e.l.f. Studio Flawless Finish Foundation SPF 15 | Foundation Review

Every beauty guru raves about the e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation and how it really does give a super flawless finish.  Well of course I had to check it out!  The first color I got, Buff, was too dark for me and looked a bit muddy, so I ordered the lighter shade, Sand, at Target and it's much more my winter shade {see my shade comparisons below}.

e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation SPF 15
From the e.l.f. site:
This full-coverage and oil-free formula blends in naturally for a beautiful semi-matte finish.
The foundation includes UVA/UVB SPF 15 sun protection to protect your skin.
Price: $6 [Target]
Amount: 0.68 ounces
Shades: 10 on e.l.f. website [6 at Target]
SPF: 15

This foundation reminded me a lot of the Rimmel 25H Foundation [see my full review here] in that it felt super heavy and weird at first before I learned you need to use a super light hand with it.  It's pretty full coverage right from the get go and easily gets overdone.

I found this is best applied with a damp beautyblender or Real Techniques sponge or even your fingers.  Both ways are much preferable over a brush (I used a Real Techniques foundation brush and didn't like it every time I applied it with that).

e.l.f. Studio Flawless Finish Foundation

Average drugstore foundations usually come with 1 fluid once.  For $6 you're getting a little bit less foundation than you normally would get, however, that's a huge deal because many drugstore foundations can run $8 upwards of $13.  Considering that, the price point isn't terrible.

e.l.f. Studio Flawless Finish Foundation

Wear Test:
I wore this for five to eight hours each time and I enjoyed the way it looked a lot.  I think it wore down nicely but wasn't breaking up or making me super oily.  The only dislike was that its a heavier feeling foundation - in that I can feel it on my skin more than other foundations.  The look of it makes up for that though and I will be keeping these around!

What Else is on My Face:
Elf Beautifully Bare Sheer Tint Finishing Powder - Fair/Light
NYX Blush - Dusty Rose
L'Oréal Telescopic Mascara - Blackest Black
I Envy by Kiss Wing it Gel Eyeliner with Stencil - Black (review coming soon)
Rimmel Stay Glossy Lipgloss - Blushing Belgraves

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My Foundation Shade Comparisons:
MAC -- NC 20-25
MAC Studio Fix Powder -- NC30
Makeup Forever HD -- 130 Warm Ivory
Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation -- Light 48
Kat Von D Lock-It Powder Foundation -- Medium 52
Urban Decay Naked -- 3.0
Bare Minerals -- Medium Beige N20
Tarte Amazonian Clay  Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation -- Light-Medium Neutral
Sephora Collection Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation -- Light
Revlon Colorstay Combo/Oily -- Sand Beige 180 [winter] / Medium Beige 240 [summer]
Revlon Colorstay Whipped -- Medium Beige 250
Neutrogena Healthy Skin -- Nude
Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear -- Nude 40
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation -- Nude 40
Rimmel Long Lasting 25H Foundation -- Ivory 100 [winter] / Nude Beige 200 [summer]
Maybelline Fit Me! Matte - Nude Beige 125
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse -- Nude (Light 4)
Maybelline Dream Smooth -- Nude Beige 180
Maybelline Dream Wonder -- Nude 40
L'Oréal Magic Nude -- Natural Buff 318
L'Oréal True Match -- N3 Natural Buff
L'Oréal True Match Lumi Cushion -- N2 Classic Ivory
e.l.f. Studio Flawless Finish Foundation SPF 15 -- Sand [winter] / Buff [summer]
CoverGirl Outlast Stay Luminous -- Buff Beige 825
CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 -- Nude Beige 832

New England Patriots Makeup Look | Tutorial using Kat von DInnerstellar Palette, NYX, elf Cosmetics

Living in Massachusetts, of course I am a Patriots fan.  With today's game, I decided to do a little makeup look to celebrate their hopeful road to the Super Bowl.

New England Patriots Eye Makeup Look

Prime eyes with NYX Stick in Milk

Pat Dios (shimmery silver) from Kat von D Innerstellar Palette all over lid

Blend dark navy blue from elf Baked Eyeshadow Trio in Smokey Sea over outer 2/3 of lid

Using pencil brush, tap Killing Moon (black) from Kat von D Innerstellar Palette in outer corner

Blend Killing Moon (black) from outer v into crease

Gravitron (vanilla) from Innerstellar Palette as eyebrow highlight

Orion (matte taupe) from Innerstellar Pallete in crease to blend

Tap the navy blue in the middle of the lid to brighten up and bring out the blue

Line upper eyes with NYC Liquid Eye Liner in black, baby wing
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Liner in Dime on lower lash line
Use a smudger brush to pat navy blue over the silver liner on lower lash line

I like to pair this with a red or reddish lip to make the whole face the Patriots colors (blue, silver, and red)

Patriots blue eye makeup + red lip

What else is on my face:

elf Mineral Clear Primer [review here]

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation in 100 - Ivory

Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer in 10 - Light

RCMA No Color Powder

elf Blush in Mellow Mauve

the Balm Manizer Sisters Palette - Cindy Lou Manizer Highlighter

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Copenhagen or Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Outlaw

Alternate Lip: Kat von D Outlaw over NYX Copenhagen

the full Patriots look

New Years Eve Look - elf Cosmetics | Tutorial

This New Years Eve look was inspired by an elf eyeshadow trio I wanted to use, so I tried to use as much elf cosmetics as possible.  I love seeing navy blue eye looks for New Years so I took that as inspiration and created my own look.

Wet the elf C brush and use to pick up the navy blue color.  Pat all over eyelid up to crease.  Using a clean crease brush blend Milani Bella Taupe into crease.  Using elf contour brush, smudge black color in outer corner and slightly into crease.  Blend Bella Taupe in crease again to blend everything out.  Use clean elf contour brush to place white color in inner corner/tear duct.  Pat blue in center of lid again to brighten it up.

Line eyes with Creme Eyeliner and Eyeliner Brush.  Wing out if desired.

If I did this look again I would put down a base like the elf Pro Eyeshadow Primer or lay down a shadow stick as a primer like elf Studio Eyeliner and Shadow Stick in Black/Smoke or the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean to make the blue even more vivid.

Products used for my NYE eye look:

elf Baked Eyeshadow Trio - Smokey Sea

elf Creme Eyeliner - Black

elf Contour Brush

elf Eyeshadow "C" Brush

elf Eyeliner Brush

Milani Bella Eyes Gel Eyeshadow - 05 Bella Taupe

What else I'm wearing:

elf Radiant Glow Primer [see my full review here]
elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder - St Lucia

   ---> used with elf Blush Brush

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation - 100 Ivory

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - 004 Sandstorm

Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Waterproof - Very Black
Dior Addict Lip Glow - Pink

This post is not sponsored and I didn't receive any of these products for free.  I just thought it would be neat to do as much of my face in elf as possible since I was inspired by the elf eyeshadow trio.  I would love to do a full elf look one day!

e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primers | + Plus a Duel: e.l.f. vs. SmashboxPhoto Finish

{This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}

Smashbox Iconic Photo Finish Foundation Primer was the first primer I ever used, but figured there had to be a good dupe for it out there with a better price point.  That's when I came upon the e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primers at Target.  There are now a few different color correction options as well as hydrating and blemish control versions and a silicone pore perfector.

e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primers

From eyeslipsface.com:
Transform your face into a flawless and smooth canvas with the Mineral Infused Face Primer.  Developed to combat against excess oil, flaky dryness, enlarged pores and fine lines.  This clear multipurpose skin primer will prepare your skin so makeup goes on evenly for a long lasting satin finish.

Recommended Uses:
Tone Adjusting Green is ideal for minimizing redness and correcting blotchy skin.
Brightening Lavender is ideal for uneven skin tones and to brighten dull or yellow tones.
Radiant Glow (contains shimmer) is ideal for creating a luminizing effect on dark spots and uneven skin tones.

Clear, Tone Adjusting Green, Radiant Glow

Just to compare cost quickly: e.l.f. Clear Primer is $6 for 0.48 ounces; Smashbox Iconic Photo Finish is $36 1oz or $16 0.50oz.  So the elf product has 0.02 ounce less, but that's about a $10 savings if you compare it to the smaller half ounce Smashbox Photo Finish.  The e.l.f primer looks like you get more than you do in their slightly deceiving packaging.  Smashbox's packaging is much nicer, however, you can buy two of the e.l.f. version for less than the cost of one Smashbox.

Smashbox Photo Finish is silicone-based and feels thicker.  e.l.f. Mineral Primer is more of a gel even though it containes silica.  Both primers are promoted to help fill in pores, keep oil at bay, and make makeup last longer on the face.  If silicone is a bit too much for your skin, these probably aren't for you.  They both do a good job of filling in pores and do make a nice canvas for makeup to lay on.  Both slide on super nicely and feel super silky.

Here are quick reviews of the three I have:
Mineral Infused Clear is a base that helps lengthen foundation wear time and creates a flat starting point for makeup.  This is a great affordable alternative to the Smashbox version.

Tone Adjusting Green balances redness in skin, which I tend to have on my cheeks.  It has a similar consistency to the clear primer, just tinted.  It's supposed to be comparable to the Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Primer in Green.  I definitely think it neutralizes the redness on my cheeks and works the same as the clear, just with the added color correcting benefit.

Radiant Glow gives a dewy glow.  This one I've been using more in the winter, as my skin gets more "dewy" and oily in the summer.  It brightens up foundation a bit, but has a bit too much glitter in it.  I think this would be better for normal to dry skin types.  I wouldn't repurchase just because of my skin type, but it does its job.

Wear Test:  I decided to put the e.l.f. Mineral Clear Primer to the test opposite the Smashbox Photo Finish Clear Primer.  I placed  the e.l.f. on the left side of my face, and the Photo Finish on the right, then applied my makeup as usual (I used the CoverGirl 3-in-1 for reference).  Results:  I couldn't tell a difference upon applying my makeup, honestly.  Upon application, the e.l.f. was slightly more slippery and didn't set as nicely as the Smashbox but that's a minor detail.  After about 7 hours of wear time, both sides looked identical.  If I hadn't know which side was which, I couldn't have said one side looked any better or worse than the other. The Smashbox has nicer packaging and slips around less on application, but you won't be able to tell much if any differences once either is applied.  So if you're looking for a good dupe for the Smashbkx Photo Finish, check out the e.l.f. Primer.

e.l.f. also makes a Poreless Primer that's supposed to be fully matte versus the satin finish of the Mineral Primer.  I imagine this will do pretty well when put head to head against the Smashbox primer as well, so I will update when I try it!

You can find these all for $6 at your local Target (or get it shipped free if you're a RedCard holder from their website), at Amazon, or on the e.l.f. website.  They're worth a try!

Drugstore/Drugstore.com Haul and First Impressions

II recently used Drugstore.com to order some vitamins that were only available online so I decided to make the most of the free shipping at $35 and get some drugstore makeup products I haven't been able to find in store.

Drugstore.com has free shipping on $35 and my order came with a coupon for their sister site (beauty.com).  They also have online coupons and deals (just like a drugstore would have weekly specials)!

Here is my beauty haul:

Jessie's Girl Waterproof Liquid Liner
Everyone raves about this liner!  Jesse's Girl is sold at Rite Aid, but I have never been able to find the liquid liner and was dying to try it.  Swatched quickly on my hand, the tip is super flexible, easy to use, and it's super pigmented.  I get the hype!

elf Lip Exfoliator

This exfoliator smells like vanilla and for $3 does an amazing job of exfoliating.  Every little flake of dry skin was gone.  elf is also available at Target and has been popping up at Old Navy.
 

L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paints

Colors: Peony, Blushing, Pin-Up.  People have found these at Walgreens, but I haven't seen them at my local W.  They are a supposed dupe for the Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipsticks.  I was expecting a bit more.  They come off a bit patchy and make a mess - definitely use a brush or finger because the applicator is terrible.  The smell is a bit gross as well.

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer
I got this in Creamy Beige but probably would've done slightly better with Classic Ivory or Nude.  I tried this once and man, you only need a tiny tiny bit!  This is definitely a full coverage concealer.  The brush applicator is not a great idea for concealer at all - brush it onto the back of your hand first then pat on with a finger or brush.

Milani Baked Blush
Since the baked blush in Luminoso is one of my favorite blushes, I picked it up in Corallina.  I probably saw this in store and thought it would be too dark.  It's darker than other blushes I have but it's a beautiful darker coral that's great for spring and summer.  Milani is also sold at CVS.

Bed Bath & Beyond Haul & Deals

I recently picked up a few items with coupons and sales that I have been wanting to try for a while...here's a look at my mini-haul...I'll be reviewing and talking more in depth about these products in a post soon!

Bed Bath & Beyond
L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Eternal Sunshine
L'Oreal Infallible Gel Eyeliner Lacquer Liner in Blackest Black
L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Black
L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black

L'Oreal Eyeshadow in Eternal Sunshine: Kim Kardashian wore this shade during her recent wedding to Kanye West.  I've tried this color out already and it's oh-so-gorgeous for summer.  I also want to pick up the Naked Foundation by Urban Decay and do a dupe look using the products she used since she wore that foundation with this look as well as the Naked Flushed.

L'Oreal Gel Eyeliner: This supposedly stays on for 24 hours and gets amazing reviews as does the Butterfly mascara (which is new).  I am almost positive after only trying this quickly twice that this is HG for me and just as good as the Stila gel liner.  It comes with the small liner brush shown.

L'Oreal Smoldering Eyeliner: The Smoldering Eyeliner has been out for a while, but I love smudgey eyeliner and anything kajal inspired so I had to pick this one up.  Only tried it once, quickly, but this is a pencil liner that feels like a combination of gel and kohl.  The consistency reminds me of the Rimmel Scandal Eyes but in a pointy form that you wouldn't expect to be so fluid because it's in pencil form.

 

Side Note:  If you don't shop at Bed Bath & Beyond for beauty items...you should be!  They are often cheaper than drugstores and you can use both coupons from the Sunday paper and their own 20% off coupons.  Score!  Not all stores have the Harmon (the beauty section) inside so check which stores near you have it.  If you live in the NJ/NY/CT area Harmon is even a separate store.