REVIEW: essence all-in-one BB cream

Official description:

one for all! this lightly tinted cream ensures a smooth, radiant and flawless complexion. it makes small skin imperfections disappear without blocking your pores. the oil and perfume-free beauty balm is available in three different skin tones with spf 30. the must-have amongst foundations for a smooth complexion.

Packaging: The packaging is always cute at the essence products and this bb cream is no exception. Comes in a tube containing 30 ml.
Texture: Similar to a liquid foundation.

What it does: Well, even from the description, they say it's a tinted cream. Basically, this is a tinted moisturizer with a light to medium coverage. This doesn't cover acne or anything like that, but it helped me with my redness, and that is quite enough. One think I don't like is that the lightest shade (called 01 Universal) is a hint too dark for a fair complexion like mine. If it's blended well, I can work with it. Also, oily skin isn't this cream's best friend. You can't use this without a powder or you'll shine bright like a diamond. What I do like is the SPF and the fact that it's oil free. I had some bad break outs and now I'm healing and I didn't notice this BB cream making things worse.
Price: 14,60 lei (almost 4 euros) at my local essence counter.
Re-buy or pass: I'm glad I tried this BB cream and it's a nice product for the price, but...I like Garnier better.

essence All Eyes On Me multi-effect mascara review

Official description: the all eyes on me multi-effect mascara has it all! the innovative brush and the unique texture of the mascara provide your lashes with extra volume and breathtaking length.  each lash is perfectly separated making your eyes pop!

Packaging: A black tube with cute grey and white design. It contains 8 ml (0.27 fl. oz.).
Texture: It's a rather thick mascara which makes it a little clumpy.

What it does: As much as I love essence make-up products, this mascara just didn't do it for me. I have pretty long lashes and I was looking for that extra-volume and unfortunately I didn't get it. Basically, when applied, all i could see was that my lashes were more colored and that's it. Also, it's the first mascara that I used and I got clumps on the lashes and that's a big no-no.
Price: about 2 euro
Re-buy or pass: I won't be buying this mascara ever again.

essence The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn part 2 loose pigment eyeshadow review

My experience with pigments is very limited, as I have used only one other pigment from Ga-De and it was very disappointing because of the fall-out. Other than that, if Yves Rocher is my love brand when it comes to skin care, I fell in love with the make-up products from essence because you get good quality at a low price and the packaging is adorable. I also love the many limited edition collections available.

Official description:

vampire eyes! the loose eyeshadow pigments, available in three dark, almost black shades and one light golden shade, create mysterious and fascinating eye make-up à la bella swan. the pigments can either be used individually or combined. the ideal base: the essence colour arts eye base from the essence standard range.

available in 01 jacob’s protection, 02 alice had a vision – again, 03 a piece of forever and 04 edward’s love.

My pigment is 01 Jacob's protection.
Packaging: The pigment comes in a transparent plastic container inscriptioned with the Twilight font. Under the lid, there's an opening with small holes, so you get tiny amounts of product, so it doesn't go to waste. It contains 1.7 gr (0.06 oz.)
Texture: Unlike my other pigment, this one is very much like a regular eyeshadow and I have no problem with fall-outs. It's very smooth and blendable, so it's easy to work with. Jacob's protection is a nice black color with a strong dark green undertone. It looks gorgeous especially in the light and I wear it constantly.
I like to use my essence brush with it, the smokey eyes one.

The brush has a lovely design, with the purple decorations and the purple tip. It doesn't shed and it's a very nice brush for blending. It costs only about 1.5 euro.
What it does: Like I already said, the pigment has a good color pay-off, and I love shimmery or glittery eyeshadows, but sometimes it's hard to work with them (I'm not very skilled in make-up). I had no problems with this pigment and it doesn't crease if I use a prime. I used alone, it lasts only for a couple of hours, though.

Price: About 4 euro.
Re-buy or pass: I'm thinking about getting Alice had a vision again too, because I saw some swatches and it's a gorgeous purple shade. But then I again, I don't like purples very much and I wouldn't use it. If the quality of the rest of the essence pigments is the same, I'll definitely add other colors to my small collection.

essence The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn part 2 Shimmer Powder review

Official description: the absolute must-have for all twilight girls! the delicate shimmer powder offers your face and body a special glow and makes your complexion look beautifully smooth – for ultimate vampire seduction.

available in 01 bella‘s secret.

Packaging: The powder comes in a transparent plastic case using the "Twilight font" for the writing. The case contains 11 g (0.38 oz), so you get quite an amount of product.

Texture: It may look like a contact powder, but it is very airy and smooth, like a loose powder, so it's very easy to work with. It has tiny shimmer particles in it, but they are delicate and I don't look like a disco ball when I use it. It gives me a shimmery, golden, subtle tone to my skin.

What it does: It's basically an illuminating powder, so it's destined for highlighting. There are days when I don't use eyeshadows, but contouring and highlighting is very important to me. I love using a product that's subtle and there's no danger in applying too much of it. For an evening event, such a night at a club or something like that, you can even use it all over the face. Avoid doing this is u have oily skin though. No one want a shiny face, right?
Price: about 4 euro
Re-buy or pass: This is my second favourite shimmer powder I've ever used, and it's cheaper than my all time favourite so I'd definitely re-buy it. Sadly, this was a limited collection and I only hope that I'll find something similar in the regular essence line.

essence I Love Stage eyeshadow base review

Official description: the i love stage – eyeshadow base has to get on stage! it can be applied diversely either as primer for concealers or eye shadows. the creamy texture does not crease, makes the eye shadow last longer and appear much more color intensive. for an even eye make-up waiting for its gig on stage!

Packaging: One of the reasons why I find essence cosmetics so appealing is because of their cute packaging. I wouldn't be a true girly girl if I wasn't attracted to nice and colorful packaging. I like the writing and the heart on the tube. It has 4 ml (0.13 fl.oz) which may seem not much product, but it's a good thing if you don't like it, then at least you don't have to struggle finishing it. And besides, it's super cheap.

Texture: It's a creamy eyeshadow base, which doubles as concealer too, according to the packaging and as far as I can tell there are no other shades available.

What it does: As eyeshadow base it's pretty much mediocre. I've used it with low quality eyeshadows and it wouldn't last for more than 4 hours, and with a good eyeshadow, 6 hours tops. As a concealer it doesn't offer much coverages, not for my dark under eye circles anyway and it creases if I don't apply it carefully. It has a yellow undertone to it, so for a pale person with rosy undertone it wouldn't work out too great. All in all, let's just say I wasn't impressed.
Price: About 2 euro
Re-buy or pass: As much as I love essence and as much as I like finding cheap make-up products, I'm gonna pass on this one since it doesn't actually do much for me.

So far, I'm gonna stick with my e.l.f. primer. It's a little bit more expensive, but the eyeshadows stay put.