Review - Elf products and Maybelline The Colossal Volum'Express Cat Eyes Mascara + FOTD

Hi there my pink babes :) 

 Today I'm reviewing a few new products I used for my FOTD, including some ELF products I received yesterday on the post. 

 First of all I'll talk about the ELF Mineral Infused Face Primer. I think it has a neat, professional look about it and I love the fact it has a pump. As far as primers go, I can only compare with the only other primer I've ever used - the Sephora smoothing primer that retails at about 11€. 

I loved this primer by ELF, it left my skin so soft and smooth and allowed my foundation to glide on effortlessly and made it easier to blend. For only 6£ (or in my case, with the 40% discount - 3.60£) I think you can't go wrong with this one! It certainly does its job and the container is pretty to look at!

Next I applied my usual foundation and concealer (Revlon PhotoReady and Erase Paste by Benefit) and after that the ELF HD Powder. 

Its description states:

 This high definition loose powder creates a "soft focus" effect to the skin. Masks fine lines and imperfections for a radiant complexion. The incredibly soft and invisible powder is great for on screen and everyday wear. Directions : The microfine particles are designed to be used with high-definition camera technology or fot everyday wear. Apply powder all over face for a professional and youthful look of perfection.

Now I don't really know what to think of this powder. I was expecting a kind of matifying powder just to set the make-up really, but in the end it just left my face looking all powdery and chalky looking, as you can see by this terrible picture of me - gosh why I am posting this on the internet I will never know.

Excuse my bright pink dressing gown

But me being me, I don't give up easily on my make-up, so I applied my bronzer - Avon Arabian Glow, with my new Elf complexion brush (that I love by the way!).

Thankfully the chalkiness disappeared and I continued my make-up. To be honest, I don't really know if the powder made any diference to my complexion, but I took a few pics of my finished look with my "high definition camera" - haha, just to see if in the end you're marvelled with some miracle change on camera, like Edward Cullen in direct sunlight or something. (hmmm, I think not!)

 I tried a few eye shadows from the 32pc Eye Palette by Elf, just to see what they're like, but I wasn't really bothered with all the fiddling about with eye shadows, blending and whatnot, so I made a half-hearted effort on only one of my eyes - what a sexy look. 

The eye shadows seem to be quite pigmented and good quality.

I'll try to show you a proper FOTD using this eye palette to better review it. 

Appearance-wise, it looks very professional and neat, in its black matte slim case, not flimsy at all. 

Next I apllied the Elf cream eyeliner with the Elf angled eyeliner brush. 

Wow, what a difference! I got used to using my faithful Rimmel Glam'Eyes Liquid Eyeliner, and it's fairly easy to apply (contrary to my friends' opinion that seem to think that liquid eyeliner is something like Dan Brown's unbreakable code in "Digital Fortress"), but oh boy, this Elf eyeliner, applied with the fantastic angled brush is a breeze to put on! 

Finally I applied my most recent favourite mascara - Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express Cat Eyes Mascara (that's a mouthful!). 

I asked my mum to bring it over when she came to visit, although we do have it over here in Portugal.

I asked for it mainly because of how cool the packaging looks! 

Come on, leopard, yellow, bronze and the rounded shape of the container?? So pretty to look at, if nothing else! Also, it has a curved shaped brush that I've been dying to try.

I'm lovin' it, it doesn't clump up, separates the lashes, keeps a decent curl and gives great volume and length! Also, the curved brush allows your lashes to slightly fan out - like cat eyes basically. I applied mascara to my other naked eye (no eyeliner or eye shadow), because I find that like that you can really appreciate the mascara's full extent!

Before - no mascara

After - with mascara

Made-up Eye VS Naked Eye

Naked eye with mascara

So my lovelies, are you still there after all this???
If so, then here's the final look (with only one eye fully done - lol).
Can you see any special "dewiness" given by the Elf HD powder? Not really sure about that, but if anything it might help keeping my T-zone from shining. I don't suffer from oily skin or anything, but sometimes I get the odd shiny-ness on the nose when captured on camera.

Flash vs No Flash

In case you were wondering, the lipstick I'm wearing is from the Kate Moss collection by Rimmel, no.08.

Thanks for reading! x


PS- By the way, have just realized how freakish my eye colour is. Isn't the colour sort of like Stephanie Meyer described the Cullen's eyes? (enough with the vampire references already!)