elf Cosmetics Haul + First Impressions

I can’t resist affordable drugstore beauty brands and elf Cosmetics is right up there with the best of them!

I ordered quite the haul from e.l.f. recently and I’m sharing my first impression of my haul below…from blush, eyeshadow, lip gloss and highlighters, find out what I’ve been enjoying from e.l.f. Cosmetics lately!

*this post contains affiliate links*

e.l.f. Cosmetics Highlighting Studio Blush in “Berry Merry”

While I have quite a few pink or coral blushes in my collection, it’s been a while since I’ve had a nice mauve blush for the fall/winter months.

“Berry Merry” is just the mauve shade I was looking for. With gold flecks speckled throughout (that don’t show up as glitter on the skin), it has great pigment and a slight sheen. A light hand and a fluffy blush brush will make this blush work like a dream.

Buy It: Ulta

e.l.f. Cosmetics Mad For Matte Summer Breeze Eyeshadow Palette

Being at home on maternity leave and up late at night with my daughter means I’ve watched A LOT of YouTube makeup tutorials to pass the time and stay awake.

I’ve seen countless eye makeup looks – many of them done with e.l.f.’s Mad For Matte palettes. Suffice it to say, I had to try at least one of these budget palettes and decided on Mad For Matte  – Summer Breeze. For $10USD (I got mine at 40% off), this palette is what budget beauty dreams are made of.

The 10 matte shadows are silky soft to the touch and blend like a dream. The shades have great colour payoff – with the exception of the plum shade, which I found I had to really build up to see on my lid – and little to no fallout on the skin (if you tap off the excess before applying).

Never thought I’d enjoy warmer shades on my pale skin, but now that I’ve dipped into this Summer Breeze palette, I’m really enjoying them! I do get a bit of kick up when I dip into the pans, but I don’t think you can avoid that given how soft these shadows are.

I’d love to try out another palette from this line the next time I pass the e.l.f. display in Walmart.

Buy It: Ulta

elf Cosmetics Studio Powder Brush

I was looking for a flat-headed brush that would let me stipple on blush or bronzer, but also had bristles soft enough to easily buff out these products.

This studio powder brush seemed like the perfect choice. I’ve been using it ever since I ordered it for applying my bronzer and it hasn’t disappointed me yet. It hasn’t lost any bristles either, which is one of the reasons I enjoy e.l.f’s makeup brushes. The synthetic bristles are soft and densely packed, but not so dense that they would pack on way too much product.

Buy It: Ulta

elf Cosmetics Shimmer Highlighting Powder in “Pearl Glow”

I’ve wanted to try out an e.l.f. highlighter for ages and their Shimmer Highlighting Powders looked too good to pass up. This pressed highlighting powder gives my skin such an INSANE glow and it’s made with microfine particles to create a soft focus effect to minimize texture on the skin – which it does very well.

The “Pearl Glow” shade is perfect for pale skin and is an interesting cross between a silver and champagne shade. The formula of this highlighter is soooooo smooth and swatches like a dream.

The updated packaging isn’t too shabby either. There are 7 shades in this highlighter range and I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another because the shimmer from this stuff is incredible!

Buy It: Ulta

Related Reading: End Of Summer Beauty Favourites

e.l.f. Cosmetics Beautifully Bare Highlighting Stick

This highlighting stick is a little different from most highlighters; it’s not a powder or a liquid, but more like a dewy balm for your face (think Vaseline).

I first heard about it in a Kathleen Lights YouTube video and she described it as giving your skin a “wet” look. I picked the shade “Fresh Morning Dew” – which is totally clear.

I found it applied best with my fingers – I roll the stick onto my fingers and then dab them along my cheekbones.

Given the tackiness and shine of this highlighting stick, I wouldn’t recommend it for oily skin, but I think it would be great for normal to dry skin types looking to amp up the dew.

I’ve only played around with this stick so far, so I’ll need a bit more experimentation with it.

I tried looking for it on the e.l.f. website to link to, but I’m not sure if they’ve changed the packaging or removed it, because I can’t find this chrome stick anymore.

The closest product to it is linked here.

Related Reading: e.l.f. Cosmetics – Haul and Review

e.l.f. Cosmetics Long Lasting Liquid Matte Lipstick – “Berry Sorbet”

I’ve never tried an e.l.f. Cosmetics lip product, but these matte liquid lipsticks were calling my name. A lot of the shades looked a bit too brown for me online (which could be deceiving, I know) so I decided to grab this rich fuchsia shade. The formula of this liquid lip shade is incredible!

It goes on super smooth, feels hydrating on the lips and gives you full, opaque colour in one application. I haven’t worn this on my lips for long enough to determine its longevity, so I’ll have to report back on this one, but it’s truly stunning.

I find it to be more of a satin finish as opposed to a true matte, but I don’t mind. This shade does stain your lips and skin, so precision is key.

Buy It: Ulta

Related Reading: The Best Drugstore Lipsticks & Glosses For Spring

e.l.f. Cosmetics Liquid Highlighter in “Natural Glow”

I was on a bit of a highlighting binge during this haul! The elf Cosmetics Liquid Highlighter in “Natural Glow” (the only shade available) is my first ever liquid highlighter.

This highlighter has a peach pigment to it and is supposed to give you a dewy, radiant complexion.

I blended a bit of this stuff along my cheekbones and it definitely gives off a great shimmer – maybe a little too much for me though; I like my highlight to be a bit more soft and natural.

On another occasion, I mixed a couple drops of it into my foundation – it gave me a great all over glow, but I found my foundation started to get cakey and separate from my skin in spots after a few hours, which normally never happens.

I definitely love the Shimmer Highlighting Powder over this liquid highlighter, but maybe it will grow on me?

Buy It: Ulta

Related Reading: Conceal, Highlight & Contour With Makeup Revolution

Free Gifts –  elf Cosmetics Eyelid Primer, Eyeliner, Mascara and Clay Eye Shadow Quad

What beauty haul is complete without a few free gifts with your order? First off – the e.l.f. Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer – has a thin, creamy, almost greasy texture to it.

I like to set it with my RCMA No Color powder, or a light eye shadow shade. I found the first time I used it, I didn’t get any creasing, but the second time I used it I did. Not sure this is a winner yet, so more testing is required!

Clay Eye Shadow Palette in “Smoked To Perfection” – I was so excited to get this little quad, but it’s terrible! Only one of the shadows had any type of pigment and they are very rough and dry to the touch. I think this one is going straight to the garbage! In terms of the mascara and eyeliner pen, I haven’t opened them yet because I have another eyeliner pen and mascara already open.

I’ll get back to you on these, but I’ve heard great things about them.

What elf Cosmetics makeup products are your faves?