ELF Plumping Lips Glaze

Nothing's better than a great beauty bargain, and e.l.f Plumping Lips Glaze passes the test for a real beauty steal.

e.l.f. Cosmetics, (Eyes, Lips Face), has a mission to deliver great beauty at an affordable price to help every woman look and feel her best, no matter what her budget. Two of the keys to e.l.f.'s low pricing are by using by minimal advertising and simple packaging.

The line, which was developed in 2004 by celebrity and beauty expert Scott-Vincent Borb, currently includes a large range of makeup and beauty products, including many classic products as well as easy to use two-in-ones and new beauty innovations. Eye makeup, foundations, concealers, and blushes, nail polish care and nail care, brushes and tools, makeup kits, mineral makeup, and bath and body products are all available.

Two special collections are also available from e.l.f. the Studio Line, which offers highly affordable professional products from primers to brushes to brow care; and the Sugar Kiss Collection, an assortment of bright, glittery makeup aimed at a younger demographic.

The Plumping Lips Glaze from e.l.f comes in a double ended tube with individual lip wands on each end. One end is filled with the plumper, a pearly product designed to make your lips look fuller, and the other end comes with a sheer gloss-like color. The glaze is available in the following colors:

• Oasis (a pale peachy color)
• Mauve Berry (a sheer berry tone)
• Fire Coral (a mostly pinky coral)
• Champagne (a beigy gloss)
• Mocha Ice (a slightly pinky nude)
• Plum Pout (a subtle plum shade)
• Ruby Kiss (a pretty reddish tint)
• Baby Doll (a very pale pink)

I wasn't shopping for makeup when I picked up my tube of e.l.f. Plumping Lips Glaze, but on any shopping trip I have a tendency to wander to the makeup and skincare aisles to check out new products and attempt to have the willpower to refrain from grabbing all the delicious new beauty finds. While e.l.f. largely operates by internet sales, they do offer some of their products at K-Mart and Target stores, as well as some convenience stores.

Drawn in by the an end-cap of e.l.f products at my local Super K-Mart store (the groceries would just have to wait), I was thrilled to find a lip plumping product at only one dollar. I had been wanting to try a lip plumper, but shied away from the higher price tag many plumping products have in case I didn't like how they worked. I chose the e.l.f. lip plumper in Mocha Ice, (along with a few other finds) and went on my way, excited about trying this inexpensive lip treat the next day.

While sometimes cheap beauty products are better off in the garbage than on your face, in my opinion the Plumping Lips Glaze by e.l.f. is not one of them. You can actually use the product several different ways, but in my initial use I used it as designed: apply the lip plumper and follow up with the lip color.

The plumper gave my lips, a tingly, minty sensation and had a pleasant scent. The Mocha Ice color was perfect for my the look I wanted, a hint of shine and color without looking too made up or overpowering the face. I'm fair-skinned, with brown hair and blue eyes, and without a little color I look washed out, but I like glosses and lipsticks on the nude side for everyday wear. Within a few seconds of application, I could tell the my lips looked smoother and a bit plumper.

My lips are medium (not super thin, but nowhere near Angelina Jolie's gorgeous pout) so even though the plumping wasn't intense, it was enough for me. The consistency of the product is excellent, very smooth and not at all clumpy. It was also moisturizing to my lips, which was a nice added benefit.

About an hour after application, my lips still appeared plumper than usual, after that the effects seem to minimize, so you will probably need to reapply the product several times throughout the day (I apply most lip gloss several times a day anyway as it wears off) if you want to retain the plump lip look.

What I really liked about the e.l.f. Plumping Lips Glaze is that it can be used in different ways. I used the gloss alone several times just to get the quick wash of color I was craving, as well as using the plumper alone. Used alone, the plumper has a really pretty, pearly look that shines, but not in a little-girl glitter kind of way. It looks great with a more dramatic eye or a smoky eye makeup look. I also used the plumper under other lipsticks when I wanted a different color.

I would give the e.l.f Plumping Lip Glaze five stars - the price combined with the great product it delivers makes this a beauty bag essential.(The size also makes it easy to toss into your purse or bag, or keep in the car for a quick touch up!) This gloss is a steal with great color, smooth consistency, and versatility.

The only cons are that if you are looking for something incredibly dramatic in a lip plumper, you might be better off investing in a professional product; and if you are a lover of long-wearing lip gloss, you may be disappointed to have to reapply a few times during the day.

For those that are looking for enhancing the lips in a more subtle way and are already addicted to lip gloss application throughout the day, this is an outstanding lip glaze.

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