ELF, elf and more ELF!

Hello everyone! =) I hope everyone had a good Monday. Summer is rolling around and I see a lot of people are going through the stress of finals. I wish you all luck on any finals/tests you have. I remember how it is! I hated every moment of it. But just remember, one test taken is one less to worry about and one step closer to your goals :)

I also wanted to share a few contests everyone should sign up for. Also, visit their blogs. If you're into makeup like I am, these gals are hardcore =p I'm sure they have their limits, somehow.

Cover Girl lipgloss or CG Shadow Stick 

 

Visit Serena's blog for more details :) 

And also!

 

Visit Littomokaa's blog for details! 

Anyway, as I've mentioned before, I did a little shopping during ELF's 60% off all studio line items. I bought 3 blushes, a bronzer/contouring duo thing, HD powder and a pressed powder for a little over $15 including shipping, which was around $6. LOL

I don't know why I have this sudden discerning interest in ELF products. I guess I haven't been let down by them and their products seem to be competitive quality to many makeup brands that I am loyal to. Here's what I got!

From R-L, these are my blushes! Glow, Peachy Keen, Candid Coral, and Blushed/Bronzed. The last one is a contouring/bronzer type thing. I thought they were really nice shades :) It was what I expected them to be.

It was a little hard to get a lot of color, which is the only flaw that I experienced while swatching them. I can see where the lasting power won't be TOO great but it might be good for layering the more pigmented blushes that you own. A lot of people are comparing the blushed/bronzed (last picture) to Nars Orgasm. I guess the packaging is similar, and the shade (pink one) is close. But Orgasm has that highlighting sheen to it that is very absent in the ELF one. However, price wise. That's where all the differences end. Orgasm retails about $25ish and my ELF one, with the 60% off was probably less than $3. Do you guys think this is dupe material? :) Again, for layering purposes, you cannot go wrong with these. Glow is also a great highlighting finish. Very pretty! A little subdue in terms of color, but it gives that dewy look to your cheeks when applied right.

Next, my face stuff.

 

 

Pressed powder, HD powder and concealer/highlighter duo (bought that one separately). The HD powder really peaked my interest because I've seen some reviews online about it. It's a very fine, extremely milled powder. Silky consistency. When I rub my fingers against this product, it's more fined than mineral foundations. This product is used to enhance parts of your face that you'd like to highlight. It gives off a nice reflective radiance to your face and softens up any look. I think it's perfect for nighttime use simply for its the "glowy" components in it. Very finely milled and comes with a little puffer for convenience. I haven't used it long enough to say if I love it, but I do like it. It's interesting! :) 

The pressed powder is wonderful! It's very soft and glides onto your skin like melting butter! =P It doesn't have a very "dry" consistency which is what most women hate in a pressed powder. Having blotches on your skin and product seeping into lines is the worst! But this powder has a little oil to it and feels really nice. I used it as a setting powder after applying my Dior sculpt foundation and it looked lovely. My face is not goopy, nor "cakey" and the powder settles in doing a great job on oil control. Also, the compact has a separator for the sponge!

Last, the concealer/highlighter duo. I actually really like this! I mixed the two colors onto my skin and blended it together. What came out of it was good coverage, and a very nice satin finish. I really like the white part of it which is supposed to highlight the darker areas like under your eyes. A little blending is all that it requires :) Wonderful product..

 

 With flash. I like how the powder didn't enhance any of my skin imperfections. It covered the pores pretty well and gave me a clear complexion. 

Light from my lamp to dim lighting. I used the blushed/bronzer duo, and a bit of Glow in the last picture. 

Here's everything I used!

 

 

 

FACE:

Diorskin Sculpt 

ELF blushed/bronzer duo

ELF Glow 

ELF pressed powder in porcelain 

EYES

Mac gel liner in Blacktrack

Estee Lauder bold volume lifting mascara

Clinique eyeshadow (forgot the shade! not pictured)

LIPS

Lancome gloss in Burning Up. One of my HG lippies.

I hope this review was helpful and/or informative! =D

Goodnight!