Budget Pick - Essence Lipliners

It has been a while since I posted on my blog and I decided to get back on track with a budget friendly product review. Today I will be talking about Essence Lipliners. I've had these in my collection for sometime now and they are among my top lipliners that I grab for especially if I fancy a darker lip. Let me walk you through the shades I have and why I love them so much.

Essence Lipliners

T-B: Wish Me A Rose, Satin Mauve and Soft Berry

In my current possession I have three shades: 12 Wish Me A Rose - rosy pink, 06 Satin Mauve - dark mauve nude and 05 Soft Berry -  purply mauve. My favourite out of the bunch has to be Satin Mauve just because I wear darker nudes and mauves on regular basis. It has that Kylie Jenner vibe to it, therefore if you want to be rocking the Kylie Jenner lip I suggest you pick this one up. Soft Berry is particularly great for this time of year. It goes so well with purple and berry hues. 

The formula of these lipliners is incredible. They are creamy, non-drying, easy to apply and are long-wearing. I mean what else would you want from a lipliner? I think these are hands down one of the best lip liner formulas at the drugstore (besides of course my all time favourite Rimmel Exaggerate Lipliner in Eastend Snob). My only complaint would be the colour selection. I think they should definitely extend their colour range and introduce more every day type of shades something along the lines of Mac Subculture & Mac Soar. For instance Wish Me A Rose is a tad too pink for my liking. I would have preferred it to be slightly more dusty and muted for everyday wear. Needless to say Essence is a cruelty-free brand in case, like me, you are looking for more ethical makeup alternatives. 

Wish Me A Rose, Satin Mauve and Soft Berry

L-R: Wish Me A Rose, Satin Mauve and Soft Berry

Overall I think you can't go wrong with these lipliners. If you have been unsure about lipliners and consider them as an unnecessary step in your makeup routine I say check these ones out. They will change your mind. They are creamy, glide on the lips like a dream and are extremely affordable. They will make your lip colour last for ages without making your lips feel uncomfortable. In Finland you can find Essence products including these lipliners at Tokmanni. 

Let me know if you have tried these lipliners and what is your favourite shade!

Cheers,

Muffy

Budget Pick - Essence Nail Polishes

Let's talk a bit about nails today. I have to say I can be pretty fussy when it comes to nail polish. If I am going to paint my nails I want it to be fast, easy and opaque. Very often I wouldn't do it just because I don't want to go through the trouble. Therefore I need a nail polish to meet the above criteria for me to even get motivated! My all-time favourite nail polish is YSL La Laque Couture. Let's be honest, nobody has the money to spend on a luxury nail polish, including myself. Surely I can treat myself once in a while but that is that. Recently a friend of mine introduced me to the Essence Gel Nail Polishes. To find out if it's a hit or a miss, then keep on reading!

Essence The Gel Nail Polishes

I spoke about Essence blushes shortly in my recent post, which I think are great especially for the price. I am still quite new to the brand but there are some products that have impressed me more than others. The Gel Nail Polishes come in cute little bottles containing 8ml of product. For comparison Essie nail polishes have 13,5ml of product and YSL contains 10ml of product. I don't mind that the bottle is smaller than average since I never go through an entire bottle of nail varnish anyhow. In terms of colour range I think it's alright considering it's an affordable brand. You will not find as wide a selection as with Essie but you can get some pretty good basics. They vary in textures as well: some are creamy, others have a slight shimmer and if you like glitter they got you covered too! There is a reason why they are called The Gel Nail Polishes. When you apply them they actually dry to a glossy finish, so you don't necessarily need a top coat. 

L-R: 36 Dare It Nude, 37 Serendipity, 18 I Don't Care

I picked up three shades: 36 Dare It Nude, 37 Serendipity and 18 I Don't Care. I think this is a good set that will take you from day to night. You have your average nude that is great for work or job interview type of situations. You have your classic orange-red for special occasions and classy look, and you have your purply-grey that is a modern twist on an everyday colour. My favourite out of the colours I have has to be the 18 I Don't Care. It's that perfect mix of orange-red and applies beautifully on the nails. I would say with all these nail polishes you need two coats, which is fine by me. The brush is flat and wide just how I prefer it. This makes it so easy to distribute the polish just with few swipes. The reason why I avoid OPI nail polishes altogether is because I can't work with their brush, it's too skinny. 

Essence nail polishes wear on me for a good 3-5 days without a top coat. Usually Essie nail polishes chip on me the next day or within a couple of days. With YSL the longevity depends on the colour. For instance YSL Rose Baby Doll stays put for a week, while YSL Bleu Celadon chips within couple of days. Overall I think if nail polish doesn't chip within 4 days it's a keeper! 

Overall I really like these polishes. The formula and finish (in particular of the 18 I Don't Care shade) reminds me of the YSL nail varnishes but for a fraction of the price. I can speak only for the shades I have tried, so I can't guarantee that it's consistent throughout the whole line. Essence is cruelty-fee and you can find the nail polishes in Finland at Tokmanni and they retail for 1,99€. 

Let me know if you have tried Essence nail polishes and what nail polishes are your favourites!

Cheers,
Muffy

Budget Pick - Essence Blushes

If you have been reading my blog for a while it's no secret that I have a special love for blush. I am convinced that you can't have too many blushes. They're something I like to collect and also something that actually gets used up. And let's be honest, who doesn't like a good deal. I asked a friend of mine to bring me a few blushes from Central Europe and I have put them to a test. These are Essence Silky Touch Blushes from a permanent line and the Nauti Girl Blush from a limited edition collection. To find out my thoughts, stay tuned!

Essence is an affordable cruelty-free makeup brand that has recently become available in Finland, yes! In Finland you can find it at the Tokmanni chain. I got mine from Austria but now I know if I want to repurchase I can get it locally. In the USA you can purchase Essence at Ulta. Besides blushes, I have also tried their lipliners, nail polishes and lipsticks. A separate review will be coming up on those, so keep your eyes peeled. Essence Silk Touch Blushes come in a round compact and you get 5g of product. I appreciate that the packaging is see-through. This means you can easily find the right colour amidst an overwhelming amount of blushes, if you are like me. It's plastic but doesn't feel flimsy. Sure it's nothing fancy but considering the price point it serves it's purpose well.

Essence Silky Touch Blush in 10 Adorable and 40 Natural Beauty

Now let's talk about the actual product. The shades I got are 40 Natural Beauty (brownish-nude) and 10 Adorable (rosy-pink). On the Essence website they have 6 shades altogether. In Finland I saw only 4 shades on display. I have to say that the colour range isn't too diverse. For example 10 Adorable and 20 Babydoll are very similar. The texture of these blushes is silky soft, hence the name. It doesn't kick off a lot of powder when you dip your brush, which was a positive surprise. In the pan they look pretty matte but when swatched or applied on the cheeks you can see a sheen. I don't mind a slight sheen as long as it's not chunky glitter. They are quite well pigmented. They are not as opaque as the Makeup Geek blushes but they are not bad at all. I would have expected no colour payoff whatsoever, but they swatch beautifully and you can build up the colour to your liking. When applied on the cheeks I haven't noticed any patchiness or streakiness. They also wear nicely throughout the day, I would say a good 5 hours. They have no scent to them, which is a plus. I don't know if you have tried the Lancome blushes, but the scent gets to me every time. In terms of ingredients Essence Silk Touch Blushes do contain talc and parabens. 

Essence Nauti Girl Blush in 01 Anchors Aweigh!

Next I have here the Nauti Girl Blush in 01 Anchors Aweigh! from the Essence Nauti Girl limited edition collection. As the name implies it has been inspired by sailing, marine style and the nautical colour scheme of red, blue and grey. This blush comes in a slightly different packaging. It's still see-through but a square shaped compact with a cute anchor imprint on the actual product. You get 8g of product and it's the only blush in the collection. I would describe the colour as a bright coral. The packaging doesn't feel flimsy but a tiny bit bulky for my liking. In terms of pigmentation I think it's quite sheer and not as impressive as the original Silky Touch Blushes. If you want the colour to translate exactly like you see it in the pan you need a lot of building up. That being said, it could be a good thing if you are starting up with makeup and afraid to overdo it in the blush department. The texture is not as silky smooth as with the Silky Touch Blushes but still decent and not powdery. I wore it the other day and it started to fade after about 5 hours. As with the other Essence blushes it contains talc. 

L-R: 01 Anchors Aweigh!, 10 Adorable and 40 Natural Beauty

Overall my thoughts are that these are good budget options. If you are looking for everyday neutral colours you can't go wrong with these. They are smooth, easy to blend and wear well throughout the day. Would I say these are better than Catrice blushes I reviewed recently? I don't think so. But if you can't get your hands on Catrice then these are really good alternatives. However, if you are sensitive to talc or parabens I would say skip these. Instead try the Makeup Geek blushes, they are paraben and talc free. Essence Silk Touch Blushes retail for under 3,00€ depending where you buy them, but nevertheless it's a bargain! These would be amazing for travel and even if they do get damaged you can easily replace them as they don't cost a fortune. I don't take my expensive powder products with me when I travel and I had to learn it the hard way.

Let me know what your all time favourite blush is, maybe I am missing out on something!

Cheers,
Muffy

Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence

Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence has caught my attention about six months ago. I have been waiting for a moment when there will be finally a product along the lines of essence that is so popular in Asia. I am sure you have heard of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, which is one of the most known in the skincare industry. Asians incorporate essence as part of their everyday skincare routine. I have given it a fair test and to find out if it's a marketing gimmick or something worth looking into then keep on reading!

Let's start with defining essence. It is not a toner nor a cleanser. Due to its high doses of active ingredients it's meant to sink deep into the skin when it has already been properly prepped. However, it shouldn't be confused with serums that come in smaller jars with an even higher concentration of ingredients. Kiehl's Iris Essence comes in a 200ml plastic bottle. Traditionally essence is stored in glass bottles, but I don't really mind the plastic. It means that it's that much lighter to carry if I take it with me whilst travelling. It is paraben and oil free. As with all essences the texture is very similar to water. It's runny and velvety. You need just a few drops to cover your entire face. Do not put this product onto a cotton pad, rather squeeze a few drops directly into your palms. I suggest patting the product into the skin instead of rubbing.

The key ingredient as the name suggests is the Iris Florentina Root Extract. It also contains Lipo Hydroxy Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate. It claims to visibly improve the appearance of fine lines, dullness and rough texture over time. It's suitable for all skin types. I have been using this product since March, so for a good 5 months. I apply it in the morning and evening. This product should be added as an extra step in your skincare routine after toning and before serum. It helps prime the skin and ensures that whatever you put afterwards sinks in faster, penetrating the deeper layers of your skin. I have been really enjoying this product and I noticed somewhat of a difference in my skin. I like it mostly for its hydrating properties. My skin is extremely dehydrated while being combination. Therefore I really look for a product that will add moisture back to my skin without leaving it feeling greasy. And I see this one ticking all the boxes. In terms of fine lines and rough texture I haven't noticed a massive difference. However, I think that my skin looks more radiant and plumped. I haven't gotten any new breakouts either. I also noticed that the serums and masks absorb more rapidly after I incorporated this product into my regime. 

Is this a must have product? It depends. I personally like it. I enjoy having that extra step in my routine and it works in terms of keeping my breakouts at bay and providing hydration to my skin. That being said if you are used to products that deliver over night results this is not it. With this product you have to use it consistently over a course of weeks in order to notice a difference. Regarding its anti-aging properties I can't really comment either. I would say if anti-aging is your main concern maybe look for something more potent. 

As with all Kiehl's products you can ask for a sample prior to purchasing a full size product. I suggest asking for a couple of sachets, those will last you for a good week or so. You can get this product at your nearest Kiehl's counter or online.

Let me know if you have tried similar products and what your thoughts are!

Cheers,
Muffy