Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery?

The Splurge vs Steal section in women magazines, has grown very popular in the last few years. It shows readers how they can get the same effect, of a relatively expensive beauty product without breaking the bank. While it is not illegal in the cosmetic industry to replicate a non patented product, it is clear that these products below are exact replicas of other more high end ones.

ORIGINAL vs COPYCAT

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Physicians Formula Pearls of Perfection"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="243" caption="Guerlain Les Meteorites Powder"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Shue Uemura Rouge Unlimited"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Neutrogena MoistureShine Lipstick"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="228" caption="Nars The Multiple Orgasm Duo"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="238" caption="ELF Bronzer Compact"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="178" caption="Guerlain- Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl Eyeliner "][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="175" caption=" L'Oreal Hip Kohl Liner in Sheer Gold"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="257" caption="Makeup Forever HD Foundation"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="140" caption="Revlon photo Ready"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="327" caption="Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Brush"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="179" caption="Physicians Formula Bronze Booster"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="270" caption="Stila Make Me Blush"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="254" caption="Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Bronzing powder"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="266" caption="Guerlain Meteorites Illuminating Powder"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="236" caption="Physicians Formula Mineral Pearls Light Bronze Powder"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Givenchy Phenomen' Eye "][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="265" caption="L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion"][/caption]

Effet Bonne Mine definition

Many beauty products that come to us from France, especially face makeup, usually have the term "Effet Bonne Mine", which simply translates into healthy glow effect. You will see this in: tinted moisturisers, day creams, foundations and even face palettes with the complete lip, eyes, cheek makeup.
                                                                                                                                                               

My personal favorite is Voile Universel Fluide Teinté Effet Bonne Mine by Chanel. It's very sheer and gives this healthy peachy glow, plus it's SPF15 so you get the glow and the sun protection. I've had it for 3 years now (I know you're not supposed to keep foundation for more than a year but I really like it) so I'm pretty sure they stopped making it because I haven't seen it at any major department store.

DYI: You can make your own "bonne mine" fluid by mixing your daily tinted moisturizer (preferably one with SPF) with a self tanner or liquid bronzer. The good thing about this is you can customize the coverage to build that rosy or peachy glow. Add concealer, neutral or nude lip color, some highlighter on the cheek bones, taupe or greyish eyeshadow and some mascara. You can accentuate your eyebrows, but the emphasis is on your skin so downplay everything else.

One celebrity in particular that perfects this look is Olivia Palermo, she's a pro and no wonder she gets the most compliments on her skin. Her look is healthy, glowy, dewy and mostly perfect.

The Who's Who in Beauty

These are the big dogs that make the cosmetics we use every day. This is probably irrelevant information to most of you, but I would have never guessed in hundred years that Pantene and Gucci were the same company

1.	L'OREAL GROUP	France	L'Oreal, Garnier, Maybelline, Redken, Kerastase, Matrix, Lancome, Kiehl's, Shu Uemura, Vichy, Ralph Lauren.	$17,663B
2	PROCTER & GAMBLE	US	Pantene, Olay, Cover Girl, Noxema, Gucci, Escada, Lacoste, Hugo Boss, Old Spice, Escada...etc	$16,480B
3	UNILEVER PLC	UK	Axe, Dove, Vaseline, Organics, Ponds, Suave..etc	$9,323B
4	SHISEIDO CO. LTD	Japan	Shiseido, Cle de Peau, Carita, Issey Miyake, Jean Paul Gaultier..etc	$5,800B
5	THE ESTEE LAUDER CO, INC	US	Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Bb, Clinique, MAC, Kate Spade, Origins, Proactiv, La Mer	$5,790B

source

The Most Exotic Hair Oils

These are some of the most luxurious and exotic oils from all over the world. They are all natural, and made from some of the rarest and most ancient ingredients on the planet.

RAHUA:  for centuries women from the Quechua-Shuar forest have combed the Amazon rainforest searching for the Rahua (ra-wa) nut that holds the secret to their lustrous shiny hair. DAYNÀ is the result of research performed in India using Ayurveda (ancient traditional medecine from Southern India). OROFUILDO uses the beauty secrets of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt and still a symbol of seduction today. ARGAN OIL: after the Amazon, Egypt and India the Berber women who live in Morocco have taught us to protect and care for our hair with the prized Argan oil 

PRODUCT	ORIGIN	INGREDIENT	PRICE	SHOP
1. OROFLUIDO	(Egypt)	Cyperus Oil Linseed Oil Argan Oil	$30	Amazon
2. DAYNÀ	(India)	Amla, Brahmi, Sesame, Hibiscus, Sacred Indian Basil	€36	Only Europe so far
3. ARGAN OIL	(Morocco)	Pure Argan Oil	$9.5	Sally Beauty Supply
4. RAHUA	(Amazon)	Ungurahua Oil	$175	RAHUA.com

Airbrush Foundation

Spray foundation is the new rage in makeup, and it's a lot more flawless and easier to apply than you think. The beautiful thing about it, is that the coverage is phenomenal, and you can build it from sheer to matte depending on how much you spray. It is designed to give you the most realistic look in HD format.

The Winners

Dior		5 shades	$60	Sephora	Strong fragrance
Mac		?	$18	Amazon	Discontinued
Classified Cosmetics		4 shades	$39.25	ShopNBC	Comes with sponge, hair band, primer, bronzer
Sally Hansen		6 shades	$13.99	Drugstore.com	Paraben Free

Matte + Nude lips

I've never been a fan of lip gloss. I find it messy, sticky, hard to even out, not long lasting and the whole glitter on the lips look is just not my thing. I tend to opt more for matte or semi-matte color, altough it's a little hard to find a flattering nude shade for me. One reason is: the very few brands that carry matte (Mac, Origins, Shiseido...etc) usually only carry 3 or 4 shades, another reason is: it seems like every lip product these days is intended to make your lips look glossier.One of the ones I really like is Make Up For Ever in Mat-Matt (or Sepia now).



Pros:

• Highly pigmented
• Soft and unscented
• Shows up intense and amazing in photos and in real life
• Long lasting
• Doesn’t transfer too badly.  The darker shades transfer a little bit but not as bad other lipsticks.
• Light in texture you can’t even feel it on your lips



MEGA LAST^® LIP COLOR

• No bleeding or feathering

Cons:

• If you have dry lips you will see the texture on your lips
• Only  6 shades so you might not find the perfect fit 

Cheaper Alt: Wet n Wild Mega Last Lip Color in 902C Bare it All

Best Keratin After Care

I have had the brazilian blowout/ Keratin treatment done twice, and I found Peter Coppola's Keratin Complex Infusion not only extends the expensive treatment but it also does wonders for the hair! It reduces the blow drying time by half, protects the hair against humidity and you find out you actually don't need the treatment anymore. Oh it also leaves the hair smelling tropical like coconut.


Pros: no greasy or heavy feel, leaves the hair soft
Cons: price (it costs $40 at Ulta)
Cheaper Alt: Garnier Blowdry perfector which is supposed to act like a cheaper keratin treatment but just doesn't deliver the same results and may end up damaging your hair.