New in #124: Essence Autumn/Winter 2022/23

Lash Like a Boss Mascara

Ultra Black & Waterproof

The LASH LIKE A BOSS INSTANT VOLUME & LENGTH MASCARA ULTRA BLACK convinces with its ultra-black texture for an intense look. Thanks to the curved, soft fibre brush, each individual lash is covered with mascara. The result: an instant volume effect and visibly lengthened lashes. Going for even longer, fuller lashes? Simply apply multiple coats.

A mascara with a regular, curved brush. It's a type of mascara that creates a lot of volume and quick, as even the first coat gets a lot of product on. It defines well with the first coat, but formula doesn't have enough hold to stop my lashes from going back to its windswept look, so some lashes start to stick together on me. If you have nicely arranged lashes, this won't happen to you. Formula is difficult to remove for a regular formula and my usually cleansing oil + mousse routine doesn't get it all off. It takes a lot of rubbing with a micellar too, so it's best to get it off with a dualphase eye makeup remover to spare the eyes all the rubbing. I didn't notice any fall down or smudging, but it did irritate my eyes when I didn't manage to get all off with the first cleansing and some mascara slipped into my eye.

The LASH LIKE A BOSS INSTANT VOLUME & LENGTH MASCARA WATERPROOF provides the lashes with instant volume with its curved, soft fibre brush and creates a visible lengthening effect. Thanks to buildable coverage, this effect can be intensified as desired. The waterproof texture is gym-proof, can withstand any situation and can even handle a tear or two – what more could you possibly ask for?

This has the same brush as the regular version, but performance is quite different. While it's more volumising than Catrice's Lift Up mascara with one coat (the waterproof mascara with a silicone brush from the latest update), it's not that similar in that respect to the Ultra Black regular version and it's terrible at definition (perhaps just now that it's new. We'll see if it gets better as it dries). It's also not very lengthening, so this doesn't make my lashes look the best, however, it's better than Catrice's Lift up when it comes to holding the lashes curled. There's no fall down or smudging at this one either. 

Extreme Care Hydrating Glossy Lip Balm

01 · Baby Rose

The extreme care hydrating glossy lip balm combines lip care and lip gloss in just one product. It nourishes with hyaluronic acid, shea butter and vegan collagen and provides 8-hour moisture, as tested and confirmed by an external institute. The lip balm is perfect both in the morning as part of your beauty routine or as a quick touch-up on the go. It ensures soft, supple lips all day long and gives them a shiny, natural finish.

This feels like their Lip Care Booster Lip Butter in a gloss packaging form (that balm in a mint green tube with a coconut smell from last year's update). It's pleasantly creamy and balmy on the lips, so it's a nice caring lip product for dry skin. Scent is nothing special, something chemical. There are three shades, I got the lightest, which leaves the lips with a milky hue and holo shimmer.  

What the fake! PLUMPING LIP FILLER

02 · oh my nude!

50 beauty addicts have tested it – and they are blown away! The what the fake! PLUMPING LIP FILLER is a game changer for full, voluminous lips. Enriched with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, it visibly evens out small lines, makes your lips look fuller and leaves behind a gorgeous glossy finish. On top of that, it moisturizes and has a pleasant cooling effect – and all without the addition of microplastics, parabens and PEGs.

I was sent the clear original last year when it launched. Now they added this pretty, almost opaque warm nude shade. Formulas are the same, so I'll just repeat what I said for the clear one:

A lip size enhancing gloss that like pretty much all the others contains ingredients that sting your lips. Unlike the minty ones that to me feel pleasantly cooling and tingly (those few I tried), this one feels more intense. It takes a minute or two to get it going, but I have so say first use a bit shocking how strong the stinging was and unlike at most such products I've tried, this just keeps on going. I can feel it stinging an hour and more later, but I got used to it after the first 10 minutes and now I don't mind it as much. I see no increase in volume of lips, maybe it works on someone who has more sensitive skin and it could cause a slight swelling reaction, but on me all I get it an optical illusion of slightly plumper lips that I get from all glosses due to the shine. It holds on the lips well, since it's a thicker formula. Avoid if you have sensitive lips, for all the rest it's up you if you want to give it a go. 

8h MATTE comfort lipliner

03 · Soft Beige and 07 · Classic Red

The 8h matte comfort lipliner allows you to precisely contour the lips, lasts up to 8h and is waterproof. The lipliner feels pleasant on the lips and has a clean texture. It can also be used to completely colour-in the lips.

I had high hopes for this after I tried to remove it just with a baby wipe from the lips and it proved to be very challenging to get it off the lips. However, neither of these lasted the full 8h. Especially the light shade Soft Beige disappears from the lips too quickly, which is a shame because I like this colour on me. Formula is medium soft and can be applied all over the lips. It has a sharpener in the back, which is standard for such lip liners. Red isn't as pigmented as their Soft & Precise sibling, which are wooden pencils, so it needs building up. Soft Beige is a neutral nude and Classic Red a cool red. 

Caring SHINE vegan collagen lipstick

203 · My Advice and 204 · My Way

The caring SHINE vegan collagen lipstick is enriched with hyaluronic acid and a vegan collagen substitute. It doesn't dry out the lips, feels pleasant to wear and provides the lips with a shiny finish and medium coverage.

This confused me at first because I got a lipstick with the same packaging and same shade name a while ago and I wasn't sure why they included old products in PR parcel, but that one was cool COLLAGEN plumping lipstick, which stings the lips, so if you liked that shade, but have sensitive lips, this is it. Formula has an medium to full pigmentation, it's smooth, has a creamy finish and feels comfortable. Staying power is nothing special. 203 My Advice is a Caramel nude, same as the one is cool collagen range and 204 My way is a similar brownish shade, but with rosy tones. 

203 · My Advice 

204 · My Way

Grow like a boss lash and brow growth serum

The nourishing GROW LIKE A BOSS LASH & BROW GROWTH SERUM provides visibly longer, fuller lashes and thicker, more filled-in eyebrows.* The texture is enriched with Widelash™ by Sederma and can be perfectly applied on the brows and lashes thanks to the two different applicators. Additional benefit: the formula is ophthalmologically tested.

* Study with 30 women over 28 and 42 days of daily application. Measurement of eyelash growth and eyebrow density by means of instrumental photo analysis and self-assessment.

INGREDIENTS: AQUA (WATER), ISOPENTYLDIOL, PROPANEDIOL, GLYCERIN, HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE, RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL, PANTHENOL, NEPHELIUM LAPPACEUM SEED EXTRACT, CAMELLIA JAPONICA SEED OIL, CAMELLIA SINENSIS SEED OIL, CAMELLIA JAPONICA FLOWER EXTRACT, CAMELLIA JAPONICA SEED EXTRACT, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE STARCH, HYDROXYACETOPHENONE, SCHISANDRA CHINENSIS FRUIT EXTRACT, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, MALTODEXTRIN, BIOTINOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1.

This is just another serum with Widelash™ by Sederma, I've already tried the Catrice one and I saw no results. This one combines a thin, lash applicator and a mini spoolie for application on the brows. Serum is the same on both side. Serum is like Catrice's, light, non-irritating and makeup can be applied over it. 

EXTREME gel gloss top coat

The EXTREME gel gloss top coat protects the colour nail polish from chipping, extends the durability of the manicure and offers an impressive high-shine ultra-gel finish – just like by a pro from the nail salon.

This didn't end up as glossy as promised or at least the shine didn't last that long. Formula is classic for a gel nail polish, meaning quite thick. It of course didn't dry as fast as Seche Vite, but my nails were dry sufficiently fast. It protected the nail polish from chipping ok.  

Remove like a boss waterproof eye make up remover

The REMOVE LIKE A BOSS WATERPROOF EYE MAKE-UP REMOVER removes even long-lasting, waterproof make-up quickly, thoroughly and gently. The 2-phase formula is also ophthalmologically and dermatologically tested. The product not only removes mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow and co., but can also be used all over your face to remove the rest of your make-up.

INGREDIENTS: AQUA (WATER), ETHYLHEXYL STEARATE, GLYCERIN, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER WATER, TOCOPHEROL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, ALLANTOIN, SODIUM SULFATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, CITRIC ACID, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM BENZOATE, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), CI 42090 (BLUE 1).

This is a classic oily dual phase eye makeup remover. Ironically this doesn't remove their Lash Like a Boss Mascara Waterproof all that well. I soaked the cotton pad and left it on the eye for a while, but it didn't start melting the mascara all that well. It takes a lot of rubbing and even then I'm not sure it's all gone. It's on the same level of effectiveness as Hofer's Ombia and Nivea, but not nearly as effective as Neutrogena. 

Hello Good Stuff Pore Minimizing Serum

The HELLO, GOOD STUFF! PORE MINIMIZING Serum has an impressive visible pore-refining effect for soft and supple skin. The formula with pomegranate and niacinamide has a nourishing effect and is made from 95% natural ingredients. In addition, the texture is absorbed quickly and feels weightless on the skin.

INGREDIENTS: AQUA (WATER), GLYCERIN, NIACINAMIDE, PUNICA GRANATUM FRUIT WATER, SODIUM HYALURONATE, TOCOPHEROL, XANTHAN GUM, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM LAURYL SULFOACETATE, SODIUM OLEOYL SARCOSINATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SODIUM GLUCONATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM OLEATE, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) PEEL OIL, SODIUM SULFATE, CITRIC ACID, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM BENZOATE, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), LIMONENE, CI 14700 (RED 4).

This feels like a basic, hydrating light serum and it's a type of formula that feels suitable for any skin type. It has 3% of niacinamide, which is little compared to some of the competition, but it’s something.

Posted in: Skincare