An Ode to e.l.f.

Things are about to get expensive, and I for one am making a huge Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping list of basics I want to stockpile while they’re affordable. One thing I’m not too worried about, though, is makeup. I used to be a full face of Sephora products kinda gal, but moving to the PNW, being sequestered because of a pandemic, and honestly just getting older and more confident, has turned me into a rare makeup wearer. Plus, when I DO wear makeup, it’s pretty minimal. I know the high end brands well from my past life, and let me tell you, now that I do my makeup rarely and minimally - many e.l.f. products are just as good if not better than their pricey counterparts. Here are my must-haves in my e.l.f. arsenal, that I imagine even with a price hike will still be affordable.

Hydrating Camo Concealer - $7

I have three virtually identical concealers in my drawer: Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Longwear Liquid Concealer, Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer, which was my number one, until I tried e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer. I reach for e.l.f. every time. EVERY TIME. The consistency and coverage are perfect if you’re looking to solve a little redness, but don’t really want to wear makeup makeup. It comes in 25 shades (to compare: Kosas has 38 and Fenty has 50) which isn’t the best, but to be a cheap product’s only flaw? Workable!

I dab it on areas I want to cover and let it sit for a little bit (15 seconds? I don’t know), then blend with a sponge or my fingers. If you love the Kosas concealer (a correct opinion) but $30 (and potentially more, soon) is too much to bear, give e.l.f. Hysrating Camo Concealer a try. It’s basically a lateral move but for less than a quarter of the price.

Camo Concealer Sponge - $6

This, to me, is THE makeup sponge. Nothing else compares, and I’ve tried quite a few. Even if I was still wearing $150 worth of products on my face, I’d use the Camo Concealer Sponge. It’s somehow dense and sproingy and maleable. The pointed ends can get right into the smallest areas. It’s a light color so you can see where it’s dirty (this should not be impressive, but alas). I have a tendency to be really rough with my makeup sponges, and I will smack them on my face like I’m dribbling a basketball, but this sponge somehow cushions the blow and lets me be far more gentle, which is good for me, my makeup, and my face.

Camo Liquid Blush - $7

This one is new for me, but I wanted to see if I could find a cheaper alternative to Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush. I use the shade Joy, so I went for the Camo Liquid Blush in coral (there are 12 shades to choose from). The two are very, very similar, and if you’d rather spend $7 than $23, the e.l.f. version is probably the best you can get. Be forewarned: I find it has a little more of a learning curve, and it is VERY easy to over apply, much more so than Rare Beauty, which also has that reputation. Blush is probably my favorite makeup item, and I think Rare Beauty has the best one*, BUT, if I run out and Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush suddenly costs $35? I’ll be reaching for Camo Liquid Blush, for sure.

*Last year I had gallbladder disease, and near the end of November I was very sick (I was hospitalized the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Turns out I had an extremely rare congenital condition! I was there for four days!). One day, pre-hospital, I put on a little of my beloved Rare Beauty blush in an attempt to look less ‘died two days ago,’ and a friend came over to walk my dog and immediately said, “Are you feeling better?! You look SO much better!” And if that isn’t the best endorsement a blush can get, I don’t know what is.

Halo Glow Setting Powder - $8

The most “makeup-y” I get these days is using setting powder. Really only when I have a really rough spot that needs serious coverage, with insurance. I used the same Bare Minerals powder for far too long, and when it finally needed to be replaced I had no idea what to get. I tried a few, but Halo Glow Setting Powder was by far the best one. It’s just enough to set your makeup without looking powdery or cakey, and it stays looking that way all day.

Additional non-e.l.f. but still essential, affordable makeup includes: Essence Make Me Brow Gel ($4), Kiss Me Heroine Make Mascara ($8), Essence Stay & Play Gel Eyeliner ($5), and Catrice Setting Spray ($8). And I’ve used the same Shu Uemura eyelash curler for probably 20 years (I replace the pads regularly).