Miners For MAC - Toxic Tale Dupe

Ever since I purchased the limited edition (and uber popular) Toxic Tale from MACs Venomous Villains collection I've been on the hunt for a dupe. I've seen so many anxious tweets about people losing theirs and I'd love to be able to offer an alternative to those looking to repurchase or just those that would rather not pay MAC prices even if it does get relaunched. I know I'm still not quite there as this isn't perfect but it's as close as dammit (pardon my french) and the best I've seen to date. I was sent the new Miners lipsticks to review this week and while I haven't got around to the full swatch/review post yet I couldn't wait to share this with you....

The Miners shade is Kiss Me Quick from the Moisture Effect range (link)

In the above and below pictures the Miners is on the left and MAC on the right. 

Above my top lip is Miners and bottom is MAC, as you can see a little clearer here the finish when worn unfortunately does exaggerate the few differences in tone. Kiss Me Quick is the little bit more red than coral. It's a touch deeper but a great near dupe all the same. Especially for the price!

You can purchase Miners Moisture Effect here

You can expect a full review on formula, staying power etc this week but so far I'm loving the range (there are matte and regular lipsticks too) and would absolutely recommend you give them a try.

Miss BB

Paradoxal Dupe from 2True

I know these have been compared in the past but I had to share this for those of you that have missed it especially as right now you can buy 3 2True products for £4.99 from Superdrug here (£1.99 each)

I haven't splashed out on Chanel Paradoxal myself as 1. I don't love it enough to spend that kind of money and 2. I already have this shade (no.46) from 2True which is close enough for me! It was super difficult to photograph but hopefully you can make out the purple/blue shimmer running through the taupey-greige polish. I think the polish itself needs to be a touch more purple to be a true dupe but it's pretty darn close I'm sure you'll agree  and at £1.99 what have you got to lose?...well... £1.99 I suppose.

I couldn't do a dupe post without a photo of the original swatch, could I? So I had to borrow this one from  Lacquerized.com. Click on the photo to be taken to their original review post.

MissBB

Beachy Waves at a Budget Price

How many of you have been dying to get your hands on a jumbo hair waver since all the Enrapture sponsored posts have been popping up in your reading lists? Well I have. I was entirely in love with the beachy waves and absolutely buying the styling tool.... until I saw the whopping £75 price tag that is.

I know, I know I've spent more on my beloved GHD's but that's TOTALLY different!! I am "blessed" with naturally wavy hair.. unfortunately if it's not in tip-top condition (which it never is) those waves are really just frizz so my GHD's were a necessity... you see? A curling tong or waver, however, is not an everyday styler for me so I just couldn't justify that huge expense. I don't want to question the integrity of the bloggers who received one for free and reviewed it favourably but I do wonder how many of them would actually have spent their own cash on the hair tool.

Anyway... that's not what this post is about. This post is dedicated to my much more budget friendly equivalent which arrived in the post today. When I discovered the price of the Enrapture Jumbo Waver I did a little research into what else was on the market. I found only a couple of reviews of the new Toni and Guy Deep Barrel Waver but it seemed to do the job and at £40 less I was prepared to chance it. I have only used it once so far but already I'm hooked. I have never tried the Enrapture version and so cannot compare the two directly but once I've found something that works for me I don't generally go looking for bigger and better. The Toni and Guy waver is perfect. It's easy to use, heats up fast (to one of 25 heat settings), has tourmaline plates (which prevent colour fading), a lock to keep the plates together when not in use and a 3m swivel cord which for me may be the best benefit of all... Nothing irritates me more than short cords on styling tools! Creating those beachy waves has never been easier! It's practically fool proof.. Nowhere near as much room for error as when using tongs or curling with straighteners... like the crimpers of the 80s and 90s you just section and clamp and are left with a perfect result every time..what more could you want?

If you weren't already convinced I'll leave you with some pictures of me rocking my new favourite hairstyle..

I only wish I'd had this at the beginning of the summer.. at least I will have it all through this party season :)

 

You can buy the Enrapture Jumbo Waver here for £74.99

or

You can buy the Toni and Guy Deep Barrel Waver here for £34.99

If money were no object I still know which I would choose!

Outfit Month #1

I've decided I am going to blog my outfits every day throughout September.

It's my last month at work before I take my maternity leave. I don't have as much time as I'd like to dedicate to blogging and YouTube but this will guarantee a post every day even if it's not much more than a photo and a one liner. I will have at least 5 weeks at home before the baby comes s I intend to throw myself at MissBudgetBeauty and see what I can make of it while I have the time.. I'm really looking forward to it. Anyway.. on to the post. You shouldn't expect much in the way of elaborate or designer gear but so few of my clothes actually fit me now it's forcing me to be more creative so I figured.. why not document it? Hopefully you find the posts entertaining or even inspirational for those of you fellow preggos out there.

Today I wore my beloved TopShop maternity leggings (you will see A LOT of them) and a white primark vest under a "baggy" boyfriend shirt I bought a million years ago from GAP. On my nails I have 2True shade no.6 which is a fab dupe for Chanels Paradoxal btw (I've tried to get pictures but it photographs terribly) My necklace is the hamsa hand charm I bought on ebay and put on some random chain and my bag is from Oasis. It's also likely you will see my daily breakfast which will no doubt be highly embarrassing for me as I am the least health conscious pregnant woman... don't judge me!

Oh and for those wondering my phone case is from ebay!

Please excuse the terrible angle which makes my nose looks MONSTER but a quick beauty breakdown...

Garnier BB Cream in Light (I'm going to stick with it all month to really test it's benefits) MAC MSF in Natural Light, MAC Peaches Blush, Accessorize bronzer in Laguna to highlight, Eyebrows are filled in with  "espresso" by MAC. I have Sumputous Olive on my eyes and lined them with Avon Glimmerstick in Black (review to come... it's not favourable so far but I'm trying to stick with it) I used Benefits "They're Real" on my lashes.. I have more thoughts on that since my initial review too!

I have nothing on my lips which is usual for me.. I don't often wear gloss or lipstick for work.. not my style.

Is anyone else going to join me and blog your outfit every day this month? I loved the "Vlogust" idea last month and I might do something like that video-wise when I'm home all the time but in the meantime this is a little easier to stick to... apologies in advance if some posts are shorter than others!