e.l.f. Studio Flawless Finish Foundation SPF 15 in Porcelain

$6.00 USD for 0.8 oz

I'm skeptical about reviewing any of the e.l.f. face products and including my opinion on the color-matching of the product, but when you get the lightest color that the brand has in everything and only one product is as light as (and lighter than) your skin, it's a clue: a clue that I am a hard match to find. The good news is that all of the face products that are name Porcelain go very well together...if they don't match each other exactly. Still Flawless Finish Foundation is a thick, almost cream, liquid foundation in a quality trigger-pump bottle of sturdy, frosted glass.

e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation in Porcelain swatch

NO, this is not the worst foundation I've ever used, but nor is it the best low-cost foundation. So far, I've noticed no direct link between this and any skin problems/acne I've been having--I just don't like how it sits on my skin. It seems that I am unable to find the right balance with this; one pump, the coverage is too sheer and my skin feels like I have nothing, another pump and the coverage is still sheer but it looks and feels as though I've caked on a darker, yellower mask of skin that can't be set or blended out with powder. I just feel like I'm missing something.

e.l.f. Essentials Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 in Ivory

$1.00 USD for 0.42 oz

Since we've just discovered how yellow and fair/light Studio's Porcelain is, I suppose we should visit the other end of the spectrum with Essentials Tinted Moisturizer in Ivory. Usually, when naming two skin colors, Ivory and Porcelain are nearly identical if not synonymous, but I find Ivory to be pretty white. So it is for e.l.f.'s Tint.

Ivory is so pale that I do look a little like I'm wearing ghost makeup even when blended out at the edge of my neck and hairline. If you're a follower you'll know that is pretty freaking hard to accomplish, seeing as I am #1 or even #0.5 on most foundation scales. Aside from not matching my complexion, Ivory is a very neutral-based (not yellow or pink), thicker moisturizer that delivers sheer/light coverage. It is a bit buildable, but be careful that the match is good enough with your skin that it doesn't look weird to have more on!

e.l.f. Essentials Tinted Moisturizer in Ivory, overcast daylight

e.l.f. Studio Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Porcelain

$3.00 USD for 0.88 oz

Now, this is probably the most practical of all the face products I will be reviewing for e.l.f. Week; Studio Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 is a silky, water-based formula with sheer coverage but a pretty strong tint--if it isn't an exact match shade, you'll need to warm it up and really blend it into your skin. Watch also that you leave no edges at your ears and throat!

With all the advertising on the package about the good ingredients, like Aloe, Cucumber, and Vitamins A and E, I can only notice that the smell of this is less synthetic than most tints, but the good news is that it had no detrimental/clogging effect on my skin. Studio Tint in Porcelain (the lightest one) also has a very strong yellow cast which I tried to show in photos, but the camera couldn't quite capture how defined it is when blended evenly.

e.l.f. Studio Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain swatched on back of hand

To be blunt, I do love this product and will absolutely buy more of this when I run out, but that won't be until the summer because this yellower and slightly darker color will match my "tan" skin well. (See, I don't tan, I crisp, like a lobster. However, the SPF 20 will save me that and the yellow will de-ghost me.)

e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer

$6.00 USD for 0.49oz

This is a straight-forward, average primer. It feels pretty run-of-the-mill in my fingers, very silicone and slippery--you wont need a lot to cover your face, and it is easy to overuse. I'm a little disappointed in only getting half an ounce in this. Perhaps I am accustomed to getting a full-sized product for the "e.l.f." price, but to be fair, if a little goes so far, I won't be able to get through a whole ounce that quickly anyway.

e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer

As this is one of e.l.f.'s many Mineral products now, I can see why the price is a bit of a jump for the usual $1-3. I haven't noticed a real difference in the quality of the mineral products, but you are getting the texture of powders and a very smooth primer. However, much like I felt with that first Pixi Primer I tried way back in the day, this one doesn't let my skin breathe during the day, making it hard to tell whether it's the foundation on top or this prep-layer that makes any acne flair up.

E.L.F. WEEK Lineup

Tuesday, February 21st:

Mineral Face Primer

Essentials Tinted Moisturizer

Studio Tinted Moisturizer

Flawless Finish Foundation

Wednesday, February 22nd:

Personal Blend Foundation

Essentials Clarifying Powder

Studio Pressed Powder

Studio Translucent Mattifying Powder

Thursday, February 23rd:

Essentials Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder

Studio Brow Kit

Moisturizing Lip Liner in:

Mauve and Natural Blush

Friday, February 24th:

Essentials Eye Quads in:

Drama, Luxe, Matte Mauve, and Blue Moon

Saturday, February 25th:

Super Glossy Lip Shines in:

Candlelight, Pink Kiss, and Goddess

Hypershine Gloss Trio

Sunday, February 26th:

Studio 11-piece Brush Set

Mineral Blemish Kit

Zit Zapper

Cuticle Pen

Second Annual E.L.F. Week is Coming in February!!

February 19th-25th, 2012 will be the second annual nothing-but-eyes-lips-face-products week here on Beauty and the Newb.  I'm so excited to show you the next batch of brilliant products from EyesLipsFace.com and JA Cosmetics.  The e.l.f. philosophy is all about affordability and access to colors and products anyone can work with (for profession or play) without guilt of the dreaded price-tag!

We've had a few sneak peeks of products outside of e.l.f. Weeks, like the dual ended concealer/highlighter and a super-smooth liquid lipstick, but now we have a jam packed lineup of about five posts a day--nothing but affordable, fun, and worthwhile products! We're talking brushes, primer, tint, foundation, powder, concealer, eyeshadow, liners--EVERYTHING you would need to know to make the right decision on these products.

More news (with photos) is coming as soon as I solidify the lineup for each day.

Can't wait? Check out 2011's E.L.F. Week here, or go straight to my recommendations!

e.l.f. All Over Color Stick in Golden Peach

$1.00 for approx. 0.3oz

I'm not a shimmer queen ...just making sure that is out there, on the table, before this review starts, so let's begin by acknowledging that shimmery products are far less appealing to me than matte and natural/dewy finish products. Now that that is out of the way, I'm a sucker for peaches, apricots, and corals; it was only natural that I would pick up e.l.f. Essentials All Over Color Stick in Golden Peach from the shelves of my neighborhood Target and dance home with high hopes! I had forgotten I basically already had it, whoops.

Golden Peach is one of the colors I have in the Shimmering Facial Whip formula, but compared to the other All Over Color Stick I have (Spotlight), Golden Peach seems a little less useful. The Whip formula is a little easier to work with because the thinner, fluid consistency means I don't have to rub to get pigment to show up. Golden Peach Stick is a sheer, shimmery version comparable to the Bobbi Brown Sheer Cheek Tint but not as moisture rich, hence the 'rubbing' in order to apply. Like Spotlight, I find this stick on the drier side of spreadable, and this characteristic may be partially to blame for its difficulty of use.

Perhaps it is because I have so much yellow (and pink from my natural flush) in my skin that Golden Peach Stick tends to have a hard time showing up (so much so that a face shot is worthless and after about 4 attempts, I've given up). Either way, I can't successfully layer enough on to have it show up and not be one breath away from smearing across my whole face. I'll have to endure just using this as a layer underneath powder blushes, which is fine because I have so many but sucks in terms of having a product that is relatively useless on its own. Tear... :*(

A previous review of a different color of e.l.f.'s All Over Color Stick: click here for Spotlight!
Beauty Newb Rating:✪✩✩✩✩
Available at Target and eyeslipsface.com

e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Coffee

$1 for approx 0.04 oz

With how much I adored my Black liquid liner from the brand, I thought it best to add the neutral Coffee alternative to my makeup arsenal. Now, the main difference between the two products is that Coffee is in pen form and Black was in bottle form, but what a huge difference it makes!

without liner, wearing e.l.f. Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter

e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Coffee

While Coffee may be waterproof and in a slightly more convenient packaging, the application is about 4 times more difficult, and I can really on speculate as to why. The pen-tip is the same as the small felt wand in the bottle version of this liner, but I find that the pen-tip cannot stay saturated with product for the full line along the upper lash. Inevitably I have to go in to do touch-ups but the line never turns out entirely straight and needs shadow over top to blend out the edges (since the waterproof formula sets/dries so fast). For $1, I live with it and use it to boost pigment beneath darker shadows and lighter liners, but the whole thing is still a bit difficult.

e.l.f. Under Eye Concealer and Highlighter- 2 products for 3 bucks and a "meh"!

$3.00 USD for 0.34oz/10g

As many of my other posts on e.l.f. products have shown, I'm not sure whether I rate and review products differently all together because of its price/brand. Knowing that eyeslipsface products are meant to be held to the 'higher standard' (or the standard of a higher price range) but cost a lower price, I can imagine, that while not entirely without bias, I am giving a pretty accurate description of how well the product works and what it is worth to me.

I mention all this because e.l.f. Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter is one of those products that I want to describe correctly to show it's real worth. Does this product work? Yes, in many ways it does, but does it work better or as good as more expensive alternatives? No, I don't really think so.

First, the formula of both of these products is a little thinner than I expected. If you haven't noticed, a good rule of thumb with concealers are two things need to be present: thickness and pigment. Even if a formula is really pigmented, too thin of a consistency will mean that blending moves coverage away from areas you want; if a concealer is thick but lacks pigment, you have to layer and layer to get coverage and end up with patches of your face or body looking like you slapped a wax sticker on them. This concealer/highlighter is the former: it has decent and tone-correct pigment but too thin a consistency to concentrate the coverage. If I put this concealer all over my face, I would call it a good foundation, but this whole tube would only cover my face twice before being empty.

e.l.f. Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter; Concealer above, Highlighter below

e.l.f. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips

$1.00 for 0.05 oz/1.5g

Yet again, EyesLipsFace shocks me with a value I really didn't expect from $1.  It's as if I literally forget how much I love a lot of e.l.f. products and sit in Target (or at the computer) thinking "oh, I don't need to be spending a dollar, or three, on ____" when it should be clear to me now that, um, yeah, it's totally worth it!

e.l.f. Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips in daylight

My initial worry was mainly the applicator at the tip of this lipstick. It is a little difficult to put my finger on why I thought the applicator would be tricky, but I think it's about the same reason I hesitate in getting too many Hypershine Glosses at the same time--hygiene and germs. The applicator does sit relatively exposed underneath the cap instead of being a pull-out wand (I have no source to say that either is more hygienic). This mostly poses problems for makeup artists and the use of this on more than one person; for personal use, I see nothing wrong.

E.L.F. WEEK Recap and Recommendations

Top 5 Most Used Products:
Eyelid Primer ($1)
Blending Eye Brush ($1)
Hypershine Gloss ($1)
Studio Cream Eyeliner ($3)
Shimmering Facial Whip ($1)
(Honorable Mention: Conditioning Lip Balm SPF 15 ($3))

Top 5 Recommended Products:
Contouring Blush and Bronzer Compact ($3)
Blending Eye Brush ($1)
Shimmering Facial Whip ($1)
Studio Cream Eyeliner ($3)
Studio Matte Eyeshadow ($3)

Top 5 "Get The Most Out Of It" Products:
The Beauty Encyclopedia- Everyday Eye Edition ($5 for 12 powder, 2 cream shadows, and 1 liner)
Contouring Blush & Bronzer Compact ($3 for blush and bronzer)
Shimmering Facial Whip ($1 for possible eyeshadow, blush, highlighter, and lip tint)
Complexion Perfection ($3 for four problem fighting powders in one)
Blending Eye Brush ($1 for what could be the only eye brush you'll ever need)

I Almost Forgot! e.l.f. Daily Brush Cleaner and Brush Shampoo

e.l.f. Studio Daily Brush Cleaner and Brush Shampoo, $3 each

To be indiscreet, GET THESE, GET THESE, GET THESE. Now, onto an actual review of them.

These are unmissable tools that I forgot mostly because I use them without thinking about brand or color or anything, but I have to mention how amazing these work. First of all, washing your makeup brushes can be a pain in the butt that doesn't seem so necessary until it really is. When I think of washing brushes, I think of paint, which is creamy or liquid, I think of how you dip the brush in water first or you soak it to keep it "fresh" to use. If you're like me, most, if not all, of what you use brushes for is powder, so needing to wash them frequently seems tedious and unnecessary.

A Glowing Spotlight and Standing Ovation for e.l.f.'s All Over Color Stick in Spotlight

e.l.f. All Over Color Stick in Spotlight

This I prefer to the Shimmering Facial Whip in Spotlight. The All Over Color Stick ($1) is much thicker and creamier than the Whip formula, but I would say both are easily blended and useful in their own way. This stick form is simply easier to use in small amounts with big pay off since blending out a liquid means thinning out the pigment too.

e.l.f. All Over Color Stick in Spotlight

I use this strictly as a highlight, usually around the top of the cheek bone, sometimes on the nose bridge and brow bone, but always this blends out to a subtle pop of light at all the right points. My first thought when I handled the packaging was that it seemed inconvenient, though I now find it useful. An artist could easily use this by swiping some onto the back of the hand, but us normal appliers could just as quickly use a finger to warm up some product directly from the tube and dab it onto the desired areas. I use both methods; universally, I need to warm the product by rubbing my finger in it for a few seconds.

Lip Define & Shape Pencil from e.l.f. - Another Miss or Just Missed Me?

Day eight of e.l.f. Week...yeah, I can count. So far, you'll realize I am a big fan of e.l.f. products because you can really get an incredible result without killing a budget, which feels really satisfying if you're a hard-core beauty fan. Honestly, it's quite satisfying if you're a fan of just putting a bit more life into a look for work or day or night or whatever...

...This doesn't seem to be one of those products. First, because for me lip liners are rubbish (usually). Second because this dual-ended pencil is no different. Third because this is not only a product that doesn't look quite right but it does not wear well after about 15 minutes.

Shape on left, Define on right in daylight

Shape on left, Define on right with flash

The two ends of this pencil are Shape (called Nude, a pink with golden sheen) and Define (called Natural, a slightly plumed rose with rosy sheen), but neither stands out as particularly natural. The heavy sheen makes this feel very noticeable.

$?$?$? e.l.f. Studio Lip Lock Pen$?$?$?

At $3 I don't know what to make of this one. Guys, seriously, I have no idea whether this works or not. I don't use lip liner often, and I also don't wear dark lipstick so frequently either. After using the Lip Lock Pen upwards of a week, I couldn't tell whether I was seeing less smearing because I was trying to pay attention to whether there was any or because the product was working.

I feel kinda useless for this review, so I will be sure to keep trying, though I can't promise I will ever notice the effects of this product. (I find that the e.l.f. regular Lipsticks stay in place exceptionally well, and the Mineral Lipsticks don't migrate unless it's something that wouldn't be resisted by this type of product.)

e.l.f. Lip Lock Pen

Glitz and Glamour and Fine Manners - e.l.f. Studio Blush in Fuchsia

e.l.f. Studio Blush in Fuchsia

In the most objective light, e.l.f. Fuchsia was both a shock and disappointment for me. I warn you now that this is for personal reasons, such as I am not a great fan of glitter and bright pinks are a bit out of my comfort zone. Yet I purchased this, why? I was trying to recreate the look of Chanel's Holiday 2010 look which had Tweed Fuchsia for cheeks. So e.l.f. Fuchsia seems like a great substitute for that $45 blush at $3, right?

Sure, and I still think it is a great find. The glitter threw me for a loop when I first saw it. "No way in hell I can actually wear this," was most likely the first thought to come to mind, but look at the swatches real quick:

e.l.f. Studio Blush in Fuchsia blended on left, unblended on right in daylight

Fuchsia is not that scary when blended. The glitter doesn't completely saturate the product, so if you apply it carefully, it should look more like an accent than your face--covered in glitter--

e.l.f. Studio Blush in Fuchsia blended on left, unblended on right with flash

e.l.f. Natural Radiance Blusher

e.l.f Natural Radiance Blusher in Flushed

I really look forward to getting more of these. This blush is better than my Chanel blush for the facts that it's not scented and powders up less when you're picking up product. In fact, the blush is dense in it's little case, so I need to work my brush around a bit to get the color I'm looking for. This blends flawlessly though. Effortlessly. For serious. And in the photo above I have used it many times without making a dent in the ridge-print, meaning there is clearly a lot more than meets the eye to work with. I think I like this blusher better than the Studio line ones because this type has a much subtler sheen (as opposed to glitter).

Blusher in Flushed blended on left, unblended on right

Shimmer Me Timbers- e.l.f.'s Shimmering Facial Whips are Super Versatile and only $1!

As a relative 'noob' to the cosmetic world, I have been struggling to find my place on the grand scale of how much shimmer I actually like on my face and skin. To be honest, big glitter and super shine are NOT my cup of tea, and drama make-up is a very rare occurrence outside of my front door (for me, but shh, I do it in secret...for practice...yes, practice only). Though I also have found a deep and passionate love for Chanel and Dior (Me <3 Dior and the Diva Points Program), I have to share my new favorite and go-to product for highlight, blush, definition (I'm also thinking bronze glow), and all-day care free one-time application: eight shades of pure creativity in these Shimmering Facial Whips from e.l.f.!

e.l.f. Shimmering Facial Whips in Spotlight, Lilac Petal, Golden Peach, Citrus, and Pink Lemonade

First, the beauty of these is a great range that can be applied sheerly to quite opaque. I personally own and use five shades: (from left) Spotlight, Lilac Petal, Golden Peach, Citrus, Pink Lemonade; and there are three others: Camilia, Persimmon, Toasted. Their consistency is rich and creamy, which at first made me nervous for blending out the richer colors.

A Treat for Everyone Except Super Germophobes - e.l.f. Hypershine Glosses

e.l.f. Hypershine Gloss from bottom to top: Blossom, Joy, and Poinsettia Red

So far I haven't been able to narrow down what makes me like a lip gloss and what I definitely don't want in one. I've thought about that kind of thing a lot this week: do I like the e.l.f. products I like because they are cheap or because they are good products in their own right? Officially, I never recommend things I don't like.

There have certainly been some products from brands (almost all brands) that aren't worth anything to me, even a dollar. And after reviewing all the posts from this week, I think I've been very true to what products I would really recommend to others and which ones I wouldn't. With that in mind, I do want to just outright say that these are my favorite e.l.f. lip product (since the cream liners are dead tied overall).

Hypershine glosses are about as sticky/tacky as Chanel Glossimers, but instead of having the shimmer-explosion effect of Glossimers, Hypershines look subtle and have a glassy, mirror-like shine, just as described online at purchase.

Left to Right: Poinsettia Red, Joy, and Blossom

e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick - Hit by Way of Smooth Formula

e.l.f Mineral Lipsticks in Nicely Nude (front) and Runway Pink (back)

Dude, I'm not going to lie; right now I do not feel so good. Worse yet, I have an admissions interview for the Aveda school tomorrow morning and really can't be crap, much less feel like it. Grrr. Also, I really didn't want to fall behind on E.L.F. Week. I've been working really hard to do 3-4 posts a day to cover everything on time, but I guess I left enough time to move one or two to Saturday before the recap and recommendations post. Whatever, drink tea, drink tea, sleep, repeat. I'm on it.

e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick in Runway Pink (top) and Nicely Nude (bottom)

Luckily this one can be quick and dirty because I can straight up compare the Mineral Lipstick to e.l.f.'s regular Lipstick (which I reviewed earlier today). Mineral Lipstick is creamier than the regular and thus glides on  more smoothly than Gypsy or Classy. Nicely Nude and Runway Pink look almost identical in the swatches, and that's sort of accurate. The important thing to keep in mind is that Runway Pink is more pink and Nicely Nude is more peachy-rose, which matters if you're matching up hues. Keep that in mind if you need it.