NARS Orgasm Dupes

Photo: Sephora

Recently I featured the iconic NARS Orgasm Collection, a peachy pink with gold shimmer shade. It's fresh and polished with the ability to make every skin tone glow. Looks especially lovely worn in the spring and summer. But NARS is an expensive brand, and sometimes we resist spending $60 bucks to buy it! So here are the very best matches, dare I say Fake NARS Orgasms, um ...  knockoffs, dead ringers ... dupes for less:

Photo: Temptalia

For NARS Orgasm Blush:

The Doppelgänger is: Milani in Dolce Pink.🎀

Best runner-ups include: 

• Sleek in Rose Gold (Slightly more gold then NARS, yet it is an absolute favorite of makeup enthusiasts everywhere.)

• Revlon in Tickled Pink (The shimmer finish has the gold illuminaton.)

• Milani in Luminoso #05 (a tad duller in color than Dolce Pink. Build this one.)

• Makeup Geek in Romance - rich color (One swat.)

• the Balm in Hot Mama! - rich color (One swat.)

For NARS Orgasm After Glow Lip Gloss:

The Doppelgänger is: Burt's Bees Lip Gloss in Sunny Day.🎀

Best runners-up include: 

• Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss in Peony

• Milani Amore Shine Liquid Lip Color in Delight #01

• L'Oreal Paris X Balmain Lipstick in Best Rose Gold

• Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Beige Rose #602 (It has a satin finish. The shade is hard to find now. I included it since it is such a close match, has rich color with staying power and, indeed, feels sensational! Check Ebay and Amazon periodically for it.

• L'Oreal in Peachy Fuzz #417 (Less of a Doppelgänger then the others. The most peachy of the peachy-pink choices. But! It is a gorgeous color with pretty gold shimmer. Unique, natural and understated. Rich, moist formula too. Maybelline and L'Oreal give you the exact same high quality lipstick for under $7. Try each brand, and fell in love!

Honorable mention: The best NARS Orgasm Doppelgänger in a lip balm is: Eos Lip Balm in Coral Shimmer. Smooths your lips with a pop of Orgasm-like color.

All of the above NARS Orgasm Dupes are dirt cheap at Ulta, CVS, Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Bed, Bath and Beyond, as well as, other drugstores. Consider this blog your best color/texture matches Bible of the hue. Keep your money in your pocket and a shade of Orgasm on your face!

What??? I. didn't. name. it.

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Homemade Vanilla Extract

Dried Vanilla Beans photo by B.navez (via Wikimedia Commons)

Who says facebook is a waste of time?  It's true, you're on it when you should be doing something else.  But. Reading a fb friend's status sparked the idea for today's post.  After discovering how ridiculously easy it is to make real vanilla extract, I decided to stop buying the tiny-teeny-weeny commercial bottles.  So from now on I'm making my own.  With two simple ingredients, I will be rich in vanilla extract ... and it will cost less.  Here is the recipe: 

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Ingredients: 

1 cup vodka

6 vanilla beans (also known as pods)*

plus time

Directions:

1. Using a sharp knife, cut the vanilla beans in half, lengthwise.  For a snazzy appearance, leave the very ends attached (so the pods look like a fork in the road).

2. Next place the cut vanilla beans in a canning [Mason, Ball, Kerr's] jar.

3. For every 3-6 vanilla beans, cover completely with one cup of vodka.

4. Secure the lid on tight, and store the jar(s) in a cool, dark room for 8 weeks or longer before using.  Shake the jar once in a while.  The vanilla pods will infuse the vodka, turning the liquid from clear to a lovely dark brown.  You can use the extract after 2 months, but it's even better after 4-6 months.

Homemade vanilla extract never goes bad.  As your jar empties, you can top it off with more alcohol, and the vanilla beans will continue to infuse the liquid.  With the passage of time, you might throw in another split vanilla bean.

Extra Tips:

1) Expect to pay about ten dollars for vodka.  Expensive vodka isn't necessary.

2) You can also use bourbon, brandy or rum as the alcohol for a subtle difference in flavor.  The vodka is more neutral.

3) Use fresh vanilla beans that are soft and feel oily to the touch.  Avoid dry, brittle beans. (They will work, but not as well.)
4) You can use any variety of vanilla beans sold.  There are subtle differences in tastes.  Below are a few of the most popular.

Types of vanilla beans:
Bourbon-Madagascar vanilla - tastes creamy, haylike and sweet.
Mexican vanilla - has mellow and spicy flavors.
Tahitian vanilla - is often described as fruity and floral.

Another way to use vanilla beans is to make vanilla sugar.  Just split a couple of pods and throw into a jar of white sugar.   My mom uses vanilla sugar to make cookies and cakes.

A jar of homemade vanilla sugar, or extract (poured into a decorative bottle) makes a fantastic hostess gift.  As with all goodies, a bit of research yields the best prices.  Here are a few sources: (a) for vanilla beans [about 50 cents a pod!] click here, or try Ebay; (b) for gift bottles [at 74 cents per bottle] click here; (c) for canning jars, go to a local hardware store; (d) and for alcohol, you are on your own, folks.  But I know you are a resourceful bunch.  Finally ... remember the sky's the limit for all the pretty jars, or bottles you could use as gifts.  Always pour your batch into containers with air-tight lids.

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*Note: The US and Canadian standard is 13.75% vanilla, the equivalent of 6 vanilla beans per cup of vodka to be sold as vanilla extract.  Anything less is considered vanilla vodka. But 3 beans for every cup of vodka when aged for 6 months or more will be very potent.

Please see "Labels" section for the credits to the photos used in the body of this blog post, and visit the corresponding websites - give them some traffic too.

Temu Is A Popular Free Shopping App

Travel Jewelry Box - $3.03

Temu is the most downloaded free app in America, according to TIME, beating out TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. As a shopping app, the prices seem almost too good to be true, and although definitely not a scam website, customers have complained about long waits to receive their goods, or mistakes with items sent out or left out of their orders, as well as, disappointing cancellations and a lack of telephone customer service.

← $6.29 Temu, is a subsidiary of Pinduoduo Inc., just like Pinduoduo, its giant Chinese e-commerce sibling. Recently Temu opened a US office in Boston, Massachusetts. While the retailer has many unsatisfied customers, it also has its share of happy customers plus people who have taken advantage of its opportunities to get free stuff by using credits for getting their friends, family, and followers to sign up for Temu's free app. TIME interviewed consumers who had both good and bad experiences with Temu.

$4.49

TIME's article quotes Douglas Schmidt, a professor of computer science at Vanderbilt University who says “'It seems like they’re being subsidized to be a loss leader in order to gain market share, which is not unlike what Amazon did for a long time,'"

Temu sells too many categories of products to list. The e-company reminds me of a closeout trader, World Market, and dollar store all rolled into one. Not only are the below-market prices tempting but so are the free shipping and free returns!

← $8.88 Temu has relationships with a number of different merchants and its variety of goods are sent out from a myriad of warehouses in China directly to customers. I think this more than any aim to scam people explains why deliveries can go awry. It's a relatively new business and they are still working kinks out of their operations. Moreover, because articles originate from various factories, similar items on the website, for example, a 10 cm x 10 cm travel jewelry case, can vary in price by $2 -$3 dollars.

Amethyst beads $2.79

The takeaway is to (1) Never risk cash you can't afford to lose; (2) Buy do-or-die essentials from a 100% dependable source; and (3) Don't expect merchandise to arrive soon. Chances are very good you won't lose your money, but hey you may get something you didn't order or a cancelation.:)

So now let's figure out what kind of risk-taker to get something cheap you are, shall we? Due to Temu's alluring bargains, I'd likely risk ordering a few desired things -- despite its wobbly legs practices:) -- spending only $5 - $10 using Paypal to see how it goes. How about you? 

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Powder Play Lip Color By Flower

Weeks ago Flower by Drew Barrymore lunched a new powder to cream lip color. Once applied to the lips with a wand, Powder Play -- the lightweight powder, transfers into a soft moisturizing cream. The new product softens and soothes lips while leaving them with a pop of natural color, as well as, a soft, powdery look that overwhelmingly customers like.

Customers approve of the smooth texture; and report it does, indeed, moisturize lips while the flattering pigments have real staying power. The Powder Play Lip Colors endure like matte lipstick without drying out lips as matte lipstick tends to do.

The retailer calls each powdery shade a perfectly imperfect soft focus of color.

I'm only now featuring Flower's new item launch because who is wearing lip color under their face masks nowadays? Before COVID I wore lipstick every single day, but haven't touched it much over the past year. Now that the COVID vaccines are rolling out under a new administration, perhaps we can get excited about makeup launches again! 

This newest formula from Flower -- an awesome and affordable beauty brand -- is highly rated with tons of 5 star reviews! (Watch out expensive luxe makeup, there's a new beauty sharif in town for less!!!) The cost is $10, and Ultra is now offering a $3.50 coupon here for spending $15.

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The Ambiance Of A Brasa Fire

If you live in a house with a fireplace, you know how inviting it is to stay warm by nestling in front of the flames on a frigid, winter day.  Now there are products on the market to safely bring a fire to any room, or tabletop without having to install a traditional fireplace.

Compact and portable, Brasa Fires are ventless and fueled by renewable green energy.  They run on denatured alcohol [bio-ethanol], a biofuel made from agricultural products like corn, sugar and potatoes.  With chic and modern designs, Brasa Fires create atmosphere and add warmth wherever you put them.  Consider placing a Brasa  fireplace in a living room, or choose a slender fire lamp as a centerpiece for a coffee table, or outdoor patio table by a pool -- Ok, I'm dreaming!  

If you already have a fireplace, the company also sells burner inserts that can be placed into a masonry hearth, or the built-in fire setting in your home.  

Brasa Fires are suitable for houses and apartments alike.  They are easy to set up.  No installation is necessary.  Costs: $165 - $625.

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Use SPF Face Cream All Year Around

Lumin (black) is sunscreen for men, so I've never tried it.

After my morning shower I apply face cream (or lotion) over a face serum every day of the year. Only in the month of August during those dog days of heat and humidity could I skip the step of hydrating my face if desired, however, I don't do so. The reason why is we need to use sunscreen every day of the year to prevent aging (lines, wrinkles and dark sun spots), plus more importantly, skin cancer. Therefore I use a multi-tasking face moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher. Without. Fail. Every. Day. Of. The. Year. 

As we've moved from summer into fall, you may have noticed your skin is getting dryer. I have, and if a dry face bothers you as it does me, you may need to add a face cream to your daily routine, so why not select one that also contains the sun protection you should be wearing daily? Kill two birds with one stone and done!

Allow me to highlight 6 SPF [Sun Protector Factor] face moisturizers whose light, non-greasy consistency I like, as well as, give you the pros and cons of the choices I don't buy:

1) Olay moisturizers come in broad spectrum SPF 15, 30, and 50. I've tried all the formulas but stick with the Olay Complete with SPF 15 -- the most generous size. The sun protection is zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which I prefer to more questionable chemicals. All of the Olay formulas are creamy and greaseless, but the SPF 50 has a thicker consistency than the SPF 15. The Olay Complete 15 Sensitive formula works for me as it moisturizes while disappearing into my skin. With a lower SPF of 15, you simply need to reapply it every 2 hours if out and about in direct sunlight all day. SPF 30 or SPF 50 doesn't provide significantly more protection, but you can stretch the duration of reapplying them. There is none better than the Olay formulas and they are dirt cheap too!

2) Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion SPF 30 - It's much like Olay, as is the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer with Total Soy Complex and Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen, and all 3 brands are inexpensive and conveniently available at your local drugstore. Olay was the earliest to appear on the market and for this reason, is usually the easiest brand to find, but all 3 are comparable, which lets you grab whichever brand goes on sale when you need one.

3) CeraVe 100% Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face - Contains the usual suspects of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide along with the extra beneficial skincare ingredients of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides. Dermatologists like that CeraVe puts ceramides (a family of waxy lipid molecules) in it's skincare products to fortify our skin barrier.

4) Laroche Posay Anthelios Face 60 - The customer raves are for the European formula of Anthelios which contains Mexoryl, a patented UVA blocker that is highly stable and approved in Europe and Canada, but not approved by the FDA for use in the USA. The European version is light, thin, absorbent, and doesn't degrade after hours of sun exposure. Laroche is a skincare brand dermatologists universally recommend, but it's expensive. To be honest, I like the brand, but don't tend to buy it. IMHO you can find as good for less.

5) Paula's Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF 30 - Paula's Choice is very good skincare, not the most expensive on the list, and yet still pricey if using it every day. Repeated buys add up! With a bit of research, you can often find the same ingredients from less costly competitors. Nonetheless, P.C. is stellar skincare, not crazy expensive, and perhaps sometimes worth a splurge. You decide for yourself.

6. Neutrogena Age Shield Face Oil-Free Sunscreen 70 - Neutrogena has SPF 30, 50, or 70 face moisturizers galore in cream, lotion, or gel forms, and some with extra ingredients to benefit the skin. Personally, unless I need a particular ingredient to treat a skin issue, I buy the cheapest SPF moisturizer offered that I like. Since I use an anti-aging face serum under my moisturizer, it's the moisturizer with sunscreen I'm after. If our serum already has vitamin C or hyaluronic acid in it, we're covered. More isn't always better, so if the extra ingredient drives the price up, why pay more for it in a moisturizer?

Luckily I'm happy with Olay Complete 15 Sensitive as a moisturizer with sun protection since it's about as cheap as you can buy. Spend more when it matters, but you can save on the category of SPF face creams/lotions without compromise. There are a ton of quality selections for less in a drugstore aisle ... often under $10.🎀💙

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Kaufmann Mercantile

Kaufmann Mercantile is on a mission to offer products that hold up over time rather than fill up landfills. Everything from accent furniture, kitchen utensils, office gadgets, grooming and beauty supplies, camping gear and gardening tools is top notch.

The company scours the USA, Europe and Japan to find useful, better-made goods, including a homemade copper tea kettle, metal Plier Office Stapler, or Merchant & Mills Heavy Fabric Pins. The inventory is diverse, yet it has one characteristic in common; the items are meant to withstand a lifetime of use. 

Quality, practical basics make awesome Christmas gifts. People need them. In my opinion, much of the merchandise has a bit of old world charm, and it is easy to find something unique. The recipient isn't likely to already have an Italian olive wood pocket knive, Pivo solid brass bottle opener, or handcrafted pewter shaving mug.

The website is simple to navigate: Search for gifts by category, dollar amount, or country of origin. Often it pays to spend a few more bucks on necessities that won't have to be replaced. Excellence always makes the perfect gift.

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4 Advent Calendars You Reuse

Vintage Santa Wooden Advent Calendar - Primitives by Kathy here also on eBay

For several years in a row, I've featured the beauty advent calendars that everybody wants ... or ones I'd love to get myself. You can go back in years on THE SAVVY SHOPPER to find the coveted brands since these beauty retailers offer their advent calendars every year. The 2020 editions are out now. Some are overpriced, and still they go fast!

This year a new idea: Consider buying a keepsake advent calendar which could become a permanent holiday decoration and family tradition. You fill it yourself with 24 (or 25) selected gifts. Some might be small material things, but others could be poems; I.O.U. notes that promise a holiday adventure together; or a sweet treat like a favorite cookie or candy. It need not be expensive, just thoughtful and pleasing!

Yes it's more work than buying a calendar already stuffed with gifts, yet over the years a reusable advent calendar should be cost-effective, more personable, and a cherished family event. Each day unwrapping a small surprise, perhaps the true gift is family anticipation and joy:

1) The Primitives by Kathy Advent Calendar (above↑) is made of wood, paper, and metal. Each countdown box measures 17.13" x 3.38" x 14.25 enough room for favorite nick-nacks or snacks!

2) A Fabric Advent Calendar made of burlap with a hoop to hang on the wall. Since it uses only vertical space, it gets the job done with a small footprint. It has 25 pockets for trinkets, candies or messages. 

3) A wooden Tree Shape Advent Calendar with 24 drawers, each covered in beautiful Japanese washi paper and coated with a gloss finish. The drawer pulls are tagged with metal numbers counting down the days to Christmas.

4) The last featured choice is perhaps the most Traditional Advent Calendar. There are no boxes to fill with little treats. Just a celebration of the holy season with a 24-day countdown until the birth of the Christ child. A beautiful gold decoration with the Star of David, 3 Wisemen, and the Holy Family.

Four reusable and unique advent calendars to suit many tastes and ages of family members. Also, a thoughtful gift for family friends who might use it year after year. 

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The Inkey List Skincare

 

Photo: lookfantastic

THE SAVVY SHOPPER features another effective skincare line based on science you can afford to use daily. Choice galore and deals are a consumer's best friends to keep our wallets happy! The Inkey List offers a wide array of products containing potent ingredients that are normally 3 - 4 times more expensive.

The following are your 3 basic essentials, yet at such budget-friendly prices averaging under $10 a bottle (and a few multi-ingredient formulas running about $15) you could add an item to treat a special skin care concern of yours if you wish. 

Here are the bare-bone elixirs I think you need in your skincare regiment:

1) The Inkey List Retinol serum

Contains: 

• 1% stabilized retinol (derived from Vitamin A, which the skin converts to retinoic acid, speeding up skin cell turnover. Enhances collagen production, evens skin tone and lightens age spots.) 
• 0.5 granactive retinoid
• Squalane (for hydration and smoothing).

Directions: Use a pea size amount at night to prevent or treat lines and wrinkles, the visible signs of aging.

2) The Inkey List Vitamin C 30% serum

 Contains: 

• 30% pure, stable, L-ascorbic Acid. This serum targets the signs of aging by brightening the skin. It also fights free radicals and pollution. 

Directions: This is your daytime serum, apply it in the morning.

3) The Inkey SPF Daily 30 Sunscreen

Contains: 

• 22% non-nano zinc oxide (offering both UVA and UVB protection against the sun).
• 1% Pollustop® (Shields the skin from pollutants and premature aging.) 
• 2% Shea Butter complex (moisturizes and calms the skin). 

Directions: Use during the day all-year-round as the last step after a moisturizer. 

Sure you could buy gentle baby sunscreen at your local drugstore for less, but if you want a $15 splurge for the extra anti-aging ingredients, you can at least afford it at these low prices.

Now where can you buy them? Available on the Inkey List website; Sephora; Ebay; and Amazon, the brand is never tested on animals.

Splurge and save simultaneously: What's on your Inkey List?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

💟Extra tips: 

[1] If you buy the baby sunscreen from your local drugstore and your 2 serums from The Inkey List, your entire costs for your daily anti-aging skin routine is under $25 for all the products you need. Adding the splurge Inkey List sunscreen brings the costs to under $35.

 [2] Anti-aging routines begin by eating a healthy diet, which gets easier and cheaper in the spring and summer months. Here's what I bought from my fabulous Manhattan fruit street vendor on my way home ... every bite as beneficial to the skin as the potions you put on it:

I like to wash all my fruit before putting much of it in the refrigerator. Oh yes, with refrigeration you lose some of the deliciousness, but again, costs and convenience win. I leave a few unrefrigerated pieces out, but do refrigerate the rest. I have fresh blueberries, strawberries, apricots, plums, pears and mangos. Not in the photo, avocados from another day! 

BTW: I also wash my potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant and asparagus (Asparagus steams are yuk, yet nutritious.) before putting them away, a repetitive job I hate doing! But when I cook, I like dropping clean-ready produce into a pot. I'd rather not have a job (cleaning) before I do a job (cooking). Unless buying a meal kit, you have to do the undesirable yourself. It's worth getting more for less. I'm a mean, clean machine!😎

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