Is Chantecaille Sel a Dupe for Burberry Pale Barley?

Last month, I purchased Chantecaille Sel eyeshadow from Gummy's blog sale, and I was really excited to try it. Every once in a while, you'll read a blog post about how great Chantecaille eyeshadow is, and I really wanted to find out for myself! 

Sel is a really great everyday sort of shade, and when I first tried it, I immediately thought of Burberry's much loved Pale Barley eyeshadow. In my opinion, Chantecaille's formula can't compare to Burberry's, but the shades are similar enough on my eyes. Sel has more of a gray/silvery undertone on me, while Pale Barley has more of a gold tone. 

Now onto the formula... Sel is soft and shimmery, but doesn't last long without primer. The first time I wore it, I didn't look in the mirror until after lunch (so about 5 hours after application) and pretty much all that was left was shimmer. Yikes. With my trusty Nars Pro-Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base, the nice color is more visible and actually stays on all day. This also doesn't apply well with fingers - the result is not very pigmented or even. Not a dealbreaker, but I think that is something to note given my laziness. :) A lot of eyeshadow gets applied with fingers over here, and this one is just not one that will work that way.

My preference is the Burberry formula, which is much softer and doesn't necessarily require a brush. Without primer, Burberry eyeshadows have always lasted all day on me, and they usually don't even crease in my monolid area. I think if you have Pale Barley, you probably don't need Sel and vice versa. If you're stuck between the two though, I definitely recommend Burberry!

What do you guys think about Chantecaille Sel? Do you think it is a dupe for Burberry Pale Barley? Are you adding either one to your list? I'd love to know! :)

I ♡ Burberry Lip Glow in Pink Sweet Pea

When promo photos of Burberry's Spring Collection were first released, I was immediately drawn to the hot pinks and bright colors in the collection. When the collection hit counters, I really wanted the Hydrangea Pink blush and the other Lip Glow shades, but in an effort to be economical, I only picked up one thing! Go me!

Since the Pink Sweet Pea Lip Glow is a limited edition item, it seemed like the logical choice for me to purchase. (Though the rest of the goodies will be mine eventually!!) I love the minimal, architectural feel of the packaging, and that hot pink with a bit of purple-fuchsia shimmer just makes me smile!

Like other Burberry lip products, this does have quite a floral scent to it. However, for whatever reason, it seems somewhat lighter than it is in the lipsticks. While I love the formula of the lipsticks and these lip glosses, I really wish they were scent free, as I can't always handle a strong scent in my makeup, even if I don't mind the scent. I also happened to discover by accident that Dior Addict Lipstick in Show is quite similar in color to Pink Sweet Pea on my lips. (Funny, because I was swatching Dior at the counter and was showing my boyfriend, and he just looks at me and says, "that's the exact same color that you're wearing!" LOL)

The applicator is pretty traditional for a gloss - no complaints there. The formula itself  is quite nice too. It may be hydrating for some, but for my very chap-prone lips, it really just locks in moisture and keeps my lips smooth. It also seems like the scent goes away over time, which is great, and it wears for a good 3-4 hours before fading away.

Here's a picture of the Pink Sweet Pea in action! I just thought this was a funny picture, so I had to share. :)And here's a look at me wearing it, just after I applied it. The application could be better if I used a mirror, LOL!  

And here's another shot taken with my phone in the car about an hour or so after applying. It is a bit overcast, so the colors may not be great because it was starting to snow! All in all, I love this Burberry Lip Glow, and am so glad that it was my first one! I definitely want Mallow Pink and Fondant Pink now! What do you think of this Burberry Lip Glow? Do you have any favorite shades or any favorite glosses you'd like to share?? :)

♥Burberry Complete Eye Palette in Pink Taupe♥

I was so excited when Burberry launched their eyeshadow palettes at the end of 2012. I'm a huge fan of Burberry eyeshadow, and really the entire Burberry lineup. I just can't get enough of how natural everything looks when applied... Now that I'm thinking about it, I really don't think I have talked about Burberry enough! ;) But honestly, if I had to live with one makeup line forever, Burberry would be it!

Anyway, I know you are all excited to see the Complete Eye Palette in Pink Taupe!

The palette itself is the classic Burberry check, and it is the same size as the blush compacts, which could either make things easy to organize or confusing. LOL. The velvet pouch comes with 3 small eye brushes - a liner, sponge applicator, and standard shadow brush.

All of the brushes perform decently in a pinch, which is great. There's nothing really to say about a sponge applicator, but the liner brush does create an even fine line, though I'd prefer something a little denser. The shadow brush is ok for a wash of color. 

I do like that the compact has a very large mirror inside too - handy for traveling with, that's for sure! Now look at all those pretty colors!

I have read on some blogs that the lightest shade is somewhat similar to the now discontinued Pale Barley, and I agree. However, the shade in the palette is slightly darker, and has a less "luminous" effect when applied to the eyes. The almost greenish tinged taupe is quite nice, and even the pink shade wears well on my skintone. I imagine that many will love the darkest shade, which is a nice medium brown with a tinge of the pink tones. To me, it feels a bit like Taupe Brown mixed with Antique Rose, or something of that nature. Check out the swatches below.

Applied with the included applicators and without primer, I can get all day wear on the darker shades. The lighter ones seem to fade by the 6-8 hour. With my own brushes, the shadows last a few hours longer. I can only imagine how they'd last with primer!

Here's a quick phone shot from last week, where I applied this palette very quickly with the included applicators. I think it gives a really nice, natural definition to my eyes. What do you guys think of Burberry Pink Taupe? Have you, or will you be grabbing any of these palettes? I'd love to know! :) 

October 2012 Favorites: Becca, Brushes, & Burberry

I'm a few days late, but I really wanted to share my October favorites. It is always hard to pick favorites, as I usually prefer to sleep than apply makeup anyway, but this month, I had clear winners! I was hoping to do a video, but I just haven't been able to figure out a good setup... So until I figure that out, I'll just have to stick to regular posts! :)This month, I really fell in love with everything Burberry, but I made myself choose...

The standouts of the Burberry lineup for me so far are the eyeshadows and Lip Covers. The eyeshadows are divine - there's a natural, skin-like quality to them that just amazes me! Dark Sable just gives me beautiful definition, and Antique Rose surprised me with how easy it was to wear a slightly pink eyeshadow. I'm dying for more shadows, and Pale Barley, Almond, and Midnight Brown are at the top of the list. I can't wait, because these are exactly what I want in an eyeshadow these days!

I am also wowed by the Lip Cover formula. My lips are always quite dry, and they get worse and worse in the course of a cold day. Burberry Lip Cover actually helps my lips retain their moisture, so after I apply, I still maintain the same level moisture. Even the bright shades I chose feel and look natural, as if I wasn't wearing any makeup at all. I'm in LOVE.

On the Becca front, I've hardly had the chance to use these Eye and Beach Tints. But so far, the shades (Baroque and Grapefruit) are quite natural and gorgeous for everyday wear. (Woohoo!) Baroque has been great for contour/crease definition and Grapefruit is just a pretty, pretty pink. YAY! :)This month, I also enjoyed Real Techniques brushes. So many great shapes, and so affordable too! I'm liking the Core Collection, wanting to keep the Starter Kit, and still enjoying the others I've had from the line.

As a long time eyeshadow fiend, I always enjoy a good eyeshadow brush. The Ecotools 1203 eyeshadow brush is seriously a drugstore standout. This densely packed brush picks up all shadows so easily and really packs a punch. I also love the quality of the Too Faced Essential 3 Piece Set - the fluffy brush makes any shadow a beautifully natural highlight, and the mini one is my go to brush for lining and smudging my eyes. I wish this was available to purchase on its own!

So there you have it! What do you think of this month's picks? Have you tried any of these, or any related recommendations? What were your October favorites? :)