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Yup, a TSABD Edit on a Monday! I usually like to do these on Tuesdays, but I had an influx of makeup come in from brands and I really want to get the reviews (and all the makeup I won’t use) out of here before the new year. So expect a few more for this week—I do plan to take a little hiatus for the holidays after this week and be back in January. Make sure you’re subscribed to the blog so you know when I’m back (or if I wind up putting up a post or two during my so-called hiatus…lol).
Last week I reviewed a number of e.l.f. Cosmetics products namely the new deeper shades, so if you missed that make sure you check it out here. I had the e.l.f. Beauty Shield Antioxidant Armored Setting Powder but completely forgot about it for the review. Then after reviewing the Makeup Mist & Set, I decided to buy and try the Illuminating Mist & Set.
e.l.f. Beauty Shield Antioxidant Armored Setting Powder
Official description:
This loose powder provides sheer, lightweight coverage and can be worn alone for a natural look, or used as a makeup setting powder. The velvety soft texture helps even skin tone, and minimize the appearance of pores for a flawless finish. Formulated with key antioxidants, Licorice Extract, Vitamin E, Vitamin C to help protect your skin against everyday environmental aggressors.
I got this in the Sheer/Golden color because the “darker” color made more sense with my darker skin tone. It’s possible that the Sheer/Natural might also work (aside from maybe some flashback but I’ve told you guys I don’t use flash when I’m taking photos and it’s rare that I take a photo where flash is needed) but if there’s an option for a darker shade when it comes to powders like this, I’m going to go with the darker shade.
Now these won’t deposit the yellow color if you use sheer layers and a fluffy brush that doesn’t pick up a lot of product. I wouldn’t use this powder to bake under my eyes or anywhere because then the color does deposit and it’s obviously too light for me. But as a pretty light dusting to set my makeup, the powder is pretty undetectable in color but you can tell you obviously used something because it does slightly mattify and blur the skin.
I liked the powder and thought it was pretty okay—nothing groundbreaking though. It does the job it says it’s going to do, doesn’t cost much, and the packaging is nice—I’m pleased that for an $8 setting powder, it doesn’t look like it’s for a butterfly or unicorn-loving 8 year-old girl nor does it look super cheap and flimsy. You can tell actual thought went into the packaging process. For me the packaging makes it more likely that I’ll have e.l.f. Cosmetics products in my curated makeup stash.
Price and where to buy: $8 at elfcosmetics.com. See the e.l.f. site for in-store locations near you.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Illuminating Mist & Set
Official description:
The Illuminating Mist & Set spray gives your makeup a lasting radiant finish. Instantly achieve a glowy look with the green tea and vitamins A, C, and E infused formula. Enjoy refreshed skin and fade free makeup with every use!
I picked this up at my local Target after trying out the regular Makeup Mist & Set. I was hoping that since the regular Makeup Mist & Set was a bit too mattifying for me in the colder weather—it could have just been that one day though, it WAS pretty cold. The weather is so wishy-washy these days that I really have to check the temperature each day to see not only what I’m going to wear (is it going to be a winter coat or my denim jacket?) but also which skincare products and makeup I’m going to use (will it be warm enough to break out my summer stuff or should I do the winter stuff?). You can read more about matching your skincare to the seasons and your makeup here.
So most things with “illuminating” in the title are sometimes off limits to my oily skin—I can wear something matte and my skin will eventually make it look illuminating anyway…lol. But in the winter (or shoot, I should say when it’s cold outside because clearly now there are days in winter in NYC where the weather is 60 degrees or warmer) I need more hydration—nothing too heavy, but definitely more hydration especially because I’m going from the freezing cold outside to dry heat inside (which is why humidifiers are great). Anyway, I don’t use makeup sprays like I used to because since I work from home, I’m not wearing makeup as much as I did AND when I do wear makeup, I don’t usually have it on long enough where I need a spray. Plus as I’m getting older, while my skin is still oily, it’s not as oily as it was when I was younger (this tends to happen as we age) and I also don’t mind *some* shine as it looks more natural on me than being completely matte (read: Don’t Forget Balance in Your Makeup Looks). I don’t really have issues with my makeup staying in place which is another reason why I don’t use makeup sprays as much as I used to, but I did like how this one helped it stay put while I was running around in the city and helping host a baby shower and allowed me to shine without looking greasy. This of course could change and be the exact opposite when it’s warmer out (say like 55 degrees or warmer).
I also like this spray (as well as the regular Makeup Mist & Set) to help intensify the pigments especially in powder makeup. If you have a glittery or shimmery shadow and you want more of the glitter or shimmer to show up, swipe your eyeshadow brush over the shadow and then spritz your brush with a little bit of the spray. You can add a little more spray if you want dramatic intensity but this will help to get certain products to show up more vividly in finish. This is also great for loose pigments and loose glitters (although for certain looks you might prefer a mixing medium).
So will Illuminating Mist & Set all of a sudden make you into this stunning display of luminosity and glow? Probably not unless you want to put in the handiwork of getting that glow with other products and then use this to set it or intensify it. Is it a must-have? Probably not. But I like my little $3 bottle and really love how sleek the packaging is, which again fits into my curated makeup stash aesthetic.
Price and where to buy: $4 at elfcosmetics.com. See elfcosmetics.com for in-store locations near you.
There’s also a Matte Mist & Set which I probably won’t try right away because I don’t think the weather will get warm enough for a while for it to make sense for me to try it. But who knows, I may get it on a whim during a Target run so make sure you’re subscribed to the blog either way so you don’t miss that or any other posts.
See more e.l.f. cosmetics posts, swatches, and reviews here.
