Time to review a new foundation! This month I decided to try the ELF Camo CC Cream. I had heard very mixed reviews about this one. Some said it was cakey and too makeuppy while others seemed to like it. So I decided I could make up my own mind and when I had a giftcard decided to pick it up from my local Douglas store. How did I, a fair & dry skinned gal with a cool to neutral undertone, like the ELF Camo CC Cream? Click on through to find out.
Review: ELF Camo CC Cream foundation 120 Fair
The ELF Camo CC Cream has a lot going for it. Since it’s an ELF product it tends to be quite affordable for instance. That said, where I live (The Netherlands), ELF tends to be marked up quite a bit and the brand has gotten more expensive over the years. I remember when I could only shop ELF online and everything was either €1 or €3 or €5. Those were the days! By now, ELF retails for a similar price point as many drugstore brands and this Camo CC Cream retails for €15. Not super cheap, not super expensive either, but quite middle of the road.
What does the CC Cream have to offer?
When I hear CC Cream, I immediately thing of the It Cosmetics CC Cream! That is one of my all time favorite base products as it fuses together skincare with makeup. I was hoping this too would be a rich creamy formula that feels great on the skin. This comes in 20 different shades of which Fair 120 N seems to be the lightest one available (according to the Dutch Douglas website). The main difference between this and the It Cosmetics though isn’t just the shade range, it’s the coverage. The ELF CC Cream is a full coverage foundation. It does contain some skincare properties too, but the It Cosmetics is more a light to medium coverage which is what I prefer, especially on the daily.
How does this foundation swatch?
To me the name CC Cream is therefore a little bit of a misnomer. This is a full coverage foundation with skincare properties. It is quite heavy on the skin, has a thick texture and needs proper blending for it to look seamless on the skin. You can achieve a natural finish with this, provided you only use half a pump of product and use a sponge to blend it out. What I like most about this is the finish: it has a pretty glow to it and that’s what saves this foundation from looking too makeuppy and mask like for me.
What is the coverage like?
As I mentioned, this is a full coverage makeup product and not something I normally go for. I prefer a lightweight, dewy texture as it goes better with my dry/ dehydrated skin. Too heavy foundations often look dry and cakey on and create a mask like effect. This can look okay, provided I really sheer it out. For me, the coverage is a bit too much and I found a little goes a long way. Yes, it has no issues covering up my redness, but I don’t like it if my makeup looks this obviously like makeup. I simply don’t mind it if my skin’s natural texture comes through a little bit. It just makes for a more natural look.
What is the shade match like?
With full coverage foundations I have found that the shade match is far more important than with a more light coverage product. If a light coverage product isn’t 100% right it is far easier to color correct. And sadly with this the shade isn’t perfect. I do feel the shade is light enough so it therefore doesn’t look super weird, but as you can see in this picture here, it’s obviously far too yellow for my skin tone. Mind you: this is a neutral shade and my skin is just a little bit more pink than this foundation. Can I get away with it? Yes. But with a product this full on, I want it to be perfect.
My final thoughts
I feel the ELF Camo CC Cream has a lot going for it. It comes in quite a few shades, has a pretty glowy effect and has a full coverage finish. It lasted well on my skin and didn’t pull into fine lines or accentuated any of my dry patches. What I didn’t love was how it just obliterated my natural skin and it is very obvious you are wearing makeup. I personally don’t love that look. However, I thought this foundation worked nice enough: it felt good on the skin and never felt heavy. I didn’t long to take my makeup off at the end of the day and found it quite comfortable. It is when you take it off that you really see how heavy the coverage is and I don’t love that for myself. If you love a full coverage foundation though, then this may be one for you.
Would I recommend the ELF Camo CC Cream?
Calling all full coverage foundation lovers: YES you will probably love this one. If you prefer a lightweight finish: stay away. On my dry skin it looked okay, but I can only imagine what this would look like if you have a more oily texture. And if you have dry skin I would recommend going in with plenty of layers of hydration in your skincare routine and a good hydrating primer. This is the kind of product that can look like too much too quickly. But if you love that smooth, super evened out look and don’t mind your makeup to look like actual makeup: then this is a good one.
3 responses to “ELF Camo CC Cream review”
Excellent and very detailed review. The pictures you took were immensely helpful. I was thinking about getting this product but your review has actually made me decide to look for a different product. <3
Thanks! I hope you find a product you love.
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