Summer 2017/2018 Essence and Catrice Collection!

Hi Beauties!
In my upcoming posts, I will share with you some of the products that Essence and Catrice Singapore sent to me for my feedback! This is not a sponsored post, I only asked them for some products for me to review!

Right now I will give a short overview of this brand. It was established in Europe in around year 2003, but brough into Singapore since 2011. I have been very supportive of their brand since 2012! I love their makeup and most of them are made in Europe! Nothing dubious like those made in China. Some famous brands you find in Sephora even have their makeup made in China which is a total turn off for me. This brand however, is so value for money!

Most of the things in Essence line is approx $5.90, while the average price of Catrice is leaning around $7.90 based on my purchase experiences. I've also shared in a previous post that they do WAREHOUSE sales with prices even as low as $1 ! You can't beat that. Support them and they will support you back.

A few weeks ago, they have kindly sent me these products below:

Summer 2017/2018 Collection

I have already reviewed some of the products below in previous posts and hence will not be describing them again in following posts. I have not opened the 2 lipliners and one eyeliner so I will be reviewing them when I do get around to opening them.

Stay tuned to my upcoming detailed posts on these products! PS: I will also follow by reviewing items I bought last year and this year which i have not yet reviewed

Stay pretty!
Have a good week ahead!

Essence Winter Glow cushion powder lipstick

Hi Beauties! 

Here is the first review on today's loot at their warehouse sale!

It is their old limited edition WINTER GLOW cushion powder lipstick. I have a vague memory of swatching it at Guardian long time ago and not buying despite very drawn to the colours. I just think that its powdery and may go into my throat haha.

Today, seeing that the sale is 3 for $1, i knew it was a great chance for me to get it finally. See some pictures below before I describe further about this product!

I bought 4 of them, 2 of each colour : 01 Melt my lips ; 02 Winter kissed

The cute Essence duck was a free gift from today's sale!

01 Melt my lips

 The picture above shows how the product inside looks like, it looks to me like a compressed lipstick. The sponge side has a spring to bounce the sponge up and down inside the cap to tap more product.

01 Melt my lips

01 Melt my lips

 My thoughts of the product: I think the product feels like nothing on my lips. Since my lips are soooo dry, it cannot really stick on my lips. I took about 10 swipes to get it on my lips. In other words, if your lips are really dry, you may really need a lip primer or you need some foundation on your mouth to get more of the product to stick better.

The good side is: it feels powdery, my hair doesn't stick to my lipstick at all which is awesome!!!

01 Melt my lips

On the other hand, it sticks soooo well to my skin!!!! It only took one swipe to get it to stick onto my skin. Not sure why so, maybe because skin has more oils and moisture than my chapped lips?

Also, after rubbing hard and bathing, it still stayed so prominently on my hands! Check out the picture below:

After rubbing on tissue, and bathing

I don't regret getting this product, I believe it will work better on my lips when i have less chapped lips!

To those still interested in this product, go grab yours before the sale is over!

PS: I will also test out the 2nd colour on this same post when i open it. Stay tuned!

Rating: 4/5

Price before discount: $5.90 (it could be $4.90, i not too sure coz this was from a few seasons ago)

3 for $1 Massive Essence and Catrice cosmetics sale!

Hi beauties!

I'm soooooo excited to let all of you know of the sales because its between 30th Oct to 3rd Nov and I want you all to get the goodies as fast as you can!

I have looted quite a few items today, not as much as I would have expected because i already have almost all the products there

Here are some pictures

    

The lowest priced items are at 3 for $1 while the highest priced was $8. As you can see, most of these products are super affordable! I have looted 19 items and the rest are free gifts, picture shown below

I bought 18 of the 3 for $1 while 1 of the $1 each item. This is the biggest sale I have been to. Do good to them, they do good to you. This is a blessing i have got from being such a big fan for Cosnova over these 7 years! In another post later i have a review on the first product of this loot. Apologies on delay over past loots, i have not reviewed them because i have not opened them lols. This one is way too exciting not to open immediately. 

I want to put up a disclaimer: Some of the make up have expiry dates thats very close. However, most of the manufacturing dates are in year 2017 so its fine.

I love their brand so much and I hope you found this post useful!

Bye for now Beauties!

Catrice & Essence Massive HAUL Buy 1 Get 1 free!

Hi Beautiful!

Recently there was a big haul at GUARDIAN stores selling Catrice and Essence products! 

Last month it was still 30% off for each of the red tagged items! This month it was buy 1 get 1 free!!!

Please hurry down to guardian and Watsons to get the remaining stocks before the Buy 1 get 1 free deal is over! Since i just got them not too long ago, i will do a full review on them when I use them! 

My greatest effort was in finding the Matt 12 hour powder from Catrice, as the deal was so good, each going for $6.50, and now with buy 1 get 1 free, its only going at half the price now. The only shade for the Matt powder that has this deal is shade 015. I went to 8 guardian stores and finally found them and grabbed them all!

See you in another blog post! Please grab them now before the discounts are gone! They will be releasing new products soon and these will be wiped out probably by this week

Bye for now!

Essence Pure NUDE Makeup foundation REVIEW + SWATCHES

Essence Pure Nude Make-Up foundation

Dear Beauties,
I have just recently opened my Essence Pure Nude make-up after keeping it for 2 years! I really like this foundation! It is not only natural looking, i find it very long lasting! It took me about 6 hours of wear before i see any oilyness in my skin! Most of my other foundations start to break apart with my oils within about 3 hours. This is a major breakthrough! The only con is that it is quite a light coverage, takes me about 2 layers to be medium coverage.

Very liquidy  consistency

It is definitely buildable and very easy to blend out! I really think this colour is a good match to me, although I typically use porcelain or light ivory colours-- This is all thanks to its natural sheer coverage that helps me wear it nicely even though it was quite dark for my skin tone.

I really love it soooo much! I think they discontinued this series, and replaced it with the "18 hour wear foundation", the one with a similar tube packaging as this! Yes! I believe it is really a 18 hour wear even for this PURE NUDE one as I once tried wearing it from 8am to 10pm which is already 14 hours! Its a fantastic foundation. If indeed it is the same as the "18 hour" one, please go grab it!

It leaves a slight tacky feeling after put on, do powder it a bit before heading out!

Rating: 5/5
Price: $7.50 (At guardian stores)

New Summer Collection: Essence Prismatic Rainbow Glow Highlighter Swatches + Review!

Hi beauties! This is the last item in the collection that Essence gave me for review this summer! I will now be reviewing the Essence Prismatic Rainbow Glow Highlighter!!! First of all, I have 2 of these because I was given one back last year! This year they gave me for review. It contains 10g of product--- That is a lot! See the pictures below

Prismatic Rainbow highligher : 10 Be a Unicorn

On a broad brush.

Swatched on my arm

Erm... Excuse me... Girl.... erm.... From left to right on my arm is a swatch from the brush to my arms, is from Blue to pink. However, I cant see no nothing on my arms!!!!! Wheres the blue yellow orange and pink on my arm? I was expecting something since i can see it on my brush. I swiped 2 times on my arm from the brush but there is nothing.... HOWEVER, when you swirl your brush all over and swipe on your face, this is what you will get:

Its just a light sheen on my face. I think I could use more product on my face, but definitely this is not a in your face kind of highlight. I prefer the Essence Soo Glow Highlighter than this as that is more impactful.

WHEN you put many layers on the rainbow on your face, it does look quite weird... Blue streaks on your face?-- Perhaps for a dress up party but not for a regular outing.

All in all, the rainbow trend is just a gimmick-- Do not fall for it, just go with a regular highlight. I won't fault them for this gimmick because all cosmetics go with the trend after all.. right? I will rate according to the product itself and what I think about it
Rating: 3/5
Price: You will know when it is released in Guardian and Watsons probably in July (For Singapore)

This concludes the last item of the trial packet that they gave me. Any other reviews are solely bought by myself. All my reviews are purely genuine and not because it was a gift from them. Thanks for your support in reading my blog posts!

Bye for now!
Be a Smart Beauty!
XOXO!!!!

New Summer Collection: Essence Glamaxy Top Coat

HI Beauties! One more nail product from the packet! Its the Essence Glamaxy Top Coat!  They gave me in the shade 34 Glamaxy far, far away. First of all, this top coat is almost transparent with iridescent flakes which is sooooo cute!

It contains 8ml, which is the same amount as its regular line of nail polish.

I love the brush on this! And the cute sparkles! I love it so much

I used the Essence Glow and Care nail polish

If I had flexed my finger up and down, the sparkles will be more obvious and will shine more obviously. The only negative thing is that this top coat is not so shiny like those of the Seche Vite. Not too glossy. The only nice thing is the sparkles. I have put this nail polish on for about 4 days and not yet chipped. Wonderful!

Rating: 4/5
Price: To be known in July! For sale in Guardian and Watsons (Singapore)

Essence New Summer Collection: Essence Glow & Care Luminous Nail Polish Swatches and Review!

Hi Beauties!
This is my first post for Essence Nail products! ( I have others that I bought but its already outdated so I may not review them). Today I bring to you the Essence New Summer Collection: Essence Glow & Care Luminous Nail Polish!!! Essence Singapore gave me the colour : 05 Love and Care. This nail polish is said to contain Kukui Oil. I like the nail polish colour they gave me! Its soooo sexy! Check it out

Right: Essence Glow and Care

Essence Glow and Care

Check out the nail polish! The Opacity is soooo good with just 1 coat omg!!! And it dries very fast and it does not have much smell!!! Essence, Girl... you nailed it good! I love this colour and the opacity... Its so sexy and cool! And it has less smell and it contains Kukui Oil-- Said to be good for hair and skin, and i suppose, nails too.

Check out its brush too:

Its such a good brush, so easy and fast to apply!!!!

I  L O V E   I T!!!!

Let me give it the rating: 5/5 !!!

Best nail polish ever!

Talk to you soon!

Be a smart beauty!

New Summer Collection: Essence Fade Your Shade Lipstick Swatches and Reviews!

Hi ALL!!! I'm back with another Summer Collection 2017 Product to review today! It will be the Essence Fade Your Shade Lipstick! Its meant to either darken or lighten your lipsticks, depending on whether you get the nude or the darkish colour. I was sent the darkish colour and hence I will review the dark shade! I understand that it is a dark lipstick fade lipstick which mean you should put it in the middle of your lips and then put another colour outside to show the popsicle effect like those korean lip trend!

The amount of product in Fade Your Shade Lipstick

With its cap back on

This lipstick is actually just a really dark vampy red lipstick in itself. It feels like a lipstick and applies like a lipstick. On me it looks like I've just held a Activated Carbon Pill between my lips, check out the picture below

With just this lippie on

Then I added my favourite NYX lipbutter pink lipstick on and the result is as below

Sorry the lighting was different so i brightened the image

As you can see, the product got a little messed up after i added another cream product on it. It also doesn't really suit the lip colour I added to my lips. I have to give credit to the product that it does darken my lips... Although its just another regular lipstick. For me I would rather choose colours like Pink or reds that make me look like I have a popsicle lip. If you are going for a vampy look, I suppose you can use this as a lipstick on its own or do it like me.

Personally I do not find this product looking very nice on me and maybe I wont use it regularly as the colour is too dark for my taste.

My rating is: 3/5

Price: Will be known in July!-> Go to Guardian and Watsons to find them! (Singapore)

Be a smart beauty!

XOXO!

New Summer Collection: Essence Blushplay Blush! Swatches + Reviews

Hi Beauties! Today I have another summer collection product to talk about and its the Essence BlushPlay Sculpting Blush Palette! I have mixed feelings about this palette. BTW, I did not do any face swatch is because my skin looks bumpy due to pimples and it will not justify the product! I will do good swatches on my arms!

See the pictures below for the product!

Essence Blushplay blushes

Essence Blushplay Blushes

First of all, remember in the 1980s people do contouring with blushes and its called "drapping"? Last year I saw a few Youtube videos about some high end products starting to go back to this trend of selling blushes for the drapping look--- This is what I think Essence is trying to produce as well--- Then you see now... the trend already died down.

I would not personally do the drapping looks but I will use these individual blushes as blush and the lightest colour as a highlighter! See the swatches below!

left to right: Highlight, Sculpt, Define

First of all, the Define colour is very very nice as a good blush! I love it so much. Next, the sculpting colour is not pigmented at all! I tried to run my fingers on my arms 2 times and that's the best i could give. Lastly, I LOVE the highlight! It is pigmented and so beautiful! I do not blame the Sculpt colour for being not pigmented because I don't like to use dark colours as blush, but now it being unpigmented-- I can finally use it as a blush! Woohoo!!! I love this so much and it flaunts my looks.

Rating: 5/5

Be a smart Beauty

XOXO!

New Summer Collection: Essence Volume Stylist Review + Swatches!

Hi Beauties!
I will be reviewing the Essence Volume Stylist 18h Last Extension Mascara with Lengthening fibers! Personally, on first use, I am honestly surprised because of the length it gave me!!! Also, although my lashes are naturally sparse and downward going, I could actually see a few strands going upward after I used this mascara! First time having such a good effect with mascaras!

Essence Volume Stylist 18h lash Extension

I think this mascara really packs the impact the instant i put on the first layer! I think 1 layer is already enough for a significant effect.

This is how the brush looks like--Regular looking

My eyelashes are naturally straight and short

See the impact with 1 layer??

This is the first time I see a bit of my lashes sticking above my eyeliner with just 1 layer of mascara! That is of course, with some effort to brush it upwards

I think pictures says a thousand words-- I really like this mascara

Ratings: 4.5/5

That's all for now!

XOXO

Be a smart beauty!

Essence Water Kiss Glossy Lip Colour Review + Swatches!

Hi Beauties! This is one of the products that Essence has sent to me for review (I am not paid in anyway, I reached out to them to request for some products to review... Was a bit of hard work lols). If you are really interested in getting makeup for review, you can set up a blog like me and show your interest to companies to get some products for review too! (good luck!) I feel its good to share good stuff with all of you and that's why I am sharing my experiences and also tips in makeup and extra stuff. Haha enough said on my life journey, let's head on to the review!

Essence Water Kiss Glossy Lip Colour Applicator

First of all, let me compliment them on the well done up applicator. It was really easy to use and manipulate! Not hard at all. However, the product was a little difficult to get on. Partly because they gave me red, but there is another reason. See the pictures below

Essence Water Kiss Glossy Lip Colour

See that this is a little bit patchy, there is a reason why. This product is exactly like a Korean liquid lip tint that does not dry down! This is just like a liquid lip tint, so watery and gel like. I put 1 layer and I tried to use the applicator to make it even. But it end up like this. I do not blame them for it, for, it is red after all. I do have another colour in pink, given by someone else. I will review that later on. That colour should be easier to handle.

As I don't usually wear red out, I decided to tone it down by wiping it off on a tissue. This is the result:

Look at that! It is easy to remove, so it is not like a tint at all! Neither is it like a lip gloss because it is not in the least bit sticky! It is just like a gel consistency. I prefer how it looks after i wiped it off. A litle hint of red-- Looks younger haha-- Although almost all gone.

All in all, I like the consistency as it is light weight and gel like. Just that it is slightly patchy, I am not mad, because red is after all, a hard colour to pull off.

My rating is: 4 /5 ( High score for the texture and applicator)
Price: To be announced in July 2017! Look out for them in your nearest Guardian and Watsons! (Singapore)

Love yall!
XOXO
Be a Smart Beauty!

Essence Hi! Lighting Eyeshadow Mousse Review + Swatches!

Essence Hi! Lighting Eyeshadow Mousse

Hi Beauties! Welcome back to my blog! I have another product from the Summer Collection to share with you!(With Respect to Singapore) It is the Hi!Lighting Eyeshadow Mousse! It applies wet but non sticky and dries down to complete dryness! To describe it better, its like a Korean lip tint, where it applies like water, and dries like a stain. Something like this
See the pictures below

Applying is wet

Smear a little with fingers

Almost done with blending

This is in the shade : 03 hi!rosy
As you all can see, do not over blend with your fingers as almost all the product is gone by now! This is my mistake. Next time I will blend with the tip of the applicator to make it intense. I thought this works as an eye shadow base, but I was wrong. It will dry completely without any residue, nothing will stick to it! So just use a normal eye shadow primer if you are applying powder eyeshadow.

This product is ok ok for me, looks quite weird if I wear it by itself as it is intense! Next time will use the applicator to smear a bit and then wear a blending shade in my crease and I think that should look better

My rating: 3.5/5

Price: You will know in July 2017! For sale in Guardian and Watsons!

XOXO! 

Be a Smart Beauty!

Essence My Must Haves Palette (Quadro) Swatches and Reviews!

Hi Hi Hi! I'm so excited that you are back! My blog is completely free to read and I do not make a single cent out of these-- Neither am I paid any commissions! I only asked Essence for some products to review and today I'll talk about another product sent by them

We will be discussing about Essence My Must Haves Palette!

As I have been watching sooo many makeup videos online, naturally I do know quite a lot about these products although they have not been put in stores yet. I have also tested them out! But Im sorry that I made a mess of it on my eyes as I tried to use ALL the 4 colours together! I'm just not digging into darker colours because I do look older in darker shades-- Sorry Essence! But for the dark eyeshadow lovers, you have found the right product!

My Must Haves Palette

My Must Haves : Names of Colours

The colours I have from left to right are: 08 Peach-Party! , 05 Cotton Candy, 18 Black As A Berry, 06 Raspberry Frosting.

When you purchase, you have to buy the empty palette separately from the eyeshadow colours. Each of the colours comes in a small circular pan. It is not a magnetic pan, you just snap it into place with like a groove inside the pan. It is very snug when you snap it on.

My Must Haves Palette

Essence sent me a 4 shadows palette and 4 single eye shadows to trial.

Firstly, I have mixed feelings for them. Some colours performed beyond expectations and some are under. Take a look at my swatches below

My Must Haves Swatches

I think I have been very fair in the sense that I ran my finger through the swatches 2 times to make sure I can give as much pigmentation as possible. This is the best it could show. The best performing is No. 18. My favourite type of colour on my eyes is still 08 Peach-Party! No reasons why, I just like natural colours as such. Others are like -- meh. But still I'm not mad! I think its Ok lah... Maybe next time I should use a better eyeshadow primers first. On this makeup look, I only used their Hi-Lighting Eyeshadow Mousse (Will talk about it in a following post), which dries down to a non-sticky feel, thats why the eyeshadows doesn't really stick to anything. I can't blame them too.

See what I have on my eyes

The eye shadows are so jumbled up, I think no point discussing which part I have what on my eyes. The shiny thing on top of the eyeliner is a result of the Hi-lighting eyeshadow mousse which i failed to cover completely with the palette eye shadows. (In the middle I have half of Num 08 and 05, can't tell the distinction at all here)

All in all, I think if you are looking for a dark shade, 18 Black as a Berry definitely performed beyond my expectations, others are ok. I may do a re-review when I have a better primer on my eyes (Separate post also).

Overall rating (Will be fair to the better colours)-- 3.5/5

Price: TO be announced in July. For sale in Guardian and Watsons in Singapore!

Hope you enjoyed my post!

Be a smart Beauty

XOXO!

Essence New Summer Collection 2017: Essence Instant Matt 18h Super Long-lasting foundation!

Hi Beauties! Welcome back! Now I will be talking about the Essence Instant Matt 18h Super Long-lasting mineral powder matt complex foundation! I know that this is very similar to the packaging of its other older foundations. But this is indeed a newer product. BTW, I must thank them for sending me 10 Matt Ivory because I did mention in my other reviews that I am using their lightest colour in Ivory! But then.... This foundation is a little dark on me still, it puts on like a bit orange. I still prefer my Mousse foundation  ( http://beasmartbeauty.blogspot.sg/2017/04/essence-soft-touch-mousse-reviews.html) because it makes me look like a fair lady like how those BB cushion looks like-- Pinkish and fair. This 18 h wear foundation follows more of the western trend-- More tanner looking.

First please do not get disgusted by my skin situation as it is that time of the month again! Please me understanding-- Thank you so much

Essence Instant Matt Make-Up foundation

Skin without makeup

The colour is a bit yellow-orange

After make-up

As you can see, the colour is alright on my skin, but I still prefer the BB-cushion kind of look as i like to look fairer than I am---Lols... As you can see, the coverage is medium on my skin. My skin is in a bad condition as sometimes hormonal changes does break me up-- And I am generally really busy and tired.

I am relatively satisfied with the coverage and appearance, but my sister complained I looked cakey! Do I really?-- I think the only way to fix it is to use a blush and highlighter to enhance a natural glow (with typically any foundations and powders) - I do not blame the foundation for this appearance. I'm not mad... I'm not mad. I definitely will keep on using this but i pray that the Soft Touch Mousse will still be in production! Love that colour match for me-- Will use that one for more important occasions though

All in all-- This is a good product, lasts quite long, though someone complained I looked cakey.
My rating: 3.5/5
Price: Will be released in July 2017-- Go grab yours at Guardian and Watsons!

I love you all ! Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO
Be a smart Beauty!