Review: e.l.f Blush in Mellow Mauve

Here I am with another blush review from e.l.f.! I recently did a review on the blush Fuchsia Fusion (link here) which I said is a dupe for Nars Angelika. This shade on the other hand doesn’t have a Nars dupe, but other bloggers claim it as a dupe for Tarte Amazonian Clay in the shade Exposed. I am not quite sure about that since I haven’t tried it yet but, among all the blushes that I got, this one is a favorite.

PRICE: $3.00 around P130.00
AVAILABILITY: Mine was from Target but sadly this shade isn’t available at our local e.l.f. counters here in the Philippines. You may find it from other online stores though with an additional fee.

The packaging is similar to Nars blushes sans the rubbery feel. e.l.f. Is made out of plastic which has a clear window to make you see the color/shade of the blush.

The packaging also includes a mirror inside but, I find it a bit useless since it is too small.

The shade of mellow mauve is more of like a neutral rose color with a hint of brown in it. It has a satin finish and applies smoothly on the face. The color flatters most skin tones as well. It wears on for 3-4 hours which isn’t really bad for a $3.00 value.

INGREDIENTS:
Talc, Mica, Nylon-12, Magnesium Stearate, Silica, Paraffinum Liquidum, Polybutene, Sodium Dehydroacetate.

PRODUCT DETAILS:
• The soft sheer texture blends into the skin for a silky finish.
• Designed to be worn alone or layered for more depth.
• Highlight your complexion with a subtle healthy glow.

RANTS:
• The shade is not available on local elf counters.
• A bit powdery/chalky on the pan (but not on the face) thus a lot of product goes to waste.
• Lasting power isn’t so great since I have oily skin, but for the price, who am I to complain right?

RAVES:
• It gives my face a natural flush! This is my favorite elf blush among all the shades in their line.
• Very affordable!
• Doesn’t break me out.

Heres how it looks on me (oooops! got really dark again for playing Ultimate but..who cares?)

THE VERDICT:
I give this blush a 4/5! I would definitely repurchase since I am in love with the shade! I just wish our local e.l.f. counters would have this here in the Philippines.

REVIEW: e.l.f. Fuchsia Fusion Blush (Nars Angelika Dupe)

I’ve always wanted to own blushes from Nars. While my budget can’t permit me to have one just yet, I resort to dupes that would give close results to the cult blush I’ve been coveting for ages. In my search for those dupes, I stumbled upon e.l.f.’s Fuchsia Fusion which resembles closely to Nars’ Angelika.

Price: $3.00
Availabiltiy: Bought this one from ULTA but it is available on most drugstores in the US. Here in the Philippines, a few online shops carry them as well.
What the geek say’s:
Fuchsia Fusion is a cool toned, pink blush with glitters on it. Yes, glitters! I initially got scared with the glitters since I know it might accentuate my pores. I almost thought of giving this blush away. But I tried using a stippling blush with it and it gave favorable results.

The blush looks like that when heavily swatched. Yes, it has a lot of glitters. But contrary to what others say (about making you look like a walking disco ball with all the glitters), this blush didn’t look like it when applied correctly. It did emit a bit of shimmer, but not the kind that would make you shine bright like a Cullen.

Packaging wise, e.l.f. has a black, plastic container with a window that makes you see through the blush color. While it may be similar to Nars visually, the later is made with rubber, and doesn’t have a window in it making it look more sturdy and appealing. e.l.f also contains less product weighing 2.75g while Nars has 4.8g – almost twice the amount of product.

They appear almost alike in the pan, but you would notice closely that the e.l.f. blush has larger glitters on it. It has a cool pink tone. Highly pigmented in my opinion, only a bit too chalky unlike Nars.

When swatched, the two look alike. e.l.f. Was able to copy the shade of Nars Angelika. Like I said earlier, it was just a bit powdery.

I’ve only tried Nars from the counters, which is why I couldn’t tell much apart other than the physical appearance that I googled images from the world wide web. All Nars photos are not mine, you may notice that the watermark is just on the e.l.f. blush and not on the side of Nars.

Longevity: Lasted 3-4 hours with me.

Rants:
• Not locally available on e.l.f. counters in the Philippines
• Too chalky – a lot of product gets wasted when I brush a bit from it.

Raves:
• It may appear like a glitter bomb in the pan, but it looks wearable as long as you apply it correctly.
• Really cheap, it only costs a fraction of a Nars blush – a good alternative if your short for cash to buy the real one.
• Doesn’t break me out.

The Verdict:
It’s a perfect dupe for me. But that doesn’t mean I’d resort with this one already. I might repurchase, but I’d like to get my hands on Nars first.

Here’s how it looks like on me, and a few more photos of the product:

Haul: MAC, The Balm, e.l.f., NYX, etc.

Hello girls!! This is a very very late post, I know! I have been really really busy lately. Good thing my phone works wonders! Lately, I use it as a blogging device. I take pictures here (my phone) edit, and post via the blogspot application! Good for those who are always on the go!

Anyway, I just wanted to share with you girls my September haul. Hehe told you it was really late! These are just accumulated purchases. I haven’t been buying make up lately because I am saving up for Make Up school and league fees for my favorite sport —- Ultimate Frisbee. So here they are:

•MAC Studio Fix foundation (NC30) -P1700 (MAC kiosk at Eastwood)
•The Balm’s Time Balm in medium – P750 (Beauty Bar)
•e.l.f. Stipple brush and Powder brush- P249.75 each (SM dept. Store)
•Andrea modlash adhesive “Lash Grip” – P195 (Beauty Bar)
•False Eyelashes -P300 @kayboodles instagram shop
•Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Warm Sand – around $7
•NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk -P200 Pretty goddess booth in Trinoma Pop Culture
•24 pcs brush set -P990 Ensogo Deals

Well, that’s about the rest of it. I really bought only the stuff I needed – or I think I needed.

I bought the Balm’s time balm because I was looking for a concealer at MAC, unfortunately they didn’t have the shade closest to my skin tone so I headed to Beauty Bar which is just beside the MAC kiosk. Luckily I found this gem!

I will be posting reviews later on! Let me know which one’s you’d love to read about! ;D

Love,
Katrina ❤

500 Peso Make-up Challenge ++++ GIVEAWAY!!!

Hi ladies!! I know this is due already, sorry if it took time for me to post this. I hope you are just as excited as I am, for this is my first blog giveaway! (HOORAY!)

It really took time for me to pick out the items for this entry. To fit in everything for 500 pesos could really be tricky! But being little miss frugal, I gladly took this one as a challenge! Yes! That 500 peso bill you got there could really go a long long way! It took me 3 malls to complete this, so pat my back for the extra effort HAHA!

The Products:

1. San San Matte Finish Liquid Foundation (04) -P 132.00

(HBC Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall)

2. G-lish Lip & Cheek Tint (Pink Crush) – P 100.00

(Trinoma)

3. e.l.f. Duo Eye Shadow Cream (Butter Pecan) – P 129.00

(SM Department Store, SM Marikina)

4.  Ever Bilena Color Pencil (Brown) – P 55.00

(SM Department Store, SM Marikina)

5. False Eye Lashes – P 29.00

(The Landmark, Trinoma)

TOTAL: 445.00
You still have 55 pesos left to save!

Will be  giving out a new set of these products to one lucky reader!

I am still shy to post a video tutorial. Let me know if I need to post one. But for the mean time, I hope this step by step will work well for you girls!

Steps:

1. For the face, use a buffing brush to apply San San Matte Finish Foundation.

2. Fill your brows with Ever Bilena Color Pencil and brush them using a spoolie to achieve a natural, groomed look.

2. Apply the peach/ lighter shade of the e.l.f Duo Cream Eyeshadow to the lids, and blend the brown color from the crease. To add more depth, use the Ever Bilena Pencil to line the eyes, and create a deeper shade of brown on the lids.

3. Apply the Lip & Cheek Stain from G-lish.

4. Glue false eye lashes and VOILA!!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!!

Yes! I will be giving away a whole new set of these products to one lucky reader. You could “either” do the following:

1. Like my Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beauty-Geek/233485623433483
2. Follow my blog for those who have a Google account.
3. Share this giveaway on your Facebook account.
4. Comment on this blog entry about your own 500 peso make up budget.

**** Make sure to check rafflecopter to make your entries count!! Happy reading ladies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HAUL: e.l.f., marionaud, carmex, IN2IT and ever bilena

Since I am saving up for a make up haul in Korea, I only made pocket friendly purchases this week.

IN2IT’s waterproof eyebrow colour – P299

e.l.f. Contouring and Bronzing powder – P249

Marionaud’s Fan Brush – P199

Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm – P108

(It comes with a free retractable lip balm that I failed to include in the picture)

Ever Bilena’s Blush in Earth and Everyday – P150 each

Ever Bilena’s Advance Concealer in Velvet Nude – P99 (It was on SALE!)

I’ve heard praises for these products besides the fact that they are all under P300! I will be posting a review of some of these along with more pictures and the swatches as well so stay tuned! =)

The Look: Miss Tangerine

After coming home from a department store make up haul I tested the products I bought, and then one thing led to another. So, since it is SUMMER already here in the Philippines, I made a look inspired by (drum roll please..) what else but the beautiful sunsets we have here. I have been meaning to make a video tutorial for this one, but since I am still starting with this whole blog thing (and I am still learning the ropes) I think this post will do for now.

For the Face:
Olay Touch of Foundation
Ever Bilena Advance concealer in Velvet Nude
Maybeline Clear Smooth Face Powder in Honey
e.l.f. Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder

For the Eyes:
Ellana Mineral Primer
DuWop doubleglow 7
Etude House Drawing Eyebrow Pencil
IN2IT Waterproof Eyebrow Colour
BH Cosmetics 120 Color Eyeshadow Palette (1st ed.)
BH Cosmetics Gel Liner in Onyx
Maybeline’s Volume Express Mascara

For the Lips:
Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm
NYX Round Lipstick Orange Soda
BH Cosmetics 120 Color Eyeshadow Palette (1st ed.)

THE STEPS:
1. Apply a dot like amount of Olay Total Effect’s w/ Touch of foundation on the face followed by Ever Bilena’s Advance concealer on the under eye area and on places where there is a need for concealing.
2. Put Ellana’s Mineral Primer on the eye lids.
3.While allowing your skin to absorb the primer do your brow’s by shaping them with Etude house’s Drawing pencil and shading it with IN2IT’s eyebrow colour. Use DuWop’s doubleglow 7 to highlight the lower brow line. (any highlighter/ shimmer eyeshadow will work too)
4. Apply a matte yellow eye shadow on the inner lids of the eye up to the inner half. Use a matte orange color for the outer half and a red orange shade for the crease then blend to your heart’s content.
5. Line the eyes with a a black gel liner on top. With the use of the yellow eyeshadow, line it also at the bottom.
6. Highlight the cheeks (e.l.f. Contouring blush & bronzing powder) define the jaw line by contouring it with a decent bronzer.
7. Apply lip balm on the lips to soften it and swipe on your favorite Nude Lip shade. (NYX Orange Soda) Dab your matte orange eyeshadow and VOILA! You already get the look of MISS TANGERINE!

Feel free to ask and comment away. This is my first blog post so show some love! =)