New Year/New You: Go Cruelty-Free with Affordable essence cosmetics

Affiliate Link Press Sample

Keep A Cruelty-Free Makeup Bag With essence cosmetics!

What better time than the New Year to create a new habit that will make you feel (and look) good from the inside out?!?!

This season, clear your conscience and refresh your makeup bag with a little help from essence cosmetics. Restock with eye, lip and face products that have never been tested on animals. While all of essence’s cosmetics are cruelty-free, some are also vegan and gluten-free. I love this! I am personally also trying to eat vegan as often as possible (not 100% of time, right now I shoot for an 80/20 mix of vegan/non-vegan). So, this aligns very well with my current state of mind. 

The New Year is here and the time has come for your cosmetic cleanse! Going cruelty-free can be an afforable and fun option with essence cosmetics! While I am not totally cruelty-free with my makeup and product choices, I do like to go cruelty-free as often as I can. Luckily there are some fantastic and affordable cruelty-free option from essence cosmetics. 

I have always been a fan of essence cosmetics. Even before they were available in the States, I had a friend send items over from Germany. Now they are readily available here and so affordable! I love essence because of the amazing quality, fun packaging, and on-trend items. 

While I have so many favorites from essence, here are a few of my newest additions to my makeup collection to get you inspired to go cruelty-free:

Cruelty-free: essence blushplay sculpting blush palette ($5.99):

This palette includes three tonal shades for individual use or the perfect blend to create a multidimensional look. Available in 2 fresh color combinations.

Cruelty-free & Gluten-free: essence shine shine shine lipgloss ($2.99)

This high-shine, wet-look gloss glides on smooth with a highly-pigmented finish. The flocked applicator ensures precise application. Available in 6 shades.

Cruelty-free & Vegan: essence lash princess sculpted volume mascara ($4.99)

The special shape of the wand allows you to easily build volume and sculpt individual lashes for a dramatic and a fanned out, defined look.

So, you can see that there are some really great cruelty-free options from essence cosmetics! Are you already an essence fan? I would love to hear about some of your favorite items!

Affiliate Link

Fun new Polishes from essence: The Out of Space Stories Collection!

Affiliate Link Press Sample

Summer is the time for flip flops and fun pedicure colors! While I do keep up with my mani/pedis year-round, I do have extra fun in the Summer when my toesies are exposed. 

What is on my tips and toes lately? This fun NEW polish collection from the super affordable drugstore brand essence.

Introducing the Out of Space Stories Collection from essence:

Out of this world! Introducing the Out of Space Stories Nail Polish Collection by essence cosmetics. These holographic, iridescent and metallic nail polishes are available in 7 bright colors perfect for an intergalactic adventure.

The NEW essence Out of Space Stories polishes are available for less than $2.99 each on  essencemakeup.com!

I just love these! They go on great in two coats with great coverage and wear plus sparkle and shine. Be sure to check these out!

Powered by Dealspotr | See today's coupons and codes for ULTA

Affiliate Link

Fall/Winter 2016 with essence Cosmetics

Affiliate Link PressSample

Fall/Winter 2016 with essence Cosmetics:

Fall is in Full Swing and so is Fall Color! That makes it a perfect time for us to talk about Fall color collections and new product launches. essence has a fantastic lineup for Fall/Winter 2016! From new mascaras, to pretty highlighters, to hydrating lip oils, there is a ton that I love in this collection. 

essence Cosmetics:

Are you familiar with essence? essence is one of the true gems at the drugstore: a fun and fresh makeup line with on-trend products in whimsical (yet not juvenile) packaging and great quality. I have been using essence for years and am always impressed with the quality for the price. Plus, the essence displays are just so fun to browse at Ulta! You can pick up a ton of cute items to re-vamp your makeup routine for the season without breaking the bank. 

Want to hear more about this collection from essence? Please click "read more" below! :)

My Favorite Everyday Neutrals Eye Palette: essence All About ROSES

Affiliate Link Press Sample 

My Favorite Everyday Neutrals Eye Palette:

essence's All About ROSES:

It is time that I gave this palette some major blog-love! Essence's All About ROSES palette is hands-down my favorite everyday neutrals eye palette of the moment. I literally use this palette every day and have even...hit pan (I know! OMG!). 

To me, essence's All About ROSES palette has the perfect combination of shades: from a matte vanilla (perfect for brow bone), to a shimmery champagne (this is now my HG lid shade and inner corner highlight), to a matte neutral light brown taupe crease color (so perfect), to a shimmery light taupe (outer corner), and even a nice matte dark brown (beautiful used as a liner wet). This palette has everything I need for my favorite everyday look. I am absolutely thrilled with the color lineup in this palette. 

Now, lets talk about some other things that I love about this palette. First of all, the pigmentation and texture of these shadows is amazing! They are buttery smooth and blendable while also being richly pigmented. These shadows wear all day on me when I wear a primer on my oily lids. (Also, in the 90s heat of the late summer, I also wear a makeup setting spray daily to prevent all of my makeup from melting off). 

I also love the size of this palette and the packaging. The packaging is a simple clear non-bulky acryllic palette. A clean and simple design that lets the makeup shades stand out. Slim enough to make it perfect for travel and storage in my everyday makeup train case. 

Last, but not least ya'll, this palette is $5.49 at Target!!! OMG, seriously! What a steal when you consider you are getting a perfect palette!!! Essence has long been a go-to brand for me for "cheap thrill" good quality cosmetics. Essence makes it so easy to experiment and try new trends as you can get all of their items so affordably. Plus, when you find an item that is your new Holy Grail product, like this All About Roses palette, you can afford to stock up! Yes, I already have a brand new back up since I have hit pan on my first All About Roses palette. So, I was able to swatch a brand new palette for you lovelies! 

I love this All About ROSES palette by essence so much that I honestly hope that they never stop making it! Be sure to scoop one up next time you are shopping at Target or doing online Target shopping (available at Ulta, too!). You can also check out essence's Fall Makeup lineup here: really fun makeup for Fall!!! 

Affiliate Link

Fall 2015 with essence Cosmetics!

 Affiliate Link Press Sample

It may still be hot outside, but it is time to talk about Fall Beauty releases! As much as I love the long and lazy days of Summer, at this time of year I really am ready for the season change. Diving into fun new Fall beauty products gets me so excited for the upcoming Fall season! It is time to shift from the bold and bright colors of Summer to the gorgeous nudes and soft neutrals of this NEW essence collection!

Fall 2015 with essence:

Essence has a really great lineup of new products for Fall 2015! I have been trying out an assorment of products from the collection and I am really excited to share them with you today. Not only are these cosmetics affordable, but also they are really fabulous! I honestly can't get over how good some of these items are. Many have already become daily staples for me!

To find out more about the items that I tried from essence's Fall/Winter 2015/2016 Collection, please click "read more" below!

Summer Essentials: Favorite Waterproof Makeup

 Press Sample/I Bought It  Affiliate Link Blogger Ambassador

With the temps in the mid-upper 90s, it is time to embrace my no-fail Waterproof Makeup! Waterproof makeup is essential this time of year. Many days I do end up either at the pool or doing water activities with the kids in the back yard. I often do not know how my day will play out. So, I always opt for as much waterproof makeup as possible. Plus, in this heat, Waterproof makeup is much more resistant to sweat and general makeup "melt-down"!

Overall, my makeup look is very simplified (and even more so in the Summertime when I honestly just couldn't be bothered with a fussy look). So, I keep it streamlined: concealer (for under eye area and concealer or a good coverage foundation to dab over slight redness on chin and around nose area), a dab of powder, mascara, maybe eyeshadow (just a wash of color on the lids if I do), lipbalm or sheer lip gloss, and a bit of blush or bronzer applied as blush for color. If I am getting "fancy", I will do eyeliner, too.

I have a nice little assortment of waterproof and longwearing makeup options in my makeup collection right now. So, I am going to share some of my favorite picks with you today!

Summertime Essentials: Some Great Waterproof Makeup Options:

• It Cosmetics | Bye Bye Under Eye Waterproof: How amazing is it that my favorite concealer by It Cosmetics is also available in an waterproof formula?!?! This pleases me to no end! The coverage is amazing and the pigmentation is fabulous. The shade "Light" works very well with my fair skin tone. I just love that I can cover my super dark under eye circles in a waterproof way! Even if I wear no other make, I don't leave the house without concealing those bad dark circles! 

• tarte | lights, camera, splashes™waterproof mascara: This mascara gives my lashes everything that I crave (length, curl, and volume) while also being waterproof! No smudges with this mascara! 

• tarte | Amazonian clay waterproof bronzer (in both matte and shimmer finishes): Waterproof bronzers? Yes, please! I wear high SPF on my face. However, I do still crave that sunkissed glow and can get that with these tarte bronzers! I am especially in love with the matte one! Beautiful!

• Shiseido | UV Protective Stick Foundation SPF 37: This is a long-lasting water resistant foundation with a creamy feel and medium coverage. This is great for covering slight redness around my nose and on my chin. This foundation is very convenient for travel or on-the-go touch ups because of the slim and portable size. This doesn't budge until I take it off! It comes in four shades. I am the shade Fair Ivory. 

• Pixi | Endless Silky Eye Intensity Duo and Lash Line Ink: Pixi sure does know have a nice selection of waterproof liners! Right now, I am especially loving the Silky Eye Intensity Duo in the Blue Eye Intensity Shade. It is a no-smudge dual ended eyeliner with a deep matte blue grey liner on one side and a brightening opal beige on the other side. I line my upper lash line with the blue grey and brighten up my inner corner and lower waterline with the beige. It is super easy to apply and very flattering for my blue eyes! If I want more of a "liquid liner" look, I reach for Pixi's Lash Line Ink which I have loved for years! It quickly lays down dark color and it doesn't budge. The tip makes it very easy to use and is a great product to get that winged liner look.

• COVERGIRL | Clump Crusher by LashBlast Mascara: I know, I just can't stop talking about Clump Crusher! It is my all-time favorite mascara. If you haven't already, you really must explore COVERGIRL's mascaras. I am quite a fan of pretty much all of the LashBlast mascaras. Clump Crusher is water resistant, doesn't smudge, and defines my lashes beautifully with no clumps. Plus, the green tube is pretty darn cute!

• PurMinerals | Big Look Waterproof Mascara: I love this new mascara from PurMinerals! This mascara gives beautiful fullness and length to my lashes. The waterproof formula is great for Summer! 

• essence | Lash Mania Reloaded Waterproof False Lash Mascara: If you are looking for a good budget mascara, be sure to check this one out! For only $4.99, it is a steal and it leaves my lashes super dark black and full.

• essence | Gel Eye Pencil: I have long been a fan of essence's eye liners. They are so cheap and honestly so good! These glide on and lay down nice dark color. For only $2.99 each, you can afford to indulge in a variety of fun colors for Summer!

Affiliate Link

Top 10 Tuesdays: Spring Break Beauty!

 Press  Sample Affiliate Link Blogger Ambassador

It is time for another Top Ten Tuesdays Post! This time, we are talking Spring Break Beauty! These items are Spring Essentials! The weather is just perfect this time of year. It is time for outdoor activities and Spring break trips. Gone are the dreary days of Winter. My beauty routine is craving fresh products, lighter scents, and more vivid color! While we are not going out of town for Spring Break this year, we do have a week packed with fun activities! What better time to freshen up my beauty routine with some awesome Spring Products?

Top Ten Tuesdays: Spring Break Beauty! with Topganic, Essence, nyc

Lets dive right into my Top Ten Tuesdays: Spring Break Beauty items:

• Tommy Bahama | Island Life for Her: Island Life has luscious notes of pear and sparkling Mandarin mixed perfectly with the core of white rose, peony, and beach blossoms, and rounded out by Vanilla Bean, Sandalwood and Musk. This scent is perfect for warm weather! This is the newest addition to Tommy Bahama’s fragrance collection which launched in March. Retails for $78.00. 

• Orico LONDON | Orange Micellar Cleansing Water and Makeup Remover: Detox your skin with the newest trend in skincare...Micellar Water! I am completely obsessed with this product category. This 3-in-1 purifying micellar water from Orico LONDON instantly cleanses away toxins, eliminates impurities, and removes makeup for clear and fresh skin. Soothing calendula flower extract and amino acids help boost cell regeneration, hydrate and smooth skin while an invigorating blend of citrus fruit essential oils boost skin circulation and detoxify. Plus, it smells amazing and is just so refreshing to use! Retails for $24.00.

• Sol Scents Sunscreen | Broad Spectrum Spray Sunscreen SPF 30, 50: Spring weather means sunny day activities! Nothing beats a good continuous spray sunscreen for quick application. Sol Scents just released Spray Sunscreens in SPF 30 and 50 formulas. I have long been a fan of the gorgeously scented Sol Scents Sunscreens. So, I am happy that they now have a spray option, too! If you love fun and upbeat body mist type scents (think BBW), then you will love the scents of these sunscreens! Retails for $12.95.

• Burt's Bees | Sheer Body Lotion: This new Sheer Body Lotion from Burt's Bees is so light and fresh for the warm weather! If you’re looking for a lightweight moisturizer with a light-weight scent–look no further. It’s formulated with Safflower Oil Oleosomes, which are clinically shown to instantly moisturize skin and leave it feeling silky and smooth. So spritz away and let your skin (and nose) feel fragrantly refreshed. Retails for $10.00.

• bodycology | Cherish the Moment Fragrance Mist: Warmer weather means more sweat. I am just being real ya'll. I always crave feeling and smelling my freshest. So, I rely not just on great deoderants, but also body splashes/fragrance mists to refresh throughout the day! Bodycology has a ton of great scents and they are so affordable! Right now I am loving the Cherish the Moment (Cherry Blossom) scent. My Cherry Blossom tree is at the tail end of its bloom in our backyard. Yes, my tree inspired my love of this scent! :) 

• Dove Beauty Bar and Body Wash | Mandarin & Tiare Flower Scent: I adore Dove's body washes and beauty bars in the shower. Their brand new Mandarin & Tiare Flower scent is completely divine and perfect for the warm days of Spring Break! Hey-I am noticing a citrus theme here, are you?

• MirSkin 5/2 Pads: Have I mentioned lately that I am obsessed with peel pads? I have found that they give my skin the perfect anti-aging/anti-acne kick that it needs. I honestly don't discriminate. I have tried a few different kinds and like them all. Lately, I have been using these from MirSkin. They are so easy to use and I do feel that they are keeping my skin more clear! That is especially needed during the Spring time as my skin shifts from Combo/dry to Combo/Oily. 

• New York Color | Strip Me Off Base Coat: OMG! Where has this product been all my life? lol! This NEW Strip Me Off Base Coat from NYC does just that! As much as I love and adore my glitter polishes, I have always abhorred removing it! Well, this base coat eliminates that entire problem. No remover is needed when you use this base coat! You just "Strip it off"! Amazing! Especially great if you are traveling for Spring Break and don't want to pack a remover! Only $4.00.

• essence | Sun Club Bronzers: I am a long-time essence fan (even before they came to the USA!). This brand is so affordable and so whimsy and fun! When Spring Break rolls around, the weather change means it is time to bare the arms and legs...but, I am *so pale* this time of year! Don't get me wrong, I embrace my pale...however, a light dusting of a bronzer or a subtle self-tan does give me a little confidence boost when wearing shorts, capris, and sleeveless or more bare tops! An easy way to get quick color? Just take a huge powder brush and dust an inexpensive bronzer like Sun Club from essence all over! This matte bronzer comes in two shades: blondes and brunettes. Only $4.99 each for a huge pan! 

• Topganic | Brazilian Nut Oil Keratin Protein Intensive Repair Hair Mask: Warm weather brings the humidity and the sun...both of which can wreak havoc on my long highlighted hair. A good weekly hair mask is a must for me! This hair mask smells unbelievably amazing. Light and perfumy (but not in a bad way! I wish this was a perfume!!!) this leaves my hair smelling divine, feeling silky soft, and behaving manageably. Plus, it is only $11.00 for a huge tub!

Shop the Post:

Find out what my fellow Top Ten Tuesdays bloggers are loving beauty-wise for Spring Break! Click the thumbnails below to read more:

Affiliate Link

NEW from Essence Cosmetics: Summer 2014

 Affiliate Link Press Sample

NEW Products from essence

Did you know that essence cosmetics is now available in select Walgreens stores? I am very excited that one of my long-standing value cosmetics lines is so readily available now! I have been a fan of essence cosmetics for years now. Even before essence was available in the USA, I had a friend in Germany who I used to do makeup swaps with who always sent awesome goodies from essence. That is how my love of the brand was born!

essence cosmetics, the #1 value cosmetics brand in the world, is known for high-quality products at incredible prices ($0.99 - $4.99). featuring a wide range of fun and fashionable items, essence carries on-trend lipsticks, lip glosses, eye shadows, mascaras, nail polishes, and nail art. in addition to its standard range, essence releases new and unique limited editions every season.

I got to try out an assortment of items from essence's new Spring/Summer 2014 Collection: NEW Lash Mania Reloaded Mascara, NEW Long Lasting Lipstick, NEW Get BIG Lashes in Triple Black, NEW Sun Club All-in-One Bronzing Highlighter, and NEW Stays No Matter What Eyepencil.

Top 10 Tuesdays: Top 10 Eyeliners

I Bought It  Press Sample Affiliate Link

Top 10 Tuesdays is the blog series for Top 10 List lovers! Top Ten Tuesdays are a bi-weekly collaborative link-up series where top Beauty Bloggers share their Top 10 Lists for a given topic. This week: Top 10 Eyeliners!!!

These eyeliners are my current Top 10 Favorites! Believe me, I have a drawer full of eyeliners...and these are the ones that I reach for time-and-time again! I have sensitive eyes and allergies. So, my eyes are very prone to tearing/watering. So, I need eyeliners that hold up extremely well! These all prove to be run and smudge-proof for me! Love them all and totally recommend each one. This list represents the full range of price points, too!

Top 10 Eyeliners with MAC pigment, Physician's Formula, Maybelline

• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils: These liners are soooo pigmented! Plus, the waterproof staying power is just amazing!!! These truly do glide-on! Plus, they come in a whole range of colors: from vibrant and wild to amazing neutrals...Urban Decay has you covered.

• Laura Mercier Creme Eye Liner: This creamy liner is long-wearing and completely smudge-proof! Plus, it applies like a total dream.

• Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen: I just adore these fabulous liners from Pixi! The waterproof gel formula glides on your eyes effortlessly, doesn't smudge, and blends beautifully. I find these liners to be quite similar to Urban Decay's 24/7 liners.

• Bobbi Brown Long-Wearing Gel Liner: These gel liners from Bobbi Brown were the very first potted gel liners that I ever tried. So, I am very loyal to them. I tend to compare all other potted liners to these as Bobbi Brown is my gold-standard in gel liners! These are long-wearing and waterproof. I heart these liners! Chocolate Shimmer Ink is my favorite shade. 

• essence kajal eye pencil: Love a good cheap-thrill product? Check out these amazing kajal liners from essence! They are only $1.00 and they work great! The shade Teddy has been my standard brown kajal pencil for years!!! While it is not waterproof nor as long wearing as some of the others on this list, it still works great for a softer look and it never smudges on me.

• Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner: Are you sensing a trend here? I really love long-wearing liners! :) Revlon ColorStay liners are the drugstore standard in a long-wearing liner. I almost always have a black one of these around!

• Trish McEvoy Intense Gel Eyeliner: This is my newest favorite addition to my eyeliner collection. It was love at first sight!!! This liner is possibly the most intensely pigmented out of all of the liners that I own. It glides on absolutely effortlessly while laying down a deep layer of pigment. I am so impressed!!!

• Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner: Love potted gel liners but hate department store prices? The good news is that the drugstore carries some great options for potted gel liners! This one is by-far my fav drugstore option for this category of liners! These are long-wearing, waterproof, and smudge-proof...just like the high-end versions! I even like the brush that comes with it.

• Physician's Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum: This felt-tip liquid style liner is absolutely the easiest liquid liner to apply! The super fine point and flow of the tip allow for a goof-proof wing. So easy to use! I reach for this Physician's Formula liner over all the other liquid liners in my collection. A must have!

• MAC Fluidline: MAC Fluidlines are another great gel liner option. The gel formula is long-wearing and smudge-proof. The shade blacktrack is one of my go-to blacks! 

Shop the Post:

What do ya'll think? Have you tried any of these liners that I listed above? What are your favorites! 

Thanks for reading! Be sure to check out the links below to see my fellow "Top 10 Tuesdays" Bloggers' posts! :)

Beauty411 Beautiful Makeup Search Beauty Info Zone Pammy Blogs Beauty Blushing Noir Perilously Pale Prime Beauty polish insomniac Retrodiva's Beauty Phyrra Beauty and Fashion Tech
 

essence colour & go polishes: total rave!

Hi readers!!! You all probably do not know that I have a *major* affinity for nail polish. I know I haven't done many posts dedicated to polish, but let me tell you...I really do love polish!!!

(source)

For me, its a color thing. Colors can impact your moods. Colors affect people. So, adding a pop of bold or bright color just really perks me up and makes me feel pretty. As far as polish goes, I like it all: drugstore formulas or HE (High End), any color or finish, dark or light, glitter or matte, metallics or you name it, I like it! What I end up wearing totally depends on my mood and what particular color is "calling me" that day. LOL, I probably sound like a total nut! :) Out of all of my makeup, I get the most experimental with color with my polishes. I generally go with natural looking makeup, so I am ready to go bold or bright or sparkly with my nails and toes!!!

Now, my regular readers probably know that I have some *major love* for the German essence brand as well. To read some more raves and reviews on essence please see some of my other essence posts like this one. Essence is just such a great low-priced brand. I mean, the prices are ridiculous. I don't think that any single item costs more that $4. With many items like liners and polishes only at $1.00 each! Now, I am all about affordable beauty products, and I love essence, but honestly...I hate to admit that even with that said, I didn't have high hopes for a $1.00 polish. I mean, at $1.00, how good could it be? Well, let me tell you, I thought wrong. These little $1.00 polishes blew me away!!! Keep reading after the jump for the polish review!

Essence: Denim Wanted Collection (review) and EOTD!

Hello lovelies!

Here I am with another *total rave* essence review! This review is for the Essence "Denim Wanted" shadow duo, glitter eyeliner, and lipgloss. Seriously, essence is one of the best low-priced cosmetics lines out there! All of these items cost me just less than $5.00 *total*! :) I found these on special display at my  Ulta. There was also a denim cuff bracelet and a few polishes on the same display that I did not purchase.

I also apologize in advance for the lack of skill in my photography! I have been wanting to try to do EOTD (Eye of the Day) and other makeup photos, but my self-photography skills need some improvement! lol! I am attempting to show you some looks below with the "photo booth" on my computer, but the makeup does not show up really well. But, you might get the idea!

The items:

My attempt at an EOTD photo!!! lol at my photograhy skills 

(this is the best I could do with photobooth, you can kinda see the blue shadow/ liner?)

Essence: Denim Wanted! Eyeshadow duo in 02 My Boyfriend's Jeans:

• What an adorable little eye shadow duo! This is actually what drew me in to the whole collection! The duo is packaged in a Stila-like cardboard compact with magnet closure. 

• The two shadows are inside with an applicator and also a "how to" picture with tips. I applied the shadow almost exactly like the "how to" photo. :) 

• The shadows are soft (but not chalky) and quite pigmented. Very "buttery" feeling shadows. Love them!!! They applied and blended extremely well and looked great paired together. 

• The sliver color is just gorgeous applied all over the lid. It appears as a soft whitish silver. Nice shimmer! 

• The blue, while it looks navy in the pan, actually looks more "purple" once applied. So, a purplish blue, if you will. Beautiful!!! I applied this navy to the "outer V" as well as the outer upper and lower lash line. 

• Interesting side note: The color of my eyes can be somewhat chameleon-like. My eyes are baby-blue, but depending on what I wear and what shadow colors I use, they can look either baby blue, steel gray, or greenish blue. This blue/purple color really brought out the green in my eyes. Cool! 

• I "finished" off this look with Wet n Wild's Creme Brulee eye shadow single (my latest fav: a matte cream color that is just slightly darker than my skin tone): used on my brow bone and to blend corners of the blue color and inner tear duct corners. 

• What a great deal for $2.00!!!

Essence: Denim Wanted: Glitter Eye Pencil: 01 My Boyfriend's Jeans

• This navy liner applied more like a true navy (unlike the shadow that looks purplish when applied).

• Formula is slightly "drier" in consistency than my other essence pencil liners. This might be because it is a "glitter" liner. The glitter is slightly "chunky" (not micro fine) and silver. You can see the glitter in the pencil and the glitter also shows up upon application, but is quite subtle. Pencil tugged a bit on the eyes and required some smudging. 

• An "okay" liner. Not my fav, but will continue to use paired with these shadows. 

• To intensify color and increase the wear of the eyeliner, I topped the liner with more of the dark blue/purple shadow from the Denim Wanted shadow duo. 

• This liner was $1.00

Lipgloss, liner, and shadow duo swatches

Essence: Denim Wanted: Lipgloss in 02 I Like Your Shorts:

• This little squeeze tube lipgloss keychain is adorable!!! And, WOW, it has turned out to be my fav product of this mini Denim Collection! 

• I am soooo picky about lipgloss scents! This one is wonderful! It is a very subtle vanilla scent. Yummy!!!

• The gloss is quite thick and moisturizing. It wears very well. 

• This is a clear gloss with whitish silver/irradecent shimmer. Just makes your lips look slightly paler and shimmery. 

• Really love this gloss!!! And, it was only about $1.50! Can't beat that!!!
• 
  

Overall, a *total rave* for this essence denim collection!!! I got this on a "whim"...and do not regret this purchase one bit! I know that I will recreate this eye-look many times! It is just such a quick, easy, and flattering eye. The lipgloss is going on my key chain, so I know it will get constant use! What great quality and "fun" items for a very low price! Love, love, love essence!!! 

Hope you enjoyed reading! And let me know if you have any self photography tips! (lol at myself!)

XOXO!

Pammy

Coming soon:

-Redken Blonde Glam Line: Review

-My Thanksgiving recipes and prep! Yes, we are *hosting* Thanksgiving this year! :) 

Essence XXXL nudes lipgloss in Nude Kiss: A "close dupe" for Too Faced Pillow Talk!

Hello there lovely readers! While browsing at Ulta yesterday, I was so excited to discover a "close dupe" for my beloved Too Faced Glamour Gloss in Pillow Talk (from the Enchanted Glamourland Collection, and seriously, Pillow Talk has become my new fav gloss)! Yes, the essence gloss is "pinker"...but, for the look and effect and yummy scent...very similar (especially over my very pigmented lips)! Total rave for both of these glosses!

As you all know, I totally love essence cosmetics line, so I was happy to pick up the gloss as it was only $1.99! What a steal! The essence gloss is the XXXL Nudes Gloss in Nude Kiss.

*both photos show TF on left and essence on right. 

Here is my comparison of the two glosses! I *totally* love both glosses!!!

Similarities: 

• Same scent! Both glosses have a very sweet scent...it is a very "vanilla" cake-like scent with a hint of mocha? 
• Both shades wear as a lovely nude (with the essence more a "pinkish" nude...but, really, the same effect)
• Similar packaging
• Both glosses wear well as they are thick enough to be lasting without being sticky. Good texture on both glosses!
• Both gloss have good pigmentation. 

Differences:

• The Too Faced has a more "milky" finish
• The Too Faced is more a peachy nude and the essence is more of a pinky nude. You can see the difference in the arm swatches, but over my pigmented lips...the shades are *very* close (with the essence just being ever so slightly pinker)
• They are both thick (yet not sticky) glosses. The Too Faced gloss is slightly more dense. 
• The Too Faced has a brush applicator wand and the essence has a doe-foot applicator wand. 
• Too Faced has gold/iridescent micro fine gitter and the essence has silver/iridescent micro fine glitter...but, neither of these glosses look nor feel overly glittery. And despite the essence having silver not gold micro glitter, again, the effect is very similar on the lips. 
• Probably the most major difference is that the Too Faced gloss is a plumper and has a "minty"/mildly tingly or "cooling" feel upon application and the essence gloss does not have this feel. 
• The Too Faced Gloss retails at $18 and the essence gloss retails at $1.99!!! :) I got my Too Faced Glamour Gloss in the Enchanted Glamourland Set (which is a good value for the price!).

So, if the price for the Too Faced gloss is too high for you, then you can get a "similar" look with the essence gloss!!! Yay for a near-dupe! It is not an exact dupe, but the overall effect is similar enough to give you the same "look" with your makeup. I really love both glosses equally! Also, there are about 3 other shades in essence's XXXL Nudes line, so there are some other lovely nudes to try...and I bet if you mixed a few of them together, you could get an exact dupe!

I was very excited to find this essence gloss at Ulta!!! The essence display at my Ulta has a ton of new products...so, I am tempted to try more! :)

Hope you enjoyed reading!!!

XOXO!
Pammy

Coming Soon:
-Profusion Beauty Wallet: a fail!
-Wet n Wild Holiday Palettes: Night Elf :)