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Lime Crime Venus XL2 Palette Dupes!

Just when I thought that I owned every shade of eyeshadow in existence… Lime Crime comes along and tells me to take a seat! Seriously though, I’ve had a bitch of a time trying to dupe this palette. I did my best but for the most part I had to settle for similar because I didn’t have the exact shades anywhere else in my collection. If you like greens and you don’t have a moral objection to supporting Lime Crime then I would recommend getting the palette due to its unique color story. With how oversaturated the makeup world has become, it’s incredibly rare for a brand to release something that we haven’t seen before so props to Lime Crime. In addition to LC’s website, the palette is available at Ulta or Selfridges for my overseas peeps. And for some reason it’s $2 cheaper at Bloomingdale’s ($56 vs $58).

As you can see, I started out with a great big clusterfuck but I managed to narrow it down to what I consider to be the best options. Also I’ve been liking fingertip style swatches for dupes lately. In my experience when you load up your whole arm with side by side swatches, everything starts looking deceptively similar. With the fingertip swatches, you can more clearly see differences in finish and texture. Also I recently got a new macro lens and I’m looking for any excuse to play with it. Okay! Ready?? Set? Dupe!

🔹️In Bloom vs Makeup Geek Tuscan Sun ($6, -10% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT)- In Bloom is a matte coral pink. Tuscan Sun is more orange.

ColourPop Soft Core is a closer dupe but it’s no longer being sold individually. It’s also found in the OoLaLa palette

🔹️Crown vs ColourPop Ringer ($4)- Crown is a sparkly, nude champagne. It’s more iridscent and sparkly than Ringer

Option #2- Devinah Pismo Beach ($12, -20% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT)

🔹️Sage vs ???- I couldn’t find a dupe for Sage to save my friggin life. The closest shade in my collection is Marsh from the Venus 2 palette.

Option 2: Devinah Thisbe ($5, -20% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT) is in the same color family but they’re definitely not dupes. Sage is a darker and a lot more muted

🔹️Thorn vs Beauty Escape Cosmetics Orion ($6.50, -15% w/ code BEAUTYCULT)- Thorn was my second problem child. The base color is a light pinky bronze with taupe undertones and a satiny finish. So it’s already a very complex color and then they went and added tons of blue violet duochrome glitter making it even more unusual. Orion is also a glittery bronze but its base color is more sparkly and the glitter is more of a teal blue

ColourPop Birthday Boy Super Shock shadow would’ve been an excellent dupe but naturally it’s been discontinued

🔹️Ripe vs Makeup Geek Tan Lines ($6, -10% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT)- these two are both medium brown mattes with yellow undertones. Tan Lines is darker

Option 2: Devinah Bambi ($5, -20% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT)

🔹️Forbidden vs Looxi Pennywise ($5, -10% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT)- Forbidden is a sparkly amber gold. Pennywise pulls a bit more copper and Forbidden is a little more gold

Option 2: Devinah Anodized ($5, -20% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT)

🔹️Stella vs Makeup Geek Shimma Shimma ($6, -10% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT)- Stella is light, pinky champagne. Shimma Shimma is a shade lighter and a bit cooler

Option 2: Sydney Grace Grace Elegance ($6, -15% w/ code BEAUTYCULT)

🔹️Myth vs Looxi Space Boy ($5, -10% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT)- Myth is a silvery green with gold glitter and larger pigment particles. Space Boy has a similar texture but it’s a little more silver.

Touch of Glam Beauty Leprechaun ($8, -15% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT) is another close option. It’s just a bit more green

🔹️Eve vs ColourPop Misty ($5)- Eve is a pinky rose gold with a foiled finish and multicolored glitter. Misty has a similar base color and texture but it’s less glittery

Option 2: Beauty Escape Cosmetics Carina ($6.50, -15% w/ code BEAUTYCULT)

🔹️Laurel vs Johnny Concert Oh my Goodness ($12)- Laurel is an olive tinged gold. You’d think that it would be an easy color to dupe but nope! Oh My Goddess was the closest color in my collection that’s sold individually and hasn’t been discontinued. Laurel is a bit more green

Other options: Looxi Imagine is brighter and more sparkly. And it’s been discontinued

Looxi Peachy Keen is lighter and more pink

🔹️Radiant vs Makeup Geek Prism ($10, -10% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT)- Radiant has a white base with peachy reflects. Prism is more pink.

I was originally going to go with Devinah Zion because it’s closer in color. But Zion’s texture is a little powdery whereas Radiant has a more emollient formula so Prism was closer in texture

🔹️Ivy vs Makeup Geek Leafing So Soon ($6, -10% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT)- Ivy is another super unique shade. It’s a spring green with gold iridescence and pink glitter. Leafing So Soon has no glitter and it leans a little more aqua

Same thing with ColourPop Bashful ($4). No pink glitter. Also Bashful is more gray

🔹️West vs Sydney Grace Antique Coin ($6, -15% w/ code BEAUTYCULT)- these two are both rich chocolate browns with foiled finishes. Antique Coin is a little more red

Other options: Devinah Vintage ($5, -20% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT), Nabla Cosmetics On The Road ($8)

🔹️Obscene vs Nabla Cosmetics Zoe ($8)- Obscene is a sheer minty green with bright lime reflects. Zoe shifts a bit more blue

Other options: Looxi Aquarius, Beauty Escape Cosmetics Ferngully, ColourPop La Playa (discontinued)

🔹️Mystic vs Nabla Cosmetics Snowberry ($8)- Mystic is a light dusty rose with a satiny finish. It’s lighter and more peach than Snowberry

Makeup Geek Cinderella would’ve been a perfect dupe but it’s been discontinued. Mac Girlie is another close option but it’s not cruelty free

🔹️Phoenix vs ColourPop Crackle ($4)- these two are both rusty coppers with shimmer finishes. Crackle is a bit orange

Other options: Looxi Cider (discontinued), ABH Wine

🔹️Locust vs Makeup Geek Ritzy ($6, -10% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT)- Locust is green/brown duochrome. Ritzy is more red

Other options: Urban Decay Lounge, Looxi Orion

🔹️Classical vs Looxi Chicory ($5, -10% w/ affil code BEAUTYCULT)- Classical is a deep, red brown matte. Chicory looks identical to me

I had thought that CP Feathered or MUG Cherry Cola would also be dupes but Classical is a good bit darker. Melt Cosmetics Enigma would be a better option

Phew! Thank the gods we’ve reached the end. These duping projects are friggin exhausting. I don’t even to look at that damn LC palette anymore. I swear I swatched some of those shades 50+ times whilst comparing them to anything even remotely similar. Every inch of my arms and hands was covered. And I still fell short! I’m still on the hunt for better dupes for Sage, Thorn, Laurel and Ivy. So if you have any suggestions… I’m all ears! What do you guys think about this palette?? Will you add it to the squad or na?