mini essence haul.

What is it about Essence? It is one drugstore brand that I cannot seem to quit. Despite trying to buy less makeup....the lure of new Essence products is impossible for me to resist. Perhaps that explains my recent purchases. It started off innocently enough. While waiting for my ride to show up, I decided to do a bit of browsing. No harm in that. Right? Then I saw it. A display jam packed with new items. Makeup products that were practically begging me to swatch, test, and try.

It should come as no surprise that a few of them came home with me. (Though not nearly as many as I would have liked!) That included the Essence Pure Nude Makeup Natural Finish Foundation in the shade Pure Beige, the Essence Liquid Lipstick in Make a Statement, and the Essence XXXL Shine Lipgloss. Why these specific products? Lately I have been on a serious foundation kick. I cannot resist a liquid lipstick - especially an affordable one. And my makeup collection is seriously lacking in lip glosses. So there you have it. A few slightly justifiable purchases!

Are these products hits? Misses? Somewhere in between? Let's take a closer look.

• Essence Pure Nude Makeup Natural Finish Foundation in Pure Beige. I am always on the hunt for the perfect foundation. It doesn't matter if it is drugstore or high end. I will try anything I can get my hands on! My expectations for this foundation were pretty low. Though I was intrigued by the "no makeup feel" claims on the bottle. Well...this product was actually quite good. It provides a nice light coverage look, doesn't dry out the skin, and has a very natural appearance. This has been perfect for work or if I am heading out to run a few quick errands. It feels comfortable on the skin and is a no-fuss kind of product. Very impressed!
• Essence Liquid Lipstick in Make a Statement. Liquid lipsticks are my everything lately. I have a handful of shades that I love and adore....but am always searching for more. When I saw the selection of liquid lipsticks in the Essence display there was no doubt about it. One of them was coming home with me. There were a lot of really lovely shades but Make a Statement stood out to me thanks to its sophistication. This berry toned colour will be perfect for fall. This  product is very pigmented, glossy, and has fairly good staying power. (Though it seems more like a super colourful gloss than a liquid lipstick to me.) Overall I am really liking it.
• Essence XXXL Shine Lipgloss. There are few things my makeup collection is lacking. Except when it comes to lip glosses. I only have two or three. Mainly because I am so picky about them. I cannot stand anything sticky on my lips - and so many glosses out there have that tacky finish. The great thing about this gloss? It is moisturizing, doesn't feel sticky, and smells fantastic. I am so happy with it. Finally, I can get that gorgeous glossy look without dealing with awful sticky lips. This has quickly become a favourite. 

Who would have thought? All three of these products exceeded my expectations. Not bad for an impulsive mini haul!

Have you tried any of these Essence items? Which one is your favourite?

xo Shannon