This moisturizing multitasker may be the best $5 I've spent in a long, long time. (Amazon)
Nothing simplifies your makeup routine like a multi-stick. It adds a pop of color wherever you need it with zero fuss. And for us women of a certain age, there's a big bonus: It'll restore much-needed moisture. Powdery blushes do you dirty when you age, so when I find something that gives me that coveted youthful glow — you know, something along the lines of "fresh off a horseback riding session in the British moorlands" — I buy in bulk.
The problem? The only formulas I found were pricey. I was devoted to my Ilia Multi-Stick for eons, but at $36 a pop, it kept me languishing in one-color purgatory for far too long. I wanted to experiment with shades, so I began to search for more affordable options — and I finally landed on the E.l.f. Monochromatic Multi-Stick. After one swipe of this highly pigmented, highly moisturizing color stick, I knew I was never turning back.
This creamy, dreamy formula is easy to apply, and it's small enough to carry in even the tiniest of purses. Over 40,000 five-star Amazon reviewers are just as excited about this affordable find as I am. "It blends very easily and I always feel younger and fresher with this on. I've never had any breakouts or other issues and use these every day," said one.
I've used this for years. The pencil is super-fine, so it's easy to fill in patchy spots with a natural-looking swipe. It's nicely pigmented, blends easily and lasts all day — even when I go for a quick dip in the pool. The spoolie at the end is nice and dense and it blends the pencil while coaxing my brow hairs into place for a smooth finish.
This is volumizing and buildable, and it tames errant brow hairs. I never understood why people were spending so much on Glossier's Boy Brow when this is the same thing at a quarter of the price. (That said, Glossier is Yahoo's pick for the best brow gel of 2024, so your mileage may vary!)
These have some serious color! If you like Rare Beauty, these apply similarly and are often touted as an affordable option to that formula. Having tried both, I feel like Rare Beauty applies softer and doesn't last as long. I'd actually compare the color deposit to Glossier's Cloud Paint.
I'll die on this hill: Nothing looks better with a white tee and jeans than a swipe of liquid liner. This stuff is the best. It has a super-fine point that allows me to draw the most precise line — I'm able to control it better than any other liner pen I've tried. It glides on smoothly, doesn't tug or pull and dries fast, so it doesn't smudge. Plus, it lasts all day.
Here's the thing about blush. As we age, that powdery stuff just wants to settle into fine lines, making our skin look dryer and less plump and dewy. We go from "flushed ingenue" to "mummified landlord." Instead, we need a formula that smooths on easily and melts into our skin.
Jones Road makes a terrific option and, as I've stated, I've long loved Ilia. But, honestly, I never felt either one was perfect. Jones Road is a bit tacky. It never really melted into my skin, and it always made me feel like flypaper when I wore it. While Ilia was darn near perfect, it was a drier formula than my skin craved. That's why I'm so excited to have landed on the E.l.f Multi-Stick, and why I'm recommending it to friends and coworkers.
Let me give you a rundown of why it's so great:
The colors: They're gorgeous. Since I'm only spending $5 a pop, I splurged and bought four shades. All but one worked beautifully on my olive skin. Glimmering Guava looks like I just came back from a day of margaritas and boating. It has a burnished look that says, "I almost got a sunburn, but reapplied my sunblock just in time to be the picture of perfect health." Bronzed Cherry is a bit more sophisticated but still gives that healthy, summery glow. Luminous Berry gives a bold flush and is especially gorgeous with a berry lip. Glistening Peach is pretty but, alas, too light for my skin tone.
The pigment: These sticks have A LOT of color. A little goes a long way. Typically, that sort of sentiment gets a side-eye from me. It's generally reserved for when people want to convince you that something is pricey but "worth the splurge." These are only $5, but that $5 of color seriously delivers.
The formula: Since they do deposit so much color, it's important to know that these sticks are highly blendable. It's tough to mess up application, and you can easily work them in with your fingers, though I feel like they blend best with a brush. That said, if you really want to go big with color, they're buildable. They're also free from stuff like phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol — the list goes on — and are vegan and cruelty-free. E.l.f. is Leaping Bunny-certified and PETA-approved.
The moisture: We all wear blush to achieve a more youthful glow. You're not going to look any younger if stuff is settling into your lines. These sticks give a smooth swipe and then melt into your skin. They are dewy without being slick or sticky.
The staying power: When I'm paying $5 for something, I don't necessarily expect it to last. But these sticks do! They're small enough to toss in my purse, but I didn't find myself needing to reapply at the clip I anticipated. I've been thrilled to check my face a few hours into my day to see I don't need to re-up my blush.
The size: This could be a pro or a con, depending on your point of view. Know before you buy: These look travel-sized. Since they're only $5 — and since I read the reviews — I wasn't thrown off by how small they are. In fact, I was delighted. When I went away for a long weekend, I easily packed two shades.
This isn't the only E.l.f. product that has me swooning. Here are some other favorites:
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