Saturday 22 October 2011

ELF Contour Brush

Contour Brush


as i look at my brush to write the review it reminds of the blending brush from the essential line and its a bit more compact. i use this for contouring from my brow line down my nose (hope that makes sense) to bring definition to my nose. decent brush 3.5 out of 5


3.5 out of 5

ELF Concealer Brush

Concealer Brush


this is from the studio line, i think this brush is a bit big as a concealer brush, especially when you want to concentrate on those little blemishes and imperfections on your face. this being said, if you want to use this for your under eye i guess its just right size. 


ive washed this before and it hasnt lost its shape or texture and no fall outs here either...
3.5 out of 5

ELF Eye Crease & Eyeshadow Brushes

once again ive got three brushes in the picture below, the blending eye brush is included in my photo but ive talked about it in a previous post so that leaves me with...Eye Crease Brush & Eyeshadow Brush



Eye Crease Brush


another brush from the essential line for £1.50 this brush blends and contours in the crease and corners of the eye. This dome shaped bristle brush picks up a lot of eye colour and sweeps it onto the eyelid to create bold definition. Great for smudging shadow into the lash line for a smoky effect. 


I have two of these, because i really like the shape, texture and everything but after i washed my first set it lost its shape. so for that ill give it a 2.5 out of 5, it is from their cheaper range so i guess cant really get mad about it. 


Eyeshadow Brush


nothing exciting to say about this brush, but it is a decent brush and for someone starting out in make up i would recommend it as part of their start up kit. it picks up the right amount of product and applies easily. ive washes this before and havent had any problems or fall outs. i rate this 3.5 out of 5. 




Eye Crease brush: 2.5 out of 5, Eyeshadow Brush: 3.5 out of 5

ELF Stipple brush, Eyeliner brush & Blending Eye brush


ive got 3 brushes in the picture below so ill talk about each one...Stipple brush, eyeliner brush & blending eye brush. 

Stipple Brush

this is part of the studio line with a price tag of £3.50 The layered bristles create a soft airbrushed look that's perfect for applying foundation or adding colour definition to cheekbones or highlighting with soft layers. Use this brush with any liquid or powder face product such as foundation, blush or bronzer to build your coverage from sheer to heavy. 

elf also suggest to use this with their cream blusher, and this is because it picks up just the right amount of product. and i do like this brush, but i find it a bit flimsy probably because i dont find it dense enough i think the bristles  are a tad too long so if you were wanting to buff in your product i dont think this is the brush to use.


Eyeliner Brush

for £1.50 from their essential line, i think this is a decent push liner brush for the inner and outer lash line. there isnt much to say say really about this brush, does what it says. if i compare this with their mineral range though, i prefer the size of this but i prefer the "stiffness" of the bamboo brush.


stipple brush 3 out 5, eyeliner brush 3  out of 5, blending brush 2.5 out of 5

Blending Eye Brush

I am have mixed reaction to this brush, i would have given this a 5 out 5 if i got the same type of brush as i did the first time. i now own 3 of these, and it was because i loved my first set it felt dense had a stiffness that was great for blending and yet soft at the same time. I decided to get another, the 2nd set i got seemed like the hair fibres were a bit too long, so to me can be a bit flimsy and splays out, when you blend gets quite messy because they arent so densely compact. which is why i bought a 3rd set hoping id be 3rd time lucky, but it was the same as my 2nd set so, my overall verdict is a 2.5 out of 5.
 


ELF Powder Brush

Powder Brush

this brush from their studio line, anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush. i decided to get this brush because there have been a lot of good reviews on it, and i see why. it has a flat top and dense bristles, the handle is really sturdy. its easy to wash/clean and i havent had any fall out. it is really soft, even after washing. 

my only disappointment is when elf sent this to me it wasnt perfectly round at the top maybe from where it kept or something, i still like the brush though. in my opinion this is a really good multi purpose brush, with a great price of just £3.50.




4 out of 5

ELF Blushing, Bronzing And Blending Brush

Blushing, Bronzing And Blending Brush


this brush is a unique three-in-one brush which allows for precision application of blush, bronzer, and all other multipurpose dusts and loose powders. this being said, this is probably one of my least favourite brush from elf. it isnt dense, so when applying product such as bronzers it doesnt do what it claims to, which is precision application. I have also had a lot of fray hair, even before i tried washing this brush. I have also had a few fall out from it. you can find this product in their essential line, and though it isnt a fave brush, it is only £1.50 so you cant really expect the world from it. (Do you guys have any suggestion for a better brush?)


2 out of 5

ELF Blush Brush

Blush Brush

this is from ELF's studio line with a wonderful price of just £3.50. this brush is anti bacterial, made of synthetic haired Taklon. it is also really soft. this is probably my 2nd favourite brush from ELF, and i now own 2 of these. its really good in picking up product, and all you need to do is pat it on your cheeks so it packs on product really well. 

i give this product 5 out of 5.  absolutely love it. love the softness, love the shape. no fall out. 



whats your favourite brush? have you got this? and what do you think of it?

Thursday 20 October 2011

ELF Studio Kabuki Brush

This new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush! Our handy and easy to use Kabuki Brushes provide a light to full coverage on your face or body to ensure a flawless finish. The compact brush is perfectly sized to allow for precise and controlled application of bronzer, powder, or a highlighter on your skin.
*Vegan Friendly






this is probably one of my favourite brushes..so much so that ive got 2 of these. they are super duper soft and great for buff and applying all over i decided to get this over the body brush one because i read somewhere that is much more dense and with the shorter hairs i think it applies much better. there isnt a lot of fall out, and ive washed this a couple of times. they hold their shape, softness & texture. 


i use this with a lot of my press powders, especially elf's complexion perfection. 


i give this brush a 5 out of 5. 

ELF Pressed Powder

Pressed Powder


elf say, the Silky formula melts into the skin for adjustable coverage. Apply alone or over foundation for a flawlessly smooth and natural-looking finish. The portable makeup compact and sponge is convenient for on-the-go touchups.


Directions
Apply wet with a sponge for fuller coverage or dry for natural coverage with the sponge to create desired finish.



i like this product, ive got it in almond...i like the packaging the fact that it has a big enough mirror, it also has a 'secret' compartment with a powder puff so you can easily take this around with you and freshen up  if you need to.

i like to use this product with a buffing brush so that i can seal my make up when im using a liquid type of foundation, the only problem ive got when i do this is that a lot of product comes off.

occasionally i use the powder puff when im a bit of a hurry and i just want to even out my complexion. when i use this technique for application its really great for packing on the product and makes your pores look smaller/reduced. (this is a tip i got off gossmakeup on youtube) 

there are no smells with this product. it has a matte look to it and stays on for a good 4-8hours i would say before you need to blot your skin and reapply this. 

ive also seen somewhere that if you find your right shade with the pressed powder that this will go hand in hand with elf's flawless foundation. (I havent tried this with the same shade though, but i have used it with the flawless foundation) I always believe in making the most of what youve got. 

this is from elf's studio range worth £3.50 i think this is a nifty thing good quality product, mirror, powder puff, great packaging.

i would give this product 4 out of 5. 


Tuesday 11 October 2011

elf cream blusher

This amazing blush offers the best of both worlds! It smoothes on as a cream for great texture and then transforms into a velvety soft powder finish for long-lasting rich color that’s never greasy! The lightweight, refreshing oil-free formula looks natural and radiates a beautiful glow perfect for all skin types. The soft powder finish can be layered for desired intensity and dimension.


vixen, heart breaker, tease
elf has in total 6 shades of these lovely cream blushers, and to some (including me) may think it is a bit expensive with the tag price of £6.50.  You can find this item on elf's studio range line. Though i said that i find it a bit expensive in their defense there is quite a lot of product in one of these little babies. (15g)


vixen, heart breaker, tease


as pictured, ive got 3 of these in vixen, heart breaker & tease.  as recommended i tried using this with elf's studio stippling brush, but i find this too flimsy and not dense enough for stippling / buffing in. since i got these ive been using this everyday for my work make up. 


vixen, heart breaker, tease


my first love is vixen its a striking colour, but i believe still looks good when blended in well. this is best used for an evening look.  it is deep plum in colour, what wikipedia would describe an cardinal. 


i then moved on to tease which i like even better, this is a good daytime colour; it looks natural. this product has coral/brown/pink shade to it a kind of coral pink tone. 


i havent really used heartbreaker much, i think its too pink for my liking but i know a lot of the other elf dolls recommend this colour. i believe with the right application & blending this can look subtle. 


vixen, heart breaker, tease


vixen, heart breaker, tease

originally i had doubts about this product, ive had cream blushers before and have not really liked it, and with the price the website had provided i was even more unsure. (not because it was £6.50, but because it would have been £6.50 x 3) lol! i knew i wanted to try all three of these shades. Now that i have, im really glad i have them. 

Theyre great value for money, and i know this will last me a long time. i would say though, that this has more of a mousse/powder type of texture rather than cream. 

the product does stay on all day, but i would recommend reapplication after 4-6hrs. 

i give this product 4.5 stars. 

Sunday 9 October 2011

latest elf haul

well here I go again feeding my elf addiction, i swear i just want to try all their items out.


here's what i got in their last 20% offer, which i placed on the 2nd October. 




i am pretty happy with the items ive got. after elf brought out their cream blushes i just had to try them out, but ill do a review on these later on. i was also very curious to try out the powder brush after seeing such great reviews on these. i like the brushes but i was kinda annoyed that they werent perfectly round (they must have gotten squashed in the packaging or whatever.) though i havent washed them yet ive put them on some brush guards to see if i could restore the shape and i unfortunately i wasnt able to do so. 


i am also liking the brushes i got from the mineral range. 


the list of what i got is below.



my favourite item of the whole lot though must be the mineral blemish kit. 

have you tried any of these out? whats your favourite out of what ive got? what would you recommend for me to try?

a wee bit about me...

I saw this little questionnaire on lovefayexoxo's blog and i thought it was really cute, she got the tag from another blog. i hope you like it anyways, and itd be nice to know what your tic or tacs are..

Makeup:
Blush or Bronzer? blush, im not so good in applying my bronzer on just yet.  
Lipgloss or Lipstick?  both, i apply gloss after i love the big plumpy lip look...
Eyeliner or Mascara? Mascara
Foundation or Concealer? Foundation
Neutral or Coloured Eyeshadow?  i always use earth tone shades
Pressed or Loose Eyeshadow? Pressed, so much easier. 
Brushes or Sponges? sponge, lets go back to basics. a good damp sponge gives better coverage and a flawless look. 


Nails:
Long or Short? Short
Acrylic or Natural? Natural 
Brights or Darks? Both!
Flower or no Flower? ?not sure what this means :S


Body:
Perfume or Body Splash? Perfume! j'adore by dior is my signature scent.
Lotion or Body Butter? Body Butter, but ill use whatever ive got. 
Body Wash or Soap? soap


Fashion:
Jeans or Sweat Pants? jeans when out of the house, at home im always in shorts or jammie bottoms.  
Long Sleeve or Short? short
Dresses or Skirts? Dresses 
Stripes or Plaid? Plaid
Flip Flops or Sandals? Flip Flops
Scarves or Hats? Scarves
Studs or Dangly Earrings? dangly, but i work i always wear my mother of pear studs given to be by my mom. 
Cowboy Boots or Riding Boots? Cowboy boots
Jacket or Hoodie? Jacket


Hair:
Curly or Straight? naturally curly, but i always straighten my hair. 
Bun or Ponytail? ponytail, i do put it in a bun if i haven't got anytime to sort my hair out. 
Bobby Pins or Butterfly Clips? Bobby Pins
Hair Spray or Gel? Hair Spray
Long or Short? Long
Light or Dark? dark
Side-swept Bangs or Full Bangs? used to be side swept, but ive got full bangs/fringe on at the moment, and ive had lots compliments since having it, saying i look much younger. 
Up or Down? Down but hubby likes it up. 


Random:
Rain or Shine? Rain when I'm at home, Shine when I'm out! (ditto lovefaye)
Summer or Winter? summer, the sun makes everyone happy. 
Fall or Spring? spring
Chocolate or Vanilla? it'll always be Chocolate

Friday 7 October 2011

my elf plumping lip glaze

Plumping Lip Glaze


 elf say...Forget costly Collagen injections, or those painfully stinging glosses, stimulate your senses to a refreshed full perfect pout with e.l.f. Plumping Lip Glaze! e.l.f. proudly presents a revolutionary lip plumper, infusing Natural ingredients that awaken your senses for fresh, volume enhanced, and moisturized lips. This dual sided Plumping Lip Glaze has a tinted color for a subtle plump or a clear gloss that power plumps your lips, use together and instantly feel the lip enlarging effects!






right ladies, sorry i may be a bit too late in putting this out (i really thought id finished doing a review on this) but right now elf has another one of their lovely promotions so i thought my swatch (ill upload a better picture in the future) and review will help some of you out there to decide whether or not to take them up on this offer.  




ELF has 11 shades in this product valued at £1.50. 


I have this in 2 shades, ruby kiss and oasis.




top to bottom: ruby kiss, oasis


as ive raved on previously i love the elf lip glosses, i think theyre great value for money. and the plumping lip glaze, just might be my favourite out of them all. 


youve got the two sides, the tinted side has great colour especially the ruby kiss one. (i have tanned skin).


 the other side is a sparkly/clear looking gloss that you can put on top of the tinted side. this is what basically gives that "plumping effect". i believe this is because it has a real strong minty feel that makes your lips feel tingly. for myself personally i love this, especially at work because it gives my entire mouth a fresh feel. 


sorry ill replace with better photos soon


the picture above shows ruby kiss on top, and oasis on the bottom.
plus on the right hand side showing what the gloss looks like with the "plumping" side applied on. 




i love both shades, as you can see from the photos the ruby kiss has more of a red tint, while the oasis is pinky. so it just up to you which type of gloss you prefer to wear. 


this product stay on a good 2-4hours, and you still feel your lips tingling. 


hope this helps, ill add a bit more to this once i get the chance i just quickly put this together in the last 15mins so you guys can decide whether or not youd like to take the opportunity and get the gloss elf is offering at the moment.....you know you want to!!





Sunday 2 October 2011

Super Glossy Lip Shine Spf 15

elf say that this Super Glossy SPF 15 formula fights environmental damage while leaving your lips with a healthy glossy glow. The delicious flavour and sweet scent will leave you licking your lips in delight! The perfect on the go tube that is mess proof for anywhere and anytime!
'Angel' # 2801 is our only shade that doesn't contain SPF15 but is packed with gorgeous glittery bits instead.

Directions 
Apply to lips as often as desired. Can be worn alone or layered.


honey do


ELF has 10shades of this product. the super glossy lip shine SPF15 comes in this simple packaging but for £1.50, what more do you expect. 


i have this in 3 shades: honey do,  juiced berry & watermelon. 






im really liking most of the elf lip glosses, and these are one of them. this has a lovely fruity smell.  it keeps the lips moisturized for hours on end, and though there is nothing special about the packaging the tube is mess proof. 


honey do, watermelon, juiced berry


i love all 3 shades that ive chosen, all 3 suit me. i find the juiced berry, very natural looking it just makes my lips looking plumped. the honey do, just livens up my natural lip colour, and the watermelon, is a lovely pink sheered colour that looks just lovely. 






you can put this on, on its own or on top of another lip product. have you got this in your bag? have you got your favourite shade? is there any you think i should try out? 

ELF 2in1 Conditioning Gloss

2 In 1 Conditioning Gloss


Enjoy 2 benefits in 1 with this Conditioning Gloss. The formula nourishes and moisturizes lips on contact. Infused with nourishing Vitamins A & E and Aloe, as well as moisturizing Shea Butter for rich hydration. The soothing gloss provides sheer color perfection for beautiful looking lips.


Directions 
Apply liberally to lips as often as needed.


top to bottom: fanatic, super model, vava voom


the packaging




the first time i got these, i wasnt quite sure whether or not there was something wrong with my gloss as the product looked different from that of the website. i thought there might have been a leak, (so i decided to email elf, and enquire.)  but even though i was unsure i wanted to try it out,  after applying this i still think this is a good product.



from elf website:
http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~157.htm


ELF has given me this response to reassure me:

The item you have received is the new stock of 2 in 1 conditioning lipglosses we have at E.L.F. It is the same product but pre-mixed, with new packaging. We are in the process of updating the images, which is why they appear differently to the website.



i do like this new formulation as there is more of the colour than the clear gloss, and because of this sheerness of this gloss it makes the lips look fuller. the conditioning agent is great as it keeps the lips hydrated. The gloss stays on for hours. 



i decided to try a different way of swatching the products, what do you think of it? ive learnt a new trick when trying lipstick/glosses and decided to try this out with my swatches. swatch the product at the tips of my fingers rather than on the back of my hand because the texture on your hand is different from your lips. the texture on the tips of your fingers are more similar to those your lips. you get a better colour reading by doing this when testing lipstick/glosses. 

elf tinted moisturizer spf15


Tinted Moisturiser Spf 15

SPF 15 formula helps combat premature aging and protects against sun damage while leaving skin radiant and lightly hydrated. 

Directions

Blend a pearl-sized amount into skin and neck daily.

spice, honey, apricot beige

My thoughts..

a little bottle of delight for just £1.50, great handbag size. the only thing is, you really need to find your right shade because the elf website doesn't have decent swatches by just looking at the product pictures. I honestly thought spice was my colour when i was looking at the site, but it must be 3-4 shades darker than my colour. 

this blends in real well has a sweet orange smell, which i dont mind. it feels light on the skin. 

below are swatches of the 3 tinted moisturizers that i purchased off the ELF UK website. 




those are my thoughts, whats yours? 

Therapeutic Conditioning Lip Balm & Lip Balm Spf 15

Therapeutic Conditioning Lip Balm & Lip Balm Spf 15


i love these two products from ELF, both leave my lips really soft and supple. i have the therapeutic conditioning balm in strawberry creme & blackberry creme.






Therapeutic Conditioning Lip Balm


Salvation for parched lips. This innovative balm coats lips with natural nutrients and skin soothers to condition even the most sensitive lips. Infused with Shea Butter and Vitamins A & E for long lasting protection.


Directions


Twist up bottom. Massage balm into lips. Allow excess to absorb into skin.




Lip Balm Spf 15


Relieves and soothes lips with a drench of moisture. SPF 15 helps to shield lips from harmful sun rays. Softens lips to prevent and temporarily protect against chapped, cracked or chafed lips.


Directions


Apply liberally to lips before sun exposure and as often as desired. Wear alone or with other lip products.




so what do i think?


both products are real great balms, they have great lasting power leaving lips feeling full and supple, which i think is the bottom line. the SPF15 lip balm, leaves a slight minty taste where as the therapeutic one has the fruity taste.


i probably prefer the SPF15 lip balm, just a bit more to the therapeutic one. i sometimes find the therapeutic one to feel a bit greasy. the blackberry creme is my preferred balm to the strawberry creme; but that me. the packaging on these products are small, great for putting in your handbag. 


what do you think?