March 10, 2010

Essence Cosmetics: Essence XXXL Shine Lipgloss Review and Swatches

I was thinking to myself today…dontcha just love when I go off on these tangents? Like, whenever something new launches I end up hauling a buncha rubbish from the release and proceed to slam you with reviews on it! Ha! Sorries!

Here I go again….

This time I’m all about discovering and playing around with Essence Cosmetics which recently launched at Ulta.

Check it!

Total FAIL on the Essence XXXL Shine Lipgloss. I got the shade Rock On which turned out to be this crazy purple aka the shade I’ll never wear in MY LIFE, EVER. The bloody shade looked like this pretty shade of crimson in the photo online but I should know never, ever, for the love of the gods, trust swatches online.

Turns out it’s this shimmering shade of royal purple. Purple + my lips=FAIL!

Aside from my color mishap count me impressed. It’s not nearly as bad as I thought it would be with it’s buck, ninety-nine price tag. $2 buck lip gloss is something to be wary of, trust me I know, but this wasn’t bad at all.

First off the applicator gets a big hooray. It’s a generous size flat tip sponge applicator which is light on the sponge, meaning it gets a nice slap of color on the applicator and layers color on well! Formula is decently pigmented has a nice shimmer but isn’t crazy glossy. I’d say it’s good for layering over lipstick or on it’s own with a little stain underneath. It’s seriously not bad due to the applicator which gets the product onto your lips so well.

Conclusion…

It’s not going to rock your lip gloss lifestyle but it’s not going to make you boo and hiss in fury either. It’s decent and quite nice for it’s price tag! Might even be worth an entire fiver if you wanna get wild and crazy but hey you don’t have to as it’s a mere $2 bucks.

Not bad, likey even. Bad color choice though. Def will head in store to see the colors on my next try.

I’d suggest taking a peep and maybe even going ahead and buying one, can’t hurt.

Good beauty budget purchase.

Anyone try?

Tried anything from the Essence Makeup Collection yet?

Loves?

Leaves?

Spill it here.

Disclosure: The following item was purchased by me for review purposes (and because I like flinging my money at makeup products of any kind) on Musings of a Muse. For further information please see my FTC Guidelines or my Disclosure/Disclaimer posts.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Marcy

    Maybe layer it over something? I got a hideous plummy brown lipgloss and put it over a fuschia lipstick and got a gorgeous glossy plum out of it?
    No Essence beauty here (amongst many other weird and wonderful brands that you blog about) >.<

    • the Muse

      good idea marcy might just work 😀 Where are you located Marcy!?

      • Marcy

        New Zealand >.< Everything gets here ultra late (as I have commented in the past… Warm and Cozy shadesticks were close to a month late. I think Colour Forecast is here next week.)… but I'm used to it, just have to get things online, or through friends travelling…

        • the Muse

          marcy sorry I hope you hadn’t mentioned before and I forgot 😀 I typically forget where people are from! omg warm and cozy just last month eep! online is always good, I do most of my makeup shopping online so much easier than dealing with a PITA MA 😀

  • knownever

    this brand makes me wish there were ultas where i live. i love a sparkly (cheap!) lipgloss

      • knownever

        after a few disappointing experiences I’m off ordering makeup online sight unseen. unless I’ve seen something in person and just can’t find it other than online I try to steer clear. i know some people much prefer online ordering though

        • the Muse

          hey knownever been there a few times myself but always and forever an online shopping 😀 so much more relaxing to shop online no PITA MA’s to deal with!

  • Comrade_Garlic

    Wowza, for $2 that’s got a lot of pigment. How’s the smell?

    • the Muse

      so far, knock wood, thankfully no chemical smell comrade 😀 I just hate the color but aside from that I’m not complaining too much for two bucks!

  • Angie Twe

    Aw, does it make lips look dead, like there’s not enough blood?

    Might be worth the colour for Halloween or nighttime scary party lip gloss. 😀

    This the first time I hear abt Essence I think. 😀

    • the Muse

      lol angie yes halloween gloss 😀
      It’s a german brand being sold at ulta now that’s prob why it’s news to u 😀

  • diversafe

    I tried the nail polish in a pretty lavender color. I really like it so far hasnt chipped(though i used a top coat) and the color didnt fade. Not too bad for a dollar!

  • Hella

    I got that shade too, but I chose it myself in the store… It goes well with my skin, that’s all 😀 I love it, but I use it only when heading to the club, far too shimmery for the day. And yes, shades on the internet have almost nothing to do with actual shades. You’ll have to check them yourself, most are really pretty, especially N12 Soul mate, I’ve been eying it for a while, but my conscious says ‘No, you’ve got too many glosses!’. 🙂

    • the Muse

      lucky hella I look deathly in it 😀 LOL I say that all the time but never stops me 😀

  • chocolate cosmos

    lol, wow, total swatch FAIL! Red to purple??! How did that happen?!

    Well, whenever I buy lip products and end up hating the color, I use the products at home or before I go to sleep to help moisturize my lips. At least I don’t have to throw it away, but just be careful when you are answering the door or are expecting guests…

    • the Muse

      that’s what I’m saying chocolate 😀 LOL good tip thanks 😀

  • Fabiola

    I’m with you on the purple colour. I’d look like a corpse on CSI if I tried that on my lips. Do you also get the limited editions at Ulta? The quality of the LE’s of Essence tends to be better than the rest of their assortment. For some reason, it always takes ages till those LE’s hit Dutch drugstores after being imported from Germany, which is uhmm yeah, our neighbouring country, lol.

    • the Muse

      heck yes fabiola! LOL! I doubt we’ll even get the LE stuff but I’m hoping 😀

  • Julia

    I have the one in colour 12 Soulmate (that’s what it’s called in Germany) and I like it. Did you notice the raspberry-ish scent?

    • the Muse

      no julia…not really anything raspberry!? aw I love flavored gloss did I get a bad one!? I didn’t taste anything. 😀

  • Julia

    Really? Mine smells raspberry-ish, I could swear. Maybe they changed the smell for overseas?

    @ Chocolate Cosmos: Is you name by any chance manga-inspired? 😉

    • the Muse

      must be me Julia as someone said they do need have a grape/raspberry smell 😀

  • dina

    i actually like this color 🙂 !! so i went to ulta all excited to try essence stuff and of course there was little to nothing in store, grrrrrr 🙁 they really need to add some of the LE stuff though, even if it is just online as the stuff is bit ordinary (?) if that’s the right word??

    • the Muse

      *nods* bit boring yes dina lol you just were being nice saying ordinary lol! A little uneventful mostly but nice for the price. Def would love to see the LE stuff but I have a funny feeling we wont le sigh!

  • T

    The scent is like an artificial grape scent. Can be nauseating if you don’t like scented lip glosses but overall these glosses are really nice. You should use the purple to warm up lipsticks that are too cool/bright for you.

    It’s not sticky at all and gives a good amount of shine and the price can’t be beat.

    The nail polishes are great too and I’m amazed at the price tag. My Essence nail polish has stayed on my nails chip free for a very long time. The longest out of all my nail polish brands.

    They have a mousse foundation and a pressed foundation that I’d love to see reviews of!

    • the Muse

      hey t! I really didn’t notice the scent whoa. Maybe I’m stuffed up or I got a bad gloss ha! thanks for the tip, will do! I agree you really can’t beat the price. haven’t tried the polish but hearing great things! Def will have a mousse review shortly!

  • Miss D

    I kinda like the purple myself (love purple makeup, don’t like purple clothes much though).
    Thanks for the review, sounds like a decent inexpensive gloss.

  • Gabriela

    I`ve got two XXXL Shine glosses and I love both of them. They are pink and well pigmented.

    • the Muse

      cool gabriela 😀 glad you likey! I need to try another shade, this was a wash out for me!

  • pixie

    Well, why did you buy it in the first place if you don’t like the color? the color in the packaging and on the swatch is completely the same.

  • pixie

    Ow crap, I’m sorry, I didn’t know Ulta was an online store. I thought you have an Essence stand in your drugstores like we do in Europe 😀 Sorry again.

  • LorraineER

    I am all about purple lip colors…i can’t seem to break away from them actually!
    So Essence is makeup line from the magazine brand? We have an Essence festival here annually plus multiple lines geared towards dark skin colors available in the drug stores so I’m surprised I haven’t seen this anyplace. Will keep an eye out though!

  • lolly

    I have Soft Touch Mousse Matt 01 and like it, like it, like it:-) Its the first foundation (and as most of us girls Ive tried a zillion of foundations with different tecsture and price range) that matches my fair skin. My skin didnt have any reactions, allergies or whatever else, what is also very important. And the price! In Croatia it costs 4,5 euros. The best day foundation I ever had!:-)