Dupe Alert: Avon Smoky Plumes vs Essie Smokin' Hot

I picked up Avon Speed Dry+ in Smoky Plumes on a bit of a whim. I try my best not to buy more nail varnish these days, out of guilt for the number of bottles I already own, but it seemed churlish to turn down an offer of £2.50 for a bottle.

L-R: Smoky Plumes, Metro Chic, Smokin' Hot and Paradoxal

The colour, Smoky Plumes, really appealed to me. I do like a good gruple and I suppose I shouldn't have been shocked to discover that it was a dupe for something I already owned. As you will see from the nail wheel, Avon Smoky Plumes is pretty much a spot-on dupe for Essie Smokin' Hot. It also looks very similar to Chanel Paradoxal, only without the (well) hidden sparkle, of course.

L-R: Smoky Plumes x2, Metro Chic, Smokin' Hot and Paradoxal

Although the colours are practically identical, the formulas are quite different. Smokin' Hot has a thin, runny consistency, whereas Smoky Plumes has a thick formula and does have a tendency to drag. Personally speaking, I find the Essie easier to apply both in terms of the consistency and ease of manipulating the brush. However, the Smoky Plumes did look better the next morning, on account of the faster drying time. And yes, in case you are wondering, I am walking around with Smokin' Hot on one hand and Smoky Plumes on the other in the interest of accurate research...

As ever, I can't comment on staying power: I make all manicures look worn within 12-24 hours, standard. I find the quality of the Avon polishes is generally pretty good though and Smoky Plumes is worth considering if you're looking for a nice gruple.

My Sheer Lipstick Collection including ILIA Beauty Dizzy and W3LL People Lip Shine #3

I was struggling with inspiration for a post this morning, so we have Miss MB and Musing on Beauty to thank for this blog post. Miss MB was wondering around with one of my new lipsticks, which is always dangerous, but seeing the lipstick made me realise that I have a fairly large collection of sheer finish lipsticks which continues to grow.

Nudist Lip Shine #3

The lipstick she was clutching was the W3LL People Nudist lip shine in #3 above, a gorgeous glossy sheer red with a lovely balmy texture. It's one of the items I purchased whilst I was at Content Beauty last week to meet Sasha Plavsic, founder of ILIA Beauty. I will return to this visit in another post as Sasha was incredibly inspiring and I have lots to report back. Meeting Sasha and also browsing all the lovely natural brands in Content has had me reflecting on whether I want to make a more permanent switch to cleaner brands in future. Anyway, I digress..

Sasha inspired another new lipstick purchase whilst I was there, her Lip Conditioner in Dizzy. This orange sheer is a favourite with her Mother, who loves it for layering. Depending on the natural colour of your lips, Dizzy can produce a more coral shade. I purchased it for layering with brighter colours and so far have had success pairing it with Lancome Rose Boudoir.

Dizzy

I have always been a fan of sheer lipsticks, as they're so easy to wear but I seem to have made a major return to them recently. All of the ones I have here are really balmy and comfortable to wear and are excellent if you suffer from dry lips. The ILIA lipstick in Crimson & Clover isn't strictly speaking a sheer but I wanted to include it alongside the other ILIA lip colours. It's more pigmented than the lip conditioners but I don't find it completely opaque either. I have reviewed the majority of these lipsticks before and will add links where available.

From left to right: ILIA Blossom Lady*, Arabian Knights, Dizzy, RBR Murmurings, Crimson & Clover, W3LL People Nudist #3 & #2*, Chantecaille Lip Chic in Zinnia, No.7 Poppy King lipstick in Glamour and Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Bonheur.

Swatches L-R: Chanel Bonheur, Ilia Blossom Lady, Arabian Knights, Dizzy, RBR Murmurings, Crimson & Clover, W3LL People Nudist #3 & #2, Chantecaille Lip Chic in Zinnia and No.7 Poppy King lipstick in Glamour.

L-R: Chanel Bonheur, Ilia Blossom Lady, Arabian Knights, Dizzy, RBR Murmurings, Crimson & Clover, W3LL People Nudist #3 & #2.

L-R: Ilia Dizzy, RBR Murmurings, Crimson & Clover, W3LL People Nudist #3 & #2, Chantecaille Lip Chic in Zinnia and No.7 Poppy King lipstick in Glamour.

Do you like to wear sheer lipsticks or do you prefer to wear a gloss to create a lip shine? I'd also love to hear your opinion of more 'clean', botanical based lines too.

* The lipsticks labelled with an asterisk were received as PR samples, albeit rather a long time ago.

A Lazy M(B)um FOTD

Despite owning all the lovely brushes I showed you the other day, I must confess that quite often I will put on a full face without once reaching for a brush. Yesterday was one of those days. It's the school holidays and I spent the day pottering around at home with the children. As I failed to put my makeup on until late morning, I thought simple (you can read lazy) was the way to go.

I skipped foundation and instead opted for a layer of Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Relaxing Complex*. I've been trying this for a little while now and I'm still a little undecided about it. It makes a nice base to apply makeup and does seem to have a softening effect but I find I end up with a shiny T-zone whenever I use it. My skin is normal to combination and it doesn't seem to take much to throw it off balance. I suspect that if you found Nanoblur too drying, you would probably get on well with this.

I used the Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer* on my undereye area and to cover the redness around my nose and chin. I still need to review this properly. Overall it gets a thumbs up from me but I suspect the tint may restrict the range of colourings that it is suitable for. I keep threatening to test it on Mr MB!

On my eyes, I used another very neglected item from my stash. I can't remember the last time I used Chanel Ombre D'Eau in Splash and it needed a really good shake to get the pigment back into suspension. It was well worth it though. I applied the colour directly onto my lid using the doe-foot applicator, let it dry a little and then blended along the crease using my index finger. It had creased a little by the end of the day, but I'm impressed that it held up so well considering I put it through a 25 minute run in the drizzle.

Here's a complete breakdown of my lazy face.

Face
Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Relaxing Complex*
Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer*
Edward Bess Compact Rouge in After Sunset
Shu Uemura Brow Pencil H9 Seal Brown

Eyes
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Chanel Ombre D'Eau in Splash
No.7 Lash Adapt mascara*

Lips
Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry*

Disclosure: PR samples are indicated with an asterisk. As ever, none of the links are paid for and are provided for information only.

On the Lust List

It's been ages since I shared a wishlist type post. I try hard to be sensible about my cosmetic lusts these days, I know that many are just passing fancies so I will try to wait and see if the urge passes. My eyeshadow and nail polish ban have helped a lot in that sense. Eyeshadows are quite clearly my biggest cosmetic weakness.

It's impossible to be sensible all the time though, I still have a wishlist a mile long and these are a few of the items that keep making their way back to the top.

Source

Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted
I'm not sure exactly when my interest in Just Skin started but it was cemented when I read Get Lippie's recent thoughts. I'm coming towards the end of my RBR Tinted Moisturiser and I think this might make a good replacement. The only sticking point is the price, at £55 for a tube it isn't cheap. I'll have to be in the right mood to cave on this one.

Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tint Blusher in Poppy
I promised myself I would get one of the Creme Fresh Tints when Le Metier returned to the UK. Although I initially considered Tenne, I decided that Poppy would probably be a better colour choice for me. It seems to be very popular shade and I keep missing it when Zuneta re-stock.

Source

Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Colours and Perfect Rouge Lipstick
I've never tried any Shiseido cosmetics but I go through regular phases of researching colours and filling a virtual basket. I first spotted the cream eye colours on Reigning Beauties and they have been popping up on my radar ever since. Lipglossiping recent Shiseido post set me off again. As an aside, I couldn't find the Accentuating Color Stick anywhere online so I'm assuming it's counter only. I will definitely try one of the Shimmering Cream Eye Colours once my ban is over but I can't decide whether to purchase the Perfect Rouge lipstick in Titian before then or wait. My less sensible side says buy it NOW!

Hera Sun Mate Daily
This is a fairly recent fancy and my interest in this Korean sunscreen was sparked by a YouTube video by meejmuse. I can't deny that being hard to get hold of makes it somehow that much more appealing. I found it on Ebay but at just over the £15 customs threshold and I'm nervous of getting stung with the dreaded Post Office fees. I need to do more research to find out if it's worth the risk.

Source

Sunday Riley Eyeshadow in Burnt Eggplant
Sunday Riley eyeshadows keep popping up in blog posts by my favourite American bloggers. Burnt Eggplant looks nothing like a burnt aubergine but it does sound like my kind of colour, *cough* taupe *cough*. When Marcia from Beauty Info Zone compared it to Style Snob and Satin Taupe I knew that it needed to go on my list. I'm nothing if not predictable!
 
Chanel Loose Powder in Pêche
This is another old interest that keeps on cropping up. I will admit to being rubbish when it comes to powdering my face. I prefer my skin to look natural and powder often makes me feel too made up. I also worry that it will accentuate my lines. However, I would like to give my makeup more staying power, especially as I can't touch up at work and I wonder if powder in the key. In my mind this one will work magic, particular because the shade I really want (#50 Pêche) has been discontinued!


What's on your wishlist at the moment? Are you torturing yourself with thoughts of hard to get items?

Hangover Makeup

Over the weekend, I had a day when I felt a little delicate from over-indulging. Whilst it was tempting not to bother putting any makeup on, I thought I would probably feel better if did. Even if it was just so that I didn't have to spend the day looking at my bedraggled reflection! So, these are the products I picked out to make me look human. It's not fancy or especially polished and doesn't look like I'm wearing much, but it did put some colour back in my face. I almost always choose cream based products when I feel under the weather as I think they feel more comforting and they're better at disguising dehydrated skin.

(Oh, and if I look like I'm leaning my head against the wall, I probably was!)

Face
Suti Rejuvenate Organic Face Oil*
BECCA Luminous Skin Colour in Sand*
BECCA Creamy Concealer in Praline*
BECCA Creme Blusher in Turkish Rose
YSL Touche Eclat*

Eyes
MAC Naked Lunch
Mascara - I can't remember which one I used on this occasion.

Lips
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Bonheur

The Suti facial oil felt really good under the makeup. I'm guilty of not drinking enough water at the best of times so my skin often tends towards being dehydrated but at the same time it isn't particularly dry. The Suti oil felt nourishing without making my skin feel overloaded or greasy. I'm glad I picked out the Luminous Skin as I've been wearing it a lot since the weekend. It's definitely not enough coverage to leave my skin flawless but it's great for evening out my skin tone and also a good choice when I'm in a rush as it doesn't require much blending in.

What products do you reach for when you're feeling tender?


* PR Samples

My Favourite Buys of 2011

I wasn't going to post today, giving myself a day off, but I started getting twitchy! I thought it might be fun to have a little look back at my posts from 2011 and see which of the items that I purchased were real stand outs. My apologies for this being a mostly visual post but I have linked back to original posts if you want to know my thoughts on any particular item. This isn't a best of so I'm afraid I haven't picked out items from specific categories instead it's more of an overview of those items that I really thought were worth every penny.

The first four items I picked out were my favourite lipstick purchases in 2011. Hourglass Femme Rouge lipstick in Fresco, Chantecaille Lip Chic in Zinnia, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Bonheur and Rouge Bunny Rouge Sheer Lipstick in Murmurings. Fresco is my everyday opaque MLBB shade, it wears really well and the formula is comfortable to wear. In contrast to Fresco, Zinnia isn't an everyday colour but the Lip Chic formula is a real winner for me. It's nice to wear something less muted every now and again too. I've mentioned both Murmurings and Bonheur in favourites posts several times but they're deserving of the praise. If I could only have two lipsticks for the rest of my days (heaven forbid) I would choose these two.

Hourglass Fresco

Chantecaille Zinnia

RBR Murmuring and Chanel Bonheur

I bought Becca Turkish Rose and Hourglass Aura Cheek Stain in Rouge at the same time. Both have had a lot of use and, despite my fondness for buying blusher brushes, I often pick out a non-powder formula for speed or if my skin is looking dull or tired. Both Turkish Rose and Rouge are very easy to wear cheek shades and never clash with other colours that I am wearing.

Turkish Rose

Hourglass Rouge

Strictly speaking Chanel Topkapi was a swap item rather than a purchase but a fabulous swap it was too! As a Chanel eyeshadow virgin, this was a great start although I fear it may have spoiled me for the European quad releases. The eyeshadows are beautifully pigmented and creamy, I also find the inclusion of the dark brown stops it from being too bling.

Chanel Topkapi

I realised when I went hunting that I've never devoted a post to GOSH Truly Brown eyeliner but it has had a lot of mentions since I bought it. It's a great pencil liner at an equally great price. If you like dark brown liners but don't want to spend a fortune, I would highly recommend having a look at this pencil.

I can't resist some brush related mentions. The real standout purchases for me last year were my Rouge Bunny Rouge Large Shader (003) brush and Medium Pointed Yachiyo from Hakuhodo. The RBR brush is really rather versatile. It's great for all over lid colour but you can also use the tip to apply a crease colour or blend eyeshadows. I have successfully used this one brush to apply all four colours of a LMdB Kaleidoscope before. The Yachiyo has equally been a winning purchase. As yet, I have been too scared to check out the Hakuhodo website to see how much the price has gone up.

RBR Large Shader

Medium Pointed Yachiyo

I had to include my brush roll from aSoftBlackStar's Etsy Store in favourite purchases of 2011. It's really such a practical way to store brushes but I love it especially because it's handmade and not just a boring black. I'm already plotting buying a new roll just for my face brushes and love that I could talk to Lotus on Twitter about the possibility of spacing the slot sizes differently.

Making this a post about favourite buys meant I had to leave out several of my much loved items of 2011 as they were sent to me as PR samples. I have always had a policy of disclosing which items were sent to me without cost but equally I endevour to review all items as if they had been bought by me. So, I wanted to include the following items as honourable mentions. If I had bought these products, I would have considered it money well spent.

Both the Becca Enigma palette* and the Lancôme Blondette Fatale palette* are excellent groupings of colours and stand out as being versatile enough for day or evening looks. I've never considered Lancôme for neutrals but Blondette Fatale was so well done.

Becca Enigma

Blondette Fatale

The Kevyn Aucoin Aquarouge* and W3LL People Highlighter* both stood out for me as items I loved from 2011. Aquarouge is a stunning colour and the liquid lipstick formula is comfortable and long-lasting. It's not a colour I reach for everyday but it has that instant feel good factor. The W3LL People Highlighter is something that I do reach for on a daily base. It's so easy to use and provides a really subtle highlight.

Kevyn Aucoin Aquarouge

Do you have any favourite purchases from 2011?


Disclosure: Items marked with an asterisk were PR samples.

My Eyeshadow Palette Collection

I've had the pictures for this post for what seems like ages. I took them back when it was still light at 4pm and warm enough to be outside without hat and gloves. Somehow the idea of sitting down to write about this collection seemed a little daunting, hence my delay. I've included links whenever possible to previous review posts.

I seem to have come full circle with my palette buying. In my 'not quite as obsessed' makeup days, palettes were always the biggest draw. Especially around this time of year. Then as I became more interested in makeup buying I decided that buying single eyeshadows was preferable that way I wouldn't end up with shades I wouldn't use. The MAC palettes are from this era. In the last year or so I have returned to buying and loving palettes. These days I tend to avoid the palettes with mixed products. I know it's very rare for me to use the lip products from a palette plus it can get messy when powder transfers to lipgloss and lipsticks pans. It doesn't stop me fancying the beautiful Edward Bess palettes of course!

1. KANEBO KATE BR-4 PALETTE

2. BECCA ENIGMA PALETTE*

3. MAC SMOKING EYES QUAD

4. GUERLAIN RUE DE PASSY

5. ARTDECO CUSTOM PALETTE

6. BECCA LOST WEEKEND PALETTE*

7. LANCOME BLONDETTE FATAL PALETTE*

8. CHANEL TOPKAPI QUADRA

In the neutrals palettes above, I don't think I have a single dud colour. Most of them contain a mixture of finishes which I think is important for a palette to work as a complete look. Of the two BECCA palettes, I think Enigma is still my favourite. I love how you can create a sultry look form just these three colours. It took me a while to warm to the charms of Rue de Passy. I think I expected more of it because of the high price but I wouldn't be without it now. I think one of the newer quads contains some quite similar colours. Both the Chanel and Lancôme palettes are lovely, Chanel is more bling to Lancôme's more versatile but I reach for both often.

1. INGLOT FREEDOM PALETTE

2. CHANTECAILLE SEA TURTLES PALETTE

3. YSL CHROMATICS #3 PALETTE

4. GUERLAIN RUE DE RIVOLI

5. SUQQU EX-07 LILAC ALLURE PALETTE

Here are my not-so-neutral palettes. I suppose with the exception of the Inglot palette they are still mostly neutral. The Chantecaille Sea Turtles palette contains that dark green shade for a bit of interest. If I'm honest my most favourite colour in the Turtles palette is the blusher and I use this often whilst ignoring the slightly too warm for me neutrals. YSL Chromatics #3 contains two 'safe' colours, the gorgeous dark blue liner and then that icy blue that I studiously ignore. It doesn't make me as nervous as the fuchsia colour in Rue de Rivoli though! I stand by my original comment about Rivoli that I get most use from this palette using the individual shades rather than as combined look. The Suqqu is a lovely palette. The colours don't apply quite as you would expect from the pans but they are delicate and layer very well.

1. LE CIRQUE, 2. SILK ROAD*, 3. PENELOPE*

Talking of layering, here are my Le Métier de Beauté Kaleidoscopes. They've increased in number by one since I took this photo. Le Cirque was my first Kaleidoscope and probably still remains my favourite. Silk Road and Penelope were both PR samples and I'm not sure I would have picked them out myself if I had seen them at a counter. However, as I often find with Le Métier combination, the 'Couches de Couleur' technique creates something that is even more beautiful than the sum of it's parts. I would say these are probably the most daring items in my collection.

I'd struggle to pick a single favourite from my eyeshadow palettes. It's probably clear that I'm a fan of neutrals. There is a noticeable omission for a beauty blogger of course; I don't own the Urban Decay Naked palette nor am I likely to buy Naked 2 when it comes out next year. I can't quite put my finger on why I've taken against Naked: it may the number of warm shades, the fear of glitter fallout or possibly because I already own enough neutrals to paint the whole of my town taupe. Who knows?! What I am looking forward to next year is the release of Rouge Bunny Rouge eyeshadow palettes. Custom palettes, eyeshadow refills and new shades are all like music to my ears. As a lover of palettes AND Rouge Bunny Rouge that's my birthday present ideas for next year sorted!

Are you a fan of eyeshadow palettes or a lover of singles?


*PR Samples

My Current Staples

Although I like to wear different things regularly and I'm often hot on the tail of something new, there are certain core items in my collection that I know will never let me down. Some are products I use daily and others are items that I know will instantly get me out of a tight spot! Especially for those times when only have five minutes to make myself presentable.

Several of these items were sent to me as PR samples. I sometimes hesitate when it comes to including these items in favourites posts in case people are somehow suspicious of my motives. However, these are genuinely products that I love and will be replacing myself when they run out. Wherever applicable I have included links to more detailed review posts and I have indicated all PR samples with an asterisk. 

BECCA concealer in praline* and the LMdB concealer brush* - these two items together are my secret weapon. I dip the brush directly into the pan and then apply to any blemishes or areas of redness. The concealer is a great match for me and I really like the consistency of the 'thinner' concealer in the right hand pan. The brush is superb at sheering out the concealer and blending seamlessly. For those of you that can't access Le Métier de Beauté, I think the Hourglass large concealer brush might be a suitable alternative.

RMK Super Basic Liquid concealer - I have mentioned this concealer many, many times before but this is my favourite for the undereye area. I've had this for over a year now and it's still going strong. I imagine it won't be opaque enough to suit everyone's needs but I like the fact that it's more opaque than most other highlighting pens. The yellow undertone seems to work well for me too.

Max Factor Second Skin foundation* - I don't wear foundation every day but if I'm in the mood or feel like my skin needs extra help, I will reach for Second Skin. I was introduced to this by makeup artist Caroline Barnes and it works very well on my skin. It's not a heavy coverage and has a slightly dewy finish which rather kind to moderately seasoned skin! I can slap it on with my fingers quickly so it's also perfect for speedy makeup.

NARS Laguna bronzer- I recently mentioned that I have entered bronzer mode now the sun has disappeared. I have a couple of bronzers that I like but Laguna is my favourite. I have been applying it with this very cute little Essence brush that Mookie on the Bench kindly sent me.

Cream blusher - I am cheating a little here as I have several cream blushers that I reach for in emergencies. I find cream blusher is definitely the fastest and most forgiving formula. Particularly as it can add a little life into the face by adding a sheen at the same time as colour. My personal favourites are BECCA Turkish Rose, Edward Bess After Sunset and Hourglass Cheek Stain in Rouge.

W3LL People Univeralist #2 Highlighter* and RBR Eyes Wide Open Pencil* - These are my current face brightening favourites. Both of these are very easy to use and I find them impossible to overcook because of their consistency. The pencil is very creamy and easy to blend out. It's great for the brow and as an inner corner highlight. It is possible to use it elsewhere on the face too. The W3LL People highlighter is very easy to use highlight the tops of the cheek bone. I have actually been know to draw it directly onto my face and then blend with my fingers. It isn't so creamy that you end up with a big stripe so there's no fear you'll end up looking like an 80's throwback. I promise! The W3LL People Universalist stick is available from Being Content and I shall review it very soon.

My little assistant 'helping' out with the photographs

Gosh Velvet Touch pencil in Truly Brown and RBR Long-lasting Eye pencil in Lola - Quite often when I am in a rush I will skip eyeshadow and just apply liner. If I wear eyeliner on it's own I prefer to use a brown pencil (unless of course I am going for a winged liner with red lipstick, in which case it has to be black). Both the Gosh pencil in Truly Brown and RBR pencil in Lola are lovely colours and quick to apply because of their consistency. They also last very well. As an aside, if you're a fan of brown liners may I point you in the direction of London Makeup Girl's recent comparison post. I am very taken with the depth of the Tom Ford Espresso liner.

Shu Uemura brow pencil (H9, Seal Brown) - I very rarely use anything else for filling my brows. The pencil is a hard forumla and doesn't transfer very much unless you are wearing foundation (or primer) that has strayed onto the brows. I find this has some major advantages: if I am not wearing foundation it will give me a natural finish, when I am wearing foundation it will tranfer more and give a more defined look. So, essential it works with me rather than against me.

Mascara - Again, a generic item. My favourite mascara is Hourglass Film Noir but I don't currently have a tube and I am working my way through several others. The Max Factor Xperience* is a good everyday mascara. I like MUFE Smoky lash for a more dramatic finish.

RBR Sheer lipstick in Murmurings and Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Bonheur - When I am in a rush I reach for one of these two lipsticks. The sheer formulas make them very easy to wear and perfect for the cooler months. The plummy shades are also great Autumnal choices. I find both Bonheur and Murmurings have enough pigment to show up as a colour on my lips already pigmented lips.

I haven't included any eyeshadows. It was a concious decision as I have so many eyeshadow favourites that we would have been here all week. Plus, as I mentioned above, if I'm in a rush I will often skip eyeshadow altogether. I do have some cream eyeshadows that I will use for a quick eye look. I have actually realised in the course of writing this that what I really lack is a lovely taupe cream. This will be next mission! One thing I have been enjoying recently is the Chanel Illusions d'Ombre in Illusoire. A friend was kind enough to send me a scoop (she's my makeup crack dealer!) and it is as lovely as I'd hoped.

Do you have any special makeup staples? Which are the products you reach for on a daily basis?


Disclosure: Items marked with * were received as PR samples.

Chocolate Nail Polish Comparison

Apparently it was Chocolate Week this week. I've not had nearly enough chocolate to celebrate this fact so to make up for it I'm giving you a whole lot of chocolatey nails. I no longer have Rimmel Chocolate Factory which is a shame as it would have been fitting. Though I do have quite a few similar polishes as it turns out, I never released what a collector I had become!

The nail varnishes shown here are: (on the top row from left to right) Chanel Khaki Rose, BECCA Billy Tea, OPI Over the Taupe, Nails Inc. Eagle Street, (bottom row left to right) Orly Prince Charming, Filthy Gorgeous Satchel, Max Factor Soft Toffee, Sephora by OPI Metro Chic.

On the nail wheel the colours are: 1. Nails Inc. Eagle Street 2. Orly Prince Charming 3. Chanel Khaki Rose 4. BECCA Billy Tea 5. OPI Over the Taupe 6. Filthy Gorgeous Satchel 7. Max Factor Soft Toffee 8. Sephora by OPI Metro Chic. It was rather interesting applying them one after the other as the differences in consistency and the brush size and shape were very noticeable. Eagle Street, Prince Charming, Khaki Rose and Satchel all had a thicker consistency and were near opaque with a single coat. Billy Tea, Over the Taupe and Metro Chic all seemed very thin in comparison.

The four colours that were most noticeably similar when applied were Orly Prince Charming, Chanel Khaki Rose, BECCA Billy Tea and OPI Over the Taupe. There are subtle difference, Khaki Rose is more yellow in undertone whereas Billy Tea is more chocolate-y with a hint of mauve. I don't think anyone would really require all four, certainly if I showed the Biochemist he would wonder why I had four identical bottles. I'd say we're in 'no dupes but near enough' territory. Billy Tea is the only colour currently available so if you've missed out on any of the others, this would be a good alternative.

Are you a fab of chocolate brown nails? Or do you think these colours stray into another less appealing category?