26 Best e.l.f. Makeup Products

Drugstore beauty brand e.l.f. Cosmetics offers very low-priced makeup products that are 100% vegan and cruelty-free.

E.l.f.’s prestige-inspired makeup products rival and often exceed some high-end makeup brands in performance with their high-quality and cheap prices.

Today I’d like to discuss some of the best e.l.f. Cosmetics makeup products that stand out for their effective formulas and affordable pries.

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26 Best e.l.f. Makeup Products

I’ve tried many e.l.f. skincare products and have been so impressed with their quality. The same can be said of their makeup products.

Every time I try a new product from e.l.f. I am pleasantly surprised by either the pigmentation of the product, the long wear of the product, or some other unexpected benefit that I would not expect from such low-cost makeup.

Let’s take a look at some of the best e.l.f. Cosmetics makeup products:

e.l.f. Putty Primers

This best-selling collection of primers are stand-outs from e.l.f. Whether you wear a full face of makeup or no makeup at all, these putty primers are smoothing and blurring for a poreless look.

You can also use them in place of eyeshadow and lip primer too!

Whether you have a combination, dry, oily, sensitive, or mature skin, there is sure to be an e.l.f. primer that will work for your complexion.

Can’t decide between the 3 primers? Try them all in this convenient TRIO OF MINIs!

If you are in a hurry and want a quick look at the benefits of each primer, please see this table comparing Poreless Putty Primer, Matte Putty Primer, and Luminous Putty Primer.

This skin-perfecting primer grips makeup and glides easily across the skin.

This putty primer smooths imperfections and minimizes the appearance of pores, as suggested in its name. It helps makeup last longer and is ideal for all skin types.

The primer is formulated with green tea extract (Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract), which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is also infused with squalane, an emollient that hydrates and locks in moisture.

This primer should be applied after your moisturizer and before your foundation and makeup. Allow it to set for about 30 seconds before applying makeup.

You can also apply it to your eyelids to help lock eyeshadow into place. Perfect for those with dry and combination skin.

I finally understood what all the fuss was after trying this product. It is an effective primer that smoothes, hydrates, and helps your foundation perform better.

Even my skin texture looks improved.

This primer is so popular that e.l.f. has come out with two additional putty primers that provide the same benefits but with a matte or luminous finish:

The oil-free formula contains kaolin and white charcoal to help absorb excess oil. The primer grips makeup and smooths imperfections with a shine-free finish.

It feels somewhat drier upon application than the original putty primer. This primer that has a velvety texture helps makeup last longer. It really blurs the skin and helps to reduce the look of pores.

The mattifying formula is on display once the product is blended into the skin.

Since I usually go for matte finishes in my foundations, I don’t really need a matte primer too, so I prefer the original Poreless Putty Primer to this product.

If you have oily skin this may be very helpful in controlling oil and helping makeup stay put all day.

This primer is infused with sodium hyaluronate and vegan collagen to plump the skin. Like the other putty primers, this primer smoothes skin and hides imperfections, reducing the appearance of pores.

It creates a glowing base for makeup application.

I was surprised that there is so much golden pigment in this product. As you can see from the image above, it has a bit of golden shimmer.

Once makeup is applied though, that golden shimmer is minimized. I would use this primer if I want a radiant finish. It would be perfect for an evening makeup look.

Like the other primers, this luminous primer smoothes my skin and evens out texture while minimizing pores. It’s a highly effective smoothing formula similar to the original, with an added golden glow.

For more details on these e.l.f. primers, see this post on the best e.l.f. primers.

This liquid foundation helps to even out skin tone and brighten skin. It lasts all day, too.

Flawless Finish foundation is formulated for all skin types and comes in a whopping 40 shades.

All of these shade options ensure that fair, light, medium, tan, deep, and rich skin tones are covered with a variety of neutral, cool, pink, peach, olive, rosy, red, and golden undertones.

Right now, I am mixing Beige (light with cool pink undertones) with Sand (light-medium with neutral undertones).

This foundation is buildable, and I really like the natural finish that wears well all day. It wears even better when applied after e.l.f.’s best-selling putty primers.

It is formulated with sodium hyaluronate, the salt form of hyaluronic acid, to hydrate, plump, and seal moisture into the skin. The concealer also contains rose flower water to soothe and nourish the skin with its anti-inflammatory benefits.

Most importantly, this concealer hides discoloration, blemishes, under-eye circles, and other imperfections, all while hydrating your skin.

The formula is very pigmented, and the satin finish keeps away the creasing and cracking.

This concealer has a large doe foot applicator. It is formulated for normal, combination, and dry skin and is available in 25 shades.

I was impressed with e.l.f.’s matte 16 hr Camo Concealer and even wrote a post about testing it as an alternative for a high-end concealer favorite.

When I discovered Hydrating Camo Concealer, I discovered that I liked it even more than the original matte version since the satin finish of this hydrating formula causes minimal creasing.

The coverage is extremely pigmented, so I only need a little dab on the inside corners of my eyes.

It does wonders to conceal dark under-eye circles, blemishes, and discoloration on my face.

Related Post: The 10 Best Drugstore Concealers for Dark Circles Under Your Eyes 2020

It’s easy to blend and highly pigmented and stays put once blended. The blush comes in 7 shades with lots of neutral options.

I’ve never tried a primer-infused blush before, so I had no expectations. This blush really impressed me.

I have the shade Always Punchy (shown above), and since it seemed a little light, I thought the color might get lost on my cheeks. That was not the case.

This blush is so richly pigmented and really stands out on my cheeks. The color lasts all day too. I think this is a great blush product for such a low price.

Related Post: Nars Orgasm Blush: Drugstore Alternatives

The loose powder comes in three shades: Sheer, Soft Luminance, and Corrective Yellow. I use the shade Sheer (shown above).

Just tap some of the powder into the cap and swirl a powder brush over the powder. Then tap the excess and buff the powdered brush onto your face.

I concentrate on the t-zone of my nose, chin, and forehead. This is the area where oil accumulates most throughout the day.

This neutral shade of powder is also perfect to set concealer under the eyes. It’s extremely lightweight, doesn’t cake, and a light layer won’t interfere with other makeup products.

The highlighter is formulated with Vitamin E and a blend of oils including jojoba, rosehip, sunflower, apricot, and grape oils that hydrate and nourish your skin.

The highlighter can be applied dry for a sheer look or wet for a more vibrant look. Use a highlighting brush to apply it to your cheekbones, brow bones, and Cupid’s bow to brighten and illuminate your face.

I like to use my fingers to apply it to the inner corners of my eyes for a more wide-awake look.

The highlighter comes in three shades: Moonlight Pearls (shown above), Apricot Glow, and Blush Gems. For the low price, you can buy all three without any overspending guilt!

NOTE: Be sure to scrape off the top protective layer with a brush or your fingers before using this product.

Each palette has a mix of matte and shimmer shades. The color payoff is very rich, and they are easy to blend to create a unique and defined eye makeup look.

They are small with no extra bells and whistles, which makes them ideal for travel or to throw into your purse.

I have the palette Rose Water, which includes 4 rosy and brown neutral shades. So pretty and easy, these eyeshadow palettes are so cheap that you can buy multiple palettes for additional shade options.

The pencil is formulated with grapeseed oil to condition your brows and support growth and vitamin E to nourish your brows and skin.

The pencil has a creamy consistency and applies easily for an accurate smudge-proof finish. It has a fine tip but not a micro-fine tip, so you are able to deposit more product with one swipe of the pencil.

The pencil is available in the following shades:

• Blonde: Light to Strawberry Blonde Hair
• Taupe: Blonde to Light Brown Hair
• Auburn: Red to Brown Hair
• Neutral Brown: Medium Brown Hair
• Deep Brown: Dark Brown to Black Hair
• Black: Deep Black Hair

I use the Blonde shade (shown above), and I like that it is a little darker than some other “Blonde” shades that I’ve tried in the past.

The pencil is super easy to use, and depending on how many pencil strokes you use, it creates a subtle or dramatic and defined brow look that lasts all day.

You can shape and separate your brows and lashes with this easy-to-use, all-in-one product formula.

One side of this brow and lash mascara is for lashes, and the other side is for your brows. (Each side is marked.)

The brow mascara can be applied on your brows alone or as a finishing brow gel over brow color to groom and set your brows.

The lash mascara can be worn alone or under mascara for all-day wear. It can be used to add texture and length to your lashes without any clumping or flaking.

I sometimes use this alone on my lashes without any color applied underneath for conditioning and a natural look. But since my brows are so light, I usually need to define my brows with a darker shade than my actual brows.

I will apply this after brow color to set and define my brows and keep them in place. The mascara wand does pick up the brow color underneath, but I simply wipe off the wand before returning it to the tube.

Related Post: Best L’Oreal Mascaras

E.l.f. wants you to think of it as a restoring mask for your lips. Perfect for cool weather months when your lips are in need of some TLC.

It comes in four shades: Boss Berry, Just Peachy, Mighty Mint, and Tough Cookie (shown above).

The color of this thick lacquer (shown in Wild Rose above) is buildable yet non-sticky and looks great alone or under a more pigmented lip color.

The shades include pinks, browns, clear, and even a bright purple shade.

This face primer provides a soft-focus effect thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, a hydrating and plumping compound that occurs naturally in our skin but decreases as we age.

Power Grip is a gel-based primer that goes on clear, so it’s perfect for all skin tones and skin types.

It performs like higher-end primers and can be considered a drugstore alternative for cult-favorite Milk Hydro Grip Primer.

Halo Glow contains skincare actives like hydrating hyaluronic acid, moisturizing squalane, and finely milled powders that blur imperfections and give you that sought-after glow.

You can wear it alone for a gorgeous natural glow, over or under makeup, mix it with your favorite foundation or simply use it as a highlighter.

It’s buildable, too, so you can start with sheer coverage and build it to light-to-medium coverage.

It’s formulated in 8 shades to work with the entire range of skin tones and all skin types.

This liquid filter from e.l.f. is a drugstore alternative for Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter, from the coverage and glow, to the bottle and applicator.

The cream blush melts into your skin and is highly pigmented for rich color.

I’m not kidding when I say it’s highly pigmented. Very little goes a long way, so the jar will last you a long time. It’s buildable, and its putty-to-powder texture blends easily into the skin.

It’s formulated with argan oil and vitamin E for moisture and softness.

E.l.f. Putty Blush comes in 8 shades, from lighter peaches and pinks to deeper mauve and brown shades.

The spatula end of the applicator easily removes e.l.f. Putty Primer, Putty Blush, or other solid cream products without having to use your fingers.

It’s especially helpful with e.l.f. Putty Blush since you can remove a small and precise amount, which is all you need for a fresh-faced glow.

Use the dense synthetic bristle brush to blend your primer or blush. The bristles are super soft and spread product evenly and smoothly on your face.

This is one of those products you never knew you needed until you try it. I find myself reaching for it all the time. I love that it’s small enough that it reaches small areas around the eyes.

It’s convenient for travel, too. Plus, you can’t beat the low price.

This setting powder creates a pretty glow with sapphire particles, which are lab-created and finely milled for a smooth radiant finish.

It’s formulated to smooth the look of enlarged pores, fine lines, and other imperfections with its talc-free formula.

The powder works well with all skin tones, so you can be sure that the powder will look natural and subtle on your complexion.

Plus, it comes in six shades, so you can find one that will work with your skin tone.

The loose powder leaves your skin shine-free, providing a soft-focus finish. The silky texture is super lightweight and truly feels weightless on your skin.

It’s also an excellent alternative to the pricey Charlotte Tilbury setting powder.

TIP: E.l.f. notes that you can lightly dust this powder on your bare skin with a powder brush and follow with a layer of foundation. By applying it under your foundation, it will help control oil and create a subtle, natural-looking glow.

The inner core contains skincare benefits thanks to moisturizing and protective vitamin E. You get 2-in-1 benefits with this lip balm: beautifully tinted lips and a nourished and hydrated pout.

It has a soft, creamy texture that glides on your lips smoothly and feels comfortable with no stickiness.

This lip balm is available in 8 shades, from nude to berry tones, all with a muted and sheer color payoff.

An affordable alternative to Clinique Black Honey!

With a unique gloss-to-stain finish, this lip product provides sheer color with a subtle touch of sheen.

E.l.f. notes that it has more pigment than a lip balm but less color than lipstick. I can attest to the fact that the long-lasting lip color won’t transfer. It stays put on your lips!

Glycerin, squalane, and mango seed butter are the skin-loving ingredients in this lip stain, so you can expect your lips to be moisturized without a heavy residue.

While it only takes one swipe for a complete application, the formula is buildable, so you can layer on more color.

This lip stain comes in 8 vibrant shades that lean toward deeper red and brown colors.

Its formula is a buildable wax-gel hybrid that uses kaolin clay and hair-like fibers that coat your brows and fill in sparse areas. The result is fuller, voluminous, yet natural-looking brows.

You can use Wow Brow Gel on its own or pair it with a brow pencil, pen or powder. When using it with another brow product, use Wow Brow Gel as a topcoat to set your brow look.

Before trying this brow gel, I never had luck with this type of brow product. Brow gels would always make my light brows look overdone or unnatural. Not Wow Brow Gel!

This elf product is so easy to use, and it creates the most natural-looking full brows with substantial hold.

It comes in 4 shades to help you achieve your best and fullest brows.

The formula contains SPF 30 sunscreen to help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, as well as skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and multi-tasking niacinamide.

Camo CC Cream is suitable for all skin types, including normal, oily, dry, and combination skin.

The color-correcting cream comes in 30 shades, ensuring that you can find your perfect match.

This cream is the perfect alternative to the pricier It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream.

The lip oil comes with an oversized cushion applicator that deposits the tinted oil onto your lips. The non-sticky oil leaves a sheer but high-gloss finish and can be worn alone or over lipstick for added shine.

The Glow Reviver Lip Oil comes in seven shades (including Crystal Clear for no color but brilliant shine).

This lip oil is perfect for those who want a hydrating and tinted lip product without the heaviness of traditional lipstick.

The perfect affordable alternative to Dior Lip Glow Oil!

Formulated with 2% squalane for added hydration, this blush wand is perfect for achieving a glowy, flushed look.

The cushion-tip applicator allows for precise application, and the buildable formula can be layered for more intensity and color.

Available in six shades, this e.l.f. wand is the perfect substitute for Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm blush.

This liquid highlighter is formulated with 2% squalane for added moisture and blends effortlessly into the skin for a radiant finish.

The cushion-tip applicator makes application a breeze, and the buildable formula allows you to customize your level of glow.

Available in three shades, use this e.l.f. highlighter in place of Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Beauty Light Wand for a similar effect at a fraction of the cost.

Formulated with 2% squalane for extra moisture, the contour liquid is buildable and easily applied with the cushion-tip sponge applicator.

Apply it anywhere you want a little extra definition and glow, like cheekbones, jawline, hairline, or nose. 

This contour wand comes in five shades and is a low-priced alternative to Charlotte Tilbury Contour Wand.

About e.l.f. Cosmetics

Did you know that e.l.f. stands for “Eyes, Lips, Face”? E.l.f. Cosmetics was launched in 2004 with a drive to create inexpensive high-quality makeup.

Scott Vincent Borba and Joseph Shamah (whose father helped launch the company) founded e.l.f. Cosmetics, which is headquartered in Oakland, CA.

Scott Vincent Borba was inspired by seeing women driving expensive cars shopping at dollar stores for cosmetics. The founders believed that the traditional beauty model was out of date.

They soon set out to offer products via a direct-to-consumer method through their e-commerce website, which still accounts for 50% of their total sales today.

One thing that stands out with e.l.f. Cosmetics is its high number of new product launches each year.

They work, learn, and test quickly so that new products can be brought to market at a fast speed. This equates to almost a new product each week.

Especially popular with millennials, e.l.f. takes pride in listening to their customers’ requests and suggestions to help them guide their company.

All e.l.f. products are free from phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, triclocarban, and hydroquinone. All of their products are also cruelty-free and vegan.

The Best elf Products

Elf makeup products continue to impress with this high-performing selection of makeup products.

What are your favorite elf products? I’d love to know…

Thanks for reading, and until next time…

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