Review: ELF's High Definition Powder

Quality: 5 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Size: 3.5 oz
Price: $6
Where To Buy: eyeslipsface.com
Would I Buy Again: Yes

The high definition loose powder creates a "soft focus" effect to the skin. Masks fine lines and imperfections for a radiant complexion. The incredibly soft and invisible powder is great for on-screen and everyday wear.

 I love this product! I almost didn't get it but I'm so so glad I did. Basically its a very fine finishing powder that is suppose to 'blur' flaws or whatever. I didn't get it for that though, I just wanted something that would help with oil control and I think it does.

I put this on after my foundation, powder, and blush. To apply, I leave the puff over the sifter, put 3 fingers under the strap and my thumb under the bottom of the container, then I just flip it upside down and give it a shake, put it right side up and blot the puff on a small area of my face, using short stroking motions to blend it in. I do this a few times to cover my whole face. I think using the puff applicator to apply it makes it way less messy then using a brush. You don't waste product and you can control exactly where it goes. Remember to wash the powder puff every once in a while as it will get dirty, warm soap and water works just fine.

I find that this does help with oil control, but of course not 100% (nothing does that for me). What I really like though is that in the middle of the day when I'm getting oily I can blot with a piece of tissue and then put the HD powder on and look like I just put my make up on without looking cakey at all, as you might if you put on a regular face powder.

That for me is what makes this so amazing. I'm going to get some level of oil on my face in the middle of the day no matter what, and being able to suddenly look fresh and clean really means a lot to me. I'm sure there are other powders that do something similar but for the price of ELF's I think this is an amazing product. It is a really really fine powder too, if I run my fingers over my skin after putting it on I don't feel any grittiness which I've had with other silica powders.

PROS:
-very fine texture
-helps a bit with oil control
-mattifies
-easy to apply and blend in
-can reapply in the middle of the day & look like you just put on your make up

CONS:
-not available to many (if any) stores
-packaging is a little bulky if you want to travel with it, but you can transfer a bit to another jar if you like


Ingredients: Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica

Review: ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer

Quality: 5 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Size: .15 oz
Price: $3.00
Where To Buy: eyeslipsface.com
Would I Buy Again: Yes

God bless the people at ELF who made this product! It is amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing, especially for just $3.00!

This gentle and completely sheer Eyeshadow Primer has key vitamins A, C and E to help prevent aging and moisturizes the skin. The formula glides on easily and disappears instantly to create longer-lasting, crease-proof eyeshadow. The Mineral Eyeshadow Primer is designed to be used with your favorite mineral eyeshadow to provide ultimate staying power for beautiful and vibrant color that lasts. 100% mineral based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes.

I think we all know about Urban Decays Primer Potion. We all know that its a bit expensive, and we know that the packaging sucks so you have to cut the sucker open just to get your money's worth. ELF has made a affordable alternative that, in my experience, works just as well as Urban Decays more expensive primer.

I'll start by saying that I have very oily eyelids. Without a primer my eyeshadow creases within 2-3 hours. With ELF's Mineral Primer my eyeshadow lasts about 8-9 hours (as long as I'm not out in super hot weather) with only a bit of fading. It stays vibrant most of the day.

The primer is totally sheer. The tube I got is kind of watery but I don't know if this is the norm. The tube is clear with a doe foot applicator so you can see how much you have left inside. It easy to blend and you don't need to use a whole lot.

PROS:
-very affordable, $3.00
-makes e/s vibrant
-last a very long time (8-9 hours)
-no parabens or dyes

CONS:
-none???

INGREDIENTS: Isododecane, Cylopentasiloxane, Octyl Palmitate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Triacontanyl PVP, Propylene Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163).

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Coming Soon: LOOK OUT FOR MY UDPP vs ELF-MP COMPARISON POST.

Don't forget to use the code CAROLINA at the ELF website for 50% off orders up to $15. Also use Ebates for 4% cash back.

Review: ELF Studio Powder Brush

Quality: 5 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Price: $3.00
Where To Buy: Eyeslipsface.com
Would I Buy Again: Yes!

This brush is so great! Its the first flat top brush I've tried, and it'll probably be the last. I had been thinking about getting a more expensive one from Coastal Scents but kept putting it off, finially I decided to try this one since its $10 cheaper. I've used it for both powder and liquid foundation with great results.

For powder foundation it gives great coverage and I've never had powder foundation look so good. It was easy to get the foundation around my nose but harder to get it around my eyebrows.

Applying liquid foundation with this brush was so much easier then any other brush I've used and quicker then using my fingers. Plus I got a great smooth streak free finish with zero effort. Today was really the fastest and easiest time I've ever had applying liquid foundation.

This brush is super soft, and it was easy to wash out my stubborn Revlon CS. Also there was very little foundation left on my brush, I expected there to be more on my brush then on my face like with other brushes but that doesn't happen with this brush.



PROS:
-super soft
-no shedding
-no smell
-applies both powder & liquid foundation like a dream
-cleans easy, doesn't suck foundation up into the bristles
-affordable for everyone
-vegan, bristles are synthetic

CONS:
-takes a few hours to dry like most synthetic brushes

Don't forget to use the code CAROLINA at the ELF website for 50% off orders up to $15. Also use Ebates for 4% cash back.

Review: ELF Eye Makeup Remover Pads

Quality: 5 out of 5
Packaging 5 out of 5
Price: $1
Size: 18 pads
Where To Buy: Eyeslipsface.com
Would I buy Again: Yes

Our unique fragrance free formula allows you to quickly and easily remove your make up while leaving your face fresh and clean. Eighteen pads are conveniently packed in a travel case that lets you easily store the pads in your travel case or everyday bag.

Directions:
Smooth pad over closed lid and lashes. Tissue off lashes before reapplying makeup. Leaves eyes feeling fresh and clean. Recommended for use with e.l.f. Earth & Water Mascara Duo and e.l.f. eye makeup.

I really love these eye makeup remover pads. They are so great at removing makeup and I don't have to rub over the same area again and again to get everything off. It says is doesn't have a fragrance but I think is smells like baby whipes. The pad is very thin but it picks up a lot and its very sturdy. The only thing I would complain about is that after I use it my eyelids are a little sticky (like my eyelid just sticks together a bit) so I need to rinse with water. Also it doesn't 100% remove mascara but I'd say it gets 80-90%. It would be really great if elf made a jumbo or refill pack because it only holds 18 pads.

PROS:
-gentle baby whipe smell
-cleans makeup off fast with no rubbing
-pad is thin but very sturdy, won't fall apart
-doesn't burn or irratate eyes
-package is very small and portable

CONS:
-leaves skin a little tacky/sticky
-doesn't completey remove mascara

Nail polish haul & Nail Of The Day

My newest addiction right now is nail polish. I don't know how long its going to last so I'm trying not to go crazy and buy 38267922 bottles that I will probably go months without using. I don't want to be one of those people who has 200+ colors (says the girl with over 100 eye shadows). Today I got 3 colors and 3 of those super thin brush polishes that you use for artsy designs.

I also got a new top coat a few days ago. My old Sally Hansen one was getting a little thick and I think it was giving me bubbles (those annoying bumps that ruin your mani's). So I did some research and the Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat had a good rep. This is $8 at Sally's. I wish I'd gotten the Sally membership cause then it would have been only $5. Oh well, next time.




UFO

Daddy's Girl

Whats Your Name (black with blue sparkles)


Seche Vite


And my current mani, ELF Berry Pink (my fave pink)

Pics of new WnW & Jane displays at Walgreens + my drug store haul

I checked out Walgreens today and they had some new WnW displays that I'd been wanting to see. I know a lot of other people are interested too so I took pics.

WnW Natural Wear: Pressed Powder, Foundation, Loose Bronze, Loose Blush

Speed Glazes, Long Lasting Lip Color

Gel E/L, Cream E/S Pencils, Mascara, Mineral Loose E/S

Eye Defining Marker, Chrome E/L, Eye Brow Kits


Jane Aqua Ceuticals Sheer Tinted Moisturizer



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I also stopped at some other places and got a few things that I've actually been trying to find for weeks.


Sunsilk Hydra TLC (I've been looking everywear & I find it at the grocery store lol)
ELF Tweezers (for my purse)
ELF Conditioning Balm (best lip balm for me personally, 2nd time buying it)

Jane Sassy l/g
Jane Sheer Tinted Moisturizer (never tried before, will review this week)
Rimmel Stay Matte foundation (will review later this week)

Remington's All That Rag Rollers (been looking for this for a long time, got the last one at Ross for $10, will review tomorrow)

My Brushes

This is for Nikki who asked what brushes I use, so here they are.

Sonia Kashuk Blush Brush (HG) & unknown Kabuki brush. I don't have any other face brushes. I use the kabuki to apply Fyrinnae's Rice Primer and to blend blush.


NYX #1 eye brush, Contour Dome (crease) brush
Studio Tools Large E/S brush (I use this to highlight brow bone), Medium E/S brush (I use this for all over e/s application), Smudge brush (used for blending & applying e/s under bottom lashes)
ELF Eyeshadow brushes, Eyeliner brush (used only to tightline), Angled brush
Sonia Kashuk Smudge brush (detail work, smudging, and lining lower lashes)
unknown angled brush & e/s brush

MAC Eye Shadow Dupes

I haven't tried many of these, so some could be off but I think most are accurate. If you have any to add feel free to comment with them. The ones with the * are the ones I know for sure are dupes either because I have them or because I've seen side by side swatches.

Eye Shadow
MAC Amber Lights = Milani Sun Goddess, NYX Golden
MAC Aquadisiac = Jane Millionare
MAC Atlas = ULTA Silk
MAC Bamboo = Wild and Crazy Wild Guava
MAC Beautiful Iris = ULTA Iris, NYX Frosted Lilac
MAC Black Tied = Jane Clubbing = Milani Storm
MAC Brill = Wild & Crazy Bahama Water
MAC Carbon = NYX Black
MAC Coppering = Milani Flare
*MAC Cranberry = NYX Rust
MAC Crystal Avalanche = NYX White Pearl
*MAC Electric Eel = Milani Atlantis, NYX Irises
MAC Floof = NYX Cream Cheese
MAC Gorgeous Gold = Prestige Glitz C-157
MAC Guacamole = Milani Limbo Lime
MAC Hepcat = NYX Violet
*MAC Humid = Milani Clover, NYX Mermaid Green
MAC Jest = Milani Peachy Peach
MAC Jewel Blue = Jane Eye Zing in Surfer Girl
MAC Juxt = Milani Garden Mist, Jane Rain Forest
MAC Little Madame = Milani Illusion
MAC Llama - NYX Nude
MAC Lucky Green = Wet n' Wild Marquis
MAC Mink & Sable = ELF Sage
MAC Mulch, Sable = Milani Java Bean
MAC Naked Lunch = Wet n' Wild Fine Wink, NYX Aloha
MAC Nocturnelle = NYX Beauty Queen
MAC Nylon = Vanilla Sky
MAC Paradisco = Flirt! Feeling Hot
*MAC Parrot = ULTA Deep Sea, L'oreal HIP in Showy
MAC Parfait Amour = Milani Enchantment, NYX Luxor
MAC Passionate = NYX Cherry or Red Head
MAC Perverted Pearl = Milani Silver Bullet
MAC Pink Freeze = Milani Taffy
*MAC Satin Taupe = ELF Moondust, ULTA Twilight, NYX Iced Mocha
MAC Satellite Dreams = Daffodil
MAC Shale = Milani Icy Plum
MAC Shimmermoss = ULTA Luna
MAC Solar White = NYX Barely There
MAC Sketch = Milani Marooned
MAC Stars and Rockets = NYX Luxor, Milani Shock
MAC Trax = Flirt! Glamourazzi
MAC Vanilla = Milani Snow Frost
MAC Vellum = Milani Moonlight, NYX Snow Cone
MAC Woodwinked = Milani Golden Bronze

Pigments
MAC Dark Soul pigment = Jane Clubbing
*MAC Fuchsia pigment = Jesse’s Girl 553 Sparkle Red
*MAC Old Gold = Jesse’s Girl 567 Sunlit Cactus
MAC Pink Pearl = Jesse’s Girl 551 Superpink Pearl
MAC Silver Pigment = Milani Mercury
*MAC Sweet Sienna = theshespace.com Gothic Glamour
*MAC Violet = Jesse’s Girl 560 Cloisonne Violet
MAC Viz A Violet = NYX Ultra Pearl Mania Purple



MAC Sweet Sienna - theshespace.com Gothic Glamour
Sweet Sienna = $20 (7 gram jar)
Gothic Glamour = $4 (3 gram jar)







MAC Humid - NYX Mermaid Green
In the pot Humid has more yellow/olive undertones while Mermaid doesn't. When you apply them the color difference is not so apparent, you really don't need both. Humid is a bit more vibrant by itself, but Mermaid used with a good base or mixing medium catches up.

Humid = $14
Mermaid Green = $4

Review: ELF Brushes

ELF brushes have a special place in my heart, they were the first ones I bought just as I was seriously getting into make up. So I thought I would do a little tribute to them here.

Quality: 4 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Price: $1
Where to buy: eyeslipsface.com
Cruelty Free: Yes

-Total Face, 2 out of 5
Total crap. Its not soft, its not dense enough, its not firm enough. At least it doesn't shed a lot, but thats about the only thing going for it. I never use this.

-Blushing, Bronzing, Blending, 3 out of 5
The ELF website doesn't show it, but this brush is angled. While its not scratchy, its also not very soft. I also don't like it because its not wide enough to apply blush in just a few strokes, you have to go back for more to cover a decent area. I did use this for a really long time, but then I bought my Sonia Kashuk blush brush and finally knew blush brush happiness. It had almost no shedding.

-Foundation, 3 out of 5
The bristles on the brush are stiff but soft, and also kind of crappy at applying liquid foundation (or maybe thats just me, I don't have a lot of/any experiance using foundation brushes). I liked it find for applying powder though. I never really use this, except sometimes I'll use it to put on asprin masks. I think there are probably better quality foundation brushes so I wouldn't recommend this one.

-Blending, 1 out of 5
I do NOT recommend this brush unless you like having your skin scratched off. The bristles are too sparse to blend well and very harsh. I only use this to brush off fallout pigment and to blend foiled pigments, and thats not very often. I don't know if it sheds a lot because I haven't used it enough to find out.

-Angled/Defining, 5 out of 5
This brush has soft angled bristles that are great for precise shadow application, brow filling, and lining. I have not experienced any shedding and this brush is still in great condition after months and month of regular use. I definitely recommend trying it. Zero shedding.

-Eyeliner, 5 out of 5
This is a thin, straight flat brush with firm bristles. I use this to tightline my top and bottom waterlines. Its also good for applying cream or gel liners above and below eye lashes although I do like an angled brush better for that.

-Eye Shadow, 5 out of 5

The quality of this brush is very good. Its soft but not flimsy, and it holds eyeshadow well. My eyeshadow goes on very smooth and blended, and I don't usually have any powder dropping onto my cheeks or lashes. I've had two of these brushes for almost a year and despite the cheap price they are still in as great a condition as ever. Have experianced little to no shedding.