Guerlain Terracotta Skin Healthy Glow Foundation

I received an interesting sample with my last Sephora order, Guerlain Terracotta Healthy Glow Foundation. We all know that Guerlain's Terracotta Bronzer is absolutely amazing, but I have never actually tried any of their foundations. I looked it up on Sephora's website and noticed the foundation only comes in two colors: Blondes 01 or Brunettes 02. Terracotta Skin Foundation is described as "a matte foundation with a velvety powder finish.

On me, the Brunettes 02, was a perfect shade to match my summer tan.

Terracotta Skin Healthy Glow Foundation, is more of a bronzing tinted moisturizer. It has a whipped-mousse consistency, and a perfume scent. If you have a sensitive nose, you may find the fragrance overwhelming at first. The coverage is very sheer. If you have great skin, it perfects & bronzes. I like it for days when I'm rushing out the door, and just want a natural look. The staying power is fair, as good as any other tinted moisturizer--needs powder touch-ups during the day. Recap: This is not a foundation, it's a nice tinted moisturizer-that also let's you skip the Bronzer. But, for $49 a tube, I can definitely live without it.

Giorgio Armani Gloss d'Armani #400, Dupe-able?

Like many of you, I too have fallen in love with the Gloss d'Armani lipglosses! They are stunning, however, the price tag is equally stunning. Like the national budget, my cosmetic budged has recently had major cuts (mostly due to expensive car repairs) :( Because I still love my make-up, I decided to pursue some budget-friendly options.

My favorite shade of Gloss d'Armani is #400, the perfect, creamy, true-red. I tried it on in the store and immediately fell in love, and thus was on a mission for a cheaper dupe. I have mentioned on many occasions a newer brand at Ulta, Essence. They have great finds, especially when it comes to glosses. Essence has a new line of gloss, called Stay With Me Long Lasting Lipgloss. Lucky for me, one of these colors is a shade of red. 07 Kiss Kiss Kiss is a beautiful, opaque, cherry red. It is a true red, not too orange, not too blue.

I swatched out both reds, and surprisingly enough, they are nearly the same shade. I still adore the Armani one, but the Essence gloss is nearly and exact match. As far as longevity, both glosses lasted the same amount of time (both are marketed as long-wearing). The texture is nearly identical, and neither one has a distinct smell. After wearing each one for a day, I was floored when I saw how similar the two products are, yet how different the price tag is. Both give you what you want, but Essence Stay With Me Gloss in Kiss Kiss Kiss won't increase your budget deficit!