The Makeup Grub: 2017

Modern Renaissance Dupe - BYS Berries Comparison

19:24

I've got to admit, I have been absolutely sleeping on new releases as of late. I took the 'ignorance is bliss' approach, where if I ignored new releases, I wouldn't feel the need to buy them. Well, it worked, but it meant I'm now, a few months later, a bit behind.

BYS Cosmetics has been around for as long as I can remember. I wore their shimmery purple eyeshadow palette maybe everyday in Year 10. They've forever been known for their affordability, but not necessarily the quality. It's become pretty evident they've put in a lot of effort as of late to change that. How? Released some decent quality, on trend products, at the same low price point. The Berries Eyeshadow Palette is just that. Quality wise, it seems nothing like their old formulas, in a good way. This palette is on so on trend, it mimics (or copies) the shade range of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette. (Imitation is the best form of flattery!?) It remains aligned with the BYS reputation of affordability, at only $12 from Kmart ($19.95 from BYS website). So, let's compare the pair.

I swatched each shade from the BYS palette against it's closest counterpart in the Modern Renaissance Palette. Shade wise, most colours were pretty similar. Across the first three shades, Peachy from BYS (weird name seeing as it's not peach AT ALL), was about two shades darker than its ABH counterpart, Tempera. Both a matte/ satin finish. Of the two I definitely prefer the ABH shade, as it could be used as an under the brow highlight, or all over to set the lid. Peachy seems like just another transition shade, similar to MUG Creme Brule.

Radiance (BYS) and Vermeer (ABH) are essentially identical in shade. Both are a shimmery champagne. However, the ABH formula is smoother and creamier than BYS, so the colour when applied to the lid has a different finish. The BYS shimmers I would compare similar to that of Morphe, shimmery, but a tad chunky, so you may need to dip back in with your finger or brush a few times to get a full colour payoff when applying to the lid. The ABH formula you only need one swipe.

Same can be said comparing the formula of both shimmery gold between both palettes, Glow (BYS) and Primavera (ABH). Glow (BYS) is a tad darker and warmer than Primavera (ABH) evident in the swatch below.

L-R Peachy (BYS), Tempera (ABH), Radiance (BYS), Vermeer (ABH), Glow (BYS), Primavera (ABH)

Anastasia is well known for her pigmented, matte formula. I feel like it's a somewhat unique formula, because although they are highly pigmented, they're still very easy to blend in the crease or on the lid. As an arm swatch, the BYS shadows actually swatched smoother, and less patchy than ABH (evident in darker patches in swatches below). This is because, as mentioned, the ABH formula is just so pigmented. This isn't so much a problem on the lid however, where both formulas blend out very smoothly without patchiness. BYS Toffee and Sundown are both great transition shades. Pigmentation wise on the eye, I probably compare them to Makeup Geek, and are a more buildable formula. I was blown away with the pigmentation from Majestic, which was pigmented and blended out great. Again, on the eye however, the ABH matte equivalent Realgar is simply more pigmented.

L-R Toffee (BYS), Raw Sienna (ABH), Sundown (BYS), Burnt Orange (ABH), Majestic (BYS), Realgar (ABH)

Similiar story can be told for the shades below. BYS - pigmented, but not quite as pigmented as ABH. Both very blendable on the eye. BYS came pretty close in duping the ABH colour.

L-R Royalty (BYS), Red Ochre (ABH), Cherry Bomb (BYS), Venetian Red (ABH), Juliet (BYS), Love Letter (ABH)

These last three shades is maybe where I was most impressed. Purples are for some unknown reason hard to formulate, but Berry Haze (BYS) is easily one of the nicest purple/mauve mattes I've tried from the 'drugstore'. Buon Fresco (ABH) is a tad more grey. The formula of Antique (BYS) is almost identical to Antique Bronze (ABH), makes sense, because so is the name! Colour is almost dead on, and it's that same 'satin yet tiny bit of shimmer' formula. Very creamy! Shaded (BYS) is well named, as it it's a highly pigmented dark brown which is great for smoking or deepening any eye look. It might not be as ultra pigmented as its ABH counterpart Cyprus Umber, but a great shade none the less.

L-R Berry Haze (BYS), Buon Fresco (ABH), Antique (BYS), Antique Bronze (ABH), Shaded (BYS), Cyprus Umber (ABH)

The BYS Berries Palette contains 12 eyeshadows, whereas ABH Modern Renaissance contains 14. The ABH shades Golden Ochre and Warm Taupe missed out and didn't get a dupe.

The packaging is obviously different between the two. BYS have kept with their Urban Decay Naked style tin, but has the nice pale purple colour to match the velvet exterior of the ABH packaging. T

TLDR

For $12, BYS have nailed this. I would compare the formula of this to similar of Morphe. The colours come very close to their Anastasia Beverly Hills counterpart. The ABH matte formula is so ultra-pigmented and creamy that I honestly wouldn't expect a $12 palette to match it. For all you makeup junkies and makeup artists, I would still say splurge the $75 AUD on the ABH Modern Renaissance. But, for your everyday woman that doesn't buy a stupid amount of makeup (like myself) you cannot go wrong with the BYS Berries palette. Being less pigmented than the ABH formula means it's also easier to use, so would be great for beginners or those getting in to makeup.

Similar post coming soon comparing the BYS Peach palette to Too Faced Sweet Peaches!

Thanks for reading,

Em x

Skincare

Daddy of Skincare Caddy's

17:52

Anti Haul

Anti-Haul

07:25

Welcome to my first anti-haul! What is an anti-haul? It's basically a list of products you're not going to buy. It might seem a bit pointless, but writing down why you don't need to buy something is useful in improving self control and that impulsivity we all feel when looking at pretty new makeup. i.e. good for the bank account!

I was inspired when favourite Youtuber of mine, Jackie Aina uploaded one this week. Although I do believe the concept was created by Kimberly Clark. Coming onto Spring and Summer in the U.S. there's a lot of beautiful new releases! These are all products I do want, but I totally don't need so this is my justification.

The first product I won't be buying is the Kylie Cosmetics x KKW Creme Liquid Lipstick Kit. As much as I love Kim, (and Kylie) I just feel like I don't need this. I have a tonne of pale lipsticks or glosses that are similiar to this. I would probably be more inclined to buy this if the formula was long wearing, as I actually don't have many liquid lips in these shades, but it's not. It retails for $45 USD, with $14.95 for shipping to Aus. That's $80 ish AUD, so $20 per lipstick. If her previous 'limited edition' collections are anything to go by, these shades will likely be re-released as a permanent collection. A contributing factor was also the fact that I would need to wake up at 5am Perth time in order to purchase it, and I'm a pretty big fan of a good night's sleep. So, although the packaging is blush goals, and the shades look perfect, I'm going to pass on this kit.

If you've been with me for a while, you know the packaging of this celebrity collaboration makes it all that much harder to resist. I'm talking about the yet to be launched Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette. This will be launching for $46 USD, so about $62 AUD plus shipping. To be honest, my desire for this palette kind of starts and ends with the packaging. I would display this happily on my vanity because the pink quartz and rose gold packaging is goals. This palette is simply not designed for my skin tone, rather medium to deeper skin tones. I know if I bought this, I would probably not use it a whole lot. The only use I would get from these highlighters would be as blush toppers. From past experience I also find the Becca formula is poorer quality in palette form than individuals, probably something to do with the stabilisation of the product.

Continuing on the trend of celebrity collaborations, is the second Carli Bybel x BH Cosmetics palette. This is the same as her original but it includes 10 new shades. While the marble pattern on this packaging is goals AF, I just have so many highlighters and eye shadows in my collection at the moment, so I don't feel the need for anymore. If that is not the case for you, I would actually recommend this, because I've heard great things about the formula and it's very affordable. It's available for $19.50 on the BH Cosmetics Website.

I love a good highlight, but having just purchased the Nicole Guerriero Anastasia Beverley Hills Glow Kit, I really don't need anymore at the moment. That's why I'm resisting the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Prismatic Amethyst. While this pale lavender would be beautiful on my light skin, I already have the Pink Quartz version of this which is a pale pink. For $64 AUD, I'm going to pass on this one.

The Tom Ford Soleil summer collection just lauched at David Jones this month. After obsessing over it for months while it was available in this U.S. I was stoked when it finally arrived in Aus. I didn't realise quite how expensive it would be though. The Ultimate Bronzer is $150 AUD. One hundred and fifty dollars, for a bronzer. I don't think any of us can deny this collection looks beautiful, and the reviews have been great. But I can't justify the price of any of these products.

So because I haven't / won't be purchasing any of these, I have all up saved about at least $376! I'm so guilty for caving in to the limited edition or the packaging, so writing this helped me control my spending. I hope this inspires you to think twice about your makeup purchases too!

Thanks for reading,

Em x