I swatched the Hourglass Ambient powders a couple of weeks ago with my youngest daughter, I am kicking myself for not getting a picture. This E.L.F illuminating palette is spot on with another shade thrown in as a bonus.The pros are the pretty packaging for the hourglass one, but I am picking the E.L.F palette over the hourglass one, and not just because the 50 dollar difference. The hourglass one is hard and this is smooth as silk. It also has Argan Oil and Vitamin E❤. I love it!
When starting in makeup I suggest 5 basic brushes to get you going on this awesome vanity filled adventure!
First off is your Eyeliner Brush. Now most people stick with pencils but nothing can top a bit of drama with a flat definer brush pushing a bit of a dark color into the lash line. It's a look that can still be wearable by day but with that pop of "Wow, you look great today!" ishness. I also like to use flat definer brushes to smudge out liner that is too harsh for a more demure effect!
Second is your powder application brush for eyes.Some brushes that I suggest are the flat shader from Sigma, the Up & Up Smudge brush from Target or any other brush that has a flat stiff brush that can pack color on. Dense bristles will pick up more of the product and patting it will lay that color on exactly where you want it to go.
Third, you need a blending brush. Never forget blending unless you are going for a cut crease, and if you are doing that... you don't need this Brush Primer (psst and email me because I never get it right!). Select a brush with fluffier bristles to impart a more diffused look with your shadows. I use a pointed blending brush for my deep set eyes, but most people can get away with a wider and thicker dome shaped head. If the head is a bit flatter but still fluffy, you can apply shadow and it will look a lot more diffused that if you would have used an application brush.
Four...th..uh ly?, You need a blush brush. I recommend a fluffy blush brush with a dome for people who are doing their makeup and aren't too experienced with them. It leaves a diffused finish and is great for the apples of your cheeks. Real Techniques makes an amazing couple of blush brushes and the price point is great. Sigma is pretty fantastic, too, if you prefer natural bristles but that's a personal choice.
and Fif...fth..screw it, and number 5, I recommend a big fluffity powder brush and powder puff for application of a setting powder. You apply the setting powder with a puff and then dust off the excess. I really love the Sigma line and the Real Techniques lines, again for those.
Cleanup, currently is Isopropol Alcohol 91% and a mesh puff to knock off the color, and then a conditioning spray for my natural brushes. I get mine from The Honest Company. When I wash them with shampoo, I use The Honest Company Shampoo and Body Wash. It's cleansing without being overly drying. The alcohol already dries them out enough!
There are more advanced brushes, if you want to know more about those, but I don't want to overwhelm anyone! Basically if you get 5 brushes, you will be golden, and can only go more expert from there.
If you are getting brushes, CONGRATULATIONS! I am so proud of you! This is a huge step! Great job! And thanks for sticking with me!
I went to Hy-vee a few weeks ago and found one of the missing blushes from my E.L.F Studio Blush Collection. It's the Twinkle Pink version and it's beautiful! It's a warm pink with definite golden shimmer. I prefer to tap out the excess glitter for a daytime version and save the super shimmer (no tapping) for night time use.
On face:
Eclos Primer
Skin79: Hot Pink and Orange
Blush Base (my DIY)
E.L.F. Studio Blush in Blushing Rose
Setting Powder under eyes (mine)
Coty Airspun in Neutral
On Eyes:
Etude House Proof 10
E.L.F Baked Shadow in Enchanted
Forever21 Unnamed pink shimmer champagne.
28 color Ebay Neutral in a cork like color
Sally's Palette in copper color
MAC Mulch
E.L.F Studio 3 in 1 mascara
On lips:
E.L.F. Studio Pencil Concealer in light
Revlon Super Lustrous in Rum Raisin (Cream)
Tools used:
Real Techniques Blush Brush
Velour Powder Puff
Sigma Flat Definer
Sigma E35
Sigma E45
Real Techniques Shader Brush
Generic Lash and Brow Comb
I was trying to come up with a summery look, and orange has been on my mind lately. I found a Claire's palette filled with orange golds and fiery reds. I used Red on the outer corner, bright yellow on the inner, a basic orange on the lid and in the crease and a dark bronze on my lash line.
Brushes I used were
Sigma E35
Sigma E45
Real Technique Crease Brush (Eye Kit)
E.L.F essentials Flat Definer
Real Techniques Multitasking Blush brush
Sigma Large Powder Brush
Real Techniques Shader Brush (Eye)
Real Techniques Buffing Brush
Makeup Used
Rimmel Primer 002
Etude House Baby Choux in Mint
Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish
Skin79 Vital Orange BB Cream
20 Color Concealer Camouflage Professional Makeup Cosmetic Palette
Coty Airspun Loose Powder in Nearly Neutral
L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Lipstick, Fiery Veil
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss, SPF 15, Foiled 140Maybelline-Color Sensational Vivids in Electric Orange
Claire's Palette (Discontinued, but can be duped by any of the 88 palettes)
E.L.F Studio 3-in-1 mascara
Milani Coralina Baked Blush
E.L.F Studio Bronzer in Warm Golden
I am not quite ready to do tutorials, but I did a mini vlog about the shoot!
Half Rimmer Fix and Pro Perfect Primer 002 and Half Monistat Anti Chafing Gel (experiment)
Holika Holika Peach Girl BB Cream
Milani Baked Blush in Rose D' Oro
E.L.F Studio HD powder and NYC Loose Powder in Translucent mixed together equally
Eyes:
E.L.F Studio 3-in-1 Mascara
theBalm What's your type Body Builder Mascara
Etude House Proof 10 Primer
Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Zero
Mica Beauty Cream Eyeliner
Wet n' Wild Color Icon Palette Silent Treatment
Wet n' Wild Color Icon Single in Creme Brulee
L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows in Iced Latte
Lips:
Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee
Chanel LÈVRES-SCINTILLANTES Glossimer in Seashell
E.L.F Studio Lip liner and Lip brush in Natural
Tools Used:
Real Techniques Multi Tasking Brush (medium pink)
Sigma E45 Small Tapered Crease Brush
Sigma E25 Blending Brush
Sigma Travel Eyeliner brush
Velour Powder Pouf
Gourd Style Blending Sponge
Large Real Techniques Powder Brush (to brush away excess powder)
Crimp style lash curler (I use one from an old Color workshop palette)
Doing a quick inventory of my blushes, looking for my elusive Small tapered brush that has gone missing. I took a picture of it, for the blog...at a very late hour... and have misplaced it. Bummer. I found it. And I bought a second one, right before it turned up. Because that's how I roll.
So I have a thing for E.L.F Studio Blushes. I know they are dupes for high end blushes, All of the Studio line have a high end counterpart. Part of the fun is finding out which high end cosmetic they are duping! I've gleaned these dupes from the internet, and I don't have any real comparison, I am posting it for informational purposes. I have compared image swatches but I am no where near a Sephora or Ulta, so I cannot compare them myself.
My current blushes are:
*NARS Dolce Vita
*NARS Deep Throat
*NARS Orgasm
*NARS Orgasm/Laguna Duo
*NARS Angelika
*Tarte Exposed
*NARS Desire
*NARS Luster
+ Just added *NARS Super Orgasm
I am missing:
Berry Merry (NARS - Sin)
Gotta Glow (NARS- Albatross)
Giddy Gold (NARS -Taj Mahal)
Twinkle Pink (NARS - Deep Throat)
Contouring Blush and Bronzer in Antiqua, and Turks & Caicos
I could have sworn I've bought the Twinkle Pink but it's probably lost in the same abyss that my brush is, and most of my left socks are.Edit- Got it! Found it at Hy-vee over an hour away a few days ago! Searching for Studio items I don't have IRL is kind of a hobby, now.
These are ones I reach for a bit less frequently than my Milani Blushes but I do reach for them. I really like the versatility, though a few of them i need to get the microglitter off the brush/blush before I use it. I find I have to do that with Milani blushes at first too, so it's not just an E.L.F thing. And for $3 dollars a piece, they are a great deal! I have found them at Target and Hy-Vee (grocery). They are also on Amazon, eBay and the E.L.F website.
Updated to add pictures and update the amount of blushes I have.
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