Does anyone else feel like elf has majorly stepped up their game lately? Today we wanted to share 7 of our favorite products from the brand. Let us know if you love any of these too!
Big Mood Mascara ($7): I bought this very skeptically to be honest and I could not be more impressed. This is by far my stand out of the bunch and I’ll continue to repurchase. Mascara is such a case by case type of product and I feel like it’s fairly difficult to find one that's a universal favorite. For a frame of reference, I have fairly long lashes, but they are incredibly straight and don’t hold a curl well. What I loved most about this mascara is that I feel like it allowed my eyelashes to hold a curl, and prevented them from drooping and getting that straight and spidery look. The wand is hourglass shaped (similar to the Too Faced Better Than Sex) which is a cult favorite. I think the hourglass shape is key in being able to separate your lashes and to add volume. I prefer this one to BTS because of the consistency. This mascara is formulated with jojoba oil and I felt like it made my eyelashes look glossy and prevented clumping. I haven’t experienced any flaking throughout the day and it doesn’t transfer to my eyelids either.
16HR Camo Concealer ($6): This product has rave reviews and after trying it, I can totally see why. I’ve used the Tarte Shape Tape concealer for over a year now, and I’ve always heard this product was an awesome dupe for it. I almost feel like the coverage from the Camo concealer is better than Shape Tape. I will say, both products dry down very quickly, so you do need to blend them pretty quickly. A common complaint of Shape Tape is that it’s difficult to blend, and I agree with that sentiment for both products unless you're quick to blend. The staying power of this product is awesome and the coverage is unmatched. I have been using it both under my eyes and on top of my eyelids to conceal veins and redness and I’m obsessed. I always set everything with powder, but I haven’t experienced any creasing with this product
Baked Highlighter in Moonlit Pearls ($4): I picked this one up on a whim and genuinely wasn’t expecting too much from a $4 highlighter. I was pleasantly so surprised by this product. First, it is extremely pigmented. I think that’s a great thing, but it’s also a word of caution because you do need to be somewhat careful in applying it to avoid looking like a disco ball (unless that’s your thing). I’ve been applying it by very lightly dabbing the actual product with my ring finger, tapping it on to the top of my cheek bones and then gently blending with a brush. I like my highlight to be more subtle so that’s what works best for me! This product lasts all day, doesn’t have fall out, and honestly has better pigmentation than many high end highlighters I’ve tried.
Matte Magic Mist & Set Setting Spray ($7): To be completely fair, this is the first setting spray I’ve ever purchased, so I don’t have a ton to compare it to. What I can say is this: my skin has become increasingly oily in the past year and obviously the summer months don’t help with that. There is a noticeable difference in the way my skin looks throughout the day since starting to use the product. Usually I have to blot my face about halfway through the day, and I haven’t needed to since using this product. For application, I spray each side of my face once and my forehead area once after I finish all of my face makeup but before I do my eyes/brows. I then take my damp makeup sponge and press the setting spray into my skin. I think this step makes all the difference not just with this product, but any setting spray.
Total Face Sponge ($6): Speaking of makeup sponges… this one is my new favorite. Back in the day, I was a diehard Beauty Blender user. I eventually graduated to the Real Techniques sponge and realized there really wasn’t a major difference and the price point was way better. After trying this one, I must say that I prefer it to Real Techniques one. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the difference in texture between the two are, but I feel that the elf sponge allows for easier blending and seems to have more “bounce” than RT. The bottom line is I feel that this sponge allows for easier application, and I better final result.
Primer Putty ($9): I’ve been using this for over a year now, and I’ve shared it before, but it deserves another mention. If you still haven’t tried this, what are you waiting for?! This product genuinely makes a major difference in the way foundation and all other face products apply. It’s lightweight, extremely blendable, and really does help your skin have the appearance of being poreless. As a note, there are 3 versions (poreless, illuminating and matte). I have only ever used the poreless one, but the other versions seem to have solid reviews as well!
Lip Plumping Gloss ($6): I purchased this one in shade Peach Bellini and have been loving it! In terms of the plumping properties of this, I will say that I don’t notice a huge difference. It definitely does tingle (very similar to the feeling of Burt's Bees chapstick), but the actual difference in appearance is marginal if at all. However, just given the look and feel of the product, I totally don’t mind that it’s somewhat lacking in that visually plumping aspect. I don’t find the texture to be sticky, and the finish is really pretty. Overall, I think this a 10/10.