Duping MAC Pink Nouveau

Top-to-Bottom: MAC Pink Nouveau, NYX Matte Summer Breeze, and  Etude House  VIP Girl PK009

If you don’t have access, or don’t want to pay so much for MAC’s Pink Nouveau, but want a bright pink, here are 2 quick options.

NYX Summer Breeze matte lipstick and Etude House VIP Girl PK009.

Note they are not 100% dupes. I’d say they are about 90-95% similar. Both are a twinge less blue-toned than Pink Nouveau, so if you are attracted to true pinks, but find Pink Nouveau a tad too “cool”, try these other two.

Texture wise, NYX Summer Breeze is MUCH closer to the satin finish of the MAC but with a faint touch more peach in the base. The Etude House lipstick is glossy in texture, so you won't get that full-on opaque doll-pink mouth as you would with the NYX and MAC versions. If you have dry lips, or don’t like a matte finish, get this.

Cost wise, NYX wins. The Etude House lipstick might possibly be cheaper if you’re in South Korea (but then I can't say for sure). It’s a little marked up in other parts of the world. But if you are just buying ONE lipstick though, getting PK-009 from your local Etude might be cheaper than footing the shipping cost for NYX.

Favorite Eye Pencils

Mattes (L-to-R): Revlon Matte Kohl Eyeliner in 05 Very Violet, Make Up Store Vanilla matte pencil,  Revlon Matte Kohl  Eyeliner in 04 Pure White, The Body Shop Special Edition Kajal Eyeliner #01

1.  Revlon Matte Kohls are great because they are so strong and opaque, but creamy enough to apply without tugging too much on your skin. I like Very Violet along the upper lash line in a colorful kitten flick because it's deep and matte enough for good definition, but you still get strong color. Pure White can be used along the waterline. Note that matte whites tend to work better and stay stronger than pearly ones, which sheer out easily, and will not survive the water line.
2. Make Up Store's Vanilla matte pencil is my absolute favorite pencil. I haven't been able to find a similar matte pale yellow-beige shade from other brands. This is the best possible color for the water line when you want to brighten and widen, without the harshness of white pencil. TIP: I also use it on any dark spots or marks that need some precision concealing.
3. The Body Shop Special Edition Kajal: I liked the creaminess and the twist up tube enough to buy a backup but there are plenty of great black pencils out there, MAC Smolder being one of them. This just happens to be one I enjoy and have on hand.

Metallic liners (L-to-R): Sephora Flashy Liner in 07 Flashy Copper, Bourjois Metallise in 52 Brun Inoxydable, Bourjois Metallise in 54 Bleu Clinquant, Silkygirl Funky Eyelights in 02 Ocean Blue, MAC Eye Kohl in Rosemary & Thyme, and Bourjois Metallise in 87 Vert Eclatant

I don't use my metallic liners as much as I should, but I'm not funky enough to wear these all the time. Liners DO need touching up over the course of the day, ESPECIALLY along the lower lash line and water line, and these are where I tend to apply my metallics.

1. Bourjois Regard Effet Metallise: Great range of shades and great silky textures. These make fantastic eyeshadow bases, and come in some amazingly strong and bright shades that stay true to color when applied. (Some pencils go on duller and sheerer than they appear.)
2. Sephora Flashy Liners: I did not get many shades as I already have a big collection of Bourjois ones, but I do find these very comparable to Bourjois. Flashy Copper is obviously my favorite, but I prefer it over the lids, as it can make your eyes look swollen when worn close at the water line. (It's closer to skin shade for me.)
3. Silkygirl: This is a drugstore brand available in Southeast Asia. It's cheaper than the usual brands like Revlon and Bourjois, but the quality isn't entirely on par. They go on less opaque and less evenly than some other brands. Still, Ocean Blue is a lovely steel-blue leaning towards indigo that I love to wear along the lower lash line, with just a neutral wash of beige-brown on the lids. You just need to re-apply every few hours to keep the color strong.
4. MAC Eye Kohls used to be the only brand of colored liners I owned, but I don't find them to be as metallic and strong in color as other brands, although they are "smokier" in tone. There are still some great shades and if you are shy of color, these are a better way to acclimatize yourself first. Draw along the lash line and smudge with a finger for a hint of smoky definition without too much color.

Wearing Lavender / Purple Lips!

L-to-R: MAC Up The Amp Lipstick, Lime Crime Airborne Unicorn Lipstick, MAC Going Casual Cremesheen Glass, MAC English Accents Lipglass (L.E.), NYX Power (round) lipstick

I love lavender lips. And by purple/lavender, I don’t mean purplish or cool-toned pinks. I mean REALLY purple. 

TIP: The lighter the shade, the more opaque the lip color should be, because glosses will creep and sink into creases and folds in your lips, and anything lighter than your natural lip color is going to stand out like chalky lavender zebra stripes. Not fun. (In fact, I did not post pictures of the 2 glosses I swatched above, as they sank into every line I didn’t know I had. Definitely better over a nude base color like Revlon Soft Nude.)

If you want to wear pale purple glosses, your best bet is to layer them over a nude lipstick or a liner of some sort, although that alters their color.

NYX Power Lipstick

View some lip swatches here!

Wet n Wild Coloricon "Greed" Palette (Glam Look)

This is a second look featuring the Wet n Wild Coloricon Palette "Greed". Previously, I did a softer, more colorful look using the shimmery and coral-toned shades. This time, it's more a play on shapes and contrast than washes of color.

Step 1: Apply eyeshadow base over the lids, then black kohl pencil along the upper and lower lash lines. Smudge along the upper lids, and then re-line right at the root of lashes so it is darker there.

Step 2: Using a flat, firm brush, pack the matte black shade along the liner on upper and lower lids, and then extend outward in a wing. It should be thicker at the outer halves, and not too curved.

Step 3: Apply the shimmery coral in the lid area, not extending up past the socket line. Then use a small brush to blend matte coral along the outer half of the socket lines for some subtle contouring.

Step 4: Using a clean pencil brush, run the silvery-gold shade along the inner half of the socket line. This gives shape and very interesting contrast.

Step 5: Apply black liquid liner close tot he lash line, and then false lashes and black mascara to finish the look.

Featured Lip Shade: NYX Haute Melon!

MAC Melon pigment on lids with NYX Haute Melon on lips

I love hot blue-based pinks for summer because they look so striking, but I do occasionally stray towards the corals.
And one of the most beautiful corals I have found recently is NYX's Haute Melon, a bright raspberry coral which is more flattering than the usual yellow-based corals shades.

NYX Haute Melon lipstick

The texture is slightly sheer and extremely creamy, with no shimmer.

Best thing is, it's under US$2.

L-to-R: Revlon Kiss Me Coral, NYX Haute Melon, Nyx Matte Indie Flick

As you can see, Haute Melon is softer, glossier, sheerer, and slightly more pink (below). It's extremely wearable and forgiving if you're afraid of corals, and it's also REALLY affordable. (Of course, if you want a REALLY fiery coral that is going to pop when you take pictures, get NYX's Indie Flick Matte Lipstick.)

Click here for other products used in the look!

Burnished Bronze Smoky Eye

This is a look that uses two bronze/grey shades over a dark base, shaped into a soft cat eye. It plays on two neutral two-toned shades applied over a black base for a smoky effect.

Step 1: Apply a black base to the lids. I used a black khol pencil over the lids and spread it out with a flat synthetic brush. Make sure to extend at the outer corners and fade out into a faint wing.

Step 2: Apply a soft silver-grey with gold sheen over the inner half of the lids. I like the silver shade in Wet n Wild Coloricon in Greed.

Step 3: Then using a soft taupe-bronze shadow, apply to the outer half of the lids and wing out slightly.

Step 4: Using a firm smudger brush, pack the matte black shade in the Coloricon palette along the upper lash line, thicker at the outer corners. Then smudge the remaining shadow along the lower lash line as well.

Step 5: Apply black liquid liner very close to the upper lashes and then apply black mascara to top and bottom lashes to finish the look.

Eye Products:

• Super Quick EX Liner (any black matte pencil or base will do)
• Wet n Wild Coloricon in Greed (grey and matte black shadows)
• MAC Patina shadow
• Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner
• L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara

Face Products:

• MAC Face and Body Foundation
• KATE Brow Pencil BR-3

For the Lips: You can try the standard nude or soft creme shade, but why not splash out with a super-hot pink?

• NYX Matte Lipstick in Shocking Pink