Hey ladies! I'm back with another series of Splurge vs. Steal! Sorry it took me a while to post a new one... I had to compile, use, assess and test each product! But anyway, I finally did it and I am here to share with you my latest "discoveries"!

I can't emphasize this more: When I do the Splurge vs. Steal series, I do not indicate which is the better product or which is superior. This is for those who would like to get same results for a lower price tag.

1. BENEFIT Porefessional (P1,600) vs. MAYBELLINE Pore Eraser (P229)

I'm not much of a pore eraser kind of girl but when I tried Benefit's Porefessional, I was impressed! I never put on makeup without it now. My first tube was about to run out and I wanted to look for an alternative so that I can compare the two. I have tried 3 other pore refining products that you can use before makeup but only one stood out, and that was Maybelline's Pore Eraser.

Both have more or less the same consistency, but have a very different shade. Their effectiveness truly impressed me, they have achieved what was promised (at least for my skin type). Color wise, I did like Porefessional's better because it's slightly tinted. Sort of like a primer/concealer (but not really) in one product. But transparency works too.

Maybelline Pore Eraser, photographed 10 minutes after application

Benefit Porefessional, photographed 10 minutes after application

They produce slightly different results but they serve the same purpose. They both "shrink" and fill up the pores giving a smooth canvas before applying your foundation!

2. DIOR Rouge Dior in Rose Tulipe (P1,400) vs. COLOUR COLLECTION Lipstick in Vintage (P350)

My first DIOR lipstick was given to me by my cousin from the US. She came home last year and I just got addicted to that shade. A very dainty and delicate pink that you can wear both for the day or the evening. Looks so well with smokey eyes!


When Colour Collection sent me a tube of their VINTAGE lippie, it was uncanny! The shade is a spot-on match! It truly reminded me of Dior's Rose Tulipe! PRETTY! Dior being just a tad creamier, nothing that a little balm won't fix when you use Colour Collection's Vintage lippie!

3. MAC Eyeliner Brush 210 (P1,250) vs. AMIE Magic Beauty Nail Art Brush (P39.95)


4. MAC Brow Set in Beguile (P1,000) vs. ELF Eyebrow Treat and Tame in Ash (P249.75)



I had a family dinner tonight, and just to prove a point, I painted one brow with MAC's Beguile and the other with ELF's Ash checking if anyone would notice the difference. They look exactly the same. MAC does tend to scoop out too much product on the brush wand so you have to wipe the sides of your brush on the rim of the tube before application, but with ELF, it has the right almost pasty consistency so you don't always end up with too much. Shade wise? Uncanny.

For a while I was using MAC's BOY GIRL Brow Set but I have always found it a little bit too blonde-orangey on me, and when I discovered Beguile, I was hooked. I think they lighten the brows just the right amount of tint.


5. LANCOME Eau Micellaire Douceur (Cleansing Water) 200ml (P1,795) vs. BIFESTA Bright Up Cleansing Lotion (P419)


I practically grew up using Lancome products. Having spent 4 and a half years being sponsored by Lancome as part of their creative makeup artist team, I have adored their products specially the cleansing water. It's addicting! Since Lancome Eau Micellaire Douceur is hard to come by now a days (ahem aheam... budget wise), I have searched high and low for the perfect subsitute. Lo and behold, I have discovered Bifesta!

Fully Made-Up Me

After using Lancome and Bifesta (Both, no rinse!)

After first swipe of cleansing waters

Bifesta come in 4 types of cleansing lotions,  so choose your fancy:


Lancome's Cleansing Water has a fragrance which I love. It actually smells really clean. Bifesta on the other hand has a very mild fragrance (close to hardly) which is also good because it is not overpowering. I used a thick foundation base tonight because I knew I was going to write this story when I got home, and I was quite happy that I didn't need to use a whole lot of cleansing water to wipe off the makeup!

6. CHRISTIAN Semi Permanent Eyebrow Makeup Kit in Tan (P1,395) vs. FANNY SERRANO Single Eyeshadow in Cinnamon Mousse (P195)

I have been using Fanny Serrano's eyebrow quad for the longest time, and I always use only the lightest shade in the quad so imagine my delight when they finally came out with a single pan with that shade! *shriek with delight*

The reason why I love it so much because it's the same shade as Christian's Semi Permanent Eyebrow Makeup in Tan. I use that for my clients. But since I am Miss-always-looking-for-cheaper-alternatives, I have found the perfect dupe!

Both may be used wet or dry with an angled brush! It looks most natural when used with a dry brush. I I am definitely going to buy some more of this for my pro kit after I finish my Christian powders!

7. YSL Lipstick in Le Orange (P1,280) vs. EVER BILENA Matte Lipstick in Scarlet (P155)

Some of my photos don't look right because I had to improvise with the white background (I just felt I had to justify the mess, LOL). Hahaha!

So, the orange lippie! Looks like it's here to stay because YSL came out with the #13 Le Orange just this year that also took the Marc Jacobs runway for Spring 2013 by storm.


EB named this shade as Scarlet but I don't see why since it doesn't apply red. I guess it depends how acidic your lips are. But if you want the cheaper dupe of YSL's Le Orange, Ever Bilena's Scarlet is the way to go!