DUPE SMACKDOWN #5: DIOR AURORA

Dior Aurora (Full name: Diorskin Nude Glow Healthy Glow Summer Powder in Aurora 001) is a gorgeous, sold-out, limited-edition satin-finish peachy bronzer from Dior's Spring 2011 collection.  Many of my favorite beauty bloggers have expressed that they've hit pan on theirs recently.  I often wind up disappointed when I spend more than $40 on a product, but I don't regret a thing about Dior Aurora (it was one of my September Favorites!).  It's the perfect no-brainer cheek color. 
I'm not sure if there are any readers out there who missed their chance to get this one, but just in case you were hoping for an affordable dupe, it just so happens I've lucked into TWO of them!
Honorable mentions: NYX Blush in Terra Cotta is a very similar peachy bronze, except it is an absolute shimmer bomb.  NYC Bronzing Powder in Sunny $2.99, is a matte bronzer of a similar intensity, but completely lacks the peach of Aurora.

Dupe Contestant #1 is Gold Coast, a blush in the Stila Loves Roxy Palette $14, LE but still available.  It's the top blush in the palette.

Dupe Contestant #2 is Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in 60 Coffee Cake (cute name, right?).  This is being discontinued, which is how I happened upon it; I saw it on clearance and when I got it home and tried it on my cheeks I found its glow really familiar! Retail price is about $7.49, but check your local drugstore to see if they've got it on clearance (I got mine for $4.40 at Meijer).

Both of these look more shimmery than Aurora in the swatches, but their shimmer blends away to leave more of a satin finish that more closely resembles Aurora.

In natural light (shade), left to right: Dior Aurora, Maybelline Coffee Cake, Stila Gold Coast

In natural light/artificial light mix

In warm artificial light

This Dupe Smackdown is a little different from the previous four.  I'm not really seeking a "Winner" this time.  Dior Aurora is a long-gone limited-edition product that I think is just fantastic enough to make me want to hunt down a similar color to get the same glowy-effect on days I can't be bothered to apply several different products.  Both Stila Gold Coast Blush and Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Coffee Cake satisfy this desire!  I did the classic test of applying Dior Aurora to one cheek, and it's potential dupe to the other, and found that both of these look and wear just as well.

Dior Aurora is on my right cheek, and Stila Gold Coast is on my left

FOTD: Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer in Medium, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 4.75 (a little too light), Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in 60 Brightener (the pink one), Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Silk Eyeshadow in 6 Khaki Pulse, Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus Mascara, Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara in Black, MAC Hue Lipstick
Betsey Johnson Earrings
Express Sweater

Someone wanted to see how this top looks on me, so here you go!

Haha, obligatory office bathroom picture!

In my mailbox today: Stila Hearts Roxy Palette and September Birchbox

The Stila Palette is more for collection purposes than colors, but I'm interested to try the Incoco polish (I got plain silver glitter) to compare it to the Sally Hansen strips, and the lash card because I often get little flicks of mascara around my eyes.  I've been wanting to try the blinc tube mascara for years!   The little jouer tube is a lip conditioner.  The Flirt perfume smells nice but it's awfully pricey so I doubt I'll buy the full-size.

This One's for PvdH: I'm Borrowing Her Gorgeous Lip Look FOTD

Paola's fashion design/sketch blog is always inspiring, and lately she's been posting up some OOTDs. I love her style, but what I most wanted to copy immediately was her penchant for intense, Autumn-perfect lips! Here's my Friday go at it:

Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick in Royal Raisin (Warning: at first it seems like a pretty gloss that isn't sticky, but then it dries down semi-matte and becomes tacky. But it does last a long time and the doe-foot applicator allows for precise application.)

Eyes and Cheeks: Stila Beach Girls Palette in Living the Life in Laguna. I had worn this once before and was surprised by the wine tones. It's not very summery for a LE Summer palette! I followed the look in the palette which amounts to layering three of the colors and lining with the darkest color.  My mascara is a nice combo of Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes! Waterproof mascara under MAC Zoom Lash, with Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara.

Sorry about my skin, lately I have had zero time to apply proper base makeup in the morning! It's just mineral powder dusted over Origins Vitazing.

Goodbye, Summer Brights!

Doesn't Labor Day Weekend often feel like the last true Summer Weekend? We have barbecues, some people go camping... and beauty/fashion addicts nudge aside the Fall colors they've been rocking for the last two weeks of August for their last go at Summer Brights; the Coral lips, the pop of Ocean Blue, the zealously applied Bronzer. At least, in my case!  It will likely also be one of the last weekends I spend exclusively in shorts and sandals.  We've got some warm days ahead yet, but all too soon it will be "Goodbye, Summer!" Sigh...

Sorry about my brows and wet hair! I wasn't planning to post today and was just playing around, but I love these brights so much I decided to blog :-D I think most people wouldn't pair these eyes with these lips, but I just liked it so here it is!

Confession: I threw every mascara I own on my lashes

Tank: Sugar Factory Las Vegas

Blooper Face!

Cupcake Rings: Forever 21
Donut Earrings: Hot Topic

Eyes: UDPP, MAC Paintpot in Painterly, Stila Travel Girl Beach Palette in Wonderful in Waikiki (used on cheeks, as well)
Lips: Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick in 909D Coral-ine

I looked way too cheesy in all my toothy-smile photos, but I wanted to show that this lipcolor makes teeth appear whiter. And it's $2.99! One of the best drugstore lipsticks, in my opinion.

FOTD: Stila Travel Girls Beach Palettes for Summer 2011: Stunning in Sayulita Palette with Lorac Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss

Today I'm wearing my favorite of this Summer's Stila Travel Girl Palettes!  It's based on a book by Katie Lee.  I don't think the other palettes from this collection are based on anybody... weird.  But I digress!
 I wore it almost exactly like the look described inside the palette, except rather than layering the two lighter colors on my entire lid I put the lighter on the inside and darker on the outside.  I also only lined my upper lashline with the green, instead of my entire eye, to keep it soft.  The crease color doesn't look like it does in the pan at all but makes a pretty, purplish taupe crease on me that I just love.  It's $14 right now but it has got to go on discount at some point if you don't already have it; the blushes are nicely pigmented, too (wearing them below in terrible office lighting).  These pictures were taken after 8 hours of wear over primer.  Not too shabby!

I paired the palette with my Lorac Multiplex Gloss in 3D because it's GORGEOUS. I got it in a set and I would buy another set Lorac puts out if it has this gloss in it! On it's own it's a bit pricey at $22, a little rich for my blood ;-) You have to see it in person, though, for real. Make it a goal. I'm serious.

I reapplied this gloss as needed, of course. Enlarge to see the sparkles, but I swear it's prettier in person.  The sparkles absolutely glow!

Ooh, tiny pink sparkles in a rose-bronze base!

Sooo glossy, a vaguely fruity smell, and less sticky than MAC Lipglass