the look for less

Summer's big lip color is the light peach shade that celebrities like January Jones have been sporting. However, while the famous set are using colors such as Chanel's spendy Rouge Allure in Remarkable, spending $30 on a lipstick might not be within your budget. Perhaps one of the closest shades is MAC's Lipstick in Jazzed ($14), which unfortunately has sold out.

The great news is that there are plenty of similar hues that are very nicely priced, like Barry M Lipstick in Coral ($4) and Lord and Berry Lipstick Crayon in Orange ($13). If you'd like to see even more similar options across price ranges, just check out the widget below:

Here is a great look for less courtesy of OnSugar blog Fashion Fabulous After 40.

Elizabeth & James Cal Sandal

$350.00 by Elizabeth and James at The Shoe Box

Elizabeth and James' button detailed wedge sandal retails for $350 at Saks Fifth Avenue.
To see the look for less, read more

This advice-seeking post comes from reader Norabora from the Beauty Dupes group:

I've been trying for weeks to get my hands on the limited-edition Lancôme Chris & Tell Lipstick (sold out), and it is looking like I will not be successful. Does anyone know of another lipstick that is a similar shade?  Thanks!

Have tips and tricks you'd like to share with others, or questions of the beauty-dupes variety? There's a bevy of groups in the BellaSugar Community, so join in the fun!

People everywhere are eager to get their hands on Chanel's new Particulière ($23) nail polish, a flattering putty shade that's been generating buzz since the models wore it on the runways in Paris last year. Unfortunately, it's over $20 a pop, so those of us with limited budgets are forced to find our own way to wear the trend. To make things a little easier, I tested out a bunch of shades and found three look-alike polishes that will keep you on the cutting edge without taking your lunch money. To find out what they are, just keep reading.

• The best match by far is OPI You Don't Know Jacques! ($8), which really does look like Particulière from a distance. Upon closer inspection, Jacques is a bit grayer than its fancier counterpart, and I could see it being especially flattering for ladies with cool undertones.
• Another very close shade is Essie Mink Muffs ($8), which is slightly more brown than the Chanel color. With a gray or white base coat and careful application, though, I think this one can be made into a pretty convincing match.
• Borghese Biscotti Beige ($8) is also close, although side by side you can certainly see the difference. It's got all the brown of Particulière, but with a softening dose of mauve. It's a more subtle color than the Chanel, so if you'd like to stay on trend but don't want something harsh, I'd suggest finding a bottle of this. (Find a list of stores that carry Borghese polishes here.)

Have a dupe to share yourself? Be sure to check out and join the Beauty Dupes group in the BellaSugar Community!

Over the past decade or so, Anastasia Soare has established herself as the expert in eyebrow grooming. Her company, Anastasia Beverly Hills, has a Go Brow Brow Pencil & Highlighter ($21). It's a dual-ended chunky pencil that features a universal brow color on one end and a highlighter on the other. For just half the cost, Soap & Glory Arch de Triumph ($10) is an excellent alternative.

While Soap & Glory's version isn't as creamy as Anastasia's, with its soft brown and champagne-toned shades, I had no problem using this lower-priced pencil to give my brows definition. I applied the soft pink portion under my eyes as an instant pick-me-up, yet another way to use a flesh-toned liner. I have even used the darker side as liner and shadow in a pinch. Have any lookalike products for less that you might like to recommend? Head over to the Beauty Dupes group in our BellaSugar Community and tell us all about them.

Do you squeal with joy upon finding a much (much) cheaper alternative to an expensive beauty item? Of course. At any rate, you all know what I've had to say about my Clarisonic, but at almost $200, it's most certainly an investment. For about $150 less, there's the Pretika Sonic Dermabrasion Facial Brush ($41.50). While I haven't tried out this much (much!) cheaper version of the expensive original, I'm wondering if you have. If so, tell us all about it. Is it as good as the highly sought-after Clarisonic, or is it a cheap imitation?

The economy might (might) be on its way to recovery, but that doesn't mean I'll stop saving my pennies as much as possible. I'm always in the pursuit of looks for less, and over the weekend, I picked up Milani Blush Compact in Luminous ($3.50) — a pretty decent lookalike of the classic gold-toned peachy pink Nars blush in Orgasm ($25). While Milani's Luminous is not an exact replica of the famous afterglow shade, as it's not quite as pigmented, since it's about $20 less, I'm a happy lady.

Now I need your help. Whether it's a trendy new nail polish shade or an old-school lipstick favorite, share your favorite affordable alternative in the Beauty Dupes group.

Every time I hit Sephora, I gaze longingly at Nars Tokaido Express nail polish ($16). It's a deep, sophisticated purple with subtle gold flecks that a cool girl like Kim Gordon might wear if she were invited to a fancy-pants brunch. If you're looking for a similar shade at a smaller price, you're in luck. I've found a drugstore dupe that's pretty close to this shade. To hop aboard that train, just keep reading.

False eyelashes are a lot of fun, especially when you have the opportunity to play around with unusual and wild styles. Sometimes, wacky lashes are bold and brash, but other times, they're artistic and fantastic. Shu Uemura's Fleur-Ever lashes fit firmly into the latter category. Designed by Gina Brooke, Madonna's personal makeup artist, the $79 lashes provide beautiful plumage for a dramatic look. Then again, not everyone has an extra $79 to spend on something so fanciful. But if you want to try the look for less than $10, check out what I found