Review: Elf Cosmetics Studio Brushes | Dupes for It Cosmetics?

This post contains products I purchased myself, press samples, affiliate and referral links.* 

Hi guys! Remember way back long long ago when I hauled some new elf brushes? No?

They were the ones I got because I thought they were dupes for some high-end favorites. Still not ringing a bell? Well here's where maybe the elf haul post will jog your memory.

Anyway, I finally got my butt in gear and reviewed these, just in time for elf to release their latest brush collection (the new brushes hadn't been released at the time I filmed this video).

Regardless, some of you wanted to know what I thought of these brushes and if they were indeed reliable $6 dupes. The answer is: Yes.

Check out my video to see which brushes are dupes for my favorite It Cosmetic brushes and which dupes left me kinda disappointed.

e.l.f. Ultimate Blending Brush | It Brushes for ULTA 101 Airbrush Blurring Brush | It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Brush (press sample)  | e.l.f. Selfie Ready Powder Brush | It Brushes for ULTA 102 Airbrush Smoothing Brush | Real Techniques Expert Face Brush |  e.l.f. Selfie Ready Foundation Brush | e.l.f. Sculpting Face Brush 

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Join the ULTA Rewards program (free), get a $10 coupon! 

Use ebates for added savings and cash back when you shop! (Get a $10 gift card when you sign up) 

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Also, some of the links in the post above are "referral links" or “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item or sign up for a service, I will receive an affiliate commission or referral rewards.Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Top 5 Beauty Favorites | December 2015

Happy New Year everyone! 

Let's kick this year off with some positive vibes by talking about some excellent products I've been loving lately. 

You know where we're going with this.  It's my beauty top five! Here are the five products I couldn't seem to put down throughout the month of December. 

Don't forget to comment, like, and subscribe! And if you want to see more products that made my coveted top 5 list, click here. 

elf blending brush | It Cosmetics CC Veil Foundation | Supergoop City Sunscreen Serum | Bare Minerals 5-in-1 BB advanced performance cream shadow | Muji Cotton buds 

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Join the ULTA Rewards program, earn $10 coupon.

Use ebates to earn extra cash back bonuses when you shop.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are  referral links and affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item/sign up for the service, I will receive an affiliate commission or referral points. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

e.l.f. cosmetics | Haul

I did some more shopping. Is anyone shocked?

e.l.f. cosmetics had a Veteran's Day sale and I indulged. Funny enough, only one (maybe two?) of the items I chose qualified for the sale. Ha! So my excuse to justify my shopping fell flat on its face. But, honestly, e.l.f. products are so damn affordable, do you really need to justify buying them?

No. No you do not.

So I went in.

I was primarily drawn in to the sale by all the new brushes e.l.f. released recently. Many of them remind of of the airbrush-effect brushes that a lot of high end brands have on the market (think It Cosmetics and other brushes like them). So, how could I possibly resist testing them out? After all, if they are comparable, I'd be saving in the long run.

Now come see what I'm talking about and tell me you don't agree.

e.l.f. Selfie Ready Powder Brush ($6) | e.l.f. Ultimate Blending Brush ($6) | e.l.f. Selfie Ready Foundation Brush ($6) | e.l.f. Sculpting Face Brush ($6) | e.l.f. Blending Brush dupe for Sephora Brush #53 ($6) |  e.l.f. Illuminating Palette ($6) packaging calls it Ambient Palette | e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator Mint ($3)

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Instagram Giveaway

I posted a quickie, impromptu giveaway on Instagram yesterday (you can see it here). Follow me on Instagram  for your chance to win two e.l.f. hypershine lip glosses and a mineral eye shadow primer. 

All you have to do is:

1. Follow me on instagram 
2. Comment below the post by completing this sentence: "My favorite holiday makeup look is..."
3. Must be 18 years or older to enter or have parental permission
4. Contest open only in the U.S.

That's it! Winner will be selected tomorrow at 5 p.m. EST.

Prize cannot be redeemed for cash. The makers and manufacturers of the items being given away are in no way affiliated with this contest. While I take every precaution to ensure packages are delivered to contest winners, I do not take any responsibility for items lost or stolen during the shipping process once I have confirmed shipment from my end.

Stay tuned for more holiday giveaway madness here on the blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube.

Affordable Eye Makeup Brushes

This video is a follow up to the video on Affordable Face Makeup Brushes that I posted last week. It's just my way of sharing other makeup brushes out in the market that aren't always the same Sigma, Sedona Lace, and MAC brushes everyone else talks about. Yes, those brushes are good quality, but they aren't the only good quality brushes available to you. In fact, they aren't even the most affordable, good quality brushes out there. I hope this is helpful.

If you like this series, leave a comment below and tell me if there are any other brush types you'd like me to talk about.

• Crown Italian Badger Deluxe Crease $2.99 
• Crown Italian Badger Deluxe Oval Shadow $3.78
• Crown Luna Deluxe Crease $3.19 
• Crown Luna Blending Fluff $2.79 
• Crown Luna Chisel Fluff $2.89
• Crown Pro Spoolie 79¢. There are spoolies for less than $2 in the Luna and Italian Badger line too
• elf Spoolie $1 
• Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner Brush $5.99
• Posh Wide Dome Shadow Brush $5.49 (When I checked online, it's listing the cost at $10, but I know for a fact I didn't pay that much for it because I wouldn't have bought it at that price. So instead, I've provided the link to the same brush by Essence of Beauty)
• Studio Tools Eyeliner $2 
• Studio Tools Crease $2 
• Coastal Scents Pro Blending Fluff (MAC 217 Dupe) $4.95
• SOHO Blender Brush (Dupe for MAC 224) $8.99 

NOTE: I've also tried the SOHO blender sponge (Beauty Blender Dupe) and I think its even better than the Sonia Kashuk one. It's softer, squishier, and pink! I think Walgreens is getting ahead of the curve with this line of brushes. They are all quite nice. I touched the sample brushes in the store and they all seem to be very good quality. 

Makeup:
L'Oreal True Match foundation - Creamy Beige (C3)
Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer - Nude
Sephora Microsmooth Foundation Powder - Nude
Maybelline blush - Pinch o' Pink
elf Studio Blush & Bronzer - used the bronzer
Rimmel ScandalEyes Flex mascara - Extreme Black
elf Studio Brown kit - Medium Brown
MAC Cinema Features shadow palette #5
Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick - Soft Beige (620)

Music by Dan-O at danosongs.com. Song: En la Brisa

Affordable Makeup Brushes: Face

A makeup newbie out there relying on Youtube and blogs to learn, might start to believe that the only makeup brush manufacturers out there are MAC, Sigma, and Sedona Lace. The beauty community only really seems to talk about those three brands. I might be guilty of it to an extent, since I'm a Sigma affiliate. But I like to think that when I find affordable brush alternatives, I don't keep that information to myself. A keen example, my MAC 217 dupe post is one of the most read on this blog.

So, in keeping with that philosophy, I decided to make a video about affordable makeup brushes that aren't Sigma, MAC, or Sedona Lace. Afterall, those are all good brushes, and the Sigma and Sedon Lace are less expensive than MAC, but they aren't the only inexpensive (and good) brushes out there.

Product discussed that have links:

• Coastal Scents Density Kabuki brush (on clearance and still available as of todays posting) $2.98

• Coastal Scents Classic Small Buffer Brush (Synthetic) $4.95

• Coastal Scents Stippling Brush $6.95

• elf Studio Brushes (Complexion, powder, blush, stippling, flawless concealer, kabuki (not mentioned in video but awesome brush) $3 each Kabuki $6 - some brushes available at Target

• Studio Tools Foundation & Concealer brush $6.99

• Sonia Kashuk Duo Fibre brush $12.99

Makeup I'm wearing:
L'Oreal True Match Foundation - Creamy Natural (C3)
Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer - Nude
Sephora Microsmooth foundaiton powder - Nude
Maybelline blush - Pinch o' Pink
elf Studio brow kit - medium brown
elf Studio blush & contouring (used bronzer)
MAC Cinema Features shadow palette #5
Rimmel Scandal Eyes Flex Mascara - Extreme Black
Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick - Soft Beige (620)

Nail polish: Julep Kate
Julep maven subscription blog post: http://bit.ly/Lp2jIO
Julep maven subscription link: http://bit.ly/MEPENI

Music by Dan-O at danosongs.com
Song: En la Brisa

Haul: New products from e.l.f.

I did a little shopping at e.l.f. as you can see from the video. As mentioned in the video, e.l.f. Studio brushes are made from Taklon synthetic hairs, which are soft to the touch and less likely to absorb product as easily as natural hair does.

Items purchased:

• Studio Flawless Concealer Brush ($3)
• Studio Blush Brush ($3)
• Studio Small Stippling Brush ($3)
• Studio Baked Bronzer: St. Lucia and Maui ($3 each)
• Studio Baked Blush: Pinktastic, Pink Passion, Peachy Cheeky ($3 each)
• Hypershine Lipgloss: Flirt ($1)

The Flawless Concealer brush is an apparent dupe for the Sephora Pro Airbrush Concealer brush #27 ($24)

I have the Sephora Pro Cream Eyeshadow Brush #25 ($18)

New product: e.l.f. Eyelid Primer Collection

e.l.f. Eyelid Primer Collection $3 at Target

I was wandering around Target, as I tend to do, when I stumbled upon this little package. It's a new e.l.f. Essential Beauty School Eyelid Primer collection. Three primers, with varying finishes, for $3. I couldn't resist! It comes with the original nude formula, and two new ones: pearl and champagne. Check out the swatches below. I did not blend them in so that you could see them more easily.

Champagne, Pearl, Nude

I used them all this week, and I have to say, they were absolutely fantastic. They worked like a dream, just as good as my Urban Decay Primer Potion and Too Faced Shadow Insurance. So here is the skinny:

• The pearl finish primer is white, but blends away to an light iridescent shimmer. The glitter in it is fine and it does show through under your eyeshadow. I used it with shadows that had a little bit of a shimmer finish because I wanted to enhance it, and I did notice it. Be careful when applying, though, because the first time I used it, I got it under my eye while blending, and then I had glitter on my face. Not really the look I was shooting for to go to work. 
• The champagne finish is similar to Urban Decay's Sin, however, it's not quite as shimmery or champagne. It's a little darker, which I liked. I'd say about a shade darker than Sin. But definitely not as shimmery. I liked this. I used it, again, under champagne toned shadows to enhance them. They stayed put all day long, and I'm talking I applied at 7 a.m. and did not remove until after 9 p.m. and my eyeshadow was still fresh. 
• The nude works just like any primer. It's pretty much the same as the original formulas of Urban Decay and Shadow Insurance. 
• Each tube is 0.08 oz, small, but great for travel, and at only $1 each, I can't really complain about the size. 

If you've been curious about primers, especially the ones with different finishes, check these out. It's a risk-free way to see if you like it. 

Mist and set your makeup for all day staying power

Photo credit: e.l.f. website

I am so excited that I finally got my hands on e.l.f.'s Makeup Mist & Set. I've been wanting to try it for a long time, but it was always sold out online. Now that they have expanded the product selection at Target, I was able to pick this bad boy up really easily, and best of all it's only $3 (no shipping!). If any of you are avid consumers of the beauty community like I am, you have more than likely heard about makeup setting products like Model in a Bottle, Skindinavia, and the various ones from Urban Decay, Make Up For Ever, and others. And, if you are like me, the concept grabbed your attention. We all know primers help you get better makeup application, making it look more flawless and last longer. But we also know, they don't necessarily last all day long. Enter finishing sprays. It's a product you mist on your face after you are done with your makeup application. The product will help your makeup look like second skin, and magically (I say magically because I'm not entirely sure how they work) set it in place, making it humidity and heat resistant. Yes, you read that right. Your makeup will withstand its kryptonite. It will not melt away. Does this get your tongue wagging yet? Are you reaching for your keys as you read, or opening a new Internet tab to shop?

Well, let me tell you about my experience. But be warned, it may just enable you to pull the trigger on a new purchase.

Like many of you, I like to test out products (whenever possible) before I take the plunge and make a purchase for a high end brand. I'd wanted to try Model in a Bottle, but as far as I know, it is only available online, and it's $21 plus shipping, for a full-sized bottle. Well, what if I was dissatisfied? There was no way to test it. So I started looking around for other options. At that time, Urban Decay had recently come out with their product, but they didn't yet have the travel-sized one. However, Make Up For Ever had a travel version I could test out (remember: this was before e.l.f. released theirs) and it was only $8. I could handle that (a full-size version is $27). So, seeing as this is the first setting spray that I'd used (and loved), e.l.f. had a lot to live up to. My review is based on my experience with my e.l.f. Makeup Mist and Set, and is viewed through the eyes of a gal who swears by Make Up For Ever's Mist & Fix.

Let me start by saying, I'm totally psyched with the results. It really does work. It's been hot and humid around here lately, and I put on my makeup and braved the weather, and when I got home after several hours out running errands, my makeup looked like I'd just applied it. It had not budged. It had not faded. And, most importantly, it had not gotten all cakey and gross. It looked like it had when I walked out the door. So, performance-wise, e.l.f. can stand side-by-side with Make Up For Ever (and Urban Decay -- I once used my friend's when I forgot to use my Mist & Fix and after a long night out drinking in the Florida humidity for her birthday, my makeup still looked fresh by the end of the night, even though I wasn't holding up so well that evening). I was impressed. I know e.l.f. makes comparable products to the high end brands, but I think this is the first product that came this close in performance. Kudos to you, e.l.f.

Here are some other things that I like about it:

• It's nice and compact, so it's easy to take with you. The bottle is 2 oz (perfect travel-size)
• The $3 price tag. I could buy 3 for close to the same price as one Make Up For Ever travel Mist & Fix. That's one for the house, one for my travel bag, and one for my purse (if I forget to mist before I leave the house)
• I can use it if I forget to use primer and my makeup will still look great. I especially like to do this when I use tinted moisturizer because I don't like to use primer before my tinted moisturizer. I feel like the primer will block the moisturizer from properly absorbing into my skin. 
• It helps your makeup look like second skin. Looking too powdery? No problem, mist and you're fixed.
• It has aloe, green tea extracts, cucumber, and vitamins A, C, and E, making it nice and soothing for your skin

Unfortunately, I have just a few complaints (minor ones):

• It only comes in the 2 oz size, which make sense considering the price, but I'd like the option of having a full-size bottle at home and a small one to travel with. My solution to this? Buy a few and combine them into one larger spray bottle. Doing that, still saves you a bundle. The full-size Make Up For Ever is 4.22 oz and $27. Model in a Bottle is only 2 oz and $21. Urban Decay's full size is 4 oz and $29. I could buy a 4 oz spray bottle and two e.l.f. Mist & Sets and still come out spending less than $15. Sounds like a plan to me. 
• It has an odd scent. I can't quit put my finger on it. It is not a strong scent and it certainly isn't overpowering, lingering, or enough to keep me from using it. But it surprised me because I was expecting more of a fresh scent. If I had to describe the scent, it smells like aloe with a hint of glue (kids glue, not toxic glue fumes). Again, its only a fleeting scent, but I notice it, and then its gone. I hadn't experienced that scent in my previous foray into setting sprays. 

Other than that, I have no ill words about this product. The price is right, and so is the performance. If you want to save a bundle then I'd definitely say give this product a shot. Not only will it cost you less, but with a reduced need for touchups (or no need even), you'll get more mileage out of your makeup. What do you guys think of setting sprays?  

Hot pink cheeks for spring

I've been curious to try out a hot pink blush every since I saw a few videos from MakeupbyTiffanyD where she uses a hot pink blush she has from Smashbox. Whenever she uses it she says the color looks scary bright in the pot, but applies really nicely on the skin. But, I was still a bit skeptical. It's hard looking at that bright of a color and thinking you are going to be able to pull it off. So, I was hoping to find a cheaper alternative. That way if I wasn't crazy about it, I didn't have to feel guilty about spending a lot of money for a product I'd barely used. I'd heard some people say they liked the e.l.f. Studio blush in Pink Passion as an inexpensive hot pink alternative, but I'd never seen that shade at my local Target. I try to save my online orders for when I need more than one product, so I waited it out. Lucky for me, as I was perusing the Target isles a few weeks ago I found that Target had expanded its e.l.f. selection, and there it was, the Pink Passion blush I'd been holding out for (insert happy dance because I actually did a happy little shimmy in the makeup isle). They also had the e.l.f. setting spray, which I plan to review for all of you soon (another product I'd been wanting but was always sold out online). Oh, and before I forget Target is also carrying the e.l.f. mineral line (I recommend it to all my friends who want to try mineral makeup but don't want to pay too much money).

Pink Passion
It's even brighter in person

But back to the subject at hand. I was completely stoked (dance and all) to find this hot pink shade. At only $3, I couldn't go wrong. The bright pink is intimidating in the pan, and Mr. Girly Things actually shook his head when he saw it, predicting I would look like a clown or Mimi from the Drew Carey Show once I actually wore it.  He was pretty impressed with how well the color wears when he actually saw it on me. If it gets his stamp of approval, ladies, than you better believe it is not loud and obnoxious. You see, David is rather conservative. He does not like all my loud and colorful nail polishes, preferring it when I wear what he likes to call normal colors (read: red, light pinks, nudes) and not being too keen on my preference for purple, grey, black, blue, green, hot pink, and well, anything nonconservative (which is really most of my nail polish collection). He had that same look on his face when he first saw this blush as he had when I painted my nails with "Who let the dorks out?" (read: disapproval ---> which only makes me want to wear it more). But, we went out that evening and I rocked my hot pink blush. As I was getting ready, he came in and complimented my makeup. I had a sly smile on my face and let him know I was wearing my new hot pink blush, and he was rather pleased I wasn't leaving the house rocking doll cheeks.

Pink Passion swatch

Aside from being totally wearable, here are a few more details on the blush:

• It comes in sturdy packaging with a nicely-sized mirror
• It's silky and smooth and easy to blend
• It's pigmented, so a little goes a long way, make sure to build it up to your desired brightness
• Layering it over a cream blush (I used NYX Hot Pink) gives it great staying power (a nice trick for all blushes)

I am totally in love with this bright blush and I think it will quickly become a staple for the spring and summer. It's just a perfect color for the season's weather and wardrobe. 

What do you think of Pink Passion? Have you tried e.l.f. Studio blushes before? A lot of people have compared them to Nars, and I can see why: the packaging is similar and they pack a pigment punch. I wouldn't necessarily say they are dupes, but if they are striving to emulate this much lauded brand, then their efforts are paying off because the e.l.f. brand developed a product of excellent quality.

Review: e.l.f. Natural Holiday Palette

If you read this blog or follow me on Twitter, you know I'm a fan of e.l.f. products. I'm not saying they are all without fault -- there are some e.l.f. products out there that I've tried that I'm not at all thrilled with (ahem, the eyelash curler for one). But, for just a few dollars, my mantra is that if I hate it, I'm only out $1-$3, and really, that's a safer risk than trying out a high end product and finding that you hate it after spending a lot more of your hard earned money. But more often than not, I'm generally pleased with what I buy. So, when I saw the holiday palettes at my local Target, I snagged some things up. Among them, this six-shadow natural palette (and the hypershine lip glosses - which I LOVED). 

I finally tested it out this weekend, and I've got some mixed feelings. On the one hand, the colors are very pretty, on the other they are a bit of a pain to work with. Now, I don't know if it was just my palette,    because it was the last one left and it had obviously been dropped, so one of the shadows (the copper color) was a bit cracked and has therefore kind of fallen to bits (its not all lost though). Here's the skinny on my experience so far:

• The colors are very pretty and they are all shimmery (perfect for those sparkly holiday looks)
• The colors are pretty neutral, so they will work on just about anyone (you get a pinkish champagne-like color, a light beigeish color, a shimmery light tan with some gold in it, a shimmery dark brown, a copper and a gold)
• Unfortunately, when applying there is a lot of fall out (a lot). To minimize the fall out, I would suggest patting these shadows on, and doing your face makeup last because even when you pat it on there will be some fall out you'll need to clean up. 
• The shadows aren't very tightly packed so its easy to pick up a lot of color
• The pigmentation is pretty good, especially since these are only $3, but you can also pretty easily blend these away, so they can be just a little tricky to work with (not difficult, just tricky). My suggestion: pat the color on (even in your crease) then lightly blend until you reach the look you want (you might have to pat color on, then blend and repeat a few times)

All in all, these colors are pretty, and for just $3 you could do a lot worse. You will definitely need to use primer with these. They blend away easily, so you'll want a primer to keep them going strong once you get your look put together, and possibly even spritz some make up setter on like Make Up For Ever's Mist & Fix or Model in a Bottle (Note: e.l.f. just announced the release of a make up setting spray, I'm dying to see how it will measure up to my Mist & Fix). I have been able to put together some cute looks with this palette, so it's not a total loss. It's not e.l.f.'s best, but its far from the worst. If you want some shimmery colors for the holiday season, and you don't want to spend a lot of money, then give this palette a chance. But, if you are used to high-end shadows like Urban Decay or MAC, then I don't think you'll be too thrilled. 

Final verdict: Beautiful colors, so-so pay off. With some patience and a light hand, you can put together pretty looks.

Important note: I do not think that all of e.l.f.'s holiday palettes have the same "issues" as I found with this one (the fall out, the fact that the colors can easily blend away). I know one person who purchased the 100-shadow palette and seems happy with her buy. So, I have higher hopes for the 32-shadow palette in my holiday giveaway. Please don't let this review discourage you from entering the contest, as I am giving away a different palette, and the I have nothing but good things to say about the hypershine lip glosses.

Here is a tutorial!

Eyeshadow Primer Comparison: Do bargain brands stack up to the UDPP?