Today I have a few essential (I'm too punny) make up must-haves to share! I first discovered Essence, a German brand, when I was in Switzerland for a three-week language immersion programme. Fell in love with their Nail Art Twins (I have Chuck and Blair) and tried some of their lip glosses and eyeshadows too. When I visited Malaysia last year, I bought a ton of Essence products!
I love Essence products because they are affordable and perform relatively well as drugstore make up. Essence Stay With Me Longlasting Lip Gloss is no exception. I got it in three colours: I Like Cotton Candy (adorable name!), Candy Bar and Trendsetter. Swatches and description after the jump!
The packaging is relative chic and fuss-free. The most interesting feature is the shape of the lip applicator, which is unlike the usual doe-foot lip applicator.
I'm not sure if I really love the shape of this applicator, but it gets the job done.
Take a look at the photo above! I did my nails with Megan Miller Coral Bliss on purpose, because I realised that its neon coral shade is very close to the colour of Essence Stay With Me Longlasting Lip Gloss (what a mouthful) in Candy Bar.
A few swatches coming up...
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| In the shade |
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| Under direct sunlight |
From L-R: I Like Cotton Candy, Candy Bar, Trendsetter
There are two swatches for each colour: the first is straight from the tube, swatched twice on my arm. The second is swatched twice on my arm and blended out. See how the colours go from intensely glossy to almost resembling a lip stain? This lipgloss is very pigmented, yet the colours are very wearable as they are semi-translucent, allowing your natural lip colour to shine through. Bonus: The glosses smell like candy! I was pleasantly surprised at how yummy they smelt. It takes a lot of willpower NOT to lick my lips with these glosses on.
Here are some lip swatches of the three different shades under white light (artificial lighting) and shade (natural lighting).
Essence Stay With Me Longlasting Lip Gloss in I Like Cotton Candy
Under white light, I Like Cotton Candy pulls more lavender/cool pink with some blue undertones.
In the shade, I Like Cotton Candy is a more natural shade of tea rose. It's close to my natural lip colour, so I love wearing it when I'm in more casual attire.
Under white light, Candy Bar is a vibrant, youthful looking pink that leans red.
In the shade, it looks less vibrant, but still gorgeous nonetheless. The colour leans red but isn't too in-your-face, so it's a great way of slowly inducting yourself into wearing red. I'll be reviewing Milani Hot Flash soon and that red is a show-stopping red that more women should try!
Essence Stay With me Longlasting Lip Gloss in Trendsetter
Oh Trendsetter, how I adore thee. I've ever mentioned how much I love berry lip shades because they suit my skin tone. Trendsetter is yet another of those lovely berry shades that is eye-catching but not too loud. It can complement a dark eye very well, for days when I'm feeling more goth, or add a touch of glamour when paired with a hint of gold eyeshadow and black eyeliner.
Under white light, it pulls more pink than berry.
The wear-time is about 3-4 hours with one light meal - very reasonable when considering the price. The texture is slightly sticky and thick, but I guess that's why it stays put for quite a while. They're also pretty glossy, as you can see from the photos.
One thing I like about them is that they are not shimmery or pearlescent, unlike most lip glosses in the market. On days when you don't want your lips to be the main focus, you can use them as pop of colour. If you don't want to go for a glossy finish, you can blot them and leave a nice pigmented stain on your lips. And as always, you also have the option of layering a shimmery lip gloss on top - perfect for a breezy summer look. There are many ways to play around with these glosses.
I love all three shades, but the one that flatters my skin tone most is definitely Trendsetter. I have yet to purchase 3 other shades that are available for sale in selected Watsons' stores in Singapore, but they are very affordable, retailing at 4.30 SGD for 4ml of product (9.90 MYR when I bought these in Malaysia).
If you're interested in getting Essence products, do head to the following Watsons' outlets at Ngee Ann City, Lucky Plaza, Sun Plaza, Parkway Parade, Lot 1 and Anchor Point.
Let's Break It Down
Product Name: Essence Stay With Me Longlasting Lip Gloss
Product type: Lip Gloss
Amount of product: 4ml (0.13 fl. oz.)
Price per product: 4.30 SGD
Number of available shades: 6 (in Singapore)
Comments: Very glossy, pigmented, non-shimmer/pearlescent, lasts 3-4 hours with light meal, smells yummy, cheap, easily available
Where to buy: Selected Watsons outlets (Ngee Ann City, Lucky Plaza, Sun Plaza, Parkway Parade, Lot 1 and Anchor Point)
To buy or not to buy: Buy it! It's cheap, works well and smells great.
Product approved 5/5.
Have you tried any Essence lip products? Or their other product ranges? What do you think?
