e.l.f

elf Cosmetics Store Cardiff

- Vicki 5 Comments

I’m sure most of you are aware that e.l.f cosmetics opened their first European Store in the lovely city of Cardiff. It opened its doors on the 24th October and it sounds like it is going to be a huge success. I’m planning a road trip from Manchester to Cardiff so I can visit and stock up on all my favourite products.

In America e.l.f has been available in stores for a few years but in the UK we’ve had to get our e.l.f fix by ordering online & that has been a pain when wanting to see what the product colours are like as their online swatches have been known to be quite questionable. Now they have an amazing swanky new store so we can see what their products are like in the flesh.

I thought I would share with you a few of my favourite e.l.f products. It took me a while to narrow it down as they have so many products I enjoy using.

elf favourites

e.l.f’s Baked Blushes and Bronzers are amongst my all time favourites i have one of each in this post. They add a hint of glow and are also great as a highlighter. The two I like are pinktastic and maui I have a few more in my collection but I use those two most often. £3.75 for 6g

Their Baked Eyeshadows are also so pigmented and easy to blend, I have been using this beautiful dark brown shade called bark a lot and really want to buy a few more colours. They have 6 shades and are £3.75 each for 3.5g

Their Eyelid Primer in Sheer is a complete bargain and I have repurchased this so many times. It is a great base for shadow and just neutralises the colour on my eyelid and makes them look less red and evens out the colour. It helps keep my shadow on & my lids are alot less oily when I use this. This comes in 4 shades and is only £1.50 for 5ml.

e.l.f Contouring Blush and Bronzer Powder This is a great compact. I have used this when I go on holiday as yuou get both products in a good size compact and It has a great mirror. I have heard this be compared to NARS Laguna and Orgasm. I have never tried Laguna but I must say it is a quite a good dupe for Orgasm, the only difference is the elf blush isn’t as easy to blend. The blush in this is a lovely light peach with a hint of shimmer and the bronzer is a pigmented medium brown with a slight gold tint. I always recommend this dupe to people. £3.75 for 8g

These mineral eyeshadows from e.l.f are the only mineral makeup I have, I’ve used some in the past but find it messy and hard to keep in the pot. But these shadows are what I kept hold of as I really like the way they blend and they are pigmented and quite buildable. I have a few shades and like them all. The one in the photo is called Temptress. These come in 28 shades for only £3.00 each, such good value.

My beloved e.l.f Kabuki Brush is one of my most used brushes. I take it everywhere & use it for powder, blush, bronzer it is fab for travel and its so small & compact. It has never shed its bristles all over my face and washes really nicely. I should buy a second one of these as I use it every single day. £6.00

I seem to have an addiction to chubby lip crayons and this pretty pink one from e.l.f is a really good purse friendly one. It is in the shade Pink Umbrella’s and would say it’s a nice peach toned pink. It doesn’t have any shimmer and makes my lips look healthy and have a hint of colour. It is a twist up style so no sharpening needed. These lip gloss sticks aren’t long wearing but are fun and so easy to apply and nice to wear. £2.50 for 2.8g

e.l.f Cosmetics

What are your favourite products from e.l.f and do you plan on visiting their new Cardiff store

USA Swap

- Vicki 10 Comments

I’ve done a swap with the lovely Casey from Beauty 101 Blog she’s sent me a box full of lovely American products. We did another swap last year & I received some AMAZING things, It was a great success and we decided to do another one. I being the unprepared bad blogger haven’t mailed hers yet. But I promise that it’s jam-packed full of British Makeup Goodies & will be mailed really soon (sorry Casey). I’m hoping the things I’m sending arrive in one piece this time as all the MUA products smashed in transit. I’m going to pack it so well!

My box arrived the week before Christmas and I was good and waited until Christmas Day to open it. It was a lovely surprise. I thought you might be interested to see what I received. How exciting is a swap. I love doing them.

USA Swap

The light is a little off – when the sun came out I grabbed my camera & took some photos so it’s a little bright. Roll on summer & great light! I haven’t managed to use anything yet as I was being a good blogger and waiting to take photos. Keep an eye out for reviews and swatches over the next few weeks.

USA Swap

I will just list all the items in the box. I know that’s not hugely exciting but There was quite a lot.

e.l.f 3 piece nail polish set in glam bam / e.l.f lip stain in crimson crush / e.l.f baked eyeshadow in bark / e.l.f baked bronzer in maui / e.l.f baked blush in peachy cheeky / e.l.f baked eyeshadow in burnt plum / eos lip balm in strawberry sorbet.

USA Swap 2012

Wet n Wild trio in knock on wood / Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Mossy Green Limited Edition / Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Barley Beige Limited Edition / e.l.f HD blush in diva / e.l.f jumbo eyeshadow stick in Rock Out.

USA Swap 2012

Maybelline Baby Lips in Coral Crush and Twinkle / e.l.f jumbo lip gloss stick in pink umbrellas & flirty and girly / Wet n Wild copper curve shimmer eye pencil, mega length mascara, mega eyeliner and glamour eyes quad/ eos lip balm spf 15 in lemon drop / e.l.f contouring blush & bronzing Powder in St Lucia

Phew I think that’s everything. I’m thrilled with my swap & can’t wait to try everything. The e.l.f baked eyeshadows, blush and bronzers look so pretty and I’m excited to use the eos lip balms. Have you tried any of these products?

Thanks Casey x

This weeks face

- Vicki 3 Comments

I’ve been wearing quite minimal makeup this week as I’ve mostly been in the house or the Post Office. Neither place being very glam or worthy if a full on face of makeup. So i kust threw on quite a simple look. I thought i’d share the limited makeup I’ve been using this week.

The Peep Show Mascara from 17 is so nice. I use 2 coats and my lashes look so long. This has been my bargain go to mascara over the last couple of months.  The elf eye primer is also something I use daily its a great price and works really well to keep my eyeshadow on all day. This Rimmel eyeshadow I picked up in the pound shop and is a lovely soft pink colour the shade is called Precious Rose 140 – its subtle and makes your eyes look bright and fresh. I’ve been using the Garnier Eye Roll On a little more, I’ve finally got used to the colour and it seems to work really well on me its great under the eye. I did a blog on it here if you fancy reading it.

Now this Bobbi Brown concealer kit is OK  i have the shade warm beige – but i won’t be repurchasing this. I do have the corrector aswell & will repurchase that. But this concealor really sits in my under eye creases and I hate that, It looks awful. I think this is too thick and not the best formula. I LOVE my Mac MSF Natural in the colour medium and use it all the time. Its such a light powder and give your face a lovely finish.

I’ve a love hate relationship with my Mac Satin Finish Foundation. I go through periods when it just doesn’t look good on my skin and them i try it again and love it. Its weird. But I’m wearing it this week and really liking it again. I wear the shade NC25.