Over the past few weeks I've been on the search for cruelty free makeup products and Essence was one of the brands that I came across. I've never bought anything from them before now and I must say I'm impressed. All of Essence's products are really affordable but the quality exceeds the price. 
When I first saw these adorable little palettes I thought they were too cute and since they were only $9 each I thought that I would give them a try. Im so happy that I did because I think they're absolutely fantastic! 

Each Palette includes 6 eyeshadows, a double ended applicator and 2 instruction cards tucked behind the mirror, one card for a day look and the other for night. 

Starting with the Bright Eyes palette.. 

This palette mainly consists of shimmery pink tones with a few neutral shades placed here and there. The eyeshadows themselves are very creamy and apply really nicely. The pigmentation is okay, there are a few that definitely show up but some of the shades are so light that they are barely there (they could be used as a nice highlight though). I don't tend to use a primer because I don't really see a difference between when I use one or not, but these eyeshadows really benefit from the use of a primer or base because it not only helps them last longer but also keeps them looking vibrant. 

Next is the Nude Eyes palette...

Pigmency wise I think this palette tops the Bright Eyes palette. All of the colours show up really nicely and blend beautifully as well. I'd once again recommend using a primer or base before applying these eyeshadows because with both palettes the eyeshadows last about an hour without a primer but with a primer or base they will last closer to three hours.

Conclusion : 

I think overall these palettes exceeded my expectations, they aren't perfect but for the price I didn't expect perfection. They are better than any drugstore eyeshadows that I have ever used in the past which were usually either equal in price or more expensive. Oh, and did I mention how adorable the packing is?! 

These palettes are definitely something to look into if you are just looking for something small to try out and mess around with, but if you're looking for something that will really become a staple in your makeup collection I might recommend saving your money and going for something a little larger and better quality (such as my favourite palette, the Urban Decay - Naked 2 Palette). 

But in the end, I will definitely keep an eye out for when a new Essence palette comes out! 

My Top Three Liquid Eyeliners | Product Adoration

As a devoted fan of winged eyeliner, I have tried countless amounts of liquid and gel liners, which has brought me to the conclusion that a lot of them suck...  But have no fear! I'm going to save you all some time and share my three favourite eyeliners, these are in my opinion the best of the best. I'm not a huge fan of gel liners, so I'll only be talking about liquid ones. I've tried high end and drugstore eyeliners and I really haven't seen a significant difference between them. Its a tricky business picking out the right one for your needs but if you're  like me and love winged eyeliner these are some to test out! I highly recommend them all! 

1. Rimmel - Exaggerate :    This is my all time favourite eyeliner! I've used it everyday for a few months now. I've re-purchased it, I've recommended it to friends... its fantastic! The best thing about this product is that the colour remains vibrant throughout the day and lasts for an incredibly long amount of time. It has a standard felt tip applicator, which I like because I find it gives me more control to create a precise line. 

You all have to try this! 

2. L'Oréal - Lineur Intense : What makes this product stand out for me is its shape. It has a very long top so it feels really comfortable in your hand when you apply it which helps make a very straight and precise line. This is another product with great colour payoff, it's almost a little glossy. It lasts all day without smudging or fading. Like all my favourite liquid eyeliners this also has a standard felt tip applicator. Recommended to those of you with shaky hands!  

 3.  L'Oréal - Telescopic : Now this is the eyeliner that helped me perfect my technique. It was the first really good liner that I used and it made all the difference! This is another liner where the colour payoff is magnificent. The felt tip applicator is slightly smaller than the other ones on this list which helped me when I first started using liquid eyeliner because I couldnt make huge mistakes, Every flawed line I made was small enough to be corrected. This eyeliner lasts all day but if you do mess up it's easily fixable with a Q-tip which is really helpful. Another great thing about this eyeliner is that it comes in a waterproof formula which lasts an incredible amount of time. This is a great summer liner;  highly recommended for those of you with busy days in the heat!