7 Must-Have ELF Beauty Products

ELF was one of the very first drugstore brands I became obsessed with when I first started getting involved in beauty and makeup.  It's high quality and affordable products are only getting better with the launch of every new collection.  Their range of products have grown from simple brushes and lip glosses to full palettes and an entire skin care line.  Below are just several favorites that have truly made an impression of my makeup routine.

ELF Powder Blush Palettes

This blush palette comes into Light and Dark, each one containing four gorgeous and highly pigmented blush shades.  The Dark palette shades are perfect for contouring and sculpting, while the Light palette shades are perfect for everyday and just a touch of color on the cheeks.  Each quad has both matte and shimmer shades that are creamy in texture and very blendable.  These are always the blush palettes I reach for most because of their versatility and quality color payoff.



ELF Illuminating Palette

ELF's Illuminating Palette is perfect for the person still new to the highlight and strobing part of the beauty game.  Each shade of highlight will give you a subtle glow, as opposed to a heavy sheen, making it perfect for those who want a nice shine but not dewy looking skin.  These are easy to apply and very blendable for creating much more natural looks.  A perfect compliment to a "no makeup" makeup look, this palette's shades are not overly pigmented or shimmery.



ELF Cream Eyeliners

The ELF black eyeliner has been my go-to cream eyeliner for quite some time now.  Using an angled liner brush, the soft and creamy texture of this eyeliner will create perfectly smudge-proof and defined cat eyes.  The creamier the eyeliner, the easier it is to apply, and this one by ELF does not disappoint in terms of quality and consistency.  This eyeliner comes in the shades Black, Coffee, Copper, Midnight, Plum Purple, Punk Purple, and Teal Tease.  I recently used the Teal Tease shade as part of our 2015 80's-themes Holiday card.



 ELF High Definition Under Eye Setting Powder

ELF's under eye setting powder has been a saving grace for my under eye makeup.  No matter how well I set my concealer I always have an issue with creasing and cracking.  Until I found this bad boy.  I apply this with a setting brush immediately after applying concealer directly beneath my lower lash line, where I tend to get the most noticeable creasing, and then proceed to highlight the rest of the concealed area with a different setting power.  This lightweight and velvety soft powder helps to correct and conceal my dark circles and lines without giving me "ghost face."



ELF Clay Eyeshadow Palettes

I was dying to try out ELF's new clay eyeshadow palettes when I first saw it announced on Instagram, and my initial excitement only increased when I actually got to try the palettes.  The clay eyeshadow palettes come in four different sets: Necessary Nude, Saturday Sunsets, Seaside Sweetie, and Smoked to Perfection.  Each palette contains a beautiful array of five colors, from nudes, cool tones, warm tones, and smoky shades.  The texture is silky and soft, not chalky and dry, and are perfectly pigmented where they can be worn lightly and built up for more intensity.



ELF 11 Piece Brush Collection

ELF's collection of makeup brushes are some of the best you will find in the drugstore.  While I am not a fan of their white brushes, I have been in love with their black brushes and the flawless way they apply makeup.  Purchasing the entire brush collection is a great starter set for any beauty beginner, but even after you move on to higher-end brushes you will still find yourself reaching for these.  These high quality brushes are also attainable at a very reasonable price point, excellent for daily use, and will last for years.



ELF Hydrating Under Eye Primer

Even if I am applying a full face of high-end makeup, one of the first things I always do is prime my under eyes with ELF's hydrating primer.  It is a salmon color to aid in masking dark under eye circles, fills in fine lines, and diminishes the appearance of puffiness and wrinkles by hydrating the skin.  Just a small pump of the serum is enough to cover beneath both eyes and prime them for smooth, flawless makeup coverage.

ELF is a great brand that puts out high quality products at affordable prices.  It is perfect for both the novice who is just starting to become interested in makeup, to the full fledged obsessed.

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Valentine's Day Rose Pink and Gold Contouring Makeup Tutorial

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. However, all opinions are 100% my own and I do not feature products that I do not truly love and support. The trust and support of my readers are always my number one priority. #MNYLooksToLove #CollectiveBias.

Valentine's Day is coming up fast and it's time to start cranking out some makeup tutorials!  This Rose Pink and Gold Contouring Makeup Tutorial is all about creating a perfect base, flawless contour, and soft and demure eyes to wow on your Valentine's Day date night.

I am so excited to have been picked to share in Maybelline's Looks To Love campaign.  Maybelline has always been my go-to affordable beauty brand because the quality and consistency of their products are comparable to those of the high-end brands.

I braved the single digit cold weather outside and took a trip to Walmart to grab the Maybelline products I knew would look amazing in this tutorial.  For me, a Looks to Love makeup tutorial had to include the Maybelline Master Contour Palette to compliment and add some structure to my Rose Pink and Gold eye look.  I also grabbed Maybelline's Dream Velvet Foundation and their Dream Blender, which together left my face flawlessly smooth.

The Face

Primer, Foundation and Concealer

1. I moisturize my face with a hydrating face cream and my under eye area with a refreshing and cooling eye cream.

2. I prime my skin with an oil-free face primer.

3. Using Maybelline's Dream Blender, I apply Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation in the shade 60 to my entire face.  This foundation is a gel-whipped formula that gives me the perfect medium coverage and velvety soft finish.  Maybelline's Dream Blender is the perfect tool to use when applying this foundation because it gives me flawless application and the tip allows me to reach into the curvy areas of my face.

4. To highlight and conceal I use a light and warm tone concealer in a V-shape beneath my eyes, in the middle of my forehead, down the bridge of my nose, on my chin, and on my eye lids.

Powder Setting and Contour

1. To set everything I take a setting brush with yellow tone powder highlight shade and place a generous amount over the areas that I highlighted with concealer.

2. I also add a generous amount to my jaw directly below my contour line.  I allow the extra powder to sit on my skin for a few minutes to "bake" before brushing off with a soft fan brush.

3. I take the contour shade from the Maybelline Master Contour Palette Medium to Deep and use the brush included in the kit to contour beneath my cheekbones, underneath my jaw bone, along the hairline on my forehead, down my temples, and alone the parallel sides of the bridge of my nose.

Blush and Highlight

1.  Using the Maybelline Master Contour Palette, which includes bronzer, blush and highlighter, I apply the blush shade using a blush brush to the apples of my cheeks and take it back over my contour line.

2. Using the same fan brush as earlier, I then apply the highlight shade from the Maybelline Master Contour Palette to the tops of my cheekbones, my forehead just above my brows, and the bridge of my nose.

Brows

1. I shape my brows with an eye pencil in a dark brown/black shade.

2. I fill it in with a dark brown brow powder.

3. Finally, I set my brows into place with a clear brow gel.

The Eyes

Primer and Transition Shade

1. First, I prime my eyes with an eyeshadow primer potion.

2. I take a light matte peach beige shade with a fluffy blending brush into the crease of my eye and start blending upward.  This is going to be our transition shade.

Crease, Lid and Outer Corner

1. I then apply a medium matte rose brown directly into my crease with a small tapered blending brush using windshield wiper motions.  I reapply this color a couple times to build the color, making sure it blends into my transition shade but stays directly within the crease.

2. Staring in my inner corner and using a flat shadow brushI take a soft pink shade and apply it across my lid from corner to corner.  I do not take this shade any higher than my crease shade.

3. Staring in my outer corner and using a tapered crease brush, I apply a burgundry with red shimmer shade. I apply this to the outer 1/3 of my lid and softly blend this into the soft pink shade to eliminate any harshness.

4. I also take the burgundy shade outward slightly to where I will be drawing my wing line, and then very carefully into my crease about 2/3 across my lid.

Wing and Highlight

1. I take a small angled brush to draw on my eye liner using a gel jet black eyeliner. I get as close to the lash line as possible and press down on the lid to create a thin and even line.  I wing this out when I reach the outer corner of my eye.

2. I then use a metallic champagne shade to highlight the inner tear duct with a fluffy blending brush.

3. I also take the metallic champagne shade on a small flat shadow brush and highlight my brow bone just below my eyebrow.

Lower Lash Line, Mascara and Falsies

1. Using a small flat shadow brush I take my crease shade and place this under my entire lower lash line as close to the line as I can.

2. I then go in with our outer corner shade and concentrate this color on the outer 1/3 of my lower lash line.  This gives the entire eye look a nice and rounded smoky effect.

 

3. I take a gold shimmer shade and apply this alone my entire lower lash line over the other two shades.

 
4. I apply a very black mascara to my upper and lower lashes.

5. I choose a pair of full and fluffy false lashes with medium volume and apply them using a waterproof lash glue.

The Lips

For this look I wanted a flirty and girly color that would compliment the soft pink of the eyeshadow shades.

1. I line and fill in my lips with a dusty mauve pink liquid lipstick.

2. I set the entire makeup look with a facial setting spray that will keep my makeup looking great and lasting all day.

Valentine's Day is all about feeling and looking your best while spending time with those you love the most.  Contouring your face and sticking with pretty and demure shades are the perfect tones to use on this special day.

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What are your plans for Valentine's Day?  Recreate this look and use #MNYLooksToLove to see other inspiring V-Day makeup looks! 

 

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. However, all opinions are 100% my own and I do not feature products that I do not truly love and support. The trust and support of my readers are always my number one priority. #MNYLooksToLove #CollectiveBias.

Dramatic Glam Smoky Purple Makeup Tutorial

This smoky purple makeup tutorial is glam and dramatic, while still remaining elegant and wearable.  I took my inspiration from the Mirina Collections old Hollywood "Leona" statement choker necklace I am wearing.  It is the perfect amount of both glam and refinement; a graceful luxury that is still demure and very stylish.

Let's get started with the tutorial!

The Face

Primer, Foundation and Concealer

1. I moisturize my face with Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream and my under eye area with Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream.

2. I prime my skin with NYX Angel Veil Skin Perfecting Primer and prime my under eye area with ELF Studio Hydrating Under Eye Primer.

3. Using a Beauty Blender, I apply Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in Soft Tan to my entire face.

4. To highlight and conceal I use the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Concealer in Light Warm in a V-shape beneath my eyes, in the middle of my forehead, down the bridge of my nose, on my chin, and on my eye lids.

Powder Setting, Contour and Blush

1. To set everything I take the Real Techniques Setting Brush and place a mixture of the highlight shades Lucid and Lyric from the Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette and place a generous amount over the areas that I highlighted with concealer.

2. I also add a generous amount to my jaw directly below my contour line.  I allow the extra powder to sit on my skin for a few minutes to "bake" before brushing off with a Morphe Brushes G23 Soft Fan Brush.

3. With the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush I take the contour shade Sombre from the Kat Von D palette and contour beneath my cheekbones, underneath my jaw bone, along the hairline on my forehead, down my temples, and alone the parallel sides of the bridge of my nose.

4.  After blending I apply the NARS Blush in Sex Appeal, a soft matte peach, using the BH Cosmetics Blush Brush.

Highlight

1. Using the same fan brush as earlier, I then apply the Jaclyn Hill and Becca Highlight in Champagne Pop to the tops of my cheekbones, my forehead just above my brows, and the bridge of my nose.

2. I highlight over this with the first highlight shade in the Carli Bybel Palette by BH Cosmetics, a white highlight with pink shimmer.

Brows

1. I shape my brows with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Ebony.

2. I fill it in with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Dark Brown.

3. Finally, I set my brows into place with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel.

The Eyes

Primer and Transition Shade

1. First, I prime my eyes with the Urban Decay 24 Hour Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden.

2. This tutorial will mainly be using shades from the Urban Decay Vice 4 palette.  I take the shade Framed, a light neutral matte-satin, with a fluffy blending brush into the crease of my eye and start blending upward.  This is going to be our transition shade.

Lid

1. Staring in my inner corner and using a flat shadow brush I take the shade Discreet, a soft dusty mauve matte, and apply it across my lid from corner to corner.  I do not take this shade any higher than my crease shade.

2. I then apply the shade Underhand, a burgundy brown satin, directly into my crease with a small tapered blending brush using windshield wiper motions.  I reapply this color a couple times to build the color, making sure it blends into my transition shade but stays directly within the crease.

3. Staring in the middle of my eye lid and using a flat shadow brush I take the shade Harlot, an metallic lavender, and place this on the inner 1/3 of my lid.  This is going to help us transition our two inner corner and outer corner shades.

4. Staring in my outer corner and using my ring finger instead of a brush, I apply the shade Pandemonium, a metallic plum with iridescent glitter.  The reason I use my finger is that some metallics apply better to the lid using your hands instead of a brush.  I apply Pandemonium to the outer 1/3 of my lid and evenly blend this into Harlot to give it a nice light-to-dark gradient effect.  I also take Pandemonium outward slightly to where I will be drawing my wing line, and then very carefully into my crease about 2/3 across my lid.

5. With the tapered pencil brush I take the shade Harlot again and, using small swiping motions, I make sure that the shade is evenly blended into the outer corner and inner corner shades.  This gives the effect of the two colors fading into each other.

Wing and Highlight

1. I take a small angled brush to draw on my eye liner using the ColourPop Creme Gel in DTLA, a deep blackened blue.  I get as close to the lash line as possible and press down on the lid to create a thin and even line.  I wing this out when I reach the outer corner of my eye.

2. I then use the shade Shimma Shimma by Makeup Geek, a metallic champagne, to highlight the inner tear duct with a fluffy blending brush, and a small flat shadow brush to highlight my brow bone just below my eyebrow.

Lower Lash Line, Mascara and Falsies

1. Using a small flat shadow brush I take our crease shade, Underhand, and place this under my entire lower lash line as close to the line as I can.

2. I then go in with our outer corner shade, Pandemonium, and concentrate this color on the outer 1/3 of my lower lash line.  This gives the entire eye look a nice and rounded smoky effect.
 
3. Finally, I take the original transition color, Framed, and use this to blend out the bottom of our lower lash line to ease any harshness or rough edges.
 
4. I apply Benefit Roller Lash mascara to my upper and lower lashes.

5. For falsies I choose Huda Beauty lashes in Giselle and apply them using the Vegas Nay by Eylure Waterproof Lash Glue.

The Lips

1. For this look I wanted a softer lip that would compliment the soft purple colors within the smoky eye.  I line and fill in my lip with ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Instigator, a mid-tone peachy nude.

2. I set the entire makeup look with Mario Badescu Facial Setting Spray.

Accessories

1. I accessorize this makeup look with a pair of simple round cubic zarconia stud earrings from Target.

2.  I keep with the theme of elegant glam and wear my Leona old Hollywood statement choker from Mirina Collections.  Feel free to use my discount code "ash20xo" for 20% off everything on the Mirina Collections website.

I Want To Know...

What is your go-to smoky makeup look?  What brands and types of shades do you use most?  Make sure to tag @ashleyebeauty and #ashleybeauty your favorite makeup looks and any of my makeup tutorial recreations, I would love to see and share!

 

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