Hey there again guys!
I have yet another haul for you! Now from years of watching YouTube and hearing about how inexpensive and wonderful E.L.F cosmetics were, I longed to get my hands on some. Since they did not previously stock any in stores around Australia, I had to go online and search for ways of hoarding some.
The E.L.F Australia website was always a let down as most of their products were always out of stock, and did not have as wide of a range as the American site had (which unfortunately did not ship internationally); the prices were also much higher. Now, as many of you may already know, E.L.F is now being stocked at Kmart stores around Australia. Even so, the prices are a bit more pricey and the range is very selected.
This is where iherb.com comes in. I have found a very reliable site that stocks a LOT of legitimate E.L.F products. I also bought my Real Techniques makeup brushes from this site a while back so I knew for sure it was a very reliable site. iherb.com does not offer free shipping, but using some coupon codes, often you are able to cancel out or reduce shipping costs drastically. I chose DHL shipping which costs around $8.00 but it was very reliable and got to me within a week (business days).
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| click here to go to the site: http://www.iherb.com?rcode=LVV834 |
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E.L.F Jumbo Eyeshadow Sticks
Retail Price: USD $2.99 on iherb.com
I have been an eyeshadow user for the longest time. But I have never used jumbo eyeshadow sticks before, nor was I ever a big fan or user of cream shadows. But for around $3ish Australian dollars, I thought why not give it a go? I found these to be of a very rich and creamy consistency. The colours are very vibrant and true to the packaging. They are not matte as they do possess a sort of mild sheen and are quite sheer when applied. The colours are definitely build-able and easy to blend. In saying so, I have found that the cream does rub away easily. But if used as a coloured base for powdered eyeshadow, I believe it would work wonderfully for a more intensified and longer-lasting look. Below are some swatches of the shadow sticks I purchased.
E.L.F Baked Eyeshadow Palette
Retail Price: USD $10.00 on iherb.com
I purchased this more neutral coloured baked shadow palette in California, not having much experience with baked shadows before. In saying so, after swatching these, I do believe they will work much better applied wet or with a primer underneath (especially the lighter colours in the top row of the palette). The colours are very nice and work really well against my darker brown eyes. The bottom row is a lot more pigmented and I am absolutely loving the matte colours! There are just so many ways you can use this one palette, and so many different combination of colours will allow you to create countless different looks.
I also love the fact that they included a large mirror, but am a bit disappointed they didn't at least include a brush of some sort for on-the-go touch ups.
Overall, I am very happy I purchased this!
E.L.F Single Eyeshadow
Retail Price: USD $3.00 on iherb.com
I am a very big user of eyeshadows. And as far as eyeshadows go, this one is terrible. I am not sure if the quality varies between the different shadow colours, but this eyeshadow in Pebble was chalky and felt very tacky. It is not pigmented and I feel like I would get a lot of fallout from this product throughout the day. It could work better with a primer, but I would much rather reach for something else to save the hassle. It's a pity though, I really do like the colour.
E.L.F Eye Pigment
Retail Price: USD $3.00 on iherb.com
I do not know why this is rated so low on iherb, but this is one of the powdered products I do like. The colour is very pigmented and the formula is very creamy. I have yet been able to test it out to see how well it wears, but from swatches, I do really like it. The packaging is not too bad, but be careful as it can get quite messy when you open the lid!
E.L.F Contouring Blush & Bronzer
Retail Price: USD $3.00 on iherb.com
When I saw this, I immediately wanted it. The colours looked wonderful on-screen and they are truly a right match for my skin-tone. But in saying so, I regrettably must say that I don't like this product as much as I thought I would. Firstly, the powder is not as creamy as I would love them to be, and not completely pigmented as well. They are not matte and have a slight shimmer. It's something I wouldn't mind using (I mean, it could work well for someone who likes to have a bit of shimmer in their bronzer), and it is easily portable in my handbag for emergency touch-ups, but I would reach for others ahead of this if given the choice.
E.L.F Studio Blush
Retail Price: USD $ on iherb.com
Once again, as with a lot of E.L.F powder products, I've found their blushes to be more chalky than creamy. The colours are very subtle but buildable and can definitely serve its purpose. But every time I wore it out, I found that it was not as long-lasting as I would have liked. On the upside, the powder does not irritate my skin and did not seem to break me out at all. Would I buy it again though? More than likely, not.
E.L.F Baked Blush
Retail Price: USD $3.00 on iherb.com
This baked blush in Peachy Cheeky is a beautiful colour. It is very similar to the Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush in colour 16 Rose Coup De Foudre, but is slightly brighter with a bit more sheen. It is very pigmented and glides on beautifully. It is blend-able, buildable and possesses no noticeable fragrances. I also really like the packaging as it allows me to see the colour through it. However, the curved lid makes it a little harder to stack and store. Overall, this is one product in their range that I really do love, especially for the cheaper price tag.
E.L.F Lipstick
Retail Price: USD $1.99 on iherb.com
I did not like this product at all. I said it. The packaging was very tacky and felt cheap, and part of the lipstick was already smeared inside. The lipstick however creamy, still felt cheap. It wasn't long-lasting, and sort of just melted off my lips. With my sensitive skin, sometimes with lipsticks, if I put on a cheap lipstick (you know the ones with the crayon smells?) my lips will get red and itchy afterwards. The texture and overall feel of this lipstick made my lips feel as if it was going to get red and blotchy. So I immediately rubbed it off. It could work for someone else, but it definitely does not work for me, as I have found other drugstore lipsticks that have better formulas in my opinion.
E.L.F Matte Lip Colour
Retail Price: USD $3.00 on iherb.com
I purchased two of the Matte Lip Colour pens from E.L.F in shades Coral and Praline. My favourite shade would have to be Coral. It is a nice peachy nude colour that suits my skin-tone very well. Praline on the other hand is a bit more on the brown side and is a colour I wouldn't normally reach for.
These lip colours can work well to line your lips or to fill them in. They are creamy and easy to apply and do not dry out your lips. They do however possess a bit of a subtle, dare I say, crayon smell - but is not so overpowering to the point where it would irritate my skin. It does not slip and slide and does not feel heavy on the lips. I do like it and have used it in conjunction with some lip-tints. I think it works very well and is something I don't exactly regret buying.
E.L.F Shimmering Face Whip
Retail Price: USD $1.99 on iherb.com
This E.L.F Face Whip is an awesome product. The formula is quite liquidy and runny but pat it on the highpoints of your cheeks, a bit under your brow bone, or in the inner corner of your eyes - it acts a beautiful highlight. There's quite a bit of shimmer but if used in moderation, it gives you the most lovely glow. You can even use it as an eyeshadow base under some powder. The possibilities are endless. These face whips come in several colours and is one product I do want to collect.
As with many cosmetic brands, there are hits and misses. What works for me might not work for you, and what doesn't work for me could work exceptionally well for someone else. So don't write some of these off completely. I have given you my honest feedback and I hope you find it helpful.
- S.
