ELF

A few days ago I mentioned the bargain priced, cruelty-free cosmetics brand E.L.F.. So, while I was perusing the product review site in search of stellar reviews, I was happy to come across ImmaDiva's opinion on the brand's Mineral Eye Shadow in Mysterious ($3.00). Here's what she had to say about her experience with this shadow:

The quality, shimmer, and color of this is identical to Bare Minerals, and it's at a fraction of the cost. E.L.F. is so cheap and I couldn't believe how long this lasted on my eyes. I used E.L.F. cream shadow as a base and the mineral shadow clung to it all day. And the color payoff was rich! I was pleasantly surprised.

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I know eyeliner belongs on my face and not on bunnies or kitties, but it's not always easy to decipher which beauty products aren't tested on animals. Love PETA or hate it, you've got to hand it to the group for its annual Proggy Awards, which highlights animal-friendly people and companies. This year's winner of the cosmetic category is New York-based e.l.f.

Short for "eyes, lips, face," it not only stands out in my mind for their animal-friendly achievements, but also because most products cost just $1 . . . and no, I didn't forget any zeros. Sold at major retailers like Kmart and Wal-Mart, you can check out its selection of brushes, makeup, and more online. The brushes get rave reviews from readers, and since they're animal-friendly, I feel OK using them on my face, too.

Now that the dust has settled around the huge Iron Man opening last weekend, I wanted to take a moment to give the director of the movie a little shout out. As buzz around Iron Man started to build, I heard a lot of people remark at what an odd canon of work Favreau has created as a director (even more so when you stick in his acting jobs) and that trusting him with the reigns of a giant film with a big-budget comic book movie seemed strange at first.

But just like casting Robert Downey Jr. struck me as totally inspired, I think Marvel knew what they were doing when trusting their big movie venture with Favreau. While his body of work may appear to be a bit random (Zathura: A Space Adventure, Elf, Swingers, Made, guest appearance on Friends), upon closer inspection it's clear that one thing ties it all together: a healthy respect for good old-fashioned storytelling. He knows what goes into a spinning a great yarn, and part of that is casting incredibly engaging lead actors (Will Ferrell in Elf, RDJ in Iron Man, etc.).

To read more about why I'm glad this guy was given the chance to direct Iron Man, and why I'm excited to see what he does next, read more

Get your kids in the Christmas spirit by making Elf on the Shelf part of your holiday tradition. Created by a mom whose kids wanted to know how Santa knew if they had been naughty or nice, this fun game gets the whole family involved.

The elf's sole responsibility is to watch over your kids and report their behavior back to Santa each night. At the end of the day, move the elf to another location in the house. When your children wake up, they get to track him down in his new spying spot. In addition to having happy kids playing an exciting game, you will have lil ones conscious of their behavior since they know the elf is watching.

You probably know that along with sunscreen, makeup brushes are high on my list of must-haves. If you're new to makeup brushes, check out my guide to different types. And if you're on a budget, you'll definitely want to read this user review from Allyd. While searching for a new foundation brush, she saw E.L.F.'s $1 version. Though she was skeptical, she bought it—and I'll let her take it away from here:

I have to say I was absolutely thrilled at the quality...so much so, in fact, that I've since purchased the total face brush, defining eye brush, and brow comb and brush, and I'm loving them all! The bristles are all smooth and have just the right firmness and since the first use, the brushes haven't lost a single bristle. The handles are a perfect size for my hands and don't get slippery. (Am I officially gushing?)

So for less than the cost of a peppermint latte, I've replaced all my "go-to" brushes, and my makeup presentation is definitely better for it. I'd recommend them for anyone, no matter what your budget is...but if you're pinching pennies, these brushes are a must-have!

Allyd's review has definitely piqued my interest. Share your product reviews
in the Beauty Product Junkies group, and I might post yours on BellaSugar too.

How would you like to get eight lip glosses for just four bucks? Maximumblonde tipped off the Beauty Product Junkies group about this crazy deal from ELF (Eyes Lips Face) cosmetics. Are you ready? Try to contain yourself. With a special code, you can take 50% off all of the line's products. And since the prices are already dirt cheap—such as this lip gloss, which is normally only a dollar—it's worth stocking up! Just enter code CAROLINA as you check out. Happy shopping!