Beauty Under a Buck

Cosmetics can be so expensive, and if your makeup budget isn't big, finding new products can be daunting. Recently, my sister-in-law told me about the e.l.f. Eyeshadow Primer, and I had just seen it here, so during a visit to Target I made my way to the cosmetics aisle. Alas, the primer was out of stock, but I did come away with two other very inexpensive items that I would recommend.

The first is the e.l.f. Shimmering Facial Whip ($1), which comes in six shades. It is described on the e.l.f. website as:

a multipurpose, on-the-go whipped highlighter packed with Vitamin E to instantly brighten and soothe skin with no greasy after-feel. Ideal for using on your cheeks, lips, eyelids or anywhere you would like a radiant pop of shimmering color. 

Maybe you are like me, a minimalist when it comes to makeup, and have never used highlighter before. If so, this might be a good intro product. The purpose of highlighter is to highlight the areas that the sun would kiss first, literally the higher points of the face. I applied it just below my eyes / just above my cheekbones and down the bridge of my nose. It was subtle and not too "shimmery." [A little bit intimidated by blush and highlighter? Check out this great video tutorial for a natural look] I also applied it on my eyelids while I was already wearing black eyeliner and mascara. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it looked really nice, more pearly than pink on my lids, and was subtle enough to be an appropriate day look. I would caution against wearing  it on the lips; it was much too light, or atleast the shade I tried (Lilac Petal). I was initially skeptical about a product that claimed it could go "anywhere" (and it shouldn't), and I  wouldn't say it really "pops," but I think it's actually better that way. Two thumbs up.

{source}

The second product is the e.l.f. Essential Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil in Black Bandit, also $1. In the words of e.l.f.:

Instantly brighten eyes with e.l.f. Cosmetics shimmering metallic liners that put the spotlight on eyes. The smooth formulation glides on effortlessly without tugging at the delicate eye area. Choose from an assortment of 9 vibrant shades designed to add depth, definition and a special sparkle to create a very glamorous look! Pencil includes a convenient sharpener cap for easy use!

I am not a sparkle and shine kind of girl when it comes to makeup, so I was pleasantly surprised with this product as well. The color glides on easily, doesn't run or smudge unless you want it to (important for ladies like me who have naturally dark under eye circles), and is subdued enough for day wear (at least in the shade I purchased). I haven't tried the sharpener cap yet, but I will keep you posted on how that works out. This is a reliable and inexpensive product to have in the makeup bag. Again, two thumbs up!

{source}