E.l.f. Just Dropped a True Crime Parody Documentary That's Deliciously Absurd
Makeup lovers, this one’s for you.
Andrew Southam Photography
A still from e.l.f. satirical short film "Cosmetic Criminals"Anyone with siblings or roommates knows this scenario all too well: You leave your favorite beauty product out in a shared space only for it to seemingly vanish into thin air. That’s the story at the heart of e.l.f. ’s latest project, “Cosmetic Criminals,” satirical, true-crime-style parody documentary directed by Alex Buono, the Oscar and Emmy award-nominee behind Documentary Now! and Russian Doll. It traces the chain of events that lead to a girl’s beloved e.l.f. products going missing ahead of a big life moment.
“Our e.l.f. community was the first to tell us about widespread e.l.f.-pinching within their households,” explains Laurie Lam, chief brand officer of e.l.f. Beauty, in a press release. “Borrowing e.l.f. holy grails from family and friends without the intention of returning, a.k.a. Intergenerational Cos Crime, is a global phenomenon — between siblings, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives — even grandparents are not spared. This insight from our community sparked an incredible idea we had to act on.”
Andrew Southam Photography
In the short film, Niecy Nash-Betts plays an FBI agent.The film took the idea and ran with it, creating a fun and silly short film that left me LOLing at my desk. It stars Olivia, a high schooler who discovers that her e.l.f. Liquid Poreless Putty Primer, Halo Glow Liquid Filter Foundation, and Glow Reviver Lip Oil are all missing the morning of her promposal. The moment sparks a full-fledged criminal investigation, which will surely resonate with the legions of millennial and Gen-Z women who can't get enough of the true crime genre.
Making a thrilling cameo in the parody documentary is none other than the Emmy Award–winning producer and four-time–nominated actress Niecy Nash-Betts, who plays an FBI agent working on the case. Naturally, she brings her witty and hilarious energy and looks fabulous in her full e.l.f. beat while doing so.
The parody documentary is delightful, and every twist and turn genuinely left me shook. Stream it now on YouTube, Prime Video, and Amazon Freevee.
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