Beauty Planning With E.l.f. Cosmetics
Forget Outfit Planning — Beauty Planning Is Our New Favorite Way to Self-Soothe
The days of carefully plotting our outfits for work, dinners out, and sun-filled vacations seem like a distant memory, but we sure do miss them. There was a certain thrill in hunting down the right accessories for the vintage coat you found at Goodwill or finally getting to wear the shoes you preordered months in advance. It was fun, rewarding, and incredibly personal — maybe even therapeutic.
In the first half of 2021, we're still spending most of our time indoors, head to toe in our comfiest matching sets. And while we might find the occasional moment to dress up, they're few and far between. That's why we're making the case for replacing outfit planning with beauty planning. Equally fun, exploratory, and rooted in self-expression, makeup is a great alternate for unleashing your creativity and finding a moment to put yourself first. Need some help getting started? New beauty releases are an easy jumping-off point. Ahead, inspired by new launches from e.l.f. Cosmetics, we're sharing four prime examples of beauty planning in practice.
Golden and Glowy
There are endless ways to make your entire aura glow, but gorgeous skin and pops of gold are a good place to start. This stunningly simple look features the new Camo CC Cream ($14), a foolproof color corrector that looks totally natural when applied. Bonus benefits — like a stacked ingredient list including hyaluronic acid and peptides — help skin look glowing, plump, and hydrated. All that's left to do is add a hint of blush and pop a shimmery, golden yellow shadow in your inner corners.
Bring the Drama
There's nothing subtle about this look — and that's exactly why we love it. On days when you know you'll want to sport a bold, dramatic look, keep this one in your back pocket. A can't-miss product in e.l.f. Cosmetics' Mint Melt Collection, the Mint Melt Eyeshadows in Mint to Be ($4) are the stars of the show. Here, all four colors were used to create the sharp winged eye look. Two more Mint Melt releases rounded it all out: the Mint Melt Cooling Face Primer ($8) as a base and Mint Melt Lip Gloss in Mint Sprinkle ($4).
Minimal and Minty
Looking for a minimal way to incorporate color into your look? Add mint eyeshadow to your upcoming beauty plans. Using the Mint Melt Eyeshadows in Chocolate Mint ($4), cover your eyelids with a wash of frosty light-green eyeshadow, and use the palette's neutral hues to add depth to your crease and lower lash line. Fake lashes will add additional drama, while a few swipes of mascara will help you achieve a subtler look.
(Almost) Bare-Faced
Going bare-faced doesn't mean you have to skip makeup completely. As shown here, you can strike the perfect balance with a few key additions. After applying your skin care and SPF, add some clear brow gel (or soap, for the most wispy, laminated look) to your eyebrows, brushing them up to create a bushy effect. Then, amp up your eyes with a dark, volumizing mascara, like the new Lash It Loud Mascara ($6) formula from e.l.f. Cosmetics. The wand includes a variety of bristle lengths to help concentrate the formula and customize your look. A feather-light dusting of highlighter and blush are optional.
