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.

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. 

Favorites: 2012

From my makeuped & pinkached heart to yours, my favorite products of 2012

foundation:
MAC Studio Sculpt (NW20)

Everything I thought about foundation changed when the MAC artist first painted this on my face. It was easy to apply, left my face looking & feeling flawless, and stayed put for 8 hours. It's a buildable gel-based foundation that leaves your skin with a dewy complexion. If you prefer matte skin like I do, just apply your favorite powder on top.  I've repurchased 5/6 times. The gel-based formula is best for normal to dry skin, & may be too much for oily skin types.

Foundation is one of those products every girl should should invest in. Buying higher end ensures you can sample before purchasing, match your skin tone, and say goodbye to the days of pacing Walmart cosmetic isles, guessing which foundation shade is best.  

powder foundation:
MAC Mineralized Skin Finish (Very Light)

Affectionately called MAC MSF in the beauty community, this powder creates a beautiful canvas. Use this over foundation, BB cream, moisturizer, primer, and even apply to a bare face with a damp brush and this will make my face look polished, matte, and flawless.

This is my favorite method (forward to 2:52) to apply MSF, and it gives full coverage when applied this way- my favorite!

eyeshadow palette:
Urban Decay's Naked, Naked 2, and Naked Basics.

There's a reason you can't stop hearing about these palettes. The shadows are long lasting and make blending a piece of cake. The formulation is admired by professionals and teaches newcomers the eyeshadow standard. Each Naked palette has it's own claim to fame, and I don't know if I could choose a favorite. I recommend going to your nearest Sephora or Ulta to check each one out and see what colors you'd like to start with. A makeup-acher must have.

the rest of my 2012 holy grails after the jump

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!