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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Toronto chapter.

About a month ago, a friend of mine introduced me to a brand named e.l.f and told me how its primer had an amazing quality. So right away when I heard the word quality I assumed it came with a high price tag. To my surprise, I later found out that the primer is under $10! Needless to say, after only one month I am already using four different e.l.f products that I’m completely in love with. Not only are the products all top quality but they’re super cheap! Now, as students we all know that the struggle for money is real, so this make up brand is a great way to save that money.  

Check out these top six products you can use as a first time e.l.f user:

1. e.l.f Mineral Infused Primer ($6)

I have been using this product every day for the past few weeks and I am still not close to finishing the bottle. Just a small pea size can coat the entire face. It softens your skin and minimizes the size of your pores immediately to give you very clear looking skin with that special glow we all want.

2. e.l.f Mad for Matte Eyeshadow Palette ($10)

Matte eyeshadow is the new trend right now so why not go for this cheap eyeshadow palette with a variety of tones for your everyday look or a night out with friends. The eyeshadow is extremely smooth and not dry at all. All the colours blend in with one another very well and you do not need more than two coats max.

Side note: If you end up falling in love with this product, you might also want to consider purchasing e.l.f all about nude 32 colour eyeshadow palette, which also comes with 1 eyelid primer, 1 eyeshadow brush, and 1 eyeliner brush all for only $15.

3. e.l.f Matte Lip Colour – Different Shades ($4)

I have also recently bought the natural shade for this lipstick and I have not only been happy with the quality, but also the price for the quality. Most matte lipsticks tend to make lips really dry or sticky, but this lipstick did not make my lips chapped at all. It also has a cool looking sharpener at the end of the lipstick! Let’s be real, which one of your $30 lipsticks have a sharpener like this one?

4. e.l.f Lip Exfoliator Clear ($4)

I would highly recommend this product to anyone who has chapped lips. The product looks like a lipstick, but it has a slightly rough texture. It basically feels like you’re rubbing solid sugar grains on your lips. I usually put this on in the morning and at night and wash it away after a while.

Warning: It tastes really good!

5. e.l.f Essential Brush Set ($15)

All I have to say about this product is that you’re paying only $15 for the following:

1 Eyeliner brush, 1 concealer brush, 1 eyelash and brow wand, 1 smudge eye sponge, 1 eye shadow brush, 1 blushing, bronzing and blending brush, 1 daily brush cleaner.

Enough said.

6. e.l.f. Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter Fair/Glow ($4)

Although I have not used this product myself, I will recommend a good under-eye concealer to every U of T student because we all have pulled all-nighters whether to binge watch a show or to study. Using this product, we can still look on point the next day without any dark baggy eyes.

If you’re wondering, the main reason for the cheap price tags of this not-so-popular brand is most likely due to the fact that it is not yet well-known and it has been hard competing with other popular products in the market including brands like Clinique, Estee Lauder, MAC, Chanel etc. In our modern world, money equates to luxury, meaning most people prefer spending money on two products from well-known brands, as opposed to spending the same money to get five products from a less known brand. However, as a student with a limited amount of pocket money, it might be smarter to look for alternative brands that offer high quality products at super cheap products. 

Side note: All e.l.f products are also cruelty-free and have not been tested on any animals.

 

References

http://www.blushedandbronzed.com/elf-matte-lip-color-review-and-swatches/

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/makeup/g3179/best-lip-scrubs/

https://www.dealsplus.com/Health-and-Beauty-Supplies_deals/p_e-l-f-essen…

http://ca.iherb.com/e-l-f-cosmetics-under-eye-concealer-highlighter-fair…

http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/makeup/face/primer/mineral_face_primer

Jina Aryaan is one of the Co-Editors-in-Chief of Her Campus UToronto. She is a fourth year student pursuing a major in Sociology, and a double minor in French and Latin American Studies at the University of Toronto. She has been working with Her Campus since her first year of University, and she is also highly involved on campus through various other leadership positions. When she's not busy studying, you can catch her running around campus to get to her next class or meeting. When she has some spare time, she's likely busy writing, discussing politics, or spending quality time with friends and family.