MAC Lipstick Dupe?

The lipstick I bought from Sleek recently reminded me of a Limited Edition lipstick I got recently... Keep reading.. (And sorry, these pictures have come out a bit blurry! Bad times :( )

Left - Party Parrot, Right - Candy Cane

Yes, that's right, Party Parrot from the Iris Apfel collection, an instant sell-out! When I got home, I realised it was less pink than it looked when I was at the Sleek stand, and I felt like it reminded me of another colour. So I got this out and had a good old swatch up, and I can report that they are pretty much identical! Sleek Candy Cane looks a TINY bit more pink when swatched, and obviously has a sheen finish, whereas MAC Party Parrot is a matte finish. But if you blot it down a bit to take off the sheen you will have a more matte finish! Yay, I love a good dupe, doesn't everyone?

xo.

Mini Sleek Haul

Last Saturday I went to the new Westfield shopping centre in Stratford London for the first time. I can safely say I'm in love! I work in a shopping centre in Essex, and so I'm used to be in a shopping centre daily, but this just left me speechless! It's huge, and new, and just.. so clean..! Has lots of shops that I could only usually go to in London, and I rarely ever go nowadays. So it was a refreshing shopping experience! It was my birthday almost 2 weeks ago now (wow, time files when you're getting old!) and the boyf said he would take me shopping as a present, so I dragged him to Westfield early on a Saturday morning.. :) I bought a few things which I shall post in time, but here are a few to start off with!

Sleek had a pop up stand there which I didn't actually know about, and apparently it's gone now! I don't usually buy much from Sleek, I have a few palettes and a blush or two, but whenever I go into Superdrug they hardly ever have the stand fully stocked, and Sleek haven't been releasing palettes/products as much as they usually do, so it never really catches my eye anymore. Never the less, I went over to the stand to investigate! Sorry I didn't get pictures, I saw make-up and that's all I had the time for! 

It was full of plenty of staff, all very friendly and constantly offering to help me find products. They were offering makeovers for a small price, and also foundation matching. I also got approached by a lady asking me to fill out a quick survey on her iPad in exchange for a mini pout polish, of course I agreed! 

They had everything in stock which was totally refreshing, and I actually got to try everything I wanted to, but never usually get to. I keep eyeing up the Blush by 3 palettes, but there's only 1/2 blushes in each palette I would actually use, so it seems like a bit of a waste! In the end I picked up a blush and a lipstick, as at the time I was trying to be good and just refrain from going mad! I fancied a bright pink blush, and I couldn't resist the bright pink lippie either. The lipstick I picked up is also a dupe for a sold out MAC lipstick from a recent collection, so watch this space as I have comparison swatches to post.. 

xo.

 

This is the mini pout polish I got free, it's a bright pink, but it applies as a balm, so the colour doesn't transfer as much. It smells sweet and vanilla like and is the perfect size to pop in your handbag. I don't own any other pout polishes, so I'm not sure if this is a permanent shade in the full size range or not.

 

Sleek blush in Flamingo. I really fancied a bright pink blush, so when I saw this shade I fell in love. I love the packaging of Sleeks blushers, small and quite literally sleek. They're all crazy pigmented and always worth the small price tag.

 

 

When I went to the lipstick bit, I was admiring all the colours, but for some reason this shade Candy Cane really stood out to me this time. It's a bright pink which leans red, very similar to MAC's Impassioned. My camera didn't like this shade so it looks funny in all pictures! This is a sheen finish, so it's not matte like the MAC dupe I have to show you!

Sleek Eau La La Liner - Red Sky Night 324

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Sleek Eau La La Liner

I picked up this Sleek liner from Superdrug for £3.99 a month or so ago, even though I hadn't really heard that much about them. And I still haven't seen many reviews or much press about them. I saw this shade and thought how similar it was to lots of lipsticks I like to wear, such as MAC Chatterbox/Speed Dial etc. And for the price, I didn't think it was too much of a risk! 

When I took the picture of the pencil, I had already sharpened it, and I think it's already broken inside as it came out a bit :( But maybe this can be blamed on the formula of the liner being so creamy. Also, the pencil isn't wood, it's plastic. 

This liner is crazy pigmented and incredibly creamy. The staying power is great also. As you can see in the pictures where I swatched it, I dragged my finger through the line, and as you can see, it's only slightly smudged. I didn't exactly do it lightly though! As for the picture of it applied on my lips, it looks and feels quite dry, as it's so creamy and matte. The other day I added vaseline, and it was a nicer finish and not so drying. But as a liner it's alright, I just wouldn't recommend it for all over lips if you suffer from dry lips. 

Unfortunately, I haven't tried this out as an eyeliner, as these liners are designed to be multi purpose, with the website claiming that you can use them on your lips, eyes, brows and body. The range hosts 20 different colours, ranging from bright yellow and orange to your average black and brown. Meaning there's something for everyone. Lips wise, I recommend this product for lining and for the price, I think it's an excellent product. 

Iris Apfel for MAC - Flamingo and Comparisons

Trying to get this lipstick was a bit of a nightmare.. I ordered it alongside Party Parrot from the Iris Apfel collection from MACs website. I did it the day it came out, alongside another lipstick from the Glitter & Ice collection. Anyway, they took my money and over a week later they sent me 'Such Flare!' the third lipstick I ordered, but no Iris Apfel ones! I was not happyyyyy. So I got straight onto customer services, and spoke to two different girls, (who were both really rude!) and they both told me that they had sold out and I wasn't going to be receiving them. Which I argued about saying I ordered it the day it came out, and they sold out a good few days after, so I should be entitled to my money's worth I gave MAC?! They were basically no help and said I'd get a refund and email about it, I received neither! So getting all panicky, (stupid really..) I rung again yesterday and spoke to a lovely man who told me they had all been dispatched in different parcels and I WOULD be receiving them! Sooo I finally got them yesterday, so happy, anyway let's move on...

"A colour collection inspired by a rare bird who has always been ahead of her time, Mrs. Iris Apfel. Subject of her own exhibit at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and larger-than-life star, Apfel boldly mixed flea market finds with haute couture decades before doing it was considered de rigueur. M·A·C presents Lipsticks, Beauty Powder and Eye Shadows with as much fabulous flair and joie de vivre as the woman who helped create it."


The lipsticks in the range are all very bright, and not for the faint hearted! They include 4 limited edition shades, and one from the permanent range.

From L to R;

• Flamingo (Lustre) - Light milky bright coral (Limited Edition)
• Morange (Amplified Creme) - Loudmouth orange (Permanent)
• Party Parrot (Matte) - Bright red-pink (Limited Edition)
• Pink Pigeon (Matte) - Bright cleanest pink (Limited Edition)
• Scarlet Ibis (Matte) - Bright orange-red (Limited Edition)

Flamingo Lipstick. It was only sold on the MAC website, unfortunately all the shades apart from Morange have now sold out. I know so many people are dying to get their hands on the lipsticks, but my only advice at the moment is to check blog sales, ebay, any forums with american bloggers, as they have it in their stores over there, and some will be happy to pick it up for you if you send them the money. Keep trying the website, and ringing up in case they have any returns, you never know!

I have a few lipsticks in my collection which I thought might be similar. It's not very helpful because a few are limited editions... But I don't really have many coral lipsticks to be honest anyway! I will have a lookout for more high street alternatives.

From L to R;

• MAC Flamingo (Lustre)
• MAC Costa Chic (Frost)
• MAC Cut A Caper (Lustre) - Limited Edition
• MAC Ever Hip (Cremesheen) - Limited Edition
• Topshop Ooh La La
• Sleek Pout Paint Milkshake

When I actually wear Flamingo, it is a lot more pink than in the tube, I don't think it's that recognisable comparing the tube to swatch to be honest. So any coral lipsticks are too orange/peach based. Costa Chic might be good if you blot it down. And it's not really a lipstick, but the Sleek pout paint in the shade Milkshake is quite close, but obviously it's a cream sort of finish. I think mixing the Sleek pout paints would be a good alternative to create the other bright colours in this collection. 

So there you go, I hope it helps a bit, probably not :( ! 

xoxo