The Best Products from ELF: Part II

It’s been almost 2 years since my Best Products from ELF post, and a lot has changed since then! ELF is constantly releasing new products, and while the original 14 products that I declared a “must have” are still available, there are a lot of great new products!

So, here’s the best of the rest! An updated list for those of you that can’t get enough ELF with the original list.

1. e.l.f. Studio Lip Lock Pencil
I bought this recently thinking it sure did remind me of Urban Decay’s Ultimate Ozone Multipurpose Primer Pencil. And while their ingredient lists are different, they look and feel very similar to me. There are a few ways to use this pencil. First, you can apply it all over your lips as a primer that will grab on to any lip product you apply over it, making that lip product look smoother and last much, much longer. Second, you can outline your lips to help prevent bleeding of your lip color into the surrounding skin (I haven’t tested this, I don’t have that issue). Finally, you can use it on your brows to help groom them/prevent them from looking wonky.

2. e.l.f. Studio Maximum Coverage Concealer
I’m very picky about concealers. It’s been a while since I found one that I’m willing to recommend that is affordable. I demand medium to full coverage, a good shade range (there are 6 with this one, but ELF needs to release a few darker shades), super blendable and last all day without creasing. This one is pretty perfect. For a whopping $3!

3. e.l.f. Essential Smudge Pot Cream Eyeshadow
Similar to a MAC Paint Pot, these creamy shadows are well pigmented, can be applied with a brush or your fingertip, and last all day! Because it is so pigmented you can use it as an eye liner as well. The product is pretty creamy, so some people with oily lids have mentioned problems with staying power. This could likely be overcome with a good primer underneath.

4. e.l.f. Studio Contour Palette
The products in this palette are very similar to the blushes in how they apply. The pigmentation level is good, the shimmer in the highlighter isn’t over done and grabs just enough light. These products are a bit powdery, so you’ll need to use a light hand or you’ll make a mess.

5. e.l.f. Studio Blush Palette
ELF has pretty good blushes, but my favorite is actually this palette! It has 4 blushes which are well pigmented and blend well. The shimmer isn’t too much, even for me (and I’m 38!) It’s definitely a good buy!

6. e.l.f. Studio Ultimate Blending Brush
This is basically a small kabuki brush with a longer handle. I’ve found it to be very similar to the cult favorite IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush, but a little bigger. The bristles are soft, I haven’t had fall out of them. I’ve used this for applying powder, highlighter, buffing powder foundation, you name it! This brush is a great multi-tasker.

7. e.l.f. Studio Flawless Concealer Brush
I initially thought this brush wouldn’t be useful for concealer. I looked at it, decided it looked like an eye shadow blending brush (which it does), and put it in my testing tray on my vanity where I forgot about it for a week or so. Then there was a morning when I had a bad sleep night (my 10 month old was teething!) and as I was patting out my concealer, I spotted this brush. I decided to give it a try, and OMG… I am not going to blend concealer with my fingers ever again! When I blend/pat my concealer with a fingertip, I have to be pretty careful to not over do the blending. It will remove my concealer. But, this brush simply blends, it doesn’t remove the concealer. I blend with little circles all over the concealer and voilà! Undereye circles are gone. My concealer is still present. And perfectly blended. And I’m going to buy another one to blend shadow.

8. e.l.f. Studio BB Cream SPF 20
I’ve been in try all the BB Creams! mode all summer, but I admit I wasn’t expecting a lot when I picked this one up. How great could a BB Cream be for $6? It’s actually pretty good! It’s just the right amount of hydration for my combination skin, has a few soothing ingredients that offer some anti-oxidant activity (Vitamin E, Jojoba, Aloe, and Cucumber). The coverage is on the light to medium side and the 6 shades include quite a few darker options, which is great!

Note that while this product does include some UV coverage, it is only SPF 20 and isn’t broad spectrum coverage. If you’ll be spending significant time in the sun you shouldn’t rely on this BB Cream as your only sun protection.

Octinoxate 7.5%, Oxybenzone 4%, Octisalate 5%

9. e.l.f. Studio Gotta Glow Lip Tint
Remember back when I declared Dior Lip Glow as my perfect pink lippie? Well… it turns out that ELF has pretty much duped the expensive Dior. This lip product goes on clear and feels very hydrating. Like the Dior it changes color with your skin pH. When I tested them next to each other, the ELF comes out a touch pinker. I don’t think I’d even notice a difference if they weren’t next to each other. Definitely worth picking up!

10. e.l.f. Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum
This is very similar to the other serum foundations that have come out on to the market in the last few months. Except that those all cost much more! For $8 you get light to medium (and buildable) coverage that can be easily blended to a natural finish. Unfortunately it only comes in 3 shades currently, hopefully ELF will release more shades if this product gains popularity.

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