ELF Brushes - Studio and Basic

 So yesterdays post was a basic VS studio E.L.F blush post and today carrying on the ELF theme (LOL) I have 2 basic ELF brushes and 2 studio ones to review, I was careful about the ones I picked as the basic ones are notoriously not that amazing apart from the odd few, most people also seem to have hit and misses with the same brushes, it's like they get manufactured different each time, I always read reviews on 'Makeupalley' to decide if a product is worth buying particulary with stuff from ELF as in the UK it's only available online and hard to see true swatches and get correct information. 

 

 

This is the basic 'Eye Crease Brush' (£1.50) it's great for getting colour right in the crease and for blending the colours from your lid upto your crease, it's soft and domed to a slight point, it's also really soft and doesn't shed, the basic line are white and don't look as sophisticated as the black studio ones but for the price it's great, I also like the brush for getting shadow under my lashline. I would definatley re-purchase it's a good brush BUT you could live without it.

 

 

This is the Studio Stipple Brush (£3.50) It is alot more softer and not as dense as I thought it isn't that sturdy (some would call it flimsy) but it works suprisingly well, I apply my foundation with my hands or with my Sigma F80 flat top kabuki so I haven't tried applying foundation with this and although it is recommended for all face products I can imagine it would be TOO soft and like I said it's nowhere near dense enough so I wouldn't buy it for that reason, for blush though it is great, cream blushes are harder to work with as again the flimsiness but powder blush and even powders like MSFs I would recommend using this with, I don't regret buying it but not sure if I would again! P.S It has the pink on the tip as thats my MAC blush it doesn't come coloured pink it's just black and white ha ha!

 

 

This is the 'Blending Eye' basic brush apparentley the poor man's version of MAC's 217 but I don't have that for a blending brush it's not as fluffy as some are and it does take abit of work to actually get it to do it's job but then how can you complain for the price, I don't end up really using this though as I have better brushes so maybe for beginners to make up or people just wanting a few basic brushes it would be good but it will probabaly stay at the bottom of my drawer.

 

 

Lastly this is the Studio Small Angled Brush, I use this for gel eyeliner and for applying coloured eyeshadows as eyeliners, when working with eyeliner I find angled brushes like this so much easier, I have just got a bargain new gel eyeliner that I LOVE and doing a post on in the next few days using this so you will be able to see it's effective-ness it picks up a good amount of colour and it is sturdy and creates a good line, perfect for doing 'cat eyes' eyeliner, this is one of my faves (along with the mineral small face kabuki brush - more on that in a second) I would definatley buy this again and again, and need a back up as I had a little heart attack when I lost it for a few mins this morning LOL.

I also did get the Mineral small face kabuki you might remember been pictured in the haul (click to go to) I did photograph it but it was full of mineral foundation so didn't look photogenic and now I don't have time to wash and photograph it as the light has gone :( BUT I will say that with the angled brush is my favourite, I tried it with mineral foundation and use it for applying pressed powder and it works well for both, it's sooo tiny and cute and it very soft I highly recommend, it also doesn't shed and even though it costs abit more (£5) it is really worth it! 

What other ELF brushes do I need or do you recommend? As im sure there is more than these I would possibly like!

p.s I really wanted to try and do an 'eye of the day' look with the ELF plum eyeliner I got but like the silly billy I am I have gone and lost it....before even using it haha. I will get another and get that done!

Vikki xoxo

E.L.F Basic Blush VS Studio Blush

I got two ELF blushes in my last haul - Basic blush in Flushed (£1.50) and Studio Blush in Blushing Rose (£3.50)

The packaging is the major difference, the basic is clear, cheap looking and you slide it down to open which can be abit awkward, whereas the studio blush is sturdier, a proper compact and includes a mirror (very similar to NARS blush packaging)

Basic 'Flushed'

Studio 'Blushed Rose'

Blushing Rose is the left swatch and Flushed is on the right

The basic one is also alot less pigmented, less long lasting and more chalky, Flushed is one of the more pigmented ones from what I have seen the rest in the basic line are very sheer, but the studio ones seem to vary, Blushed Rose isn't one of the more popular studio shades but probably due to the swatch on the ELF site which looks nothing like it does in real life and doesn't do it justice. I think Blushed Rose will be a great winter blush as it's slightly red/brown toned and is shimmery without been OTT and noticeable, it gives a fantastic glowy look on and although it doesn't last forever it has reasonable lasting time. I do love the colour of Flushed it's such a pretty and unusual berry toned fuchsia but it's a shame it doesn't last or is as good as the studio one, It gorgeous when first on though.

Who else has any ELF blush recommendations for me? I have a few ELF blushes to review for tomorrows post and thats most my ELF stuff done ALTHOUGH I might just have to buy more as they are doing free shipping for UK/European customers (minimum spend £10 just use code QZXUK (UK customers) QZXEU (European customers) and QZXIT (Italian customers)

Vikki xxxx

Little update

Sorry for the lack of posts, I haven't been feeling my best the last few days - back ache, sicky and sooooooooo tired! *yaawnnnnn*

I will get onto doing some posts tomorrow, and hope all your gorgeous dolls are good and well!!

If you don't follow me on twitter make sure you go do it :) @vikki_model x

Mwah xxxxxx

The using my Blush as a lipstick experiment........

Hi everyone I did a post not long back featuring one of the MAC Cremeblend blushes 'So Sweet So Easy' HERE and the lovely Alexis was curious as to see what the shade looked like as a lip color, as it is such a soft and pretty pink, I had actually never thought of doing it but OMG I LOVE IT!!!! What a fantastic idea, I mentioned in the other post I had difficulty and I still just can't get it to work as a blush.....everytime I apply it it goes patchy which im sad about as I love it, i've tried it with my fingers/blush brushes/stipple brush even my Sigma F80 flat top kabuki but still to no avail.

Sooo I am very happy that it's working for me as a lip colour at least! It actually had pretty good lasting power and was quite moistourising, I will be trying this on more cream blushes, here's some pics -

 

 

  

 I wasn't in a creative or bright make up mood today so the natural finish fitted in nicely, I was just off to do some work so I just did a neutral eye with thick liner to glam up abit but kept the rest of my make up simple, I didn't even use blush today just my w7 Honolulu bronzer.

I love little tips like this so a big thanks to Alexis I now have a great new way to wear this and not waste it!

Also thought i'd share these 2 funny pics of the week seen as its friday haha -

This is a portrait of this man done with bricks!! Imagine having that at the side of your house, how cool though! Was a quick blackberry snap whilst I was in a taxi at the traffic lights LOL

& My rescue cat I blogged about before George, we've had him for about 5wks now! Here is in the garden earlier sticking his tongue out hahaha how cheeky!

 Happy weekend dolls! xoxoxo

p.s I will get the swatches up from my E.L.F haul at the beginning of the week ASAP I haven't forgotten as I know a few people wanted to see the blushes in more detail.

Impulse for Lipsy 'Very Pink Dress' and 'Very Pink Body Spray'

This is a great post for me because A) It feautures Impulse (I LOVE impulse sprays! You may remember when I blogged about their Barry M collaboration I posted back HERE) and B) It feautures Lipsy one of my favourite stores ever, So the reason for this post is that Impulse has teamed up with hot fashion brand, Lipsy, to create a limited edition, exclusive dress to celebrate Impulse's latest fragrance: ‘Very Pink’.

The two top brands have paired up to offer a stunning off the shoulder Very Pink dress with a delicate drape sleeve and charming embellishment at the waist. Guaranteed to ensure you dazzle whether you’re on a romantic date or a night out with the girls.

Only available from www.lipsy.co.uk the ‘Impulse for Lipsy Very Pink dress’ can be ordered from 19^th August (RRP £65) BUT as a special offer for Impulse fans, from Monday 5^th September to Sunday 11^th September the dress is available half price, whilst stocks last at the following Lipsy stores: 

 

• 22 – 26 Cameron Walk, Metro Centre, Gateshead, NE11 9ER
• 82-88 Queens Street, Cardiff, CF10 2GR
• Westfield, Ariel Way, London, W12 7GA
• 122 Regents Crescent, The Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8AA

All you have to do is show your can of Very Pink (RRP at a bargain £1.99) to the cashier to get 50% off the dress. Hurry, this hot dress is going to fly off the shelves!

Impulse Very Pink is available from Boots, Superdrug, Tesco and Asda stores today, It smells absoloutley amazing and is perfect to have in your handbag at all times! That's this weekends outfit sorted with this collaboration you will be looking AND smelling good! Click the links to view and zoom in on the dress on the Lipsy site, it's even more stunning up close

Vikki xoxo