Elf liquid foundation review

Happy new year lovelies! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I apologize for the lack of posts lately, between the seasonal job I was working and the holidays I was super busy. I won't be posting a review of the December Glambag. Most of the products I haven't been able to try and I don't want to post something without full effort put into it. That being said, here is a review I've been meaning to post for a while.


Although I use a variety of foundations, liquid is my  favorite  and the type I use the most. So of course I tried Elf's.

The foundation comes in a pump bottle (please ignore the mess of my bottle), which I love. It's so much better than having to pour out the foundation and  hoping it doesn't spill everywhere. It is also more sanitary. The cap of this actually stays on, too (take some notes, elf face primer). The bottle is also pretty sturdy. The pump I have noticed can get stuck a little sometimes but it isn't really a problem, it does go back to normal.

There is a pretty good shade range but the colors are off and too dark. My go to foundation is Revlon Colorstay in Ivory, it is my perfect shade. For the Elf liquid foundation, I use their shade in porcelain (the lightest shade available), which isn't really porcelain at all. It is dark on me. It is also yellow undertoned which isn't ideal for a person with cool pink undertones like me. I don't use this foundation often, but I will use this from time to time, in the summer so that I look less pale. If I wear this in the winter, you can really tell that it is too dark. If your skin is more medium shaded, you will probably have an easier time with these foundations. But if you are as light skinned as me, you should probably skip this.

Here is a dot of the Elf foundation on my skin, unblended:

Here it is blended:

It is important to note that this foundation is oil free and it does contain SPF 15. SPF is very important and I really do like foundations that contain it, it saves me that extra step of applying sunscreen before my foundation.

It has a smooth consistency and has pretty good medium coverage. It isn't matte, it has a dewy finish. With primer it does last all day, but when I don't wear primer I will notice it beginning to wear off after a while.


Overall this is a good foundation especially for the price ($6) but it isn't my favorite nor the best. The formula is good, but the color choices not so much. I am not the only person that has complained of this, I hope someday Elf realizes this problem and makes some better shades.

Elf HD Blush Review

I never used to wear blush. It wasn't until last year that I started venturing into blush and now I wear it so much more. When I saw Elf release these HD blushes I was intrigued. At that time I hadn't tried a cream blush before and these looked great.

I have the Elf HD blush in Headliner, which is the lightest shade. It is a very light pink, which is perfect for me. I have fair skin and I tend to like lighter blushes that won't make me look like a clown (which can happen very easily with me!)

I really like the packaging, it comes in a pump. You need to shake it well before using so that the pigments don't separate. You only need a very tiny bit of this product, so it will last a long time. It is extremely pigmented and blends nicely. They last very well too.

These are dupes of Makeup For Ever Microfinish HD Blush. I have never tried MUFE's version, but they look very similar. MUFE has 14 shades available and Elf has 5 as of the time of this review. MUFE's product is $26 for .2 oz vs Elf's at $3 for .34 oz. So Elf has more product for way less. At that price, Elf's HD blush is a steal!

I really hope Elf releases more colors, I really like these blushes and would love to own more colors.

Weekly Beauty tip #67 Turn any eyeshadow into eyeliner

Mix some eyeshadow with an eyeliner or makeup sealer to turn any eyeshadow into eyeliner.



This can also work with water, but in my experience it doesn't last as long with just water. A great and cheap (also what I use) sealer is ELF Makeup Lock & Seal. It is this great little kit  that comes with a little bottle of the Lock & Seal, a small mixing pot and a brush.

You can also mix any setting spray, such as Urban Decay All Nighter, or ELF Mist and Set with eyeshadow and get the same result.

Elf Maximum Coverage Concealer Review

I posted an Elf haul a few weeks ago asking what Elf products you, my readers would like to see a review of. Thank you, Vicky for naming a product!

Today's review will be on Elf's Studio Maximum Coverage Concealer.

Although I love my beloved Hard Candy Glamoflauge concealer, I wanted to try something different under my eyes and a with little lighter coverage. Glamoflauge is great, but it would crease under my eyes so much.  I also don't always feel like wearing heavy duty concealer. So I decided to try this Elf concealer.

There is a good color selection for a concealer. The shade I will be using in this review is Porcelain.

The concealer comes in a squeeze tube, which is a pretty good size for a concealer . I believe it is the same packaging as the Studio Tinted Moisturizer. It is easy to control how much product you want to squeeze out.

The concealer is pretty creamy and feels a lot different than my normal concealer. It is a nice difference. It blends very well and it doesn't feel cakey or dry. I would say it has medium coverage. The coverage is good, it covers nearly all of my redness, but it doesn't completely cover the dark circles under my eyes. When I mix the Elf concealer with a little of my Glamoflauge, it completely covers them.

Before applying concealer:

After applying concealer:

Please note: The concealer wasn't too dark for my skin, I have terrible lighting in my home and it is difficult to  get the exact same lighting in every single picture.

This isn't the absolute best concealer out there, it will not cover everything, but it is a great concealer. For a $3 concealer it covers well. It is definitely worth the try. If you want a heavy concealer that will cover everything, this is not for you. If you want something that isn't heavy  but will cover a decent amount, try this. In all, I really like this concealer. I've found myself using it a lot since I've gotten it. It definitely exceeded my expectations.

ELF Haul

Hello lovelies! Today I thought I would finally post my Elf haul. I've said it before, I love Elf so much and I'm always so excited when one of their packages shows up at my door. I'm not just posting this to be like "Oh look at all of the cool stuff I bought that I will eventually review". I would actually really like some feedback from some of you. I would like to know what out of this post would anyone like to see reviewed. Or any Elf products in general you would like to see reviewed. I own so many of their products, if there is one you would like me to review and I have it, I will gladly do a review.

Anyway, onto the haul.

First up, the Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara. I always have a few of these kicking around, I use it to keep my eyebrows in place and it really does its job well. Both ends of the product are the same thing. One of the best things about this product: it's only $1.

The new HD blush in Headliner. I have been wanting to try one of these out so badly. Once I have had the chance to properly test this out, there will definitely be a review on it.

Studio small stipple brush. I bought this just for use with the HD blush.

Mineral blush in Joy. I had been wanting to try out one of the mineral blushes for a while. I had also heard this was a dupe for Benefit's Dandelion blush.

Lip Lock Pencil. This is one of my favorite Elf products. I might do a review of this eventually. Would anyone like a review of this in particular?

                                                               Mineral Eye Brightener.

Eyebrow Treat and Tame. I really wanted to try a liquid brow filler. I haven't tried the treat side yet, but I'm hoping it'll work if I ever over wax my eyebrows.

                                                            Baked Blush in Passion Pink.

Maximum Coverage Concealer. I really wanted another concealer for under the eyes and for when I don't feel like wearing my beloved Hard Candy Glamoflauge.

Essential Brightening Eye Color in Nouveau Neutrals. This was a free gift that Elf sent me for filling out the email referral after placing my order.

So that's everything! Please let me know if there is anything from this post or any Elf product at all that you would want to see a review of.

ELF Mineral Infused Face Primer Review

If you've been following this blog from the very beginning you will know that I absolutely love Elf. It (next to Nyx) is my favorite drugstore brand.

If you don't know about Elf (eyes lips face), they are this great brand that has just about any type of product you can think of at low prices. Most of their products are in a $1-$3 range. They have three different lines: the essential, the studio and the mineral. Yes...mineral. They have mineral eye shadows at just $3! Most of their products are great quality and many are comparable to higher end products.

When I went to  cosmetology school I learned about so many different products that I didn't have and I wanted everything! I didn't have a lot of money to build up my personal kit but luckily I found Elf! Any time I have introduced a client to a new product (such as primer) or even to makeup in general I refer them to start with elf. It is a great brand to start with and if they don't use the product much or at all they didn't blow a lot of money.

Now, onto the review. Elf Mineral Infused  Face Primer is the only face primer that Elf makes. It comes in 4 varieties: clear, tone adjusting green, brightening lavender and radiant glow. This review will be on the clear one.

(Please ignore the scratches on the cap, these pictures are from the opened bottle that I keep in my train case, not a brand new one)

This primer comes in a convenient pump bottle. I like it, but it can be difficult to tell how much product you have which sucks when you're running low. The pump does screw off though which does make it easier. The plastic cap could use some improvement, it doesn't always stay on.  When I used to store my every day makeup in a makeup bag the cap would always fall off. Sometimes it still continues to in my train case.

The actual product is clear as described and not very thick. It is a silicone based primer. Some people will apply it with their hands, I like to apply it with a cosmetic wedge. It is more sanitary, you have more control and less mess.

This primer does go on smoothly and for the most part it feels great but it is a bit on the greasy side. For me this issue goes away once I apply my foundation. It does definitely make application smoother, it makes my foundation last longer and it makes my foundation look better.

This is the sole face primer that I use on myself. I have heard it is comparable to Smashbox's primer, I have a sample size of Smashbox's primer so I will definitely be comparing the two.

In all, I love this primer and I think for the price ($6) it is phenomenal. If you want a good face primer without splurging, this is your product.

 Your best chance of getting this product would be to buy it from Elf's website (eyeslipsface.com) but you can also find it at Target stores.

Nails by Vicky: Valentine's Day Nails-Tutorial

For this tutorial I will be describing how to paint polka-dot Valentine's Day nails!

What you will need:

• Whatever base coat you use
• A white nail polish
• At least three different nail polishes in red or pink
• A dotting tool (pictures shown later in tutorial)
• Whatever top coat that you prefer to use

1. First, you want to apply one coat of the base coat. This helps the nail polish adhere better to the nail as well as make a nice even surface so that the nail polish does not show any ridges or bumps.

I use Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat ($6 at drugstores) because it does not take forever to dry which allows me to get started on painting my nails earlier.

2. Once the base coat is dry, apply the first of two coats of white nail polish that you have. Wait until they dry completely.

I am using Hot Topic's Blackheart Beauty polish in white ($5 at Hot Topic).

(Sorry about how messy the nail polish is but I am kind of a messy painter when it comes to my nails. If you are too, don't worry, it comes off easily with nail polish remover, then it looks like a professional has done them!)

3. Now that the two coats of nail polish are dry, use a dotting tool that is of good size to make the dots. To do this, place a large amount of polish on a piece of paper or a paper plate. Then dip the end of the dotting tool that you would like to use and simply dot onto your nail. You can do this in a random pattern (like me) or you can plan exactly where you would like each color.

For the dotting tool, I am using a set from a beauty supply store for $8. If you cannot find them in a store or cannot go to a store, you can easily find this set on amazon.com.

The one I am using is the purple one, more specifically the larger side of the tool.

For this step I am also using the following red and pink nail polishes:

Red Hot ($2 from ELF)

Fab Fuchsia ($2 from ELF)

Light Red ($2 from ELF)

Once you are finished dotting your nails they should look somewhat like this:

4. The last step is to apply the top coat once the dots are dry.

The top coat that I am using is called Out the Door ($5 from beauty supply stores). It dries very fast and has a very nice shine. TIP: If you would like your nails to stay longer, the next day paint another coat of the top coat and paint the tip of your nail.

Below is a picture of the final outcome!

(Unfortunately, my dots ran a little bit when I put on the top coat and this was because I underestimated the drying time. So a lesson to be learned is: wait a while before applying your top coat!)

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I really enjoyed making this tutorial for everyone and I hope you all like it! If you would like me to do a tutorial for a specific kind of nail or have a question about nails, please feel free to leave a comment.  I would be more than happy to answer any and all questions!

For the latest news on what nails I may be doing next or if you just want to see what I am up to as a crazy college student follow me on

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/apolloodair/nails/

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vicky_Mellark94

Weekly Beauty Tip #27: Set foundation with translucent powder

If you find your foundation is rubbing off or your liquid foundation is looking shiny, set it with a translucent powder. Most women will set their liquid foundation or concealer with a powder foundation which can look cakey. Translucent powder is a sheer powder which will not add any color and if you use the right one it should blend into your skin and not look cakey.

I have mentioned using a translucent powder in a previous tip post, but I feel translucent powder deserves its own post. Many women have never heard of translucent powder and truthfully, I never had until I went to cosmetology school. Translucent powder can make a huge difference in your makeup. I use a liquid foundation and I will always set it with a translucent powder.

For a high end translucent powder I recommend using Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish powder.






For a cheaper alternative (which great quality) I recommend using E.L.F High Definition Powder. E.L.F's version is basically a dupe of the Make Up For Ever product. I personally use this all the time.

 

One last product I would like to point out that I have heard some really great things about is Laura Mercier's Invisible Loose Setting Powder.


    

Holiday haul!

Here is my very delayed next haul post! This is all of the makeup that I got for Christmas.There are also some mini reviews in here.

I got the first Urban Decay Naked Palette as I mentioned in a previous post. It came with a mini primer potion. This is what the gorgeous palette looks like:

I will eventually write a review on both Naked Palettes, so keep an eye out for that!

The next thing I got is this E.L.F palette:

I really like this palette. It is pretty compact and you can fold out the drawer, it's really good for if you're in a rush and you need some makeup all in one place. The pigmentation in this was better than I expected, but I haven't had too much of a chance to play around with this yet so I can't completely comment on pigmentation. I would recommend getting this if you want some sort of compact kit to keep in your car, in a bag or in a drawer.

The next palettes I got were the E.L.F Glitter Eye Palette and the E.L.F Natural Eye Palette.

I am putting these two palettes together because they are similar, just with different colors. I haven't had much of a chance to use the Natural Eye Palette, but I have used the Glitter Eye Palette. The Glitter Eye Palette really disappointed me. It is not very pigmented. If there was more pigmentation it would be a great palette. I love E.L.F, but sadly this is the case with some of their palettes. A while back I bought the big limited edition Studio Spring Palette on clearance. I was really glad I didn't pay full price because the colors weren't pigmented at all. I wish E.L.F would step up their game and make more pigmented palettes.

Here is my next palette, E.L.F Sinister Smoky Eyes

This palette is from a series of Limited Edition Disney villain palettes that were released around Halloween exclusively at Walgreens. I had wanted to get one but sadly I could not get to a Walgreens. I was ecstatic when my best friend got me this palette for Christmas. I haven't used many of the shadows yet, but so far I love everything about this. It is a beautiful palette. I love the design and I really love the eyelashes it comes with. I have seen other bloggers complain about the pigmentation of this palette. So far I have only used the two colors that you see in the top left corner, and I didn't have any problems with them.

Last but not least, this set of E.L.F eyeliners:

I am so glad I could finally do this post, I have had it planned out for some time now. I was going to have one giant post of everything I got from people and of the things I bought after Christmas, but I'm going to break it up. There will definitely be some more haul posts coming up! I am in the process of taking pictures for them so stay tuned!