Can it Be a Dupe for Mac Rebel?

Mac Rebel has a cult following. It is one of the most popular and sold lipsticks that Mac carries. It is up there with Rubby Woo, Viva Glam V and Girl About Town. It is a gorgeous colour no doubt, but is it unique? Is it dupable? I think so.

Mac Rebel and Urban Decay Venom 

Mac Rebel is a pinkish - purple berry colour. I think about ripe raspberries when I look at it. On their website Mac describes it as mid-tonal cream plum. I would disagree, since in my opinion plum shades have a bit more purple in them and less pinky/red. It does look very deep in the bullet with purple hues, so I can see why they described it as such. Upon application however, the colour is less intimidating. Mac Rebel is a Satin formula, which for me falls somewhere in between their Matte and Cremesheen finishes. It is not as creamy as the cremsheen lipsticks but is not as opaque as the matte ones. You can sheer out the colour or wear it as a full on statement lip. I think it works really well for a fall season but if you want you can wear it all year round. Whatever rocks your boat!

A rival that comes very close to Mac Rebel is Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in Venom. They are very similar in texture, the only difference you can pick out is that Venom has more slip to it and a slight shimmer running through it. Mac Rebel has no shimmer. In terms of colour, they are identical. I have tried wearing one on the top lip and another one on the bottom lip and you could not tell the difference. I do think that Mac Rebel has a better staying power as it is less creamy, in a good way. With Venom I suggest using a lipliner for a more precise and even application. Both will stain your lips, but that is expected from darker colours.

Mac Rebel and Urban Decay Venom

Urban Decay Venom Closer Look at the Texture

An aspect that can tip the scales in the favour of Urban Decay Venom for some people is that it is cruelty free. In terms of price they are more or less the same. Mac Rebel retails for 20,50€ while Urban Decay Venom is sold at 21,86€. You can purchase Urban Decay products from Feelunique plus they offer worldwide shipping. 

I think both lipsticks perform great, but do you need both? I don't think so (unless you are a fuchsia, berry tones lover). When deciding which one to get I would say it all boils down to whether you mind a shimmer in your lipstick and how much you value the product not being tested on animals.

Let me know if you have more budget alternatives for berry lipsticks!

Until next time,
Muffy

Unmasking the Mask

Very often masks are overlooked in the everyday skincare routine. I am not going to lie, I often forget to use them myself. Even if I have several masks in rotation I rarely see the results which make me want to comeback to a certain mask. What am I looking for in a mask? My main concern is to keep those pesky breakouts at bay and nourish my skin with good ingredients. Easier said than done. However, there has been one mask that hasn't left my skincare cupboard in a while and I doubt that this will change anytime soon. Of course, I am always thinking that maybe there is something better out there, but for the time being I am happy with what I have. This mysterious mask is the Lush's Mask of Magnaminty. Besides the tongue twisting name, it is a fantastic mask and here is why.

Lush Mask of Magnaminty

All Lush products are cruelty free and handmade. The self-preserving Mask of Magnaminty is also 100% natural. It is a new formula that they have brought out recently, which is great. This means that it is free from preservatives. They have managed to do so without altering the look, the feel and reducing the shelf life of the product. For instance, I have used an original formula that contained Mathylparaben and the self-preserving one that is paraben free. They have performed equally good and both have a shelf life of 4 months. The key ingredients are peppermint oil, african marigold oil, evening primrose seeds, fair trade vanilla and honey.

Consistency and Colour of Mask of Magnaminty

Let's talk about the consistency for a minute. It is pretty thick but you can easily scoop it out with your fingers. You can feel that it has been handmade as the texture is grainy, unlike with mass produced ones. As the name suggests, you can without fail distinguish the pepperminty scent and the colour supports the theme as well. I personally love both features. I find that peppermint is very refreshing and cooling to the skin. It says to leave this mask on for five to ten minutes, I usually keep it for 20 or 30 min. I am not too precise when it comes to timing my masks, unless it is a very strong one. The mask dries in about ten minutes and you can wash it off with warm water. It doubles up as a scrub due to its texture. The results are noticeable right away. You are left with more brighter and fresh looking skin. The inflammation and redness is reduced. It soothes the skin and you don't have that nasty feeling like your skin has been drained of all its moisture. I always bring this bad boy out when my skin is feeling dull, congested and needs a little bit of a pick me up. The only concern I have is that the big pot contains 315g of product and it is very difficult to use it all up in 4 months. Especially if you are using other masks in conjunction. Therefore, I would recommend starting with a smaller size (125g) and see how you get along. 

Tip: If you are unsure how your skin will react to this mask, you can ask for a sample. At Lush they can easily decant a little bit of product and give it to you to try at home. I advice doing this if you have sensitive skin. 

Overall I am very pleased with this mask. I have gone through numerous tubs of it. I like how it makes my skin feel, it is cruelty free, 100% natural and reasonably priced. The bigger pot retails for 17,65€ and smaller one for 10,50€. You can get it at your nearest Lush counter or online. 

Do you have any recommendations for what I should try next from Lush?

Cheers,
Muffy

My Go-to Summer Makeup Bits and Pieces

Today I would like to share with you the bits and pieces I use to achieve an everyday summer look. During warmer months I try to narrow down the products I pile on my face and stick with simple and effortless makeup choices. Usually I gravitate towards warmer tones and go light on the base. But let's get right into it.

Summer Makeup Picks

I have switched from foundations to BB creams approximately a year ago. I reach for a foundation if I am getting ready for a special occasion, otherwise I prefer BB creams. The BB cream I have been loving lately is La Girl Pro BB Cream in Natural. This colour is a good match for me now but I would imagine it being a tad too dark for the rest of the year. I will be having a separate review for this product coming up, so keep an eye out for that! To cover my dark circles I have been using Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector SPF 30. This is the second sample I picked up from the Kiehl's counter and so far I have been really liking it. I highly appreciate the spf 30 factor and the lightweight consistency. Rest assured when I am done with the sample I will be getting the full size. For my eyebrows I use my trusty Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown. I have a separate review for it, so check it out here. It is waterproof and long-lasting regardless of how humid or hot the weather gets.

La Girl Pro BB Cream, Anastasia Brow Wiz, Kiehl's Dark Circle Perfector

Moving on to an eyeshadow primer, which is an essential for me. If I don't use an eyeshadow primer my eyeshadows will crease and fade away within minutes. To prevent that I have been using NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and I honestly prefer it to the Urban Decay Primer Potion. It gets the job done and I had this little guy for six months and been using it every single time I wear makeup. I have a deluxe sample but I will be picking up a full size as soon as I run out. Staying on the topic of eyes, I have been going for Catrice Papaya don't Preach single eyeshadow a lot. It is such a nice light peach colour that it's perfect for the summer. You can build the colour up for a more intense payoff but I prefer to just use it as a light wash just to give some nice glow for my lids.

Catrice Eyeshadow Papaya Don't Preach, Makeup Geek Blush in Bliss

NARS Eye Primer and Sleek Matte Me Liquid Lipstick in Birthday Suit

Makeup Geek blush in Bliss is my most worn blush, period. It is such a flattering colour. If you like a peachy blush, I highly suggest checking this one out. It stays on all day and you can't beat the price. Last but not least, during the summer I don't want my lipstick to melt off my face (or in my bag for that matter), therefore I stick with liquid lipsticks. Sleek's Matte Me Liquid Lipstick in Birthday Suit is a great nude. I think it would look good on anyone. If you fancy a bold lip, I would recommend going for the Sleek's Matte Me Liquid Lipstick in Rioja Red, but it is not for the faint-hearted!

This is it for now. If you want me to do more of this type of posts, let me know!

What are your summer staples?

Cheers,
Muffy

Sigma E40 Brush - Hit or Miss?

I am a strong believer that if you use good tools for your makeup application you will achieve flawless results with more ease. I used to not care about makeup brushes and would just use whatever. After educating myself on this matter for the past few years, I realised that it is not that simple. There is an array of different brushes in the market and all of them have a purpose (be it blending, smudging, precision work, buffing etc). I mostly struggled with eyeshadow blending. My eyeshadows would never look right and often I would end up looking like I have been punched in the eye. Being a bloggerholic that I am, I researched what people have been raving about. As a result I became a proud owner of the Sigma E40 Tapered Blending brush.

Sigma E40 Tapered Blending Brush

Sigma Beauty is an international cruelty free brand that carries makeup brushes, makeup and accessories. It is best know for its brushes. Sigma E40 Tapered Blending brush was the first product I tried from the them and the only one thus far. As the name gives away, it is a blending brush. It is made out of synthetic fibres and is suitable for vegans. It is the fluffiest brush I own and the hairs are exceptionally soft. They don't scratch your eyelids when you are blending out crease colours. I use this brush every time I work with eyeshadows. It is great for applying transition colour, where you don't have to be extremely precise but you want the colour to be perfectly faded. If I want to pack on a few more colours I use this brush to diffuse the harsh edges. This brush can also be used for blending your under eye concealer. Since the bristles are synthetic they work well with cream products. I rely on this brush so much that I am thinking of getting a second one, so I can alternate between washes. I purchased mine from Feelunique and it retails for 14,78€.

Sigma E40 Tapered Blending Brush Side View

Sigma E40 Tapered Blending Brush Bristles 

It is for sure a hit for me! This brush has become an essential part in my makeup routine. I take it with me when I travel and that says a lot (if you are like me and you have plenty of brushes to choose from). It is cruelty free, incredibly soft, blends the colour seamlessly and is reasonably priced. What's more, it hasn't shed at all and I am pretty heavy handed when washing my brushes. 

Let me know if you have Sigma E40 in your collection or anything similar! I would love to know. 


Cheers,
Muffy

Body Shop Honey Bronzers

Bronzers are in, especially at this time of year. Summer is finally here and you want to look more healthy and sun-kissed. But like with foundations it is onerous to find a perfect one. Bronzers come in a variety of finishes and undertones. Some are more red-toned, others have more orange in them and occasionally you come across a bronzer with neutral undertones. In terms of finishes there are completely matte ones, others have a sheen or you can find those that are on a glittery side of things. I personally prefer matte bronzers as they are incredibly versatile. You can use them naturally as a bronzer, as an eyeshadow to define and warm up your crease, or you can combine them with a highlighter to add a bronzy glow to your cheeks. For the past year, I have been favouring the Body Shop's Honey Bronzer's, and here is why.

Body Shop Honey Bronzers

Body Shop is among the pioneering makers of cruelty free products. Despite being acquired by L'Oréal they continue to be strong advocates of animal rights and supporters of community fair trade. I have always been a fan of Body Shop products, especially their Body Butters and Camomile Cleansing Oil. I always overlooked their makeup range until I saw these in stores a year or so ago. Currently Body Shop Honey Bronzers come in three shades: 03 Medium Matte, 04 Deep Matte and 05 Dark Golden Matte. A year ago you could also find the shade 02 Fair Matte (but not 05). This is at least the situation in Finland; the assortment of shades may vary depending on the country. 

These bronzers are completely matte. They don't have a single hint of shimmer in them. The texture is very smooth and they apply beautifully on the skin. There is no fragrance to them. The colour payoff is very good: it is enough to slightly swirl your brush in the bronzing powder. However, if you want you can build up the colour and get a more defined look. When it comes to ingredients, this product contains Talc. If you are allergic or sensitive be aware of that. I have two shades 02 and 03. I originally picked up 02 used it all up and when I went to re-purchse, this shade was discontinued. As a result I picked up 03. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to randomly stumble across the Body Shop counter in Stockholm where they had the shade 02 on sale! Without hesitation I grabbed it. They are also discontinuing it in Sweden, big big shame! You can see the colour comparison in the pictures below.

Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 02

Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 03

L-R: Body Shop Honey Bronzer 02 and 03

As you can see there is a slight difference in colour. 02 is quite neutral, while 03 has more warmth to it. These bronzers retail for 17,30€ and you can find them at your nearest Body Shop store or online. I would recommend getting the Body Shop membership card so you will be on top of their offers and discounts. They frequently run promo deals such as buy 3 for 2 or get 15% off the entire makeup selection. 

If you want to rock a sun-kissed look but not sure where to start, I highly suggest checking out Body Shop Honey Bronzers. They are easy to blend, reasonably priced - especially if you can get them at a discount - and are cruelty free. The only downside is the colour range. I feel like after they discontinued the 02 shade, they pretty much left no options for ladies and gents with fair to light complexions.

I would love to hear your suggestions for matte bronzers with neutral undertones!

Cheers,
Muffy