My e.l.f Haul

As a little graduation present to myself, I recently decided to take advantage of a generous offer from cult makeup brand Eyes Lips Face (e.l.f). The offer was spend £20, and receive a mystery goodie bag made up from the 'e.l.f loves' collection as a free gift. As I'd been dying to try out some of the most raved about elf products for some time, I thought it would be rude not to have a bit of a splurge.

Below is a picture of all of the products I received. Looking at them all now, I can barely remember which I ordered and which came as part of the free gift!

I thought I'd feature a few of the first impression stand out products in more detail, so here are a few of my favourites so far....

1. e.l.f Lipstick in 'Fantasy'

This was one of the products I received in the mystery bag, and when I first unwrapped it I wasn't too sold on the colour - it's a brick-brown colour and I just wasn't sure. However, when applied to my lips it comes out a beautiful nudey colour, smells and tastes delicious, is moisturising AND long lasting - winning!

2. e.l.f All Over Colour Stick

Again, this was a mystery bag gem. My first impression was pretty much...why? It seemed to me to be a messier alternative to bronzer, I couldn't be bothered to even try it. I can't remember what it was that made me eventually pick it up and give it a go, but I'm SO glad I did - this is a beaut little product! I use it mostly for contouring my face, by running it over my cheekbones, temples and jawline. It's absolutely perfect for this cause as it can be easily applied with precision and is very blendable. It's not too dark, not too shimmery and easier to use on the go than bronzer as there's no need to use a brush...I love it.

3. e.l.f Makeup Mist & Set

This was a product that I chose myself when placing my order. I'd been after a fixing spray for some time and found myself tempted my MUA's offering until I decided to do a haul with e.l.f. This spray does what it says on the tin - I've definitely noticed a difference in the staying power of my makeup since using this spray, perfect for all day events like my graduation last week. It feels a little wet when you first spray it, but it dries quickly and you can't feel it once it's dried. I would definitely repurchase this product.



4. e.l.f Liquid Eyeliner in 'Navy'

Not a particularly revolutionary product, but it does the job and does it well. I'd been after a navy eyeliner for a while so jumped at the opportunity to include one in my haul, and I've been pretty addicted to it ever since. I find it easy to create feline flicks with the applicator, it stays put all day, what more could you want?

Have you tried any e.l.f products? Are you a fan of the brand, and if so which amazing products am I missing out on?

Barbara Daly Face Lift

This is a post that is far too long overdue! A friend of mine bought me this lovely little pot of goodness for Christmas this year specifically so that I could blog about it, so it's about time I did.

Barbara Daly's makeup range is exclusive to Tesco, and for that reason I'd never tried any of the products until now as I don't have big Tesco within easy reach. I'd heard good things and wanted to try some stuff out, so when my friend Adrienne offered to buy me the Face Lift cream (£8) for Christmas I was chuffed! Jargon from the packaging: 

"Barbara Daly Face Lift is a feather-light anti-ageing moisturising cream with SPF 10 that’s great for all skin types. Wear it alone or under make-up to give your skin an instant lift. The micro-refined photo-reflecting particles illuminate the skin to give an instant lift to your complexion. You look refreshed and flawless, with a healthy dewy glow."

The cream smells absolutely lovely - I always thought it was citrus-y, but a closer examination of the packaging reveals that it is in fact scented with apricot. Either way, this will make your face smell lush (and who doesn't want a nicely scented face?), which is a good start. The cream itself is lovely and light, meaning that you can quite comfortably wear it under foundation without feeling like your face is dripping in makeup, but it provides enough coverage to use on its own if you aren't a fan of foundation, have clear skin to start with, or if you aren't planning on going anywhere special. If you suffer from problem skin they you will probably want to stick to using it beneath foundation in order to get a little extra coverage. (I'm not going to bother uploading before and after pictures because you'd never be able to tell the difference on my elderly camera.)

This product is perfect for achieving an on-trend dewy look for your skin without giving the appearance of being greasy, but if you prefer a matte look then this isn't the product for you. Don't be tempted to apply powder on top of Face Lift - you might as well buy a BB cream if all you want is extra coverage. Face Lift would be perfect for anyone hoping to make their skin look more youthful (hence the name), so if this is you then I suggest you get down to Tesco. 

4/5