Eyes Lips Face (ELF) Mineral Eyeshadow Review and Swatches

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

Beauty Noobz Guide to Beaty (Part Four- Eye Shadow Bases)

If you're new to the make up world the idea of an eye shadow base may be kind of confusing. What's it for? What about the different colored bases? What kind should you buy? etc.

Here are the answers to any of the questions you may have, also putting a high end shadow base against a dollar base. 

What is an eye shadow base for?

Eye shadow bases (a.k.a. eye primers) are used to prepare a base for your eye shadow. They help them last longer, look more vivid, help guard against creasing and some new bases even claim to have anti-aging benefits.

What about the different color bases?

A new big trend with primers/bases is to add different dimension or color to them and that means that your eye shadows may show up a bit differently.

Black Bases- You can achieve a black base by using any black pencil liner or gel liner, but when doing this be very careful to smudge out the liner before applying the eye shadow if not the black may over power your eye shadow. A good tip I learned in school was to first apply a light wash of a light brown shadow to the crease so that you don't smudge your liner too far.

White bases- White bases are supposed to present you with a perfectly blank canvas, making your shadow present itself as vivid as possible. It doesn't have to compete with your natural eye color or any color. Keep in mind that when speaking art terms White is the Lack of Color which is why your colors will be more vibrant.

Skin Toned bases- Skin toned bases are meant to be more natural, something to adjust the color of your eyelids. Some eye lids are more naturally red than others so by adjusting the color on your lids you make it easier for your eye shadow to be as pure a color as possible.

What kind of base should you buy?

Most people use money and reputation of a brand to decide what base they should buy. Too Faced Shadow Insurance and Urban Decays Primer Potion are two very popular eye primers that are also kind of pricey. However, there are so many types and tricks for things you might already have in your collection that you don't necessarily need to go out and buy an expensive one. So lets expand on this question with some swatches shall we?

(left to right: Color Tattoo -Barely Beige, Covergirl + Olay concealer balm, NYX Eyeshadow Base, ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer, Too Faced Perfect Eyes liner, Cherimoya liner, and Urban Decay Primer Potion)

As you can see the so called "primers" come in all different colors, textures, and some aren't even primers. Concealer is a good option for a primer and something that most of us already have in our collection. The creamier the concealer the more likely it is to crease.

Let's see how these bad boys preform now.

As you can see the different colored bases make for a different finish to the same eye shadow. A shimmer base like the Color Tattoo does add an extra amount of sparkle that shows up through the shadow. That means if you are going for a Matte look I wouldn't recommend a cream eyeshadow with shimmer as your base. So, does expensive technically mean better? No. I use ELF primer (which is $1) all the time and have no problems. But as you can tell ANY base is better than NO base. 

So go out there, try a primer/base of some sort, just keep in mind that moderation should be used on whichever you pick, also for a smokey eye It's always pick a black base (smoked out and in moderation). 

Hope that helped.

ELF Disney Villains Lookbooks (Review, Picture heavy)

Last year ELF teamed up with Disney to create look books that were sold exclusively at Walgreens based on four of our favorite lady villains, The Evil Queen, Cruella De Vil (anyone notice the interesting word play in her name?), Ursula, and Maleficent. Last years look book was very differently structured and you were given different products. You received an eyeshadow pallet (8 shadows), two mini lip pencils, a liquid eyeliner, an eyeshadow primer, and a pair of fake lashes. 

However, this year you get an eyeshadow pallet, a liquid and a pencil liner, an eyeshadow primer, a mascara, a lip gloss and an eyeshadow brush. The same four ladies are the basis of these pallets which retail for about $10 each.

(Side note: Walgreens is also carrying make up bags, nail art kits, hair ties, fake eyelash kits, and a box set of 12 mini polishes, each for about $10 also)

This year I was able to obtain all four look books and a nail polish box set (that I'll review soon) so lets get the ball rolling.

The first kit I got was the Evil Queen pallet.

I really enjoyed these pallets aesthetically. I feel as though a lot of thought and detail went into these pallets. I enjoyed their watercolor motif much more than I enjoyed the design last year. As you can semi see it does have a step by step guide on how to create a day time look and a night time look. 

Also for the record, since I won't have swatches of the eyeshadow brush I personally love it. I bought mine years ago, and it is still in perfect condition, doesn't shed, and I have been able to pack on color, blend, and apply soft washes of color with that one single brush. It's amazing, and I'm kind of excited that I have four now haha. 

(left to right: Dark Magic, Vanity, Witch, Majesty, Jealousy, Huntsman)

Dark Magic and Vanity were the duds in this pallet for me. Dark Magic, in the packaging looks like a beautiful dark purple with bright purple sparkles and once swatched it takes a few coats to get it that intensity. Vanity, like most of the other mattes were done kind of poorly, and don't show up as well as I'd like. However, Witch (which is a lovely matte dark gray), Majesty (a more green brown shimmer), Jealousy (a creamy lighter brown shimmer) and Huntsman (a cream colored shimmer) are pigmented and easy to blend. Just be a aware that most of these are shimmers and do have a tiny bit of fallout. 

Then there was Cruella De Vil

Cruella also has the amazing watercolor detail and a day and night guide on the inside. (brush not pictured because it is on my vanity =) 

(left to right: Stolen, Eccentric, Cruelty, Fur, Puppy Love, Maniac)

Stolen was the dud for me in this pallet it's a matte chocolate brown that really doesn't have good pigment at all. Eccentric ( an orange brown shimmer), Cruelty (a golden brown shimmer), Fur (a chocolate brown -almost gray- shimmer), and Maniac (another light cream shimmer) are all super buttery, pigmented and blendable. This pallet is perfect for a (shimmery) more neutral look. It doesn't exactly scream Cruella to me but it is the most wearable pallet. I just wish there was an actual dark shade to take your look into a more smoky night time feeling.

Onto Ursula.

 Yet again you get the amazing packaging and the say and night look guide.

(left to right: Bewitched, Triton, Kiss The Girl, Shell, Sea Witch, Coral)

This pallet was honestly the most disappointing for me. Maybe it was just that I wanted more from it because the colors look gorgeous all packaged together for this kit, and it SCREAMED Little Mermaid to me but gosh was I sorely disappointed. Bewitched, Triton, and Sea Witch are all mattes, and this is over primer and really trying hard to bring out the colors. Sea Witch even with a heavy hand doesn't produce good color pay off. Kiss the Girl (a nice brown shimmer), Shell (a pretty sea foam green shimmer) and Coral (a beautiful champagne shimmer) have good pigmentation but make me feel like this pallet almost isn't worth it unless you are a big fan of the Little Mermaid or you don't mind a challenge.

Lastly there is Maleficent.

You yet again get watercolor magic and a day and night make up guide.

(left to right: Raven Black, Thorns, Deep Sleep, Spell, Fauna, Flora)

This was honestly my favorite pallet. Yes there was a dud, Raven Black is matte and not so pigmented but it's like the grey in the Evil Queen pallet, it's good enough. The rest of the pallet is awesome though! Thorns (a dark brown/grayish shimmer), Deep Sleep (a silver shimmer), Spell (a forest green shimmer), Fauna (a light gray shimmer), Flora (another cream shimmer) are all pigmented and the mixture of the grays with that out of left field green was amazing. You end up with everything you need for a classic smokey eye in this little eye kit.

Now for the lippies.

(left to right: Maleficent, Ursula, Cruella, Evil Queen)

Maleficent is your classic red. Ursula a very bubblegum, barbie pink. Cruella is a orange-ish color. Evil Queen is a wine colored gloss. All of these glosses aren't exactly super pigmented. They aren't by any standard sheer though. The red gloss would look better and compliment a nice red lipstick or pencil. The pink gloss looks good alone, but would top a nice pink lipstick/pencil. The orange was the stand out for me here, it neutralized my natural lip color just enough that it gave me the perfect nude lip, so I love it alone. The wine color looks a little more fuchsia on my lips but would top wine colors beautifully or deepen fuchsias just a bit. The glosses have a sweet scent that is mixed with a hint of chemical scent. These aren't sticky on the lips while they retain color, right after I wiped off the swatches the skin became sticky so make of that what you will. 

The liners.

They are all black the liquid as you can see doesn't dry matte and the pencil is a bit dry, nothing major.

The mascara (not pictured) is a normal bristles smaller wand. The formula seemed really dry to me, and didn't cause clumping and added a little bit of length but added no volume. I thought it was a nice on my lower lashes, defining them without making them look spidery but I can do better on my top lashes. There was no smudging through out the day either.