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MAC Marine Life Dupes -- Sorry, Keep Looking

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MAC Marine Life Dupes

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…

MAC Marine Life Dupes

MAC Marine Life Dupes

MAC Marine Life Dupes

MAC Marine Life Dupes
Ripe Peach | Marine Life | CORALista (Benefit) | Instant Chic

MAC Marine Life Dupes
Marine Life | CORALista (Benefit) | Instant Chic | Hipness | Marine Life

MAC Marine Life Dupes
Instant Chic | Hipness | Marine Life | Hussy (Illamasqua)

MAC Marine Life Dupes
Marine Life | Hussy (Illamasqua) | Super Orgasm (NARS) | Marine Life | Springsheen

MAC Marine Life Dupes
Marine Life | Springsheen | Deep Throat (NARS) | Dainty

MAC Marine Life Dupes
Foolish Me | Marine Life

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Kate Avatar
Kate

I was thinking the Illamasqua blush in lover or the balm hot mama blush…would give a similar effect to marine life maybe?

What do you think Christine?

I am hoping Mac will release something or better yet the same in the spring or summer

Janet Avatar
Janet

Wow, what an exhaustive comparison! I’m always impressed by how thorough your reviews are!

Now I’m absolutely positive that I’ll be crushed if I don’t get my hands on Marine Life 🙂

Molko Avatar
Molko

Nars Deep Throat looks very similar…i have it n I think they’re close enough. I have very fair skin nc15-20 and from the swatches Marine Life seems to be very pigmented n very red. Not sure it would look good on me…not tempted to buy it bc of the metallic overspray n how gorg it looks. I might take a look into Hipness instead. Thanks.

Lilac Avatar
Lilac

thanks a lot for this work! Now I actually think that I should finally buy Coralista, which has been on my wishlist forever 😉

natalie_sod Avatar
natalie_sod

hahaha. yeah me too. after the swatches i was thinking OOOH I WANT MARINE LIFE AND ALL ITS FRIENDS, RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. hahaha!

SK Avatar
SK

Im quite suprised you compared marine life to deepthroat as the latter is quite cool toned and its more pink than coral. i have ML and its a neutral-warm coral.

Sonia Kalsi Avatar
Sonia Kalsi

I think your undertones are pinkier than mine, even though were both NC 30’s im more yellow based, so even the slightest degree of coolness in a blush is emphasised on my skin 🙁
but nevertheless very helpful comparisons, thanks so much 🙂

HC Avatar
HC

LOL I love this post! How awesome. Too bad I’m still picking this up on 5/18 and not using it. I’m just going to admire it for its beauty, LOL

Kesha Avatar
Kesha

How come no one ever mentions MAC’s Goddess blush when comparing Coral’s? Is it LE? I always considered it to be “super duper” Coral, not to mention gorgeous. I don’t even remember buying it but since I missed out on Ripe Peach, I’m using this as a surrogate for my Coral fix. Actually now that I look at the compact, it’s shinier than the usual blush casings.

Now that I’ve read this, I think I might try my hand in getting Marine Life, but only because it’s going to be highly coveted.

I hate being influenced by hype 🙁

shontay Avatar
shontay

I really hope I can get my hands on Marine Life before it sells out. I really don’t like carrying this anxiety with me! Make up should be fun and this is not fun!

Christine, I wonder how Marine Life compared to Excite blush by Illamasqua. I know that’s a very vibrant shade. I don’t own it, I’ve seen pics on makeupalley. Also, do you have Nars Taj Mahal to compare it to, just for kicks?

shontay Avatar
shontay

But, but Taj Mahal is so gorgeous. Bad, bad, Christine! Just kidding! Looking at a swatch of Excite on makeupalley, though, I think it’ll do for me if I can’t get to Marine Life because of everyone foaming at the mouth over it.

Carrie Avatar
Carrie

Thanks for the comparisons. I love Springsheen. It’s one of my favorites. I have so many of those coral blushes, but I still want Marine Life and Hipness. I’d barely touch Marine Life because I love that gorgeous seahorse. 🙂

mango Avatar
mango

great post!!!!! this is very helpful. i preordered marine life today – but i’m not sure if i should cancel it – it does feel pretty close to orgasm to me….crap i can’t decide if i should get marine life or not – especially since it’s so expensive ($28 something including tax!) ak!

AnGeLwInGz Avatar
AnGeLwInGz

Thanks so much for the swatches! I’ve been really interested in coral blushes lately. I’d like to see a swatch of Marine Life on the face though. I HOPE nobody puts on their blush as heavy as the arm swatches! Just curious to see exactly how red it is.

SB_sweetie Avatar
SB_sweetie

This is simply amazing! Thank you! I own a few of these you’ve swatched here…plus Fleur Power (which is super-pigmented)…so I don’t think I need the Marine Life, despite how cute it is! One question I still have…after the overspray is removed, is there still shimmer/glitter in Marine Life? BTW, I LOVe your comment that Marine Life is like Instant Chic on steroids, that is sooo true!

Rawrzellers Avatar
Rawrzellers

Showing me Ripe Peach is like jabbing me in the throat with a knife… I still regret not showing up sooner to swipe one of those.

Gemma Avatar
Gemma

I hated it too! Looks so gross on me-like sheer glitter sweat with apricoy LOL I’m NC37-40 so it might just be my skintone. I think the people who love it are very pale b/c my friend looks good in it but she has super white skin.

Jane Avatar
Jane

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? 🙂

Melanie T Avatar
Melanie T

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!

alex Avatar
alex

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 🙂

Kate M. Avatar
Kate M.

All this makes me want Marine Life!!  But I can’t bear to destroy the beautiful design…

Thanks for doing this Christine!

marina Avatar
marina

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!

Veedebee Avatar
Veedebee

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?

Ioanna Avatar
Ioanna

I think you should check ”Exotic blush” from Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddess 2010 collection, it must be very near to Marine Life… xxx

rukia Avatar
rukia

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 ^_^

Christa Avatar
Christa

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………..?????????

Meri Avatar
Meri

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 😛
Talking about NARS, I don’t like it, I had 11 pcs then I decided to sell them all !

Gail Avatar
Gail

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

Gail Avatar
Gail

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!

stephanie Avatar
stephanie

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.

jayne Avatar
jayne

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.

stacy Avatar
stacy

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

Megan Avatar
Megan

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.

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