E.L.F. Matte Eyeshadow swatches

I'm going to start off by saying thank goodness I got these on sale with E.L.F. when I purchased them from their website.  I think this was in one of my first few hauls with them before I quit buying from them. 

Smoke is the top, "light gray" shade.  When applied, this looks more like a grurple (gray/purple) than a gray color.  When I see a "swatch" of a gray, I want gray.  NOT PURPLE!  Charcoal is the shade on bottom which is dark, but seems splotchy to me. 

I really do not like these at all.  I may just end up throwing them out.  I've only tried to use them once.  I'm totally not impressed.  These make me think they're trying to be like Bare Escentuals, but horribly failed.

TOODLES Y'ALL!!!

E.L.F. brightening Eye Color quad in Butternut

This is another one that I've not used yet.  This is a neutral shimmery quad.  I think the darker shade is similar to the darker shade in the Luxe quad if not the same one.

I'll state again, I used the $1 ELF primer on the bottom half of the swatches and nothing on the top half.  I also used the sponge applicator to swatch these.

TOODLES Y'ALL!!!

E.L.F. Brightening Eye Color Quad in Luxe

I think this is one of my favorite quad's from E.L.F.  I found this before I was able to get my hands on the Wet N Wild Night Elf Holiday palette and really liked it, though I like the Night Elf better.  I did a look HERE in a previous post when I first got this. 

I really love these shades.  I think the darker shade is similar to the dark shade in the Butternut quad that I'll show later in another post.  As with previous posts, $1 ELF primer is used on the bottom portion of the swatches and nothing on the top half.

TOODLES Y'ALL!!!

E.L.F. Brightening Eye Color Quad in Drama

This is one of the quads I haven't used yet.  I think mainly because I haven't had the opportunity yet.

The white shade is the only matte.  Each of the others are sparkly/shimmery

These swatches are with the $1 Elf primer on bottom and no primer on top.  I also used the sponge applicator to apply these to my arm.

inside flash

sunlight no flash

I, myself, wouldn't purchase this individually.  I think I got it in one of the smokey eye kits along with a pencil liner, and eyelash curler. I'd rather the colors not be so shimmery.

TOODLES Y'ALL!!!

E.L.F. Brightening Eye Color Quad in Brownstone

Before I had a major problem with E.L.F. I made a lot of purchases in a short time.  This is one of them.

I've used this quad a few times.  I don't think I've used any brushes with this because I find it easier to use the sponge applicators.  These are great matte neutral shadows.  I will sometimes use either just the two left or the two left and the bottom right shades on my eyes and use the darker shade on the top right as a liner shade.  I find that dark an awesome liner shade for a neutral everyday look.

Here's the swatches using the ELF $1 primer on the bottom & no primer on the top portion.

The photo's don't do this justice in my opinion.  And while I wouldn't tell you to purchase from the ELF website based on my experience, I do believe these are available at Target (and some K-Mart stores)

TOODLES Y'ALL!!!

E.L.F. "New Nail Block" Review

If you read this post, you know how I feel about E.L.F. at the moment.  While yes, they are inexpensive products and I do absolutely LOVE a few, this is one of the ones I hate. 

I have this kit from Deep Sea Cosmetics that I am totally in love with, and the nail block is the best I've ever used. 

I've used other nail blocks from Sally's Beauty Supply and have loved those as well.  You can find them fairly inexpensive.  I figured I'd try this one because it was just a dollar.

 

I had to dig this out of the trash to take a pic of it with my phone.  When I "used" this, it felt like I was taking an old vinyl record and rubbing it across my nails.  It did absolutely NOTHING other than annoy the fool out of me.  Not only because of the sound, but the feel. 

I would definitely recommend something else over this any day.  This is by far one of the worst products I've ever used from E.L.F. along with the painful Nourishing Cuticle Pen.

TOODLES Y'ALL

E.L.F. Red Velvet

While I'm miserably sick, here's a pre-drafted post.

I can't look at the name of this without thinking of 2 things.  One, because I am a true southern gal, red velvet cake.....yummy.  Two, I think of the song Black Velvet.

Now that I have that stuck in your head.....to the review.  I used this around Christmas when I did some designs on my nails that you can see here, but didn't really pay attention to the application until today.  This is a shimmery red color that only cost $1, and well...acts like it was only $1 too.  I HAD to apply 2 coats.  The first one was just horrible and splotchy.  In places, you could still see my nail through the polish.  Not to mention I'm not too fond of the shape of the bottle/lid.  Though for $1, I can't really complain too much. 

Without a top coat, this did look almost like velvet, but not velvet that you'd want to touch.  It looks like a crappy matte that's trying to be shiny, but not getting there.  These pics were taken with NO top coat.

sunlight/no flash/no top coat

inside/flash/no top coat

Though the pics above do somewhat look like there's a top coat on, it actually photographs better than it looks in person.  The pics below were taken WITH a top coat, and look much better.

inside/flash/top coat

sunlight/no flash/top coat

I can honestly say I don't know that I'll ever use this color again unless I'm going to practice some fauxnading on it.  That way I'm not wasting good polish when I screw up.

TOODLES Y'ALL!!!

EPIC FAIL by E.L.F.

I think I posted the day I placed my last order with E.L.F. a pic of the 50% order I placed and was uber excited about.  

 Today I checked my mail and was like a kid in a candy store, as I am when I get anything in the mail.  I ran inside and ripped open the package.  Then disappointment hit.  I only had 3 of the 8 items.  

I figured there was some mistake because I wasn't notified by email that there was any backorder and not only did my shipping email say the entire order shipped, but the website said the entire order shipped.  Then I look at the packing slip.  Enlarge the pic to see what it says.

I have a few problems with this......

• I was not notified anything was backordered only that the entire order shipped.  
• I was charged the full amount for this order.  The $15.95 that the first pic shows. 
• The website does not say these are out of stock.
• IF I were to re-order, I'd have to pay full price AND an additional $6.95 shipping.

I know that 50% off is a good deal, and that's not what my complaint is.  I only placed this order because the primers were included in the 50% off.  Yeah, I know that $1 isn't much to pay for a primer, but who wouldn't jump at the chance to get it for half off???   PLUS, why would I want just 3 items at half off when I had to pay more for shipping than the items themselves???

I sent an email to them and I'm awaiting a response.  Hopefully they'll make me happy.  I would not be nice to them over the phone if I called, plus I'm dealing with my kiddo and a sick other half.  

I can say I went ahead & opened the milk & honey body butter.  I am LOVING the smell.  I'll most likely use it for my hands since every other body lotion I have is really thin and doesn't moisturize my hands very well.  I got a giggle when I looked at the fail on the bottom of the tub though.  Look where it says "Daily Beauty Therapy".

TOODLES Y'ALL!!