The Peanut Gallery: e.l.f. Essential Shine Eraser

image source: eyesllipsface.com

Many people, including myself, sometimes have problems with their face getting a 'lil too shiny. Oil blotting sheets can be a great, albeit temporary, solution.  I just started using them a few months ago because before I couldn't convince myself to spend money for a few little sheets. I really just didn't want to drop $4-$5 to buy a pack of blotting sheets. Then I found the e.l.f. Essential Shine Erasers at my local Target and they were only $1 so I decided to give them a go.

On their website e.l.f. claims:

"These amazing little sheets instantly absorb oil, minimize pores and mattify shiny skin. Woven texture eradicates shine and keeps skin matte for hours. Green Tea Extract helps re-texturize skin and masking facial imperfections. Travel pack fits neatly into your purse for on-the-go touch-ups. Contains: 50 sheets."

That's an awful lot for one little sheet to do so lets take a look at what it actually does.

- Absorb oil and mattify shiny skin?

       - It does to a very good job of removing oil quickly and easily. The directions say to use one side on your T-zone and the other for the rest of your face but sometimes it may require the use of more than one sheet.

- Minimize pores?

       -Nope, not that I've ever noticed and my pores are rather large so any improvement would be awesome for me. 

-Re-texturize skin and mask imperfections?

       - Not that I noticed. 

-Packaging

        -The packaging is compact and it is very easy to carry in a purse or bag. The way it closes makes it a little difficult to open originally and it can be hard to get out just one sheet.

-Price: $1 for 50 sheets

Overall: So, do they live up to all the promises? Eh, not so much but they do what I need them to do. I don't expect oil blotting sheets to magically shrink my pores or anything like that. They remove oil well and that is what I was looking for. I will definitely buy them again and recommend them to anyone looking for oil blotting sheets.

image source: eyeslipsface.com

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Look/Contest Entry

One of my new favorite indie cosmetics companies, Pretty Addictions, is currently holding a contest (click the link to go to their Facebook page to check out the contest). The winner gets to help pick the colors for their 4th pressed pigment trio, help name it, and get a free one of the trios they helped designed. Anywho, since I haven't had a chance to post much lately (the few weeks of school are kicking my butt) I thought I'd share my entry. :)

click for full size

The Peanut Gallery: Ulta Professional Brush Cleaner

Note: I will at times be comparing this brush cleaner with my previous brush cleaner, Bare Escentuals Quick Change

Pros:

• Thorough
• I've wiped a dry brush on a paper towel until nothing comes off and the brush seems clean (at least clean of makeup particles not necessarily germs) then used this brush cleaner and the amount of makeup that comes off the brush is surprising
• Sanitizes
• It's a really quick and easy way to disinfect your brushes in between washes. Not all spray on brush cleaners do this so this is a major plus.
• Smell
• pleasant light smell (at least in my opinion)
• No noticeable residue 
• Brushes stay soft
• Affordable

Cons:

• Dry time
• With this brush cleaner you are supposed to thoroughly spray the brush and then wipe it clean (versus the Bare Escentuals Quick Change where you are supposed to spray the paper towel or tissue and then wipe the brush with it). The problem with this is that it means the brush takes longer to try. If I'm using the same brush for more than one color for the same look this is kind of inconvenient, however I found that if you spray the paper towel, etc. and wipe the brush with it as you would with the Bare Escentuals Quick Change it still does a thorough job and dries almost instantly.

Cost: $12 for 4 fl oz (versus $18 for 3.7 fl oz of the Bare Escentuals Quick Change)

Overall: This is a great product especially for the price. Baring finding something better between now and then I will definitely buy this product again when I run out (which probably won't be for a while, a little goes  a long way) and I would definitely recommend it.

Sale Alert: BH Cosmetics

BH Cosmetics has some of it's palettes for sale for $11-$12. It is today only so check it out!

http://www.bhcosmetics.com/products/eyes/