Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder

Finally got my ELF Blush & Bronzer Duo. It's a close dupe but not exact of NARS Orgasm (Blush) and Laguna (Bronzer). I apologise for the swatch photo as it was the best I could take with my DSLR. The lighting in my room is just urgh... But it shall do. If you like, you can google the swatches for a better reference but this is somewhat true to the picture. 

Comparing between NARS Orgasm & Laguna Duo...

• Price: Elf is only $10AU (with Shipping / $3 in the US) while NARS is $45AU and $30US (I think). I got this for $5 with my $5 off Ebay Coupon I had.

• Quality: Obviously quality will be different but it's what you get for what you pay for. For a $3 Drugstore brand, it does well. It's a bit powdery and obviously won't glide as smoothly like NARS. Overall the pigmentation is great and everything else about it is just as great as any other blush/bronzer on the market. Pretty mediocre and also great if you're on a budget.

• Payout/Pigmentation: Payout and pigmentation is awesome, though the blusher is buildable and also the bronzer, you might have to be a bit careful because it's pretty dark. But it's Matte. The Blusher is slightly shimmery but not so shimmery it will have glitter particles that will be highly visible. 

• Colour: The colour* is slightly different. The Bronzer on the ELF is much more pigmented and somewhat darker than NARS Laguna. The Laguna is a tad shimmery, creamier to touch and also as a lighter pigmentation. As for the blush, NARS Orgasm is much more pinky and also a tad shimmery and buttery textured. ELF's Blush is much more peachier and also lighter.

*Comparisons have been made when swatching NARS at the Mecca Cosmetica Store Previous to this Post, along with online sources. To find out please google NARS Orgasm & Laguna along with ELF Dupes for a closer reference.

Overall, It's a great product but not an exact dupe. If you're on a budget you can find heaps of these on ebay (in which I mostly buy all my American products from) I love how the packaging is sturdy. I don't find it flimsy like everyone says it is but it's $3US so it holds up pretty well. I'm overall satisfied and paying $5 (with $5 off coupon I had for ebay) I am loving this. I currently own 3 bronzers and this is definitely a new bronzer I'm going to adore and try. I've been looking for a peachy blush so I'm going to give this a go.

You can also find ELF Products online from their Australian Website. Is there any other ELF Products you like and recommend?! I would love to try more elf products.

Love, J

Elf & Essence Eyeshadow Primers.

So in the mail yesterday from Uni, I got my Elf Eyelid Primer in Golden. It's quite similar to Urban Decay's Greed Primer Potion (from judgement) but I've compared it with Essence Eyeshadow Base which I got from Target a few weeks back.  

 

Elf's Eyelid Primer is probably the size of an Average Mascara. 

The applicator and the packaging looks pretty cheap but... hey it's only $1 in the US - So no high expectations there!

L2R: Elf's Eyelid Primer, Essence Eyeshadow Base, No Primer. 

Swatched here is Snakebite from my Naked 2 Palette. 

I'm impressed with the elf eyelid primer. It was roughly $5-6~ from eBay (with shipping and all) and I believe in the US it's only $1 at drugstores... Also, I haven't seen Elf anywhere in Sydney so I had to get it online. I say it's worth it?! Considering it's worth $1 in the US. Only because the amount of product you get is quite little. 

The shadow goes well and I wore it yesterday to Uni and it was intact! 8 hours and it's still there! Though my eyelids were still oily - it managed to last longer than Essence. I suppose it shows up more on my swatch above as opposed to the Essence one which is just plain white. Overall, I would repurchase this product. I love it! And I've read reviews online about Elf's EP and that it's nearly as comparable to Urban Decay's Primer Potion and that it's a fraction of the price! 

I also... bought Urban Decay's Primer Potion in Original. Waiting for it to come in mail the next 2 weeks or so! So excited! Because Urban Decay's one holds up to 24hours (from what I read) so that's a huge plus! And it's the best Primer on the market so... Why not!? 

For me, I'm not a huge/heavy eyeshadow wearer but I do apply black eyeshadow and line my eyes with the other shimmery gold's on my Naked 2 Palette to make a sort of Gradient/Thinner Eyeshadow Application in Eyeliner form if that makes sense. But I do want my eyeliner to last longer so hopefully it will give me that lasting power and also help with the oilyness of my eyelids.

Here is a comparison between Elf & Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primers. I love the golden sheen to Elf's Eyelid Primer which is probably comparable to UDPP in Greed. (There's also 4 different colours I believe - Just like Urban Decay's Primer Potions)  

 

Elf's Eyelid Primer 

L2R: Pearl, Golden, Champagne, Sheer

Urban Decay Primer Potion

L2D: Original, Sin, Eden, Greed 

Here's a comparable swatch which I obtained from Glostix's. 

(Source: Glostix)

I hope you found this helpful and I will probably make a post about UDPP?! I don't know. There's too many out there but let me know if you want me to! I probably might anyways!

Love, J.