10 E.l.f. Products You Should Add to Your Makeup Bag
Pros
- Moisturizing
- Not sticky
Cons
- Color transfers
Whether you wear it by itself for a sheer flush of color or as a glossy topper for your favorite lipstick, this non-sticky, hydrating lip oil is a must-have in your makeup bag. It has a minty scent and comes in 10 shades, but if you prefer a finish with a pearlescent shimmer, e.l.f.’s Glow Reviver Lip Oil Glimmer has the same formula. However, if you’re looking for it to stay put, do note that it will transfer.
“I love that it’s lightweight, hydrating and gives my lips a glossy mirrored finish with a light wash of color. Plus it locks in moisture on my lips, which is usually difficult during the dry winter months,” a GH staffer said.
RELATED: Best Lip Oils
GH Staff Writer Cameron Jenkins wearing e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil in shade Pink Quartz.
2
e.l.f. Lash It Loud Mascara
Pros
- Doesn’t flake or clump
- Separates lashes well
Cons
- Some testers said it wasn’t volumizing
Define and lengthen your lashes with e.l.f’s Lash It Loud Mascara, which was a GH Beauty Awards winner. In the GH Beauty Lab test, this mascara excelled at separating eyelashes and did not flake throughout the day. Ninety-five percent of testers reported that it glided effortlessly and that its brush reached every lash, though some noted it did not have a volumizing effect.
“Made my eyelashes insanely long and the mascara didn’t clump at all. I liked the brush and it built upon itself very nicely,” a tester said.
3
e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
Pros
- Easy to blend
- Gives natural glow
Cons
- Some testers reported breakouts after use
A GH Beauty Awards winner, the e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter delivers a luminous and natural skin-like finish. It is a multi-use product, featuring skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane, that it can be used all over the face as a buildable coverage skin tint or on the high points of the face as a highlighter.
“My skin looked absolutely amazing with this product! I applied it all over my skin and I didn’t feel like I needed any additional coverage,” says GH Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Associate Director Emma Seymour. “It created that perfect glow-from-within look that looks totally natural.” But, she and two other testers also noted that after extended use they noticed breakouts.
GH Staff Writer Cameron Jenkins wearing e.l.f. Halo Glow liquid filter as a skin tint in shade 6 tan/ deep warm.
4
e.l.f. O Face Satin Lipstick
Pros
- Not drying
- Does not bleed
Cons
- Transfers
For bold pigmented lips with a soft satin finish, e.l.f.’s O Face Satin Lipstick is a great option. It goes on smooth for a plush, comfortable wear and comes in 20 shades, but it also transfers.
“I like the satiny finish that lasted and did not dry my lips,” said Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann. “The texture was very cushiony and the lipstick did not bleed into the fine line lines around my lips.”
RELATED: Best-Selling Lip Products on Amazon
6
e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm
Pros
- Moisturizing
- Quickly removes makeup
Cons
- A few testers reported breakouts
This balm-to-oil formula easily melts away makeup and sunscreen. GH Lab testers reported that the balm glides on easily and removes with water without leaving residue. Though, two testers noted breakouts after use.
“I liked the feeling of it turning into an oil while massaging it on my face,” one tester noted. “It easily removed eye makeup without leaving any trace of raccoon eyes!”
RELATED: Best Cleansing Oils to Purify and Soften Skin
7
e.l.f. Luminous Putty Blush
Pros
- Buildable
- Great color payoff
Cons
- Packaging makes it hard for large brushes to pick up product
A blush that works as well for an everyday no-makeup makeup look as it does for a high glam look, the e.l.f. Luminous Putty Blush features a cream-to-powder formula that is easily buildable and leaves a flushed, satin finish. The brand also offers the original Putty Blush with a semi-matte finish.
“Nine times out of ten, if I’m reaching for a blush, this is the one I go for. I love how pigmented the color is and that a little goes a long way,” a GH staffer said. “It also leaves a subtle sheen that doesn’t look greasy on my combination skin.” She also noted that using a smaller brush for application is preferable, as the packaging opening is too small for large brushes to effectively pick up the product.
GH Staff Writer Cameron Jenkins wearing e.l.f. Luminous Putty Blush in shade Belize.
8
e.l.f. Lash XTNDR Mascara
Pros
- Doesn’t smudge
- Separates lashes
Cons
- May clump
Its dry, waxy formula makes it great for coating and extending each lash without smudging. Though, repeated applications can lead to clumping.
“I have short and straight lashes, but his mascara effortlessly lifts and separates them, giving the appearance of added length,” a GH staffer said.
GH Staff Writer Cameron Jenkins wearing e.l.f. Lash Xtndr Mascara in shade Pitch Black.
9
e.l.f. Dewy Coconut Setting Mist
Pros
- Dewy finish
- Hydrating
Cons
- Some found issues with spray nozzle
Long-lasting makeup with a luminous, dewy finish is what you’ll get with this setting spray. It includes hydrating ingredients including coconut, green tea and cucumber and is coconut scented. Though, some reviewers noted issues with the spray nozzle, saying it produced droplets instead of a steady mist.
“I have dry skin, so I’m always looking for something to help hydrate the skin while still keeping makeup in place. This not only does that, but the mister is so fine that it feels refreshing to put on,” says GH Editorial Assistant Adrianna Freedman. “I also love the glow this gives my skin even once it dries down.”
Get the look of laminated brows without any flaking or shifting. This thick gel-like product goes on clear and stays that way, keeping your brows in place all day long. They may feel a bit tacky to touch until they dry down.
“I love that I don’t have to apply a lot of this product onto my spoolie to get my brow hairs to lay down. It also is super easy to wash off and doesn’t leave any flaky residue on my eyebrows,” a GH Staff Writer said.
How we picked the best e.l.f. products
Our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab pros and editors have decades of experience testing and evaluating makeup, makeup tools and skincare. These picks are a reflection of their expert recommendations, tester reviewed e.l.f. products, GH Beauty Award winners and editor favorites. We also spent hours researching consumer reviews from across the web to ensure we were including highly-rated fan-favorite and best-sellers as well.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
GH Staff Writer Cameron Jenkins has purchased and used e.l.f. products for years. She used her real-world consumer experience as well as her wealth of experience writing about makeup and skincare to deliver honest and unbiased recommendations. She also collaborated with GH Beauty Lab pros to include testing-backed picks for this guide.
GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann has overseen skincare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She contributed her expertise to this article.
Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping, where she covers everything from holidays to food. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a B.A. in magazine journalism. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping.
Sabina (she/her) is the director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
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