Reviewed Product:- ELF Studio Shimmer Palette
Net Weight:- 0.198oz (5.6g)
Cost:- £3.50 (Purchased online from www.eyeslipsface.com)

ELF = Eyes Lips Face.com

After constantly hearing about ELF products via co-workers and in the media I decided to check out the ELF phenomenon myself. Could there really exist good quality innovative make up at a fraction of the prices we have become used to paying?.

I logged onto the http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk website and was entranced for over half an hour browsing in Make-up heaven. Products that I didn't even realise I wanted and needed seemed to jump across the page goading me for my naivety regarding their existence.

But.. the biggest shock was the price. ELF Make up is exceedingly cheap and appeared to be remarkably good value. I loaded my basket with all manner of whimsical items and then brutally narrowed it down to affordability versus sheer Make up lust.

I placed an order which arrived the next day despite me not paying for next day delivery, I ordered quite a few items and the ELF All Over Cover Stick was one of them.

********Website***********
I adore the ELF Website, it's very easy to navigate and each product is listed under sections such as Eyes, Lips, Face, Brushes etc. There is the lower budget range with an assortment of Make-up items and a Studio Range which is the more professional and pricier type of items and also a Mineral range which contains mineral type make up such as foundations and blushers etc.

The Studio and Mineral ranges are also broken into sub headings such as Eyes and Lips etc.

Shopping on the ELF website couldn't be easier you just select the item you want and the colour (ELF provide3 a very accurate swatch of colour under each item) and add to your shopping basket or wish list. Once you have selected the items you just proceed to a secure checkout which lists your order and delivery options which is £2.95 for standard UK 1-5 days and £8.95 for Next day delivery with all orders over £30 being free to deliver HURRAH!!.

Once you have placed and paid for your order via credit or debit card you can track your parcel and your order is also emailed to you.

My items arrived the next day on the standard delivery and were packaged in a large cardboard box. Great prompt service in my book.

*******Product:- *******

According to the ELF Website Blurb - the Shimmer Palette contains "weightless and creamy shimmers which instantly illuminate the eyes, lips, and face. Gives skin a healthy and natural glow. Mix and match colors to create your unique look". Directions - Apply a dab of the shimmer to desired location and blend in. Colors can be worn alone or as a base for your other makeup.". Source - ELF Website


The Palette itself is approximately the size of my hand outstretched - bearing in mind I have quite small hands. It's a palette containing five pastel hued shimmering colours which claim to enhance your complexion and provide a multitude of uses. The colours are as follows:- pale silver, peachy pink, taupe brown and a bubble-gum pink all with a glittery appearance

The creams are very lightweight in consistency and surprisingly not at all greasy. They glide onto the skin like a dream and are super absorbant without leaving a nasty powdery or oily residue.

I applied the peachy pink to my cheekbones and the taupe brown to my eyelids with a small eye shadow brush and was really pleased with the results. The peachy pink worked as a low key blusher/highlighter over foundation giving a light reflecting effect. The taupe brown was applied over an eye shadow primer and worked really really well, it looked natural and didn't crease but only lasted a couple of hours.

The pale silver was used on my cheekbones as a highlighter, the bridge of my nose and below my eyebrows and provided just a hint of shimmer whilst the bubble gum pink worked as a pearlescent lip gloss. I love the consistency, absorbency and versatility of the palette and for the price it's really good quality.

I checked the Caring Consumer list and the products are not tested on animals.

**********Packaging**********

The Shimmer Palette I packaged as a small compact in black matt plastic with a window at the top which highlights the four colours contained within it. Once opened there is a small but very handy mirror attached to the lid of the case and the palette is attached to the bottom half of the case with a section underneath for the supplied brush which is a typical small eye shadow brush.

The packaging is very durable but feels incredibly light and is operated by a simple lift and open mechanism which opens the lid.

The packaging looks sleek, modern and minimal and although it isn't immediately eye catching I would notice it amongst an array of products due to it simple urban style. All of the Studio line ELF Products appear to be encased in the sleek, black packing whilst the lower end products tend to be in the white plastic packaging. I love the fact that the ELF logo is always quite minimal and understated on every product and in this case it's a small elf logo at the front in silver with the words shimmer palette underneath.


*********Functionality & Usability*****

The Shimmer Palette is highly functional from the packaging to the product itself; essentially it delivers what it's supposed to and so much more. Multi-functional facial shimmer in a sleek modern package.

The product is very easy to use in a variety of ways and is a welcome addition to any make up bag.

*******Ingredients*****

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mica, Dimethicone, Polymethylmethacrylate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Synthetic Wax, Triacontanyl PVP, Paraffinium Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Titanium Dioxide, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Iron Oxides (CI 77491 , CI 77492 , CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Mica (CI 77019), Red No.7 Lake (CI 15850), Red No.27 Lake (CI 45410), Red No.6 Lake (CI 15850), Blue No.1 Lake (CI 42090), Yellow No.5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow No.6 Lake (CI 15985)

There are quite a few chemicals in this product but far less than I expected and I was relieved to see that there weren't any parabens on the list. I have highlighted some of the chemicals below.

Titanium Dioxide is a naturally occurring mineral which is derived from oxide of titanium and is frequently used in cosmetics to inject a whiteness to color cosmetics and encourage the opacity and minimize transparency, titanium dioxide also reflects and absorbs and scatters light including (UVA,B & C rays) and has anti-ageing properties. Titanium Dioxide was studied by the a group working for the International Agency for Cancer Research who announced that there was inadequate evidence in humans regarding eth carcinogenic effects of Titanium Dioxide but sufficient evidence for its carcinogenicity in experimental animals, and classified the substance as possibly carcinogenic to humans

Iron Oxides are naturally occurring mineral deposits and are generally used in cosmetics to provide pigmentation and Ipresume the Iron Oxides are providing the glittery pigment effect of the colour stick.

As with nearly all brand cosmetics there is a list of chemical ingredients which are always up for debate regarding their toxicity. Due to the heavy pigmentation the product I would recommend that anyone with sensitive skin to try a patch test before usage.

*********Value for money********
The ELF Company use cheap packaging and don't use celebrity endorsements and Ad campaigns in order to keep the costs down.

ELF Products are definitely at the cheaper end of the spectrum, but I don't actually feel that the products suffer for this and in fact the packaging doesn't look cheap. Its simple stylish and contemporary.

The Shimmer Palette is without question great value for money it's a Highlighter, blusher, eye shadow and lipstick all for £3.50

***********Overall Opinion*********
This is another ELF product that I adore and use daily in a variety of ways. It's easy to use really cost effective and cruelty free. A make up must have.

I like the packaging, the usability, the functionality, the price and the product itself and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone.


Summary: A really good versatile product which is budget friendly and delivers.