If I had to choose one, I’d be much more likely to spend money on clothes than makeup. I have a little more fun with clothes, putting outfits together and styling things, but am feeling more experimental towards makeup lately! I tend to get into a routine with the makeup products that I use, using the same palettes/colors/brands for years on end. Lately, though, I’ve been branching out a little bit more, switching things up seasonally and having fun with it!
On a recent trip to Target (which is basically a weekly occurrence), I popped into the makeup section and ended up walking out with a couple new palettes to try. So far, I’ve only used one of them regularly, which is this e.l.f. clay eyeshadow palette in necessary nudes. I had very low expectations, since it was less than $10 and I don’t haven’t much of any experience with the brand, but have been pleasantly surprised by it!
It’s got a great mix of classic nude colors and comes in compact packaging, which I love for traveling! I love that you can create a really subtle look or go for a bolder, smokey eye. Since the weather is warming up and my wardrobe is getting lighter, I’ve been opting for a more subtle everyday smokey eye lately. This is how it turns out:
I use just three of the colors in the palette – the lightest, a good mid-range color, and then the darkest. The key, for me at least, is using a really good eyeshadow primer. I find that this primer not only makes my eyeshadow last all day, but also allows for easier application and being able to use less product but still get the same color impact. I just apply it with my ring finger all over my lid, and then go in to do the eyeshadow.
I use a fluffy brush to apply the lightest color all over my lid and up to my brows. Then I go in with the middle color and apply from the middle of my lid to the outer corner, to soften the contrast of the lightest and darkest colors. With a smudging brush, I take just a little bit of the darkest color and work it into the outer corner and a bit into the crease, blending, blending, blending until it looks smooth and natural. It’s super simple, but a really pretty outcome!
I bought this a couple of months ago for the same reason and use it everyday! PS – hit up your local Payless store. I grabbed a Bare Minerals everyday pallette for $12 the other day. It’s not much bigger than the ELF but has twice the shades!
Just bought this eye shadow, can’t wait to try it out!