Bills, bills, bills. You can't escape the cost of living crisis right now. Everywhere you turn, costs are spiralling, from fuel to the weekly food shop. So what's a beauty addict to do?
Luckily, drugstore beauty products have come a long way since I first started experimenting with makeup as a teen. Back then, the quality gap between 'counter brands' and those you could pick up at the supermarket or pharmacy was huge. You really did get what you paid for.
That's ancient history now as the quality and range for formulations at accessible price points has boomed. In a lot of cases, drugstore products are as good as or even out perform high end. It's genuinely possible to get some great stuff without paying out loads.
As much as I adore the lure of a high end lipstick or powder (Charlotte Tilbury and Victoria Beckham Beauty have a big place in my heart), for the day to day work from home drill I've been on an economy drive.
I want to save the spenny products for bigger occasions and see if the budget alternatives will do just as well for the school run.
I also wanted a suite of products I could take on holiday without worrying about them getting lost or damaged in transit.
Despite that, I didn't want to compromise on performance. ELF is a brand that's always been buzzed about, but it never really caught my eye until I picked up the Jen Atkin palette and was really impressed.
There were a couple of new things I wanted to try they've recently launched, so I decided to get a full set. Here you have a complete routine for under £100.
Power Grip Primer
This new launch has been getting raved about and I've even heard a couple of makeup artists claim it's better than high-end alternatives, so I wanted to give it a go.
A gel-based, hydrating formula, it's all about helping your war paint to stay on all day while lending a 'soft focus effect' to your skin. Packed with hyaluronic acid it moisturises, preps and smooths.
Plus the pump bottle is convenient and hygienic.
Poreless Putty Primer
Elf is also pretty famous for it's smoothing putty primer which has a smooth, velvety texture to deliver and airbrushed finish to skin, minimising pores and imperfections along the way.
It feels silky and lightweight to wear and does a great job of taking down shine as well. It also has squalene to lock in moisture.
Camo CC Cream
Foundation/skincare hybrids are super useful for busy working mamas or anyone who is chronically short of time in the mornings, and I've long been a fan of IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Cream for combining a foundation, skincare goodies and SPF.
ELF is one of the few lower cost brands to come up with a credible dupe, so I had to give it a try. It provides fuller coverage than the IT Cosmetics version, and so is more of a foundation than a tinted moisturiser.
Skin loving treats in the formula are collagen to plump, peptides to refresh and smooth, niacinamide to brighten and even tone and hyaluronic acid to hydrate. There's also SPF30 to add in sun protection!
With 20 shades on offer with a mix of warm, neutral and cool undertones and a shade match guarantee, it's easy to find the one for you - I used their clever online tool to match me. For £14.00 this is a pretty amazing product!
Again I love the pump packaging which is ideal for fuss free travel.
Camo Concealer 16h - Light Sand
I also picked up this concealer that many say is a dupe for Nars. It promises crease proof coverage with a moisturising boost.
The formula is very light but pigmented enough to really pack a punch, with a smooth, matte that lasts all day. I went for a fairly light tone with neutral undertones to get that really perfected look.
Beautifully Bare Sheer Tint Finishing Powder
A silky, mattifying powder to set your makeup is a must. And this one is really lovely to use because it doesn't give a heavy, caked on look. It's smoothing and can be patted on to achieve flawless undereyes and take down shine on the tone.
This powder is finely milled and gives that airbrushed look - just as well as the expensive Charlotte Tilbury powder I have been using, so why would you spend so much more?
Putty Bronzer - Feeling Shady
Tan Soleil De Chanel is a cult product that has inspired a lot of demand for an affordable dupe - could this be it?
The cream to powder formula dries to a semi-matte finish that makes this really good for contouring. Like all of these products, the level of pigment is really good and it's easy to get a natural looking glow.
There's also added argan oil and Vitamin E to smooth and nourish your skin. This shade is the coolest toned and that makes it great for creating believable shadows on the face, but the warmer tones would be great to warm up the skin like a traditional bronzer.
Putty Blush - Tahiti
Putty mania also extends to shades of Blush and as a huge fan of creamy, blendable formulas over powder, I had to try one.
It's the same putty to powder formula with added skin goodies as the bronzer and the colour is easy to blend and build. You get that pretty,seamless flush from this that looks so natural and healthy. I chose the shade 'Tahiti' which is a deep pink.
Lock On Liner and Brow Cream - Medium Brown
Multi tasking products are always a winner for me, so I loved the idea of one little pot being able to do two things.
The cream formula glides on so smoothly and has great staying power. Apply easily with an angled brush and then brush out using a spoolie and you get a gorgeous, natural brow look, plus it works equally well as a Liner, especially in the dark brown shades.
I have actually bought this before, but I went for the darkest shade which was waaay too dark and made me look witchy. Even though my hair is very dark brown, I usually go a half a shade to a full shade lighter with my brows as it's much more flattering.
In the Medium Brown, with a very light touch application this works well, but don't underestimate how pigmented it is and go easy!
Love Triangle Lip Filler and Liner- Soft Pink, Red
An angled lip crayon you can use to line and fill in your lips in one easy step? Yes please!
This product has a triangular tip that makes getting a sculpted, smooth outline an absolute dream. The colour is creamy and gives a flattering demi-matte finish that lasts well.
I picked it up in an everyday pink nude and also a red for those days I'm feeling something brighter! I really love how effortless and high performing this product is.
No Budge Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner
A creamy, waterproof pencil, this product gives you a lot of options in a slim package. The tip is petite enough to get a very precise line or a neat cat eye.
It's silky enough that you can use a small brush to smudge it and get that gorgeous, smoked out liner look, but once set it isn't going anywhere! The fact that it's waterproof means it also works well to tightline with.
I love the fact you don't need to sharpen it and how pigmented it is too. A real find and definitely holds its own against my beloved Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal!
No Budge Shadow Stick - Perfect Pearl
Longwear metallic shadows that are super easy to apply and last really well? You've come to the right place!
The twist up crayon makes them easy to swipe on as a shadow or a liner, and this shade is also ideal for using as a highlighter as well- I simply scribble onto my cheekbones and under my brows and use a flat, fluffy brush to blend out.
Another fabulous product for such a low price!
Bite Size Eyeshadow - Love You A Latte
These four shade edits are compact and ideal for travel. There are brights available, but as basic bitch, I just picked one of the more neutral ones -Love You A Latte.
You get a mix of smooth mattes and popping metallics that let you create a range of day to night looks.
The finish on these shadows is incredible and at only £4.00 it's easy to see why these have won awards - the very best in affordable makeup.
Lash It Loud Mascara
Because I wear lash extensions, I only use mascara on the inner corners and bottom lashes -so I only ever purchase the mini sizes.
This mascara has one of the flexible silicone brushes that catches each lash cleanly. It has horizontal and vertical bristles which makes it fantastic at getting into the corners and bottom lashes I need it for.
It doesn't transfer or smudge and delivers separation and length really well. The ideal low cost mascara for me.
Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist
And finally, my makeup wouldn't be complete without a setting spray. After all, when you spend time on your face you need to lock it down.
This spray is also infused with green tea, cucumber and aloe to refresh and soothe. It locks makeup down really well and the 80ml size means I can even pop it in my hand luggage for my travels.
I'm super impressed with Elf. Great formulas, highly pigmented products and no fuss functionality for a great price. Could there be a better brand for these times?
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