Essence Summer Collection 2015 – Swatches & Review

Hey guys! Every summer we have fabulous trends to try out with some great new product releases. Essence always comes up with unique ideas to make our summer more colourful and they did not disappoint this year either. I was delighted to receive a lovely PR package from Essence Pakistan earlier this season. It contained amazing products from their new summer collection. There was a mono eye shade, blush, nude nail polish and a gel top coat. I will be reviewing them all together in this post so are you ready? Let’s get started!

Essence Silky Touch Blush-90 “Summer Dreaming”

Product Claims

A fresh complexion is essential for perfect style! You can set gorgeous, natural-looking highlights in soft as well as brighter shades on your cheeks with this silky-soft blush.

What Do I Think?

Now, I happen to have a blush (Adorable) from this range already and love it to bits. Summer Dreaming is a light coral colour with an almost neon quality to it. Although it looks quite light, there was no lack of pigmentation. It seemed like something that would only suit pale to far skin tones when I swatched it on my arm. However, on my cheeks, it presented an entirely different story. The colour just popped on my face screaming summer even when used lightly. You can easily build it up to the desired intensity. The blending is wonderful and the lasting power more so. On my combination skin it was still fresh after 5-6 hours in hot humid weather. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, the micro shimmer just adds to its cuteness and summery appeal. I experienced no fallout in the pan or during application. I found the packaging to be very sturdy and pocket friendly plus I loved the swirly embossed, pattern which is not easily ruined. In my opinion, 5 g of shimmery coral goodness at this price is a really sweet deal!

Price

PKR 470

Pros

Richly pigmented

Dreamy blending

Micro shimmer gives soft glow

No fallout

Great lasting power

Travel friendly packaging

Affordable

Cons

None

My Rating

5/5

Mono Eye Shadow - 15 "Hazel Me Not!"

Product Claims

The soft powder eye shadows are easy to apply and blend for long-lasting results. The texture feels wonderfully pleasant on your lids and has a cool wave embossment. Different colours and effects ranging from matt to shimmering to slightly metallic give you lots of choice and ensure the perfect eye make-up for every occasion.

What Do I Think?

I have tried a few mono shades from Essence before and my experience has been good so far. Hazel Me Not! reminds me of my favourite hazelnut flavoured coffee so the name does describe the shade quite well. It is a pale milky brown colour which is best seen on my lid in the EOTD above. On my neutral fair skin, it serves as a gorgeous nude for a no makeup look. I don’t think it will show up very well as a lid shade on medium to dark skin tones. However, it may be blended in the crease as a transition colour especially for neutral looks. There is no apparent shimmer but for some reason, I believe this is satin and not matte. The texture is unbelievably soft with effortless blending and zero fallout. It just happens to be a pale shade but it does not disappoint in the pigmentation department. I have worn this twice on my lids during the monsoon. It creased around 4-5 hours after application in extreme heat and humidity. The second time, it stayed put even after 5-6 hours. It will only crease quickly in extreme weather if you don’t have oily lids. It was worn over my current favourite matte eye primer from Makeup Revolution. The packaging is clear sturdy plastic with a flat top, which is easy to store and carry around. I hope they keep the flat top design because I find the dome shaped ones take too much space.

Price

PKR 280

Pros

Decent pigmentation

Good lasting power

Superb blending and texture

Pocket friendly

Easily stored

Affordable

Cons

None

My Rating

5/5

I Love TRENDS Nail Polish The Nudes - 05 "Pure Soul"

Product Claims

Only nude… is sure to make the hearts of all nail polish fans beat faster this season! The I ♥ TRENDS nail polishes cover your nails in light nude shades. The selection of different colours and effects is huge. The long-lasting formula ensures permanently pampered nails.

What Do I Think?

First of all, what a beautiful name for a beautiful shade! This is a pearl white colour with stunning fine pastel multi-coloured shimmer. The packaging is compact not to mention, adorable. I am not a nail polish gal because I just don’t have the patience to learn the skill of nail painting. I am trying to polish my skills *pun intended* but that will take time. I apologize for my lacquer application which is, in the words of Simon Cowell, “Absolutely horrendous!” Since I am a complete klutz in this area, I was expecting it to be really hard. After trying on other brands and failing miserably, I realized this applicator and formula is close to perfect. The density of the brush and its flat shape made it easy to apply a single coat in just three strokes per nail. I thought the formula was too thin at first but it went opaque in only two coats. Two to three minutes was the maximum time for each coat to dry. I did not wear it for more two days but the quality was apparent. It was not difficult to remove but it didn’t chip easily either. If you are a beginner, love nude nail polishes or looking for a festive touch with a subtle base, this is for you.

Price

PKR 335

Pros

Quick drying

Goes opaque in two coats

Good lasting power

User friendly applicator

Cute sturdy packaging

Affordable

Cons

None

My Rating

5/5

The Gel Nail Polish Top Coat

Product Claims

The revolution in nails – easy like nail polish, amazing like gel! The innovative base coat and top coat formula improves the durability of the “gel nail polish” by 60 percent! The nails are given an extreme, long-lasting gel-shine finish without the need for an LED or UV lamp. Simply apply the gel nail polish base coat and let it dry completely. Then apply the gel nail polish in the colour of your choice and let this dry well, too. For a perfect finish, all you need now is a coat of the gel nail polish top coat – and you’re done! The nail style is easy to remove using conventional nail polish remover.

What Do I Think?

Since, I don’t have any sense about using base or top nail coats, I simply applied this one over the nude one as you can see. I was surprised at how the shimmer became twice as prominent with this clear gel finish. Drying did not take more than two to three minutes with a thin coat. The lasting power was definitely increased as it formed a sort of protective shield over the original nail polish. The formula was slightly problematic for me as it felt like very thin glue with its gel-like consistency. If you are not careful about spilling the product around the neck, then crusts may be formed. However, those are easily removed and don’t cause too much trouble. The applicator was similar to the nude nail polish so I had no complaints about it. If you wish to transform your regular nail colours into gel ones then this is a good option.

Price

PKR 470

Pros

Gives a brilliant shiny gel finish

Increases longevity of original nail paint

User friendly applicator

Attractive packaging

Cons

Formula maybe hard to apply

May dry to form crust around the neck

My Rating

4/5

So, these were my thoughts on the items from the latest Essence summer collection 2015. You can get your hands on this range from any store with an Essence Kiosk.

Have your tried any new products from this range?

Love,

Sadaf

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

PR sample(s) for consideration. This, however, has not affected our sincere opinions as our loyalty is to the readers. For further details, check our Blog Policy.

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Step By Step Caramel - Plum Eye Tutorial

Hey lovelies! Today I will be showing you how to achieve a wearable dramatic caramel-plum eye for special occasions. The great thing about this colour palette is that it goes well with most outfits like a neutral eye. At the same time, the plum adds mystery to dark eyes, making them pop. You can make it your own by applying false lashes or your favourite eyeliner style while pairing it with a variety of blush and lip shades. Many people have trouble defining their lower lash line, especially for dramatic looks so I have focused on this. This is a great option particularly for ladies with upturned eyes like mine as it balances out the shape beautifully.

Steps

1. Prime your eyes.

2. Apply a shimmery caramel (Frosted Choc) all over the lid with a flat shader brush (Sigma E55).

3. Blend a mid-tone matte mauve-brown (Milky) into the entire crease with a fluffy blending brush (DMGM Eye Smudge brush).

4. Deepen the outer half of your crease with a deep matte plum (Choc Fest) using a tapered blending brush (Sigma E45).

5. Highlight the inner corner and brow bone with a matte cream (Smoothly).

6. Define your upper lash line with black eyeliner (Midnight in Paris).

7. Pat and gently blend into the inner two-thirds of your lower lash line the mid-tone matte mauve-brown (Milky) from Step 3 with a pencil brush (Sigma E30).

8. Blend the deep matte plum (Choc Fest) from Step 4 into the outer one-third of your lower lash line, extending it till you reach your crease (Sigma E30). Soften any harsh edges with a fluffy blending brush (DMGM Eye Smudge brush).

9. Apply kohl (Colorstudio Pro Kohl Addict kajal) to your waterline.

10. Using a pencil brush (Sigma E30), diffuse the kohl pigment into the shadows of the lower lash line. Be careful not to make your lower lash line heavier than the upper one.

11. Curl your lashes (optional) and apply mascara. Conceal your under eye area and set it with a powder.

Products Used

Essence I Love Stage eye primer

I Heart Makeup - Naked Chocolate eye shadow palette

Essence All Eyes on Me waterproof mascara

Essence lash and brow gel mascara

Essence gel liner - Midnight in Paris

Colorstudio Pro Kohl Addict kajal

Oriflame Tea tree and Rosemary purifying corrective stick (concealer)

MUA pressed powder - Shade 2

Beauty UK Simply Define eye brow pencil - Ash brown

Brushes Used

Sigma eye shading E55

DMGM Eye Smudge

Sigma tapered blending E45

Sigma pencil E30

MUA flat foundation brush for concealer

BH contour brush for pressed powder

BH spoolie brush for brows

I hope you found this tutorial simple and useful. Let me know how it worked out for you.

What kind of dramatic eyes do you prefer for special occasions?

Love,

Sadaf

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

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Sleek Makeup Face Contour Kit in Medium-Review & Swatches

Hey people-obsessed-with-makeup-like-me! When I first entered the magnificent world of cosmetics, I tried to collect all the basics and found that I was short of a suitable contouring shade. Most bronzers these days are not matte or too orange-y and unflattering for this purpose. Most contouring kits I came across seemed too expensive or didn’t have a shade that matched my complexion. So, you can imagine my frustration and utter agony. 

Finally, I decided to try the Sleek Contour Kit in Medium, although I felt the quantity could have been more and I really didn’t need a highlighter. Once I used it, all my doubts and regrets literally went poof! Read on to find out how this product won my heart!

Product Claims

This iconic duo compact is an essential tool for achieving a beautifully sculpted and defined appearance. It includes a silky, matte, easy to blend contour powder and an illuminating highlighter for a natural glow. They can be used together or individually.

What Do I Think?

Those of you, who are familiar with Sleek Makeup, will recognize the characteristic matte black packaging. It is very sturdy, another reason why I am a Sleek fan. Most of their face products come with a built in mirror, which is well sized and pocket friendly in this case. The contour pan is larger than the highlight one and together they hold 10g of pressed powder product.

The contour is shade is a medium neutral matte brown that is a pleasure to swatch. The light beige shimmery highlight formula is similarly dreamy and glides on effortlessly. It lends a beautiful natural glow as the shimmer is not visible on the skin unless you look closely. Both are extremely pigmented so a little goes a long way. The blending power is superb, which is imperative for face sculpting formulas.

I have tested the staying power of this contour kit in warm and cool seasons, with and without fixing spray, and I must say I am impressed. On my combination skin during pleasant weather, it lasted for a good 8-9 hours without fading in the absence of a setting product. In the hot Pakistani summers, it looked fine even after 6-7 hours with my Stageline makeup fixing spray.      

The Sleek Makeup Contouring Kit comes in three shades and I picked “Medium”. In my opinion, this will suit fair skinned ladies with cool, neutral or warm toned skin. Pale ladies should opt for “Light” while medium to dark ones should choose “Dark”.

Overall, I think this is the most affordable contour kit in the market with this level of quality. You definitely get your money’s worth and not regret buying it. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a budget friendly contour kit that gives great results.

Price

PKR 995

Availability

Sleek Official Website or Beautified.pk

Pros

Smooth texture

Dreamy blending

Great quality formula

High pigmentation

Superb lasting power

Sturdy travel friendly packaging

Comes with a pocket sized mirror

Good shade selection for various skin tones

Cons

None

My Rating

5/5

Have you tried any of the Sleek contouring/ highlighting products?

Love,

Sadaf

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

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Spring/Summer Shoe Haul from Stylo

Hello fashion lovers! Today’s post is dedicated to the deep love between a girl and her shoes. Whenever a new season arrives, I predictably give into the urge of shoe shopping. They are essentials after all! In the spirit of spring, I recently raided the shelves at my nearest Stylo outlet. When I could not find all the ones I wanted, I ordered a few pairs online. Check out what my feet love this season!

First up, are these gorgeous marsala wedge sandals with plenty of elevation for that extra oomph! I absolutely love wedge heels so I end up buying at least one each year.

PKR 1890

Next, I got these cool denim heels with some neutrals thrown in for versatility. I find these kind of heels really comfortable to wear because they help curb my fear of tripping over my own feet, that comes with pencil heels.

PKR 1450

These flats are not only practical but come in handy for colour blocking. Besides, nothing screams spring like some cheery yellow on your feet!

PKR 1290

I have a thing for caramel and black coloured footwear and just couldn’t resist the side view this pair had to offer. Also, I don’t like having my feet trapped in the summer time so this was one ticked all the boxes.

PKR 1290

There is something really alluring about the combination of a snake skin base with narrow rust and black stripes, lined in gold, like this design. It can be paired with a number of looks so I think it is a good investment.

PKR 1490

Lastly, I got this pair of open camo flats for my shoe closet. I have never bought this sort of design before but the colours looked fresh and went with many spring/ summer outfits hanging on my cloth racks.

PKR 1490

All my picks turned out to be really comfortable and my online shopping experience from Stylo worked out splendidly too. So, there you have it! These are the latest additions to my shoe collection.

What kind of shoes did you choose for spring summer this year?

Love,

Sadaf

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

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Essence Maximum Length Volume Mascara – Review

I am on a quest to find THE BEST mascara out there for my thin barely visible lashes. While looking for some mascara one day, I found this one by Essence at Enem and decided to give it a try. Let’s find out what I think.

Product Claims

Mascara for ultimate length, extra volume and perfect definition with lash extending fibres. No clumps. Ophthalmologically approved.

What Do I Think?

I am someone who looks for that “special” wand in a mascara before purchasing it because my thin sparse lashes just won’t behave well with just any wand out there and this mascara has the perfect one for thin lashes because it catches every single lash and coats them well. The formula is neither too dry nor too runny and if you are familiar with mascaras and their formulae, you can very well tell that relatively thick formula goes really well for thin lashes and gives them a lift; Essence Maximum Length Volume Mascara does exactly that. Another thing I noticed about the formula is that, although relatively dry, it does not form clumps at all inside the tube. It gives my lashes an uplift leaving out the need to use a curler (just a personal preference). The formula is good enough to build volume without clumping the lashes and dries quickly and the fibres in it also do provide a considerable length. While the volume stays put for hours, the fibres start to fall off the lashes (I notice tiny little specs in my under eye area) after 2 – 3 hours reducing the length of lashes. Since I have not tried any other mascara with fibres yet, I cannot say if this is how the fibres in a mascara perform or are meant to perform. Overall, a pretty good mascara with the perfect formula and wand for any lashes especially thin and sparse.

A word of advice: Be careful with the wand while you apply mascara which has fibres because a few times I accidently ended up with one or two fibres in my eyes and it irritates the eyes.

Price

PKR 590 (for 8mL)

Availability

All big stores with Essence kiosk.

Pros

Flexible wand

Dries fast

Buildable

Lengthens the lashes

Does not clump

Cons

Fall out

My Rating

3.8/5

Leave your comments below and let us know your thoughts.

Love,

Fizzah

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

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