Pretty on a budget: e.l.f makeup line meets expectations
The products came in their own packages with a “thank you” note on top.
September 7, 2016
Eyes, Lips and Face (e.l.f.) offers inexpensive beauty products for women who enjoy the art of cosmetics while also living on a budget.
The company, founded in New York, advertises the concept that women everywhere do not need high end makeup to achieve the top quality, professional look they desire. With prices ranging from a dollar to $12, e.l.f. provides consumers with multiple arrays of concealers, lipsticks, primers, mascara, brushes, and skin care products.
My inquisitive mind wandered over the various options of cosmetic companies over the past year, searching for an affordable, yet respectable brand. Then I stumbled upon e.l.f., a cruelty-free, vegan, and inexpensive company when wandering the makeup aisle of Target.
Viewing their “Best Sellers” on the e.l.f. website, I ordered the top five products to try out myself. Nearly three weeks later, my package of cosmetics arrived in the mail.
The package came in a plain white bag with the #playbeautifully logo, a movement started on the idea of finding one’s self through the exploration of makeup. The contents came solely in their wrapping without any fortifying tissue paper or bubble wrap and some of the products came in fragile plastic containers.
E.l.f. Cream Eyeliner(Black) $3
Living up to its popularity, the e.l.f. cream eyeliner creates bold lines without the smudge.
This eyeliner became my best friend from the second I applied it. I use liquid eyeliner, so I came in without knowing what to expect when applying it. The product comes with a compact eyeliner brush that serves its purpose fully and allows the user to apply the product with ease. The product also offers water-proof, smudge-proof, and resistant coverage all day.
The smudge-proof feature caught my eye, and I set out on testing if e.l.f., in fact, told the truth. I applied my own liquid eyeliner from Maybelline ($7) on my right eye and the e.l.f. cream eyeliner on the left. My liquid eyeliner came off in clunks while the e.l.f. cream eyeliner never budged.
For the pricing of the product, the consistency, high-end quality, and the features, it will undoubtedly become part of my everyday makeup routine.
Baked Highlighter(Blush Gems) $4
Infused with Vitamin E, Jojoba, and Apricot, the baked highlighter not only glistens, but hydrates the skin.
The compact highlighter garnered mixed reviews from the public. When first trying it out, my brush seemed to not pick up any of the product. Now, I use a baked eyeshadow palette and wet my brush to achieve the vibrancy and the full use of the product. I used the same method with the baked highlighter, yet it achieved nothing.
Searching online, I discovered that you must scrape off the top layer of the product first. The reward seemed worth it; the highlighter leaves a glittery shine that when captured in the light glows vibrantly. The particular shade did not match my skintone well, but fortunately e.l.f. offers two other shades. Furthermore, the glitter ended up all over my face by the end of the day and lost its vibrancy throughout.
3-in-1 Mascara (black) $3
By adding volume to and lengthening the lashes, the 3-in-1 mascara does no wrong.
Apart from my last mascara coming from a dollar store, the inexpensive e.l.f. mascara did the job for me. The product lengthens, adds volume to, and defines the lashes; my lashes appeared visibly lengthier and curved more at the tips with just one coat.
As a bonus, the product provides the user with easy removal. Makeup removers aside, the product washed off with warm water, not harming the lashes.
The e.l.f. 3-in-1 mascara does not perform miracles, yet at no time did it smudge throughout the entire day.
Mist and Set(Clear) $3
By far, this set disappointed me the most. The instructions stated with just one spray, the user can expect a firm hold on their makeup through the whole day. Halfway through the day, my contour and highlighter began to fade while my face became as shiny as a diamond. Someone even commented on how my face appeared shinier than usual.
The product did not impress me at all, although surprisingly the reviews gave it 4 stars.
Moisturizing Lipstick(Wink Pink) $1.50
This lipstick works its magic with vibrant color and a bit of shine.
The last item I purchased, the moisturizing lipstick, lives up to its name. With key ingredients like shea and vitamin A, E, and C, the lipstick leaves my lips feeling soft and healthy.
Amazingly, consumers can smell the ingredients, knowing that the company speaks the truth on what goes into their products.
I wore the lipstick throughout the day, and proceeded to drink lots of water to see if the lipstick would come off. Surprisingly enough, only a small amount of it showed up on my water bottle.
Overall, I found my experience with e.l.f products satisfying, and would recommend the brand as a whole to other makeup lovers.
The Chant’s Grade: B+
