Tellmiluv's Blog: July 2012

ELF Essential Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil Review

***DISCLAIMER*** These are all my pictures that I have taken from my own camera. I do not take anybody else's pictures.I am not sponsored doing this review. I bought all items using my own money and this is 100% my own opinion.

I have already done an ELF Essential Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil in the past year, and I recently reviewed it, only to realize that the swatches that I did was very poor in quality. I then had to retake a couple of pictures to post up a new, updated video regarding these liners.

First of all, for $0.50 after a 50% off sale when I got these last year, I believe it was a good buy. I honestly do not reach for these liners too much because, I like my Urban Decay Pencil Liner in Perversion a LOT more and I reach for it more often than any pencil liners that I own. There is nothing wrong with these liners- they are very pigmented, creamy, and functions well as a liner. Maybe I'm just not so used to using more colored liners, as I have only used Black, or maybe brown at times, and white on my bottom waterline.

Packaging

The pencil liners come in standard with a sharpener cap which is very convenient , having the cap and sharpener at the same time. I do not use the
sharpener that comes in the cap because the product sticks to the cap, then gets everywhere. The outer packaging of the liner is cute, as it shows the sparkly colors of the actual liner pencil as part of the packaging, making it easier for the consumer to realize what color liner they are grabbing for.

Color Payoff:

The liners are pretty pigmented and vibrant. The Iconic Ivory comes out a little blotchy when swatched, and it does not line the waterline very good. It is mostly metallic shimmer finishes, but I feel like the 1st three colors Iconic Ivory, Precious Pink and Blissful Blush are not very good liners foe the waterline, or even to line eyes as the colors are not bright enough.

Texture

The liners are creamy and applies smoothly. There are a couple of liners that are a little tough and tug on the lids, but most are pretty smooth. Sometimes, I feel like the liner is too creamy that it swatches blothcy. I've had my liners for a year now and I hardly reach for these, but when I swatched them recently, they are all still creamy and smooth and not dried out.

Smell

These liners have no smell.

Staying Power

These liners will stay about 1-2 hrs in place, then will start smudging around the lids and eyes. These liners needs to be set with eye shadows to make it last longer, about 4-5 hrs.

The Bottomline:

If you are able to get these liners for half the price, then yeah, its worth it if you are going to use them. I personally don't like too colorful eyeliners, I stick to my black, brown and white colors, so I feel like I didn't need these liners. These are not must haves for any makeup collection if bought in full price. The liners are decent quality liners, especially Black Bandit is an awesome black.

My Personal Rating

I am going to give these liners a 3/5 as I like them, but they are not my fave liners at the moment. It is ok, good pigmentation, smooth, creamy, and it works.

Swatches:

Iconic Ivory

A white pearly shimmery pencil

Precious Pink

A shimmery baby pink color pencil

Blissful Blush

A taupy shimmery colored pencil

Twinkle Teal

A dark greenish teal shimmery pencil

Gunmetal

A shimmery metallic dark grey pencil

Boldly Bronzed

A metallic bronze pencil

Grassy Green

A vibrant metallic green pencil

Plum Passion

A shimmery grape purple pencil

Black Bandit

A metallic black pencil

More Swatches

My Youtube Videos:

My New Updated Video

My Previous Video from last year

Have you tried these pencils? Which ones are your favorites?

ELF Essential Duo Cream Eyeshadows Review

I received a request from one of my subscribers from Youtube to review and swatch the ELF Essential Duo Cream Shadows. I was initially contemplating on getting these eye shadows as I have read so many negative reviews about them. In one of the weeks on the month of July, eyeslipsface.com promoted a 50% off all products from the website. I was hesitant to get these, but since it was $0.50 USD each, I figured to get them anyway.

There ware 9 colors available to be purchased, and I bought them all, since all totalled to $4.50 USD, it was a pretty good deal. I believe some of the colors from these lines were supposed to coordinate with the ELF Duo Eye shadows (the powder ones) but it seems like they have discontinued most of the colors from the ELF Duo Eye shadows line. I will post my review on the ELF Duo Eye shadows when I get enough free time.

Packaging

The eyeshadows comes in a standard paper with plastic covering packaging. The actual product itself comes in a black, plastic twist cap container. It lid sometimes does not twist securely on some of the eyeshadows. I guess it is just luck of the draw. The two shadows are crescent shaped, with metal separators in between. Honestly, it looks like the Loreal's HIP packaging to me.

Color Payoff:

I cannot vouch that the color payoff is awesome. Sad to say, but this product is very inconsistent with the pigmentation. Some of the colors does not swatch very good, for instance Sugar Cookie and the white in Coffee & Cream. The darker shades does have more pigmented color payoff, but the lighter ones are such a disappointment.

Texture:

This may be weird but the texture of this product is also an inconsistency. For the most part, most of these cream shadows feel like a slippery, sticky lip gloss- the one that comes out of a tub- like the MAC Lip conditioner in a jar. except this is a cream shadow. I am still awkward with this texture placing it in my eyelids, it felt very sticky and it creases like crazy. I have very oily eyelids and this product will make it feel more oilier and stickier than ever!!! It is blend able, but it will 100% CREASE, even with a primer underneath. Oh, and some of the cream shadows doesn't all feel, creamy, other are watery and swatches blotchy.

Smell:

Not a big fan of the smell. It smells like playdoh or something like that. It has a slight chemically plastic smell.

Staying Power:

Don't get your hopes up thinking that this eyeshadow will last you- it will crease the sooner you put this on your lids. Even with a primer, this will still crease. You may get away placing a very thin layer, using this as a makeup base, then topping it with a powder shadow, but within 1-2 hrs, it will make your shadow crease anyway.

The Bottomline:

I don't think this product is worth wasting your time over. The application is quite difficult. It does blend, but you have to tug on your lids to apply it. Brushes don't work with this product, you have to use your finger and tug a bit to blend it out. Then, you still have to top it with a powder shadow and hope it will not crease. The concept is good, but ELF really needs to improve on the texture of this product a lot.

My Personal Rating:

I'm giving these shadows a 1/5. It creases a lot, some of the textures and pigmentation is inconsistent. I really hate the sticky feeling this leaves my lids.