REVIEW: Essence Lipstick #53 All About Cupcake

I decided to review this particular shade of Essence Lipstick as a part of my WEEKLY REVIEW 3-24-2014

Essence Cosmetics is available in Canada at SHOPPER's DRUGMART, this particular product was $2.99CAD

For comparison purposes I added another shade from the collection

PROS:

• Very creamy/ Almost like a lip BALM consistency 

• Not drying 

• The colour can be BUILT up

CONS:

• The pigmentation VARIOUS from SHADE to SHADE 

• Sweet Vanilla smell (very much a personal preference)

OVERALL: As you can see in the picture, shade #53 is NOT as pigmented as #50..BUT personally if I swipe it TWICE it DOES show up on MY LIPS.

To conclude I WOULD RECOMMEND this product, ESPECIALLY if your lips are a lighter colour (my lips are darker and very PIGMENTED to begin with ). 

SPOTTED: Essence LOVE LETTER collection at Shopper's DrugMart

I spotted the Essence cosmetics "LOVE LETTERS" collection at my local Shopper's Drug Mart....On the Essence Website  the collection is ONLY suppose to be available between

 Jan 2014-Feb 2014

But I guess that is where stores will vary with their displays, I have seen other Shopper's Drugmarts with EVEN OLDER essence collection displays. 

Here is the DISPLAY from my local Shopper's 

Here is a LINK to the FULL display

As you can see form the picture there some products were already sold out. The products range from $2.49CAD-$4.99CAD

Here is what I picked up so far

1. Essence "Love Letter" Eyeshadow Palette - $4.99CAD

2. Essence "Love Letter" Powder Papers- $2.99CAD

3. Essence "Love Letter Highlighting Powder- $3.99CAD

I plan on trying out these two products throughout the week! 

REVIEW: Essence METAL GLAM BLUSH 01 GLAM-ME

Essence METAL GLAM BLUSH in 01 GLAM -ME is part of my WEEKLY REVIEW

This blush was a part of the METAL GLAM display from ESSENCE COSMETICS and is APPROXIMATELY $3.25 CAD

**I realize I SHOULD NOT have done a review on this product as this the METAL GLAM display is no longer available at the MAJORITY of the Shopper's Drug Marts(I was just lucky enough to find displays that were still up at SOME Shopper's Drug Marts)**

L: The product RIGHT OUT OF THE TUBER: The product BLENDED OUT, HAS a HIGH SHEEN and CONTAINS FINE SHIMMER

PROS:

• VERY pigmented

• The FORMULA is VERY CREAMY and ESAY to BLEND

• You can BUILD UP the product to your liking

• Although there is SHIMMER in the product it is VER FINE

CONS:

• MUST BLEND FAST, Once it dries it is harder to blend.

OVERALL: I WOULD RECOMMEND this product to anyone who likes a blush with a SHEEN and SHIMMER. You only need a TINY bit of the product EACH TIME and for under $5 CAD you can't beat it!

JC

REVIEW: Essence ALL ABOUT MATT- fixing compact powder

This product is part of my WEEKLY REVIEW series 

The ESSENCE ALL ABOUT MATT fixing compact powder is a NEW (BUT PERMANENT)product recently (at least in my region) introduced by ESSENCE cosmetics.

In CANADA they are available from SHOPPER's DRUG MART. I purchased mine for $3.99 CAD

**THERE IS ONLY ONE SHADE**

As you can see from the RIGHT side picture 

• The VERY TOP shows a ONE SWIPE SWATCH of the product

• The MIDDLE picture show the product on my skin WITHOUT it being BLENDED

• The last picture is a picture of the product once it is BLENDED 

PROS:

• WILL ABSORB oil (I used the product to FIX the my SHINY T-zone throughout the day)

• Will blend out quit nicely 

• Smooth powder

CONS:

• IF you apply TOO MUCH product or DO NOT blend it properly you WILL have a WHITE CASTE (WITH or WITHOUT FLASH photography)- ALSO remember I HAVE A YELLOW UNDERTONE 

• DOES NOT have a mirror 

OVERALL: Though this product has a VERY reasonable price tag, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND this product. Here are the reasons:

• It's really hard to TOUCH UP with this product, because IT DOES NOT have a mirror and that makes it hard for you to check if you BLENDED the product properly(I know this could be where they are saving COST- but I HAVE ELF products that HAVE MIRRORS and cost about the same)

• I DO NOT carry a blending brush with me, so I used a COMPACT SPONGE....which is REALLY NOT a great tool to use when it came to blending in the product

• WILL SETTLE into your FINE LINES/DRY SPOTS

If you have VERY OILY SKIN and perhaps a LIGHTER skin tone, you COULD TRY this product out. I definitely WILL NOT REPURCHASE.

JC

REVIEW: Essence BEAUTY BEATS blush- 01 Groupie at Heart

This REVIEW is part of my WEEKLY review

ESSENCE "BEAUTY BEATS" blush 01- Groupie at Heart was part of the Justine Bieber collaboration with ESSENCE COSMETICS and is the ONLY BLUSH in the collection
( $4.25 CAD)

L) The blush swatched TWICE NOT blended out
R) The blush swatched TWICE BLENDED OUT

1)Blush swatched TWICE      2) Blush swatched ONCE

PROS:

• Pigmented
• The colour can be built up- to personal preference 
• Great staying power (I wore the blush for about 6 hours- MINIMAL fading)

CONS:

• CAN be POWDERY IF you DO NOT blend it properly 

OVERALL: ** I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE- I SHOULD NOT HAVE done this review NOW...as I realize this is probably NO LONGER available as it was a special collection**

I WOULD RECOMMEND this product. The price is VERY reasonable and you get A LOT of product. The blush HAS A SHEEN (personally I do not mind), and is very pigmented, so you HAVE TO BLEND out well. If you can still get your hands on it it's WORTH A TRY!!! 

JC

REVIEW: ESSENCE METAL GLAM EYESHADOW- 03 FROSTED APPLE $2.99 CAD

I hauled the ESSENCE METAL GLAM EYESHADOW in 03 FROSTED APPLE from the NEW IN TOWN collection.

In the NEW IN TOWN collection I saw at Shopper's Drug Mart there were 3 SHADES in total. They are $2.99CAD each!

Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo before I started swatching... BUT there is a TOP LAYER OF GLITTER

The glitter is FINE...but as you can see from the LEFT PICTURE, once you swatch it, the product BALLS UP

It get pretty POWDERY, and to apply you have to BLOW OFF the EXCESS products

The pigmentation is NOT BAD, but the FALL OUT is way too much.





Thinking that perhaps the FALL OUT would EVENTUALLY stop I KEPT SWATCHING.....
but there was NO END

In the RIGHT PICTURES, I had been swatching for a GOOD 6-8 times, and there were still PRODUCT FALL OUT.


PROS:

• PIGMENTED colour- the colour is quit nice- it's a IRIDESCENT PINK

• DOES NOT crease

CONS:

• ALOT of FALL OUT- This means you REALLY have to get RID of ALOT of products before you can properly apply it to your eyes

OVERALL: I would NOT recommend this product the there is SO MUCH FALL OUT that you would have to waste ALOT of product for a even application on the eyes. I will definitely NOT repurchase. Though the price is great, there are SO MANY OTHER GREAT ESSENCE eyeshadows that I recommend you try. I will try to use this product since I CANNOT return it, but I hope you don't make the same mistake!


Thanks for Reading! JC

REVIEW: ESSENCE Silky Touch Blush- $2.99CAD

I have a weakness for the word "NEW" ...AND that is why I bought the ESSENCE SILKY TOUCH BLUSH  (60 LIFE's A CHERRY)

1- Swatched ONCE
2- Swatched TWICE

• The blush is VERY PIGMENTED 

• Has a sheen

• Is BUILD ABLE 

PROS:

• DOES NOT fade throughout the day (I wore it for about 6 hours)

• The colour is VERY PIGMENTED

• VERY soft - "SILKY"

• It is ALSO BUILD ABLE 

• ONLY $2.99 CAD

CONS:  NON

OVERALL: I would DEFINITELY RECOMMEND this to EVERYONE!!! The blush comes in 4 different shades, and for $2.99CAD each I can't wait to try more!

Thanks for Reading! JC

REVIEW: STAYS no matter what- Waterproof eye (pencil 02 stunning brown)-$1.99

I purchased ESSENCE STAY no matter what- Waterproof eye pencil NOT to use as a eye pencil...but for my eye brows. 

The WATERPROOF part really caught my eyes. 

• I wore this in my eyebrow (I did not include a picture...as my eyebrows were pretty UNTAMED) for about 6 hours, it did not FADE

• You DO have to brush through it, as it will ball up a tiny tiny tiny bit

• DOES NOT have a RED undertone

• PERFECT for my BLACK eyebrows- NOT TOO DARK

PROS:

• Very creamy - would be a good eye liner 

• DOES NOT smudge

• I wore it to the gym, and the sweat DID NOT make it run

• ONLY $1.99 CAD

CONS:

• IS NOT a TWIST UP- You will have to SHARPEN- This could be a hassle- The surrounding is HARD PLASTIC

• If NOT careful (REMEMBER I WENT over the same SPOT OVER AND OVER) it will ball up a tiny tiny tiny bit.

OVERALL: I would HIGHLY recommend this product, both as a eye liner OR alternatively as a EYE BROW PENCIL. I have both the Anastasia Brow pencil AS well as the Benifit Brow Pencil-THIS ONE is just as good- especially the PRICE!!! JUST REMEMBER to BRUSH through your brows!

I hope you TRY IT for yourselves! 

JC

REVIEW: ESSENCE GET BIG! lashes mascara- $3.99 (NEW IN TOWN collection)

ESSENCE GET BIG! lashes mascara is the second mascara I hauled from ESSENCE. This mascara is also a part of the NEW TOWN COLLECTION.

• NOT WATERPROOF

• BIG wand- it's hard to see in the picture but the wand has a TINY BED in the middle

• It looks as though it MAY have FIBERS attached to the bristles

Here are my lashes BEFORE applying the mascara/curling

HERE are my lashes AFTER ONE coat of the mascara and CURLING it 

• I DID NOT feel like the bristles really grabbed my lashes

• The brush was also very big, making it hard to maneuver

• The formula did grab the tips of my lashes, but did NOT help increase VOLUME in my opinion 

• Did not weigh my lashes down too much, DID NOT need to curl my lashes throughout the day 

• The FORMULA is on the drier side 

PROS:

• Does not smudge

• Will keep eye lashes curled through the day

• Does add length to the lashes

• Only $3.99 CAD

CONS:

• The brush is too big (personal preference)

• The formula DOES NOT grab onto lashes

• HARD to get the TINY lashes.

OVERALL: First, remember that mascaras are really UP TO PERSONAL PREFERENCE and LASH TYPES, with that in mind. I WOULD NOT repurchase this particular mascara BUT I do think it is worth a try,  ESPECIALLY if you are looking more for LENGTH than volume, and DO NOT mind the BIG brush. 

Hope you enjoyed the review! Comment below if you have a FAVORITE ESSENCE mascara!

JC

REVIEW: ESSENCE LASH MANIA RELOADED mascara

I recently HAULED some ESSENCE cosmetics . A NEW item from that haul is the ESSENCE LASH MANIA RELOADED MASCARA. I hauled this from the NEW IN TOWN collection from Essence. 

• It IS NOT a waterproof mascara. It has PLASTIC SPIKY bristles (DOES NOT HURT).

• As you can see from the picture, it has 6 SEPARATE columns of bristles.

• The bristles TAPER DOWN (shorter on the ENDS), which ALLOWS you to get the shorter lashes.

HERE is a picture of my lashes BEFORE the mascara/ or curling 

My lashes POINT DOWN, and WILL NOT HOLD a curl on their own. They are quit SHORT as well.

HERE are my LASHES AFTER ONE COAT of the mascara (I CURLED my lashes BEFORE applying the MASCARA)

• The FORMULA is VERY WET (I PREFER THIS over DRY)

• I wore it for about 6 HOURS and there were NO SMUDGING UNDERNEATH my eyes

• IF you do NOT wait for it to dry and CURL your lashes, it MAY transfer a TINY bit on your eyelids

• KEPT my CURLS- DID NOT use eyelash curler throughout the day

PROS:

• DOES NOT smudge

• KEEPS eye lashes CURLED - I was VERY IMPRESSED- MOST mascara that ARE NOT waterproof DO NOT KEEP my lashes curled. SOME WATERPROOF mascaras WEIGH my lashes down. THIS DID NEITHER. 

• Easy to take off

• Provided adequate LENGTH and VOLUME (I would say MORE LENGTH than volume)

• ONLY $4.99 CAD

CONS:

• Has a VERY WET formula

OVERALL: I would STRONGLY recommend this MASCARA, even if you do not like the wet formula, you could wait for it to dry up a bit. The price is GREAT at $4.99 CAD, AND it LENGTHENS AND VOLUMES as well as HOLDS CURLS. 

I HOPE they decide to keep this in the permanent collection as I would REPURCHASE this product in a heart beat!



JC

REVIEW: ESSENCE STAY MATT LIP CREAM

I recently HAULED 3 ESSENCE STAY MATT LIP CREAMS. HERE goes the REVIEW

01-Velvet Rose

  

02- Smooth Berry

Top Left Corner- 04 SILKY RED
Top Right Corner- 02 SMOOTH BERRY
Center-01 Velvet Ros

The applicator is slight slanted, allowing for a smooth application. IT IS NOT flexible, but VERY SOFT. 

ON my LIPS 02 Smooth Berry and 04 Silky Red looks very similar (probably because of my OWN lip pigmentation)

HERE swatched on my hand. 

LEFT-04 SILKY RED and the RIGHT-02 SMOOTH BERRY

RIGHT- SMOOTH BERRY definitely has a BRIGHT PINK pigmentation 

I TESTED 04 SILKY RED

• I DID NOT use any lip balms/lip primers

• NO lip liner

• NO LIP GLOSS

• DID NOT apply lip balm afterwards/throughout the day

• DID NOT reapply the lip cream

• I wore it for approximately 6 hours

HERE is the SWATCH RIGHT when I put it on  my lips 

I'm not sure if it's the LIGHTNING, but although it is called SILKY RED, it APPEARS  more PINK TONED WHEN exposed to sunlight

HERE is a how it looked after about AN HOUR

You can tell that the COLOR has FADED quit a bit. I had been SIPPING on COFFEE 

HERE is the TOTAL BREAKDOWN 

THE MIDDLE picture was taken RIGHT AFTER I ATE, I BLOTTED LIGHTLY...but as you 

can SEE most of the VIBRANT COLOR is GONE. My lips ARE NOT extremely dry, but as you can see this CLUNG to my dry spots.

PROS:

• Inexpensive- You really CAN NOT BEAT the $2.99 price tag

• Is VERY PIGMENTED 

• The applicator picks up ENOUGH products the first time

CONS:

• Very dry formula-even when you are applying it DOES NOT glide on smoothly

• COLOR fades FAST- it will NOT TRANSFER RIGHT AWAY- WILL FADE GRADUALLY

• WILL CLING to DRY SPOTS- WILL also CLING and SETTLE in the WRINKLES (I have WRINKLY LIPS)

• STRONG  GENERIC vanilla smell (PERSONAL PREFERENCE, I really DO NOT like vanilla). The Smell will fade...eventually...

OVERALL: Consider the factors (no lip balm, no lip liners, no re-application...etc) I think IT CAN STILL BE WORTH A TRY, I mean they are ONLY $2.99. BUT I would NOT REPURCHASE any new shades. ONCE you PUT ON LIP BALM it IS NOT AS drying, and REMEMBER to EXFOLIATE your LIPS before hand, or put lip balms on.

BUT if your WILLING to fork over a few more bucks...I would really RECOMMEND the RIMMEL APOCALIPS (or RIMMEL SHOW OFF- as they are called in the US). They are about $5-$7 CAD (I HAVE found them on SALE at SHOPPER's DRUGMART/WALMART for less than $5)

THANKS for READING, I hope it HELPED!!! 

JC

HAUL: ESSENCE

ESSENCE COSMETIC HAUL

ESSENCE display at Sopper's Drugmart

The ONLY place I can find ESSENCE cosmetics in CANADA is at the Shopper's Drug Mart essence collectionANYONE else find it at other places in CANADA? Please COMMENT below!)

I have been to ULTA in the states and have seen their essence displays, most of them are about TWICE the size of what I have seen in CANADA....but hey AT LEAST we get them now.

I HAULED 11 items (the most expensive item was $4.99!!!) Of the 11 items, two are 3 are from the "NEW IN TOWN" collection, I JUST started spotting these at my local Shopper's Drugmarts!

NEW IN TOWN collection

HERE IS A LIST OF WHAT I HAULED: (I plan on REVIEWING each product separately)

LIPS:CLICK on the product names for REVIEWS!

• ESSENCE STAY MATT LIP CREAMS (These 3 were the only "STAY MATT" lip creams that I could find (I know the number system is missing 03-that one is NOT a "STAY MATT") $2.99 CAD

1.         01 VELVET ROSE
2.         02 SMOOTH BERRY
3.         04 SILKY RED                

• ESSENCE lipstick- 53 All about cupcake-$2.99 CAD

• ESSENCE lipliner- $1.49 CAD
  
  
  

EYES:  CLICK on the product names for REVIEWS!

• GET BIG! lashes mascara- $3.99 (NEW IN TOWN collection)

• LASH MANIA RELOADED mascara- $4.99 (NEW IN TOWN collection)

• STAYS no matter what- Waterproof eye (pencil 02 stunning brown)-$1.99

• METAL GLAM eyeshadow (NEW IN TOWN collection)-$2.99

** The ESSENCE website for CANADA has FIVE new METAL GLAM shadows listed in their new product section. As you can tell in the NEW IN TOWN display I found there were only 3**

FACE:

• ESSENCE ALL ABOUT MATT fixing compact powder- $3.99 CAD

• SILKY TOUCH BLUSH- $2.99CAD

I can't wait to do a REVIEW for all of these products! Once I have completed a review, you can click on each CATEGORY (lips, eye, face) OR the PRODUCT for a LINK to the review!

Does ANYONE have recommendations for their favourite ESSENCE products?! PLEASE COMMENT below! 

FAVORITE liquid eyeliner

I use liquid eyeliner on a daily bases (I can never get the hang of GEL eyeliner). My CURRENT favourite liquid eyeliner is the ESSENCE (WATERPROOF) LIQUID EYELINER, I have never tried the non waterproof version, but even so I have NEVER really read any reviews/videos on this particular eyeliner.


                                 

DRIES MATT (Sorry for the blurry image, I will work on it)
**I RAN HOT WATER over this swatch and lightly patted it with a towel**

1. WHERE TO BUY: I have only found ESSENCE products at SHOPPER's DRUG MART in CANADA (If you know where else to buy the brand from in CANADA, please please COMMENT below) $1.99-$3.99 CAD (It goes on sale sometimes)

PROS: 

• SUPER WATERPROOF ...once it DRIES(I have taken showers/gone swimming and NOT a budge)

• DOES NOT smudge/flake ONCE it DRIES (**I have semi oily eyelids**)

• Flexible brush but NOT flimsy- I am NOT a pro when it comes to applying eyeliner, but I found this is JUST FLEXIBLE ENOUGH that even with a shaky hand I can draw a good enough line.

• Has a FINER tip, so you can control the thickness.

• INEXPENSIVE (BELOW $4)

CONS:

• Will smudge IF YOU DO NOT WAIT FOR IT TO DRY 

• NOT recommended for drier lids (I recommended it to a friend with drier lid once...and it flaked on her 

• Once it gets old, you will find that colour is not as opaque- It usually lasts me 2~3 months (I throw it out after that for hygiene reasons)

OVERALL:

• I really would recommend it to EVERYONE (it's below $4!!!), but especially to girls with oilier eyelids, and to be honest girls with mono-lids .....as it decreases the chance of it smudging. (My RIGHT eyelid is mono lid....and because I do not have the crease....when I close my eyes it does NOT SMUDGE)

If you have a chance to try it COMMENT below on how it worked for you!

JC