Five Minute Face for Six Dollars

One thing I have struggled with as I am simplifying is keeping a feminine professional appearance for work while saving money on expensive cosmetics and skin care products. I have always had sensitive skin and had to be careful which products I have used. I have tried just about everything, department store lines, drug store brands, mail order products, sensitive skin care lines, natural ingredient lines. I kept coming back to the same inexpensive drug store brand I have used since I started using skin and makeup products when I was a teenager. Lately that brand has almost double in price making what used to be incidentals into purchases needing planning.

I recently discovered E.L.F. cosmetics where the majority of their cosmetic line cost only $1 per item. I went out to investigate the website and was skeptical that the deal was really a deal. I compared the colors and sizes to the products in my drawer and they were similiar. E.L.F. has a limited range of colors for each type of cosmetic but they do cover the basics. Other than their bath products, kits and mineral makeups, their items are all $1.00. They offer a flat rate of $6.00 for shipping. If you were to order several months worth of products at a time, that would offset the shipping cost per item. E.L.F. has all the usual makeup components- foundation (including an SPF 15 tinted moisturzer that I have fallen in love with), powder, eye shadow, lip glosses, blushers, eye and lip liners, make up brushes, applicators, and nail polish.

Being an discount-aholic, I did a search for coupon codes for E.L.F. and found one active that day for 50% off. I purchased twelve items for $12 including shipping. The same drug store equivalent brands would have cost $36-$48 dollars.

When my order arrived, I was pleasantly surprised with the pretty colors and the quality of the products. E.L.F. products have simple light fragrances that are not too cloying and their lip products have a light flavor which is not too distracting. I was especially fascinated with the nail polish.

I have not regularly worn nail polish in years. I usually wear my nails short and shape and buff them using a four-way nail file to give them the gloss of a clear polish without the mess, bother and expense. With the price and pretty colors offered by E.L.F., I decided to experiment with nail polish again for a more professional appearance as I am embarking on a season of job hunting. Choosing their dark red color polish, I applied two easy coats. The polish was smooth and dried quickly without being sticky or too transluent. With a top coat of clear, the polish lasted five days without chipping and with only slight wear on the nail tips. The polish has not made my nails split either, a common occurance with other brands. I am enjoying the "girly-girl" look of polished nails with the added fun of knowing I did not pay too much for the polish.

Now for the hook, I applied what I call my five minute face. After cleaning my face in the shower with a simple skin cleanser and applying an ultra sheer SPF55 sunscreen that doubles as my moisturizer, I applied the E.L.F. foundation ($1), eye shadow ($1), eye liner ($1), blush ($1), face powder ($1), and lip gloss ($1). The result was a fresh go-anywhere look in five minutes for $6. The product sizes with adequate but conservative use should last me 2 months.

How have you simplified your beauty routine lately?