Review: ELF Blushes and Face of Australia Contour Kit as dupes for Nars blush and bronzers

Hi everyone :)

Happy long weekend! Hope everyone is enjoying themselves on the road (not that you should be reading this and driving!) or snuggled up in bed with some studying for finals to do (like me D:). This surely will lighten up your day!

Today's post will be on dupes that I found for Nars Orgasm blush and Nars Laguna Bronzer. Retailing at $45 and $55 respectively, some of us find it very hard to believe that a product could be so good for us to empty our pockets. The products that I am going to compare are all under $10. Let's see if there really is a difference.

The Blushes: 

(Top to Bottom: Nars Blush in Orgasm, ELF Blush in Tickled Pink, ELF Blush in Candid Coral)

Nars Blush in Orgasm 

Pigmentation & Colour pay off

• As you can see in the picture, the colour is a very pretty pink-coral with small specks of shimmer. Before I bought this blush, I read that it was a colour that suited all different skin tones (i.e. a universal blush colour)
• And boy were they right. I've seen this colour on really fair skin to those with more tanned skin, and they look equally as nice. On fairer girls it gives a nice, pink-flush (I wouldn't call it natural but close to it) and on darker girls, the shimmer gives them a nice and healthy glow. 
• When I first used this brush, the colour was very pigmented. I just needed to swipe a bit on and it would show up on my face. However, lately it seems that the blush has dried up a bit and the shimmer specks show up more than the actual colour. For $45 I would think that this is quite unreasonable - the colour of the product should be consistent. It actually took me the same amount of swipes to get the colour on my arm as the ELF ones.

Texture:

• Nars blushes are famous for feeling so silky and feels just heavenly soft on your face. There are no flaky bits and it is definitely not drying on your face at all. It really does just brush on effortlessly and doesn't feel powdery at all.

Longevity/Lasting power

• This baby has amazing staying power. When I set my foundation with the NYX finishing powder, this blush stays on pretty much all night. 
• That's really what you want from a high-end blush - staying power. If the colour is beautiful and very unique, but the staying power isn't as great then the product isn't really worth it in my opinion. 
• I would say it lasts about 5-6 hours with a good primer, lasting foundation and a setting powder. For those who complain that blush never stays as well, you really need to prep your face for it to last for a long time!

Packaging

• It is a rubbery/plastic compact that is easy to grip and doesn't feel fragile. You feel like it is very unlikely to break if you were to drop it. 
• The rubbery texture does make the compact prone to dust or powders sticking to it. It's really hard to clean off and it comes back again so I don't even bother. You can see it from the packaging above. I would say that once it gets dusty, it does lose its 'premium' feel but I'm not too fussed about that
• Inside there is a small full-sized mirror which is great for doing makeup on the go. 

ELF Blush in Candid Coral & ELF Blush in Tickled Pink

Pigmentation and Colour Pay off

• Last week I went to Kmart to pick up the ELF's Blush and Bronzer Duo St Lucia but they were sold out again :( So I decided to do my research and found that these were everyone's two favourite blush colours
• The colours are very similar in the compact but when they are swatched, but they're actually quite different. As you can see, Tickled Pink is a similar colour to Nars Orgasm Blush but it has less shimmer and more of a peachy pink. For everyday use, I would prefer the ELF's blush because it is closer to my own 'blushed' cheek colour. (Apparently this colour is similar to Nars Deep Throat Blush - haven't got my hands on this one yet but i'll be sure to update you guys!)
• Many people say that Candid Coral is a dupe for the Nars Orgasm Blush but I don't really think so. The Nars blush is definitely more pink, whilst this one is a peachy-coral colour. There is definitely more shimmer in this colour compared to Tickled Pink, which makes it a great highlighter as well. 
• I guess if you mixed the ELF colours together it would look a bit like Nars Orgasm (if you wanted to go to all that trouble :P)

Texture

• These ELF blushes definitely don't feel as silky and smooth as Nars blushes. They often feel powdery and needs to be blended out. In saying that, once it is blended the texture on the face feels just as nice as Nars.

Longevity/Lasting Power

• This is probably the downfall of ELF blushes. Whilst the colours are great and very natural (my favourite look!), they tend to fade very quickly. I would give them tops about 3 hours and then you probably won't see it on your face anymore.
• The powdery texture is probably to blame here. It takes so long to blend, yet it comes off very easily. Sad face here :( 

Packaging

• As you can see above, the compacts look very similar - Elf was probably copying Nars design hehe. 
• Whereas Nars Blushes and Bronzers are in a rubbery/plastic compact, ELF blushes are just in a plastic case which feels a lot less sturdy and will probably break if you use drop it too much. 
• Inside, we only get half a mirror which is pretty uncomfortable for travel when you want to see how it looks on your whole face. 
• However, I do like the plastic window that tells which colour the blush is. I know for sure that if I get more Nars blushes I will have to always look at the back to see what colour I'm getting. A win for ELF here. 

Verdict 

I would recommend investing in the high-end blushes, especially with the great colour range that Nars has. The cheaper alternatives are good for everyday natural looks, but if you really want something that defines your cheeks and gives them definition opt for Nars blushes like Orgasm.

The Bronzers: 

(Top to Bottom: Face of Australia Illuminator (Glamazon Compact), Face of Australia Matte Contouring Bronzer (Glamazon Compact), Nars Bronzer in Laguna)

Nars Bronzer in Laguna

Pigmentation & Colour pay off

• This is the perfect colour for natural contouring. It is a nice golden medium brown that isn't too muddy and isn't too orange. It has a bit of shimmer in it which should not scare anyone away! The shimmer is to a minimum and does give your face a nice supermodel glow. 
• Recently the colour has gotten a bit orange, well it is just orange on my plain face without any foundation. I don't recommend contouring your face without having a foundation base first because it just looks muddy and doesn't blend well with your skin. 
• This colour is also great for an all over nice and healthy glow bronzer. I usually use it when my face is too pasty and this bronzer doesn't make my face look too orange at all!
• It really is a multi-tasker bronzer, both for light/natural contouring and all over the face. 

Texture

• I find that this bronzer is even silkier than the Nars blush purely because there aren't shimmer specks in it. The shimmer powder is very fine, so it makes the bronzer highly blendable for the skin. Absolutely love the smooth application!

Longevity/Lasting power

• I love how brands such as Nars keeps their products consistent. As a duo with the blush, the Laguna Bronzer has great staying power. Again, I would apply this at the beginning of the night and by the end of it, it would still be there!
• As with the blush, you guys really have to prep you face before and after using blush and bronzers to make sure that they do stay for longer. Invest in a good primer and setting powder. it will really make all the difference.

Packaging

• Similar to the blush packaging, it is rubbery but shock-absorbent I guess. I could drop it on the floor a thousand times without worrying if it broke. It is very light as well so it doesn't weigh down your bag. 
• The compact in this is bigger which I think is great for bronzers. Sometimes it is used for all-over-the-face bronzing, so it gives you a bigger pan to sweep your brush on and to apply on your face. 
• Also this means the mirror is a fair bit bigger than the blushes which is awesome! I use this mirror for application of any other makeup because I can usually see my whole face. It doesn't obstruct my view at all. 

Face of Australia Glamazon Contour and Highlight Kit in Leopardess 

Pigmentation & Colour pay off

• I bought this contour kit because every Australian beauty Instagrammer has it in all of their pictures so I HAD to have it. 
• Despite the Laguna Bronzer being amazing, I wanted to find cheaper alternatives if I were to hit the pan. The bronzer in this kit is actually a bit darker than Laguna and more matte. 
• I actually quite like this bronzer because it is matte so your cheeks look more defined - it looks a bit more clean-cut when contouring. 
• This product is actually more pigmented than the Nars bronzer which means a little goes a long way. If you use too much it will become muddy especially because it is more of a chocolate brown colour than golden dark honey colours like Nars and Benefit's Hoola Bronzer. I am quite fair so I do have to be very careful
• Since this is a contour kit you can obviously not use this as an all over bronzer because the result will not be pretty
• My favourite thing about this compact is the highlighter. It is so gorgeous and pigmented. I've never used a powder highlighter/illuminator so I can't really compare to others. It is not to shimmery and sits perfectly above my blush and bronzer. Again, you only need a sweep of this product. Do not use too much or you'll end up looking like a disco ball. 

Texture

• I like that both of these colours are quite silky unlike the powdery texture of the ELF blushes. For $10 you can't really complain! It does take a bit more effort to blend into your skin but again for a product that is about 5 times cheaper, I wouldn't be too fussed.

Longevity/Lasting power

• Unlike the ELF blushes which were quite powdery and lacked blendability, this contour kit is very pigmented and blends relatively well into the skin.
• This product lasts about 34 hours - if I do not randomly rub my face and it comes off. A bit less than the Nars bronzer. If you were wearing this in the day, I would recommend carrying the compact along for touch ups.

Packaging

• Out of all of these products, this is definitely my favourite compact! First of all the lid is leopard print, how sick is that! I'm pretty sure that is what really got me in all those instagram pictures. 
• the packaging is completely plastic with a glossy shine, which is different to the matte-ness of the other cases. It is a little flimsy and I would be scared to drop it, but the hinges and lock of the compact is very sturdy.
• It also contains a full sized mirror which I love. Not many drugstore brands have a nice full sized mirror, especially those matte powders. It is also great that this is both a bronzer and illuminator in one which makes it easier to carry around than my Nars Laguna. 
• As my first ever Face of Australia product, I am very impressed. Definitely going to look out for more cheap gems

Verdict

Whilst Nars Laguna Bronzer is my HG and my go to every time, after I bought this FOA one I have been reaching for that one a bit more. As I said I love the illuminator/bronzer duo which just makes it easier for doing my makeup while travelling on the train etc. I still love the Laguna bronzer as a multitasker and for the colour pay off, but the FOA contour kit is slowly winning over my heart. Jokes aside, I am really loving this contour kit - and it is great for beginners because of the price and the duo. Would highly recommend!


Product listing and locations

Nars Blush in Orgasm - $45 @ MeccaMaxima and MeccaCosmetica stores, and www.meccacosmetica.com.au
Nars Bronzer in Laguna - $55 @ MeccaMaxima and MeccaCosmetica stores,www.meccacosmetica.com.au
ELF Blush in Tickled Pink - $8 @ participating Kmart stores, kmart.com.au, and $3.21 @ au.iherb.com
ELF Blush in Candid Coral - $8 @ participating Kmart stores, kmart.com.au, and $3.21 @ au.iherb.com
Face of Australia Glamazon Contour and Highlighter Kit in Leopardess - $9.95 @ Big W stores, and www.bigw.com.au

A rather long post but I wanted to give you guys a detailed post on whether high-end brand and HG products are really worth your money. Usually they are, but there are also some hidden gems that we look passed straight away because of their dirt-cheap prices. I would definitely recommend doing more research on alternatives that may save you all the money and disappointment if you were to hate the high end product. Hope this helped everyone!

Tune in for the next post on my beautiful eyeshadow palettes that my friends bought for me for my birthday! Exciting! (yes, Toofaced Chocolate Bar is included. Does it actually taste like chocolate?! You'll find out in my next post!)

Toodles,

Janie xoxo

Favourite Makeup Brushes

Hi everyone :D

Long time no post. Finally on a friday and Saturdayy I am free to take pictures in the sunlight because I'm finally home in the mornings. I've recently bought new brushes and decided do a post on my favourite ones so far. Enjoy! :)

                                         

(From L to R: ELF Studio Line Powder Brush, Ecotools Tapered Blush Brush, Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush, Real Techniques Contour Brush, Real Techniques Setting Brush, Sigma E35 Tapered Blending Brush, Sigma E55 Eye Shading Brush.)

Ecotools Tapered Blush Brush

Why I love

• I've been looking for a blush brush that doesn't just deposit the powder onto your cheeks, but one that does so in a controlled and angular way. 
• The tapered design allows you to have precision for applying blush, especially if you are going to contour your face later. It gives you the line for application of bronzer later. 
• The brush is so, so, so soft. You would think that such a soft brush wouldn't be able to pick up powder, but it does so effortlessly. Some blush brushes that I've used in the past just waste my products because when I apply it to my face, there's hardly any powder - most of it had fallen off. 
• This brush is eco-friendly, and its products are biodegradable - great for all you people out there trying to save our world and the environment!
• The sleek design and long handle is great for comfortability when applying blush. This is definitely my go-to brush for blush!

Cons?

• With the tapered design, I thought it would be a little bit more precise - but in saying that this is a blush brush not a contour brush.
• No more that I can think of. 

Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush

Why I love 

• I really cannot tell you how amazing this brush is until you've tried it for yourself. A few weeks ago I stumbled on the website redefiningbeauty.com.au, and they are authorised resellers for Sigma brushes in Australia. The brushes that I ordered arrived in just 2 days, amazing service. 
• If you have trouble blending foundation into your face, this is definitely the brush for you. Previously I have used my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, which is good in that it applies well on the skin - but since it is more rounded at the top, it is harder to blend without getting those horrid streaks on your face. I also use the Real Techniques Buffing Brush in the Core Collection, which was good too but I still had to rub off the streaks with my hand.
• The Sigma brush, however, blends any type of foundation effortlessly. I don't know how I've lived without it before. 
• The flat top of the brush is very soft but packed quite densely. It picks up liquid foundation well and distributes all the product on your skin flawlessly, unlike the real techniques brushes where the liquid kind of gets stuck in the bristles and doesn't go on the skin. 
• Definitely my HG foundation brush. 

Cons

• Like most Sigma brushes, the shedding is pretty bad. I find that with the Kabuki Brush, some of the bristles were uneven so I had to cut it off. The shedding hasn't been too bad so far but I will give an update on it after I give my brushes a good wash. 

Real Techniques Contour Brush

Why I love

• I have yet to find a really good contour brush (I have my eyes on that new Nars one but it is so goddamn expensive!), but this one will do! 
• Like all Real Techniques brushes, this brush is super duper soft and picks up the bronzing powder really well. It is quite small so you can be more precise when contouring your face. 
• It is multi-purpose, so you can use it for blushes and highlighters as well - it not a tapered design, but it is pretty accurate. 
• The handle is pretty sleek so there is good grip when you are contouring or putting blush on your face.

Cons

• Like I said, this brush isn't the best contour brush but it is not too bad. What I don't like about this brush is that it puts too much bronzer in the places that I usually start with on my face. It doesn't blend out the bronzer as well as it should. 
• I usually have to use another brush to blend out the bronzer so it doesn't look like I have a muddy face.

Real Techniques Setting Brush

Why I love

• Another Real Techniques Brush, and this one really has no flaws! At first I was wondering why so many people were raving about this brush. It seemed like your typical mini setting brush for powders underneath your eyes.
• Little did I know that this brush was absolutely perfect for liquid concealers! It is very fluffy like the contour brush so I thought it would only be good for powders. 
• I usually dot the concealer on my dark circles and redness around my nose. With this brush, I swiftly blend in the concealer and it looks flawless, almost like a HD effect. 
• Before this brush I used my fingertips usually, and it would never blend properly into the skin - only on the surface which looked quite noticeable. This brush has saved my life for concealing! 
• And of course, you can use this brush with powders such as the NYX HD finishing powder for under eyes to set your concealer as well. 
• Very handy and multi-purpose! Love this. 

Cons

• None! Everyone needs this brush in their collection!

 Sigma E55 Eye Shading Brush

Why I love

• This was one of the brushes that I bought on redefining beauty because I did not own any brushes that were simply to deposit eyeshadow all over the lid. I have a few cheap ones that seem to pick up a lot of product but by the time it gets to my lids it just falls off. 
• The eye shading brush is so densely packed as well as being really soft. It picks up my ChiChi cosmetic eyeshadows really well! Since it is very soft, it doesn't feel scratchy on the skin of the lid at all. You guys should really invest in buying good quality and soft eye brushes because scratchy brushes will really irritate that area of the skin.
• Overall, excellent basic brush for applying shadow your whole lid!

Cons

• I guess it's not multi purpose, but overall nothing to really complain here.

Sigma E35 Tapered Blending Brush

Why I love

• I have been looking everywhere for a great blending brush, because it is very important for your eye makeup collection! Without a good blending brush, trust your eyeshadows to look muddy and have a splattered 90s feel all over your lid.
• Previously, I have been using the Crown double ended blending and pencil brush duo. They are great but quite scratchy and causes irritation to my eyes. This brush is again very very soft and a bit more tapered that my Crown one.
• There is also the Tapered Blending E40 but I heard that one sheds a lot, and I haven't had the same problem with this brush.
• This brush blends effortlessly, and makes it easier to create that gradient look for your eyeshadows which gives more the eyes more depth and dimension

Cons

• The brush is a little bit big for my eyes - I kind of wish I bought the small tapered blending brush instead.
• It blends well but I have kind of give it more room, or it will blend to the outside of my eyelid. 

E.L.F. Studio Line Powder Brush

Why I love 

• This was one of my first brushes every, along with my ELF Small Stippling Brush. I have had this for about a year and a half now, and it has not shed and has stayed in shape ever since I got it. 
• Recommended by a friend, she said that this brush was really soft and picked up powders very well. I have used it for powders ever since then and it has been great. 
• I think I really have a thing for flat top brushes, because I just feel that they mould to your face better when you are using them. 
• The bristles and the actual head of the brush is a perfect size, as it distributes the powder evenly over your face, not causing any big patches. 
• Overall it is just really soft and I feel privileged to use such a heavenly feeling brush over my face! It has made me love setting my makeup the favourite part of my routine. 

Cons

• Since it's only about $8, the handle is quite flimsy and the glue is not as secure as my other brushes. I would recommend buying a few of these just in case the handle does fall off! KMART sell ELF products in Australia now!

Product listing and locations:

Ecotools Tapered Blush Brush - $7.58 @ http://au.iherb.com/EcoTools, or $16.99 @ priceline.com.au

Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush - $25.00 @ redefiningbeauty.com.au.

Real Techniques Contour Brush (part of Core Collection) - $19.53 @ http://au.iherb.com/Real-Techniques-by-Samantha-Chapman or $44.99 @ priceline.com.au

Real Techniques Setting Brush (Single) - $8.68 @ http://au.iherb.com/Real-Techniques-by-Samantha-Chapman or $14.99 @ priceline.com.au

Sigma E55 Eyeshading Brush - $14.00 @ redefiningbeauty.com.au

Sigma E35 Tapered Blending Brush - $14.00 @ redefiningbeauty.com.au

E.L.F. Studio Line Powder Brush - $3.26 @ http://au.iherb.com/E-L-F-Cosmetics, or $8.00 @ participating Kmart Stores, or $8.00 @ elfcosmetics.com.au

Have a great weekend guys! Hope this helps you with what brushes to buy for your brush collection! 

Janie xoxo