Testing Out e.l.f. Cosmetics

During my trips to Orlando, I often noticed a cosmetics brand called e.l.f. which was often in Walmart, which is a super cheap supermarket, but as the products cos a dollar or two each I really didn't think they would be any good. Fast forward a few years later and they have been brought over to the UK and everyone is raving about them, so I thought it time I gave them a whirl. We all know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover...

Starting with foundation, I ordered the e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation (£7.50), which is available in 40 shades, which is great for a value brand. I opted for the shade Light Ivory which is for fair skin with golden undertones, and this seems to suit my skin tone pretty well. Their website has a handy little guide to choosing the right shade for you, so it is well worth checking out. The foundation comes in a sleek matte glass bottle, which again is impressive for a budget brand and the foundation went on really well. I applied it with my Beauty Blender and it gave me great coverage with a semi-matte finish, so that I didn't look overly matte and still had a slight glow to my complexion, which for me is the perfect combination. However, I did notice that throughout the day a few cracks did appear and so maybe I would have to try a different primer or setting spray with it.

I then tried out the e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer (£5.00) which is available in eighteen shades. I chose Fair Warm which was definitely too light for me even though I have fair skin. The formula dries down very quickly, so you have to work fast and even though this is the wrong shade for me I was very impressed with the coverage and longevity of wear. The wand has a doe-foot shaped sponge applicator which is a lot like the Tarte Shape Tape applicator and so you can get a good amount of product coverage during application. I would definitely give this another go if I had the correct shade as it is excellent value for money.

Another product I ordered is the e.l.f. Natural Glow Face Palette (£9.00) which is a chrome palette which houses four good-sized pans. You get a highlighter, two peachy blushes and a light bronzer. The highlighter was barely there so I was disappointed with that, but the blush shades are well-pigmented and look super pretty for Spring. I also really liked the bronzer as it is a light shade as it worked really well with my fair skin tone and had a nice sheer finish to it. I think for £9.00 you can't really go too wrong, but the blush shades are very similar.

I also ordered the e.l.f. Bronzer (£3.00), which is available in two shades, and I of course went for the lighter shade Sunkissed. The packaging looks and feels very cheap, but the bronzer itself is really quite pretty. It has a slight shimmer to it, however it is a little sheer and so it wouldn't be any good for contouring. The only problem I had with this is that the second time I used it the pan felt out of the compact, so I definitely think they could improve their packaging on this product.

Due to the amount I spent on the e.l.f. website, they were doing an offer where you got a free eyeshadow palette. The one I received was the e.l.f. Need It Nude Eyeshadow Palette which is worth £10.00. The palette contains ten eye shadows, some with matte finishes, others with glitter and shimmer finishes. There is a mixture of creams, golds, pinks and browns, and I even tried out the matte browns as eyeshadow powders. The colours are pretty, and the shadows are quite pigmented, but there was quite a bit of fall-out with this palette, which is something that always bugs me. However, with a gentle touch I think this palette is definitely worth a try and with the range of shades and finishes it would make a great holiday companion as it is neat and compact so great for travelling.

My final purchase was the e.l.f. Matte Magic Mist & Set Setting Spray, which is available in two different sizes, however they only had the 60ml Small version in stock which costs £5.00. You get plenty of spritz with this setting spray and it certainly covers the entire face. I have no qualms with this product as it felt refreshing on the face and set quickly, which is what you want from a setting spray. It kept my makeup in place and I found that later in the day I didn't have any oiliness come through which can be a rarity for me.

 A bit of a hit and miss for me so far, but I would definitely be open to trying other e.l.f. products as it is always important to remember that what works for one skin type and tone isn't going to necessarily work for another. You can find e.l.f. online here.

All the Loves,

Kathryn xxx