Essence Cosmetics - Inspired Living SA

Essence I Love Nude Collection|Beauty Review

A nude makeup look is my favourite for during the day. It is a soft and feminine but can very easily be vamped up for evening, with a few subtle changes! I have been particularly enjoying the Essence I Love Nude Collection of makeup, which I was sent to review. You may remember a post I did recently featuring the Essence I Love Nude Nail Polish Collection.

Essence I Love Nude Collection

The Collection, also consists of a range of eyeshadows, lipsticks and lipglosses.

Essence I Love Nude Eyeshadow ~

The I Love Nude Eyeshadows are available in six different shades, from a soft beige to a dark brown. I love the baked texture of the eyeshadow, which gives you a wonderful silky, satin finish. Colour pigmentation is great and a little eyeshadow goes a long way. RRP 47.95

Essence Longlasting Nude Lipstick and XXXL Nude Lipgloss ~

The Longlasting Nude Lipsticks are available in five gorgeous shades, which include a light nude, beige, light rose, mocha, as well as brown. The lipsticks have a wonderful creamy texture, which feels great on your lips! RRP 44.50

I am a bit of a lipgloss junkie and always have at least one in my handbag, which is usually a shade of nude! A nude lipgloss is a definite makeup must-have. You can wear it over any lipstick shade, to give your lips a little extra shine. The Essence XXXL Nude Lipgloss comes in six soft shades, which are perfect to compliment any nude makeup look. RRP 38.95

I had a bit of fun creating two, subtly, different nude looks with a few of the Essence products I was sent.

In the look above I used a combination of 03 Crème Brûlée and 06 Coffee Bean, on the eyes, as well as a smoky dark grey liner and mascara. On the lips I used 01 Wearing Only a Smile Lipstick and 01 Shy Beauty XXXL Lipgloss. For a bit of colour on the cheeks I used the Essence Sun Club 2 in 1 Bronzing Powder in 10 Sunshine.

In the second look I used a combination of 01 Vanilla Sugar and 05 My Favorite Tauping, on the eyes. I lined the top lash-line with black liquid liner and finished off the eyes with black mascara. On the lips I used 03 Come Naturally Lipstick and 03 Taste the Sweets XXXL Lipgloss. For the cheeks I used the same bronzing powder I used in the first look -Sun Club 2 in 1 Bronzing Powder in 10 Sunshine.

To vamp up these looks for evening, simply add a bit of smokey drama to the eye or go for a bolder or brighter lip colour.

Disclosure Raking:2

Beauty, Beauty Products, Competitions

Win Essence Party Makeup Hamper

I love nothing better, than getting all glammed up for a special party or a night out on the town! Truth be told most times I do not even need a special occasion to get my glam on!

You can have such fun with party makeup from a bright red lip, smokey eyes or sexy winged cat eyeliner. There are endless ways to create the perfect party look!

As you know Inspired Living recently celebrated our birthday! What better way to celebrate with my readers, than to giveaway an awesome Essence Party Makeup Hamper!

The Essence Party Makeup Hamper includes: Colour Flash Volume Mascara, Lash Curler Volume and Curl Mascara, Essence Frame for Fame False Lashes, All You Need Is Red Lipstick, Fame Fatal Nail Lacquer, Jumbo Eye Pencil Black, Big Bright Eyes Nude Pencil, All About Matt Fixing Powder, All About Matt Oil Control Makeup Base, Gel Waterproof Eye Pencil, Irresistible Smokey Eye 3D Eyeshadow and Jewel Up The Ocean Metal Glam Eyeshadow.

To enter and win the Essence Party Makeup Hamper please complete the entry steps on the Rafflecopter form below and leave comment telling me what your favourite party makeup look is and how this hamper would help you create it.{Please ensure you read the *Terms & Conditions below carefully, to ensure you comply with all the entry criteria}
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Terms & Conditions:

Entries are open from 14th July 2014 until 23rd July 2014, the winner will be announced on the 25th July 2014.
Enter using the Rafflecopter form, as per the instructions above.
To ensure that your entry in processed correctly (please use a valid email address). Your details will only be used to validate your entry and inform you, if you are selected as a winner.
Prizes may not be exchanged for cash.
The hamper includes:Colour Flash Volume Mascara, Lash Curler Volume and Curl Mascara, Essence Frame for Fame False Lashes, All You Need Is Red Lipstick, Fame Fatal Nail Lacquer, Jumbo Eye Pencil Black, Big Bright Eyes Nude Pencil, All About Matt Fixing Powder, All About Matt Oil Control Makeup Base, Gel Waterproof Eye Pencil, Irresistible Smokey Eye 3D Eyeshadow and Jewel Up The Ocean Metal Glam Eyeshadow.
This competition is open to South African residents only.
By “Liking” you enter and agree that this promotion is in no way associated with, administered by, or endorsed by Facebook; and acknowledge a complete release of Facebook by your participation.

Disclosure Ranking: 2

Beauty, Beauty Favourites

February Beauty Favourites

It is Beauty Favourites time again! One of my favourite posts, where I get to share the products I have enjoyed using and I have been reaching for the most, over the past month. Some of them are new products, which I recently discovered, while others are products I continue to repurchase because they are that good!

The only product from my February Beauty Favourites, which I have not featured below are the *Dermalogica Precleanse wipes. I wrote about them last week, so if you would like to know more you can pop over here.

*Dermalogica Ultra Sensitive Tint ~ This is a fairly new product, which I received after my Face Mapping at Dermalogica. It is from the Dermalogica Ultracalming range and it is a broad spectrum sunscreen, which is recommended for sensitized, reactive and recently resurfaced skin. It contains natural minerals, which help shield against photodamage and UV exposure. The Ultra Sensitive Tint is great as it protects your skin, as well as providing a bit of colour. I have pigmentation which makes a good SPF a very important part, of my daily skin care routine. I do have another SPF I have been using everyday but it is not tinted, which is why I was keen to try this one. I use the Ultra Sensitive Tint if I do not want to wear too much foundation but want the SPF protection, with a bit of coverage. The consistency is quite thick but it does not feel too heavy on my skin, which can be the case with many SPF products. Recommended Retail Price 50ml R445.00 Dermalogica

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light ~ This product also featured in my Favourite Foundations for 2013. Surprisingly when I first tried it I did not really like it, I think largely because I found the shade a bit too dark for me. I hauled it out again at the beginning of summer and I have been wearing it pretty much everyday since then! I think this is mostly because I am a bit more tanned now and the shade is a much better match. What I really love about this foundation, is its staying power and it’s wonderfully flawless finish! An added bonus is the SPF10, which is great for summer, as it adds that bit of extra protection against the sun, over and above my normal SPF. This is definitely a product I will re-purchase but perhaps in a lighter shade for winter. Recommended Retail Price R415 Estee Lauder

MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer ~ You may remember me blogging about this concealer before in my Everyday Makeup Essentials. This is truly an everyday essential for me! I use the Select Moisturecover for under-eye concealing, as I have rather dark circles under my eyes. It is more fluid and moisturising than other concealers, which I use to cover blemishes and because of it’s more liquid formulation, it does sit in the fine lines around my eyes. This really is my go-to, everyday under-eye concealer, in fact it is almost finished so I need to order another on ASAP! I love the fact that it has a wand applicator, you do not have to squeeze the concealer out, which allows you to control the amount you apply and prevents you from using too much product. You can either dot the concealer straight onto the skin and blend gently with your finger tips or place onto the back of your hand and apply with a concealer or flat foundation brush. Recommended Retail Price: R210 (5ml) MAC Cosmetics

Loreal Nude Magique BB Powder ~ This is one of those products which I bought on a whim! I have used the Loreal Lumi Magique Primer before so I thought I would give this a bash. I don’t use this product everyday but it lives in my handbag! I find it great for touch-ups on the run, especially in the summer heat, when your skin can start looking a bit too dewy. I did find that using it on its own, not over foundation, left my skin looking a bit dry and over powdered.The compact includes a mirror and a sponge applicator, both very handy for touch-ups when you are out and about. I cannot actually remember what I paid for this product, will check when next in-store and update the post.

Essence 3D Eyeshadow in irresistible vanilla latte ~ My choice for everyday eye make up is usually a nude palette and if I want to make it a bit more special, I add a bit of gold sparkle! This Essence duo eyeshadow is perfect for giving your look a bit more sparkle. The 3mm high relief design, offers an ultimate 3D look and the ultra-light eyeshadow texture, creates a cool finish with a 3D effect. The eyeshadow applies really well and has a great pigment. If you apply it moist, the 3D effect will be even more intense. There are a few other fun shade combos available and the best part is the price tag – it is super affordable at under R50! I have really enjoyed using it. I think I will definitely be trying a few of the other duos! Recommended Retail Price R44.95 Essence

MAC Satin Lipstick in Brave ~ This MAC lipstick was one of the first things I bought from the MAC Online Store last year. At the time I was looking for a pinky shade for everyday wear and loved the look of Brave. For me this is a “my lips but better” shade and I love the texture! I have fairly dry lips so I prefer either the Satin or Cremesheen finish from MAC, which are more moisturising and perfect for everyday wear. The colour in the image above it is not true to the shade in real life, which is why I swatched it for you to get a better idea. {See the image below}. Brave is a lovely pinky-beige, with white pearl but it does not have a frosted finish, which I don’t like. I call this my “pretty” lipstick – it is the one I reach for if, I am going for a pretty girly make up look 🙂 Recommended Retail Price R190 MAC Cosmetics

Mavala Nail Polish in Sapporo ~ As you know I love bright nail polish shades but there are times when I like to tone it down and go for a nude nail. This Mavala polish in Sapporo is my go-to nude nail colour and this is actually the second bottle I have bought. It is a wonderfully creamy beige and is the perfect nude for most skin tones. I find that it wears relatively well and does not chip easily. One of the things I love about Mavala polish, is the small applicator brush, which I find much easier to use when applying polish myself. Recommended Retail Price: R64.95 Rubybox

Essence Studio Nails Corrector Pen ~ This product is a must have for doing your nails at home! I have tried a few other brands but I keep coming back to this one! The Corrector Pen allows you to correct little mistakes, without smudging the rest of your nails in the process. The handy pen also comes with three replacement tips. Not only is it super practical but it is so affordable! I have repurchased this product so often, I have lost count. Recommended Retail Price R39.95 Essence

Toni & Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray ~ I have always heat styled my hair because although I have a bit of a natural wave in my hair, it is so super fine. To achieve any type of curl or texture in my hair, I need to use so much product! After hearing so much hype about sea salt sprays I thought I would give the Toni & Guy one a try. I was really impressed with the results from this product! Apply the spray to damp hair – either allow your hair to air-dry or if you don’t have the time for that, gently dry it with a hair dryer, before applying. It gives your hair great texture without making it feel heavy and weighed down by too much product. The bizarre thing though is the salty taste – go figure being a salt spray and all! 😉 I only know that it tastes very salty, thanks to the summer wind in Cape Town, which often blows your hair everywhere, including into your mouth. What I love most about this product is that when I either do not have time to heat style my hair or just cant be bothered, I can still achieve a great casual tousled style, with no fuss at all! Recommended Retail Price: R119.99 200ml Clicks Stores

If you would like to know more about any of the products featured above or would like to share a product, which you are loving, please leave a comment below this post.

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored product

Competitions

Win a Summer Makeover

This Competition Is Closed!

In the words of Coco Chanel ” Girls Should be Two Things: Classy and Fabulous”! Unfortunately so much of the fabulous gets lost in our everyday lives but fear not! I have a plan!

I know someone out there is yearning to rediscover their “fabulous” self and with the help of a few amazing people, that someone could be you 🙂 Together with my awesome sponsors, I have decided to treat one lucky reader to a full Summer Makeover worth over R10 000 – yes you read it correctly R10 000! Excited yet???!!!

The makeover will include a style and wardrobe-consult, hair and beauty styling, beauty hampers, hair-care products as well as stunning fashion items and accessories! To top off this fantastic Summer Makeover the winner will be treated to a styled photo shoot, capturing this amazing experience for eternity!

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to Win a Summer Makeover, I would first like to introduce you to the fantastic sponsors, who are making this vision of mine, Inspired Style, a reality!

Dominique Luck is a Fashion Designer by profession, who after having two boys, decided to make it her mission to help women realise their full “style” potential. The makeover winner will be treated to a 2-3 hour wardrobe consult and styling worth R800. Good looking hair is such an important part of looking and feeling fabulous! Edge Unisex Hair Salon in Claremont will treat the winner to a magical hair makeover worth R1000.

Our lovely sponsors over at Essence have sponsored a wonderful Essence Makeup Hamper, worth R500,to keep you looking sassy and on trend for summer!

I am very excited to announce that the stunning Hout Bay Manor, which I have featured on the website before, have sponsored one nights accommodation for the lucky winner!

A picture is worth a thousand words and photographic images are the best way to freeze a moment for eternity! Alison from Inspired Exposure will help capture the fabulosity experienced by the makeover winner, with a Styled Photo Shoot worth R2800. This will include a 1 Hour photo session in studio, custom editing and retouching, plus 30 x high-resolution photographs for the winner to keep!

Beautiful skin does not happen overnight and does take time and effort! Kiehl’s believes that ingredients are the single most important component of their products, only formulas with ingredients that are truly beneficial to the skin are selected. Kiehl’s will treat the winner to a personalised skin consult, at one of the Kiehl’s stores. They will have their skin assessed and they will be advised on a skin care regime best suited for their skin, following which they will be sent Kiehl’s products to the value of R2500.

What is a great hair style without professional makeup! The talented Kirsten, from Kirsten Murphy Makeup will work her magic with your hair and makeup to help transform you and enhance your natural beauty, for the photo shoot. The professional makeup and styling session is valued at R1600.

Great fashion and good dress-sense can really boost your self-confidence! To help you get your “glam on”, local designer Nadia from the über stylish Label Collections, is sponsoring one of her beautiful creations, valued at R900.

Naturals Beauty produce an affordable, quality natural skin care range, which is perfect for caring for your skin! The winner will receive a pampering Summer Skin Care Hamper worth R230 courtesy of Naturals Beauty.

Great summer fashion is such an important part of looking and feeling fabulous for the season! One of my favourite fashion stores, Old Khaki, have come on board and sponsored the lucky winner, with a casual summer outfit, to the value of R1000.

Pantene have sponsored a Hair Care Hamper and a Sorbet Voucher with the total value of R500.

An outfit is not complete without the right accessories! Zuri SA{previously Sass Diva} have very generously sponsored a voucher valued at R1000!

Wow that is amazing – right!!?? What an awesome prize and it could be you!

Once the makeover has taken place and the winner photographed we will have the big reveal and everyone will be able to share in the winners fabulosity! I am hoping that this makeover will be the first of many and hope you will all enjoy the experience and join in the fun.

To enter:

Please complete the entry form below with a letter explaining why you would love to win this makeover!
Please include a photograph of yourself along with your entry form!
Please join the sponsors Facebook Fan Pages to spread the love! {Simply click the “like” buttons below!}
Please leave me a comment below telling me how fabulous you think these sponsors are!

To complete your entry simply click the “like” buttons below!

Inspired Living SA

Dominique Luck Wardrobe Consultant

Essence Cosmetics

Hout Bay Manor

Inspired Exposure

Kiehls SA

Kirsten Murphy Makeup

Label Collection

Naturals Beauty

Old Khaki

Zuri Jewellery

Terms & Conditions:

Entries close on 5th December 2013.
Each email entry must be accompanied by a clear photograph of the entrant. Entry photographs may be used on this website and social media and for the big reveal.
The winner must be available at the designated time of the makeover photo shoot and must be willing to be photographed at any time during the makeover. The winner will also have their photographs appear on this website and on various social media sites.
Please join the various sponsors Facebook Fan Pages and share the competition on social media.
To ensure that your entry in processed correctly (please use a valid email address). Your details will only be used to validate your entry and inform you, if you are selected as a winner.
Prizes may not be exchanged for cash.
The winner has 30 days, from the first notification, to claim their prize. In the event that they do not a new winner will be chosen.
This competition is only open to South African residents over the age of 18 years but the makeover and photo shoot will take place in Cape Town. In the event of the winner not residing in Cape Town, travel plans will be made to accommodate the winner. Travel plans will be made at the discretion of the website owner and only from major centers in South Africa and will only be arranged once the winner has complied with all the above criteria.

Be Inspired, Beauty, Beauty Box, Beauty Products, Product Reviews, Reviews and Features

My November 2012 rubybox

Where indeed has the year gone? I cannot believe that we are a less than a month away from Christmas but here we are! It has been a great year of trying out new and different beauty brands, some of which I would never have encountered had it not been for rubybox.

My November 2012 rubybox did contain three full size products but I must admit I missed having a skin care element in the box this month but without further a do here is my review:

Armani Code, both the woman’s and men’s fragrance has been a firm favourite of both mine and my hubby for a while now!

Armani Code Pour Femme ~ is fresh and sexy, my definition of the sporty girls fragrance, it combines zesty citrus, with ginger and exotic jasmine and orange blossom. With my favourite vanilla notes to round it all off beautifully!

Armani Code ~ This is one of my favourite mens fragrances! It is mysterious with a hint of the orient and a sexy balance of citrus and soft woody notes. Makes my man smell yummy! 🙂

Also in the November rubybox were three full size products from Essence Cosmetics, which I have not used much before.

Essence Lipgloss ~ I am a lipgloss lover and although this promises to be an ultra-glossy gloss I was not overly impressed, it did the job but I prefer a slighty thicker gloss. It is not too sticky which is always good but if I am completely honest I would not buy it again, I feel that there are far better options available. ( the only sway towards it would be the extremely reasonable price tag of R19.95)

Essence Colour & Go in Nude It ~ I have been looking for a nude nail polish for a little while now but not been too successful, many of them dry with a grey tinge. This one was definitely more successful colour-wise but it does take at least two coats to see the true colour. Again price-wise it beats all the competition, at R19.95 it is a steal!

Essence Eyeliner in Think Khaki ~ I have not worn coloured eyeliner in years but I was really impressed with how this looked on my eye. I usually wear a nude eye, with either brown or black eyeliner during the day, so this is quite a nice change. Again the price is really low at R14.95.