Essence Liquid Lipstick Review & Swatches
Essence Liquid Lipstick ($3.49) are a new hybrid formula that has the pigment of a lipstick and the shine and texture of a gloss that launched with the Essence Spring/Summer 2016 Collection!
Essence is now available at select Target stores or at Target.com as well and although Essence does release some epic Spring/Summer Collections it seems like this year, with the brand now available at Target, the collection is even bigger and badder than ever with many, many new, fun, and inexpensive makeup options.
Let’s take a look at the Liquid Lipstick formula.
Essence Liquid Lipsticks are available in six MLBB (my lips but better) shades and come housed in a fat, chubby little square tube and are 0.13 oz in size. These are adorable in my opinion! For under $5 bucks they prove a nicely packaged and cute little makeup release.
I think the thing I liked the most about this product was the shade selection, it’s actually one of the main reasons I’m trying to give the formula a pass. Yeah, a pass, because it has a few quirks. This is a very thick formula and isn’t quite a liquid lipstick unless you’re taking into consideration it is as pigmented as one. I think traditionally liquid lipsticks tend to have a velvety matte formula but Essence goes with more of a thicker, stickier, tacky gloss formula. That’s fine, I’m not really too irritated by thick or sticky formulas as hey, if I can grow to love MAC Lipglass I figure I can totally do sticky formulas. Please keep in mind the tackier they are, the longer they wear! True story.
However, the problem here is the formula tends to drag a bit during application which results in a very patch finish. I resolved this by going over the color a few times with the sponge applicator but this didn’t prevent the product from settling into the natural lines of my lips. I just couldn’t get the color to look soft and smooth on my lips (Note, my lips aren’t even dry at the moment!). As I mentioned above the tackier formula does mean you’ll get a solid five hours wear from them at least but during that time the shine does fade away some. They are glossy and shiny upon initial application but shine dims considerably at around three hours. Color doesn’t migrate and the formula remains pleasantly moist through the wear but it is heavier so it is something you can “feel” hanging around your lips. As promise these are pigmented with excellent color pay off. They do have a sugary lemon plastic flavor and fragrance which deserves mentioning for those sensitive.
I like these colors a lot so I kinda doctored the formula up with clear gloss to get a smoother appearance. With clear gloss the color looks a lot better and doesn’t fall into natural lip lines. However, you really shouldn’t have to doctor a product up in order for it to work properly but my mentality is they aren’t too expensive so I can deal with using a clear gloss to make things nice and smooth.
Essence Liquid Lipstick aren’t the most ideal or perfect formula around but I kinda sorta like them and with a little clear gloss they proved wearable enough. If you manage to grab at least one to try you might feel the same and as I said some of these colors are such a joy like Almost Real is such a delightful nude!
Get them now at Ulta, Ulta.com, select Target locations, or Target.com.