Blush Review: ELF Studio

ELF Studio Blush 

Who's obsessed with these?

ELF Studio Blushes retail for three dollars and, IMO, are match the quality of many high end blushes. I've noticed many professional makeup artists toting this around, but it's a bit taboo because of its extreme low price. I see both sides, but I tend to think the price tag is secondary to quality. Thoughts? 

And, for the record - there are several ELF products that are horrendous. But this is a gem! 

Here's what I love about ELF Studio Blush:

• Super pigmented 
• The packaging is eerily similar to $28 NARS blush compacts
• Tons of product - 1.6 oz! That's AMAZING considering its only $1
• Perfect for beginners and experts alike wanting to experiment without financial guilt
• Little-to-no product fallout. 
• ELF frequently introduces new colors so there's always new option
• No brush included - I always hate the crappy brushes companies include. 
• ONLY $3.00.

I won't lie - there's a bit of a catch. Check out the downsides after the jump.

natural everyday brows

Want natural looking brows without compromising form and structure? Your best bet is a brow powder and gel set. Benefit has a great option if you want to invest. I use ELF’s eyebrow kit everyday - it retails for only $3.00 and it works like the expensive stuff! ELF is sold in all Target stores and online.

HOW TO

Start by taking a thin angled brush and pat into powder. You can use any brown eyeshadow that is a shade darker/lighter than your hair. To apply, flick the brush on your brows mimicking the length and direction of growth through the length of your eyebrows. Here’s a quick video example from the beautiful SMLx0. After you get the desired shape, brush a thin layer of gel or a small amount of hairspray to keep the hairs in place all day.

Whether you like super defined or natural looking brows, it always helps to use concealer around the edges of to polish them up. Just do this with a small brush and then blend out. Good luck, and let me know if you try!

TOP 7 :: Non Makeup Beauty Items

TOP 7 :: favorite non-makeup beauty items.

Cause makeup can't solve everything!

Sephora's Wide-Tooth Comb

1. Hair clips. Hairbands rip and tear your hair, leaving it damaged and frizzy. I always use a clip when possible to throw my hair up – it keeps my hair healthy and shiny. Bonus: you’ll have wavy hair when you take it down instead of the dreaded ponytail bump. Score.
2. Smooth wide-tooth comb. Another secret to shiny hair. Your hair is weak and more susceptible to damage when wet. Using a regular brush after a shower pulls, causes breakage, and creates a split end breeding ground. Instead, use a smooth wide tooth comb on wet hair, and work from the bottom.  If you regularly practice #1&2, I guarantee you’ll see the quality of your hair improve. These two practices keep my hair more soft and healthy than any other product. Lots of girls think that shiny healthy hair is all about the styling/ cleansing products you use. That can be true, but what really makes the difference is how you treat your hair when NOT styling/cleaning it – which is 90% of the time.
3. Moisturizer + sunscreen. Start sunscreen in your teens and 20s to keep your skin as healthy as possible. Moisturize right after the shower – all your pores are open from the heat and ready to drink it in. My favorite. 

Smith's Rosebud Strawberry Lip Balm

4. Lip balm. It seems like either people use this a million times a day or never at all. I’m a hardcore user and can’t live without moisturizing lip balm. Give me lip balm and some gloss, and I’m a happy girl. (My favorites are this, this, and this.)  No mystery as to why I love it – it’s like sweatpants for your lips: so nice and soft, and feels amazing. 
5. YOUTUBE! Kind of a funny no.5, but it’s true. If there’s anything you want to learn about cosmetics or hair, you’re never more than a youtube search away. Youtube’s taught me everything from makeup tips, to formal hairstyles, and even cutting my own hair.
6. Cleansing facial wipes. Confession:  I never wash my makeup off at night. To compensate, I rely on these exfoliating Equate wipes. These do a great job of quickly removing stubborn eye makeup without irritating skin or eyes. I’ve tried several other (pricier) brands, but these are so gentle and powerful that I’ve stopped exploring. 

best beauty tip - just be happy!

7. Positive attitude. Okay, I know this is cheesy, but it’s true. A smile and positive attitude is what really makes you stand out. Now I’m by no means a master at this – but I try to make a point every day to make others laugh and smile. This usually calls for the “fake it till you make it” technique – there’s few people in the world who naturally exude pure happiness. The easiest and fastest way to build a positive attitude isn’t about focusing inward – but instead focusing outward. Compliment others. Help them accomplish a goal. Be excited for others’ success. Don’t be jealous and self-deprecating. Jealousy is the biggest symptom of low self-confidence, so just get over it! Additionally; if someone is acting jealous towards you, take it for what it is: they are sad. So cheer them up, or just feel bad for them. Don’t let it bring you down too! Try it for a day; you’ll love the infection of smiles you’re spreading, and you’ll start to see a deeper beauty in the mirror. 

take a hit of these beauties

Want a crash course in makeup? Each of the bloggers/youtube personalities make a living from helping people learn techniques that you would normally have to attend school to learn. We are so lucky to live in an age where we can learn infinitely from the comfort of our own living room. In the beauty community, these are some of the people you need to know.  They have each taught me so much about make, beauty, and life; and I’m excited to introduce you. I've linked this post like crazy, so go hog wild!

Kandee Johnson

Kandee is THE makeup titan. She is the end-all be-all of the youtube/beauty guru/blogger community. Celebrity make-up artist Kandee Johnson’s appeal goes much deeper than her amazing celebrity makeup tips and tutorials – she also writes about life lessons, and even took her followers through the process of grieving her late father. Kandee embodies everything a role model should be, and can cheer the sourest of moods. Aside from Kandee’s exceptional attitude, she’s got beastly talent. Her costume tutorials will have you doing double takes while she transforms herself into your favorite Hollywood characters in 10 minutes or less.  If you enjoy beauty, makeup, costumes, and people who have a light shining from within, check out Kandee’s youtube channels and blog (she posts every day!). Join me in my Kandee addiction!

Gossmakeupartist

Goss translates his professional makeup experience into understandable and thoughtful short videos that make learning a piece of cake. He often features his own friends, who are not professional models, as his clients. Goss’s stays frank and honest with his viewers – he will tell you the pros and cons to a product or technique and you never have to worry that he’s being paid for his comments. I’ve learned so many techniques from him that have transformed my everyday makeup routine; my most favorite being his brush techniques for a flawless face. Goss regularly taps into celebrity pop culture – he often features top celebrities as a teaching subject for new skills and techniques. Check out Goss’s youtube channel for light-hearted yet informative videos that make you feel like you’re chatting with your bff.

JLovesMac1

No matter HOW BAD of a day I’m having, I can always count on Jermaine’s videos to make me laugh and remind me life should be fun. When work, family, finances, car problems, student loans, difficult people, low on gas, blah blah BLAH add up and make you want to crawl into bed and never come out – watch some JLOVESMAC1 and she will have you smiling ear to ear, maybe even lol-ing a bit, in no time. She’s a prime example of how to make your own happiness by diving into your passion. She also has the most adorable dogs that make frequent appearances.

SMLXO

I’ve been following SMLXO since before she became a big youtube sensation. She’s a gorgeous girl who seems very down to earth and represents the girls who love learning and developing makeup skills. She is going through the same learning process that many makeup lovers go through. Go through her videos and you can watch her blossom from the amateur we all were at one point to someone who has developed a great skillset. Check her out on her youtube channel here.

Who are YOUR favorite beauty gurus?

Ugly-Feeling Pretty-People

It's so annoying to hear people like Megan Fox, Angelina Jolie, and Sandra Bullock talk about how insecure they are. Sometimes I'm kinda happy (okay really happy) to hear that these gorgeous freaks of nature don't escape those dreaded fat & ugly days. 

I'm fascinated that many celebrity's are insecure about the very things we envy about them. Beauty is subjective. You've probably been envied for something you're insecure about. And even when we get compliments, we still seem to find a way to focus on the negative. Does that ever happen to you?

 Check out some of the most insecure celebrity quotes below. 

"My main weakness is nerves. I have no confidence, and because of that I'm always second-guessing myself." - Megan Fox

“I am very insecure about my looks, and I always have been because of being mixed race.” - Mariah Carey

“The thing I love most about my body, the thing I hate most are my breasts. I have a love-hate relationship with them.” - Pamela Anderson

“Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.” - Marilyn Monroe    

"I feel insecure all the time." - Demi Lovato 

“To all the girls that think you’re fat because you’re not a size zero, you’re the beautiful one, its society who’s ugly.”  - Marilyn Monroe

"I’m quite an insecure person. I’m very insecure about the way I look...the more insecure I feel, the bigger my hair has to be." - Amy Winehouse

“When I wake up in the morning, I feel like any other insecure 24-year-old girl. Then I say,'Bitch, you're Lady Gaga, you get up and walk the walk today.” 'Please give me strength to be a winner for all of them and not myself... Please help me to be strong and know my own strength. Please help me to be brave, Lord. Dear God, give me courage. Do not let me give in to my own insecurities.' - Lady Gaga

   
More tragic Marilyn quotes. 

Designer VS Drugstore

It’s easy to feel like you have to use designer brands to do a quality job, but ‘you get what you pay for’ doesn’t always apply in the makeup world. To this day, I still opt for many drugstore options because they perform the same as designer labels (if not better,) and you save a ton of money in the process. In the past week, I’ve worked with two professional makeup artists who agree that many high end products aren't worth shelling out the extra dough when given the option. 

Mascara: Go Drugstore

Drugstore brands tend to have tons of options for the exact effect you’re looking for (volume, length, shape) and IMO work much better than designer brands. The product lasts you a long time, and they exceed my expectations every time. For long and voluminous lashes you have to mix products anyway, so mascara price stays manageable when you go drugstore. So many drugstore mascara brands are kicking ass right now with their products, packaging, and marketing – it’s an amazing time for consumers right now!

Higher end products have the tendency to irritate your eyes, clump up your lashes, and dry out extremely fast. A designer mascara can easily run you anywhere from $20 - $50. For me, drugstore mascara is a no brainer.

Foundation: Go Pro

A wise woman builds her house upon a rock, right? Foundation is your rock: sturdy, reliable, & trusted. If you build your house upon the sand, aka cheap foundation, you may find yourself disappointed with the color match, coverage, skin reaction to the formula, and worst of all, you may have wasted your money because now you have a product you really can’t use. Oh and there’s the possibility doesn’t actually covering your blemishes, but just looking slapped on. Not cute!

Now hear me out - this is not to say that you have to spend a fortune on foundation. But you should definitely go to a store where you can sample the foundation, color match, test your skins reaction, and wear it for a day before purchasing. Places like Ulta, Sephora, and most department stores will even give you a free three day supply of foundation to test for a few days. AND they can help you pick which foundation will work best with your skin type. When you pick a random drugstore brand, you may end up disappointed with the color match, breaking out from the formula, and worst of all, you may have wasted your money because now you have a product you really can’t use. You can get away with just $20 for a good foundation. My favorite foundation (MAC Studio Scuplt in NW20) runs me $43.

I will say that lately, drugstore brands have stepped up their game in the foundation department. Maybelline FitMe and Loreal TrueMatch are helping consumers save money without losing too much quality. So tell me – have you found an amazing drugstore foundation?

Lipstick: It Depends

Lipstick is like shampoo. We’d all love to always use the super expensive shampoos, but most of us know deep down that a bottle of Herbal Essence will do the trick. Lipstick’s kinda the same way. I love my drugstore lipsticks almost as much as I love my MACs. Revlon lipsticks are always extremely impressive. I’m not a fan of Maybelline lipsticks because they are usually all shine and very little pigment. 

welcome to pinkache!

I've been makeup crazed since I can remember. My mom can attest to my second grade beauty regime of smearing Smackers glitter-goop all over my eyelids every morning before school. Despite her plea for me to stop going to school looking like a disco ball child, I couldn't stop! I had a pinkache! I needed some glitz and glamour to get through the day! 

I do my best soul searching standing in front of my brushes and prized products as I paint on the person I want to be each day. Makeup is my therapy. It's my preferred art form and my outlet of self expression. This blog has been cooking in my mind for quite some time, and I'm thrilled it's finally coming to life! 

Check out what to expect on pinkache after the jump!