e.l.f. Makeup : 1 Winner + 3 Losers

Several weeks back I bought a few e.l.f products from my local Walmart. I was super excited as the selection was huge! e.l.f. is one of those very affordable brands that has a great line up of products and a good handful of their products I've tried and loved. A few products like this one and this one are a staple in my skincare and makeup routine. 

I picked up the Dark Blush Palette , Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in black, Small Stippling Brush and Instant Lift Brow Pencil in neutral brown. Unfortunately this e.l.f shopping trip wasn't as worthwhile as I had hoped. The title of this posts says it all. 

Let's start with the clear winner! This e.l.f stippling brush is the bomb.com! It's small enough to fit in an average sized makeup bag. It's a classic black colour and has short bristles. It looks very much like a the MAC 130 short stippling brush. I used the e.l.f stippling brush to blend in my NARS creamy concealer on the under eye area. It's small enough to use under the eyes and around the corner of the nose. The bristles are very soft against the skin and I picked up product very easily with it. I also used this brush to apply cream blush. Overall I'm really impressed with the brush considering it was only $5! I haven't washed it yet so I hope after I wash it for the first time it still holds it's shape and the bristles don't fall out. I will be going back to buy another small stippling brush to add to my professional kit as well as trying out some other e.l.f. brushes. I just hope they are as good as this one!

With the assortment of colours available in the  e.l.f Instant Lift Brow pencil and the spooly at the end this product could have been the front-runner for an ABH brow wiz dupe, but unfortunately this product doesn't work very well.  First off the spooly is way to harsh and dense. I used a very light hand and it still felt rough against my skin. I had to apply several strokes of the pencil in the same area to have it show on my skin. The colour didn't last long( 2 hours) on my brows. I started to see it fade on one of my brows while the other one took a half hour longer to fade. I felt the pencil was too waxy therefore not allowing the colour to properly adhere to the brows and skin. I would probably recommend this to brow pencil to anyone who is just starting to experiment with makeup. If you are a seasoned makeup wearer please skip this product as it will frustrate you during application. 

The e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen looks very sleek and functional. It's also very deceiving. The tip looks very pointy but it's actually flimsy and bends if you add a bit of pressure to it.My first experience with the pen wasn't the greatest.I had to shake it a few times to have the liquid dispense out of the pen and after 10 minutes of sheer frustration I managed to achieve a so-called line but had it rub off on me an hour into my work day! I may have gotten a defective pen ,to be honest ,but I wasn't going to buy another one. It's not worth the hassle. I'll just stick to this e.l.f.liner instead. I know it works and I love it!

Out of all the products I purchased, I would have to say this blush palette was my biggest disappointment. I had such high expectations since I read all the great reviews on it. I'll start off with the PROS of this palette. The cost, obviously, was very affordable at $7. You receive 4 wearable colours and it comes in a nice sleek black palette that can easily be thrown into a travel case and off you go! This palette will take you from season to season. Here are the CONS of this palette. The colours are wearable but not pigmented enough for my taste. It takes a few swipes of the blush to achieve "enough" colour. The description of the palette says it has matte and shimmer shades but I noticed all the shades have somewhat of a shimmer to them. There isn't true matte shade in the palette. The blush doesn't last long on the skin. I do not have oily skin and about 3 hours in to my work day I needed a touch up. 

Overall this isn't an atrocious, yes I'm being dramatic again, blush palette to have in your makeup bag. However, with the limited space I have and the mass variety of makeup available on the market I have to be picky of what I carry around. 

//swatches of the dark blush palette.3 swipes to achieve this pigmentation//

e.l.f. used to make an amazing HD cream blush that I have bought in the past and would love to repurchase but I can't find it at my local store. If you know where I can buy it, please leave me a comment below!

Happy e.l.f shopping!

DISCLAIMER: I purchased these products with my own money. I was not compensated for my review and my opinions are my own. I am not affiliated with e.l.f cosmetics.

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7 Skin Saving Products I 'm Dying To Try and So Should You!

With Summer coming to a close and the colder temperatures approaching, it's time to start thinking about switching up your skincare routine. I'm a firm believer that every season you should swap out a skincare product and introduce a new one to your already extensive day + night ritual to achieve new results. According to Dr. OZ "healthy skin is important because it's your first line of defence from bacteria and other environmental pollutants". Let's not forget to mention that your makeup applies and looks impeccable when your skin is healthy! That's why this Fall I'm looking at incorporating one or two of these skin saving products to maximize my results!

//PETER THOMAS ROTH 40 % TRIPLE ACID PEEL //

$88

This extra strength peel contains 3 high potency acids ( AHA, BHA and Mandelic Acid) that exfoliate the skins rough patches to reduce the look of fine lines and uneven skin tone. I have had great experience using BHA and AHA, but at 40% acid potency I think you are almost at professional grade quality. I'm definitely interested in trying this at home peel.

                                                                             

 

//Murad Canada White Brilliance Porcelain Serum// 

$115

I've developed a few sun spots around my eye area and it's irritating me because I use SPF 30 sunscreen every single day, but that's still not enough to deflect them. In my defence though, I don't put sunscreen too close to my eye area as it really irritates me. I have read amazing reviews on this serum that targets sun spots and makes your skin luminous. I'm willing to pay the hefty price tag to test it out and hopefully banish them forever! I'm not yet ready to have a laser treatment such as IPL so I think this is my best non-invasive option!

//Murad Detoxifying White Clay Body Cleanser//

$33

As important as it is to take care of your face, it's equally as important to nourish the rest of your body. This is another Murad product that has received rave reviews online from bloggers and woman around the globe (yes I also read beauty blogs lol). What's unique about this body cleanser it that it's formulated to draw out all impurities from your body. I read online that this white clay cleanser detoxifies your body like an Epsom salt bath would but in the shower! I'm definitely up for that.

                                                                                  

                                                         

     

        

//Laneige Water Sleeping Mask//

$30

This product blew up on my Instagram feed(insert shameless plug here)so of course curiosity got the best of me and I had to check it out online. This overnight mask leaves a thin film on the face as it hydrates, replenishes and soothes. It contains ylang ylang, sandalwood oil, and orange flower to promote deep sleep. This is a huge Korean beauty favourite so of course I'm already intrigued!

//boscia Sake Balm Moisturizer//

$58

boscia is a botanically based , preservative free skincare line. I've always been curious about this brand and the more I researched them the more I like their philosophy. 

This product is made from the low-alcoholic Japanese drink, Sake. Sake has been proven to provide great skin benefits such as hydration and luminosity. It also contains jojoba leaves to prevent free radical damage. This moisturizer is another K-Beauty hit so of course it's on my list of products to experiment with.

Rodan + Fields Redefine System

$245+( amazing incentives every month)

It's no secret that Rodan + Fields has become a phenomenon in the skin care industry that even caught the attention of Ms. Britney Spears herself. She is praising the brand for keeping her skin subtle, youthful and free of blemishes. I'm very interested in trying the complete REDIFINE line as I'm already using the REDEFINE Multifunction eye cream and I see a huge difference in my eye texture and dark circles. It's recommended to use the whole system together to truly achieve amazing results, so I may just go for it and order the complete REDEFINE Line!

Simple Soothing Facial Toner

$8

I never cared much for facial toners till I read in a magazine how advanced toners have become and how essential they are to a daily skin care regime, especially in the colder months. The more sophisticated toners will add moisture, soothe redness and are packed with antioxidants ( a.k.a. anti-aging). This one is a no brainer and I will be picking this up sometime this week. I 'm a fan of Simple products because they're very affordable and are proven to work!

DISCLAMIER: I was not paid for this post and I am not affiliated with any of the brands mentioned above.

ESSENTIAL TWEEZERMAN BEAUTY TOOLS!

When you think of beauty tools what's the first thing that comes to your mind?

I instantly think of makeup brushes, tweezers and razors! Now imagine if you had to be without these tools? No way! I'm so dependant on beauty tools that I would be a complete mess, literally! 

As a makeup artist, makeup wearer and beauty lover I understand the importance of having reliable tools to achieve your look. I own several brands of brushes, lash glue and makeup but I tend to gravitate towards a select few tools that I know can rely on because I've done so in the past to help me get the job done with little fuss! That's why I was so happy when the good folks at Tweezerman sent me a few of their beauty tools to test out. I received 3 eyelash curlers, the iQ eye defining brush set and a funky print tweezer.

iQ Eye Defining Brush Set

This set includes the iQ Line Glider brush , Shader brush and Blender brush. I used all 3 brushes on a model last weekend ( click here to view pictures on Instagram) and I was impressed by the quality of all the brushes, but the one that stole my heart was the Glider brush. The curved shape of the brush is really unique. I used gel liner and was able to pick up the product from my palette easily. I lightly lined the models' eyes and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to create a precise wing even with a curved tip brush. A wing liner is a bit tricky for me but the curve and the tip of the brush made it easier. I used the multifunctional Blender brush to pack on shadow to the lid and blend colours, then used the Shader brush to very lightly smoke out the bottom lash line. 

Rose Gold ProCurl Lash Curler

ProMaster Lash Curler

For years I've used the same lash curler from the drugstore on myself and clients. I have one in my kit and a similar one in my personal makeup bag. It never dawned on me ,until I was exposed to the ProCurl and ProMaster lash curlers, that the lash curler I've been using for years is a one size fits all. Does that make sense? How is that possible when we don't all have the same eye shape! Once I realized this, I did a quick search online to see if all other lash curlers from various brands were a one size fits all , and yes they were! 

The ProCurl and ProMaster are not a one size fits all beauty tool. They are part of Tweezerman Lash Logic series. These are specially tailored to suite diverse eye shapes such as almond, deep set and round eyes. ProCurl is created for round eyes and the ProMaster is for almond or deep set eyes. I have almond and deep set eyes so the ProMaster has become my new best friend. I've used it everyday since receiving it. I've also changed the silicone pad and used it on my almond eyed clients. It really does make a difference. The ProMaster is designed with an extra wide opening as almond eyes are typically larger and longer in length. The larger opening is designed to reach every lash and give it a nice curl.It really does reach every single lash!

ProCurl won Allure Magazines 2105 Best of Beauty Award and is for round eyes and opens to a 60 degree angle. It has the same comfort grip as the ProMaster and comes with 2 silicone pads. For best results the silicone pad should be changed every 3 months. I'm obsessed with rose gold so the ProCurl has been on display on my vanity since I received it! It adds a very nice touch to the space. YES! I do display beauty tools, especially if they look this pretty and shiny! I love the construction of both the ProCurl and ProMaster. They are sturdy and don't feel flimsy while I'm using them. 

As a makeup artist I always curl my clients lashes, regardless if they already have a natural curl. If I am applying false lashes, I curl the natural lashes first, then curl the false lashes before applying them for that extra oomph!

In my day to day makeup wear I used to curl my lashes 60% of the time, but now with the ProMaster I notice a really big difference so I started doing it everyday! Even if I'm not planning on wearing mascara that day I still curl them!

Curl'N Go Eyelash Curler

Tweezerman has created a portable version of their Classic lash curler. It folds in half and is very lightweight. It has a wide opening, but not as wide as the ProMaster. I particiulary love the bright pink handle and because it folds in half you don't have to compromise great lashes for space in your makeup bag!  This is a must have product for all you jet setters out there!

Mini Slant Tweezer Toucan Print

My eyebrows grow at a very unique rate, i.e. lightning speed , so I'm constantly trimming and tweezing my full brows. I instantly loved this mini tweezer for it's unique fun print and because the slant on the tweezers as well as the the size of the tweezer allow me to get really close to the short stubborn hairs I have. This print along with other funky prints also come in a full size but I personally prefer the mini for travelling convenience. 

I really enjoyed using these products and will invest in this and this from Tweezerman as well this gorgeous gun metal set ( giveaway anyone!!!!). You can buy Tweezerman products in all major drugstores around the globe.

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review. The products were provided to me free of charge, however I was not asked for a favourable review. The opinions expressed in this post are my own.