e.l.f. Eyelid Primer: Essentials Line

e.l.f. Essentials Eyelid Primer

Pros vs. Cons

Pros
1.  Available at most target stores.
2.  Possibly the cheapest primer on the market at $1 a tube.
3.  Evens out skin tone

Cons
1.  Doesn't always prevent creasing.

I bought this purely to use as a cheap primer for swatching shadows and blushes in my review photos so I could stop using my expensive LORAC and Urban Decay.  I decided to give it a try on a whim to see how it held up and I was surprised that it actually isn't that bad.  I'm still not going to give up my favorites but if you need a cheap primer or want to have a backup in your kit for when you run out, this is good stuff.

The application can be a little tricky.  It uses a doe foot applicator and I recommend using your finger or a taklon bristle brush to spread it evenly on the eye.  It has a very shiny and liquid texture when you apply it and it takes a few seconds to dry to a slightly tacky matte finish.  I didn't have any problems with it holding on eyeshadow or giving me problems from blending the colors together.  It kept my eyeshadow looking good for almost all of the work day, with a tiny bit of creasing beginning to show by the time I left the office at 7.  I went to dinner afterwards and when I got home, there was definite creasing, though not bad enough to notice unless I was really looking for it.

This would be a fine primer to use when you only need to have your eye makeup on for a few hours and want to conserve your more expensive brands like Urban Decay, Too Faced, etc.

*photos are mine, do not use them without my permission*

Ed Hardy for Women "Love Kills Softly" Perfume

When I was in high school, I always loved picking up those little tiny sample bottles of perfume in the cosmetics section at Wal Mart.  They were always around $5 for most, with the really posh ones topping out around $7 (undoubtedly, this dates me).  I became quite the little fragrance junkie that way and at my max, I had around 17 different kinds.  As I've gotten older, my tastes in fragrance have toned down significantly, to the point where I hardly wear it any longer.  That changed a couple months ago when I walked through Dillard's on the way to the MAC counter and saw this super cute bottle of perfume called, "Angel."  I took a sample of it and was blown away by the sexy scent of sandalwood and fruit together.  While I didn't buy it, I've been thinking about wearing perfume more often, but I just haven't had the time to devote to a full afternoon of fragrance shopping (yes, it takes me an afternoon).

Tonight I went into Wal Mart to pick up a pack of cotton rounds and walked by the little display rack of sample fragrances.  I couldn't help but feel a touch of nostalgia as I noticed that the selection is a lot smaller than it used to be, and those $5 to $7 price tags have now been jacked up into a range of $6-$12, though, over a decade later, I suppose $1 isn't that great of a price increase.  My eye was caught by an flashy pink bottle with edgy tattoo designs, Ed Hardy for Women.  Having lots of friends who are addicted to ink, I'm well aware of who he is, and I've seen his clothing brand but I've never had much of an interest before, but I'll be honest, the bottle alone sold me on trying it out.  It was just too cute and it was one of the few marked $6.  I figured even if I hated it, I would only be out $6 and one of the girls at the office would take it off my hands.  I got it home and spritzed it on, and fell in love. 

While I enjoy sexier scents from time to time, I absolutely love fragrances that are fruity and this one is definitely that!  Typically, I like a blend of both fruit and floral, and while I'm sure that there are floral notes in this, once it hits my skin and mixes with my body chemistry, all I smell is the fruit.  I will definitely have to pick up a full sized bottle of this sometime soon!