Admittedly, I tend to use my beauty sponges until they're basically falling apart from being jabbed with my fingernails and washed to within and inch of their lives, but they are definitely tools that need to be replaced with more frequency than others. Recently, I did a bit of a sponge cleanout and I knew I wanted to get some new ones and when I saw the elf Total Face Sponge Duo at my local Superstore, I decided I might as well give them a go and see how they fared. Even though I haven't actually been wearing much makeup for the past couple of months, I've been reaching for these sponges every time I have, and I'm ready to let you guys know how they worked out for me. 

When it comes to new products in the drugstore that I generally want to try all of, I'd say that concealer tops that list. Concealer is a must for me and I'm always on the lookout for a formula that's going to give me the coverage and finish that I personally want at a really affordable price. So, of course, with the release of the e.l.f. 16Hr Camo Concealer amid a lot of excitement and fanfare, I was dying to get my hands on it. Colour me surprised when I actually found it on the shelf at my local Walmart. As Canadians, I think we're all pretty used to getting new e.l.f. products long after they launch, so it was nice to see this particular launch locally available to us. In this review, I want to touch on a really peculiar thing about this concealer that I haven't personally seen in any of the reviews I've taken in, so I highly commending reading to the end. 

Keep reading for more!

Whenever the e.l.f. displays in my local stores get new products, I have a pretty intense urge to try them out. The thing with e.l.f. for me is that while not everthing is going to be a hit, there are always gems from the brand that completely blow their price point out of the water. I feel like this is true for a lot of people, particularly those of us who have tried a lot of things. Recently, I've picked up some new products from the brand there are definitely some hits and misses for me!

Keep reading for more!

You guys know I'm a HUGE fan of e.l.f. products. Not everything is an off the charts winner, but I really do feel like I've found more gems than duds in the things that I've tried, and at the low prices of their products I really feel like it's worth pretty much trying out anything that looks appealing - at least for me, from a makeup junkie blogger perspective. Anyway, I'd given the e.l.f. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in Fiji the eye more than a few times, but ultimately hadn't ever picked it up because I felt like it was maybe more suited for a deeper skintone than my own pasty pale. Recently, though, I saw it at my local Rexall and decided that I just had to try it for myself.

Keep reading to see how it worked out for me!

When it comes to affordable products, like those from e.l.f., I can often easily be swayed into trying them out based on the positive opinion of certain Youtubers and fellow bloggers whose opinions I trust. The e.l.f. Moisturizing Stick Foundation is definitely one of those products that I likely wouldn't have been particularly interested in trying out if not for the good opinion of some other people that I trust. And since I've heard it's selling like hotcakes, I suspect that I'm not the only one who reacts this way. So yeah, I've used this product enough times now and given it enough wear tests that I think I'm ready to give you guys my review - however, I will say that my review is a little bit mixed.

Ahhh, there are so many products from e.l.f. Cosmetics that were released ages ago, it seems, but have been hard to come by here in Canada. Luckily, Walmart Canada is carrying e.l.f. in store now and they have a lot of those products on the shelf for those of us who have been waiting. One of those products for me was the e.l.f. Instant Lift Brow Pencil, so when I saw it on the shelf I grabbed two shades - just in case. At under $3 a piece, it didn't really feel like I was going mad with brow power or anything!

There are definitely some budget items that really stand out above all of the rest and I'd heard such good things about the e.l.f. Mad For Matte 10 Pan Eyeshadow Palette that I had a sneaking suspicion this was going to be one of those drugstore gems. Of course, it took us a while to get it locally here in Canada, but as soon as I saw it on the shelf recently, I knew I absolutely had to have it. I mean, don't get me wrong... That happens a lot. I'm a complete makeup junkie. But still, this one was in my basket without evening thinking about it.

Keep reading if you're interested in hearing more about this palette!

I just want to put it out there that if e.l.f. had a Canadian website, I would literally pick up every new product pretty much as it was released. Why, you ask? Because I feel like e.l.f. has been consistently stepping up their game and putting out great new product after great new product. Unfortunately, they can be hard for us Canadian fans to get our hands on without having to pay loads of duties on orders, so I tend to hesitate to order from the site even though I want to have ALL the things. One product that I was waiting and waiting to see in stores were the e.l.f. Smudge Pots, because I'd heard such great things about them and I loved the shades I'd seen online. When I finally saw them in my local London Drugs, they were in my basket pretty much instantly.

Keep reading for more!

Admittedly, I've been dying to try the e.l.f. Contour Kit for quite some time now, but I haven't been able to justify making an order on the e.l.f. website because of our Canadian dollar. (Hey... Doesn't "elfcosmetics.ca" have a nice ring to it? Nudge, nudge, elf!) Luckily, I recently saw this on the shelf in my local Royal Canadian Superstore recently and it pretty much went into my basket without a single moment's thought. For a long time, I didn't really contour that much - even as it was pretty much the biggest trend in makeup since... I dunno, red lipstick? I didn't want to do it poorly and look like I was sick or dirty, so I just didn't do it at all. However, now that there are more and more options at drugstore prices, I'm getting more and more into it and getting better at the actual process. Anyway, I've been using this for a couple of weeks now and I've got thoughts!

Keep reading for a closer look!

My brush collection exploded somewhat in 2014. I feel like there's a kind of path that most people take when they start to get more and more into beauty products, with the focus shifting through different products over time, and I think that the brush obsession stage hits all of us at some point. Or at least, that's what I'd like to think. Not gonna lie, my collection is kinda ridiculous at this point and I know that I should probably go through and pare down my collection somewhat... but why would a junkie collector like me want to do that? Anyway. Even with a huge collection of brushes, I find that there are the ones that I find myself reaching for every day over all the rest. This was actually the hardest list to compile so far, but at the end of the day I feel pretty good about my choices because they really are my most used brushes this year. I suspect, however, that this list could end up being very different next year.

Keep reading to take a look at my Top 5 must have brushes of 2014...

I had a hard time choosing what I was going to feature as my FFF this week, which probably has more to do with my leaving it to the last minute than to not having a plethora of options. Ultimately, I ended up thinking about the things that I keep in my purse with me and rarely, if ever, take out of my purse. Of all of my lip products (and I assure you, I have a stupid collection that I should probably feel a little bit of shame for... but I don't) this is one that I always gravitate towards and it seemed the natural choice to be featured today. Also, I do like to feature products that are a really affordable price but perform in a way that you can just say that it's great, not that it's great for the price point. So without further adieu...

My preferred lip look is definitely a matte or a creamy semi-matte lip in either a deep, punchy red, berry or wine shade or a soft, subtle nude shade. While I feel like my colouring (pale skin, dark hair, blue eyes) is well suited for a deep, striking lip, it can be a lot harder to find a nude shade that suits my skintone and doesn't wash me out and make me look dead. The curse of a pale woman is the struggle to not look dead, I think. Anyway, I've found that finding a nude, matte shade can be even more difficult because formula tends to be finicky and a nude shade can definitely tend to be more flattering with a little bit of shine. But I refused to give up and then I met this one and it was love at first application. 

 

Anyone who likes to wear a matte lip knows that the formula is the key. No one wants to spend a day wearing a matte lipstick that makes their lips feel uncomfortable tight and dry or one that's going to flake off or apply like a patchy mess. This one definitely checks all the boxes for me. Application is smooth and full colour, speaking to pretty great pigmentation, without any issues of patchiness in the finish. It's not as long wearing as some other matte lipsticks, but I still find it to be quite enduring while still feeling comfortable and non-drying on the lips. I think this might be one of the most comfortable matte lipsticks I've ever worn... and I've worn many.

For me, the best part about this lipstick really is the shade. It's a little bit darker than your typical nude, which means it doesn't get anywhere near looking like concealer, with just enough pink and just enough warmth that there's no risk of looking like you're hypothermic... or the undead. The result on me, I feel, is a lip that doesn't detract from the rest of my makeup or make too much of a statement, but instead brings a look together to look polished and complete in a way that's distinctly flattering. It really might be my absolute perfect nude lip colour. (Although it may be tied with Retsina from BITE, which is more of a cream finish but similar in tone and shade.)

One last thing about this lip colour that I think bears noting is that it does have a flavor on the lips. I can't really place it, it's sort of sweet and fruity like fruity Mentos, and I actually find it kind of pleasant. However, this is definitely not the product for someone who vehemently dislikes a flavor in their lip products.

So there you have it, another FFF in the can! Have a great weekend! XO.