e.l.f. Cosmetics review: Testing new releases from the viral beauty brand

You don’t need to spend a fortune for high-quality beauty products

Article content We independently select everything we recommend. Buying through us may earn us a commission, which supports our work. If you haven’t tried e.l.f makeup products, you have to.

I’ve been shopping and using e.l.f for as long as I can remember, especially when I was younger, because it has always been priced so reasonably. Over the years, the brand has expanded and released a full line of products from foundations to blushes to lip liners, and lately many of its products have been going viral for their ability to match high-end products almost exactly. e.l.f has recently released a lot of new stuff – here’s what’s worth buying and our other picks from the brand.

What’s new from e.l.f in Canada I tried a handful of the new e.l.f launches – below, I break down what’s worth it, plus the other products from the brand I think you need to try. PHOTO Soft Glam Cream Blush, $9 CAD Why buy: The Soft Glam Cream Blush was an instant hit for me. These blushes are easy to apply, blend easily and the colour selection is great.

The formula is super creamy, made from two per cent shea butter and one per cent nourishing sunflower seed oil, meaning it’s good for your skin, too. I find myself grabbing Dusty Mauve and Pink On It the most, but I think all of the shades are beautiful. I apply this blush with a dense brush and find the colour lasts all night with no touch-ups.

Soft Glam Cream Bronzer, $9 CAD Why buy: Just like the Soft Glam Blushes, the bronzers are amazing, creamy and blendable. There are eight shades to choose from, all of which have a satin finish. I like to leave mine as is without setting it with powder

so I can still have some glow to my skin. My only qualm is that the shade range could have some even deeper tones. Set It Bright Powder Quad, $16 CAD Why buy: I love using coloured powders for different setting needs, like pink-toned powder for under my eyes and a more banana-toned powder to brighten other areas of my face.

There are six quads to choose from, each with four shades, so you don’t need to buy any of them separately. I’m not a super oily gal, so for me, these work perfectly. I can’t speak on whether these are great for oil-prone skin, but I didn’t need to reapply for around eight hours.

Thirst Burst Lip Peptide, $10 CAD Why buy: Peptide lip treatments are all the rage right now and if you’re using an expensive one, you don’t have to. The Thirst Burst Lip Peptides come in three tints – Guava Pink, Hibiscus Blue and Clear Pomelo, all with a sheer finish. I like just using the clear as a topper on lip liner or lip stains and also like to throw it on before bed as a way to nourish my lips overnight.

Main Stain Lip Marker, $6 CAD Why buy: This is my favourite of all the new launches from e.l.f. Lip stains and lip markers are really popular right now and most are over $15 CAD. These ones last all day long and are only $6 CAD a piece, meaning you can grab a few – guilt-free.

Beigebait is my favourite – a neutral brown that I only need to apply once at the start of the day or night. Power Grip Rose Setting Spray, $14 CAD Why buy: I also really love this setting spray. It’s not sticky but adds a perfect glow once you’re done your makeup, almost melting all the products together for a natural finish.

It’s made with pink pearl, rose water and 2% niacinamide, helping give your skin a really healthy look. I also tried this as a base for my makeup, which I also liked. Glass Slick Serum Stick, $16 CAD Why buy: According to e.l.f, this product is “a peptide face serum stick that helps visibly plump, hydrate and smooth the look of skin for a bouncy, glass-like complexion.”

I used this product once but liked the way it set my face to be a great canvas for my makeup. My only advice would be to let it dry down a little on your skin before you add anything on top. If you already have a lot of skin-prep products, you could probably skip this one, but if you don’t because of how expensive they tend to be, then you’ll want to grab this.

Save Your e.l.f. Hypochlorous Mist, $16 CAD Why buy: I don’t have acne-prone skin, but if you do, this could be an awesome product for you at a great price. The formula is derm-developed with hypochlorous acid “to help soothe, purify and calm visible redness in sensitive, blemish-prone skin.”

Similar to the Glass Slick Serum Stick, if you already have a lot of skincare products, you may not need this. Did you know you can get e.l.f products on Amazon, too? Check them out here: - e.l.f Power Grip Primer, $13 CAD - e.l.f.

SKIN Holy Hydration! Triple Bounce Serum, $17 CAD - e.l.f Sheer For It Blush Tint, $8 CAD - e.l.f Glow Reviver Lip Oil, $10 CAD - e.l.f Clear Brow and Lash Mascara, $4 CAD - e.l.f.

SKIN Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, $15 CAD Why trust us: We research, test and vet so you don’t have to.

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