essence

I seem to be in the minority here as I don't use to brighten my under eyes, I use the powder only on the rest of my face as a setting powder, my upper cheeks where it helps give a bit of highlight and also for setting concealer. As a bonus it does help mattify (not massively but a fairly good job of it) a couple of hours longer than what I'd get without using any kind of powder. The only downside is the packaging is not very strong. I dropped from a short height last week and discovered just that few feet drop had broken the lid. Luckily it doesn't cost the earth to replace!
Speaking of which...yes it is very inexpensive but don't let that put you off...I have used many more pricier alternatives such as Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder and this works every bit as well.

Selena x



~ My HG list ~

(As I've sampled many 100s of skin, hair and m/u products over the last decade and a half, I thought it might be useful to share my top 10 must-have products, subject to change if and when I come across something more effective. I love constantly trying out new stuff - usually sample sizes via e-bay, also plenty courtesy of a friend who works at Sephora) 


1. Hair Loss Treatment: ‘Divine Herbal’ - Hair Oil
2. Lip Balm: 'Nuxe' - Reve De Miel Lip Balm
3. Pigmentation + Anti-Ageing Treatment: ‘Divine Herbal’ - Facial Treatment Serum
4. Cleanser: 'Paula's Choice' - Skin Balancing Cleanser
5. Concealer: ‘Mac’ - Studio Finish Concealer
6. Lash Growth Serum: ‘Divine Herbal’ - Divinelash
7. Foundation/SPF: ‘Juice Beauty’ - Stem Cellular Repair (warm glow)
8. Face Scrub: ‘Sisley' - Botanical Gentle Buffing Cream
9. Moisturizer: ‘Antipodes' - Rejoice Light Day Cream
10. Hand Cream: 'Origins' - Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment

Again, the Essence brand does not disappoint me! One of my must haves!

Pros:
+ Inexpensive
+ Packaging: comes in a compact form, easy to carry around
+ Does its job; I use it to set my undereye concealer as well as my eyelids to prep for blending eyeshadows. I do apply some on my t-zone as well
+ Does not give any flashbacks from my experience

Cons:
- Literally none; except maybe its longevity(?). My t-zone does get slightly oily after 7-8hrs but its not a bother to me cause that's my usual working hours where I prefer it to look "presentable". I could care less once the day is over and I'm ready to go home lol


Overall - its a good product to have for an average person, or even a student as well. I would repurchase it again once I run out of this. However if you're working long hour shifts or expect your makeup to look perfect for more than the average 6-7 hrs, this might not do the trick and it'd be better to invest in something slightly pricier.

I'm happy that this does its job and its inexpensive, so its not a complete waste of money!

Hope this review helps!

This was a very unsatisfactory base coat. It succeeded only in preventing my applied nail color from discoloring my natural nails. I applied this jointly with Essence's the Gel line in the color "Dream On" and used their top coat. The products did not provide superior wear time, it chipped within about 2 days from normal daily wear. Somehow the product glued itself shut and the cap broke off from the bottle. I have never had that happen before. This base coat was just as obnoxiously thick and goopy as the rest of their line. Ugh. Hard pass.

I tried this with the line's "Dream On" nail polish. I find usually items perform best with their own line-up of product formulations. This one was a flop. The polish did provide shine, but it never managed to set properly. On a later attempt with drying drops, the polish chipped off quickly. There are better top coats that are much easier to work with.

I heard this polish well-hyped up so I purchased the lightest beige color "Dream On" along with the brands' base and top coat. I did not find that this polish lasted very long at all. Mine chipped in 2 days. The polish is extremely goopy: it is unpleasant, thick, and somehow chunky before I get to the final nail on one hand. I'm not sure how it dries out that fast, but I am reminded it is not worth any perceived "good for the price" value as it stands. As it stands I would not venture out into trying any of their other colors.