A eureka moment for me...

Introducing, a Smashbox Photofinish Primer dupe (in my opinion) --- L'oreal's True Match Smooth Up Makeup Base! This is definitely waaay better than Monistat Anti-Chaffing Gel's infamous thick texture and heavy feel.

Checking its ingredients, L'oreal True Match Smooth Up Base is a cross between Smashbox Photofinish Primer Original and Light. It has Light's water-based feature (good for oily skin) and Original's silicone derivatives.

L'oreal True Match Smooth Up Makeup Base, 30mL, 425php (~$9)

From the box:

"A supple, light and gliding texture that smooths out pores and fine lines for an impeccable make up finish to last all day."

What I love about it:

• held my makeup in place for around 7 hours; makeup never turned dark on me (which always does whenever I skip primers)
• locally available and cheap (425php!)
• can blur pore diameter
• lightweight
• the silky feel it creates on my skin
• creates a perfect canvas for my face makeup
• hygienic tube
• has a version for dry skin -- L'oreal True Match Moist Up Makeup Base

Uh-ohs:

• a pea-size isn't enough
• the silicone content may cause breakouts for some users
• silicone-based primers are not recommended for daily use

This is how the product looks like:

looks perfectly like Smashbox Photofinish Primer Light out of the tube

feels like Smashbox Photofinish Primer Original when slathered on the face

I wore this in an FOTD I posted a while back and the shots were taken 5 hours (or was it 6?) after makeup application. To think that I commuted to and from my patient's residence.

This is a good primer to get since you're getting loads of benefits without splurging. I will definitely buy again after finishing the tube.

D&G's famous fragrance, Light Blue, is most probably included among the top ten perfumes worn by most women in our country. I love this scent not only because it draws a helluva 'ttention on the lcuky spritzer, but because it makes a girl fell like a real princess!
But because of the cost (I think a hundred mL bottle costs around 4,000+PHP or $100) and the fact that I'm not a perfume person, I just sniff and become wistful whenever a girl, wearing D&G Light Blue, passes me by.

Last year, I bumped into a D&G Light Blue Dupe, would you believe? It's at Jellybean, Trinoma.

Sicilian Kiss, eau de toilette
Bought at: Jellybean Boutique (branches at Trinoma, Megamall, Galleria, SM North, etc)
Amount: 199PHP (got this Nov '08) or ~ $4

The Edge:

• i swear by the claim that it is a total dupe of D&G Light Blue

• waaaaay cheaper

• locally available

• cute packaging! (but I believe that they changed it into a different container this year...booo!)

• since it is D&G Light Blue's dupe, you can make heads turn too at just a fraction of the real thing's cost!

Uh-ohs:

• smell fades in less than an hour

• you need to spray on quite a lot of the product (to make heads turn; but a little of it is good enough to bask in D&G Light Blue's heavenly scent)

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ROYAL RATING: Spend-worthy? Are you kidding me? It's 199 bucks... of course, it is! I am rating this D&G Light Blue Dupe: PERFECT!
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I have another variant, the Jellybean Margarita. I wore it on a date with boyfie and he tells me it smells like the old D&G. Eeeeep! Is Jelllybean duping D&G scents? Well, lucky me.

Jellybean Margarita, eau de toilette

Do you like D&G Light Blue, too? What is your much coveted scent? Fill me in, princesses!

Royally yours, Bleak