Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Non-Stop Eye Color -- Butternut
mrsmcg 11/18/2011 2:30:00 AM
I picked this up at the Dollar Tree after hearing multiple YT reviewers tout thus as having dupes for MAC's Woodwinked, a gorgeous goldeny-bronze shimmer (furthermost right-hand shade in this palette) and Embark (second shade from the right). Embark has been my favorite cool brown for a long time, and, being one of the very few H/E products that I own, I was eager to find a cheaper alternative. As mentioned by OPs, the two left-hand shades are chalkier and quite glittery when compared to the other ones. However, I didn't find that the left shades weren't pigmented, as others have mentioned. Mine were definitely pigmented, just lighter shades, so of course it'll take more to get them to show up with the same intensity as the other two. However, it's definitely a great buy overall. As with all E.L.F. palettes, the shadows are hit-and-miss, but for a buck, the lovely, buttery shades here are an absolute steal. Will probably repurchase to have the lovely backups.
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Lip Treatments -Chapstick - Ultra Smooth
mrsmcg 11/15/2011 6:37:00 PM
I picked this up at a local Dollar Tree a few months back, but use it very rarely. This is my "extra extra extra" balm - that is to say, I keep it around just in case my regular pocket balm, my purse balm, and my work balm are all out, which they never are. However, I find myself using this once every few weeks or so just to use it, since otherwise I never would. As other reviewers mentioned, it's very drying (the EXACT opposite of what it claims), and is somewhat inconvenient upon first use, due to the consistency of the top layer. I have this in the pink "Fortify" version; the taste is slightly chemical-y/medicinal (and not in a good way), and it imparts a slight sheen of color, which I do like. However, it doesn't last for too long, and, as I said, it leaves my lips drier and more prone to cracking and splitting. I'm definitely glad I only paid a buck for this. So.. wouldn't repurchase, but won't throw away (I've got most of the container still left).
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Mascara -Almay - Intense i-color w/ Light Interplay Technology
mrsmcg 11/12/2011 12:46:00 AM
I have this in "Black Steel", it came in a combo pack with the eyeshadow trio for blue eyes and one of the regular retractable eyeliners in "Black Pearl" (I think that was the shade - a nice medium black). I really, really wanted to like this. It has a big brush, which I love; I'm definitely a fan of the larger tubes and brushes. I love big, dramatic lashes, and this promised big, dramatic lashes that would have just the barest hint of shimmer (*not* sparkle, just shimmer, and a touch of shimmer in mascaras can be great for a bright eye area). In use, I think that the shimmer may contribute to the MAJOR flaking that I experienced, and it also weighed down my lashes with one coat, let alone the three that I would've like to wear of this. It also wilted what little curl I was able to get beforehand, and irritated my eyes all day. Wish this worked for me, but it's going in the trash. :(
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Paint Pot in Painterly
mrsmcg 11/6/2011 3:44:00 PM
This has long been touted as an HG eye primer, and I can see why.. I'm not usually a fan of eye primers, but this works well as a base. It applies with a creamy texture and dries to a lighter, almost powdery finish, and works well as a smoother over my reddish eye area (I'm an NC15). I use this as my everyday eye base, and would repurchase without reservation, were the price better.. However, given that I only use a *tiny* bit every day, and that this will last me forever, I'll probably keep this as my eye primer for a long, long time. Pretty pleased!
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Complexion Brush
mrsmcg 11/3/2011 7:53:00 PM
This is a great general blending/powder application brush! It's great for buffing on high-def or setting powder. I reach for it often and will get a couple backups of this REALLY soft, fluffy (but nice/densely-packed), and well-made brush.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Contour Brush
mrsmcg 11/3/2011 7:39:00 PM
This is a great little brush! I use it as my crease brush, and it does a fairly good job. I don't find that it picks up much color, but it's great for blending, and, as with their other Studio Line brushes, it looks nice and hasn't shed at all in my use. I don't reach for it everyday, but when doing any outer V work, this bad boy is my choice.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Concealer Brush
mrsmcg 11/3/2011 7:23:00 PM
YUCK. This brush absolutely sucks for me. It doesn't pick up the product well, applies like CRAP, and is poorly made. Yuck yuck yuck, Now I remember why I hate concealer brushes. :( EDIT: I tried using this as a gel/cream liner brush, and it works *much* better for that. I alternate between using this and the MAC 263 for doing liner work. Updating to three stars because it does a so-so job in this function. However, it should do what it's meant to do, which is apply concealer. Tip, if you're not pleased with the finish of powder shadows used as liners with Fix+, try mixing them with a bit of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) and applying. Setting that combination with a touch of powder eyeshadow, and using a setting/finishing spray, usually ensures that mine stays in place all day.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Defining/Angled Eye Brush
mrsmcg 11/3/2011 7:06:00 PM
This brush is fairly good, especially compared to its other white-handled counterparts in my collection, ALL of which have come apart where the handle is glued onto the brush head casing. This is nice and soft, and though I've seen a bit of shedding, it does a great job of blending out harsh lines.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Blush Brush
mrsmcg 11/3/2011 7:05:00 PM
My feelings on this are mixed. As with the other brushes in their Studio Line, this looks nice, is densely enough packed to give nice solid performance (in theory), and hasn't given me any problems with shedding. That being said, though, I feel like this doesn't pick up *quite* enough product, although I'm also using a solid blush, and those are always harder to access with brushes that are this soft. It does a great job with my loose blush, and is great for blending any of my blushes (I vary between very few, anyway), I just wish that it would do a tad bit better with my solid. For that reason, I'm taking off a star, but it's still a nice all-around blush brush, especially for the price.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Angled Contour Brush
mrsmcg 11/3/2011 6:45:00 PM
This is pretty good! I use this for the general eyeshadow blending, after I've applied all of my shades and want a softer focus look. I also used it for a look recently that called for a very light application of a few highlight shades, and it worked very well for that. It's densely packed, looks nice and sleek, and I haven't had any shedding or scratching. Overall I'm *very* impressed with the performance (and pricing!!) of E.L.F.'s Studio Line.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Line Eyeshadow 'C' Brush
mrsmcg 11/3/2011 6:42:00 PM
*Love* this!! This is my favorite e/s brush, out of the 4 or 5 E.L.F. e/s brushes that I own. It's lovely to look at (sleek, classy black handle and bristles), densely packed so it performs nicely, is comfortable to use, no shedding, no scratching, etc. I'll probably pick up a few backups on my next Target run, just in case anything happens to this baby.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Foundation brush
mrsmcg 11/3/2011 6:39:00 PM
The handle on this, and *ALL* of the other white-handled e.l.f. brushes, came loose and then broke off. For that reason alone, it gets 1 star. However, the fact that it doesn't perform well, either, doesn't help the rating any, as it might if the brush were absolutely phenomenal and the construction were just poorly done. I don't like using foundation brushes for liquid foundation anyway, but this was enough to turn me off even more. Disappointed. :(
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Total Face Brush
mrsmcg 11/3/2011 6:35:00 PM
This is meh for me. The brush is a bit scratchy, and it's shedding and starting to come apart (ALL of my white E.L.F. brushes are). The bristles are somewhat loosely packed, which is fine, since it's not for solid powder or e/s application. I have a specific use for this brush, and that is to brush any fallout from e/s application. After all of my eyeshadow has been put on, I sweep this lightly over my undereye area - with gentle pressure that's enough to get any little speckles, but not enough to blend any of it in. Works fairly well for me.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Powder Brush
mrsmcg 11/3/2011 6:31:00 PM
I *LOVE* this one! This, and the studio C e/s brush are my absolute favorites out of the ten or so E.L.F. brushes that I own. It's nice and densely packed, performs well, hasn't shed but one hair, (maybe??), and looks gorgeous with its classy black handle. I use this to apply my msfn, and sometimes to buff in a loose setting powder over my liquid. Love it, love it, love it. I may buy a couple backups, because it's great, and so cheap!
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Angled Eyeliner brush
mrsmcg 11/3/2011 6:29:00 PM
This does an okay job for me; I'm able to get a very thin line or build it up more if I need to. It has been shedding some, and that combined with the performance lands it a solid "meh." I haven't been using it much lately, but only because it's so meh; I LOVE eyeliner. 2 stars.
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