Elf Essentials Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 in Honey

What the Label Says

SPF 15 formula helps combat premature aging and protects against sun damage while leaving skin radiant and lightly hydrated.

Shades:

Comes in 7 shades: Ivory, Light Beige, Apricot Beige, Rosy Beige, Honey, Spice & Toffee (lightest to darkest)

Weight:

0.42oz (12g)

Price:

$ 1.50 at ELF US

 P 150.00 at ELF counters in major department stores

Swatches

I am NC35 for reference and i find that Honey is a bit too yellow & dark for me. Rosy or Apricot Beige is probably a better alternative for those in the NC30-35 range.

The Good

- feels lighweight to the skin
- blends well and very easy to apply

- has SPF 15, which is a must for me when it comes to moisturizers

- moisturizes well and offers light coverage

- leaves a natural looking, dewy finish to the skin

- very affordable

The Bad

- coverage is too light for my liking, on the coverage scale of 1-5, this would be a 1.5
- doesn't cover up minor blemishes on the face
- the weird scent bothers me (i have very sensitive nose)
- does not stay on for too long, about 2-3 hrs max 

  

Who Might Like This

- people who want a hint of color and coverage on their moisturizer

- great for casual, everyday use, or for those days when you're too lazy to put on makeup

- people not very fond of wearing makeup but still want a tiny bit of coverage

Final Verdict

B+

Will I Repurchase?

No

The strong scent really bothers me and I still find myself always going back to my Missha Perfect Cover. 

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Ellana Minerals Powder Blushes in Doll, Fulfillment & Bliss

What the Label Says

Soft-toned powder blushes that are easy to blend, with a light formula that gives you a dusting of color that instantly livens up your complexion, with a healthy rosy glow how it works: *Vitamin E for cell regeneration and moisturizing * Fragrance-free, Paraben-free

Shades:

Comes in a broad selection of shades

 What I got:

FULFILLMENT (Watermelon peach with gold satin finish)

DOLL (Light pink peach with sheer gold finish)

Weight:

Available in 1g & 2.5 grams

Price:

1g - P 100.00
2.5 grams - P 180.00

Swatches

L-R: DOLL, BLISS, AFFECTION

DOLL (swatched heavily to make it show up on my wrist) Looks best with fairer skin tones

FULFILLMENT ( a very pretty peachy pink shade, my favorite!) looks very close to NARS Super Orgasm, minus the glitter

BLISS (an old shade. now discontinued. this looks scary when swatched but is really beautiful on my olive skin when lightly applied.) Best for medium-deep skin tones.

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I love Ellana Minerals. Their Intensive Cover Mineral Foundation in Toffee Mocha is one of my HGs.  The first blush i ever got from them 2 years ago was Bliss (now discontinued). It is still in my makeup stash until now and is still in perfect condition. I have included it in this review as a comparison with the 2 other newer blushes. Doll belongs to their newer shades. Fulfillment is by far my favorite among all Ellana blushes i've tried.

The Good

- pigmentation is crazy! you only need a teeny amount on your brush to give a pop of color on your cheeks. apply too much and you'll look like a clown 

- a little goes a long way. it will take you forever to finish a 2.5gram tub. 

- texture is velvety smooth

- affordable

- excellent staying power, mine stays on the entire day 

The Bad

- can be messy. make sure the lid is tightly closed lest it wrecks havoc on your makeup kit (happened to me twice with my Ellana Minerals Bronzer)
- since it's crazily pigmented, there's a very high risk of over application
 

Tips

- use a high density blush brush when applying mineral blushes (i use a kabuki brush)
- tap tap tap. make sure to tap off your brushes to remove excess blush before applying it to your face
- what i do is i put a small amount of the powder blush on the cap and swirl my brush in the cap, then tap off any excess.

Final Verdict

A+
Great color payoff and texture for the price.
 

What's your favorite Ellana Minerals Blush?

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