Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather Collection 2014: Creamy Beige (MAC Groundwork Dupe)

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige, MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork

I've said it before, and I'll say it again- I love me some cream eyeshadows. I love the texture, the fact that I can apply them with my fingers, the way they set, that they can act as eyeshadow bases... it's all wonderful. Maybelline's Color Tattoos are reliably impressive and hold up to high end products. In fact, I think they're better than some high end cream shadows (I prefer them over Makeup Forever's Aqua Creams). I get excited whenever they release new collections, and the latest Leather Collection is a beautiful array of both classic and unconventional neutrals.

I naturally gravitated toward the classic brown neutral in Creamy Beige, which is a lovely warm medium brown satin with mauve undertones. It immediately reminded me of my favorite MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork, which I think is the perfect no-fuss eye color. Lo-and-behold- they are essentially identical!

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige, MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige, MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork

Color-wise, Creamy Beige might be just a smidge deeper and leans more brown than Groundwork, which has a stronger mauve cast. Just barely though. Swatched side by side, they're hard to tell apart. When it comes to texture, however, there is a clear difference between the two. Creamy Beige is a thicker, tackier formula than Groundwork, which is more emollient. Nevertheless, both are equally easy to apply and blend as Creamy Beige becomes more emollient as it warms on the skin. As for longevity, you can see in my picture below of the swatches after several hours and multiple handwashes that these hold incredibly well. The same is true in actual wear on the eyes.

I highly recommend both products but especially Maybelline's Creamy Beige ($6.99 for 4g) if you can find it, as it is almost a third the price of Groundwork ($20 for 5g)! I believe the Leathers collection will be permanent so you'll likely be able to get Creamy Beige at a discount during one of the frequent drugstore sales.

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige, MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork

Maybelline's Creamy Beige and MAC's Groundwork after several hours and handwashes

Creamy Beige on left, Groundwork on right

Final look with Creamy Beige on left, Groundwork on right

Sally Hansen: Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Top Coat

(photographed when it was still new)

Although I still have somewhere between 1/2 to 1/3 of this bottle left, I'm going to add Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Top Coat to my Project Pan list (Project Pan Item #21) for reasons to be discussed below.

All in all, this is a great top coat. I think it is identical Seche Vite (reviewed here) except with a nicer price tag. It is extremely glossy and protective, and it definitely speeds up dry time. Its only downfall is, again, exactly like that of Seche Vite- as the product dwindles down, it gets thick, goopy, and ultimately unusable. For some reason, it gets to a point where it bubbles up as it dries, thus ruining the nail look and defeating its purpose. Sadly, I am at that point now. Even so, I will be repurchasing this because it is the best top coat I've tried (along with Seche Vite) and it's a nice buy at around $4.

MAC Sable Dupes: Smashbox ASAP, MUA Shade 11

L-R: Smashbox ASAP, MAC Sable, MUA Shade 11

L-R: Smashbox ASAP, MAC Sable, MUA Shade 11

I was randomly swatching some of my eyeshadows the other night and stumbled upon some potential dupes that I thought I'd share. They looked a lot more similar that night under artificial lighting than when I re-swatched and photographed them in natural light, but close enough.

MAC's Sable  is a Frost-finish eyeshadow in a satiny pink-toned brown. I remember that when I first got it, I thought it had strong red tones but I don't see that anymore. I don't use this color often (probably because of my initial impression that it was too red) though I probably should because it's pretty to me now as I swatch it. The formula is smooth but a little dry (this may be due to its age), causing it to go on just a tad sheer on first swatch. Fear not, for the color is strong and dense by the second swipe.

Now for the "dupes."

By comparison, Smashbox's ASAP eyeshadow leans cooler as it has more of a gray-lilac tone to it. It makes Sable's red tones more apparent when they are swatched next to one another. The formula is a extremely soft and smooth, even crumbly if you pick up too much, but I find that this gives it better color payoff. A little goes a long way with this one. I happen to love ASAP and have definitely utilized it more than Sable. Sadly, it appears to have been discontinued.

MUA's Shade 11 (reviewed previously here) is a touch lighter than ASAP but very similar. Strangely, it appears quite cool and gray-taupe in the pan but goes on warmer than expected as a pinky-brown. The formula is lovely but the sheerest out of the bunch, although color may be built with ease. This one is the most affordable by far, only a whopping 1 GBP (equivalent to ~$1.50).

These "dupes" are far from perfect but perhaps similar enough that you don't need all three. I find that I'm less inclined to purchase eyeshadows these days because I'm finally realizing that I probably have all the versions of browns and taupes that I could ever need, with plenty of dupes to boot. I'll share more as I find them!

L-R: Smashbox ASAP, MAC Sable, MUA Shade 11 (natural light)

L-R: Smashbox ASAP, MAC Sable, MUA Shade 11 (with flash)

Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer: Boho Gold

Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer in Boho Gold

The duochrome nail polish trend seems to be going strong these days! I caved and went for Boho Gold from Maybelline's Color Show line because it reminded me so much of Chanel's Peridot. I don't own the Chanel version so I can't compare but the consensus seems to be that Boho Gold is a dupe.

The polish is sheer but I quite liked the way it applied. It was smooth, easy, and fast-drying. The color can look intimidating and oddball in the bottle but it definitely leans gold in actual wear, which I like because it's much more wearable that way. If you're looking for a strong duochrome, I don't think you'll find it here. I am happy with this color though!

Boho Gold (natural light)

Boho Gold (with flash)

Boots Botanics Eye Colour: Star Anise (Satin Taupe Dupe), Cinnamon

Boots Botanics Eye Colour in Star Anise and Cinnamon

Boots Botanics Eye Colour in Star Anise and Cinnamon

No surprise- more naughty purchases. I've had these for at least a few months now but I definitely got them sometime after I started Project Pan. Anyhow, here are two eye shadows by Boots Botanics, which can be found at Target. I have Star Anise, a grayed taupe, and Cinnamon, a lovely warm medium brown. Star Anise has a satin sort of finish while Cinnamon is matte.

Of course, I could not resist comparing Star Anise to Satin Taupe. They are similar but Satin Taupe is more shimmery and warm, while Star Anise is more gray and a bit deeper. Cinnamon has been a favorite of mine. I love pairing it with Buxom's cream eye shadow in Mutt for the perfect everyday neutral eye.

Both shadows are smooth, buttery, and pigmented. They're a breeze to apply and they last all day over an eyeshadow primer (which I use daily).

The packaging has its pros and cons. The eyeshadow pans are embedded into cardboard with magnetized flaps. I like that they are compact and lightweight. However, they don't come wrapped in plastic so many of the eyeshadows had been compromised in-store. Not ideal as far as hygiene goes but it's usually obvious which have been tampered with so make sure to check before you buy.

Overall, I have to say that I love these. They're excellent shadows in great neutral shades, and they're extremely affordable to boot. I believe I got them for about $5 each, but they sell for $4.50 on drugstore.com if you're interested.

L-R: Star Anise, Cinnamon

L-R: MAC Satin Taupe, Star Anise, Cinnamon

Buxom Mutt across lids, Boots Botanics Cinnamon on outer corners

Buxom Pug across lids, Boots Botanics Star Anise on outer corners

UPDATE 2/11:

I paired Cinnamon with Burberry's Rosewood and I was surprised to find that within this combination, Cinnamon seemed to lean cool. It looked almost taupe with purple tones. That certainly adds to the complexity of the shade!

Burberry Rosewood across lids with Cinnamon on outer corner

Button London: Yummy Mummy (and Revlon Dupe)

Butter London Yummy Mummy, Revlon Gray Suede

L-R: Yummy Mummy (YM), YM, YM, Gray Suede (GS), GS, GS, YM, YM

If I haven't said it enough, I love my neutrals. Butter London's Yummy Mummy is a sophisticated grayish-pink neutral with subtle shimmer. I find it to be a subdued but very chic shade.

Butter London's nail polishes are "3 Free," meaning that they are without DPB, toulene and formaldehyde, which are chemicals that you'd want to avoid exposing yourself to. This is wonderful, of course, although it is not so much of a consideration for me personally since I wear polishes that do contain those chemicals. The formula is just right in consistency, neither runny nor thick. I also love the packaging, which is sleek and makes for easy storage.

Butter London polishes sell for $14/bottle, which is rather pricey. I would thus like to point out a comparable shade by Revlon called Gray Suede, which I have reviewed previously. It is not an exact dupe, as you might be able to tell from my swatches. I can easily pick out the difference in real life as Gray Suede is a bit lighter and pinker than Yummy Mummy, which is more gray. Even so, I think they're quite close and they're definitely in the same color family. Revlon sells for less than half the price, so I consider it to be a good contender! Either way, this sort of color is lovely and should be a staple in one's collection.

Butter London Yummy Mummy on middle, ring, and little fingers (natural light)

Butter London Yummy Mummy on middle, ring, and little fingers (with flash)

Revlon Gray Suede on thumb and pointer (natural light)

Revlon Gray Suede on thumb and pointer (with flash)

Chanel Black Pearl Dupes: Urban Outfitters Ashtray, Revlon Black with Envy

Urban Outfitters Ashtray, Chanel Black Pearl, Revlon Black with Envy

Urban Outfitters Ashtray, Chanel Black Pearl, Revlon Black with Envy

I raved about Chanel's Black Pearl a little while back. I was so fascinated with the color that I could not help myself when I saw Ashtray at Urban Outfitters, as mentioned in this post before. It looked incredibly similar. A bit of Googling led me to someone's observation that Revlon's Black with Envy also seemed similar. I already had this color but had never gotten around to wearing it. I decided to compare all three at once.

Index finger: Revlon Black with Envy
Middle finger: Chanel Black Pearl
Ring finger: Urban Outfitters Ashtray

Index finger: Revlon Black with Envy
Middle finger: Chanel Black Pearl
Ring finger: Urban Outfitters Ashtray

As I hope you can see, both are pretty good dupes for the coveted Chanel polish! Ashtray is closer in color and finish. It seems to have more shimmer to it than Black Pearl but the end result has some of the same pearlescent quality. Ashtray's formula is nicer as well compared to Black with Envy. I am not very good at analyzing polish formulas because I tend not to notice unless a formula is pretty awful or very impressive (like Black Pearl). Ashtray was not remarkable to me in any way so I think it is standard in the way of formulas. It was not bad but it was certainly not like Chanel's. However, at $4-5, I really can't complain.

Black with Envy looks charcoal gray in the bottle but the deep green tones are present once applied to the nail. It is visibly darker than Black Pearl, though I doubt anyone would notice the difference unless I pointed it out. I don't think this one has any hint of a pearl finish. It is just a shimmer. Its formula was definitely the weakest. It is quite thin and watery. I have had problems in the past with watery Revlon polishes so I think this is just the way it is with their nail lacquers.

In summary, I am quite impressed with how close these dupes are to the real thing. I'm not sure whether to feel glad or sad, since I did pay $25 for a dupeable polish. The quality of the Chanel polish is far superior but as I mentioned above, I am not a formula-oriented person. I care most about color and finish. If you're like me, then I think you'll be very happy with Ashtray. Between Ashtray and Black with Envy, Ashtray is more similar, has a better formula, and might even be cheaper. It is $4 when you buy 2 from Urban Outfitters, or $5 for a single bottle. The Revlon polish is darker and has a different finish than Black Pearl. It might have been a limited edition shade so I'm not sure about its availability. I think Revlon polishes go from $5-6. Ashtray is the way to go!

Ring finger: Urban Outfitters Ashtray
Middle finger: Chanel Black Pearl
Index finger: Revlon Black with Envy


Ashtray on left, Black Pearl on middle finger, Black with Envy on right

UPDATE 9/6:

I tested my boyfriend to see if he could tell the difference in my nail colors. He could easily pick out Revlon's Black with Envy but he was not able to tell the difference between Black Pearl and Ashtray. To be fair, I only had one nail painted with Black Pearl but I still think they're a close match!

Urban Outfitters Nail Lacquer: Barstool

Urban Outfitters Barstool

I just got a bunch of nail polishes from Urban Outfitters in colors that I'm quite excited about. Two of them look like potential dupes for some more expensive polishes. I'll provide sneak peeks below, though I'll do individual reviews when I actually try the other shades.

The one I have on is Barstool, a medium grayed blue in a creme/jelly finish. I'm really loving grayed hues. I think that quality neutralizes colors that would normally intimidate me.

The formula was quite sheer and seemed a bit slow to dry but I used Seche Vite to speed things up. It's definitely not the greatest formula I've tried because it was sheer and sort of gloppy. However, I don't personally care too much as long as I get the finish that I want.

At 2 for $8, or $5 regular price, these polishes are not going to hurt your wallet. The formula is not ideal but I love the color selection, which is what I care most about. I think they're worth checking out!

P.S. I love the names of these colors too.

Urban Outfitters Barstool (natural light)

Urban Outfitters Barstool (with flash)

Urban Outfitters Nail Lacquers: Dust, Afterhours, Barstool, Ashtray

Urban Outfitters Dust

Urban Outfitters Dust on pinky

Dust is a deeper blue sheer base with lots and lots of silver sparkle, including regular and larger hexagonal glitters. It looks to me like Deborah Lippmann's Today Was a Fairytale, although I don't actually have that polish to do a direct comparison. Based on swatches online, I'm thinking that Dust may be more opaque than the Deborah Lippmann polish. That would make it a worthwhile dupe at $4/5, compared to $20 for Today Was a Fairytale! I only have this color on my pinkies, layered over Barstool, so I'm not sure how this would look worn alone. I did find this formula to dry more quickly than Barstool, and it was less gloppy as well.

Urban Outfitters Afterhours

Urban Outfitters Afterhours

Afterhours is a dazzling holographic-looking pink. Instant mood-booster! I'm excited to try it.

Urban Outfitters Ashtray

Ashtray is a pearlescent green-black that looks like it may be a dupe for Chanel's Black Pearl, which I've reviewed previously. I'll see how well it compares and report back!

Kiko Eyeshadow: 124 (Satin Taupe Dupe), 125

Kiko Eye Shadow: #124, #125

Kiko Eye Shadow: #124, #125

Here are some more makeup items that I was fortunate to get my hands on while traversing Europe. I stumbled upon the Kiko store in Barcelona. I had never heard of this brand before but I couldn't resist the temptation of a stand-alone cosmetics shop. My eyes first landed on the nail polishes, which were extensive in their color selection and cheap to boot! They were 2.50 euro each. I naturally wandered over to their eye section next where the prices were a little less thrilling, though not bad by any means. I made a conscious effort to be selective and walked away with these two shadows in #124 and #125.

#124 picks up rather pink on my camera but to my naked eye, it looks like a cool-ish brown taupe. #125 is in the same vein but deeper and more cool-toned with stronger gray cast. I did not realize it at the time but #124 is very similar to MAC's beloved Satin Taupe. I've done a comparison. To my naked eye, Satin Taupe is warmer and more brown than #124. When swatched, the colors are nearly identical though Satin Taupe is more shimmery and a touch deeper. Its formula is also smoother.

These were 4.90 euro, which comes out to about $7.50 for 3g of product (twice the amount of MAC's eyeshadows). Not a bad deal! When it comes to the formula, however, MAC certainly outperforms Kiko. Kiko's shadows are not bad but they are a bit dry and harder to blend (you can probably tell in my pictures of the colors on my lids). The pigmentation is fine but not exceptional. They do fade with wear. I have tried less expensive shadows that I believe perform better. I have to say, however, that Kiko offers the advantage of a wide color selection. You are less likely to get that with cheaper drugstore brands.

In summary, Kiko's eyeshadows are okay in their performance but they do have a nice color range that includes some highly sought after shades for a good price. If you don't mind working a little harder to apply the shadows, then these may be worth looking into.

Kiko Eye Shadow: #124, #125

Kiko Eye Shadow: #124, #125 vs. MAC Satin Taupe

MAC Satin Taupe, Kiko #124, Kiko #125

Morning: #124 across lid, #125 on outer corner

After 9 hours: #124 across lid, #125 on outer corner