With all of the makeup options available to us on the market, we are bound to run into color dupes. Unless we have both products right there in front of us, it can be hard to tell if an eyeshadow or lipstick you're thinking about buying is the same color as one you already own. I've run into this problem most often when shopping online, and it's so frustrating! I've decided to start this new series, Seeing Double, to swatch and compare the most recent products I've had this issue with (many of them are Makeup Geek and MAC products - so many possible dupes between the two!). I hope it helps make some of your future buying decisions a little easier :)
Is MUG Rockstar a dupe for MAC Vex?
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| MUG Rockstar |
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| MAC Vex |
When Makeup Geek launched their Duochrome Collection *, they re-promoted some of their existing shades, Rockstar being one of them. To me, from the online swatches and pictures, it looked like it might be a dupe for MAC Vex eye shadow, so I decided to order it to find out. I was secretly hoping that they were just different enough that I wouldn't have two of the same shadow colors in my makeup arsenal. I'm sure that there are many of you out there that are wondering the same thing - is Makup Geek's Rockstar a dupe for MAC's Vex? Let's take a look:
MAC Vex
Described as being beige with a pink/green pearl, this is a frost-finish duochrome shadow that applies smoothly and blends out easily. Though highly pigmented, it is a light shade that offers a sheer wash of color. I like to use this as a lid shade, with a deeper color in the crease, or even as an inner corner highlight.
You can purchase this shadow online or in MAC stores in either a pan form ($6 for a 1.5 gram / .05 oz pan), or in a compact ($16).
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| MAC Vex |
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| MAC Vex |
Makeup Geek Rockstar
According to Makeup Geek, this is a medium silver base with purple and pink reflects. It looks exactly like Vex when compared side by side in the pan, and performs on practically the same level, with just a bit more fallout than the MAC shadow. Rockstar can only be purchased via the Makeup Geek Website, and is only available in pan form ($6 for a 1.8 g/ .064 oz pan).
Side by side comparison:
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| Vex on left, Rockstar on right |
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| Top: MAC Vex, Bottom: MUG Rockstar |
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| Top: MAC Vex, Bottom: MUG Rockstar |
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| Top: MAC Vex, Bottom: MUG Rockstar |
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| Top: MAC Vex, Bottom: MUG Rockstar |
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| Top: MAC Vex, Bottom: MUG Rockstar |
Conclusion:
After comparing the two side by side, I've concluded that these are pretty close dupes for one another. While Rockstar offers a little more of a violet reflect, and Vex leans a bit more on the green side, they are virtually indistinguishable on the lid, and can therefore be used interchangeably. When it comes down to deciding which one to buy, I'd say you can't go wrong either way. Now that MAC has lowered their prices on eyeshadow pans, they are both $6.00 - though I would like to note that MUG pans do have a tiny bit more product, weighing in at 1.8 g vs MAC's 1.5g, but to me that wouldn't be a deciding factor. You do not need both Mac Vex and Makeup Geek Rockstar, so I'd say go with whichever brand you love more, or have more of in your collection, and you'll be happy.
Do you own Rockstar and/or Vex? What are your thoughts on the two? Do you have a favorite?
Thank you so much for checking out this comparison. Live a beautiful life!
~Jessica
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Thank you so much - your comments are always appreciated!
~Jessica