Budget Beaut.ies: ELF Studio Line

That there pic above is of some ELF goodies the brand sent me recently to stick my curious fingers into. Look a bit different from their normal offerings, don't they? Well, that's cos they're from the Studio line, a more expensive 'pro' extension the brand added last year.

And by expensive, I've got to point out that this is a relative concept, because we're still taking tiny prices - the pic above features blush in Candid Coral, a shimmer palette, concealer pencil with brush and a cream eyeliner. All cost €4.

Yes. That's right. Four euro.

Packaging is way nicer with this stuff than with the regular offerings and with the blush, you'd nearly fool casual observers that it's Nars Orgasm, as the compact is so similar (barring a plastic as opposed to rubber finish and a see-through panel in the lid, which is actually really handy should you have more than one of these in your stash).

The shimmer palette is a generous size and contains four  silky pearlised shades you can use on the face in a variety of ways - solo or over foundation on on cheekbones, in the cupids bow of the lips, down the nose, or in fact, anywhere you felt could benefit from a bit of added radiance. Fancy a closer look at the other bits?

Here's a closeup of the cream liner and the blush. I'm going to be test-driving both this week but based on quick swatches, the quality seems to be pretty decent, so fingers crossed.

This is the one that piqued my interest the most: it's the concealer pencil and brush and packs a lot of functionality into one little beauty buy. I love concealer pencils as it happens, they're precise, easy to use and carry about and they're hygienic. This has a sharpener in the lid, a synthetic brush for blending and a concealing complex that contains salicylic acid and tea tree oil, so it's medicated to help clear blemishes. On first impressions, very impressive, but naturally a proper test is required.

So, in the immortal words of the Fast Show, this week I are mostly trying Elf's Studio line goodies. And you? Tried any of the products? Give us your rates and slates in a comment.