1.19.2017

Dupe Or Not? It Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi Palette Vs. ELF Beautifully Bare Palette

I'm back with my first Dupe? Or Not? post of 2017! In case you've haven't seen these posts, I take a high-end makeup product and compare it to something more affordable, a so-called dupe. I test to see if the suggestion is an actual dupe, or just an option.


I haven't covered any face palettes on here, so I thought I'd compare the popular Je Ne Sais Quoi palette from It Cosmetics vs the Beautifully Bare palette from ELF. Aren't they both pretty?


Here's the size comparison of packaging as well. ELF is $8 and It Cosmetics is $42. Let's start with IT:

It Cosmetics Your Je Ne Sais Quoi Complexion Perfection Face Palette

  • All-in-one palette that delivers a skin-perfecting glow. 
  • Developed with plastic surgeons
  • Talc-free powder formulas 
  • Includes: new Sunshine in a Compact™ Matte Bronzer, new Perfect Lighting™ Luminizer, new Bye Bye Pores Blush™, and award-winning Bye Bye Pores Pressed™ Poreless Finish Airbrush Pressed Powder
  • Infused with hydrolyzed collagen, silk, peptides and proprietary Perfect Lighting™ Technology to revitalize and illuminate your complexion
  • $42
  • ItCosmetics.com, QVC, ULTA
  • Pink packaging

e.l.f. Beautifully Bare Total Face Palette

  • This three-in-one total face palette with a bronzer, highlighter, and two blushes creates a flawless look that's beautiful and natural looking
  • lightweight, silky formula
  • some matte, some shimmer
  • silver packaging, but it does come in the traditional elf black as well
  • The shades can be popped out.
  • $8
  • elfcosmetics.com, Target (they have really started carrying a lot more products), some drugstores, some big box stores (walmart)
Now, let's get into swatches. Since both of these are light palettes, the swatches are hard to see, so I wet them to enhance them. ELF definitely is more pigmented. 


But are any of the shades dupes? Remember, It Cosmetics has a powder, highlight, blush, and bronzer, whereas ELF has two blushes, highlight, and bronzer. I compared the highlight on your left (I wet them both so they'd show in pics) and the bronzer. Neither are dupes, with the ELF bronzer being a cooler brown, but the highlights are similar.




I applied ELF on one side and IT on the other. While I am wearing the IT powder, I focused on the blushes, bronzer, and highlighter. Pictured on top is with flash and on the bottom in front of a window. I took them this way to enhance the glow.

But what does it look like in person after a few hours of wear? The pic above. You can see a natural glow, which is what both products are after.


And here it is with the flash. In case you can't tell, the ELF side is more pigmented, so it really shows up. It's on your right. The It Cosmetics is on your left. I can tell how it hides my pores and even freckles better and it doesn't look as sparkly in person as the ELF, which I prefer. I liked the blushes for both. However, the ELF palette does have talc in it, which causes my skin to react if I continually wear it consecutively. IT Cosmetics has similar but better ingredients. I do appreciate the ELF formulation, as usually their powder products are not silky soft. While it's not a dupe swatch-wise, I think they look similar in person. I really do like the ELF palette and you can't go wrong with either.

Do you own either of these palettes?
Do you like natural-looking makeup? 
Do you think they're dupes?

31 comments:

  1. I love the packaging of the IT Cosmetics! Both look so pretty on you but it sounds like it comes down to the ingredients and which you prefer.

    Jill
    Doused In Pink

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  2. ELF has been on a real roll lately in my book in terms of what they're putting out - this palette sounds really good!

    Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines

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  3. I have tried either of these palettes but it seems like you really can't go wrong with the ELF one for the price! It sounds like it was actually better than the more expensive IT Cosmetics one as well which is always a bonus! x

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  4. I love e.l.f products! I probably wouldn't buy either of these since I wouldn't use them but if I had to, I'd lean towards the more affordable option (since that's what I tend to do with makeup I won't wear frequently).

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  5. I think e.l.f is killing it with their new releases but this palette is not for me. I am warm medium skin tone so the shades won't show up much on me.

    Shireen | Reflection of Sanity

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  6. These both look and sound really good. Great comparison.

    Gemma x
    www.jacquardflower.uk

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  7. They are both so pretty! Aside from the Talc in the ELF, I do think that's the better choice - especially on the wallet!

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  8. I just bought an Elf palette for highlight/contour. I think its a little too light - but it could ALSO be I'm not a confident user ;)

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  9. Such a great review, lady- that Elf palette is a steal!

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

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  10. Great comparison! It's amazing how similar they look with Elf being just a little more shimmery.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

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  11. I have the It cosmetic one. I'm not a fan. I bought it in a rush in Napa when my makeup was stolen and they didn't have the Anastasia one I had literally just bought at ulta. The powder is weird and I guess the no talc explains that. The blush had no pigment and cracked and was ruined shortly after I bought it. I am still using it because I don't want to spend money, but I love the elf price point so I may have to try it now!

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  12. These are close enough for me! Thanks for sharing! I would go for the more inexpensive option any day if its not significantly different.

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  13. Thanks for sharing! They are both so pretty, but I have to say I like the Elf price tag substantially better!

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  14. I feel like I can barely tell a difference, and they're both so pretty! You definitely can't beat the price of the ELF palette!

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  15. I love your Dupe posts. These look comparable at first and you do such a good job of breaking down the finer details.

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  16. Both palettes are beautiful. That elf one has been on my wish list for so long! I love how the It cosmetics one has better ingredients though!

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  17. Both palettes are pretty! I love the natural glow both palettes give you. For the price point, I'd definitely go with the Elf!

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  18. I don't own either of these products but elf is such great value for money. x

    ♥ Carly Susanne ~ A Beauty & Lifestyle Blog

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  19. I think I like the it version better and usually I can't see a difference because you do such great comparisons. I also know it has better staying power.

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  20. I think they look so similar on you, but I know it can be hard to tell in blog photos. I'd definitely be more likely to buy the ELF version, but you know I'm a cheap skate :)

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  21. Both are beautiful! I do love E.L.F. products and their affordability!

    Chanel | Je M'appelle Chanel

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  22. The palettes do look similar! I haven't tried this It Cosmetics palette, but I've been happy with other products I've tried :)

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  23. Oh wow! Considering the price difference, I think elf did a great job! I really would like to try something from the IT line though. Every time Jamie is on The Shopping Channel here, I am always so enticed:D

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  24. Wow with the price difference these are super similar! That natural shades look so pretty on you!

    <3 Shannon
    Upbeat Soles

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  25. Awesome review of these two Elle! I might have to for the cheaper one since it's so much less.

    http://www.kathrineeldridge.com

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  26. I have been eyeing that It Cosmetics palette. It’s so dang pretty and I think I would get a lot of use out of it, but it is pricey! I didn’t even notice how close it was to the elf palette before I saw this post. The Bye Bye Pores powder is everything to me. I really wish elf didn’t use Talc in their powders.

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  27. very thorough! i must say for the price i'd def go for the elf. interesting to see them dry vs wet too.

    xoxo cheshire kat

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  28. Oh no, I wrote a comment and lost it :) Well, let's go again! Sorry for being late, I had a difficult (no, not that, but VERY difficult week), but I survived :) I liked both, and that makeup style for you is really lovely, you look sweet and beautiful with these natural shades! I liked Elf, but It maybe more, because it is talc free :)
    DenisesPlanet.com

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  29. I mostly wear makeup that looks natural, although I'm all about some shimmer and sparkle. You look beautiful, and I honestly can't tell a difference between the makeups on you!

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  30. The IT packaging is so cute, though might as well save some $$ and get ELF... Love the colors of this palette, definitely wish I could get ELF here...

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  31. Man, sounds like Elf is stepping up their game once again! I'm the same with the talc thing, but ugg talc sits so much better on my skin than anything else! This gives you such a natural glow.

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