Review: ELF Large Makeup Collection

I am obsessed with ELF, it's true. I recently counted all the items I currently own and it's about 140. Oops. But I don't care, when makeup is this good at such a bargain price how can I resist?

I acquired for my birthday the Studio range Large Makeup Collection consisting of a whopping 141 pieces. It comes in slick black packaging with the same clear tile windows as the medium set.

Look o_o.... isn't it beautiful....

It's broken down to 84 eyeshadow shades....

36 lipglosses and 6 blushes...

And 4 bronzers, 4 concealers, 4 shimmer cream shades, 1 mini face brush, 1 mini lip brush and 1 mini duo sponge applicator....

The eyeshadows, blushes and bronzers are a combination of matte and shimmery. It is the bottom right bronzer which is best used as a countourer, and the top left as a highlighter.

All the powders are finely milled and pigmented; even though the eyeshadow pans are small there are so many it would take a while to hit metal. The bronzers are not too dissimilar from the Studio Golden Bronzer set (which I have). The 4 concealers are just like the Studio Corrective Concealer palette.

(I would have swatched, but there are rather a lot, so if anyone would like to see any particular shades, please comment below and I will be more than happy to oblige :o)...)

I would say though that the brushes are lacking considering how many products you get and not as good as the standard Studio brushes which is a real shame. The lip brush is good, but as above, the eyeshadow applicator is a duel end sponge applicator and I personally prefer a brush for powder, but it would work well with the cream eyeshadows I suppose, personal preference.

I die and go to heaven every time I whip this little beaut out. If anyone is starting out with makeup, this is the perfect set to get you going. Hell if you just adore make up and ELF it's brill too.

You can buy this item for £35 - thats around 25p per piece... erm, BARGAIN!!

From: http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~165.htm

Overall, I would rate this kit as a gazillion out of a gazillion.

It is just makeup lushness.

Does anyone else have this set? What are your thoughts?

Obscure review of the (unspecified period of time): Dolly Bow Bow

Yes it's that time again for an obscure review that's not technically make up/beauty relates (yes I know this is first of its kind...)

Just a quick mention for a new online homemade jewellery company dollybowbow.co.uk.

From the website: "Dolly Bow Bow is a new online boutique, with a focus on all things gorgeous and girlie. Whether you like to hint at vintage chic or you like to be dressed head to toe in girlie glamour, we have something to suit you.

All items are hand made with love by Katie Murnane. The first collection of jewellery and accessories were inspired by her love of all things vintage, quirky and kitsch. Many of the items are one offs, and have been created with charms, fabrics and trinkets from various places shes discovered on her travels. So you'll know you have something unique."

I ordered two necklaces and a bracelet:

Lovebirds and heart charm measures 25mm x 15mm. Gold tone"Love" slogan charm meaures: 30mm x 10mm approx. For both choose from an 18" or 24" chain, £5.99/£6.99 respectively. Both items are gold plated. Peach rope bracelet with a gold tone lobster clasp. Comes complete with a pretty gold tone bow charm measures 15mm x 10mm approx, 6" or 7" wide bracelet, but you can even contact them for custom size bracelets. Bracelet is £6. I got the 18in necklaces and the 6in bracelet which I must say is snug around my wrist so if you do order do the intelligent thing I didn't do and measure your wrist beforehand.

Shipping in the UK is free, international is available and was quick too.The nicest bit other than bargain kitsch jewellery was the way it was packaged: in a nice padded envelope wrapped in pink tissue paper and each item in it's own fushia gift bag with silver star sequins for company :o)

The only niggle I have is that the clasp on the necklaces are the wrong way around: clasp is usually on the right with hook on the left, DBB are the other way around which not being used to can make it a bit fiddly.

Dolly Bow Bow also do rings, earrings and hair accessories with clothing, gifts and 'vintage finds' coming soon on their website.

Overall I was very impressed, especially by the surprise packaging. Don't be too disappointed if the quality isn't fantastic, such as being plated metal, but hey it's cheap and cheerful and looks fab so shut yer whinaarn (I'm west country) :o)

I bought these items with my own money on my own accord, I am not affiliated with Dolly Bow Bow and was not paid nor asked to review. This is all my own garble and random thinking.

AT LONG LAST!!!!! No 4!!

Here it is, the first post in 2 and half months! Moving and lack of internet then no time really puts a stick in blogging..

Any who, in my countdown of Top 5 Styling products, that are all affordable and aren't some obscure-never-be-able-to-get-down-Tesco's-ish-ever product. Except this one.

I can't get my No 4 item Tigi Foxy Curls Contour Cream from a supermarket unfortunately. But internet is just as good except the lack of clubcard points.

I love this cream. I have tried numbers of curl-enhancing products to tame my unruly frizzy excuse for a mop and failed miserably. This is fab for a number of reasons:

1. It works, I mean it doesn't create curls which would be amazing, but it helps define what I've already got; a cross between very curly at the bottom and wavy on top.

2. You apply a good amount (2-3 pumps does the trick) to wet hair and diffuse dry, and it has no sticky or heavy mess in your hair once it's dry.

3. And this is the best reason: it smells like Skittles. It is by the far the best smelling product actually EVER! And the smell stays when dry too. Combine it with the Foxy Curls Shampoo/Conditioner and you have an almighty whiff of gorgeousness emanating from your head. Who needs pheromones when you can have Skittles?!

Now, depending on how good the place you live is, you would find Tigi in hair salons, like in my good old home town, or if you're in a super-duper city you probably get Tigi in big stores like I don't know what as I don't live in a city. I would have recommended eBay but seems since my purchase the seller has gone a bit bad right past their use by date, feedback nicht gud although mine was fab service and price, so I recommend gorgeousshop.co.uk. They sell all sorts of salon brands including the much hyped and blogged about Phyto, at discounted prices.

RRP for TFCCC (couldn't be narfed to type it out again) is £10.95 for 200g bottle but they are selling it for just £6.57...BARGAIN!

Out of interest, my second choice that I use for work, saving TFCCC for special is Charles Worthington Curl Definition Creme which doesn't smell like Skittles but I get clubcard points, maybe only 3 though....

Overall verdict: 4/5 (1 deducted for not creating curls)

Link: http://www.gorgeousshop.co.uk/shop/tigi-bedhead-81/tigi-beadhead-foxy-curls-463/tigi-bedhead-foxy-curls-contour-cream-200ml-2183.html

Hair Styling Top 5 products: No 5

Just to show I'm not all about the face, I'm going to do a countdown of my current top 5 favourite Hair Styling Products.

At 5 is John Frieda Luxurious Volume Thickening Texture Paste. You get 75g of product in a little screw lid tub. The product itself is a very thick cream, not surprisingly has a paste-like texture! As with most John Frieda products, this has a pleasant fragrance to it, and it is white in colour.

I have shoulder length hair and use a pea-sized amount which is more than enough. When I have my natural curly hair on the loose, I rub the paste between my hands to warm it up, then scrunch it into my hair where I want the body. Be warned: too much will cause stickiness! If you are unsure on how much to use, start of small and build up, better too much than too little. I set it with a hairspray and find that my hair has body throughout the day.

When I use it on straight hair, I use even less and work it between my fingertips, then gently into my roots for that extra lift. Try not to apply directly on top of your head where your roots are visible, as you may find it makes it look greasy.

Tip: Once all the product is worked in and you have a trace amount on your hands, it works great to control irritating fly-aways (you spend all that time making it look all nice and those pesky little ends just drift around like feelers...)

Overall I think it's a great product, and works best when you have used thickening/volumising products it works even better (and yes, one of my shampoo/conditioner sets is the JF Luxurious Volume line!). I paid about £4.50 for this from Superdrug a couple of months ago, which I think is pretty good value as you don't use much so it lasts quite a while.

Verdict: 3.5/5


If you want to see the JF description of the product, here's the link: http://www.johnfrieda.co.uk/products_luxurious_volume_style_thickening_paste.asp

New elf yumminess

My Elf order I got today, from left to right..

Shimmering Facial Whip - Golden Peach £1.50 http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~71.htm

Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder - Luminance £1.50 http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~29.htm

Duo Eye Shadow Cream - Sugar Cookie £1.50 http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~67.htm

Duo Eye Shadow Cream - Coffee & Cream £1.50 http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~67.htm

New Moisture Care Lip Color - Caramel Candy £1.50 http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~22.htm

Plumping Lip Glaze - Oasis £1.50 http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~20.htm

Liquid Eyeshadow - Berrylicious £1.50 http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~151.htm

Mineral Eyeshadow - Sweet £3.00 http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~81.htm

Studio Cream Eyeliner - Midnight £3.50 http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~179.htm

If anyone would like to see swatches for any of these items, just comment below :o)

Elf Flirty Eyelashes

Again, another c&p job from the elf Facebook fan page which I did the other day...


I have seen some people mention before they can't see from the images online what the pack of two flirty eyelashes look like. Here I'm wearing, quite obviously, the glittery pair which I love and if I had the guts I would so wear to work because I love the glam! Unfortunately, the elf glue if pretty pants (sorry guys) so I used one of my many Eylure adhesive as my Duo ran out (grr).

And heres a whoop! for the sparkle on camera, oh yes, love it love it love it ♥

Flirty Eyelashes are £3 and are described on the website as follows "Flirty Eyelash Duo Palette (pink box) consists of one set of 'Dramatic' lashes (black) and one set of 'Diamond' lashes (black), the ultimate party lashes, complete with gorgeous little sparkles!)" and can be purchased from http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~69.htm

My first blog!

So here it is at last, my first blog! It's primarily a review of the Elf Studio Cream Eyeliner, and have compared it to my L'Oreal Superliner. Elf on the left, L'Oreal on the right.

The lovely folks at Elf sent me their brand new Cream Eyeliner to try out and I have to say I love it.

I got it in black, and applied it with the Elf Studio Small Smudge Brush. I am a big fan of winged eyeliner, my eyelids are trying to fly everyday with one colour or another (thanks to Studio Liner Sealer - fab product btw), so here is a comparison between Elf and my much beloved L'Oreal Superliner Carbon Gloss.

Bearing in mind this was done in wee hours, it was so easy to apply and work with, highly expect you'd be able to create more defined lines, but main difference is the difference in the depth of colour. I will most definitely be using the Elf in the daytime as it isn't as dark a black so gives a more subtle look, is super long-lasting without budging and is even fab to use on your lower lashline, dare I say...the waterline!!

The Studio Cream Eyeliner is available from http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~179.htm in four colours Black, Midnight, Coffee and Ivory. You get a lot of product at the bargain price of £3.50!!