The Lilac/Brown Nude Lip: Elf Matte Lip Colour in 'Tea Rose'

You know how it is.  It's winter. You're bored. You casually tap away on the interwebs searching for some makeup inspiration and before you know it, you've only gone and bought your entire online basket.  We've all been there and felt the guilt, I'm sure - but E.l.f has to be one of those websites that's perfect for a spontaneous treat now and again.  With their super affordable products and wide range of beauty goodies, I often check back and see what's new.  As soon as I saw Elf's 'Tea Rose' - I knew it had to be mine.  I'd been wanting a lilac/brown shade for quite some time but I didn't want to spend the earth on a shade I wasn't entirely sure would suit me - if you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know I love my 90s inspired browns and darker nudes, but I wanted to try something a little bit different.  With a splash of lilac, 'Tea Rose' reminds me somewhat of Mac's 'Faux' lipstick - one that's been on my wish list for ages.

I have to say I've been quite impressed - the shade is exactly what I've been searching for and I've satisfied my craving for a lilac-brown neutral lip.  At just £3.95, Elf's Matte Lip Colour crayon is amazing value for money and of really great quality too.  The simple twist-up mechanism is perfect for use on the go, and the matte black packaging is also right up my street - very sleek and simple.  The crayon itself is just the right size for defining the lip shape and the formula glides on fairly easily to say it's a matte finish, whilst providing pigment rich colour.  Personally, I prefer a glossy lip so I just add a balm or a gloss on top and it looks stunning - it really seems to plump up the lips and when used alongside a lip liner, gives that really amped up 'full' effect - dare I say it - but it's very 'Kylie Jenner-esque' (beauty blogger phrase right there!)

Overall, I think these lip crayons are well worth the £3.95 price tag - there's a nice range of shades for any occasion and they're the perfect handbag companion. The smaller size makes for a more precise application.  You can find 'Tea Rose' on the Elf website here.

Have you tried any of the Elf Lip Colours?

Another Elf Haul | Cosmetics & Brushes...

 

When life gives you lemons (or in my case, a shed load of uni work complete with looming deadlines), it's only natural to want to treat yourself.  I found myself snooping around the Elf website quicker than you can say 'retail therapy' and grabbed some new bits and bobs. With Christmas around the corner (as well as my car's MOT - fabulous timing!) I've really had to watch where the pennies are tottling off to this month, so I decided to pick up some 'essentials' online. Elf have been doing quite a few deals and discounts just recently which, annoyingly so, I always seem to miss, but I still picked up my fair share of cosmetic goodness for little over £15 - you can't grumble at that!  I thought I'd share with you the things that I decided to add to my basket this time around... There's a couple of little gems in there!

Complete Coverage Concealer in 'Light' | £3.75 | Link

My holy grail concealer has to be my Estee Lauder Double Wear - but for days when I'm not going far from the house or just want a little light coverage under my eyes, I usually opt for a slightly cheaper option. I wanted to try something new this time around and specifically wanted a little palette or duo which contained a peach/pink toned concealer to target dark circles (because I've got plenty of those just recently...thanks coursework!).  This one is perfect - it contains four shades, 2 slightly more yellow toned and two which lean slightly pink. I was pleasantly surprised with this.  I have to admit I wasn't expecting a great deal but I'm amazed at how pigmented and creamy they all are.  I've only worn it a couple of times but for a budget palette it really does do the job and although it isn't the heaviest coverage ever, it gets rid of dark circles in an instant.  I have to top up once or twice through the day but it didn't crease or look cakey on me whatsoever.  For under £4 - it's a mahoosive thumbs up from me!

Mineral Eye Brightener | £3.50 | Link

I've been wanting a powder for the under eye area for a while now but sadly, I don't currently have the funds to shed out for Bare Minerals 'Well Rested' (currently one on my wish list!).  I thought this might do the job as it promises to 'diminish the appearance of dark circles' and 'brighten and revitalise' any areas that need a bit of a perk up! It also contains green tea, chamomile and vitamins C+E to 'nourish, tighten and refresh'.  I can't say I'm blown away by it yet but I reckon it's partly to do with the packaging.  I might have to take the little 'shaker' lid thingymajiggy off and apply it straight from the pot as it's extremely hard to dispense a decent amount.  It does seem to brighten the under-eye area but I shall reserve judgement on this until I've tried it a little more...

Lipstick in 'Fearless' | £1.50 | Link 

After previously trying Elf's Mineral lipsticks, I thought I'd try the standard line of them.  I quite liked the look of 'Fearless' - a bright cherry red shade with a hint of raspberry pink.  I hate the packaging - it's really awkward to twist up (maybe I just have a dodgy one?) but I guess for £1.50 - I can't expect gold encrusted tubing now, can i? Gripe aside, the formula is actually pretty good.  It's really nicely pigmented, fairly creamy and easy to apply.  It's nothing amazing, but it's a lovely little addition to my 'red lipstick' collection and I'd definitely buy another shade.  For £1.50 - it's the perfect way to try out a colour without commitment of buying a higher end version.

Studio Matte Shadow in 'Chestnut' | £3.75 | Link

I've been after a warm, matte brown eyeshadow for a while now to use for blending and subtle smokey eye looks.  I've never tried Elf's eye shadows so I thought it was about time I popped one into my basket.  'Chestnut' is a gorgeous mid-toned matte brown shade and looks lovely blended into the crease of the eyelid for some added definition.  It isn't the smoothest powder ever, but for less than a fiver it does the job and I love this little pot. It even comes with a handy little brush!

Small Tapered Brush | £3.75 | Link

As most of you will probably know by now, I'm quite partial to some contouring here and there! My Real Techniques Contour brush gets it's fair share of use, so I thought I'd pick up something similar.  This one is lovely and soft, and has a slightly tapered end so it's easier to be more precise in all those nooks, crannies and crevices! I find it gives a more subtle finish than the Real Techniques version, as it doesn't pick up as much product.  This makes it fabulous for contouring as I can build it up and there's no danger of going a bit 'OTT'.  It's perfect for cheekbones and even for a dab of blush now and again.  

Contour Brush | £3.75 | Link

I needed some more eye brushes as I'm getting a little fed up of having to clean mine so often.  I picked up this little contour brush for use in the crease of the eye and it's the perfect shape and size.  I really like my blending brush from Elf (featured in my last haul) so I figured I'd get some use out of this one too. Always handy to have a selection of contouring/blending brushes - especially for the festive season when the smokey eyes come out to play!

Eyeshadow Brush (left) | £1.50 | Link  // Defining Eye Brush (right) | £1.50 | Link

Every girl needs a standard eye shadow brush! I use my Urban Decay ones daily but fancied another one so I have a few lying around for when I'm getting a bit more creative with my eye shadows.  I actually find I tend to prefer the 'standard' Elf brushes compared to the Studio line - I think they pick up a little more product! 

 

All hail the awkward arm! No elf haul is complete without a few swatches on one's arm, is it?! ;).  It was really difficult to photograph this post - I can't believe how dull the light has been this week! Any other fellow bloggers having the same kerfuffle?! Even with a bit of lighting and amping up the ISO on my camera, I just can't get a bright photo to save my life.  Roll on summer is all I can say... Anyway, as you can see, the pigmentation of the concealer palette is really spot on - it has to be my favourite buy along with the brushes.  If you're thinking of expanding your brush collection but can't afford high-end specials, it's worth looking at the selection available on the Elf website. They're really worth the money and I'd particularly recommend their eyeshadow brushes if you want a cheap addition for everyday use.  You can find Elf's selection of cosmetics and tools on their website here.

Have you tried and loved anything from Elf just recently?

ELF Brush Haul | Powder, Stippling and Eyeshadow Selection

First off, I'm really sorry if these photographs look a bit grainy.  I realised that my camera has been on the wrong setting for a while and I hadn't even noticed until I opened the photos up, saw that they didn't look quite right and checked over my camera for signs of damage!  Ugh. Such a photography novice at times! Anyway, moaning and grumbling aside, ever since I started blogging, I've built up quite the collection of makeup brushes.  I could never ever go back to basics and 'make do' with just a blush brush, sponge applicator and my fingers ever again (anyone else realise how clueless they were before they started blogging?!) I really began to realise just how much difference a brush or two makes, and I now have a rather full plant pot of them in my bathroom (yes...that's right - a plant pot - it's one of those decorative white ones from IKEA and I've had it for a good 2 years now - get yourselves to IKEA for all your brush storage needs!) Elf are a brand I've ordered from before, and I really love their stuff.  I find their products to be incredibly pigmented and easy to use, with fabulous colour choices and all at an affordable price. They're great for a little treat now and again and I've always found delivery to be prompt (such an important part of an online company in my opinion!). I decided it was about time I tried some of their brushes since I've been looking at them and umming and arring for a good while. I noticed recently that I actually don't have a lot of eye brushes, even though I do my eyeshadow daily - therefore,  it was about time I hit that order button. Here's what arrived on my doorstep a few days later...

Elf Studio Powder Brush | £3.75 | Link

This fluffy little devil is from Elf's studio line.  With their sleek black handles and soft bristles, they're really good for the price and look the part as well. The brush has a flat top, so is a little less fluffy and 'bulbous' than my Real Techniques Powder brush - meaning that it offers a slightly heavier coverage and picks up more product for any areas that I want to sculpt or powder over a little more.  So far so good with this one - I use it more for nights out when I really do want to mattify the skin and keep any shine at bay.  

Elf Studio Small Stippling Brush | £3.75 | Link

Again, this brush is from the studio line - to be honest there isn't too much difference between the two lines aside from the slightly softer bristles (synthetic Taklon) and the black exterior.  I bought this brush because of how much I love my trusty Real Techniques Stippling brush - and I thought a smaller one would be great for use with cream highlighter.  The shape allows for more precision in application and is the perfect size for applying a highlight. I noticed that it doesn't pick up as much product as the Real Techniques offering so it often takes a little more time to build up colour. It creates a very subtle effect, and I often find I have to use small sweeping motions instead of 'stippling' to get the desired effect but it works really well with blending out my Benefit 'High Beam' and similar products. 

Elf Studio Angled Contour Brush | £3.75 | Link

This brush has a flat, angled top and is perfect for applying contouring shades to the eyes.  I find it a little big sometimes so if you need a precise application then you might wish to opt for something a little more smaller and fluffier, but it works well at applying colour in and above the crease of the eye.  I seem to be using the 'blending' brush a little more as I find it suits my preferences more when it comes to eyeshadow application but it's a good brush to have in my collection nonetheless.

Elf Blending Eye Brush | £1.50 | Link

This little gem cost me £1.50 and it's honestly become one of my favourite eyeshadow brushes in my collection It fits the eyelid perfectly and allows for seamless blending and application of colour.  I've found it works really well in the crease and for building up colour on the lids to create more depth.   This has to be my favourite purchase of the bunch and I actually prefer the bristles on this one to those from the Studio line! They're still just as soft, and although admittedly probably aren't as smooth as a high-end equivalent (don't expect too much for a budget price!), are still really good value for money and I have no grumbles about the quality at all. I half expected the bristles to be plasticy and irritating to use on my eyes but I was completely wrong - elf have got it bang on the mark!  I love the length of the bristles, the way the brush is shaped and how smooth it makes my eyeshadow look. It just makes blending a doddle.

Elf Smudge Brush | £1.50 | Link

I realised I didn't own a brush like this so I swiftly added it to my basket.  HOW I've lived without a smudging brush in my life for all these years I will never know, but it was just what I needed.  I use this for applying shadow under the lower lash line - and although I've used similar brushes before, I find this one is much more precise and works well at getting a good colour pay off.  It also works well at smudging out kohl pencil for a classic, smokey look and is good for use in the 'outer v' of the eyelids if you want a precise bit of definition.

Overall, I'm really impressed with Elf's brush line and will certainly be ordering more. In fact, I might have to hop on over this week and grab a few more! I have my eyes on their fan brush and Kabuki Face brush next.  The prices are ridiculously cheap, so don't expect Mac 'top notch' quality, but they're just as good as any other brushes on the highstreet and actually better than other brands I've picked up in drugstores.  If you just want some cheap little additions to your collection and fancy trying out some new shapes and sizes, then I really do recommend them.  Each brush comes packaged with a little instruction card and in it's own little pouch (which I've kept for when I go abroad - I can never fit them all in a brush roll!).  The handles are also really nicely shaped and the brushes are all very lightweight which only adds to their appeal for me.  AND - I picked up all 5 of these for barely over a tenner. What's not to like?! Well done Elf... *hiigh fives*

Have you tried any Elf brushes? Which ones do you like to use?

My First E.l.f. Haul | First Impressions & Swatches

And so it finally happened. I placed my first ever e.l.f order. Cue lots of gasps from the bargain-hunter beauty bloggers amongst you all. I'd spent a few weeks twiddling my thumbs and waiting patiently for a certain item to come back into stock, and when it did - I pressed the order button rather swiftly and felt jolly well pleased with myself.  I've sat and read countless blog posts about e.l.f products and had built up quite a lengthy wish list over time - so much so that some of the products I'd written down aren't even stocked anymore! I managed to compose myself, refrain from adding the whole website to my virtual basket and ordered just 4 things (I deserve a pat on the back for that big fat dose of willpower, surely?) - i figured I'd try them out, see if I liked them and then make an even larger order next time I fancied treating myself.  This post is quite photo heavy - I do apologise for those of you who prefer my shorter, snappier variety of post, but you have to understand I was incredibly excited when Mr Postman came a knockin' with this little parcel of bargainous, beautiful goods... Fat kid in a sweet shop doesn't even begin to describe...

Mineral Lipstick | Runway Pink | £5.00

I believe I ordered one of these when there was an offer on - as I definitely didn't pay a fiver (I think I paid £2.50!) Nonetheless, for a lipstick these days it's not a bad price at all and by the looks of this lipstick I shall be ordering another one pretty swiftly regardless of whether or not it's on offer. Runway Pink is a gorgeous salmon pink with yellow undertones.  It's one of those really natural, rose petal pinks that looks very 'vintage' and effortless on the lips.  It's noticeable without being overly pink.  I'd liken it to a lighter, slightly 'watered down' version of Mac's Fanfare if you're familiar with Mac's shade range. I'm so glad I picked this colour out - it's just my cup of tea and the creamy formula glides on smoothly.

 Powder Blush | Peachy Keen | £3.75

I've always wanted to try E.l.f's blushes - and it was extremely hard to pick a shade to try. In the end it was a toss up between this one and 'Candid Coral' - both my kind of shades.  I always lean towards warmer, peach tones when it comes to blushes.  Peachy Keen is a lovely light peachy/orange shade with flecks of gold shimmer running through it.  I'm not entirely sure if it will be too glittery for me just yet - but now summer is coming around I seem to be preferring a subtle glow compared with a matte finish.  I will definitely do a review of this once I've had it on my cheeks. When swatched, it seems really decent quality for the price - the pigmentation is particularly good.

Contouring Blush & Bronzer Cream | St Lucia | £3.75

This is the product that I was waiting for. I finally thought it was time to place an order when their popular 'St Lucia' cream contour palette came back into stock. If you're a regular reader of my blog, you might know that I am a massive fan of contouring - I'm always scouting out new products to use on my cheeks/cheekbones and I'm the first in line to try anything new if it has the word 'contour' in it anywhere.  This palette is a cheap and cheerful little duo containing a blush and bronzer cream. The colours are said to run similar to Nars infamous Orgasm/Laguna duo - I own both of these so it will be interesting to see whether or not they lean towards the high-end favourites. Whether or not they do - I still love the shades and cannot wait to start using them. When I swatched both colours I have to admit a little 'wow' escaped my lips (and that hardly ever happens so I'm hoping they live up to the first impression!) they're incredibly pigmented and smooth in consistency and sweep onto the skin with ease.  They seem creamy and soft - just what I look for in my cream products (I'm not a fan of cream to powder formulations) and I cannot wait to give this a whirl.  The palette is also of good size - much bigger than I envisaged (it's a good bit larger than Nars Laguna - if you're looking for a comparison!)

All Over Colour Stick | Spotlight | £1.50

Of course, I just had to complete the contouring cream palette I'd bought with one of e.l.f's All Over Colour Sticks. I opted for the highlighting shade 'Spotlight' which is the lightest of the bunch.  When it first arrived, I wondered if they'd sent me the wrong shade as it looks rather non-descript in the tube. However, it's a deceiving little devil - as when swatched it shows up incredibly bright - a great deal lighter and more noticeable as a highlight than how it looks in the tube.  I've been wondering if these little sticks are cheap versions of the Nars Multiples (I've recently got my hands on Nars 'Copacabana' so we shall see whether of not they're alike in any way!). I've really got into my cream products at the moment so I had to throw one of these in my basket. For £1.50 you really can't complain and I can't wait to start using it.

Swatches | Runway Pink / Peachy Keen / St Lucia / Spotlight

Of course, this post wouldn't be complete without a little swatch or two! I will definitely do a few reviews on these products once I've been using them a while and let you know how I'm getting on. So far though, I'm so impressed with e.l.f. Their prices are really fabulous and competitive with similar brands on the high street - and for the quality I've seen at first glance I will definitely be ordering again. The packaging is right up my street - sleek, black and simple and all boxed neatly. My favourite so far has to be the contouring cream duo - it's had my name written all over it ever since I first laid my beady eyes on it...

Have you tried any of these products?

What are your thoughts on E.l.f? What would you recommend?