MNY eyeshadow 805A (I'm A Material Girl -LE) - dupe to NARS Cairo?

in the last few months, i discovered a love for medium neutral shades. no definite taupes, no browns, now smokey shadows like i hunted before (and still do), but very wearable, easy colours just a hint darker than your eyelids which give you a hint of distinct colour, like a slight gold or mauve or sand shade.
the MNY eyeshadow in 805A just falls exactly in the latter category and instantly cought my eye. it reminds me of NARS Cairo, a holy grail of me these days, and so i bought it for comparison purpose. it's part of a limited edition called "I'm A Material Girl" and available now at dm drugstores. it doesn't say how much product is in the pan, but at less than 2€ you needn't hesitate to buy back ups in case this shade becomes a basic.
but you can't expect much of the packaging. it's just worst. reminds me of toy-make up. i definitely suggest you to depot it into a palette.
it's a rosey light taupe colour. the white and pink shimmer is rather fine and boarders a satin finish. it looks darker in the pan than applied. the pigmentation is ok, very blendable and foolproof.
in direct comparison to NARS Cairo, i have to admit that they aren't dupes like i thought before, Cairo is more yellow-based but both have the same colour-intensity and a similar finish. if you liked Cairo, you'll like this too.
with a primer underneath, i have no problems with creasing or fading. as this is my first eyeshadow from this brand (MNY is the pocket money-friendly line of Maybelline, aimed to younger girls), i must say that i'm pleasantly surprised with the quality. but i would not buy more shades if they weren't absolutely unique, just because i already have soo many (high end) eyeshadows and sooo little storage space left that will only let special gems enter.

MNY 805A - NARS Cairo

MNY 805A - NARS Cairo

cheek stains

i have some cheek gels that were released (limited edition - sorry) last summer in the drugstore range.
with cheek stains, your own skin colour is an important factor of how the colour will look on you, please keep in mind ;)

Yves Rocher Watercolour effect blush

these two are by Yves Rocher and were in a watercolour-theme. i tried them first and was pretty impressed. while they aren't the easiest to handle, they give a beautiful effect.
this gel is very watery, so when you open the cap, you have to hold it upright to not spill any product. then i would give a little drop of this on my plate/bowl and use a small stippling brush to apply it stippling on in thin layers - this method is better than using fingers to blend because it won't mess up your foundation underneath. they won't get blotchy if you apply with a fast hand.
the scent is artificially sweet and fruity and it gives a very sheer wash of colour. but it is very buildable and will give you glowing cheeks if you concentrate it in the center of your application area. i find this effect very beautiful and lifting and always wear it alone - i don't tend to put a powder blush over top as i think it's not neccessary. the finish is without shimmers, but with a moisturized
sheen.
i like to use this in the summer to get a natural skin-effect, as it feels so light and fresh. the lasting power is excellent. i also like to use these on my lips to get an "innocent" reddish lip.
each tube contains 7ml and cost something between 2-4€, i have seen it last weekend in the "sale"-bowl at Yves Rocher, so i think you can still get it if you're interested.

Coquelicot léger - a peachy coral

Corail nude - a peachy pink

MNY Liquid Blush

the next two are by MNY, each of these contain 14ml and were about 3€, i think. i forgot the name of the collection they came out with.

these are also gels, but they are much thicker than the Yves Rocher ones. as they contain more silicones, they are more blendable and i can use my fingers to apply, too. they also blend evenly and are buildable but already quite pigmented in one layer. the finish is a bit dryer than with the Yves Rocher stains, so i like to use a cream highlighter with these. staying power is also very good.

 

#111A looks like a bright fuchsia but blends to a soft pink (in one layer)

#112A is a apple red and blends to a coral stain

all in all i find these are a very good product if you want to try cheek stains - it mustn't always be high end, and with such "special" products (at least for me, as i don't use them on a daily basis), these drugstore stains are totally sufficient. i believe there will be some cheek stains released this spring/summer again, so keep your eyes peeled!