Splurge vs. Steal!NARS Silent Night & Night Clubbing vs L'Oreal HIP Gilded

I don't know what it is about NARS but I just keep finding cheaper look alikes. Of course not exactly and not every single NARS product has a dupe (thank G-d!) and also the longevity of the product may not be as fantastic - but nonetheless, it'll do.

This one however, I have been drooling over in drugstores. HIP 806 Gilded duo eyeshadow has been calling my name since the second it came out. Then I had bought NARS Silent Night from TMS blog sale and thought ohhh waiitttt a minute... so of course I compared the two and couldn't help adding some Night Clubbing into the mix.

Let's get to the facts, shall we?

NARS describes Silent Night to be metallic with gold particles and Night Clubbing as black with gold pearls

Price: $23 USD each

Size: .07 oz/ 2.2 g each

Silent Night Ingredients: Talc, Polyethylene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Tricaprylin, Ceresin, Aqua (water), Lanolin (Lanolin Alcohol), Lecithin, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Ascorbyl Palmitate, May Contain (+/-): Mica, CI 77491, 77492, 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77289 (Chromium Hydroxide Green), CI 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens), CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide), CI 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride), CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake)

Night Clubbing Ingredients: N/A




L'Oreal describes the duo shadow like so:
On the Left: Intensely Luminous Shades to Shadow.
On the Right: Deeper, Dramatic Shades to Line.

Price: $7.99 USD

Size: .08 oz/ 2.4 g total

Ingredients: N/A




In the photos above the two almost look identical. Though in life it is visible that NARS seems to be a bit more flakey. Observe:


Left - NARS Silent Night.
Right - Gilded left side.

NARS is much more yellow and chalkier with glitter bits that blend nicely with the general chalkiness texture of the shadow. Gilded, however, is more of a bronze and so so metallicy I could paint my car with it! This one also doesn't flake on application; always a plus!



Here I added the Gilded right side swatch. I don't have the Night Clubbing with me (and sorry I don't have a side by side comparison) but matte black with fine gold glitter bits sounds just about right! Plus I'm sure we've all swatched Night Club enough to have a general idea of how close these two are.




My opinion is this - I'll trade the chalky shadow with flaky glitter bits of NARS for Glided smooth metalic bronzy gold any day. As far as Night Clubbing - the shadow doesn't seem unique enough to be worth $23 on it's own. This seems like a no brainer $7.99 for just about half the size of each color and savng ($23 x 2 - $8) $38 sounds like a steal to me!

What do you think? Would you rather splurge or STEAL?!?!?

Recent purchases, winnings and giveaway winner!

So while in Vegas and browsing away on my cellular I stumbled on New York City's Pretty blog sale and of course couldn't help myself. My package came with all the goodies listed plus a few extras. Have no fear, I will be talking more about the products purchased in some FOTDs, review and color focus posts.




Also, when I got home, not only was I excited to finally sleep in my own bed, but I had won a giveaway over at Best Things in Beauty and it was waiting for me when I got back. I have already played with a few things but am still keeping them 'new' in their own little places in the box. I'm such a silly girl, I don't like to open new things right away, I let them sit before I jump and really put them to use. I must say, this combination truly is amazing, and because they are all sample sizes, I like that even more - I mean really! How many full sized bronzers do you need? (this is a rhetorical question! haha) However, the Korre's bronzer is a FULL SIZE and I'm so glad because it is my FAVORITE of the entire package! Yippee!


Another fun thing I have been chatting with Karla Sugar about (ever so slightly) was Konading. I had nooo clue what it was, so she kindly emailed me about a post she had written. I thought - oh great! Of course you know those annoying people that try to sell you stuff on the stree? Well guess what! One of them was selling Konad stuff. I got this package for $20 - was this a good deal? Eeek I wasn't sure myself, but I talked them down from $35 and he threw in some rhinestones.


These amazingly fun and punky jewels I got while in Vegas. The rock leather cuff(?) I got at Marshall Russo which is like Vegas's version of Forever 21. And the earrings Chris bought for me at a little boutique in Paris.





So it has been exactly one month since the close of my birthday giveaway.
Thank you to everyone who entered! And without further ado, the winner is...
ladymishel @ A Heart Full of Love
Please email me your mailing address ASAP at lizdonskaya[at]gmail[dot]com.

Vegas Day, Night & Attractions Part II

The second day we spent at the Venetian. It's done up to be - well I'm not sure but it reminds me heavily of the Sistine Chapel. It's just so Italian! and thus we ate like royalty and indulged in gelato. And how cute is the Venice Canal impressionation?! We didn't go for a romantic boat ride, but when I went many moons ago (7th grade) we did and it was fantastic!





And I love all the Masquerade Ball costumes and masks - but man were they pricey!

That evening we went to see Le Reve at the Wynn.
It was magical!
I'm not sure the story behind the Cirque de Soleil but it was so sweet and fun. Also the theater was small and intimate, so there was no bad seat.

Then these little hotties headed to Haze Nightclub at Aria in City Center (FYI we stayed at the VDARA in City Center and our room was devine!).

The music was crazy loud and the bass was so incredible it beat your heart. Of course, a little surprise - Kevin Rudolf performed two of his songs LIVE!

Althought, the fee was $20 for women, $40 for men, and drinks at just under $20 a pop (redbull vodkas) it certainly was pricey.



We obviously had a good night.
*wink*

Guess who's back?!Vegas Day, Night & Attractions Part I

Vegas was incredible!

The first night we went to bed at 10 PM Vegas time, which is 1 AM Eastern Time. Nonetheless, we woke up refreshed and ready for the day.



I got this cute little dress for day - actually I think it's a shirt, but anything goes in Las Vegas! My big gold foiled earrings with coral beads were such a great match.



The Bellagio does a great themed garden every year/season. This time it was a garden scene! There were cute bumble bees and butter flies made of fresh flowers all above us and flowers and snails also made of flowers. It made me feel like I was in 'Honey I Shrunk the Kids.'



No explanation necessary. *wink*



We later mossied on over to the Wynn and sat in one of the lounge bars drinking Bellinis which is a yummy mix of champagne, peach schnapps and peach puree. YUM!

---

The Bank Nightclub at Bellagio was our hang out spot for the night.




It was really beautiful black and gold inside. The music was a mix of today's hip hop and some classic rock. The crowd too was a mix of people - 21 year old hoochies to 50 year old cougars.




Crazy eyelashes!



My babe and me.

Rimmel London 270 Steel Grey

I'm off to LAS VEGAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Suitcase full of shoes and hooker outfits *wink*


Sunblock so the lizzard doesn't have leathery skin
ha ha
Eye lashes.. deodorant.. vitamin c capsules


This is just the earrings...
*sigh*
Me amor sparkle!


Some jewels for the ride there

Currently obsessed with Kim Kardashian's looks.
The faves? These!




drool.