BATTLE OF THE DUPES #13: Essie vs. OPI

I have mentioned a few times (I think) that my favourite nail polish is Essie in Fiji, it's a really nice colour on pale skin tones as well as dark, I saw that there is an OPI dupe for it (according to Pinterest) and I have that shade in my collection so thought I would put them to the test.

Prepped my nails prior to painting them by filing, buffing, pushing my cuticles back and apply base coat.

First coat is patchy.

Second coat and both still patchy.

Third coat and the Essie is a solid colour whereas OPI is still patchy.

Fourth coat of OPI and still slightly patchy.

Fifth coat of OPI is still slightly patchy but I left it.

Used the Barry M Wet Set Quick Dry Topcoat on all of the nails and also my favourite cuticle oil which is Ciaté Love Me Oil Cranberry Cuticle Oil.

DAY #3: Essie thumbnail (left hand) has completely gone 

DAY #5: On my left hand the thumbnail has gone (Essie), second finger has gone (OPI) and the next nail is chipped (Essie). On my right hand the pinkie has chipped (OPI) and next nail has chipped (Essie).

Essie Nail Lacquer

Purchased from: Boots

Shade: Fiji

Price: £7.99

OPI Nail Lacquer

Purchased from: Sally Beauty

Shade: Lisbon Wants Moor OPI

Price: £13.50

Least layers applied: Essie

Dries quickest: Essie

Best applicator: Essie

Nicest to apply: Essie

Lasts longest: Essie

Looks the best longest: Essie

This is not a dupe, very close but not a dupe. Essie has a pink undertone whereas OPI has a more beige undertone. 

Is it a dupe: No

Date Tried: Sunday 9th June 2019

BATTLE OF THE DUPES #12: Lacura vs. Superdrug

I was going to find dupes for the very popular face mask by Sand & Sky but my order didn't arrive in time so manage to find something else to battle together.

My skin is dry, dull and red.

The Lacura® face mask comes with a brush so it's easier to apply in an even way compared to the Superdrug one.

Both of them dried after 10 minutes, the Superdrug felt really tight on my skin and was slightly uncomfortable. By the way I put a hair mask on mid way through, giving myself a bit of a pampering.

Removal was easy and revealed my brighter looking skin on both sides.

Lacura® Detoxifying + Brightening Purifying Pink Clay Mask
Purchased from: Aldi

Price: £5.99

Superdrug Pink Clay Purifying Mask

Purchased from: Superdrug

Price: £0.99

There are advantages and disadvantages for both of them, the Superdrug is a single use item so it won't dry out like the Lacura® but then you get an applicator with the Lacura®. They don't have the exact same ingredients but they do pretty much the same job.

Is it a dupe: Yes

Date Tried: Saturday 22nd June 2019

BATTLE OF THE DUPES #11: Essie vs. Nails Inc

I thought this Nails Inc shade was limited edition but it turns out that it's not, I got this in a magazine

I have buffed and filed my nails as well as paint my nails with a base coat (CND Creative Play Base Coat). Now before I start I will explain how I am going to do this so I didn't think it would be fair to paint one hand with one nail polish and the other with the other nail polish because I am right handed so I generally get more wear and tear on them so going alphabetical with brands I will start on my left hand with my pinkie with Essie then next nail will be Nails Inc, then Essie, then Nails Inc. You get where I am coming from. Left hand pinkie is Essie, right hand pinkie is Nails Inc  left hand thumb is Essie, right hand thumb is Nails Inc.

First coat and you can tell that they are not dupes but then maybe once there is a solid colour then it might be a dupe.

Second coat and the Essie is a solid colour whereas Nails Inc is a little more patchy. My nails look slightly messy especially on my right hand because I am right handed.

I only had to do a third coat using the Nails Inc otherwise the Essie was perfect.

I applied a top coat (Barry M Wet Set Quick Dry Top Coat) to finish off the look.

DAY #3: I have chips and a little wear at the edges of the nails but daft me forgot to take photos.

DAY #5: My nails are almost done so I decided I will remove them now.

Removal: Both of them stain slightly, Nails Inc doesn't as much as the Essie.

Essie Nail Lacquer

Purchased from: Boots

Shade: Hear Me Aurora

Price: £7.99

Nails Inc Lacquer

Purchased from: Glamour

Shade: Tate

Least layers applied: Essie

Dries quickest: Nails Inc

Best applicator: Essie

Nicest to apply: Essie

Lasts longest: Essie

Looks the best longest: Essie
Easiest to remove: Nails Inc

There is a slight difference in shade so if you could only get one of them then its worth it.

Is it a dupe: No

Date Tried: Saturday 25th May 2019

BATTLE OF THE DUPES #10: MAC vs. wet n wild

My first MAC lipstick was Creme Cup, this is my second tube of this lipstick so you can tell I like it and when I came across Pinterest dupes and that there was a wet n wild dupe I had to check it out. Just want to apologise for the quality of the pictures, I took them at 5am when I get up and do my makeup so it was dark but they were taken on my iPhone, when I first started writing this blog back in 2018 I had a Canon DSLR but sold it to my brother and still haven't repurchased a new camera but I do plan to.

My lips prior were smooth and pretty similar in pigment.

Clearly this isn't a dupe as you can see.

MAC Lipstick
Purchased from: MAC
Shade: Creme Cup
Price: £17.50

wet n wild MegaLast Lip Color
Purchased from: Boots
Shade: Think Pink
Price: £2.99

I couldn't really tell you what lasts the longest or what is better because I wasn't walking around with my lips like that.

Is it a dupe: No

Date Tried: Monday 10th June 2019