Haul: Essence Cosmetics

Hey Beauties,

It has been quite some time since I purchased some Essence Cosmetics. So today while I was at Pavi I decided to pick up some makeup (as if I don't have enough already.. oh well.. haha). These are the products I bought:

1) XXXL Shine Lip Gloss

Last week I saw my cousin using this product and I also tried it myself, and I really liked it. Therefore, as soon as I saw it available on the stand I grabbed it without thinking twice about it. It is in the color '021 Red Blossom'.

XXXL Shine Lip Gloss

First Impressions: I love this berry color especially for Summer, and I was impressed by its pigmentation. It also has a nice, not over bearing, scent. Most important thing is that it does not have a sticky consistency, but rather it feels smooth on the lips.

021 Red Blossom

2) Get Big Lashes Volume Mascara.

A colleague at work has these nice full and long lashes, and I always wonder what mascara she uses. A few days ago I decided to ask her and she recommended this mascara.

First Impressions: I haven't used it yet, however I like the wand, it is full and round, perfect to build up volume. We'll see how I like it.

3) Long Lasting Eye Pencil

Lately, I have been obsessed with the color royal blue. I end up buying everything in that color from clothes, to makeup, to nail polish, even my car has a very similar color. Therefore as soon as I saw this color in an eye pencil form, I had to get it. It is in the color '09 Cool Down'.

First Impressions: It is a very pigmented, true to color product. I really liked its creamy consistency and it glides on without tugging at the skin. When I washed my hands, it did not budge. I had to really rub at my skin to remove the product. It is truly long lasting.

4) Eyebrow Designer

I got this product on a whim, just to try it out. It is in the color '04 Blonde'.

First Impressions: Again, it is pigmented, and I like that it has a small eye brow brush attached to the cap. Value for money product ;)

5) Coverstick Concealer

I never tried any face makeup from Essence, apart from blush and bronzer. I thought I'd start with a concealer, also I needed a new one. It is in the color '01 Matt Sand'.

First Impressions: Have not tried it yet, however, it felt good on my hand whilst swatching it and it blended quite well.

6) Lipstick

Last but not least, of course, I had to buy a lipstick. I really like Essence lipstick and I have a couple of them. It is in the color '64 Flirty Pink'.

First Impressions: It smells really nice, like all Essence lip products. I like the color, and it is also pigmented. The only thing that I didn't like as much is that it has small sparkles, I thought it was a creamy or matt lipstick.

Overall I am content with my purchase. The fact that never ceases to amaze me is that these cosmetics are so inexpensive, which is a rarity in Malta to find inexpensive makeup. Even drug store brands are quite expensive, unlike other countries. For the above 6 products, altogether they cost me 12 euros. Great price right!?

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica xxx

Lierac Malta Event: Part 1

Hey Beauties,

Last Wednesday, Beauty is our Passion Blog was invited to attend the launch of a new Skin Care product range, together with other Maltese beauty bloggers: All Things Lady , All Things Fabulous Blog, The Other Side of Cool.

First and foremost, thank you to PharmaMt for giving Beauty is Our Passion Blog the opportunity to attend the event and for giving us all such a nice welcome.

 

This new Skin Care range is called ‘Lierac Paris’. It is a French brand, which was founded in 1975. The innovative element that sets apart this brand from all the other skin care brands is that the products are based on Phytocosmetics. Strange word is it? Let me explain. This word simply means that the products are plant based and the ingredients are naturally sourced from various plants, flowers and herbs. Your skin will thank you for not using products filled with a lot of harmful chemicals that instead of healing the skin, they just end up damaging it even more.

The main products that ‘Lierac Paris’ offers are anti-aging products. However, it also caters for other types of skin conditions for example, dry and oily skin, acne prone and sensitive skin. It is also offering a new range of tanning products which are ideal for the Summer season.

The main ingredients that the anti-aging products are based upon are: Alchemillo, Ivy and Horsetail plants. Research found that when combined together these three elements boost the synthesis of collagen and elastin which help to prevent and heal wrinkles from developing.

During this event, we tested several products, some of which are the following:

1) Phytolastil

This product claims that it helps diminish the appearance of existing stretch marks in 80% of the cases. I cannot vouch that it does what it claims. First Impression: it has a serum like consistency, upon applying it on my skin it was absorbed immediately and did not leave any product residue, my skin felt smooth and moisturised.

2) Mesolift Cream

This product is part of their Daily Beauty Care. It is a vitamin- enriched radiance booster cream. It claims that it improves skin’s radiance by 98%, and that it plumps and tones the skin. It is made up of Apricot extract and citrus AHA. First Impression: I applied this cream on one hand. When compared to the other I noticed that it had a slight glow to it and it also felt quite moisturised.

 

3) Multi- Purpose Oil.

Another product that is part of the Daily Beauty Care. Can be used on the face, body and even hair. It is made up of hazelnut, sweet almond and grapeseed argan. Its purpose is to nourish and hydrate. It can be used as a moisturised for face and body, and as a hair treatment. First Impression: it feels like pure silk on the skin and it has a floral fragrance which lingers on the skin.

4) Sunific Powder

This is the last product that I tested. It is part of their Tan Enhancing product range. This product is and Iridescent Powder with SPF 15. Its benefits are that it is anti-wrinkle and anti-brown spots which is suitable for all skin tones. First Impression: it is like a mineral bronzer but with a slight sheen to it. So it can be used not only as a tanning product but also as a makeup product. I like the built in brush that it comes with, it is dense and soft.

 

That’s all for this post. Please stay tuned for part 2 of Lierac Paris: Products I wish to try and product review.

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica xxx

Testing and Review: Lime Crime Velvetines

Hey Beauties,

At the moment there is the trend of matte and velvet lips which is quite the opposite of the normal glossy and juicy lip. A few weeks ago I discovered the Lime Crime Velvetines which is a liquid lipstick which has a very matte and velvet finish. I ordered it from ebay from the seller makeupemporium1. 

 

I received it a couple of days ago and decided to test it over a 9 hour period, to check how long it lasts:

 
First impression as soon as I opened the package was, that I really like the packaging and the tube itself. As one can notice from the photo below, it is not clear plastic like all the other lip products, but it has a sanded finish to make it seem velvety. Also, the box itself has instructions on the inside that tells you how to apply it and how to take it off properly, since it stains quite a lot. 

Lime Crime Velvetines: Red Velvet

 

I first applied the product around 10.00am without applying any lip liner. It is liquid type of product, if not applying it carefully it can become quite messy. After a few seconds it settles to velvet finish. There is no risk of it bleeding when compared to other lip products.

10.00am application

At around 1.00pm it was lunch time, so I ate and drank, which resulted in some of the product fading. So it has to be reapplied after eating a meal. 

1.00pm lunch time

 At about 7.00pm it was almost all faded, however my lips still had that slight tint to them.

7.00pm

As a conclusion, one would need to obviously reapply it during the day. However, it does has a longer span of time then other lip products. I like it because it is a unique product which not many brands produce, and also the color is perfect. The only disadvantage it has is that it is quite expensive, especially for those, including myself, if it needs to be shipped in Europe. That is why I chose ebay, to save some of the shipping costs ;)

That is all for today,

Hope you found this review to your liking,

Let me know what you think about this product, if you tried it,

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica xxx

 

Empties Tag

Hey Beauties,

Hope all of you are doing fine :) 

So lately I have been reading quite a lot of Empties Tags, and I decided to do it myself. I try to use up as much of my products as possible before buying anything new. Let's start:

1) Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

I cannot rave enough about this foundation. Its the best foundation I have ever used; its takes care of my skin, doesn't clog my pores, really good coverage, and it has a natural finish. Of course, I repurchased this product and I pair it with Healthy Mix Concealer which is also a good product. 

2) ELF Blush 

This is the very first blush that I succeeded in using up.. :) Overall, I like ELF Blushes, they have the right pigmentation and there are a variety of finishes to suit everybody's tastes. 

3) Max Factor Powder

I wasn't that impressed with this product. Partly it was my fault because I did not choose the right shade for my skin. However, I didn't like the feel of it on my face and I found that it settles in fine lines. Its not a product that I am considering in repurchasing.

4) Essence Finishing Powder

Unlike the previous product, I liked this powder. Sets foundation perfectly and doesn't cake up during the day. Also, it is very inexpensive, would definitely repurchase this product.

5) Tresemme Hair Spray in Firm Hold

I have been repurchasing and using this product for about two years now, love it. However, I decided to try other hair sprays. I have been reading reviews and watching tutorials while using Elnette Hair Spray for ages, now I decided to try it out myself :)

6) Bioderma Sensibio H20

For those of you who unfortunately have oily and acne prone skin, this is a great product for you to try out. It can be used instead of a usual face wash. It cleanses the skin from makeup whilst at the same time reduces and prevents inflammation, and restores the natural Ph balance of the skin. This is the third bottle that I have been using, and I recommend it whole heatedly to anyone. 



Those are all the products that I have used up in the past month,

I tag everyone to do it, I would love to know your views on products that you tried out,

Until Next time,

Take Care,

Jessica xxx

Natural Green: Eye Makeup Tutorial

Hey Beauties,

Another weekend is upon us, during which we like to dress up and look our best. The following simple eye makeup tutorial would be perfect for flattering every eye color and for a relaxing night out with friends or loved ones. Hope you like it :)

Natural Green Eye Makeup

The following picture depicts all the products that I used:

Step 1:

I always like to start with a good base, and of course my ultimate favorite product is NYX Jumbo eye pencil in 'Milk' which I applied all over the lid.

Step 2:

Next I applied a generous amount of Catrice eye shadow in the Color 'Envy'.

Step 3:

I used my 78 eye shadow palette and chose a soft brown color which I applied in my crease and blended it with the green color.


Step 4:

Next, I applied a slightly darker brown color in the outer V of my lid and continued blending. I also applied the darker brown to my bottom lid.

Step 5:

Last but not least, I applied a black Essence eyeliner, curled my lashes and applied mascara.

That's all there is to it, very simple eye makeup which at the same time has a pop of color. I would pair this type of eye makeup with a slightly darker lip and warm pink blush.

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica :)

Pop of Pink: Eye look

Hey Beauties,

I have been experimenting with different eye shadow colors lately, and this is what I came up with. Hope you enjoy.

Pop of Pink eye look

Step 1:

I applied NYX Jumbo eye pencil in ‘Milk’ as a base, so as the shadows stay on for longer and result in the color being more vibrant.

76 eye shadow palette

Step 2:

I chose a hot pink color and applied a number of layers all over the lid. 

Step 3:

Next, I applied a very dark blue color in the crease and blended it out. Make sure the blend this color with the pink so as not to have a harsh line between the two colors.

Step 4:

Subtly, I applied a black color in the outer ‘V’ of the lid and also on the lower lids, to create more depth to the eye look and blended it.

Step 5:

Next is eyeliner, I decided to wing it out for that cat eye look, after which I applied mascara to the eye lashes.

Step 6:

Applied quite dramatic false lashes and applied NYX Jumbo eye pencil to the inner tear duct and brow bone as highlight.

That is all for the eye look, one can adapt it to one’s own tastes and preferences, however in my case I really like dramatic and dark makeup.

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica xxx

Saturday Night Outfit

Hey Beauties,

I just wanted to share what I wore yesterday night. Hope you like it :)

OOTN

I wore a black shirt that I bought from Suite Blanco. This is one of my favorite shirts because of its studded detailing on the shoulder. I chose turquoise pants that I bought last Summer from Pull & Bear as a pop of color to my outfit. For shoes I wore, white Suite Blanco shoes.

For accessories, I chose a pair of dark green earrings that I bought from Accessorize, I think that they matched the outfit well, together with white Guess watch and Coach wrist-let.

Accessorize earrings

Guess watch

Coach wrist-let

Suite Blanco shoes

I wore quite a simple outfit yesterday since I only went to a wine bar with my closest friends. What were you up to last Saturday? Would love to know more about you all.

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica :)