elf Cosmetics is one of the best makeup lines at the drugstore, as well as one of my absolute favorites. As a result, I do a lot of elf content on the blog. My first ever post was also my first elf haul! Over the years I have tried a crazy amount of their products. While I have not tried every single item (and they continue to push out products on the regular), I have used enough that I can confidently produce a list of the best elf Cosmetics products of all time and to date. I am limiting this list to non-discontinued makeup only. Their skincare and brushes/tools are also phenomenal, so much so that separate blog posts are needed. You should recognize many of these products from elf haul or dedicated blog posts. I will link you to relevant content as I share why these items are the best of the best.
Best elf Cosmetics Products of All Time
Srsly Satin Lipstick
I am starting off the best elf Cosmetics products of all time with the Srsly Satin Lipsticks. These lipsticks feature a buildable to full-coverage formula that sets with a satin finish. They are comfortable on the lips and feel rather nourishing and soft. With careful eating and drinking, they hold up as well as any drugstore lipstick. I love the clear packaging!
Brow Products
Second are a variety of their brow products.
- Instant Lift Brow Pencil: The size of the pencil is not too skinny that it takes ages to fill your brows, but not too wide that you make a mess. It effortlessly fills the brows, and the built-in spoolie is a bonus.
- Wow Brow Gel: This is a fiber brow gel that adds gentle tint, yet holds your brows in place all day.
- Lock On Liner and Brow Cream: I use this product to fill my brows. It lasts all day while providing hold, and is my go-to for special occasion makeup.
- Ultra Precise Brow Pencil: This is the perfect skinny tip brow pencil from the drugstore to create hair-like strokes. It also has a built-in spoolie!
Foundation
Third are pretty much all of their foundations. For the most part, they do great with them, and if they do not, they are good about discontinuing them.
- Acne Fighting Foundation: This foundation looks just like skin in a velvety smooth, matte way that I cannot duplicate with any other foundation. It is full coverage, yet lightweight, and lasts all day for long wear while it fights acne.
- Flawless Finish Foundation: This foundation has a satin finish that looks so fresh and healthy on the skin with buildable medium to full coverage.
- Camo CC Cream: I find that this foundation is buildable, and the finish is satin that leans closer to being matte. It is definitely full coverage. No matter what primer or other products that I use it with, I find that it wears the same. It lasts really well and can be dubbed long-wearing. I would only apply powder around the nose as a touch-up to control oil there. This foundation looks the best when applied with a sponge and when paired with hydrating products. Ultimately, this product never looks fully skin-like on me. It always seems to sit on the skin. Foundation wears differently on everyone, so you may have a different result.
Related Post:elf Camo CC Cream Review & Wear Test
Lip Exfoliator in Brown Sugar
Fourth this their Lip Exfoliator in Brown Sugar. I have talked about this so much on this blog you are probably ready to move on, but stick with it! Since this lip exfoliator is shaped like a lipstick, it is easy to handle and work with, but without making a mess. There are other formulas of this from elf, but Brown Sugar is the most effective, as the others are too soft and melt away, leaving you to buy more often. Once you are done, wipe your lips with a tissue or clean cloth. You will get just the right amount of exfoliation without the worry of it being too abrasive.
Primer Infused Blush
Fifth is the Primer Infused Blush line. The blushes are soft, highly pigmented, workable, and last all day due to the primer being in the formula. The shade range should cover all of your daily needs, and the finish is matte.
Primer Infused Bronzer
Next in the best elf Cosmetics products of all time is the Primer Infused Bronzer line. The formula is soft and highly pigmented, but still workable. Some of the shades definitely give high-end bronzers a run for their money.
Powder Blush Palette
Continuing on is an old school elf product, which is their Powder Blush Palette. I like all of their face palettes in this quad style, but I am trying to keep this post under control. The blush palette in particular is near and dear to me because I have had it since my early makeup days, and it is my mom’s favorite. You can reach for this palette every day and the pigmentation is buildable and soft. There is minor shimmer. Quick tip- you can pop the individual shades out of these quad palettes to re-arrange them or to make your own palette!
+Matte Oil-Control Primer
Here is my #1 favorite primer from elf, which is the +Matte Oil-Control Primer. The formula of this primer is a clear gel and it really is reminding me of my all-time favorite high-end makeup primer, which is Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer. It even has that same greasy feel that Smashbox’s has, although it does feel extra greasy. A little goes a long way, so definitely apply less than you normally do. The package directions do say to apply a small amount, and I urge you to heed that warning. If you apply too much, your makeup will fall apart during the day. It transforms a bad foundation into lovely product, and works as good as high-end. Your oils are perfectly controlled as nothing passes through. The matte look lasts all day.
Related Post: Best elf Primers for Combination Skin
Metallic Flare Highlighter
Next are the Metallic Flare Highlighters. They are gorgeous in the pan and produce a metallic shine even before they are applied on the face. This is the type of highlighter that really packs a punch and is much stronger than a dewy glow.
Glow Gleam Beam Highlighter Palette
Pressing on with the best elf Cosmetics products of all time is the Glow Gleam Beam Highlighter Palette. It features three finishes to please everyone, which are glitter, shimmer, and metallic. The metallics are pretty much Metallic Flare Highlighters. This is a great palette to use daily, and you can mix, match, and layer the shades.
Bite Size Eyeshadows
Next are the Bite Size Eyeshadows. I do want to say that I adore elf’s 10 pan palettes, as well as their large format palettes. Again, I need to narrow this blog post down, so I cannot talk about everything. The reason I am picking the Bite Size Eyeshadows over all others is that these feature the best eyeshadow formula that elf has created to date. Both the mattes and shimmers are buttery smooth to the point that they are nearly creamy, richly pigmented, and yield little to no fallout or kick up in the pan. All of these shadows blend easily on the eye and have consistent formulas. These palettes are beyond affordable, give high-end eyeshadow a run for their money, and will place new colors in your collection.
Related Post: elf Bite Size Eyeshadow Review
Halo Glow Setting Powder
In all honesty, all of elf’s loose powder options are excellent. They have found a way to make them super finely milled so that they make your skin look soft and blurred, while effectively setting your makeup. When it comes down to which powder you choose, it is more so about the function or finish that you are after. I am picking Halo Glow as my favorite because of the extremely subtle glow that it provides, which is still safe for combination or oily skin.
Dewy Coconut Setting Mist
Here is the Dewy Coconut Setting Mist. I do not see this spray extending the wear of my makeup, but it does nicely set everything in place with a pleasant, but not overbearing, coconut scent. If you are expecting a super glowy and dewy face with this spray, then you will be disappointed. The level of dew is incredibly light and natural, which I personally like a lot with my combination skin.
Make Me Matte! Foundation Adjuster
Next is the Make Me Matte! Foundation Adjuster. This is a mix-in powder that will mattify any foundation. It comes with a scooper that measures the perfect amount of powder for one full-face of foundation application. It does not harm your foundation in any way, meaning it will still apply, wear, and perform the same. However, it will have a nice, matte finish.
Liquid Glitter Eyeshadows
Here are the Liquid Glitter Eyeshadows. I recommend letting each layer of the product dry, if you plan on doing layers. You can build the pigmentation up to be nearly full coverage. When they dry they do not feel like powder, but they are comfortable. The amount of glitter is not overdone. At the end of the day I do see minimal fallout on my face. I do find that these shadows last all day without fading, cracking, or creasing. You can definitely wear these over top of eyeshadow, alongside eyeshadow, or simply on their own. You can also use them as eyeliner.
Related Post: elf Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow Review
Primer Infused Shimmer Blush
The sister of the Primer Infused Blush line are the Primer Infused Shimmer Blushes. My review of these are the same, except that they obviously contain shimmer.
Liquid Matte Lipstick
Continuing on, I have the Liquid Matte Lipsticks. These are what I really consider to be ye old standard matte liquid lipsticks. They are easily buildable to full coverage, but they will not get streaky on you as you build. Now, this formula can feel drying on the lips, but it is not terrible. These will hold up fairly well through eating and drinking, with minor touch-ups needed.
Related Post: Best Non-Drying Drugstore Liquid Lipsticks
Matte Lip Color
An elf classic for sure are the Matte Lip Colors! This is how you achieved a matte lip before liquid lipsticks came on the scene. I love how easily they glide over the lips without tugging. The tip fills and lines your lips so well. A not-so-secret feature of the packaging is the opposite end pulls out to reveal a sharpener.
Hydrating Camo Concealer
Next up for the best elf Cosmetics products of all time is the Hydrating Camo Concealer. The formula is ultra creamy and full coverage. It dries to a satin finish. A little bit goes a long way. The curved applicator holds more product than you may expect, so you do not need to dip the applicator in the tube several times. With drugstore concealer it can be tricky to find a light enough shade to brighten the face, but elf’s shade range is great. It is definitely long wearing. Many people love the matte counterpart of this concealer, which is the 16 Hour Camo Concealer, but as a matter of personal preference, I like this one better.
Poreless Putty Primer
Here is the Poreless Putty Primer, which is pretty much my second favorite elf primer. This primer does smooth the skin out, and it fills some of the pores on my nose. I do not get a perfect fill with my severe pores. As far as any blurring, I do not see any instant Photoshop effects. This primer does control my oils all day. Honestly, I do think that Poreless Putty Primer makes a visible difference for foundation wear time. I do not think it is God’s gift to the makeup world, but good things are happening to extend wear a bit longer.
Putty Eye Primer
Next are the Putty Eye Primers. The formula of these primers is a cream that you can easily spread onto the eyelid with a brush or your finger. However, there are inconsistencies within the formulation. Rose, Sand, and Black have a very creamy formula, while the rest are very dry. The dry primers actually look dry and patchy when applied to the eyelid. I am happy to report that once you apply your eyeshadow over top, you no longer see they dryness and patchiness. The corrupt formula does not impact how your eyeshadow looks or performs. I see no difference between using a brush vs my finger with application or wear time. If you plan on wearing these as your actual eyeshadow for the day, I would at least set them with a translucent powder. This way they will be fully set, but the translucent powder will not disguise the lovely color of the primer. These primers prevent eyeshadow creasing, fading, and movement for as long as I wear my makeup.
Related Post: elf Putty Eye Primer Review: In-Depth Analysis
Sheer Slick Lipstick
The last item in this list of the best elf Cosmetics products of all time are the Sheer Slick Lipsticks. As the name suggests, these lipsticks provide a sheer wash of color to the lips with a shiny formula. They feel light and moisturizing on the lips, but they are not intended to be long-wearing. I wear these when I need a low maintenance lip color.
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Conclusion
In summary of the best elf Cosmetics products of all time, these are all of the non-discontinued items that I have tried over the years that are makeup standouts. Of course, they will continue to release products that will be worthy of a spot in this blog post, and I still have items to try. You can always use the comment section to add onto this list with your own favorites! We shall hope that these items get to stick around for a very long time. I may come back and do another post for their skincare items. Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.
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