MAC Marine Life Dupes — Sorry, Keep Looking
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
MAC Marine Life Dupes — Sorry, Keep Looking
When I think of dupes, I think of something that is pretty close to it — I’m talking 90% or closer — not just similar. There are plenty of similar shades to Marine Life; after all, it’s really just a vibrant coral-red with minimal shimmer in it. NARS Deep Throat and MAC Foolish Me come the closest, though the texture of Deep Throat is obviously different and Foolish Me is a little more orange. It’s not quite as red/orange and intense as Marine Life, but it’s the closest I found of the many shades I do own that were in the running.
- MAC Ripe Peach (Limited Edition) is lighter, more peach-coral than vibrant red-based coral. Verdict: not really a dupe, maybe a cousin.
- Benefit CORALista is a pinker, less distinctly coral version with a significant amount of shimmer in comparison. Verdict: not a dupe, but a good friend.
- MAC Instant Chic (Limited Edition) is much softer pink-coral with a bit of peachiness to it. It has a more powdery look and feel, but it’s so, so subtle. Marine Life is like Instant Chic if it took steroids for a year. Verdict: similar color but so, so much lighter–like a fruit picked too early.
- MAC Hipness is much pinker in comparison to Marine Life. It’s not quite as intense, and it doesn’t have the strength of the redness that Marine Life as. Hipness is a less shimmery, pinker version of CORALista, though. Verdict: not a dupe, too pink.
- Illamasqua Hussy is similar in its intensity, but it’s definitely pinker. It’s a more pigmented, matte version of Hipness/CORALista. Verdict: not a dupe, too pink.
- NARS Super Orgasm is a peachy-pink concoction that pulls a noticeable gold sheen. It has a lot more shimmer (and even Orgasm, which I don’t own, would still be pretty shimmery in comparison). Verdict: not a dupe, too peach, not pink/red enough.
- MAC Springsheen is very similar to Super Orgasm–it’s that same mix of peach and pink with a gold shimmer-sheen. Verdict: not a dupe, too peach and shimmery.
- NARS Deep Throat is a pinker version of Super Orgasm/Orgasm, and it’s probably the closest to Marine Life, but it’s still not quite as red or as intense–plus it has the sheen/shimmer that Marine Life definitely doesn’t have. Verdict: almost a dupe, like sisters.
- MAC Dainty is a sheer peach-coral with a smidgen of pink in it. It’s way too sheer and light to be a great dupe for Marine Life. Verdict: not a dupe, too light and peach.
- MAC Foolish Me is everything that Marine Life is, except a little more orange. The two are very similar, both in finish and color, but Foolish Me does run a little on the orange side. Plus, it’s discontinued, so that sucks. (I thought about this one originally, but it looks so orange in the pan… just swatched it at the last second, and yep, they are indeed surprisingly close.) Verdict: similar, like fraternal twins.
I don’t own Fleur Power or Style, but I did swatches here last year, and by referencing those, I can tell you Style is most definitely not a dupe — too orange/peach. Fleur Power comes a little closer, but it seems a bit pinker in comparison to Marine Life.
See swatches…
Ripe Peach | Marine Life | CORALista (Benefit) | Instant Chic
Marine Life | CORALista (Benefit) | Instant Chic | Hipness | Marine Life
Instant Chic | Hipness | Marine Life | Hussy (Illamasqua)
Marine Life | Hussy (Illamasqua) | Super Orgasm (NARS) | Marine Life | Springsheen
Marine Life | Springsheen | Deep Throat (NARS) | Dainty
Foolish Me | Marine Life
mmm it looks like marine life stands out.. if I only knew erlier :p
do you think bella bamba is at all similar, i really wanted to get marine life, but it sold out :(
Not really - it doesn't have enough orange in it.
I Think Stila "Make me blush" is a good dupe
Deep Throat looks pretty similar from what I can tell. I have the Hipness blush from the To The Beach collection but I didn’t get the Marine Life. They are kind of in the same family and I like Hipness a lot better.
i found a dupe yesterday , i'm so happy ! it's bobbi brown in coral #3 , and it's been confirmed by a fellow Temptalia reader in another post , the hunt is over
think someone already said this - but the best dupe for Marine Hi-Life is Bobbi Brown's Blush in Coral #3. Brilliant.
I picked up Marine Life and while I do like it, I find it is EXACTLY the same in color to my MAC cream colour base in Virgin Isle!!! I know Virgin Isle is a cream product, so many people may still prefer the powder form of Marine Life, but Virgin Isle is actually about $10 cheaper and has been rereleased on MAC's regular website and is available now (I believe this is usually a PRO item, but it's temporarily back on the regular site so if you want it, now's the best time!!). I purchased it a couple months ago because I remembered reading all the amazing reviews on makeupalley.com about it and they were right. To be honest, I actually like the finish of Virgin Isle better. On my combination/oily skin, it just seems to blend better and look more flawless. I've been using the 131 duo-fibre brush which I find is AMAZING for cream blush products. There is no light shimmer in Virgin Isle, but I always use an MSF anyway so that's not a big deal. For the record, I didn't just do a hand swatch, I actually put one of each on each cheek and could not tell a difference.
Marine Life is amazing I am NC45 and it is the best Coral Blush I own and I own a lot!! It's so unique and beautiful
Great swatch posting thanks!!
What do you think about MUFE HD blush #8, PDA being a dupe for Marine Life. I am going to swatch it tomorrow for myself. In online photos its looks pretty close.
Nah, I looked, but I don't think so. Looks a lot lighter, not as coral!
Is Marine Life similar to Fun and Games from the Hello Kitty collection
Nope, it's a lot more coral-red.
Girl, you are the bomb. I totally LOVE it when you compare and do a breakdown like this. THANKS!
You are soo harworking, u take all our thoughts and turn it to pictures...good job!
I wonder about Salsa Rose (Pro), but it's probably more pink?
Yeah, I'd say it's a little more pink, but I don't have it to compare!
Marine Life looks gorgeous, but does anyone know if it causes breakouts??
I haven't experienced any, but that's just my skin!
would you say that spaced out blush is a lighter version of marine life?
Like maybe a super, super light version with a lot more frost/shimmer and less coral...
How do you think this would compare to ''Joyous'' Beauty Powder blush?
Joyous seems to be lighter to me, also a bit pinker - http://www.temptalia.com/mac-cosmetics-beauty-powder-blushes-review-photos-and-swatches
That's so funny, I discovered Foolish Me looked a lot similar to ML, I was quite impressed with myself - but trust you to have found that out too haha! I love Foolish Me but must say ML is bit prettier, just a touch more pinky peach. I skipped Hipness in the end as it didn't seem as unique as I expected(got a backup of ML instead!) Would you agree Hipnees has exact dupes or do you tink it's also undupeable? x
Yep, I'd totally agree with ya Gail -- Marine Life is pinker! Hipness is nice if you don't like a lot of shimmer! CORALista is super close, but it has a ton more shimmer, you know?
I hated Coralista, the heavy scent was TOO much! Plus it was more shimmery than I like. But I have a fe EL blushers, inc their recent Bronze Goddess one, which seems similar? (what do you think?) Thanks!
I think that is a bit similar, maybe not quite as dark/pigmented!
I have Hussy, Coralista, Instant Chic, Dainty and Springsheen. But I still want to get Hipness and Marine Life, just for collection though :p Lucky me, because in my country we still can get Foolish Me. Once, I did a swatch when I went to MAC and it's pretty, my hubby agree with me when I asked his opinion :P Talking about NARS, I don't like it, I had 11 pcs then I decided to sell them all !
I think NARS gets a lot of hype, and sometimes, products just don't live up to the hype :(
Meri, if I may ask, which country is this if you don't mind? And how could I please get in touch with you? :)
So Christine, since Instant Chic and Marine life are so similar in colour since I own Instant Chic already and I'm very fair (NW10) am I best sticking just with Instant Chic since I don't need the intensity of Marine Life. I do love pimented blushes and I love the colour of Instant Chic but that would be overkill having both right...........?????????
LOL, I don't know if it's overkill, you know? If you love pigmented blushes, Instant Chic is pretty subtle when I swatched it - so if you don't find it very pigmented... then you may love Marine Life.
That's a very nice color. Love the swatches, hooray to corals! Good thing Deep throat is close to it, might skip this unless it will be prettier actually tried ^_^
I think you should check ''Exotic blush'' from Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess 2010 collection, it must be very near to Marine Life... xxx
Grrrr, it doesn't swatch anywhere near what I thought it would and I passed it up ordering online :-( I much prefer when you get collections first so I can make a better informed choice - how is it a highlight?
Sorry, I wish I could control that :( It's not a highlight at all, IMO. Much too dark/pigmented.
question: i have allready peachykeen,springsheen,style and really debating between instant chic and hipness...can you please help me to choose? i would def get marine life besides it!
Hipness - Instant Chic is pretty subtle. I don't mind a subtle blush, but I don't want to have to work hard just to get it there.
All this makes me want Marine Life!! But I can't bear to destroy the beautiful design... Thanks for doing this Christine!
Christine, Are coralista and hipness really very alike? I've got this imression from the swatches. Thanks :)
Hipness is a bit pinker and lacks the shimmer of Coralista :)
thank you!
I think I prefer HIPNESS out of all those, for my neutral-cool light skin. Skipping MARINE LIFE and INSTANT CHIC. Thanks for the swatches :)
Thanks for the swatches Christine! I really want this.. but I don't see myself really needing this... Thanks though! =)
Oh WOW Christine! You just opened new *blushes* doors for me to enter! LOL! May I ask if you own MAC's Stereo Rose MSF~? Perhaps you can compare it to Marine life as well~? Thanks!
I don't think I do - MSFs break me out!
Hi Christine, Marine Life looks suspiciously like Wet N Wild's Silk Finish Blush Naive, have you ever come across that? It's the only Wet n Wild blush I have and I'm thinking eureka! Could that humble blush be the elusive dupe to Marine Life? :)
Nope, sorry!
BTW... Super awesome review...One of your great comparison posts, I love it, so organized and gets to the point =)
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