elf Cosmetics

In New York City, there is a week in May where the ground is neither covered with snow nor emitting steamy poofs of humidity. It happens again in reverse sometime in October, but the rest of the time, the city is a danger zone of frizzy hair, smudgy eyeliner and a shiny t-zone.

If you’re not dealing with hairstyle destroying gusts of wind, you’re battling makeup-melt. Arriving at your destination, even if it’s only three subway stops away, becomes an exercise in style preservation. And while it’s next to near impossible to ensure your look will stay totally intact, these products can help you toward the goal of looking polished and put-together. Here are some handy summer makeup tips that will help you weather the weather!

1.) A no-nonsense base: Liquid makeup is a bit too malleable and soft to withstand summer swelter, and minerals can- although not always get cakey and settle into pores. (Although it bears mentioning that their sun protection factor is awesome.)

I’ve sung the praises of MAC’s Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation before, but it really does create a long-lasting, flawless look like nothing else. Apply with a brush for the thinnest, most controllable coverage with this foundation. Although brushes are always an excellent investment, e.l.f.’s Foundation Brush is a super steal at $1 each- and excellent quality.

2.) Waterproof tints: Stains and tints may seem counterintuitive for summer, as light balms and glosses often take center stage. But with a subtle hand and judicious color selection, they could be the difference between an enduring look and mid-day washout.

LORAC’s Sheer Wash in Sheer Magic is perfect for sun-kissed skin, and Sheer Emotion is a great choice for the fairer-skinned. This formulation works for both cheeks and lips. DuWop’s Pure Venom Pure Berry Lip Stain is a more moisturizing choice, with an intense, natural berry hue.

3.) Eye makeup austerity: When it comes to warm-weather smudging, eyes are one of the first casualties of an intense look. Waterproof and smudgeproof mascaras and liners abound, but a clean, set curled lash and neutral shadow are the least likely to cause a Courtney Love-like effect.

Shiseido The Makeup Lasting Lift Mascara is light and feathery, but still defines lashes well and holds a curl. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Bone is a nice, sturdy neutral for long, hot days, and it won’t slide all over like many cream shadows often do in warm weather.

Setting makeup with a soft spritz of toner and an anti-frizz serum should put the finishing touches on your sun-proof, heat-resistant look. Do you have any tips or tricks for hot-weather beauty?

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about using e.l.f. (eyes, lips, face) cosmetics because they are quite ahem…cheap. Each piece costs $1 and their studio line costs about $3 per piece but in general each item is a buck. I’m super picky about what I put on my face because my skin is super sensitive and I’m prone to breakouts. Now I’ve tried elf makeup a few years ago (with no reaction) but I just wasn’t impressed, I didn’t like the colors, textures, pigments etc. However lately I’ve been reading some reviews on elf and they have been quite positive so I decided to give it another try. Here are some of the products that I purchased:

I really liked the eye shadow colors, so I picked up two of the creme shadows: Berry Mix (L), Mocha Swirl (R)

elf eyeshadow swatches — Berry Mix (L), Mocha Swirl (R)

Natural Lash Kit in Black – Who can resist lush lashes that only cost $1?

These Hypershine glosses have a very similar design to Stila glosses…and for the price of $1. The shades are: Flirt (L), Honey (R)

Makeup brushes: Total Face Brush, Bronzing Brush, Eye Shadow Brush, Lip Defining Brush, Eye Liner Brush (L to R)

Complexion Perfection powder (to even skin tone and control shine) from the Studio Collection – this piece was $3

Overall I find the products to be a bit “hit or miss”. I liked the eyeshadows, they were easy to apply and had lots of staying power. The eyelashes were quite good, similar to the ones that you would purchase at the drugstore, more than worth the $1 cost. The glosses were quite sheer – almost too sheer for me to want to buy them again. The glosses just do not give off as much color as I like in my gloss but they do smell and taste great. The complexion perfection powder was too pale for my complexion but I’m not surprised since the main ingredient is Talc. The eyeshadow applicators were just too rough for me to use so I won’t be buying them again. The eyeshadow brushes were quite soft and I will be stocking up on more of these during my next trip to Target. I would also say the same for the Total Face Brush which was one of my favorite pieces that I purchased so I will also pick up an extra one of these brushes.

What I will say is that for the price of these items you are certainly getting more than your moneys worth, you’ll just need to try out some of the products and see which ones work best for you.

Bulletproof Beauty: Summer Makeup That Stays Put

My thoughts on e.l.f. cosmetics