A Haul + Review: E.L.F.

E.L.F. is a wonderful line of inexpensive, quality (mostly), and cruelty-free makeup that I trust. I haven't had problems that went unfixed. (In a order long, long ago, something came broken and they immediately sent two replacements - cool, right?) Their stuff all pretty much averages under $5 unless you're getting a set. Their Essentials line is mostly $1-$2, their Studio line is around $3-$6, and their minerals line is $4-$6. I cannot speak for their mineral line but as for their Essentials and Studio products, this is where I need to be when I want makeup. Also, never order at full price. Almost always, there's a coupon code out, just Google for one, you'll come up with something. (Hint: my original total was about $65, I ended up paying only $35 - including shipping - for everything below.)

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I will upload with photos and swatches later but while everything is fresh on my mind, I'm going to scribble down some stuff that's short and sweet about each product. 

Brushes:

Studio Powder Brush ($3) - this is a full-sized flat top brush that I love. I think at one time, I had ten individual brushes with this style all from E.L.F. It's amazing from powder to liquid foundation to cream blush, you need this brush.

Studio Angled Brush ($3) - I use this style of brush for my eye brows only and they have a nice, sturdy one that'll be great to use in lieu of my Revlon one that's on its last leg. 

Studio Pointed Foundation Brush ($3) - What a neat concept. This is a full, well-constructed brush that's going to be great under the eyes and for contouring. I'm impressed with the size, it's shaped almost like a lipstick but symmetrical all around. I can't wait to use this one. 

Studio Contour Eye Brush ($3) - This is another I use strictly for brows and it's a re-buy, mine is getting kinda shabby but what else can I expect after two years of daily wear. I use this for the bulb of my brows or to smudge out liner or crease-work. It's a necessity. 

Studio Small Stipple Brush ($3) - I bought this on a whim. I can already tell it'll be nice for highlighting, cream blush, or under-eye work. It's short, small, and full; very different from their flimsy full-sized stippling brush.

Essentials Professional Blending Eye Brush ($1) - I love this style of brush because I like a darker crease color always. This is a re-buy and I already have many but while I'm browsing, I always repurchase favorites because E.L.F. takes longer than I'd like for shipping and only ordering a few things isn't worth it to me. Great staple.

Blushers:

Studio Baked Highlighter in Moonlight Pearl ($3) - I didn't order this but it was in with my bag of stuff, I think they threw it in on purpose though. Nice! It's a pretty, pearly highlighter and nothing more but it'll be handy! Super shimmery and candle-light like, nice!

Studio Baked Blush in Passion Pink ($3) - It's pretty in the package and comes off very shimmery and light on the skin but still, a nice night-time blush or if I'm looking for a warmer highlight. These baked products are pretty dry but not hard to work with. 

Studio Bronzer in Cool ($3) - "All my life...I've prayed for some(thing) like you..." is what I sang when I got this. I've wanted this since I saw it a couple of years ago and just never took the time to buy it. I needed this so bad and I can't wait to see it in action. It's completely matte and contained four colors: a white, bronze, taupe/bronze, and deep pink shade. Contouring, here I come!

Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzer Duo in Turks Caicos ($3) - These, unfortunately, are glitter bombs but the color is nice. The one on the left is a deeper, darker peach with glitter and the right is a nice deep peachy bronze. I'm not sure how I'll deal with all the sparkle but we'll see. I definitely won't be contouring with this.

Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzer Cream Duo in St. Lucia ($3) - This is like the original duo only cream finish. These have no shimmer. The left side is a nice, deep peachy pink and the right is a deep neutral tone of brown. I can't wait to use these. 

Studio HD Blush Cream in Headliner ($3) - This particular shade is gorgeous but man, this stuff is no joke! A pin-head sized dab would be sufficient for whatever blush you needed. I can't wait to use this. 

Face: 

Studio HD Setting Powder in Translucent ($6) - I bought two of these, as I can never have enough. This is just straight up silica powder, no fillers, nothing but sweet, smooth skin afterwards. Enough said, I think. It's nice to have so long as you're careful with it. 

Eyes:
Studio HD Undereye Setting Powder ($3) - I thought this would be concentrated translucent powder but no, it's silica powder with microglitter - not shimmer but straight up glitter! I hate glitter but I'm still going to give this a shot. It's nice and smooth but then there's these prom-night-esque bits and chunks here and there. Grr. 

Essentials Sheer Eye Shadow Primer ($1) - For a dollar, this can't be beat. I like this stuff against my Urban Decay Primer Potion, Too Faced, everything. (I do use the Fergie Wet N' Wild Take On the Day Primer on a daily basis but it's essentially the same thing.) You need this, trust me. 

Essentials Eyebrow Stencil Kit ($1) - On a whim, I got these to make my brows go faster in the morning, I hate doing them but I feel incomplete without them. I like these, they're basic but smaller than some you'd find elsewhere. I have some from a beauty supply store and they're similar. Basic, cheap, and useful. 

Studio 32 Piece Eyeshadow Palette in Natural ($6) - This is a big ol' palette full of all things pretty and neutral, just like I like. This has cool, warm, and neutral tones of natural colors. I can't wait to get into this and play. Quality is what you'd expect, some better than others, but I've already found several favorites. On sale, this would make a great buy or a great gift. 

Studio Lash Extending Mascara ($3) - I can't wait to use this. The brush speaks for itself. No comment just yet but I'm stoked to try it!

Essentials Eye Shadow Single in Taupe ($1) - This is the one that you can put into the compact. I just got it to make my order enough to qualify for free shipping. This is certainly not a shade of taupe. It's more of a cool antiqued gold rather than taupe. I'm sort of disappointed. It's pretty, nevertheless. I'll give it a shot. 

Lips: 

Essentials Lipstick in Nostalgic ($1) - These lipsticks are nice, pigmented, creamy, and long-lasting. They even smell good. This color is a nude-leaning-peach type of shade, think MAC Freckle-tone. For  $1, they're definitely worth experimenting with.

Cosmetic Line-Cutters

Line-cutters, here, meaning short cuts or tricks that no one really talks about or maybe they do, but these are my favorites. A quick list - hopefully - that you can refer to.

• Cream blush can double as a lip color and lip color can double as a cream blush. For lip color, rub some on the back of your hand and pick it up with a blush brush or fingers and dabble on the cheaks. 
• Mascara can be many things: with an angle brush it can be a liner on top and bottom, it can be used to tame dark-hued brows or set them into place, or of course, as mascara. (Too, if you've got dark hair, use mascara to tame fly-aways around the hairline.)
• Used up a mascara? Clean up the wand with remover and soap and water to use as a spoolie.
• Use that mascara wand (cleaned, of course) as a spoolie to tame brows, comb through mascara, tame fly-aways around the hairline. Spritz with hairspray or dabble on some hair gel for a little hold if using on the hair or brows. 
• Brow powder is a magical thing, too. Use it for brows, eye shadow, liner, and contouring! Contouring powder or bronzer can be used for the inverse. 
• If your skin isn't super-sensitive to silicas, silica powder is amazing as a setting agent.
• Witch hazel is a wonderful makeup remover and is a lot gentler than astringent alcohols. 
• Moisturize fully before makeup primers and makeup in general. Lips, too!
•  My routine for quickness and efficiency: shower, brush teeth, moisturize, blow-dry, make-up, style, lips and fragrance very last.
• Nails smudge mid-drying stage? Lick it - seriously, if it's not too wet, you can use your tongue to push smooth it over. Google this. It works, I promise. 
• Un-coated junk aspirin has great exfoliating properties. I don't recommend using it as a mask because your skin sucks up things like that. But do put about five in your hand, soak them in warm water and allow them to dissolve. Mix this with your cleanser or use it straight-up, it's wonderful! Use infrequently, this is pretty tough stuff!
• Sugar does the same as the above but it's most abrasive! Be careful. (Use on legs before and after shaving, too, as a scrub or all over with body wash, it works wonderfully!)
• Sugar and lemon make a great facial scrub. Lemon will brighten and fade acne and freckles, sugar will scrub away dead skin and reveal fresh, new skin. 

I'll continue to add to this list when I'm not so tired.
-A