Beauty Maverick

Tarte Cheek Stain vs. Origins Pinch Your Cheeks

Tarte Claim: This water-based push-up gel stick is perfect for a fresh flush of color on the go.

Origins Claim: Pinch Your Cheeks gives a radiant, rosy glow that never looks red-in-the-face.

Price: Tarte $28 for 1 oz.; Origins $10 for 0.1 oz.

Ease of Use: Tarte 9/10; Origins 6/10

'Flush' Effect: Tarte 8.5/10; Origins 8/10 

Number of Shades: Tarte 8; Origins 3

Summary: Though Pinch Your Cheeks is more potent in formulation, it's also a little more difficult to work with as you can end up staining you fingers as well as your face. If you opt for the Origins product, try blending it with a bit of moisturizer before applying for a more natural-looking glow.

Winner of this cheek stain comparison:
Tarte Cheek Stain available at Sephora stores. 

Urban Decay Big Fatty Lip Plumper vs. DuWop Venom Flash

Urban Decay Claim: The Urban Decay Big Fatty Lip Plumper  has been created with African Chili, jasmine, and hyacinth to increase circulation in the lips and produce a noticeably fuller and pinker pout (up to 20%). A sheer, golden shimmer also helps reflect light to further enhance the size of your lips.

DuWop Claim: DuWop Venom Flash Lip Gloss enhances the natural color and shape of your lips by increasing circulation with a blend of essential oils including cinnamon, wintergreen, and ginger. Also, a subtle shimmer (choice of gold or silver) in the formulation reflects light to make your lips look their fullest.   

Price: $17.00 for 0.08 oz of Big Fatty Lip Plumper; $17.00 for 0.12 oz of Venom Flash Lip Gloss 

Plumping Effect: Urban Decay 6/10; DuWop 8.5/10

Ability to Maintain a Plump Pout: Urban Decay 5/10; DuWop 8/10 

Number of Shades: Urban Decay 1; DuWop 2

Summary: Urban Decay's Big Fatty Lip Plumper took awhile to produce visible results and needed constant application throughout the day/night, whereas DuWop's Lip Venom Flash Lip Gloss instantly plumped my lips, required fewer applications, and left my lips feeling (surprisingly) moisturized. 

Winner of this lip- plumper comparison:
DuWop Venom Flash available at Sephora.com 

Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 vs. Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

Chantecaille Claim: Just Skin SPF 15 is a lightweight tinted moisturizer with a non-toxic mineral sunscreen and a complex of botanicals that delivers protection from free radicals, smog and sun.

Stila Claim: This tinted moisturizer is packed with sun protection and just enough color to even skin tone. The light, hydrating formula is ideal for all skin types and comes in natural, see-through shades.

Price: $62.00 for Chantecaille and $30.00 for Stila

Number of Shades: Chantecaille 3; Stila 10

Coverage:  Chantecaille 4.5/10; Stila 7.5/10

Wear: Chantecaille 8.5/10; Stila 7.0/10

Summary: Both of these tinted moisturizers are actually quite nice, but the Chantecaille Just Skin formulation gave a luminescent finish to my complexion that Stila's Sheer Color just didn't provide. If you seek greater coverage but desire the glow that the Chantecaille product gives, try mixing it with your liquid  foundation (equal parts) before applying to the skin.

Winner of this tinted moisturizer comparison:
Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 available at BergdorfGoodman.com 

NARS Body Glow vs. Lola Glo La in 'Bronzed Goddess'

NARS Claim: For this product, the bud of the Tiare flower is soaked in the finest coconut oil and then blended for a translucent chocolate shimmer that can be applied after sun exposure or on medium-toned skin for a sun-kissed sheen.

Lola Claim: This dual-acting dry body oil adds shimmer to the skin while also moisturizing. Easy to apply and absorbed immediately, Lola Glo La can be used anytime for glowing skin with a subtle Magnolia scent.

Price: $59.00 for NARS Body Glow and $45.00 for Lola's Go La Shimmering Body Oil

Bronzing Effect: NARS 8.0/10; Lola 7.0/10

Ease of Use:  NARS 7.0/10; Lola 7.5/10

Scent: NARS 8.5/10; Lola 6.5/10

Summary: Though both of these products are a bit tricky to apply before a big night out (as tinted body oils tend to be...), the NARS Body Glow left my skin beautifully bronzed and super soft whereas the Lola Go La didn't tint my skin as much and the floral scent wasn't to my taste.

Winner of this bronzing body oil comparison:
NARS Body Glow available at Sephora.com 

T. LeClerc Eyeliner vs. Givenchy Parad'Eyes Fluid Eye Liner

T. LeClerc Claim: This eye liner has a luxurious fluid texture that dries instantly and allows for an easy, uniform application.

Givenchy Claim: This eye opening liquid liner contains a high concentration of pigments with a sprinkling of mother-of-pearl particles for a unique, long lasting intensity that will not run or flake.

Price: $20.00 for T. LeClerc; $27.00 for Givenchy

Brush: T. LeClerc 8/10; Givenchy 9/10

Formulation: T. LeClerc 8.5/10; Givenchy 9/10

Wear: T. LeClerc 9/10; Givenchy 9.5/10

Summary: Both of these liquid liners tested wonderfully, but Givenchy's brush allowed for a more precise application and the pigment was far more rich.

Winner of this eye liner comparison: Givenchy Parad'Eyes Fluid Eye Liner available at Sephora.com.

Murad Clarifying Cleanser vs. Patricia Wexler M.D. Dual Action Foaming Cleanser

Murad Claim: This gel cleanser effectively treats and prevents acne and skin breakouts by reducing 99.9% of irritating surface bacteria in less than one minute.

Wexler Claim: A gentle foaming cleanser that heals acne while fortifying healthy skin. It effectively cleanses the skin without causing irritation.

Price: $26.00 for 6.75 oz. of the Murad Cleanser and $18.00 for 3.4 oz. of the Wexler  Cleanser

Cleansing Ability: Murad 8/10; Wexler 8.5/10

Blemish Control/Reduction: Murad 7.0/10; Wexler 8.5/10

Texture: Murad 8.5/10; Wexler 8.5/10

Summary: Though both of these products were decent cleansers, I found the Murad product stung my eyes a bit and also made my skin feel quite taught. The Wexler product, on the other hand, made my skin feel as though it had been thoroughly cleansed without creating an obvious imbalance. 

Winner of this cleanser comparison:
Wexler Dual Action Foaming Cleanser available at BathandBodyWorks.com

Prescriptives Flawless Skin vs. M.A.C Studio Finish SPF 35

Prescriptives Claim: This concealer provides the benefits of cutting edge technology and broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 25 protection for the eye area. Non-acnegenic, Dermatologist tested, and waterproof.

M.A.C Claim: Studio Finish is lightweight, creamy, discreetly opaque concealer. It provides smooth, long-wearing invisible coverage for all skin blemishes. Water-resistant, fragrance-free and non-acnegenic.

Price: $22.00 for Prescriptives' Flawless Skin SPF 25; $14.50 for M.A.C Studio Finish SPF 35

Coverage: Prescriptives 7/10; M.A.C 8.5/10

Texture: Prescriptives 7.5/10; M.A.C 8/10

Ability to Match Skintone: Prescriptives (9 shades) 6/10; M.A.C (14 shades) 8.5/10

Summary: Both of these concealers are great overall but the M.A.C Studio Finish could cover a tattoo and still appear light and natural on the skin. The Prescriptives Flawless Skin would be ideal for someone who has the odd blemish or late night out but for those of us that either go out more than we'd like to admit or are just the victim of hereditary dark circles and/or acne, I'd have to recommend the M.A.C Studio Finish- it's brilliant!

Winner of this concealer comparison:
M.A.C Studio Finish SPF 35 available at Gloss.com

DiorShow vs. Hypnose by Lancome

Dior claim: Rich, non-clumping, high pigment formulation which is applied with a large, full brush ensuring the 'just off the catwalk' look with only one coat. 

Lancome claim: Achieve 6x the volume with a patented Powefull brush to intensify lashes from root to tip. The formulation is said to give custom control with no smearing, clumping, or smudging.

Price: Both $23.00

Volume: Dior- 8.5/10; Lancome 6/10

Brush: Dior- 9/10; Lancome 8.5/10

Formulation: Dior 9/10; Lancome 8/10

Summary: I loved the DiorShow mascara as I have fine, non-existent lashes that came to life with one coat, but I should warn that after a few hours there is a little flaking that can occur with their formulation. The challenger, Lancome's Hypnose, is a decent mascara but I didn't see the same volume as with DiorShow and found the formulation weighed down my lashes. Though my lashes appeared full, they looked quite a bit shorter which was an issue for me as I love getting the look of thick, long lashes with the use of only one mascara (as oppose to layering volumizing and lengthening mascaras as some pros reccomend). 

Champion mascara in this match:
DiorShow by Dior available at Sephora.com