New Essence lipsticks

For their renewed line Essence revamped their lipstick range. There are new colors in both their longlasting line as well as their matte line. I decided to try a few. I like Essence lipsticks, but I was never really wowed by them. Will the new range blow me off my feet?

Essence Ultralast Instant Colour lipstick So Un-Grey-T-Ful
Essence Matt Matt Matt lipstick 13 Out of the Box
Essence Matt Matt Matt Vibrant Shock lipstick 10 No To Mainstream

 

Essence is of course affordable and their products can be a little hit or miss. However at a price point of €2.39 a piece, it can definitely be worth the shot. And when an affordable brand like Essence does some unusual colors than I’m all the more for it. Because it can be difficult to find fun, out there lip colors for a good price. Especially since you won’t wear a bright green all that much, splurging on it is not going to be worth it. So if these are good for the €2.39 price, than this will be a great steal for party season.

The Packaging

So these three lipsticks are from two different lines. The first is from the new Ultralast line, but the packaging is very similar to the old longlasting lipstick line. It has a simple black tube and the color of the lipstick can be found on a sticker and in the band that is running across it. Simple and practical, but maybe not the best if you own more than one.

The Matt Matt Matt lipsticks, which again have been through a revamp, have slightly more distinctive packaging. I also find them a little bit more classy looking. The actual lipstick is housed in a silver colored tube, while the cap has the same color as the lipstick. For extra convenience, there is also a sticker in case you still don’t know which one of the lipsticks is the green one.

Ultralast Instant Colour lipstick So Un-Grey-TFul

The first color is a very cool toned mauve. It’s the first time I see a budget brand like Essence do a shade like this. This is very grey, very lilac and therefore not the most wearable. However, this reminds me a lot of Bite Beauty’s Thistle, which has a very similar tone. So if you’ve always wanted to try a grey toned lipstick, this is a good opportunity.

Matt Matt Matt lipstick 13 Out of the Box

In the tube this looks very much like Un-Grey-Tful, but actually this is a lot more rosy and thus a lot more wearable. It is also more matte and pulls deeper on my skin tone and lip color. This is a perfect cooler toned nude that will go with many different looks. On me, it looks a bit more purple, but if your lips have less of a purple undertone naturally, this will pull more dusty rose on you.

Matt Matt Matt Vibrant Shock lipstick 10 No To Mainstream

Also part of the Matt Matt Matt range is the Vibrant Shock line. This boasts some unusual colors such as a blue, purple and also a green lipstick. Since I had never tried a green lipstick, I decided I wanted to try that. Just for kicks. Is this something I will wear on daily? Of course not, but it is difficult to get unusual colors right, so I was also very curious to see how this would work.

The Swatches

So Un-Grey-Tful, Out of the Box, No to Mainstream

So Un-Grey-Tful wasn’t the great in a swatch. The initial use had a little bit of a tough layer that I had to rub off and then the shade looks a little patchy still. It seems to have a sheerer finish than the other two. Out of the Box is very well-pigmented and easily the stand out shade here. No to Mainstream was the biggest surprise. For a green this is a very pigmented shade.

But pigmentation isn’t the only thing that is important. With lipsticks, I like them to last as long as possible. These don’t last that long: maybe 2 – 3 hours and after a meal these will have disappeared from your lips. So for that €2.39 you get some great shades, but ones that you will have to reapply throughout the day.

The Application

So while the swatch was very patchy, on the lips, So Un-Grey-TFul is not that bad actually. I have naturally very pigmented lips that easily show through a lipstick and this is really not bad. From a distance it does seem like there is more of a line on the outside of my lips, which is an issue I have with many creamy formula lipsticks, especially when they are more affordable.

Also on the lips Out of the Box is the standout shade. This is one that I find so pretty! It has a very interesting, unusual shade for a drugstore color that you don’t see much even in higher end lines. So a unique shade that may not be the longest lasting, but it does apply evenly and is easy to reapply. Since it’s not too dark you can reapply this without a mirror if need be.

Then for the piece the resistance: a green lip. Not sure it suits me all that well, maybe for a Halloween or Carnival look? However, for a green lipstick I am very impressed. Usually greens and blues are the patchy and blegh shades, but this one is very nice. It goes on evenly and it wears well. This doesn’t flake or give that horrible ring of death around the lip line when it wears down. So this is a great one to wear if you’re going to a party and want something unusual.

The Conclusion

While affordable, I think that these Essence lipsticks give you a lot of bang for your buck. While the Ultralast lipstick isn’t my favorite, simply because it’s a little sheer and patchy, I still like the color enough that I will wear it. The true smash hits here are the Matt Matt Matt lipsticks. This formula is simply superior and the color pay off is really great. Bonus points for the unique shade range! Well done, Essence!

Would you wear green lipstick?