I'm one of those people who much prefers buying makeup and beauty products in shops rather than online, simply so that I can see the product in person before parting with my money. Although I'd heard so many good things about the affordable makeup and brushes from e.l.f, I still put off making an order as I wouldn't be 100% sure of colours and formulas until the package came. Luckily I was contacted by the lovely people at e.l.f and asked if I'd like to try anything out from the brand, and after a big peruse on the website I knew I had to try out the Contouring Blush & Bronzer Powder which has been likened to NARS Orgasm and Laguna so many times now. I was also very kindly sent the Conditioning Lip Balm to try and it's no secret that I've been loving my lip balms lately! Today I'll be reviewing both products after giving them a good trial over the last few weeks.
e.l.f Studio Conditioning Lip Balm in Peaceful Pink* (£3.38)
I'll start with the lip balm which really surprised me with just how pigmented the color is! I have Peaceful Pink which I'd describe as more of a bubblegum pink in the pot, but once applied to the lips it sheers out to a slightly more subtle looking shade of pink. I've really been into my tinted lip balms lately and this product has been a breath of fresh air because of just how much color it adds to your lips, and this is when I'm comparing it to the likes of the Maybelline Baby Lips and The Body Shop Born Lippy Lip Balms which have a much lighter formula and a sheerer finish. One swipe of this balm is enough to leave your lips looking lovely and the color has been perfect for the natural makeup look I tend to go for on an everyday basis.
Unfortunately I can't say that this balm has been as moisturising as some other balms I already own as my lips are still left feeling a bit dry, but I still love the Conditioning Lip Balm as a lip color. It's also a nice alternative to lipstick on the days when I don't want to risk being left with any obvious cracks in my lips, especially now that we're getting into the colder months. The only bad thing about the product (in my eyes) is the packaging. The pot is big and bulky which means it's not as makeup bag friendly as other balms, and the bulkiness also makes it a bit harder to scoop the balm out with your finger. Apart from that I've been loving this product and quite fancy ordering a few more of the shades.
e.l.f Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in St Lucia* (£3.75)
The Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder was the product I was most excited about and for good reason too as I've really been making an effort to contour my cheeks in the mornings. I have quite a round face which means my cheekbones can sometimes be pretty non-existent, so a bit of definition in that area can only be a good thing. I've already mentioned that the shades in this duo have been compared to NARS Orgasm and Laguna and while I can't comment on their likeness because I don't have either of those products, I've been loving both the blusher and bronzer powders for their lovely shades and subtle shimmery finish. The blusher is a pretty pinky-peach shade with gold shimmer and is great for giving your cheeks a bit of color without being too obvious. The bronzer was always going to be a risky one as most bronzing powders look too dark or muddy on my paler complexion, but this shade is a great color for me and blends out to a natural looking bronze color with a little bit of gold shimmer.
Again the packaging is my only gripe as it's on the larger side and takes up quite a bit of room in my makeup bag, but I can let it off when there's a nice blusher and bronzer inside. This duo is so handy for travel and on-the-go touch ups, and it was a staple item in my makeup bag when I was on holiday a couple of weeks ago. You get a nice big mirror inside which is always a plus and it came in so handy when I was away from home and needed a mirror to do my makeup.
Swatches L-R: Conditioning Lip Balm, Blusher, Bronzer
All in all I've been very happy with these two products from e.l.f and feel like I should be kicking myself for not trying the brand sooner! There is a huge selection of makeup products and brushes on their website and you really can't go wrong with such affordable prices. Next on my hit list are their Lip Stains, Studio Pigment Eyeshadows and eye brushes!
What are your favorite products from e.l.f?
