or vividness of a color. Performance is the ability of the shadow to stay in place all day and the blendability of the product. That being said, it is possible to achieve both of these criterias using drugstore cosmetics. Simply, invest in a good eyeshadow base or primer. I will discuss these in further detail on a future post. Also, when you use eyeshadow you can use it dry or wet. By using a wet makeup brush you now have the option to use the eyeshadow as a liner or to create a higher impact color. Finally when using pigments(loose eyeshadows), you can use a mixing medium of 1 part glycerin with 4 parts water to make it wet so that it will apply more intensely.

Enjoy!

If you like = you're going to love

Eyeshadows

MAC Dark Soul pigment = Jane Clubbing

MAC Gorgeous Gold = Prestige Glitz C-157

MAC Juxt = Jane Rain Forest

MAC Lucky Green = Wet n’ Wild Marquis

MAC Naked Lunch = Wet n’ Wild Fine Wink

MAC Paradisco = Flirt! Feeling Hot

MAC Trax = Flirt! Glamourazzi

MAC Amber Lights = Milani Sun Goddess

MAC Aquadisiac = Jane Millionaire

MAC Atlas = Ulta Silk

MAC Beauty Marked = NYX Deep Purple

MAC Bitter = NYX Lime Juice

MAC Black Tied = Milani Storm

MAC Blue Noir = Prestige Ink

MAC Bronze = NYX Deep Bronze

MAC Brule = Milani Almondine

MAC Brun = NYX Herb

MAC Camel = Revlon Pro Bamboo

MAC Carbon = NYX Black

MAC Chrome Yellow = NYX Yellow

MAC Coco = NYX Beanie

MAC Contrast = NYX Odyssey

MAC Coppering = Milani Flare

MAC Cork = Cover Girl Swiss Chocolate

MAC Deep Truth = NYX Morocco

MAC Dementhe, Steamy, Humid = Milani Clover

MAC Electra = NYX Platinum Silver

MAC Electric Eel = Milani Atlantis

MAC Embark = Jane Brownie Points

MAC Gesso = NYX White

MAC Glare = Prestige Golden Sun

MAC Goldmine = Prestige Golden Retriever

MAC Greensmoke = NYX Marrakesh

MAC Guacamole = Milani Limbo Lime

MAC Hepcat = Prestige Blossom

MAC Hypnotique = Prestige Saturn

MAC Jest = Milani Peachy Peach

MAC Little Madame = Milani Illusion

MAC Midnight Blue = Jane Blue Jeans

MAC Mink = NYX Khaki

MAC Mulch, Sable = Milani Java Bean

MAC Newly Minted = NYX Seafoam Green

MAC Nocturnelle = Milani Shock

MAC Nylon = NYX Cream Cheese

MAC Orange = NYX Golden Orange

MAC Parfait Amour = Milani Enchantment

MAC Parrot = L'Oreal HIP Showy

MAC Passionate = NYX Hot Pink

MAC Perverted Pearl = Milani Silver Bullet

MAC Pink Freeze = Milani Taffy

MAC Quarry = Prestige Sandalwood

MAC Rose = Prestige Flushed

MAC Satin Taupe = Rimmel All Over Pencil in Strength

MAC Shale = Milani Icy Plum

MAC Shroom = Jordana in Beige eyeshadow

MAC Silver Pigment = Milani Mercury

MAC Sketch = Milani Marooned

MAC Sprout = Milani Garden Mist

MAC Sumptuous Olive = Milani Antiqued Gold

MAC Sushi Flower = Prestige Love

MAC Vanilla = Milani Snow Frost

MAC Vapor = Prestige Chilly

MAC Vellum = Milani Moonlight

MAC Woodwinked = Milani Golden Bronze

Shu Uemura ME 945 = Caboodles Smooth

Shu Uemura P Brown 76 = Flirt! Oh Please!

Stila Barefoot Contessa = Prestige Spark

Stila Grace = Ulta Plum Smoke

Stila Kitten = Cover Girl Champagne

Stila Sun = Prestige Champagne

Stila Twig = Milani Spice

Urban Decay Acid Rain = Prestige Wasabi

Urban Decay Asphyxia = Milani Enchantment

Urban Decay Grifter = Prestige Uva

Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy = Milani Sheer Sand

Urban Decay Midnight Cowgirl = Prestige Glisten

Urban Decay Mildew = Prestige Iguana

Urban Decay X = Ulta Sunlight

You Like It? I Luvvv It!!! Pt. I

Hello, good people! I'm back!

Where have I been? Well, I've been helping to spread the beauty bug and while I've been doing that I got to thinking. How can we, those facing this awful recession, afford to splurge on beauty indulgences?

It's simple really...you just need to be aware of the industry's dirty little secret, Dupes. What are dupes? They are drugstore duplicates or knockoffs which rival higher end department store brands. They share many similarities, such as color pay-offs and long-lasting wear, with the exception of price. I took the liberty of compiling a list of some of my favorite finds to help you take out the guesswork. It's pretty extensive, so this will be a four part post. First up, Blush & Bronzers. Enjoy!

If you like: You're going to love

Benefit Benetint: L'Oreal Translucide Gel Blush in Blushing Glow

Benefit Blush in Dandelion: Jane Blushing Cheeks Blush in Blushing Blossom

Bobbi Brown Blush in Blushed: Jane Blushing Cheeks Blush in Blushing Orchid

Bobbie Brown Pink Raspberry Pot Rouge: NYX Cream blush in Glow

Cargo Blush in Tempting Beige: L'Oreal Blush in Rustica

Cargo Catalina: Maybelline in Seashell Pink

Cargo Topeka: Jane Blushing Cheeks in Blushing Glow

Chanel Caprice blush: L'Oreal True Match in Barely Blossom

Laura Mercier Crushed Hazelnut: ULTA Glow

MAC Blush Hipness: Milani Mai Tai Donner

MAC Blush in Angel: Almay Stay Smooth Beyond Powder Blush in Petal MAC Blush in Cubic Prestige Blush in Putty

MAC Blush in Fleur Power: L'Oreal Blush in Sunset

MAC Blush in Margin: NYX Terra Cotta

MAC Blush in Prism: Jane Blushing Cheeks Blush in Blushing Baby Doll

MAC Blush in Well Dressed: Jane Blushing Cheeks in Blushing Pink

MAC Cheekhue in Da Da Delight: Revlon Cream Blush in Berry Fliratious

MAC Plum Foolery: L'oreal Color of Hope blush

NARS Antibes multiple: Wet 'n' Wild Twist Up Blush Stick in Scandalous

NARS Blush Deep Throat: Rimmel Blush in Apricot

NARS Blush Orgasm: Milani Luminous

NARS Blush Torrid: L'Oreal Front Page Peach

NARS Copacabana multiple: Wet 'n' Wild Twist Up Blush Stick in Flirt

NARS Exhibit A: Milani Blush in Mango

NARS Laguna Bronzer: L'oreal HIP Bronzer in Blessed

NARS Lovejoy: Flirt! Caramel Belle

NARS Maldives multiple: Wet 'n' Wild Twist Up Blush Stick in Just Peachy

NARS Outlaw: NYC Darling Donner Blush

NARS Plaisir: Bourjois Blush in Santal 92

NARS Portofino: Wet 'n' Wild Twist Up Blush Stick in Coy

NARS Sin: Milani Temptation

NARS South Beach multiple: Wet 'n' Wild Twist Up Blush Stick in Brazen Babe

NARS Torrid: Wet 'n Wild MegaGlo Face Illuminator in Toasty

Stila Hint: Jane Blushing Petal

Stila Rose: Wet 'N' Wild MegaGlo Face Illuminator in Rosy

She's Got The Look...

Ever wonder how Christina Aguilera adopted her trademark red lips? Or how J. Lo got her glow? And why Kim Kardashian has wide-eyed appeal?

It's simple, just take a look in the mirror and identify your best feature. It could be your eyes, lips or even skin/complexion. Once you establish which feature you love, use makeup to enhance it. After all, that is what makeup is supposed to do...bring out what you already have naturally. You should feel like you, only better!

Once you master what works for you, it will be a snap to create your own "signature" look!

Crime does pay!

The Makeup Bandit

Beauty Hall of Fame-Inductee #1

Before there was Ashanti, Beyonce and Rihanna, there was Aaliyah. A young lady whose talent could only be overshadowed by her beauty. Although, her life was tragically cut short she will always have a legacy. Not only as a gifted singer, dancer, and actress but as a beauty icon as well. She was a trendsetter, someone who was not afraid to play with her looks and embrace new styles. She still continues to inspire women of all ages and backgrounds today, that's why I have chosen to induct her into my Beauty Hall of Fame! Rest in peace, Baby Girl!

Crime does pay!
The Makeup Bandit

Throwback of the Day!

Before Lil' Mama even thought of (probably before she was even born) making her hit song "My Lipgloss is Poppin' ", my cherry flavored Vaseline Lip Therapy was popping!

This classic lip treatment which helped relieve dry, chapped lips was my first introduction into the seductive world of lip gloss. That's right, I said lip gloss! Make no mistake about it, with its smooth, slick application, shiny glass-like appearance and thick consistency this was as close to Lipglass that a pre-teen girl, like myself, could hope for! And let's not forget that intriguing cherry flavor...to die for. Or maybe I should say to lie for because that's exactly what my BFF and I did one Valentine's Day in the late '80s.

On a routine supermarket run for a family member, my friend (who shall remain nameless) and I decided we would steal, yes steal a box of our beloved Lip Therapy, a couple of Wet and Wild eyeliner pencils and a few Word Up! magazines for good measure. Needless to say, our attempt did not go unnoticed. As we headed for the exit, we were met by the store's security who swiftly brought us into the "interrogation" room to retrieve the stolen merchandise and record our confessions. Like the hardened criminals that we sought to be we denied any wrongdoing...that is, until the surveillance video was revealed. Embarrassed and ashamed, we gave ourselves up...thus The Makeup Bandit was born!

Disclaimer

In no way, do I condone stealing...with the exception of stealing looks, one face at a time. I know, shameless plug!

Crime does pay!

The Makeup Bandit