look-a-likes

It's the season for glowing, (faux) tan skin and with all of the products on the market right now, it's easier than ever to achieve that look. However, choosing the right product can be challenging, especially when two similar items such as Nars the Multiple in St. Barth's and Vincent Longo Hydro Stick in Gold Solare exist. Both are beautiful for your eyes, cheeks, and lips, both are light in color and texture, and both create a sexy-tanned illumination on the skin. Take a look at my comparative table below to see which item I feel is more splurge worthy.

	Nars the Multiple	Vincent Longo Hydro Stick	Advantage
Texture	It has a light, cream-to-powder finish. It blends well and the color is buildable.	One strike is all you need since the color is deep. It blends well and is designed to create a wet, dewy effect. Also it has an slightly cooling effect.	Nars. I prefer the lighter color since it allows you to keep layering until you reach your desired tan.
Luminosity	Leaves a subtle, pearlized glow on your skin that catches the light but isn't too overbearing.	Has a powerful and vibrant high-shine, frosty finish.	Nars. I'm not crazy about icy frosts.
Color	Medium-taupey-bronze. Great for any skin tone.	Bronze with a twinge of orangey-copper. Great for those with olive or dark skin.	Nars. It's softer and more versatile.
Price	$37	$25	Vincent Longo by 12 bucks.

One of my current beauty obsessions is Yves Saint Laurent Touche Brilliance. It's a sheer, thin-textured, sweet-smelling lip gloss that comes in a clickable pen, and it contains little specs of glitter that create the most incredible amount of shine. To my surprise, I saw an almost identical version created by Victoria's Secret.

Although the Victoria's Secret tube is slightly fatter even though it contains .03 oz. less product (hmmm, I guess that means there's more air inside) I'm willing to bet that if you showed these to a nonbeauty junkie they wouldn't be able to tell them apart. If you're interested in more of the nitty-gritty details, read more

When I saw this new eye shadow palette called Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips, I recognized it right away; it was inspired by last summer's Bobbi Brown Surf and Sand Eye Palette.

Since the colors are sexy, shimmery and perfect for spring, I thought I'd highlight the similarities and differences of these seemingly similar items.

	Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips	Bobbi Brown Surf & Sand Palette	Advantage?
Colors	Contains sandy tones, blues and grays.	Contains sandy tones, blues and sea-greens.	Physician's Formula is more versatile. You can wet the dark gray and also use it as a liner.
Texture	Pigments are subtle, so you need more product to see results.	High pigmented silky soft color that blends easily.	Bobbi Brown. A little goes a long way.
Packaging	Opens vertically and comes with a brush	Opens horizontally; no brush	Physician's Formula saves you money, plus you get a shadow brush.
Availability	Available online now for Spring 2008.	It was limited-edition for last summer, but you can still score plenty online.	Physician's Formula, if only because it's easier to track down.
PRICE	$9.95	$42	Buying the drugstore brand saves you oodles.

Welcome back to the third and final part in this handbag look-a-likes series. This installment features a handbag designed by Miu Miu and a replica that has been created for just a fraction of the cost.

At one time this was the "It Bag" of the season. Stars like Sienna Miller, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Mischa Barton all carried it in different colors/fabrics. If you are into getting looks for less, here are some amazing beauty look-a-likes to peek your interest.

This Large Meredith Shoulder Bag (right), $625, looks a lot like the Miu Miu Matelasse Lino Coffer Bag (left), $1,550. They both have similar brass hardware, the same shape, top flap with hinges and push-lock closure as well as a removable cross-body strap and key pouch. I personally like the Miu Miu one better, but it really is a fortune. Which bag do you like best?

If mimicry is the highest form of flattery, then these designers' egos must be off the charts. Take a look at this handbag designed by Prada that has been imitated and replicated for a fraction of the cost. One of the "It" bags of late, we've seen it on the hippest of Hollywood ladies and no wonder - it's roomy, durable and oh so soft!

There is nothing wrong with trying to get a designer Look For Less, so we've decided to create a series devoted to Fabulous Handbag Look-a-Likes. Also, if you are interested in seeing some Fabulous Beauty Look-A-Likes click here.

This Oversized Ruched Patent Leather Tote (right), $68, looks a lot like the Prada Vernice Gauffre Large Satchel (left), $2,650, but for a fraction of the cost. They are both medium sized totes made from ruched ultra shiny patent leather with silver hardware and they have top handles with buckle-detailed straps.

If mimicry is the highest form of flattery, then these handbag designers' egos must be off the charts. There is nothing wrong with trying to get a designer Look For Less, so we've decided to create a series about fabulous handbag look-a-likes. The rest of the posts will be featured next week, so stay tuned! And, in case you missed them, check out some fabulous beauty look-a-likes here.

The classic Marc Jacobs Leather Stam Bag, $1,275, and the Kate Landry "Quilted Framed" Large Frame Bag, $189, look a heck of a lot alike! They are both white quilted leather frame handbags with gold hardware and tonal stitching. They also share that adorable button interlocking clasp as well as a zip fastening pocket on the front. The Marc Jacobs bag may have been inspired by model Jessica Stam but the Kate Landry bag is a fab cheap alternative!

Since my first and second look-a-likes posts were such big hits with all of you Fab fans, here is a third installment of fabulous beauty look-a-likes. Feast your eyes on three more copycat beauty products inspired by designer cosmetic brands for a fraction of the cost.

Lorac Portable Paints, $40, look a lot like Sally Girl Eye Shadow Connecting Compacts, 99 cents. They both have interlocking systems allowing you to freely mix and match your multitude of makeup colors depending on your mood. These come in eye shadows and blushes perfect for personalization. The only catch is that you can't buy Sally Girl products online - call your local Sally Beauty Supply Store to see if they carry these compacts, or call (940) 297-4643 to find a Sally Store nearest you.

Two more, so read more

Since everyone loved my first look-a-likes post so much, I thought I'd give you some more fabulous copycat products to compare to the designer cosmetic brands. Here are a few more affordable finds that take after high-end beauty products.

Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Face Powder is remarkably similar to the famed Guerlain Pressed Powder Compact. It has most of the same colors, which are intended to naturally brighten and enhance your skin tone as well as correct your obvious blotchy imperfections. The mauve color is meant to attract light, the green tone helps to cut out redness, the pink gives you a healthy glow, the gold and pearl are for highlighting, and white is meant to brighten.

Buy the Physicians Formula in eight colors here for $12.95, or get Guerlain's here for $155.

To see the rest, read more

There are knock-offs out there for almost everything on the designer market, so why shouldn't that include beauty products too? Since imitation is the highest form of flattery, it doesn't surprise me at all that a number of budget beauty brands have started releasing products have a striking similarity to higher-end items. Now we can stock up and experiment more since we're paying less! Here's a look at some of the less expensive versions of designer originals.

e.l.f. Hypershine Lip Glosses look a lot like Stila's Lip Glaze. They provide a similar super-bright, glass-like shine and condition your lips for hours. Both have a yummy scent, as well as that fun twist-and-click feature that brings the gloss to the applicator. You can buy e.l.f's glosses in 10 colors here for $1. Or you can buy Stila's version in 33 colors here for $20.

The Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips palette is very similar to the fabulous Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick. Both can be blended together as a bronzer if you sweep your brush across the entire brick or used as individual shimmery colors for your eyes and cheeks. Buy the Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in the light-bronze Vegas Strip or the darker Sunset Strip here for $11.95. Or, buy the Bobbi Brown Simmer Bricks here for $38; available in Apricot, Pink, Gold, Beige, Rose, Brownie, Bronze, and Peony.

To see the last look a like read more