I should have most likely started off my blogs with these because I have had them for so long and you know everyone is always love/hate with ELF because it's inexpensive AND has hits and misses. I point out that AND because I don't think that since it's inexpensive it should be awful quality.
ELF Mineral Eyeshadows $3.00 each at eyeslipsface.com
They have a mixture of matte and shimmer shades in 26 different shades total. At $3 a piece and how often they have website sales these eyeshadows are a good deal in general but lets go over the 8 eyeshadows I have.
"Wild"
Wild is a nice true brown with gold sparkle in it.
(Left No Primer, Right Primer)
With these eyeshadows a primer makes all the difference. Also not being afraid to layer the color until you get the intensity you want helps. This shade is one of the most pigmented of the bunch and even then I like to add two coats in order to make the color pop! The sparkle is more intense with primer but either way this shade is beautiful.
"Royal"
Royal is a nice dark purple shimmer.
(Left No Primer, Right Primer)
Yet again this shade is really pretty to me. I can't help but love it and use it as an accent color or for a smokey eye. Pigments in general to me don't seem to go on full color, but they are easy to layer because of how finely milled they all are. With flash this shade does become a mid-range purple.
"Sweet"
Sweet is a pink with gold sparkle in it.
(Left No Primer, Right Primer)
This shade is a little bit too barbie for me personally but I have used this as a lip color and it looks really nice because of the golden sparkles. (Yeah I know it's too barbie for my eyes but not too barbie for my lips? I'm weird don't mind me.) It's a cute color, I don't think it would look good as blush since it has so much shimmer but using it as a lip color is something worth trying.
"Elegant"
Elegant is completely the epitome of eggshell shimmer.
(Left No Primer, Right Primer)
Eggshell in general isn't a very pigmented color on my skin tone but this color would be completely lovely with a simple, updated vintage look. (Since all vintage looks are done with matte shades) You put this eggshell shimmer on the eyelid add a nice brown crease with a winged liner and a red lip. Perfect.
"Temptress"
Temptress is a very light matte pinky-taupe.
(Left No Primer, Right Primer)
This shade is definitively the least pigmented (on me at least) of the bunch. I have to wonder how much better it would look wet because it really isn't pigmented dry, even over primer which is super disappointing, I love the idea of the color.
"Partier"
Partier is a matte blue/grey.
(Left No Primer, Right Primer)
As you can see this eyeshadow is non-existent without primer, however over primer it's completely pigmented and actually a good smokey eye base. I wore this one today under a couple of purple Urban Decay eyeshadows from the Vice 2 pallet and I really like the outcome.
(Excuse my eyebrows I need to go get them threaded again)
See? Not too shabby.
"Socialite"
Socialite is a dark brown/taupe color that is less sparkle more sheen.
(Left No Primer, Right Primer)
This shade may very well be my favorite of the bunch. It makes the perfect smokey eye for me. It's buildable, blendable, and just beautiful. However, the swatch on the website and how it looks in person is completely different. I have no idea why, but I couldn't even recognize the thumbnail when I was looking for it. It's a really lovely color though, completely worth the $3.
"Glamorous"
Glamorous is a muave shimmer.
(Left No Primer, Right Primer)
This one is really not too pigmented without a primer but does pack a nice punch over primer. With shades like this one you have to be careful you don't end up looking dead, since the shade can drown you out but you can use it as a lip color and I'm betting wet it would take on a whole new dimension that would be fabulous.
Anyway, my overall conclusion is I like them a lot. I do think that NYX has loose eyeshadow that is more pigmented and needs less layers but the packaging in these is more convenient. Not exactly the best pigment on the market but I do love these a lot and a few of the shades really stand out from other things in my collection. Hope that helped.
XOXO
