Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Studio Cream Eyeshadow in Eggplant
Christinaann5 7/16/2012 10:43:00 PM
I am obsessed with the Elf Studio Cream shadows. They are very similiar to the new raved up Maybelline Color Tattoos- they are dupes but more like cousins. These cream shadows are amazing and i wish they would come out with more and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PRICE & AVAILABILITY ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Elf Studio Cream Eyeshadows can be found online on the eyeslipsface website as well as various shades at varying Target & KMart stores. I have recently seen a few shades available at my local Dollar Tree stores so ladies, go check if you are interested in trying any. The price is great. At full price, these are $3 which isnt bad esp for the product & how much you get. Even better if you catch them on a good sale which always check retailmenot site for coupon codes!! would i pay full price? yes, i have & would again if i had to. ~~~~~~ SHADE & FORMULA & PERFORMANCE ~~~~~ The Elf Studio Cream shadows are a great cream shadow formula. These cream shadows are a nice thicker cream that spreads well. Def will need to use a primer first to help prevent any creasing or fading. Esp if you have oily lids. I have normal to dry skin & these stay put for hours!! A cream shadow can be used alone for a more natural & effortless look but if you top these a powder shadow, it will allow the powder shadows to stand out or be more pigmented, as well as keep the cream shadow from fading or creasing & can allow different undertones of shadows to be brought out. I am obsessed w/ cream shadows & these have quickly become my favorite! The formula is similar to a paintpot meaning, its not too waxy or wet. A perfect cream consistency that can be applied w/ fingers or a synthetic brush. These apply true to color in pot & blend easily w/out blending away. You also got a little bit of time to work with them to blend & smooth w/out worrying that they are gonna dry fast. Using a thin layers will also help against creasing as well as them looking too cakey. Eggplant is a great midtone color but least used esp in the summer/spring months but can be used year round. Eggplant in the jar is a deepened brownish purple maroon. It shows up a little less dark on the lids but its multi-faceted meaning, it shows up as a medium purple maroon with a bronze undertone. It shows lighter where the light naturally hits like the lids but darkens in the crease area so it can be worn alone for a look. Eggplant can be worn year round & works well underneath almost any color esp bronze, browns, purples & maroons. ~~~~~~~~~~~ PACKAGING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Elf Studio Cream shadows come in a bulky hard plastic jar that the cream blushes & lip balms come in. This hard plastic container doesnt look cheap. Its just a bit big. I know they have since put some of the shades in the same but smaller packaging that the cream liners come in. So i have yet to find out if its the same amount of cream shadow or less for the same price. When i look, ill update here. The lid is a flat black color w/ white elf logo & product name. The bottom is see through allowing to see which color is inside. Nice if you have more of the elf studio products since they all have almost the same packaging. The lid is a tad inconvenient. You must make sure to twist the lid on correctly otherwise, the product will dry out. You will see that its not on right since the lid wont sit flat. So with the minor flaws, its not the best but its def not the worst either. They had a good idea but it just didnt come out too great. Other than that, I really do love the product inside & feel like i can look past it. I could always depot if it becomes too bothersome. I have all the available shades & they do take up some room in my collection but they look nice at least! Overall, if you are looking for some good cream bases or cream shadows, these are wonderful! I think the formula is great & these are affordable & cruelty free! Eggplant is a great base to use alone or paired w/ lots of other shadows. Great for a nice warm smoky look or a nice warm maroon purple daytime look, very versatile & so pretty.
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Eye Shadow -L.A. Colors - Sunflower trio
Christinaann5 7/4/2012 10:39:00 AM
LA Colors has truly amazing eyeshadows that I personally enjoy. Some of their older makeup isn't the best but these new trios are really great quality. I love finding new makeup from them & they are cruelty free, affordable, and a very nice company. They care about their customers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PRICE & AVAILABILITY ~~~~~~~~~~ LA Colors is available in my area at my local Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Five Below & Family Dollar stores. They also have their own website online that you can order from. I really hope that a big store would pick them up & sale their products bc I know they would be big like Wet-n-Wild is. Their makeup is very cheap & affordable. I am on a strict budget so their makeup is great for it. The new trios only cost $1. yes, one dollar but don't let the price tag deter you bc they are great! ~~~~ SHADE & FORMULA & PERFORMANCE ~~~~~~ The LA Colors 3 color trios are an amazing soft, super pigmented and creamy shadows. They arent exactly like the new Loreal infalliable shadows but pretty similar. They are pressed well, butter smooth, apply so nicely and blend well. The top layer i find has an metallic overlay but ends up being more matte with a slight shimmer. The finish ends up being more on the satin side. The trio comes with 3 amazing shadows that coordinate together but i love to add different finishes esp mattes into my looks for more day time appropriate looks. The LA Colors 3 color trios are an amazing soft, super pigmented and creamy shadows. They arent exactly like the new Loreal Infalliable shadows but pretty similar. They are pressed well, butter smooth, apply so nicely and blend well. The top layer i find has an metallic overlay but ends up being more matte with a slight shimmer. The finish ends up being more on the satin side. The trio comes with 3 amazing shadows that coordinate together but i love to add different finishes esp mattes into my looks for more day time appropriate looks. These colors in this trio are very soft and pretty. They are super pigmented and smooth with minimal fallout. I do see very little loose powder after dipping my brush but i expect much more with such a cheap trio but its actually not too bad. Whats super nice about these trios is the pigmentation & the feel of the shadows. They almost feel wet or like a foiled shadow. This makes it super easy to apply. The three shadows from left to right are: 1st shadow: a yellow gold sun color 2nd shadow: a orange with golden & bronze undertones 3rd shadow: a unique brown with somewhat of a green undertone Sunflower is a nice neutral trio with some fun colors. Its warm, great for summer or fall. I love this colors. They can be added to any look. Great for those with warm skin tones. These shadows are so smooth & silky and I like them better than alot of drugstore shadows I've purchased. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PACKAGING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The LA Colors 3 Color Trios come in the standard hard plastic rectangular compact. The lid is see through with the LA Colors logo and the back is black with sticker with shade name and ingredients/info. The compact snaps open/shut easily. These arent super flimsy where they will crack or break easily like some drugstore compacts. They are slim enough to fit into bags for travel. Inside is 3 circular pans, bigger than 28mm which means you get a whole bunch of shadow which is awesome. The shadows have a flower pressed into the top. The flower will disappear with use. The compact isn't the best but they work and they hold the product safely. They include a double ended foam tip applicator for those who may need it. I do use brushes but ive had instances where ive needed one. I love that you get a good size deep pan of shadow. What I care about is that the product inside is great & that it will be safe. And better if i get a good amount of product. Overall, LA Colors trios are amazing!! (they also have other new trios that are similar to these but w/out the flower imprint)
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Eye Shadow -L.A. Colors - 3 Color Eye Shadow Palette Orchid
Christinaann5 7/4/2012 10:34:00 AM
If you havent tried any of the new trios from LA Colors, i suggests you run, not walk to the stores! I am obsessed with them all and only wish LA Colors continue to make such amazing shadows!!! Orchid is beautiful and heres my thoughts.. ~~~~~~~~~~~ PRICE & AVAILABILITY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The LA Colors 3 Color Shadow trios are available at most Dollar Trees, Dollar General and Family Dollar. The availability of shades will vary depending on your location and what they are carrying. The price will vary slightly as well. I can find these for $1 at dollar tree and $1.50 at other stores. Either way, DIRT CHEAP but dont let the price fool you, these are wonderful! ~~~~~~~~ SHADE & FORMULA & PERFORMANCE ~~~~~~ The LA Colors 3 color trios are an amazing soft, super pigmented and creamy shadows. They arent exactly like the new Loreal infalliable shadows but pretty similar. They are pressed well, butter smooth, apply so nicely and blend well. The top layer i find has an metallic overlay but ends up being more matte with a slight shimmer. The finish ends up being more on the satin side. The trio comes with 3 amazing shadows that coordinate together but i love to add different finishes esp mattes into my looks for more day time appropriate looks. These colors in this trio are very soft and pretty. They are super pigmented and smooth with minimal fallout. I do see very little loose powder after dipping my brush but i expect much more with such a cheap trio but its actually not too bad. Whats super nice about these trios is the pigmentation & the feel of the shadows. They almost feel wet or like a foiled shadow. This makes it super easy to apply. The three shadows from left to right are: 1st shadow: a soft pastel pink very nice for the lid area 2nd shadow: a true soft gold 3rd shadow: a dark chocolate bronze brown All three are nice for day to day wear as well as add a darker color to the outer v for a nite time look. I love this trio & reach for it often. They wear quite a while without fading or creasing. Use a primer (i love to use the LA Colors Concealer for an eye primer & its amazing) and these will wear for around 7 hrs before i see a little fading. Not too bad for a $1 trio. I have collected all i can find and reach for these often & Orchid is a nice trio of basic colors that anyone can enjoy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PACKAGING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The LA Colors 3 Color Trios come in the standard hard plastic rectangular compact. The lid is see through with the LA Colors logo and the back is black with sticker with shade name and ingredients/info. The compact snaps open/shut easily. These arent super flimsy where they will crack or break easily like some drugstore compacts. They are slim enough to fit into bags for travel. Inside is 3 circular pans, bigger than 28mm which means you get a whole bunch of shadow which is awesome. The shadows have a flower pressed into the top. The flower will disappear with use. The trios arent so pretty but they work and they hold the product safely. They include a double ended foam tip applicator for those who may need it. I do use brushes but ive had instances where ive needed one. I love that you get a good size deep pan of shadow. Overall, if you havent tried any of the newer trios from LA Colors, i highly suggests giving them a try. These are great additions to any makeup collection. I love these and they are so soft and smooth and wear great. I love the pigmentation. I love pairing these with different color cream bases to bring out different undertones. So great! i love my LA COLORS! they are affordable and CRUELTY FREE MAKEUP!
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Eyeliner -L.A. Colors - Eyeliner Pencil Navy
Christinaann5 7/3/2012 10:50:00 PM
The LA Colors pencil liners are actually pretty good esp for the price. Its your basic liner but i really love their Brow/Eyeliner pencils in the duo pack, wow, they are absolutely amazing but these single pencils are pretty good too. ~~~~~~~~~~~ PRICE & AVAILABILITY ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The LA Colors Eyeliner pencils are available in few stores. I can find them at Family Dollar and Dollar General stores. As well as a few online stores like the la color site & cherryculture. The price will vary depending on where you purchase but I buy mine for $1. Yes super cheap and affordable, what i love! ~~~~~~~ SHADE & FORMULA & PERFORMANCE ~~~~~~ The LA Colors eyeliner pencils are your standard eyeliners. I notice the very tip needs to be sharpened off to reveal a softer pencil. The eyeliner is nice for lining your top and lower lash lines as well as your water line. The wear time isnt significant or super long wear but it does wear decently. I notice around 6-7 hrs a little fading. (i do prime my eyes and i dont have oily lids either) I love using these liners for my more smoky looks. Smudging them out with shadow works great. They glide on nicely without tugging or pulling. I have somewhat sensitive eyes and these have not bothered them. Navy is a great basic color to have. Its a nice dark navy blue. Its a touch different than my usual black or brown. I love it for my brown eyes. Makes them stand out more. If you would like these to wear longer (as with any eyeliner) prime your eyes as well as top these with your face powder or even better a powder shadow. I have really enjoyed all my liners from LA Colors. They are great basics that i use on a daily routine. I love lining my lash line for it makes my eyes look a little bigger and more wide awake. Navy is a great color to make the eyes appear a tad bigger. Its also a wearable shade for day or night and any season. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PACKAGING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The LA COlors Eyeliner pencil is your standard wooden pencil with the liner on the inside. The pencils are black in color with white logo/product name. The shade can be found under product name. These pencils are standard size so they will fit in any pencil sharpener you already have. LA Colors does have a great double pencil sharpener as well which also fits their jumbo pencils & standard pencils. The pencils sharpen easily without any wood shavings or unevenly like some pencils i own. These are your standard size around 7-8 inches so they will last quite awhile. I know i barely have ever made it through a pencil liner and LA Colors eye/brow pencil, i actually have made it through 2. Which means, i really love em! Overall, if you are looking for a good, affordable, basic liner def give these a go! i love the 2 pack liners, they are softer and creamier but days i want something that will stay put, i reach for these. They are good to have. Def recommend and will and have repurchased! I love Navy too. Such a pretty color!
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Professional Bronzing Brush
Christinaann5 6/30/2012 9:22:00 PM
So, this is a pretty decent brush considering the price. Now i got into brushes for a little bit and bought a whole bunch and kinda pushed these to the side but recently, Ive been using this brush on a daily basis and realized its not as bad as some people say. But it might be because I dont own Mac or other HE brushes.. So my expectations are not super high. ~~~~~~~~~~PRICE & AVAILABILITY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Elf Professional Bronzing Brush can be found on the eyeslipsface website as well as some Target, Kmart, Dollar General & Sears Grand stores. This is very similar to the Elf Professional Blush & Bronzer brush that also cost a $1. Yes this little baby only cost 10 dimes or 100 pennies (yes we dont get to use pennies that much anymore) The Elf Professional brush line cost $1 and there are some hits and misses and i think if you want a simple multipurpose brush, this may work for you. ~~~~~~ BRUSH PERFORMANCE & USES ~~~~~~~ The brush is a tad scratchy at first but after a few uses & washes, it softens up. It hasnt bothered my face at all. This is a great brush for applying a light touch of contouring powder (great for pale girls like me that dont want a super dark contour), applying a light dusting of bronzer or blush as well as for powder highlighting. It picks up product good, i do tap off excess easily & it applies & slightly blends out at the same time. I esp like it for contouring & using it for my powder highlighters. It does not work with liquid or cream products since its not made of synthetic fibers. I do have to use a kabuki sometimes if i apply a pigmented color since i do have super pale skin. Its not the best brush but i do really enjoy it. Its great for those looking for a less dense/compacted brush for contouring, blush or bronzer. I use these brushes for day look or work & when i need something more dramatic or if Im going out somewhere, i may switch up to a more dense contouring brush but this one is great for me. ~~~~~~~~~~~ PACKAGING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Elf Professional Bronzing Brush is from the $1 white handle line. The handle is a white/cream with silver metallic logo & brush name located at bottom of handle. The ferrule is silver and the bristles are natural hair dyed a reddish brown. The bristles are a little rough at first but will soften up a little. Nothing super bad at all. The dye will run a tiny bit the first one or two times they are cleaned. The Elf Professional brushes are somewhat inconsistent meaning you can pick up the same brush but it will be slightly different. I own 2 or 3 of these brushes and they are all a tiny bit different. The brush is a small semi dense angled brush. The bristles are not super dense or packed so they do move a bit. They arent super floppy & will hold up with application. I dont recall any hairs falling out with these. I have had a loose hair or two that i easily pulled out. These have held up well with use & washes. Overall, this is a nice basic small angled brush that can be used for many different things. I love using it for my contouring since its small enough to give a more precise line that can then be blended out. Def a nice cheap brush!! There are two versions of this brush. Each one resembles each other. But both work great for me.
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Conditioner -Suave - Suave Kids Awesome Apple Detangling Spray
Christinaann5 6/24/2012 12:25:00 AM
This is a great little basic that i think everyone should have laying around just in case but in my case, i use a detangler on a daily basis, this isnt the best but def has its ups so ill give you my thoughts... ~~~~~~~~~~~~ PRICE & AVAILABILITY ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Suave Kids Detangling Spray can be found in most drugstores like Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS as well as mass discount stores like Walmart & Target. The price will of course vary depending on your location as well as where you purchase but typically this is super cheap around $2 but if it works for you its worth it if not, finding one at the Dollar Tree may be even better. ~~~~~~~~~~ FORMULA & PERFORMANCE ~~~~~~~~~~ The Suave Kids Awesome Apple Detangling Spray is a liquid spray that smells of artificial apples but still delicious!! i love the scent. I use this after i get out of the shower & my hair is still wet or damp & let it soak in for a little bit (among a few other products) and use a wide tooth comb to brush my hair. My hair is unmanageable & knotty. This def does not completely untangle my hair by itself but i believe it does help slightly. Even my brother-in-laws niece who is 8 years old uses this & said "it doesnt work unless you spray a whole bunch in your hair but it smells good" that girl was spot on!! we both had the same product & same thought!!! loved it! So i do spray all over esp concentrating on spots like behind my neck & the front & ear area. It does help a little bc i dont have major knots like before. Another use i have for this- its great for pick me ups or days i use my dry shampoos or between shampoos, ill spray some all over my hair & it helps tame fly aways as well as leave a slight scent of apples. I am always afraid my hair stinks if i dont wash it so this is a great alternative for those like myself that dont get super oily hair between shampoos but want something to refreshen the hair. This is great ( i use a dollar tree brand as well which these both work the same and smell great) The scent doesnt last forever. Its stronger out of bottle but will disappear after an hour or so but sometimes i get a slight smell so i wish it would last longer but i dont expect a super cheap detangler to scent my hair for hours. it would be awesome though if it did. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PACKAGING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Suave Kids Detangling Spray comes in a standard plastic spray bottle. The bottle is a fun apple green color with a silly octopus w/ an apple on his head. with multi-color logo/labeling which of course drew me in due to its fun & bright colors. Info, ingredients & directions are on back. There is 10.5 fl oz which is a typical amount from drugstore brands. The orange nozzle sprays or disperses a nice mist which i enjoy (ive re-used this bottle for other products that didnt do so) It disperses & coats hair nicely. The bottle or packaging is fun & silly. Its made for kids so its not going to be super sleek but actually i love it, it seems to brighten up my day. Overall, this detangler does work pretty well. It smells so yummy. Its one of my most used hair products and i have repurchased this at least a few times. I alternate between this & whatever i find at the Dollar Tree. whichever one i get to first. I def think its a must have refreshen spray for your hair and an ok detangler. The scent is def yummy. So i dont think most will enjoy this as much as i have but i def have found uses for mine! i will repurchase when i get through my next bottle!
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Eyeliner -Wet 'n' Wild - H2O Proof Liquid Eyeliner - Espresso
Christinaann5 6/19/2012 11:31:00 PM
I really am Obsessed with the WNW Mega Liners so i decided to give this product a shot since i love all of my WNW products. I think it is a great product overall but i do have a few flaws to discuss... ~~~~~~~~~ PRICE & AVAILABILITY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The WetnWild H2O Proof liquid liner is available in most drugstores like Walgreens, Rite Aid and also Walmart. Some stores do not carry WNW so check around. These an item in the permanent collection. The price is great! These are very affordable at $1.99 each and even cheaper when you find a good sale! ~~~~~~~ SHADE/FORMULA/PERFORMANCE ~~~~~~~~~ The WNW H2O Proof is a good long lasting liquid liner. Its almost like ink in my opinion. The formula is thinner than their Mega Liner formula which i love but i still do love this one for days I know im going to the pool or need something that will last! Espresso #884 is a dark chocolate espresso color. This is great for those looking for something that will define & line w/out being too harsh as black. I love this w/ my super pale skin bc sometimes i want the look of liquid liner but not something super harsh. This color is wonderful! I do love WNW liquid liners. They are super pigmented, easy to appy, & last forever. I think this does hold true on H20 Proof. I do not have oily lids though. more normal to dry if anything. I do also use eye primer. On a typical day, this liner holds up with no transferring, flaking, fading even have a hard time taking it off at the end of my work/off days. I do have to use a makeup remover to get the rest of it off. Its incredible! so if you want something that sticks & stays- this is it! Espresso is one of my favorite colors. It might be a basic brown but its rich & will fit on anyones skin tone. Its great! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PACKAGING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The WetnWild H20 Proof liquid liners come in the small hard plastic little tubing. the plastic is colored to resemble the shade inside. this bottle is a dark brown w/ silver metallic logo/labeling. The shade name is not located on bottle but shade number is located on bottom of bottle (#884). I dont like that. The lid is a long silver twist on/off lid with a hard felt tip applicator inside ink well. There is a plastic stopper that will keep product from spilling & from drying out. The felt tip isnt not flexible at all- i do wish it would give just a little to allow me to make easier lines. But it does allow precise to thick lines depending on my needs. Thats the only flaw i found but if im really fussy i switch out my brush from my Mega Liner or use one of my brushes. Its not too bad but may be difficult for some. I had problems at first getting my lines the way i wanted. There is 0.17 fl oz of liquid liner which for me, lasts forever! Its a standard amount at drugstore esp for the price! Overall, Espresso is a gorgeous dark brown that i reach for alot!! This is a long lasting liquid liner that holds up through war! Its super affordable, def recommend to all & have repurchased & will continue to. I am very happy w/ my WNW Liquid liners!
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Eye Shadow -Cover Girl - Smoky ShadowBlast
Christinaann5 6/19/2012 3:50:00 PM
So overall, this is a great idea but definetly poorly executed. the packaging isnt great at all & the actual product itself doesnt make up for the poor packaging. So onto my thoughts... ~~~~~~~~~ PRICE & AVAILABILITY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Covergirl Smoky Shadow Blast sticks are widely available in most drugstores like Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid as well as mass discount stores like Walmart & Target. Covergirl is a big brand so it can be found in most stores. The price will vary as with most drugstore products depending on your location as well as where you purchase it. The price for these is generally around $5-6 which is way too much for such a crappy product. So take it from a broke girl like me, listen to the others, dont waste your money!!! There are many more drugstore cream shadows & pencils that work FAR better! But Covergirl does place $1 off coupons in the sundays paper so check for those as well! ~~~~~~~ SHADE/FORMULA/PERFORMANCE ~~~~~~~~~ The CG Smoky ShadowBlast sticks are a double ended cream shadow crayons. They are formulated that you can get a simple smoky or edgy look with just one pencil. The colors coordinate together. The one side is more rounded to go all over & the other end is more flattened to run along lash line to blend out. This would be a great simple & quick look if it worked. I only purchased one which was the brown/bronze & golden champagne stick which i thought, its basic & i can pull it off & make it work. I do not have oily lids. I have normal maybe even more dry lids at some points. I do use a primer esp with creamy products. Ive tried it without primer as well. I applied the champagne golden color all over the lid & used the bronze brown side to run along lash line & in outer corner area. It looked ok but i felt the consistency of the sticks were a bit odd. The lighter color had a somewhat gritty feel to it since there is somewhat of a shimmer finish to it so i could feel the glitter in the pencil. The bronze side was more waxy & slippy. I dont mind having to work w/ products. I dont think its horrible but i managed to get it to look decent. I used this topped w/ powder shadows as well as face powder & also all alone like they suggests. No matter what, the pencil would somehow get under my lash line & completely fade away 2 hours later which i think is very odd bc i use cheap makeup & never had this happen to often. The shades are very pretty colors. So i ended up getting the purple & gray stick as well from my sister & that one was even worse. I think the colors make it look appealing but the application was ok but performance is horrible. I cannot imagine what these would be like on those w/ more oily lids. So ill try to come up with some way to make these work bc i hate products that sit around. Ill update if i come up with a solution. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PACKAGING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The CG Smoky ShadowBlast duo ended shadow sticks come in a hard see through plastic chubby pencil form. There is metallic labeling & info. The lids slid & slightly twist on & off. The sticks themselves can be mechanically twisted up & down to use each end. My major gripe is that you dont get a whole lot of each cream shadow, the lids on all four sides have either snapped or cracked & i have never traveled with these nor do i throw makeup around. And the big thing is that all but one end has become detached from the packaging so the sticks fall out or move around all over the place & get stuck in the lid. I still dont mind too much but its not worth me sticking the shadows back in to fall back out if the product doesnt even work. Overall, these seem very pretty & neat in the store but its not a great product. I LOVE my cream shadows & cream pencils but i highly suggests saving your money for a nyx jumbo pencil, LA Colors Jumbo pencil or even Coastal Scents have double ended cream pencils. There are many more more affordable options that work so much better. I will continue to use this & find a way to use it up. Def dont suggests to anyone to try nor will i be repurchasing. Not only bc its a crappy product but before i knew better, i bought makeup from companies that tested on animals, CoverGirl tests on poor innocent creatures, not cool. So i will do my part & not buy from companies that do so...
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Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Brightening Eye Color - Nymph Dreams
Christinaann5 6/5/2012 7:50:00 PM
Wow!! i know some people may hate these little quads but personally, I love all of them! I think i own them all & will continue to use these forever! This one is def a repurchase if i ever get through my shadow collection but def can & will... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~PRICE & AVAILABILITY~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Elf Brightening Eye Color Quads can be found on the eyeslipsface website as well as some Target & Kmart Stores. This will vary depending on your location. The price is unreal- $1 for a little quad, which is perfect size & great price!!! I love the $1 elf products but sadly, they have been reintroducing new $2 products so im not sure how long their $1 will be available so pick these up while you can. ~~~~~~ SHADE & FORMULA & PERFORMANCE ~~~~~ The Elf Brightening Eye Color Quad in "Nymph Dreams" is a great quad with some neutrals & a pop of teal. This is great for year round & for any occasion. This quad is a great way to introduce a tad bit of color to your looks for those more into neutral shadows like myself. The colors are gorgeous. From left to right: 1st shadow: a yellow gold with slight shimmer 2nd shadow: a golden metallic bronze 3rd shadow: a cool teal with a slight silver shimmer 4th shadow: a taupe bronze brown All four shadows do have a shimmer or a metallic finish but i do have other shadows i can use that are matte to add if its too much. I dont think my cool pale skin can pull this quad off alone but it still is a gorgeous group of shadows. I love each one but def the bronze & darkest color. This quad can give a nice day to night look. The shadows are soft, pigmented, easy to apply & blend. Dont blend too much or they may over blend for you. I def suggest to use the Elf primer (or any eye primer of choice) as with any low cost shadow so it will give you less chance of creasing & fading. I dont have oily lids & do use a primer so these quads stay put for hours with no creasing & barely any fading. This quad is gorgeous. Esp for the summer looks but i do pull this out year round. This quad is great for beginners or anyone looking to add colors to your collection. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PACKAGING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The ELF Brightening Eye Color Quads come in a small rectangular plastic compact that fits in the palm of your hand. Small & compact & def can be taken anywhere. These take up little to no room in my collection. The compact is hard plastic. The lid is see thru with the elf logo & product name in silver writing. The back is where the quad name is located, on a very small sticker. This snap open & shut easily. I havent had any problems w/ mine cracking or breaking so far- no big deal to me as long as it can shut. Inside is 4 triangular shaped shadows and on the bottom a little slot that is a tiny mirror where they double ended foam tip applicator is located. I think these are on the rough side compared to others but could work if needed. The shadows inside are shaped in small irregular triangles. The shadow pan is smaller in size but being this shape does make it a little hard to get bigger shadow brushes into the corners. Other than that, i think this a perfect amount of each shadow since i have tons of eyeshadows that i know ill never get through. at least w/ these i may use them up quicker. You do get a decent amount of each shadow. I use a few of these daily & finally hit pan on one shadow after a year. These are great little travel shadows since you can bring a few & not worry they take up a lot of room. Overall, NYMPH DREAMS is a gorgeous quad that has four beautiful & amazing shadows. These colors may look ok but def give them a try. They are somewhat different than my basic shadows i buy & the teal gives any look a fun pop of color without being so much! I love these quads. I really hope ELF quits raising their prices bc the $1 makeup is what i love about the company as well as being cruelty free!
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Eye Primer -E.L.F. - Eyelid Primer in Golden
Christinaann5 5/17/2012 4:19:00 PM
~~PRICE/AVAILABILITY~~ The Elf Eyelid Primer is available from the eyeslipsface website. I havent seen this particular shade available in stores like Target yet but maybe soon. The price is super cheap & affordable, $1 yes, $1- my cheap butt can afford it so everyone can! but unfortunately right now, you have to order online so shipping cost will raise the price so hopefully they start carrying this in stores. ~~SHADE/FORMULA/PERFORMANCE~~ The Elf Eyelid primer according to the elf site "Preps your eyelid for smoother, longer-lasting and crease-proof eyeshadow. The ultra sheer nude color works to increase eye color longevity. The lightweight liquid formula quickly absorbs into the skin for comfortable wear." This primer is now available in four shades. Golden is a great true yellow gold. Its def pigmented but as a previous reviewer stated, this does sheer out once blended. I dont mind since it gives the slightest tint of gold. This def helps bring out the golden tones in browns or bronzes. I have cool undertones so i typically stay away from warm colors but this provides a very pretty layer. It does have a slight golden shimmer but nothing major like the Pearl shades (which i dont like bc its chunky glitter throughout) This is great for anyone. I have a review on the sheer or regular Eyelid primer & i love this primer. It works. I dont have oily lids though. But i have swatched UDPP beside my elf primer & performed a test & a $1 eyelid primer held up against UDPP. This primer helps w/ pigmentation & longevity of each shadows. It provides a barrier between the oils & the shadows to help prevent creasing or fading. I find w/ this primer, my shadows stay true & put for at least 8+ hrs. But those w/ more oilier lids may have different performance. I have all four shades and Golden i dont use alot but thats because i tend to wear more cool shades but this can work for everyone. I think it sheers out enough that it can even be used everyday. It be great for those w/ more neutral or warm skin tones. I am so glad i can find an affordable primer & i cannot thank Elf enough for putting out shades in this primer. I know they have released a new $2 eye primer, i think its more along the lines of a cream liquid shadow base? I just hope & pray they dont ever quit making these primers!!! ~~PACKAGING~~ this comes in a hard plastic see through tube with a screw on top with doe foot applicator connected. its like a lipgloss container. if you have tried their regular sheer eyelid primer- same packaging. its slim, compact sleek yet simple. its not the prettiest but i like it bc i store my primers on a toothbrush hanger so theyre accessible & these slip right into there! i like the doe foot applicator & it dont have a slim top to it unlike UDPP which you have to cut to get alot of the product inside but once i cant get no more out (yeah ive gone through 2 of the reg primers, i then pull out the stopper so that my wand can get the rest out. im frugal so i want all i can get). The doe foot wand twists on/off simply. The bottom part is clear so you can see the product inside. Thats how i know im getting low bc you will start to see through it. The Elf logo & product name is located in black lettering on the bottom portion. The shade name is located on the very bottom on a tiny little sticker. Wish it was located somewhere else but no big deal. The wand is coated with enough primer to coat your eye & then i dip it back in sometimes. With only the sheerest layer needed, the stopper allows enough but not too much or little. A great little primer. Simple & effective packaging. Not the prettiest but it works for me. Sometimes the lettering has rubbed off due to so much use. Overall, the Elf Eyelid primers are amazing quality for a great price. Its my go to primer. Golden is a very gorgeous gold shade. Those who are looking for an alternative to UDPP may like this.
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Mascara -L.A. Colors - Lash Building Mascara in Black
Christinaann5 5/14/2012 11:30:00 AM
Ok so this mascara isnt the greatest mascara ever but i think its great for certain purposes so i think ill def keep one around while they make it! ~~PRICE/AVAILABILITY~~ The LA Colors Lash Building Mascara can be found in most Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General stores as well as online on the la colors site & cherryculture. It will vary depending on your area. The price is great- $1!! yes. My opinion would be different if i paid more than $3 for this since i think its well worth a $1 but not much more. ~~SHADE/FORMULA/PERFORMANCE~~ The LA Colors Lash Building Mascara according to their website "Lash Building mascara is specially formulated to volumize lashes. Special applicator brush separates each lash without clumping." I think this mascara is great for a nice natural look. I dont find that it holds curl or lifts but it does add slight definition & a tiny bit of volume. Thats why i like this if im looking for a more natural look. I def think those with naturally long & thick lashes would like this better. If you are looking for major volume & length, this wont work. This is a great mascara for topping those other mascaras i have that are too thin/wet since it helps set & unclump my lashes. My lashes are super long & sometimes i just want slight definiton. This does just that. The color is black. Its black but not super black like some. I think this formula is in the middle. Not too wet or dry. It does compare to the Elf $1 mascara but the brush is alot better in this one. The brush is a nice thick bristled brush. It coats the lashes nicely. You can def coat the lashes easily & never have had problems. I like the brush. I wish i could find all of the shades in my local stores. Bc i really do think this is a good basic everyday mascara. It does help the performance on others i have. The mascara does not clump or have any flakies throughout the day & is easily taken off with remover or wipes. (On their site, they have 5 available shades but i have only seen black & brown) ~~PACKAGING~~ The mascara comes in the standard hard plastic tubing. This one is a glossy black with white logo/labeling information. The wand twists on/off easily. The brush is great. The packaging is simple but does a good job. Havent had any problems. 0.25 fl oz of mascara which is the standard and i dont feel so bad throwing out a $1 mascara as much as i do with those that cost more. Since its suggested we throw out our mascaras every 3 months due to contamination/bacteria- this one is great to have around & get a new one. Overall, this is either going to be a good or bad mascara for you. It all depends on your lashes & what you like in the mascara. I like this since i dont need a whole lot. I def will repurchase, Hope to find some more colors! CRUELTY FREE MAKEUP at an affordable price, love la colors!
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Blush -E.L.F. - Natural Radiance Blusher in Coy
Christinaann5 5/10/2012 8:11:00 PM
I personally love the Elf blushers. i own a blush from each section and i still believe these are great esp for those on a tight budget and also Coy is such a unique blush in my vast collection! ~~PRICE/AVAILABILITY~~ The Elf Natural Radiance Blushers are available on the eyeslipsface website as well as some Target, Kmart, Sears Grand and various online stores. The shades will vary depending on your location so you may have to order this one online. The cost- unreal this is from the essential line which only cost $1!!! i think these blushes are def worth the $1 price tag but dont let the price fool you either! ~~SHADE/FORMULA/PERFORMANCE~~ The Elf Natural Radiance blushers are really good quality. They are pressed well, apply great and blend nicely. They are def pigmented. These are softer than the studio blushes which i like but theyre is a bit of loose powder left in pan. Tapping off excess def helps with application. These are good blushes, i love em! Coy is def a unique color. Very hard for me to describe but ill try, its a warm mauve rose pink purple with a golden shimmer. Its a great blush for fall & winter but i can pull it off in summer. I have very pale skin w/ cool tones so it can make me look sickly if im not careful. So this would def look great on everyone but pale girls be careful! This color is so unique in a blush. This could also be a great shadow as well. These wear great too. I wear primer & liquid or cream foundation & find these are still showing well 6-8 hrs later. Each blush wears a tad different on everyone. Even on me, it depends on what im wearing already & season & what my skins like. So I think these blushers are beautiful & Coy is def a must try color! ~~PACKAGING~~ The Elf Natural Radiance blushers come in a small palm size clear hard plastic compact with a slide open/close drawer. It has Elf Logo in white writing & shade name located on sticker on bottom, big enough to see it too! i know some hate this packaging, its not the most practical but i find it works. The bottom part (where blush is) opens/slides like a dresser drawer. i dont have problems with them it just couldve been executed better. the pan size it decent and you get a fair amount of blush. With this particular shade, i dont use it so often so it will last you awhile even though it dont look so big. great value. Overall, Coy is such a pretty color. Great to pair with neutral toned down eyes and esp to warm up the cheeks. Its very pretty. I suggests trying at least on of the $1 blushes, i love em! i actually reach for them more than my studio blushes! Id def repurchase if i ever get through it!
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Line Eyeshadow 'C' Brush
Christinaann5 5/8/2012 1:47:00 PM
I am in love with this brush, as with most of the Elf Studio brush.. now my review may be biased considering i am poor & on a tight budget so i only use affordable/cheap brushes but really i dont feel like i need to spend a fortune bc my brushes work & this one is a MUST HAVE! ~~PRICE/AVAILABILITY~~ The Elf Studio single brushes or sets can be found on the eyeslipsface website as well as some Target, Kmart, Sears Grand stores. The availability will vary depending on your location. The price is amazing on the brushes, each brush is only $3 or even less if you wait to get a good sale on the elf site or use retailmenot website for coupon codes. Either way, these brushes are well worth the $3 price tag. They are def better quality then the Elf $1 brushes. ~~PERFORMANCE/USES~~ The Elf Studio line Eyeshadow C Brush according to the Elf site: "This anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look with this e.l.f. Studio brush! Creates the perfect smokey eye The medium size brush gives more control for more specific blending needs Use with any powder eyeshadow product for color blending." This brush is your standard shader but a bit more dense & fuller. This brush can be used for so many things so id suggests picking up two since i use it daily & like to wash & alternate. This brush can apply, pack and blend out shadows amazing! It resembles the $1 eyeshadow brush thats amazing but this one is more fuller & a tad less flexible. The sturdiness allows packing & good blending. If you use the very tip, you can def smoke out any shadow. or use the base side, it will pack on shadows while blending out the edges! its truly an amazing brush. I didnt know if it was worth it since i love the $1 brush but they serve different purposes. This brush is well worth it & its synthetic so it also can place & blend out cream or liquid products with ease. ~~PACKAGING/UPKEEP~~ The Elf Studio brushes are very simple but sleek and pretty. They def look better than the $1 brushes. But id rather a brush perform better than look better. But all the Elf Studio brushes are a matte black handle & ferrule as well as black synthetic bristles. The Elf logo as well as brush name is located on the handle in white stamping/paint. It makes it nice to see which brush is which. (if you dont want the letters to fade over time, applying a thin layer of a clear nail polish over it will help store it longer but its up to you) The bristles on all of these brushes are synthetic but nice & soft. Very soft & perform very well. This makes it nice since you can use wet or dry products on brush w/out fears of ruining them. I have not had a single bristle shed on any of my brushes thus far & ive owned these all for at least 2 years with at least once a month deep cleaning plus daily cleansing. The ferrule has came loose on one of my brushes but nothing super glue wouldnt fix. Its fine with me. It was probably from washing when it become loose. These wash very easily as well as dry time is not super long as say natural hair brushes would be. I like that i can wash them today & by tomorrow i can use them. The bristles have not changed since washing my brushes & have remained intact & shaped since day one. I think its amazing that a $3 brush has had help up better than one that i spent at least 3x as much for. Overall, the Eyeshadow C brush is an amazing brush & id highly suggests to everyone. I have two of these & plan on picking up one more for cream shadows. They apply and blend eyeshadows with ease & have made looks so easy and look professional- when im far from it! Theyre a valuable brush and def would repurchase over & over if i had to!
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Polishes -L.A. Colors - Color Craze Atomic
Christinaann5 5/8/2012 1:09:00 PM
I think the LA Colors Nail polishes are great! The new Color Crazy line offers some great summer & spring colors as well as some great nudes & basics. Atomic is a great teal blue color that is great for this season! ~~PRICE/AVAILABILITY~~ The LA Colors Color Craze Polishes can be found in a few different places but availability varies depending on your location. Ive heard of a few different places from other but i can find mine in my local Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General stores for $1 a piece which is great. Ive also seen them sparingly at Five Below, Big Lots as well as sets at Ross. Also online on the LA Colors site & Cherry Culture. I think these are super affordable and the Color Craze line has really nice fun bright colors. ~~SHADE/FORMULA/PERFORMANCE~~ The LA Colors Color Craze nail polish in "Atomic" is a nice teal blue that is great right now for the spring & summer months. I think this color shows up slightly darker than it looks in the bottle on the nails. Also i use a sheer nail strengthner so it does slightly affect the color. This color is gorgeous since its more of a creamy finish to it. Its one of my favorite colors to use on my toes for the spring months. I have a few blues/greens but nothing quite like this. Its a nice medium teal blue. The LA Colors Color Craze is a newer line (they also have their permanent Nail Lacquer collection which im obsessed with as well) The Color Craze line has fun names to each polish. The formula is a tad bit thinner than their original formula but still provides a nice formula that applies nicely w/out much fussing. Depending on the shade, it does vary slightly. Atomic is a nice opaque shade that applies nicely and glides on. I use 2 coats for good measure but it def shows up nicely. All of the polishes are pretty opaque and last quite some time. I generally take my polish off every 4 days & i do notice some chipping at my tips but im harsh on my hands. So i never expect much out of any polish. (even opi, essie & cg chip after two days so i prefer cheaper ones that will last just as long) The wear time will also increase if you pair a base coat & top coat. ive also tried the LA Colors base/top coat & it did give me an extra day or two of wear. I think these are fun, beautiful colors and Atomic is so pretty and fun & vibrant. Def great for spring & summer. They have 17 different shades included in this line that im sure you will all find one you will love! & these polishes are great esp for the price! ~~PACKAGING~~ The LA Colors Color Craze line comes in the same nail polish bottle as their original nail laquer does. The bottle is reminiscent of OPI but shorter.The jar is glass with white labeling. I have one complaint w/ the color craze line & that is, after you take it out of its plastic packaging, the shade name is nowhere to be found so if you really care about that, you may have to either make your own sticker or cut out shade name & tape it on somewhere but then i have got 1 with a sticker on the bottom where the shade name is located but that one was straight from LA Colors themselves. Its weird. Im not sure if they have since fixed the problem or they just send them out w/out still. Thats my only complaint. The lot # is located on the bottom of the bottle. There is 0.44oz or 13ml which means its a good amount of polish, I have not made it through any of mine & i use these polishes all the time. The brush isnt the greatest but not the worst either. It allows easy application but will have to watch around the edges. The formula will need to be shaken (there is the balls in there that helps stir up thick product) I love shaking my polishes. This will ensure the proper color/opacity to show up on the nail. I advise to do this also in between coats. I love bottles, so cute & def dont look cheap. They look great on my shelves. Overall, if you can find these polishes, def pick one or 5, hehe! i am obsessed w/ my LA Colors makeup products & polishes. They have since taken over my collection. I think $1 is amazing for these polishes. If you love fun, vibrant colors def go with the color craze line. Great polishes for $1- amazing! it def allows me to build up my collection without breaking bank! Cruelty free makeup!
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Complexion Brush
Christinaann5 5/8/2012 1:08:00 PM
I am in love with this brush, as with most of the Elf Studio brush.. now my review may be biased considering i am poor & on a tight budget so i only use affordable/cheap brushes but really i dont feel like i need to spend a fortune bc my brushes work & this one is a MUST HAVE! ~~PRICE/AVAILABILITY~~ The Elf Studio single brushes or sets can be found on the eyeslipsface website as well as some Target, Kmart, Sears Grand stores. The availability will vary depending on your location. The price is amazing on the brushes, each brush is only $3 or even less if you wait to get a good sale on the elf site or use retailmenot website for coupon codes. Either way, these brushes are well worth the $3 price tag. They are def better quality then the Elf $1 brushes. ~~PERFORMANCE/USES~~ The Elf Studio Complexion brush is a must have in my opinion. I have two of these brushes & may grab another one at some point since i use this brush everyday just about. The brush is unique in that its fluffy but dense & rounded blushes brush with a slant. Its hard to describe in words so the picture shows it best. I love how its cut since i can use its fluffy part to apply powders loosely but the density helps blend out powders perfectly. I love this blush for many things. It can be used for applying face powders, bronzers, blushes. The very top can be used for a more opaque coverage or tilt it slightly for a less intense application. There is slight inconsistencies between each elf brush so one may be different from the other even though their the same brush. My one Complexion brush is less dense then the other so i actually dont mind since i can still do everything with each. But each allows different applications. I love this brush for applying my bronzer all over face since its not too dense that it applies to much. It applies just the right amount & the bristles allows it to blend out for a natural look. These brushes are a multi-tasker and def should be purchased for anyone looking for a brush to do more than one job! This is it. Esp if you have the Elf Studio blush brush & think its too small, this brush is slightly bigger & allow you to cover a larger area & is less dense. ~~PACKAGING/UPKEEP~~ The Elf Studio brushes are very simple but sleek and pretty. They def look better than the $1 brushes. But id rather a brush perform better than look better. But all the Elf Studio brushes are a matte black handle & ferrule as well as black synthetic bristles. The Elf logo as well as brush name is located on the handle in white stamping/paint. It makes it nice to see which brush is which. (if you dont want the letters to fade over time, applying a thin layer of a clear nail polish over it will help store it longer but its up to you) The bristles on all of these brushes are synthetic but nice & soft. Very soft & perform very well. This makes it nice since you can use wet or dry products on brush w/out fears of ruining them. I have not had a single bristle shed on any of my brushes thus far & ive owned these all for at least 2 years with at least once a month deep cleaning plus daily cleansing. The ferrule has came loose on one of my brushes but nothing super glue wouldnt fix. Its fine with me. It was probably from washing when it become loose. These wash very easily as well as dry time is not super long as say natural hair brushes would be. I like that i can wash them today & by tomorrow i can use them. The bristles have not changed since washing my brushes & have remained intact & shaped since day one. I think its amazing that a $3 brush has had help up better than one that i spent at least 3x as much for. Overall, if you are looking for great brushes that are affordable, cruelty free, long lasting & great performers, def pick some of these up. Must haves are the powder, complexion, stipple, contouring, c brush. I think the only one id pass on is the Fan brush & unless you can try these in a store the concealer & angled foundation brush- these two are good brushes but i think if you already have brushes like this, they may not be needed. So I have at least two of each brush from the Studio line & highly recommend for EVERYONE to try at least one. I know these brushes are amazing & so glad i dont have to spend a fortune on brushes bc these are affordable but work amazing!!!
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