Bargain Beauty Buy | PS Strobe Cream

I have decided to start a new series on my blog . If you love beauty products & a bargain (who doesn't) I will be writing about my latest finds that our under €15 (most of them will be under €10) each week  . So when pay day comes & you feel like treating yourself look no further !

Irish model & Make up Artist Tara O'Farrell mentioned last week that she loved the Penneys Strobe cream on her snapchat  . I picked it up when I was in Penneys a few days ago & have been wearing it everyday since .

When I bought it I thought it was going to be similar to the Nars Illuminator in 'Orgasm' which is an illuminating base that has a rosy tint to it because on the packaging it says 'Rose Face & Body Highlighting' .After using it I would say its more like mac strobe cream because it has more of a cool undone , not rosy . Which I also love , just not what I thought I was buying .

Saying that I love this product & cant wait to use it in the summer time  ! I think it might be even more glowly then Mac Strobe Cream .

When I say you need very little , I mean it ! I apply a little to my hand & mix it with a little moisturiser before I apply foundation to my face . It makes a perfect dewy base .  

It retails at €4 which is a reasonable price considering It will last you ages !

If your in Penneys/Primark definitely pick one up , very very similar to Mac Strobe Cream .

Thanks For Reading !

Alannah x

Cheaper Alternative : Smashbox Contour Palette

I must say I am a big fan of the Smashbox brand , but I am also a fan of a bargain just like most of us . When I seen this little contour palette that resembles the Smashbox contour palette an awful lot in Penney's for €4 I was very eager to try it to see if it was any way up to the standard of my favourite contour palette .

 

Penney's/Primark have really raised there game in the make up department I really love there Ps lip pencils , individual eyelashes, brushes and liquid lipsticks .

 

There was a tester of the contour palette sitting out on the shelf and when I swatched it I wasn't very impressed but decided to give it a proper try and compare it to the Smashbox one .

 

 

Packaging

Both contour kits are in nice compact cases with a mirror and a guideline on where to apply the powders too . Handy for your handbag . The Penney's packaging is actually sturdier then the Smashbox case though .

 

Penney's : 1   Smashbox : 0

 

 

 

Left Brush : Penney's     Right Brush : Smashbox

Brushes

Both brushes are the same size , the bristles on the Penney's brush is softer then the Smashbox one , but the Smashbox brush has a nice angle to it , its more durable and blends out contour a little better .

 

Penney's : 0    Smashbox : 1

 

                                           Left Side : Smashbox       Right Side : Penney's

Pigmentation

The Penney's lightest powder is more pigmented then the Smash box one . The middle powder in the both palettes are completely different the Smashbox one is a bronzer and the Penney's one is a shimmery highlighter. The contour colour in the Smashbox palette is cool toned and the Penney's one is a mixture between the Smashbox bronzer and contour colours . I actually prefer the Penney's shade better . Over all the pigmentation is better in the Smashbox Palette .

 

Penney's : 0   Smashbox : 1

 

 

Consistency

The Smashbox one is a little creamier in consistency where as the Penney's one is very powdery .

 

Penney's : 0 Smashbox : 1

 

 

 

Look

 I actually like the Penney's contour better . Although I think the middle highlighter is a waste of space , I would preferred a bronzer like the Smashbox one . But I am going to go with Penney's on this one . Its a little more warmer without being too warm .

 

Penney's : 1  Smashbox : 0

 

 

Final Verdict :

Penney's : 2/5  Smashbox : 3/5

 

So the Smashbox palette won by a point , although I think the fact that the Penney's palette is €4 would make it a tie . If your buying a gift for someone or like higher end products then I would go for the Smashbox one but if your just buying it for yourself go for this one and save yourself €40 .

 

Thanks for reading and I hope you found this somewhat helpful.

If you would like to see more of these types of blog posts let me know and I will try find more dupes to high end products .

 

Alannah x