The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

e.l.f. Cosmetics Now Available at Kmart

Eyes lips face (e.l.f.) cosmetics are now available at select Kmart stores.

e.l.f. is one of those companies we wish we had bought stock in because we knew the moment they launched that it was going to be a huge success. Every product they sell is just $1! You can't help but try it at least once—and then try it again because, heck, it's only a dollar. Plus, they have frequent sales and promotions, online coupons are easy to find, they donate to charity and don't test on animals.

Browsing their site, you feel like a kid in a candy store! We've been pleased with many of our purchases, including a cream blush, eyeshadow brushes and eyeliner. Didn't care for the mascara or the particular lip gloss we tried. Unfortunate, as those are our two makeup staples.

Overall, we enjoyed treating ourselves to a load of goodies for so little cash (and we like getting packages in the mail). They really do have some innovative, good-quality products that are well packaged and pretty, so you can have fun and experiment without blowing your budget. Just wish they had nail polish...

Oh, and this certainly seems like a good partnership for Kmart. They have a long way to go before they reach Target standards, but at least they're trying. (We've heard rumors that some Targets sell e.l.f. too but haven't been ably to verify this from their site.)

Do you think e.l.f stacks up to other pricier brands? Or do you find it hard to trust makeup that cheap? Will you check it out at Kmart?
Comments
I've tried several of the elf products, and I sit on the fence on this one- there are just certain makeup items that just can't be made cheaply because you can tell, for example their eyeshadow (do not wear if you dont' want to go blind, cheap eyeshadow is made with filler powders that can cause damage to eyes, thats why eyeshadow made by more expensive brands claim to be "pure pigment") and their lipstick (cheap lipstick always has that cheap lipstick smell!!!) However, certain items are fun to try to play with color or something else you wouldn't normally fork out money for- I like their bronzer ($1 compared to like $20) some of their lipgloss (nice texture) and their face highlighters/creme blushes- So basically thats my long winded way of saying, cheap is always fun, as long as its also safe (eyeshadow issue, and that applies to things like drugstore eyeshadow as well!)
#1 Peaches on 2007-07-27 09:56 (Reply)
You make a lot of good points, Peaches! Like you, we dig their eyeshadow BRUSH not their actual eyeshadow :-)
It's like buying more costly oil paints—you pay more for less filler and higher quality pigments, and it makes a HUGE difference when you paint. We think makeup artists would agree. Mind you, e.l.f. claims to be delivering high quality at low prices, so that's probably why some of their products are a real good bang for your buck. Just not all of them.
Safety is an issue too especially for contact wearers. We're not going to risk wearing the e.l.f. mascara--it was clumpy, didn't come off easily and smelled funky. We'll stick to Clinique.
#1.1 The Budget Babe on 2007-07-27 10:17 (Reply)
Oh, and the brushes and tools are a steal at $1
#2 Peaches on 2007-07-27 09:57 (Reply)
Here's a makeup tip for contact lens wearers, given to me by Chicago's Marilyn Miglin way back when: Use cream shadow, or, if you use powdered shadow, put it on wet instead of dry. It will stay on all day, will not cake if you sweat, and no powder gets behind your lenses. Be careful to apply very little though, as it goes on a lot heavier wet, than if you just brush it on dry.
#2.1 Fifi LaMode on 2007-07-27 12:00 (Reply)
Fifi-
Would love to know which cream eyeshadows you recommend, s'il vous plaît :-)
#2.1.1 The Budget Babe on 2007-07-27 13:21 (Reply)
I no longer wear eye shadow because I have discovered some lovely liner pencils which also have a 'smudge' tip so the liner can also be the shadow. I use Cinique's quick eyes and also Lancome's pencils. you don't sharpen them, so there's so fear of little bits of wood in your eye! ugh.
In Europe Clinique makes an ultra-thin liner, but it's sold here as a 'brow liner' and only comes in eyebrow colors.
#2.1.1.1 Fifi LaMode on 2007-07-30 08:12 (Reply)
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