Top Ten ELF Brushes: Review and Photos

I absolutely ADORE e.l.f.'s brushes. I didn't include any of them in my Top 10 e.l.f. Products because I think they deserve an entire category all on their own.  E.l.f.'s brushes are by far my favorite things from e.l.f. There is no other company that provides the type of quality that e.l.f. does at this price point. Let's just be honest, these brushes are dirt cheap but they hold up next to high-end companies' makeup brushes. E.l.f. : you have changed my life with your makeup brushes. I never thought I could have "a brush for everything"; I always used major multi-taskers because I never wanted to spend the money to have specialized brushes, but ELF-- I freakin' love you. I can finally have all the brushes that do exactly what they're supposed to. Having more specialized brushes allows you to get more control, precision, definition, blending, gorgeousness, and stinkin' happiness! Yeah, some of their brushes are copycats of a few Sigma and MAC brushes--BUT I LOVE THAT!
Any brushes I've found at the drugstore, with the exception of EcoTools, are typically very scratchy, itchy, sparse, flimsy, face-tearing, makeup-eating, pieces of garbage. E.l.f. is the total opposite. There are hardly any of their brushes I've come across that I do not love.  If you're familiar with Sigma or MAC brushes you will spot the dupes immediately. If not, I'm here to help because they have their brushes named less-than-optimally in my opinion. But that's okay! Maybe to differentiate? I'm not sure. But I almost use exclusively e.l.f. brushes for everyday makeup. Granted, most of my brushes are from the more expensive studio line, but it's just a couple bucks. And because I'm a dirty, lazy person the e.l.f. price point makes it easy to have duplicates of my favorites on hand so that I can use them with a different color or product without having to  deep clean brushes ALL THE TIME.

My Favorites:

1. E.L.F. Studio Powder Brush, $3.00

It's called a powder brush, do I use it for powder? Not necesarily. It's definitely not a stereotypical powder brush - but it blends anything and everything wonderfully. It's flat-topped and very dense. Most of the time I use this to make sure I do not have any harsh contouring lines. But it is so dense I have also used it as a flat-top foundation brush - even wet to sheer out cream foundations. This was my first real lovebrush from e.l.f.

2. E.L.F. Studio Small Stipple Brush, $3.00

This is a newer one for e.l.f. They had tried a stipple brush in the past that is one of the only brushes I'm not a fan of. But this one is definitely an actual stipple brush. The shorter fibers are dense enough to do light blending while the longer fibers softly stipple and blur on cream products. LOVE this for cream blush and cream bronzer.

3. E.L.F. Studio Mineral Powder Brush, $3.00

Mineral powder? Makes me think buffing. Yeah, I use it to buff, but not all over. It is a smaller face brush and very round and concentrated. This is very similar to other brands "contouring" brushes which is exactly what I use it for. It places the right amount of powdered contour in the perfect place below my cheek bones while making blending easy.

4. E.L.F. Studio Pointed Foundation Brush, $3.00

Another newer one that I enjoy very much. It isn't very large like Sigma's but this works for me because I usually use it for smaller projects rather than all over foundation.  My favorite purpose for this is applying highlighting concealers or even liquid highlighter on the high points of my face or concealing around my nose and under eye area.

5. E.L.F. Studio Angled Contour Brush, $3.00

I think small should be in the name for this. It is the size of a large eye brush. With it's flat, angled top it is perfect for contouring smaller areas of the face (nose) and the density makes it perfect to blend out the edges of an eyeshadow look.

6. E.L.F. Studio Small Tapered Brush, $3.00

Another copycat that I love. This fits perfectly underneath my eye; it picks up powder lightly to set my under eye concealer while being gentle, smooth, and the perfect shape.

7. E.L.F. Essential Blending Eye Brush, $1.00

I like this blending brush because it's fibers are not very long but not as short as a smudging brush. It is the perfect medium length to create a really defined crease while still keeping it natural and blending well. Perfection.

8. E.L.F. Essential Eye Shadow Brush, $1.00

This one is a no-brainer. Everyone has to have the standard "C" shadow brush. Although I tend to use a fluffier shadow brush for lid color, I like this one for applying a highlight to the inner corner of my eye and underneath my brow. It may just be my eyes, but this brush fits perfectly in that area for me and makes it super quick and easy.

9. E.L.F. Studio Complexion Brush, $3.00

THIS is my version of a powder brush. It is dense, but soft and light with longer bristles. Applies powder lightly without disturbing other makeup.

10. E.L.F. Studio Kabuki Face Brush, $6.00

I really don't use Kabuki Face brushes anymore. (Back in the day they used to be my all-in-one face brush multi-tasker - seriously, powder, bronzer, blush, yeah.) But whenever I do feel the need for a kabuki, it is this one. I don't even own any other kabuki brushes anymore. I could pet this brush all day it is so soft and furry.

Top Ten ELF Products: Review and Swatches

The Brand:

Alright, those of you who are familiar with the brand e.l.f. (Eyes Lips Face Cosmetics) know that it is a very affordable makeup brand that you can find online and in most Target stores. Most of their products are $1.00 or $3.00 a pop. What I love about this brand is that it was started by beauty lovers who wanted to make beauty products available and accessible to everyone. E.l.f. promotes that everyone deserves to feel beautiful and healthy; and they certainly make it easy to do so! Some people will bash this brand because not EVERY SINGLE ONE of their products is as good as Dior or Lancome - but hey, you paid $1.00 for it! A lot of their products resemble higher end brands in functionality and packaging - some call this copycatting, but I call it great marketing and bringing the feeling of luxury to the drugstore. I respect and love this brand for what it is. The haters just need to actually try it!
 I'm sure you e.l.f. fans also know that most of their products are hit or miss. When I find a product from them that I like: 1. I LOVE it! 2. It is beyond affordable, and 3. It is usually something I reach for daily.

E.l.f. has tons and tons of products; a lot of them are sold in Target, but if you go to their website they carry a KAJILLION more.

How Do You Sift Through ALL Those Products:

Well, if you're me - subscribe to their mailing list, wait until you get an email describing "SITEWIDE SALE 50% OFF" (they are always having amazing sales if you wait for the right time), go and grab a couple colors of everything that looks good, repeat a couple times a year, test everything out, and reorder more of the good stuff! Eventually you're going to have some really affordable staples in your makeup collection.

OR - you could just sit back, read my blog, and let me do it for you!

My Best Picks:

(swatches at bottom)

1. E.L.F. Studio Mineral Infused Face Primer in Clear, $6.00 

This was one of my first loves from e.l.f.  I tend to choose this over my higher-end brand primers. At 6 bucks it is one of e.l.f.'s more expensive products, but that is way cheaper than, say--THIRTY DOLLARS!  It gives me an even and very smooth texture to my skin while also helping to control shine. (Unfortunately, I'm an oily-skinned girl. Very.) If you don't like primers that feel 'silicone-y', you won't like this one. I, on the other hand love primers like that.

(They now also carry this primer in Tone Adjusting Green, Brightening Lavender, and Radiant Glow- very excited to try some of those out!)

2. E.L.F. Essential Zit Zapper, $1.00

(Contains Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil, Witch Hazel, and Camphor.) This product is new to me - I always passed it up because I thought "there's no way this ONE DOLLA product could compete with my prescription-strength, amazing acne medication". But after continuing to struggle with acne I decided why the heck not! Come to find out my skin didn't want all the oil-punching, life-killing, and moisture-sucking  strength that was in my "holy grail acne medication" - my acne just wanted a little treatment and a little soothing. This does just that: clears acne spots without drying or irritating AT ALL. Gentle and effective.

3. E.L.F. Studio Lip Exfoliator in Clear, $3.00 

(Sugar, Vitamin E, Avocado Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter). We've all heard about DIY lip scrubs and probably seen the high-end versions of sugar scrubs (ingredients cost about, maybe-- a pretty lil' penny for these companies). Here's why I like this one: it's in a creamy stick. This makes it so quick and easy to use. Any homemade lip scrubs I have made end up separating in the container I put them in. So I either have to stir it up with SOMETHING (hmm-quick! What in my bathroom do I want to have goop on it? Uhh...) or make it fresh every time. I don't have to worry about that with this-- or even get the product on my fingers! It's in a tube. And it's moisturizing. And smells like freakin' delicious cupcakes. There ya go. You're welcome.

4. E.L.F.  Studio Blush in Mellow Mauve, $3.00

The studio blushes seem to be one of e.l.f.'s most popular items. People are inclined to try them, and everyone likes them. (The packaging resembles NARS blushes- and I actually enjoy this! They get displayed right next to my NARS!) I have quite a few of them; all pigmented well. Great for an everyday blush.

5. E.L.F.  Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Cream in St. Lucia, $3.00 

This is a product I thought I didn't like at first-- until I found a better way to use it. The contour and blush shade are very pigmented and kinda seem sticky. Now I use it with a small, concentrated stipple brush and barely dip it in the product. Blend, Blend, Blend! Then I powder over it to set my contour and blush and it stays all day and looks natural through the powder! This has become an everyday essential for me as I've been choosing it over Hoola or any other bronzer!

6. E.L.F.  Studio High Definition Undereye Setting Powder in Sheer, $3.00 

(Vitamin C and K) I find this to work just as well as any of the high-end undereye setting powders I've tested out. It sets my concealer, brightens my undereye area and also prevents any eye makeup from travelin' down my face! (Oily skin, remember?)

7. E.L.F.  Studio Maximum Coverage Concealer in Sand and Nude, $3.00 

(Oil Free) I don't typically fawn over e.l.f. concealers - mostly because I already have my favies from elsewhere. But this is one I actually use very often--not for what you think! (Or what I thought I would be using it for when I bought it.) I use it as a tinted moisturizer. I can use a tiny, tiny amount and because it is a max coverage concealer it has great pigmentation and covers my whole face if i blend it out well with a damp beautyblender or even your fav foundation brush, wet. This concealer isn't a dry formula so it looks natural and feels like you're wearing nothing. You're welcome again.

8. E.L.F.  Studio HD Blush in Encore, $3.00

I have a little rant here. Prepare yourself. I have been DYING to get my hands on the other shades of this product. EVERY TIME I shop online they are OUT OF STOCK. Fabulous. And of course Target doesn't carry it! --yet. End of rant. I don't rant too bad, do I? This is crazy super hyper mega intensely pigmented; doesn't feel cakey or thick like a cream blush and has great staying power. Almost like a stain.  Feels like nothing. Perfect for summer. (MAKE MORE ELF! I'm missing out!)

9. E.L.F  Studio Baked Bronzer in Los Cabos, $3.00

This is a good general summer bronzer. This color is a little more natural than most of their other bronzers. It has a small bit of sheen to it, but it works for summer. (And I'm not someone who usually enjoys 'sheen' in anything but highlighters, eyeshadow, and lipgloss.) Adds a little glowing color.

10. E.L.F.  Studio Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow in Soiree, $3.00

Wasn't sure how I would like this BUT- its very lightweight. It feels like the maybelline dream bouncy blushes when you dip your finger in, but it is WAY lighter. Crazy Lightweight. Long-wearing. Crease-less. Affordable. Sold.