My Top Picks- Essence

My Top Picks from Essence Cosmetics

This is a new series that I want to start on my blog where I focus on one particular brand and tell you my top picks and must haves. I always find it handy to know what  products other people recommend, especially if it's a brand that you don't know too much about. I'll be focusing exclusively on drugstore brands seeing as most of what I purchase is drugstore and I am always on the hunt for great deals. So lets hop right in to this firs installment in this series- all about Essence.

Essence is an extremely affordable drugstore brand that I believe was initially marketed towards new makeup users but the more I delved into this brand, the more I fell in love with it. Everything I will talking about today is under $10.00 which is a steal and great for anyone on a budget. For the price point, this brand has so many great products that I highly recommend you check them out. These of course are my top picks so here we go...


Foundation:

Pure Nude makeup natural finish no makeup feel

$4.99

This is more of a lightweight tinted moisturizer but I really love how it makes my skin feel and look. It feels very moisturizing, it contains vitamin E as well as glycerin, and makes my skin look very healthy and naturally dewy.

Concealer:

Say No to Dark Circles

$2.99

This is a peach colored concealer that is the perfect shade to cover dark circles, obviously. The formula is super creamy and very easily to blend. Essence in general has really great concealers so I highly recommend you check them out.

Powder:

Mosaic compact  powder

(01 Sunkissed Beauty)

$4.49

This formula is ultra fine which makes it super lightweight on the skin. I use it to set my foundation which it is perfect for, without making things feel cakey or overly powdery. Really nice.

Blush:

Silky Touch blush

(10 Adorable)

(80 Autumn Peach)

$2.99

This blush formula is one of the best blush formulas out there. And so damn affordable! It is super creamy and pigmented and blends like a dream. Pure perfection.

Blush Up! powder blush

(10 Heat Wave)

$3.99

This is a relatively new addition to the line so I only have this one shade but I am once again highly impressed. This blush is different in that it's multi colored and ranges from a more natural color to a more intense color. I like to take my brush and swipe it across the entire blush and the color is just beautiful. It is very highly pigmented so apply lightly if you're pale like me but simply stunning.

Bronzer:

Sun Club shimmer bronzing powder

(lighter skin- 30 Sunloved)

$3.99

This bronzer is very natural looking, which I love when I'm a having a very minimal makeup day. It just makes your skin look healthy and naturally sun kissed. The formula is very buttery and very easy to blend. It does smell like coconut so be aware of that if smells offend you.

Sun Club matte bronzing powder

(lighter skin- 01 Natural)

$4.99

Another great bronzer only this one has a matte finish. Again, super buttery and looks very natural on the skin. As with the other bronzer, this one does smell as well. It smells like a pina colada, which I love, but again keep that in mind if that is something that bothers you.

Highlight:

Pure Nude highlighter

(10 Be My Highlight)

$4.49

Drugstores have been stepping up on their highlight game and this one has to be talked about because it is a great highlight. It's a baked highlight and has a very smooth texture, very easy to blend. It's a beautiful natural highlight that I love using when I want a nice glowy highlight without being over the top. This highlight is just beautiful, nothing more to say. Go try it!

Eyeshadow:

All About Sunrise palette

(03 Sunrise)

All About Nude palette

(01 Nude)

$5.49

These palettes come with 6 shades ranging from mattes, to shimmers, to metallic. A little something of everything! They are very silky and smooth and minus maybe 2 colors in the nude palette, they are all very pigmented and beautiful. Yu need to try these and I think more people should be giving these palettes credit because for the low price they are surprisingly great.

Brows:

Eyebrow Designer

$1.99

Make Me Brow eyebrow gel mascara

$2.99

These two products are part of my daily brow routine so that really says something. The first is a typical brow pencil, with a brush included. Very pigmented and applies really well and lasts all day long. The second is the gel mascara which colors, fills and shapes your brows. It includes fibers which give you fuller brows. Both really great product, do a great job and crazy affordable. What more could you ask for?!

Mascara:

I Love Extreme crazy volume mascara

$4.99

I've talked about this mascara so many times (check out my top beauty picks of 2016) but for good reason. Essence makes really great mascaras but this one has to be my favorite. If you like super full, ultra dark, voluminous lashes then you need to check this one out. Definitely not for a non dramatic look but I personally love that in a mascara. I will keep repurchasing this over and over. So good!!

Lipstick:

liquid lipstick

(04 Show Off!)

(06 Make a Statement)

$3.99

These are not a traditional liquid lipstick, meaning they don't dry down to a matte finish. I would describe these as almost a very pigmented gloss. They are really pretty though and are very pigmented. A bit sticky and tacky but they feel comfortable on the lips and I really recommend them.

Lip Liner:

lip liner

(05 Soft Berry)

(06 Satin Mauve)

(07 Cute Pink)

$1.99

These are hands down my all time favorite lip liners. They are pigmented and super creamy, which can be hard to find seeing as many lip liners are very drying. Go out now, run, and buy these!