Budget Beauty: BYS

Word on the street is BYS has a few good things within their makeup range and most items sell for less than $10.00 AUS. Makeup is constantly evolving and the industry makes sure to keep up with the latest trends. However, it can sometimes come at a huge expense depending on your taste and the Joneses. In the States we have stores like Sally Beauty and beauty brands such as Wet & Wild, Milani and NYX, but here in Australia I've barely even begun to scratch the surface of beauty on a budget. I guess you could say I've been otherwise engaged ;)

BYS can be the guinea pig for this particular excursion.

BYS Quick Crackle in Big City Bright Lights

BYS Big City Bright Lights over Hello Darling's Tramonto

Crackle nail polish has never really appealed to me; it's novel, I guess, but not my sort of thing. The formula of BYS' Quick Crackle (RRP $4.95 AUS) is a bit jarring, because the consistency reminded me of curdled milk. It's almost as if the polish is attempting to separate on the brush itself. Big City Bright lights is a pretty hue of blue, but I don't think I'd go out of my way to purchase it.

Nail Enamel Duo in Twice as Nice

Step 1

Step 2

Now this is where the fun lies! BYS Nail Enamel Duos (RRP $4.95 AUS) are fast drying, easy to use (just make sure you open each shade right side up!) and bright. All I had to do was apply one coat of each colour -- in less than five minutes I was out the door and able to direct traffic :)

BYS Lipstick Colour Change  in Mood Swings

Swatch of Mood Swings

BYS' Colour Change Lipstick in Mood Swings (RRP $3.95 AUS) is purple to the eye whilst hanging out in the tube, it applies clear and finally transforms into raspberry pink. A clever idea if you can get beyond the noxious flowery scent.

Out of the three items I tested, BYS' Nail Enamel Duo is the clear front-runner; definitely a dupe for Revlon's Nail Art Neon nail polish.

Like what you see? Visit fashionaddict.com.au to feed your makeup needs.

*PR sample provided –  Thoughts and ramblings written here are completely my own.

The look: from high-end to low-end beauty

Wearing a few good cheapies

Yesterday I laid out a price comparison and today I'm wearing three of the five cheaper items I purchased.

CG's Country Woods in lieu of UD's Naked

Covergirl's Country Woods is just ok in my book. While I do like the neutral quad, I didn't enjoy how powdery three of the four shades were; the vanilla hue out-performed the rest.

Essence's Superfine Eyeliner Pen didn't beat NARS' Eyeliner Stylo

Essence's Superfine Eyeliner only has two things going for it -- price and colour. My fears were realised -- the length of the tip was daunting, unwieldy and started to dry out amidst application. The pen began playing up on my left eye; this eye also happens to be the one I have difficulty applying liner on anyways -- it was a double-whammy scenario. After three attempts, I finally got a semi-desired result.

Saving the best for last: Covergirl’s Clump Crusher by Lashblast beat its competition, YSL's Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils

Easy to use, loads of volume, no clumping and stays put. Covergirl's Clump Crusher by Lashblast crushed YSL's Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils. Enough said.

A final look

Other items used to complete the look above:

Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lip Cream in I Want Candy.

NARS Lip Gloss in Greek Holiday worn atop I Want Candy.

Essence's Long Lasting Eye Pencil in Bling Bling applied along the lower lash line.

Illamasqua's Naked Rose on the apples of my cheeks.

Chanel's Vitalumiere Eclat Foundation in B30 Beige-Sable applied all over. It's a powder, but I smooth the finish by lightly misting water on my face.

What do you think? Does paying more money for makeup guarantee quality?

The ol' switcheroo: from high-end to low-end beauty

I love expensive makeup, but sometimes my wallet doesn't allow for such things -- especially when I'm attempting to save. Dupes for basics come in handy for the girl on a budget. For today's exercise I've shopped my own makeup stash and came up with a few cost-saving alternatives; I firmly believe in having options ;)

Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre in Mirifique versus Essence Stay All Day Long Lasting Eyeshadow in Rock Chic

The only thing I can really afford from Chanel is their makeup and even this particular love affair comes at a major cost. Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre in Mirifique retails for $48.00 AUS / $36.00 USD; the formula has a tendency to incite drooling, a gaping jaw and squeals of delight. Then there's the realisation that you have to fork over dollars upon dollars you might not be willing to part with -- this is when budget beauty brand Essence saves the day. Rock Chic sells for $5.50 AUS and passes for Mirifique's doppelgänger. Both are creamy, black eyeshadows with silver glitter and no one will be the wiser.

NARS' Eyeliner Stylo in Koala (gray) versus Essence Superfine Eyeliner Pen in black

While it's not a dupe in terms of colour (Carpates would suffice), both felt tip pens are pliable, lay down colour upon touching the skin, however one of these is not like the other. NARS' Eyeliner Stylo costs $44.00 AUS / $27.00 USD, whereas Essence's Superfine Eyeliner Pen is available for as little as $4.95 AUS. My only concern with the cheaper formula is the feathering as seen in the swatch to the right, some clean-up might be required post-application.

YSL's Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils no. 1 versus Covergirl's Clump Crusher by Lashblast in Very Black

YSL's Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils was a bit of a bummer for me -- raccoon eyes aren't cute. Here's hoping Covergirl's Clump Crusher by Lashblast (say that three times fast!) saves the day. The former is available for $52.00 USD / $30.00 USD and the latter was purchased on sale for $10.00 AUS and maxes out in price for $6.99 in the States.

Urban Decay's Naked versus Covergirl's Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Shadows in Country Woods

Nude/bare is a thing and it's an easy eye look to pull off during the day. Urban Decay's Naked palette has been selling like hotcakes, but if the 12-pan palette overwhelms you in the variety or price department, a quainter quad should do the trick. Covergirl's Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Shadows in Country Woods is a petite imposter -- instead of paying $50.00 USD for UD's Naked, try shelling out 9.76 AUS / $4.84 USD for Covergirl's Country Woods. Virgin, Sin, Naked and Sidecar would blush from embarrassment.

Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero versus Rimmel's Scandaleyes in Black

A lot of women who've had the pleasure of using Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil certainly know one is not enough; 24 shades round out this offering -- at $19.00 USD a pop, your wallet will certainly shed a few tears. Kate over at La Beaute et le Blogueur sold me on trying Rimmel's Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal (15 shades to tempt you with), that's code for super soft eyeliner with high colour pay off! I purchased Scandaleyes on sale for $7.46 AUS / $4.49 USD. Btw, can you tell which swatch is which?

Let's see how much you can save...

Total Savings

Happy shopping!

I'll post a look showing off my cheap dupes later today :)

This or That: Beauty on a budget

On my quest to find the perfect shade of turquoise eyeliner, I narrowed the field down to two opponents.

Swatches of Savvy by DB (left) and Essence (right)

Both pencils present with similar qualities:

Retractable pencil - no sharpening required

"Long lasting"

Similar in style to far more expensive brands, e.g. Stila, Chanel and Lancome

Appeared to be waterproof in the absence of such claims

Subtle fallout

Turquoise

Wearing Essence's Tu-Tu-Turquoise (left) and Savvy by DB's Turquoise (right)

Essence's Tu-Tu-Turquoise

Essence's Tu-Tu-Turquoise is the cheaper of the two (retails for $2.95 AUS) and in an ocean of blue, Tu-Tu-Turqoise hovers at the top. Application was easy -- the colour appeared almost immediately with a glimmer of sparkle. This formula stays as promised, however, fallout occurs during application; be prepared to clean up a few flecks of colour before walking out the door.

Savvy by DB (retails for $6.99 AUS) is a deeper and darker turquoise shade, it's more like the deep end of the ocean. Application was just as simple, yet took a little longer. The pencil needed to be warmed in order to get the colour party started. As with Tu-Tu-Turquoise, Savvy by DB's Turquoise also requires clean up. Don't worry about a dance party in your crease either, once applied Turquoise falls in line.

Which turquoise pencil came out swinging?

Points go to Essence for affordability and availability; it's also my personal favourite. For a more sophisticated turquoise eye, Savvy by DB is the pencil for you; Australian ladies can find this shade at their local Priceline. For the International set, Stila's Peacock appears to be a close, albeit more expensive, dupe.