essence: Nail Care Products!

Sent for Review

Happy weekend!! :D
This week has been wonderfully pleasant because I am officially on call break (break from work before I get called to the bar)! *happy dance* There is still about three weeks before my call date but I have to head back to the office in a week's time because... I couldn't say no to my boss. :(
Nonetheless, I had a really enjoyable (read: slack) week so far. I had planned to post earlier this week but, yea, I got distracted playing WoW. It is really too addictive! I haven't done anything except play all day.  o"o

*clears throat awkwardly*

Anyway, I have some essence nail care products to share with you today! When essence Singapore sent their new spring/summer shades over for review, they generously included samples of their nail care line as well.

essence Professional 4-in-1 Nail File. (S$2.90)
By now, you should know my preference for glass nail files so I was really hesitant to try this particular nail file from essence. The nail file has four different grits to: trim, clean, smooth and polish. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it did the job really efficiently. It was quick to take down length and smooth the edges. I liked that I have control over the filing by switching between the different grits. The only downside is that it will wear down eventually. But still, for S$2.90, it is still a fairly good option for those who do not like glass files.

essence studio nails 24/7 nail base and pro white hardener. (S$3.90 each)
The 24/7 nail base is a ridge filling base coat that dries almost matte. It reminds me a lot of my go-to base coat, NailTek Foundation II. I have yet to do a meaningful comparison between the two base coats but I will definitely post an update when I am satisfied with the testing.

The pro white hardener is supposed to strengthen the nails and promote nail growth. It also contains an anti-yellow formula to naturally lighten the nails and provide a high-shine finish. It is not obvious from the picture above but the base is lightly tinted blue to balance out the yellow hues on the nails. I would snap a comparison picture for illustration but my nails are currently differently stained because of the different colours I've been testing on them. It generally does make the nails look less yellow but I do find the blue hue a little too obvious when it catches the light. It is a saviour though if you intend to head out for the day but have no time to hide the stains under layers of polish - it dries relatively quickly so you can be out in no time at all.

essence nail polish corrector pencil. (S$4.90)
Ah! One of my favourite products. It is basically a clean-up tool to remove any mess that you may leave at the cuticles or the sides of the nails. I usually use a small brush dipped in nail polish remover for the clean-up but I must say that this pencil is definitely fuss-free and more convenient, especially if you are on the move. I find myself reaching for it for minor clean-ups even when I am at home.

The tip is angled much like the orange sticks so those who use orange sticks tipped with some cotton wool will find this familiar. It did take me some getting used to because it is stiffer and less malleable than my usual brush. That said, some of you may find it easier to control that way.

What really surprises me is that the remover within is acetone-free - it removes mess so efficiently that I didn't think it was acetone-free; almost as quickly as my pure acetone remover! It also contains jojoba oil (yay for moisturizer!) and cherry fragrance (eh... it reminds me a little of the medicinal syrups >.< ). The tip does get dirty after a few rounds of clean-up but the pencil comes with 3 replacement tips so clean-ups will be a breeze again.

essence studio nails caring nail oil. (S$3.50)
More moisturizer! This is a nail and cuticle oil that claims to promote nail growth if you rub it into the nail beds. I have yet to test the truth of that but I like that it is moisturising and has a fruity apricot scent. The applicator tip is soft and fuzzy and shaped like the corrector pencil. It holds quite a bit of oil so you might want to brush it near the bottle top to remove the excess oil before brushing it on your cuticles. A little goes a long way!

There are many more nail care products by essence that are available at the following Watsons stores:
Ngee Ann City, City Square Mall, Causeway Point, Lucky Plaza, Plaza Singapura, Bugis Junction, Sun Plaza, JEM, JCube, Parkway Parade, IMM, Lot 1, Anchor Point, Rivervale Mall, Park Lane, Bedok Central, Beautyworld Centre and SMU.
You can also follow essence Singapore on Facebook for more updates!

Happy shopping! ;)



**Products were provided for our honest review. Please see our disclosure policy for more information.**

essence: Spring / Summer 2013

Sent for Review

Happy Sunday everyone! ^_^

I'm feeling particular exuberant today because the air in Singapore has cleared up somewhat in the last two days! The past week had been absolutely horrible. Fires raging in Sumatra caused a huge haze in Singapore with the PSI readings hitting the hazardous range for the first time in years. I have been shuffling to and fro work with a mask because the haze (oh the burning smell!) was giving me a tremendous headache. So I am really relieved that we have some brief respite over the weekends - finally some remotely breathable air! Of course, it would be even better if the government could declare a stop work order next week... yea, I've been told that I am too optimistic :(

Anyway, back to the polishes!

essence Singapore has recently brought in some new shades for spring and summer and they have most generously sent them over for me to share with you. I don't have much to say except that these colors are simply perfect springy/summery shades! Take a look:

Ice, Ice Baby! 4 thin coats.
A squishy off-white jelly that is slightly tinged beige. A little streaky on the first 2 coats but evens out to a perfect glossy finish. It didn't really need the top coat but I top-coated it anyway to speed up the drying process.

Peach & Cream. 3 thin coats.
A soft peach puff with slight pearly shimmer. The pearl finish is not that obvious on the nails after 2 coats so that's a big plus for me - I am not really a fan of that finish. I did not think the color was very flattering on my skin tone under some lighting but I wore it for a few days anyway because it went well with my new turquoise phone casing! :P

That's What I Mint! 3 thin coats.
A soft pastel mint with very very slight green shimmer (that is clearly not visible on the nails). You know my obsession with blue-greens - this was instantly my favorite. Of course, I wore it for a few days because it matches my phone casing too! ;) It is a tad lighter than China Glaze's For Audrey and they will make a good ombré manicure - I just need to find 3 more shades of turquoise / mint... See! That's why I need more shades of this color in my life. *nods solemnly*

Hello Marshmallow! 3 thin coats.
A delicate lilac with sprinkles of red and blue shimmer. The shimmers are not that visible on the nails but you can catch a few glimpse of the elusive shimmer where the light hits the nails. It is significantly less similar to China Glaze's Light As Air than I'd thought - more purple and brighter.

Flashy Pumpkin. 2 thin coats.
An eye-searing tangerine orange. It is so bright that I would even call it neon. Super summery but definitely not for the faint-hearted. Formula for this was exceptionally good. It is very pigmented and I suspect you can get away with one thick coat.

Prom-berry. 2 thin coats.
An intoxicatingly rich vampy purple with very subtle red and blue shimmers. The shimmers are not obvious on the nails but they give the nails a slight glowy look when the nails catch the light.

Miss Universe. 1 coat over black.
A sheer black base filled with intense sparkly blue and green microflakies.   It is very sheer and will need about three to four coats for full coverage on its own. Very similar to Zoya's Kotori except that it has that extra oomph from the bright green sparkles. Needless to say, I am head over heels in love with this too.






Overall, I am extremely happy with the new colors. The colors, brush and formula do not disappoint. As always, the pastels are slightly streakier than the other colors but they even out fairly nicely on the third coat so I have no complaints there. Plus, at only S$2.90 each, they are a steal - definitely one of my favorite affordable brands.

So, which colors caught your eye? :D

essence cosmetics is currently available at these Watsons stores: Ngee Ann City, City Square Mall, Causeway Point, Lucky Plaza, Plaza Singapura, Bugis Junction, Sun Plaza, JEM, JCube, Parkway Parade, IMM, Lot 1, Anchor Point, Rivervale Mall, Park Lane, Bedok Central, Beautyworld Centre and SMU.

Essence Colour & Go - Revamped!

Before I go into today's post proper, I would like to say a huge THANK YOU for your support and love when I launched my first collection earlier this morning!

[source]

Most of the polishes were snapped up within minutes (with only two ice-queens left on the shelves) and I'm still in shock because I wasn't expecting such a warm response from all of you! Please accept my sincerest apologies if you were not able to get what you want! If you are still keen on getting the polishes, you can sign up for email notices and/or place a pre-order at the google form here. I will do my best to fill those orders after my exams in December. There will be no need to make any payment until I get your package ready and you are free to cancel the pre-order anytime. For those who have managed to place an order, I will be doing my best to get them ready and out within a week! Thank you for your patience!

Meanwhile, I have more good news for you, Singapore!
If you have not heard, Essence Cosmetics will be revamping their entire Colour & Go range here in early December!

[source: Essence Cosmetics Singapore]

The new and innovative Colour & Go nail polish range will have:

• 44 new and trendy colors
• Brillant gel-shine effect: for a highly intense finish
• Ultra fast-drying formula
• Particularly long durability
• Perfect coverage

In lieu of the launch, Essence Cosmetics Singapore was kind enough to send me one of the new bottles for review. Let's take a look!

The new Essence comes in a larger 8ml bottle (retailing at S$2.90) that sports a sexy hourglass figure *wolf-whistle* instead of the old cylindrical shape. The bottle caps remain color-coded (which I love - makes it easier to see the color without taking it out from the drawer!) but they now include a 'click' mechanism so you know whether you have capped the bottle securely. It is not very obvious though so you wouldn't really notice it if you are distracted. Apart from the bottle caps, they have also replaced the brushes:

New brush on the left and the old one on the right

The brushes are now shorter (the stem is longer though), wider and comes with rounded edges.
If you have read my previous posts, you would know that I am not a fan of very wide brushes. So, I was very apprehensive when I first saw the brush in the new Essence bottle. I tried it anyway and I was rather surprised with the results. Yes, I still had to be careful when using the wide brush to paint my nails (especially the pinkie) but the rounded edges of the brush fit the shape of my cuticles perfectly and I didn't have to do any clean up for this:

Ultimate Pink. 2 easy coats.
A bright pink creme that absolutely screams 'summer time'!
The formula is rather good - a little streaky on the first coat but evens out by the second. And yes, I was able to go very close to the cuticles without messing everything up! :o A+ for that, Essence!

With the release of the new packaging, Essence will also be revamping their range with new colors including the new nude glam polishes with a "gel-shine" effect. The current range of colors will be retired from the shelves though so be sure to grab them now before they are gone!
You can also follow Essence Cosmetics Singapore on Facebook to stay up to date with the latest news and trend edition releases!

Apart from giving us a revamped Colour & Go line, Essence Cosmetics Singapore has also generously provided us three sets of polishes for a giveaway!
And boy, you guys are in for a real treat! I don't remember seeing any of these pretties at the Essence counters in Watsons! Just take a look:

Bottle shots from L-R: Red-y To Go, Mystic Mermaid, Glisten Up, Cracking base color in Sparkling Champagner

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
That Glisten Up is simply stunnnnninngggg!! And if that bottle shot did not tempt you (seriously?!), check out the swatch by The Polished Perfectionist. Unghhh I need it. :L
Mystic Mermaid is another gorgeous one. It looks pretty in the bottle but layer it over black and *bam* duochrome-goodness! I'll see if I can get swatches up soon! :$

Did these get you drooling already?
This giveaway will be open from now until 8 December. Singapore only - sorry international peeps!
All entries will be verified and three winners will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter.

So what are you waiting for? Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xoxo,
mich

**Product was provided for honest review. Please see our disclosure policy for more information.**

Essence: Snow White Trend Edition!

Yes!! The Essence Snow White Trend Edition is finally coming to Singapore!

Mirror, mirror on the wall… these words conjure-up wonderful fantasies of enchanted forests, a prince and the greatest love of all… but what was the story behind that famous line again? In collaboration with Disney, the seven dwarves will not only charm us with their rosy red cheeks and a cheerful song on their lips in November 2012, they’ll be delighting true fairytale fashionistas with the new essence trend edition “snow white”! A snow white look and fairytale glam perfect for the festive season!

essence snow white – nail polish
When snow white chooses the trendiest colors of the season, you can be sure that things are going to be colorful and playful – bright colors with great coverage conquer your nails and create imaginative styles. The highlight: the nail polish “snow white” comes in a 7 ml bottle and is a little bigger than the “seven dwarves” to bring the fairytale into your cosmetics bag in true Disney style.
Available in 01 snow white (7 ml, S$3.90*) 02 grumpy, 03 doc, 04 happy, 05 sneezy, 06 sleepy, 07 bashful and 08 dopey (5 ml S$3.50*).

essence snow white – special effect topper
Sigh, what a wonderful happy ending – three magical top coats give your nails an enchanting finish. From mystical to romantic – holo effects and glitter particles conjure fairytale looks onto the tips of your nails. These special effects won’t be lost on any princes!
Available in 01 evil queen, 02 the huntsman and 03 prince charming
S$4.30*

essence snow white – nail art sticker
Who is the fairest of them all? Everyone is! Because with these cheerful apple and dwarf stickers, one nail is more gorgeous than the next. The “snow white” nail art stickers are the crowning glory for the cute and colorful nail polishes. Let’s go – an exciting adventure awaits you!
Available in 01 heigh-ho, heigh-ho (1 design with 5 foils)
S$2.80*

essence snow white – nail file
For a change, even the evil stepmother is useful for your nails without any wicked ulterior motives. This queenly nail file is super practical when you’re on the go and will whip your nails into shape in a flash – magical!
S$2.80*

essence “Snow White” will be available in stores from this Saturday, 10 November 2012 so start googling for swatches and mark your calendars if you don't want to be disappointed! ;)
I know I've got my eye on Dopey and maybe the nail art stickers because they are so cute! :$

essence cosmetic is available at these Watsons stores:
Anchorpoint, Beauty World Centre, Bedok Central, Lot 1 Shopping Mall, Lucky Plaza, Ngee Ann City, Park Lane, Parkway Parade, Rivervale Mall, SMU, Sun Plaza
Also check out their new outlets at IMM and Plaza Singapura!

xoxo,
mich

p.s. I have an exciting piece of news tomorrow! You might have already seen it on my Twitter or IG but if you haven't, do stay tuned!! xx

Nail Ideas: Fall Trends with Essence!

Essence has been one of my favorite brands in Singapore - not only do they have a nice range of core colors and interesting trend editions, they are also very affordable and wallet-friendly! So, when I was offered the opportunity to work on some blogposts with Essence Cosmetics Singapore, I was more than happy to give it a shot. :$

With a nail contest just round the corner, I set out to do some nail designs with some Essence polishes! Since it is technically fall now, I've sought inspiration from some of the fall trends that have caught my eye :i

Bohemian!
The earthy colors in fall are simply perfect for rocking some boho-chic on the nails. I've always loved the bohemian style - understated, casual yet sexy and spirited. :L

For this look, I started with a clean nude base using Essence's Toffee To Go before free-handing the details with a brush with these colors: Essence's Just in Case, Wanna Say Hello, Luxury Secret, Princess Prunella, Camouflage and acrylic paint in silver and gold. I'm quite pleasantly surprised by how good the colors look together!

Splatter!
The splatter technique is a fun and easy way to give your nails a funky and edgy look! Simply dip a straw into some polish (ensure that there is enough polish in the straw) and give a strong quick puff through the other end to create the splattered look. It took me several tries and some practice before I managed to get a relatively decent splatter mani. So don't give up if you can't get it on your first try! A warning though... this can get really messy so make sure you cover up your workspace and tape up around your nails to avoid too much clean up!

For this look, I started with a nude base using Essence's Toffee To Go before creating the splatters with Essence's Just In Case, Wanna Say Hello, Princess Prunella and Camouflage. I also added a touch of black for an added contrast.

Equestrian Stripes!
The equestrian trend is also hot this season for its classy and elegant look. For this look, I decided to stick to a simple design for a more sophisticated feel.

I started with a silver base using Essence's Luxury Secret and matted it. Then, I added simple stripes using Essence's Wanna Say Hello. I'm loving the contrast between the matte and gloss! :$

Phew! That was some nail art spam!
So, are you inspired to do some nail art now? If you are, do stay tuned to Essence Singapore's Facebook page for more details about the nail art contest! you can head over to Essence Singapore to take part in their Nail It! nail art contest. Contest ends 7 Nov so get your creative juices running!

I will also be posting up swatches of the colors I've used in these designs so keep a look out for some goodies coming your way! ;)

xoxo,
mich

**Some products used in this post are provided for honest review. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.**

Love Birds

Hello again dear readers!

I want to show you this stamping nail art which I called "love birds"

I used the recently famous "Cinderella" by Sinful Colors. This is such a pretty color. My boyfriend bought me this nail polish, which is very rare for him to do. I suppose he is the source of inspiration for this nail art ♥

The idea for this nail art was that these two lovers have obstacles that keep them from being together....

In the end, love triumphs and they can finally meet.

For this manicure, I used Sinful Colors - Cinderella as a base. I stamped the birds from Q1 Konad stamp plate. I used the swirl and flower designs from A series plates A42 and A57. I stamped the LOVE lettering using Essence stampy plate. I used Kleancolor - Metallic Aqua as the stamping nail polish.

I hope you liked this manicure.

Thank you for reading♥

Essence Stamping Plates from Swap

Last week I got two stamping plates from a swap with lovely María from Todos los esmaltes son pocos
I really appreciate that she went out of her way to search for these stamping plates.

-Muchas gracias María por tomarte el tiempo de ir en busca de estas lindísimas placas :)

Look at these plates closely... very cute designs!

She also gave me 2 sheets of really pretty nail decals.

If you would like, you can visit her blog, she has lots of nail art to show you plus she started doing nail art video tutorials.

♥Thank you for reading♥