ELF Studio Lip Stain

I have been wanting to try the ELF Studio Lip Stains for a long time, but I just never got around to picking one up.  During ELF's gigantic birthday sale, I picked up all the shades, and I must say, there are a few must-have shades for my collection.  Unfortunately though, there's a good portion of the collection I personally could do without.

The ELF Studio Lip Stains are $3.00ea and come in eight shades; Birthday Suit, Bombshell, Fashionista, First Date, Heartbreaker, Lucky Lady, Mysterious, Red Carpet.  The packaging is sleek as is most of the Studio line items, but I didn't care for how the two tubes twisted into the center piece because the corners didn't line up and it made it look cheaper in quality - this wouldn't prevent me from buying it, but in my drawer of lips products, these are the only ones that are crooked.  The closures of the product are nice and tight so I am hoping these don't dry out anytime soon because it seems very sturdy.

Some of the formulations were very thin and streaky and needed at least two coats to look opaque, whereas a few of them felt more like a cream gloss consistency - those I actually preferred more.  I only found that two shades were pigmented enough for just one coat of application; Bombshell and Red Carpet.  I did notice that a lot of these shades applied almost neon - my camera settings couldn't capture how bright they are; the brightest shades are Birthday Suit, Fashionista, First Date, and Red Carpet isn't neon but it sure is bright.  The clear gloss end, I was definitely not impressed with, but a gloss at $3 didn't have my expecting too much.  It's a thinner gloss that doesn't seem to last very long, and the applicator is very tough and almost removes the stain you are topping off.

Description: Achieve full coverage that lasts for hours with this long-wear formula. Enjoy silky matte color or layer on the moisturizing clear gloss for a shiny look. With key Vitamins A & E your lips stay smooth all day long.
Directions: Apply the Stain to bare lips and allow to dry for a matte finish. Apply the clear gloss on top of the color for a shiny effect and to moisturize the lips if needed. Remove with any oil or cream based makeup remover or cleanser.