Hello Makeup Geeks!

If you haven’t seen any of my previous product smackdowns before, it’s where I do a comparison of two exact same products: one high end and one drugstore version. I compare all the qualities both good and bad, how they are alike and how they differ and at the end pick a winner.

Today’s smackdown is between the” Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill” vs. “L’Oreal Paris Infallible Eye Shadow”. Both are cream to powder eyeshadows that boast intense pigmentation and long wear along with being crease proof and water resistant.

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill

These became popular since the unique formula first appeared. the rich formula glides on evenly and smoothly for a highly pigmented, amazing look. The only downside to these is the price. These come in 12 permanent shades at $32.00 for 4 grams of product. I feel this is an absolutely ridiculous price for what you get when you are basically paying for the Armani name.

Advantages:

• High pigmentation
• Smooth consistency
• Long wearing

Disadvantages:

• Extremely over-priced
• Could have a few more shades

L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow

These intensely pigmented eyeshadows come in 18 amazing shades. There is 3.5 grams of product per container which is just slightly less than the Armani. However, the HUGE difference is the price, at $7.00 per color, these are much more budget friendly than the other brand. I love how pigmented and smooth these are, plus they last all day!

Advantages:

• Great color selection
• Lower price
• Smooth consistency
• High pigmentation
• Lower price

Disadvantages:

• None

Price:  $7

Where to Buy:   Amazon  .  eBay  .   Most Drugstores

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Verdict….

The obvious winner of this smackdown is…L’Oreal!  It’s the same formula at less than one quarter of the price.  With the same rich pigmentation, smooth cream to powder formula, easy application and the ease of being able to pick one up at your local drugstore, this is an easy choice.

I hope you enjoyed this “Smackdown” and try these unique eyeshadows for yourself. If you have tried them let me know what you think!  I hope you are all doing great and staying happy and healthy!

xoxo,
Marlena

Today’s product smackdown for you between the Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner and the Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner. Gel eyeliners have increase in popularity over the last few years because of their diversity. They can be used not only to line the upper and lower lashes but work wonderfully on the waterline as well. What makes these so unique is their ability to glide on without pulling or tugging on the skin and have longer staying power than traditional eyeliner pencils. Gel eyeliners can create a bold and dramatic look with a thick line or multiple layers or a more natural line with a thin stroke.  Everyone knows I love my Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner and have used it for quite a while now, recently however, I was introduced to the Maybelline Eye Studio gel liners and I thought I would do a product Smackdown for you to let you know which one I would recommend.

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner

Bobbi Brown’s gel eyeliner is renowned for their smooth consistency and ability to glide on smoothly. They come in a wide variety of shades, 14 to be exact, and are waterproof which means they work wonderfully in the waterline. The only down side to the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners is the price. These run $22.00 for 0.1 oz. / 3 g. at which to me is a lot to pay.
Pros: Waterproof, great color selection
Cons: Price
Where to Buy: Sephora |  Amazon |  eBay

Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliners

Maybelline gel eyeliners are quickly gaining popularity and it’s easy to see why. These glide on remarkably smooth and are very highly pigmented which makes it easy to get the desired color you want without having to go back over it multiple times. These don’t flake or smudge and are waterproof as well so these stay in the waterline without sliding. The only downside is the color range which as of right now is 4 colors. The price on this is extraordinarily better at $6.00 – $9.00 for 0.11 oz. depending on where you shop.

Pros: Waterproof, price
Con: Limited color selection
Where to Buy: Drugstore | Amazon | eBay

Verdict

So I am going to have to give this SMACKDOWN to Maybelline! This is absolutely one of my new favorite products.  The only downside is the color selection with 4 shades available. However, these work just as well as the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners by being waterproof and staying in place and not sliding. For the price these are unbeatable.  I love these so much that I am going to be switching over and using the Maybelline eyeliners and just use my Bobbi Brown when I need a green or blue shade to go to. At least until Maybelline comes out with a few more shades…hint, hint.  I hope this smackdown helped you decide which one is best for you. As always stay happy and healthy!

Swatches:

Bobbie Brown:

Maybelline:

NARS Sheer Glow

This foundation by NARS has been known for giving the most amazing dewy finish to the skin.  It goes on smoothly, doesn’t feel heavy, and covers fairly well.   It comes in 12 different shades (my color is “Barcelona” and I am currently medium warm skin).

The only downside to it is the price ($42- ouch!) and it can cause breakouts in sensitive skin.  I really do love this foundation, but I cannot use it anymore as my face got little bumps all over my cheeks    I still say that this is a great foundation if you want a very dewy finish to the skin, but be careful if you have sensitive skin…

Here is my full review of this foundation:   NARS Sheer Glow Review

Coverage:  Medium

Best for:  Combo/Dry skin, mature skin, those looking for dewy finish

Price:  $42

Where to Buy:

• Sephora
• Amazon
• eBay

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation

Much love,
Marlena

Beauty Blender

This blending sponge is used by celebrity makeup artists as it works amazingly well in applying foundation to give an airbrushed finish.  What makes it unique to other sponges is its egg shape which allows you to roll the foundation onto the skin, avoiding any streaks.  If you dampen the sponge with warm water, it expands to twice its size and gets even softer which makes for a flawless foundation application.  Because of its pointed tip, you can easily get under the eyes and around the nose to blend.  I have to honestly say this is the most ingenious makeup tool out there.

Here’s my full review of this product as well as a video on how to use it!   Beauty Blender Review  

Price:  $17.99 or $22.99 for 2

Where to Buy:  Makeup Geek Store    Amazon  

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Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge

Although this sponge rings in at $10 instead of $18, I have to honestly say it is worth the extra $8 to get the real thing.  The shape of this isn’t an actual egg so it is very difficult to roll the foundation onto the skin.  Plus its density is too stiff, leaving streaks on the face and not blending as smoothly.  I tried wetting this sponge to see if it got softer, but it stayed the same size and just gave me a wet foundation look…  I’ll be passing the aisle on this one and saving my money elsewhere (like on eyeliners)  :)

Price:   $9.99

Where to Buy:   Target    Amazon  

Do you have a product comparison idea?  Post it below and I’ll do a smackdown video on it comparing the two!

Have a great week, Makeup Geeks!

Much love,
Marlena

NARS Blush – “Orgasm”

NARS blushes are known throughout the makeup community for being the smoothest and richest blushes out there.  The top selling color of all time is “Orgasm”- a slightly shimmery peachy pink color that looks great on just about everyone.  This blush gives a subtle glow and warmth to the cheeks (um… maybe why it has it’s name? )    The only downside is the price- at $27 it is a bit pricey for a blush

Price:  $27

Where to Buy:   Sephora  .  Amazon  . eBay

Makeup Designory Blush – “Glow”

When I first tried the MUD blushes, I was actually very impressed!  The texture is very similar to NARS- smooth, richly pigmented, and not overly shimmery.  This color “glow” is almost an exact dupe for the ever popular NARS “orgasm” but is 1/2 the price.  My other favorite colors by MUD are “bubblegum”- a nice bright matte pink, and “soft peach”- a nice warm peach color.  I honestly have no complaints about these blushes- you can get in refills to put in your palettes if you like, or buy in a pot like the picture above.

Price:  $9.99

Where to Buy:   Makeup Geek Store

I am going to say that it is worth trying the MUD blush to save some money- this doesn’t mean that I don’t still love my NARS one!  But as you can tell from the swatches, it’s an easy way to save some money

Have a wonderful weekend, muggies!!!

xoxo

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Shadow Pencils

These creamy eyeshadow pencils are super pigmented, very creamy, and the best part:  they don’t crease!  They come in 12 different shades ranging from teal to brown to purple.  I love how much color these add to the eyes in one easy swipe- the only hard part is blending with them as they really do stay put.  You need to work fast and apply thin layers at a time.   My favorite color is “Clinic”, which is a gorgeous deep emerald green

I do think these are far superior than the NYX jumbo pencils, but the price is almost 4 times as much- you definitely get what you pay for.   I would choose just 1 or 2 colors that I know I would wear often (like the color “sin” or “lit” as they’re neutral).   I highly recommend these eyeshadow pencils though as they are great quality!

Price:   $20

Where to Buy:    Sephora  .  Amazon  .  eBay

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils

Now these eyeshadow pencils I have been using for over 2 years now- for good reason, as they are very pigmented and super creamy.  The only downside- they slide like oil on a hot fry pan.  The trick is to apply a very thin layer at a time using a small brush or your finger- don’t apply directly to the lid as they will crease.    My go to colors are “Milk” (for a solid white base), and purple (is a nice deep purple), and gold.

Although these aren’t as good in quality as the Urban Decay ones, I think they’re still worth getting if you want a strong pop of color to the eyes.  They’re incredibly pigmented and do glide well, plus you can’t beat the price.

Price:   $4.49

Where to Buy:   Makeup Geek Store  .  Amazon  . eBay  

Urban Decay Primer Potion

This eyeshadow primer has been well known for making eyeshadows last longer, prevent creasing, and making blending smoother.  Here’s how Urban Decay describes it:  “Packaged in a new squeeze tube with a precise needle nose, these bestselling primer potions glide effortlessly onto the skin providing the ultimate eye prep for smoother, more vibrant shadow and all-day, creaseless wear. “

They come in 4 different colors:  a sheer, pale yellow, light gold, and shimmery champagne.    I’ve always loved these primer potions- they work really well, are smooth, and don’t feel cakey like some primers do.   My only complaint is the price…

*Here’s Bobbie’s Review on the Primer in the color “Eden”:   Urban Decay Eye Primer Review

Price:  $19

Where to Buy:    Sephora .  Amazon  .  eBay

*Picture courtesy of glowingface.blogspot.com

Palladio Eyeshadow Primer

This eyeshadow primer is rumored to be made by the same company as Urban Decay.  The formula feels and acts the exact same, but is less than 1/2 the price.  The only difference is it comes in just one color and the packaging is a bit plain (but it’s easier to access the product as the tube is straight)

I will not say that one primer is better than the other as I love both brands- they both work equally well!  It’s all a matter on what your budget is and if you are looking for colored primers or just clear.

Price:  $7.99

Where to Buy:    Makeup Geek Store .  Amazon  .  eBay

Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil VS Milani Liquif’eye Eyeliner

Photo courtesy of: izntlifesojuicy.blogspot.com

Urban Decay 24/7

Price: $18

Where to Buy: Amazon . eBay . Sephora

This eyeliner by Urban Decay has been my favorite for years now- they come in several different shades, are creamy, glide easily, and are incredibly rich in color. I use the color “Zero” or “Perversion” (black color) daily to line my upper and lower lashline to make my lashes look thicker- I love them so much that I have 3 different ones just in case I lose one! The only complaint I have at all is the price- at $18 a piece, it’s much easier to find a less expensive version. So…. that brings me to the product smackdown competitor: Milani Liquif’eye

Milani Liquif’eye

Price: $6.49

Where to Buy: Amazon . eBay . Most Drugstores

Just like the Urban Decay eyeliner, these Milani ones are creamy, glide easily, and are super pigmented! The only drawback is they come in just a few colors compared to Urban Decay’s massive 21 color collection. If you’re needing a basic black or brown, then Milani is a great alternative if you’re on a budget. Don’t get me wrong- I still love my Urban Decay eyeliners, but I don’t mind saving a few dollars on an eyeliner (so I can turn around and spend on another eyeshadow- haha)

Know of more products that are cheap alternatives for expensive ones? List them below!

Have a fantastic week, beautiful makeup geeks!

-Marlena

.UNII Palettes

The quality of these palettes is absolutely amazing!  They’re sleek, very sturdy, include a mirror, and hold your eyeshadows in tightly so that you can travel with no worries.  My only complaint is I wish they were a bit bigger to hold more shadows in one case, and the price is a little steep, BUT….the quality is worth this price.  If I had to choose a palette to travel with, I would choose these as they are so incredibly sturdy!

They come in 6 colors:   pink, blue, yellow, purple, white, and black

Price: $24
Where to Buy: . UNII . Amazon . eBay

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Z Palettes

These palettes are what I currently use to hold all my eyeshadows as they are a great size, sturdy, AND have a see through top so I can see what’s inside!  Plus you have to admit, the patterns are so cute

They come in 4 patterns:   black, pink, zebra, and leopard

Price: $19.95
Where to Buy: Makeup Geek Store (more in stock soon!). Amazon . eBay

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MAC Palettes

Although I have had my eyeshadows in these palettes for years, I will say that these are not the best for holding your precious makeup… The packaging is cheaply made, does not protect your shadows, and you cannot see through the case to see what’s in it.   (Sorry MAC!)

Price: $14
Where to Buy: . MAC . eBay