As most girls know, makeup is not cheap. I set aside half of my paycheck to buy new eyeshadow palettes, foundation, lipstick, etc. It's really hard to find good quality makeup for an inexpensive price. Luckily, e.l.f. is one of the few makeup brands on the market that offers really high quality makeup for extremely low prices. Here are my top five favorite products that eyes, lips, face has to offer:
1. Smudge Pot Cream Eyeshadow
I used to really dislike cream eyeshadow; I could never find the right brush to apply it with, and I normally don't like the shimmery finish it leaves. Over the past year I've been experimenting with a lot of different smudge pots, everything from the classic Mac Paint Pots to Maybelline's Color Tattoos. Out of everything that I have tried, none are as good, or as inexpensive, as the e.l.f. pots.
Obviously, Mac Paint Pots are amazing, but they cost $21! That's more than two full palettes from e.l.f.. The e.l.f. palettes definitely don't last as long, but the quality's almost equal for $3. These pots come in 11 different shimmery shades, and they have completely changed my opinion on cream eyeshadow. It's so easy to take these smudge pots and, with your finger, pop some shadow onto your lid for a quick and cute eye look. If you haven't tried these pots yet I strongly recommend adding them to your cart!
2. High Definition Powder
Again, like with cream eyeshadow, I used to hate loose powder. I also didn't like using translucent powder; I always put powder foundation on top of the liquid foundation I'd already applied. I actually ordered this powder online so I could try making my glossy lipsticks matte (check out how to do that here). However, I started noticing that applying two foundations was leaving my skin cakey. (Shocker!) The instant I tried this powder I was in love.
It's so easy to just use a big, fluffy brush and dust this powder all over your face to get a perfect, matte finish. The powder isn't super finely milled, so packing it on doesn't work very well. Also, it does have a bit of a white finish so I never use it if I'm not applying bronzer. However, the pros definitely outweigh the cons - I find this powder perfect for it's low price of $6.
3. HD Lifting Concealer
Concealer is another thing that I like to experiment with. I love Maybelinne's Fit Me concealer, which is what most beauty gurus use, but sometimes I find the coverage to be a little too heavy. E.l.f.'s concealer is perfect because it's a lightweight formula that still covers imperfections.
I usually use this concealer in the summer because it's perfect to wear with just a little mascara for a beach-look. Note: it only comes in four skin-tone shades and two corrector shades. The fair tone's perfect for my skin, but I know quite a few people who complain about the orange undertones being too strong. So, definitely try this concealer out before purchasing!
4. Eyebrow Kit
The Anastasia Beverly Hills Pomade is definitely the most famous eyebrow product on the market right now; tons of beauty gurus and Instagrammers rave about this. I think that the pomade is great for pictures and can definitely give a flawless brow, but it can be too harsh for everyday wear. I don't really want to invest $18 in something that I can't wear everyday.
I personally have pretty thick brows, and I only like to use brow gel to fill in my sparse hairs, which this brow kit does perfectly for only $3. The gel isn't too intense, so it gives just the right amount of coverage. However, the powder that also comes in the compact is the opposite. It can completely draw a new brow on, and I love using it if I take a few too many hairs out while tweezing or have some brow areas I want to draw in.
5. Brushes
E.l.f. brushes are amazing so I couldn't pick just one. If you've read my post on How-to Contour Like a Pro, then you know I'm obsessed with the Contouring Brush. There are TONS of high end versions of this brush, but I honestly like e.l.f.'s the best. It's perfect to apply just the right amount of bronzer right into the hollows of your cheeks and along the side of your face.
I also use the Small Tapered Brush all the time. It serves many functions -- it can be used for just about anything. I love using it to apply under eye concealer and powder, but I even use it to apply bronzer sometimes. Overall, most of the brushes in e.l.f.'s studio line are amazing, but they don't last very long. I find that, even after washing, the brushes are really hard to get clean and sometimes the bristles can fall out. However, the brushes range from $1 to $6, so they're definitely worth it.
What do you guys think of e.l.f.? Have you tried any of their products? If so, let us know your favorites!
Written by Zoe Luiz
