BellaSugar

User Review: Allyd on E.L.F. Brushes

BellaSugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 07:00:16 -0700

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.

Bella Bargain: Half Off at Eyes Lips Face

BellaSugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:23:34 -0700

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!

A Mother's Day Bargain from E.L.F.

BellaSugar — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:43:53 -0700

Ok, now you've got no excuse not to make your mom smile this Mother's Day, even if your cash flow is running low. This cutesy I Love Mom Hypershine Gloss and Card by E.L.F. costs just $1 and includes a sheer nude lip gloss and a card that reminds me of an elementary-school valentine. (The card is part of the packaging.)

This shiny, glass-like gloss is E.L.F.'s most popular product. The cotton-candy-scented coating conditions your lips and tastes yummy too.

Fabulous Beauty Look-a-Likes

BellaSugar — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 10:51:17 -0800

There are knock-offs out there for almost everything on the designer market, so why shouldn't that include beauty products too? Since imitation is the highest form of flattery, it doesn't surprise me at all that a number of budget beauty brands have started releasing products have a striking similarity to higher-end items. Now we can stock up and experiment more since we're paying less! Here's a look at some of the less expensive versions of designer originals.

e.l.f. Hypershine Lip Glosses look a lot like Stila's Lip Glaze. They provide a similar super-bright, glass-like shine and condition your lips for hours. Both have a yummy scent, as well as that fun twist-and-click feature that brings the gloss to the applicator. You can buy e.l.f's glosses in 10 colors here for $1. Or you can buy Stila's version in 33 colors here for $20.

The Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips palette is very similar to the fabulous Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick. Both can be blended together as a bronzer if you sweep your brush across the entire brick or used as individual shimmery colors for your eyes and cheeks. Buy the Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in the light-bronze Vegas Strip or the darker Sunset Strip here for $11.95. Or, buy the Bobbi Brown Simmer Bricks here for $38; available in Apricot, Pink, Gold, Beige, Rose, Brownie, Bronze, and Peony.

To see the last look a like read more

The new Max Factor MAXwear Lip Color really reminds me of the doubled-ended Benefit VIP Glosses. These gorgeous glosses are an easy two-step process, with a darker shade you apply first and a more sheer shade you can layer over. Or, wear them separately for even more variety. Buy the Max Factor brand in 26 shades here for $8.79. You can buy the three-wand Benefit set in six shades here for $26.

Fall Beauty Trend: White Pencil Eyeliner

BellaSugar — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 00:53:27 -0700

I guess since Black Nail Polish is all the rage, it only makes sense that white eyeliner would be in style as well. (well maybe not, but bear with me here). Anyway, that's right, white pencil eyeliner was all over the runways at all the Fall fashion shows from Oscar de la Renta to Dolce & Gabanna.

Of course, with any dramatic makeup trend, there are do's and don'ts to wearing it correctly. According to makeup artist Mally Roncal:

[White eyelinter] can be applied in a thin matte line about 1/3" along upper lash lines, around eyes' inner corners, inside the inner lower rim and just along the lower lash lines. Don't go any lower or it starts looking alien-like

Here are a couple of ones to try that require minimal investment.

Bourjois 2-in-1 Noir & Blanc Eye Pencile, $12, Available here. This one is great because it allows you to try the white eyeliner trend, but if you decide you hate it, you can still use the black side.

One more pick, so read more

Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in Pure White, $3.19, Available here. This pick is great because the price allows you to try the white liner trend guilt-free!

Spring Lip Glosses, Part I: Lovely Lilacs

BellaSugar — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:24:33 -0700

Welcome to part one of this five part series on Spring lip glosses! Lilacs, light violets and luscious purples are a hot beauty trend that have been seen on the runways and all over the cosmetics counters for Spring! Here are three of my favorites:

Victoria's Secret Very Sexy® Lip Gloss in Ripened, $12, is a long lasting, ultra sexy and shiny color-rich gloss that adds illustrious shine to your lips without that gooey sticky feeling. This soft and sexy color looks great alone or is perfect over any soft purple or neutral colored lipstick.

Laura Mercier Lip Gloss in Violet Glace, $20, is an all time favorite of mine. I wear it over her Amethyst Lipstick and it never fails me.

This gloss glides on smoothly and evenly and it feels very hydrating on your mouth since it contains Vitamin E, Lanolin and mineral oil. It is sheer enough to be worn alone, but also perfect for layering.

For one more lilac lip gloss drugstore brand, read more

e.l.f. Hypershine Gloss in Joy, $1, is a soft and subtle color. This is a super shiny gloss infused with micro-mirror technology to reflect light. It has a delicious scent to it as well as a fun twist-and-click feature that brings the gloss to the applicator. Best of all, this gloss is a real bang for your buck!

New Beauty Product: Felt Tip Lip Glosses

BellaSugar — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 05:27:33 -0800

Felt tip lip glosses are the latest innovation for lips. They have intense hydrating agents in them as well as deep pigment for full coverage. They glide on smoothly and actually have more of a lipstick feel than a gloss and are easily spreadable. Just twist the bottom of the tube until you see color coming through the small holes in the head and apply.

Color Release Lip Gloss by Take 5 Cosmetics, $12.95, is a ceramide enriched gloss that defines, shines and plumps! This one-step lip color is packaged in a sleek looking long silver tube. The felt tip helps to alleviate smearing and aids in smooth application. The result is long lasting color atop fuller looking lips! Available in 17 colors.

For one more felt tip lip gloss, read more

e.l.f. New Moisture Care Lip Color, $1, is a natural looking lip color that moisturizes so intensely it is categorized as lip therapy! It goes on true to color and will stay on for hours without caking or drying. It takes about 20 or so twists to get it going the first time around, but then you are good to go. Available in nine colors.

Look Sexy With the Bat of an Eye

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 07:14:44 -0800

Bat those lashes and make him swoon baby! Every gal dreams of having thick lush lashes, but we all aren't born that lucky. And although there are tons of lash building mascaras on the market to help plump and volumize, sometimes you've just got to fake it to attain those lush and sexy bedroom eyes. These lash kits are easy to use, virtually mess free and the results are bellissima!

e.l.f. Professional Lash Kit, $1, is a false lash extension kit that can help you create gorgeous lashes any night of the week! Application is a cinch and the comfort grip gel allows you to gain multiple uses from your lashes. You can choose from either a natural kit or a dramatic kit. Have fun!

For more fun and flirty lash kits, read more

Girls Night Out - False Eyelashes Kit by Alcone Beauty, $38, makes getting ready a group effort. This kit is all you need for dead sexy eye makeup for a night out with the gals. The kit comes with: a preo eyelash curler, false eyelashes, duo eyelash adhesive, a sable eyeliner brush, black cake eyeliner, a lash comb and step-by-step instructions for easy application.

You can order the kit based upon the number of peeps in your pre-party that night. A kit for one to four girls is $38.00, a kit for five to 10 girls is $53.00 and a kit for eleven to sixteen girls is $68.00. Let's get this party started!

Deluxe Lash Kit in Black by Sephora, $18, is a solution to limp, lackluster lashes. It's so easy to use, you can even put them on with one hand. The contoured application tool provides a fool proof way to secure the lashes and they are also easily removable using the same tool. The kit includes one set of lashes and glue. Available only in black.

FYI: Nordstrom and E.L.F. Aren't a Couple

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:00:32 -0700

Some of you might have received an email alerting you to a partnership between Nordstrom and Eyes Lip Face cosmetics (E.L.F. for short). The message goes something like this: E.L.F. has been featured on Oprah, Nordstrom just bought the line, and they're having a big ol' clearance (all products marked down to a dollar!) to make room for new makeup.

Trouble is, it's not true. Nordstrom has released a statement calling the emails fraudulent:

We have learned that some of our customers received emails from an unauthorized and unknown source regarding the website eyeslipsface.com. We want you to know that Nordstrom and Nordstrom.com are not affiliated with eyeslipsface.com or the E.L.F. product line, nor with any email regarding that website or product line. Nordstrom does not sell E.L.F. products.

For what it's worth, E.L.F. products are only a dollar in the first place. So if you want to shop, have at it - just think twice before you press that forward button in your email.

Reader Review of the Day: E.L.F. Mineral Eye Shadow

BellaSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:00:11 -0800

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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