e.l.f. Cosmetics: Top picks for Women of Colour

e.l.f cosmeics top picks for Women of Colour

e.l.f cosmetics

I have been testing ALOT of products from e.l.f. recently and wrote a review covering ways to purchase the brand. I also talked about some of the products that I had tested but were not my favourite or best suited my skin tone.  Check out that review here.  In this companion post I am featuring my top pick of e.l.f. products that I have tried for women of colour.   There is also a product that I have been struggling to get my hands on but I have a feeling is going to be epic!  If you have a tan deep or dark complexion my top picks from the range are as follows:-

Mad for Matte 2 Eyeshadow Palette £12.50

e.l.f cosmetics Mad for Matte 2 Palette

This colourway looked familiar to me.  As I started playing with my stash that I realised that it is similar, but not a complete dupe for the Viseart Dark Mattes Palette.  The reason that I love this palette is that 9 of the 10 shades work beautifully on my complexion.  There is some kick back when you use a brush and an eyelid primer is a must however this is a really good palette.   Whether you want transition shades, are creating a smokey eye or a nude matte look it is all here.  The black plastic palette is robust and sleek.  The full sized mirror means that you can see both eyes clearly. It’s an impressive palette and a great companion for any shimmer palettes you have. Definitely a top pick!

Brushes

I have  got three brushes from the brand, (two for the face, and one for eyes.  They are all great and I will be buying more.

e.l.f. cosmetics brushes

*Studio Beautifully Precise Powder Brush £14.50

This is a BIG powder brush – bigger than my Tom Ford bronzer brush.  As someone with a large face I really appreciate it.  It has synthetic bristles which are long and very fluffy.  This brush is perfect for a light dusting of translucent or finishing powder once your makeup is done.  It is way to big for blusher or bronzer.   The handle is perspex with a silver toned ferrule.   I did loose quite a few hairs  during the first couple of uses but it has now settled down. If you like a big brush, you need to try it.

Selfie Ready Foundation Brush £7.50

e.l.f. cosmetics

I bought this brush because it reminded me of some of my favourite foundation brushes.  I have talked about the Marc Jacobs Foundation III and the Nanshy Buffer brush on the blog previously.  If you like a cream foundation or like to buff out your product you need them.  The e.l.f version is small, lighter and cheaper BUT is stands alone as a good brush.  It is smaller than it looks online but it is dense with soft bristles and it does blend product into the skin beautifully.  I want to pick up a couple more as they are great for contour, cream highlight and even bronzer.  It ‘s good.

Studio Eye Crease Brush £2.00

As I get older and my eyes get more hooded, smaller eyeshadow brushes have become a must.  This crease brush does not have the most tapered shape but it is great at buffing out colour in the crease,  outer V and along the lashline.  At two pounds a brush you can afford to have more than one.

Molten Liquid Eyeshadow (Brushed Copper) £5.00

e.l.f cosmetics mad for matte 2 and aqua eyeshadow

I was umming and ahing about putting this in my top picks as the formula is not the best but the colour is outstanding on deeper .  Think  It also has a cooling effect on the skin which is perfect for me as a hayfever sufferer.  If you apply this liquid shadow straight from the doe foot applicator there can be some unevenness.  I have found the best way to apply it is to put some on the back of your hand and then apply it with a brush and blend it out. You get a beautiful wash of colour and it does last all day – you just need to do a bit of work with the application.  If liquid eyeshadow  products like the Armani Eye Tint  and L’Oreal Eye Paint rock your boat, it is worth a try.

*Beautifully Bare Sheet Tint Finishing Powder  Dark/Deep £7.50

e.l.f cosmetics Finishing Powder
Finishing Powder is on the right

This one is a a secret hero for deeper skintones.  Don’t tell anyone about it because it will sell out.  This is a finishing powder not a setting powder, so whilst you can bake with it, it is better when applied with a light hand and a fluffy brush. Coverage is not as opaque as a powder foundation because it is not a foundation.   e.l.f. have  supplied with a sponge so you can use it for touch ups but I think it works best with a brush.  The packaging is a lightweight and silver with a good sized mirror. If you keep it in your makeup bag the black lettering will come off pretty quickly but it wont affect the powder inside.

*Studio Powder Blush Palette (Dark) £7.50

e.l.f cosmetics blush palette (dark)

I am so impressed by this product.  Seriously impressed.  If you thought that Sleek and NARS were the only serious contenders for pigmented blushers for melanated skin – think again. The tones in the palette have been really well thought out. Deep rosy pink, peach, burgundy and red tones which are pigmented on the skin, buildable and blendable.    Great for your makeup bag an in introduction to blush, the colours work individually or swirled together.

WISHLIST: Studio Foundation Palette (Deep)  £7.50

I REALLY want to try the e.l.f. Foundation Palette. It has four cream foundation shades in a palette that looks very similar to the blush palette and from photographs it appears that they undertone leans more yellow than red.  It looks like it will be right up my street and when I get hold of it I will update this post.

 

Let me know in the comments below if you have any other e.l.f.  recommendations for me, especially if you have tried the Foundation  Palette.

 

* indicates PR Sample

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