e.l.f. haul

 

 

 

 

e.l.f. is a brand I've never tried before because it's an online brand & I do like to try before I buy.  However, they recently had an offer where they offered a 50% saving when you spent £25 & above so I though it'd be a good opportunity to test them out!  All prices stated are the regular full price.

 

1.  Shine Eraser blotting papers  £1.50

2.  Contouring Blush & Bronzing Cream palette £3.75

3.  Makeup brush storage pouch  £5.00

4.  Blending Eye Brush  £3.75

5.  Eyeshadow 'C' Brush  £3.75

6.  Flawless Concealer Brush  £3.75

 

I also bought bits for my daughter but seeing as I haven't used them, I won't comment on them although she's very impressed with all she had!

 

The blotting papers are ok for the money but by no means the best I've ever used.  Best suited to very light shine but not an oilier complexion.

 

I've yet to try out the contouring palette as I keep forgetting I have it!  I'll get on to that this week....

 

I love all of the brushes.  They are so soft & blend eyeshadow so easily with no caking & as of yet, they haven't shed any hairs.  They're also really comfortable to hold.

 

The makeup brush case I bought because I'm doing the makeup for my sister-in-law-to-be when she gets married next week & because we have to travel down to Yorkshire for the wedding, I wanted some decent storage.  It's a great size, opens flat out & is a handy wipe-clean fabric - always handy!  A great buy at £5, even better at £2.50!!

 

I'm still not keen on buying cosmetics, especially face bases colours, from the website as I find it too unpredictable to guess the shades but there are many more brushes & tools that I want to try out as they offer such great value.

 

If you haven't yet tried e.l.f., have a look today because they're again offering a huge 50% off purchases over £10 with the discount code 500813!!

 

 



Beauty haul #1

I'm really depressed with all this snow that is showing no sign of stopping so yesterday I had a wee mooch around town & bought a few new bits to try in Superdrug.

1.  MUA Primer £4

2. Tresemmé 24 Hour Body Plumping Powder  £5.49

3.  MUA Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde £1

4.  Essie polish in Eternal Optimist £7.99

5.  Sleek Pout Polish in Perfect Plum £4.29

Over the years & through my work, I think I've used pretty much every cosmetic & skin care brand available in the UK but I'm still keen to try new stuff.  Now, I'm a stay-at-home mum of three on a very strict budget but even I am a tad dubious at the quality of the MUA products being that they retail at such low prices.  I really hope to be impressed with these though.  I've used the Primer this morning for the first time under my foundation & I have to say, it felt really smoothing when it was applied.  I can't say that it has made a huge difference to the application or indeed the finish of my foundation but to be honest, I was in a real rush today.  Tomorrow I will take more time & see if I notice a difference.  But hey, for those sort of prices, they've got to be worth a shot right?

Tresemmé is a brand I have a love/hate relationship with.  I really like most of their styling products but I often don't get on with their shampoos & conditioners which is a crying shame as they're such good value!  I've been looking for a volume booster for my hair for when I'm in a beehive kind of mood so it'll be interesting to see how it fares......watch this space!

Although I have several boxes full of nail polishes, Essie is a brand I've never got around to trying for some reason.  Actually, I do know the reason.....the price!  Normally, I wouldn't dream of spending £7.99 on a nail polish as I tend to buy mine in my local salon supplier so I get them at trade prices but I keep reading such good things about them, I decided to use my Superdrug points & get one!!  I love the colour, a neutral warm pink with a hint of brown so I feel a mani coming on tonight to give it a whirl.  I have to say though that I adore the range of colours offered by Essie but although their stands are brightly lit, this can sometimes be a tad misleading on the colour you're actually getting.  I thought this colour was more brown in the store but it's still lovely so it's all good!

I've tried the Sleek eye shadow palettes before & I LOVE them.  They're really densely pigmented & they have huge staying power but it's a first for me with the lip colours.  I'm hoping it will be as richly pigmented as the powders although the Pout Polish is a tinted lip conditioner, not a lipstick or gloss even but still, I want it to have some impact on my lips!  Incidentally, when trying out lip colours in stores, don't swipe them on the back of your hand.  As a former MUA, I've always taught my clients so test colours on the pads of their fingertips as the thinness & colour of skin is very similar to your lips so you will get a more realistic & accurate colour!!

 

So I'll be giving these products a shot over the next few days & will blog a follow-up on them asap.  À bientôt!!