If you're unfamiliar with the brand Essence, it's an extremely affordable German cosmetics brand with many products that are available at Ulta stores. Since I live far away from an Ulta, I'm grateful that my lovely reader Ida always keeps me up-to-date (Ida shared pics of the Denim Wanted collection with us back in November).
Recently, Ida spotted lots of new Essence products at her local Ulta and was kind enough to share them with us!
image credit for all of the following photos: Ida for Nouveau Cheap
First up, the Essence Blossoms Etc. collection:
Next up, Essence Studio Nails Nail Fashion Stickers (nail wraps for just $2.49!):
And here we have Essence Nail Art Magnetics polishes (and accompanying magnets):
If you're unfamiliar with magnetic nail polishes, they're pretty cool! You paint your nails with the polish, and then you hold the magnet over your nail and it creates a really neat design. L'Oreal came out with a magnetic polish a while back and I'm still mad I never got one (you can see the L'Oreal version on the lovely Jen's blog here). So it's nice to have another opportunity to try a magnetic polish!
And finally, here's the Essence Cracking polishes (base coats on the left, top coats on the right):
It looks like there are only black and white crackle polishes in this collection since the two shade on left are base coats, but it's STILL pretty great that you can get a crackle for just $2.49!
Thanks SO much, Ida, for the great pics!!
Have you tried any of these new Essence goodies yet? If so, I would love to hear your thoughts!
I reviewed this Essence magnetic nail polish on my blog, so if you're interested - let me know and I'll happily provide you with the link! Having lived over 7 years in Germany and moving to the US just a year ago I'm extremely happy to see this brand available at the US counters! Their LE are really cool, quality wise good and the prices are just awesome! Too bad I have no Ulta close to me :/
ReplyDeleteps. You were so right about the scanning thing in CVS ... Today I scanned the Revlon Mineral Finishing Powder and it was on sale indeed! Too bad they don't let you know and you have to pick up all the goodies and scan them! But anyway - thanks so much for the tip! :*
Early last week I went to Ulta and I only saw the stickers. I will go back and look for the magnetic and crackled nail polishes. And I think the shadows and multi color powder need to come home with me as well. Nice find!
ReplyDeleteI picked up and reviewed the EDT yesterday. For $10 it's pretty decent, light floral, with a fizzy note to it. I can't wait to try the magnetic polishes! I've always wanted one of those!
ReplyDeleteThat looks SO COOL!!! I really want the magnetic polishes!! Saw Jen's blog and they look amaaazinggg :D
ReplyDeleteI need those spring polishes!!! Something happened where all of a sudden I am obsessed with spring colors on nails!
ReplyDeleteI won a contest on the Essence website and got those nail stickers, but I haven't tried them yet. They aren't real polish, they are stickers, and I read reviews that say they are awful, so hard to use, wrinkle on you, etc. so it kinda took the wind out of my sails and I just can't bring myself to try them and be disappointed.
ReplyDeletei freaking love essence! I just got that highlight powder and it is finer than my MAC belightful highlight powder! It just goes on so nice and its a glow on the cheeks instead of chunky glitter. I am so impressed with it, just wish there were more colors of it! havent seen the nail stuff yet, but cant wait to snatch the magnetic stuff up!
ReplyDeleteThis collection was already sold out at my Ulta last week. It's going faster than any other brand. I love the German cosmetics that are so affordable and the products are really good. I want some of their new Stay With Me glosses.
ReplyDeleteOh my, that looks amazing! I hope this Essence collection is coming to the Netherlands! :)
ReplyDeleteI *LOVE* Essence! I went to Ulta on Sunday and noticed they have expanded their display with tons of new goodies. I got the Blossoms, Inc multicolor powder and glosses, and a ton of other things including the new brushes (It's so easy to spend a lot of money with Essence's great prices). The brushes were only $1.99! I didn't see the magnetic polishes but I will definitely have to look when I go again.
ReplyDeleteYes!! I've been waiting on the magnetics. Thanks for the heads up!
ReplyDeleteomg I'm dying that the magnetic polishes are launched. I need it. wow we got them so late here. they were across the pond like 1 or 2 years ago!
ReplyDeleteI have all five of the "Blossoms etc." nailpolishes and though I love the colors I'm not a fan of the formula.
ReplyDeleteI tried other Essence nailpolishes before and like them a lot more. The "Blossoms etc." ones are thick yet runny and sometimes hard to apply (but opaque in one coat which is a big plus)
what! the US gets the blossoms le and europe doesn't, that's weird. i still weant the purple so badly
ReplyDeleteMine hasn't cleaned up their display or added the new products yet. I sent an email to Ulta to let them know. I can't stand when I know they are just standing around and talking, but not actually stocking or cleaning displays.
ReplyDeleteI picked up 3 of the magnetics today but alass they didn't have the magnet! So, I'm hoping that I can figure something out, maybe one on the fidge will work?!
ReplyDeleteUrban Warrior: Thanks for the heads-up! I'll definitely stop by and take a peek! :)
ReplyDeleteJT: Did you say "fizzy note"? I am SOLD! :)
Donna: Yes, I assumed they were like the Broadway Nail Dress stickers I reviewed a while back, which are not polish either (and the SH ones are stickers too, right)? It's funny because I've heard people say the Broadway Nail Dress wraps wrinkled, etc., but I didn't have a problem applying them one bit. So in other words, I'm not discouraged! I wanna try the Essence version! lol
Danielle: Did you miss the pics in this post? The magnet is sold separately (there's a picture of the polishes next to the magnets in the display, and then Ida's holding both a polish and a magnet in her hand in the next picture). Hope that helps!
I tested the perfume since the Ulta that I frequent to has part of the Essence collection, but not the whole thing. I actually like it and I plan to go there tomorrow to purchase it since it is cheap.
ReplyDeleteI don't recommend anyone buying the nail stickers. The are crappy and don't work. The crackle nailpolishes are nice for the price u pay for. Don't expect it to crackle like the OPI ones.
ReplyDeleteand the metallic nailpolishes are nice, but it takes time and effort to get the stripes. Be patient and practice alot haha.
Essence is trying their best to keep up with other brands. And they worked on the quality of the products in a positive way!
I did try the nail stickers, they did wrinkle. I could smooth them out, but eventually they would wrinkle again, but the wrinkles were tiny and at the sides. I don't think anyone could see them unless they grabbed my hands and brought them up to their face for a close look. I read that they go on better if you heat them up with a blow dryer, the heat helps them to stretch and lay smooth and flat. I'll try that next time.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that Broadway's and SH's were also stickers, I thought those ones were real polish like Incoco.
Oh, and I read that the Essence magnet is really weak and not worth buying. Use a stronger magnet, and yeah, the ones off your refrigerator should work fine.
ReplyDeleteVan and Donna: wow, its sounds like this might be a bit more trouble than they're worth, even at that price. I'm so sad! I love nail stickers and was really looking forward to trying them.
ReplyDeleteDonna: I can tell you that the Broadway stickers I own are definitely NOT made with real polish like Inoco (they are either vinyl, or have a very vinyl-like quality to them). As for the SH stickers, I assumed, due to some of the designs, that they were stickers too (not sure how you could achieve those prints using polish, unless the design is an overlay on TOP of a layer of polish?). Hum...I guess I'll have to confirm when I finally get around to trying them. The Broadway Nail Wrap pattern w/ the flowers that I reviewed is definitely a sticker though. :)
I really want the magnetic and crackle polishes, but they don't have them at my ulta :( So sad...
ReplyDeleteThat's what I assumed, that Broadway and SH were real polish with a design stamped or overlaid on the polish.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll still give them a chance even though it didn't work out that well with Essence. The sad part is that I loved the Essence ones I tried. They were the silver chrome ones, and I tried those first because they was the ones I least liked, so I didn't care if I ruined them practicing. They didn't look that great off the nail, dull. Once they were on my nails...WOW! It really did look like chrome, not quite a mirror finish, but sooooo close.
I think these Essence ones would be great for a middle to high schooler who isn't worried about perfection. You know how when you first start out with nail polish you get it on your cuticles and fingers and don't really care? I don't think they would mind a few small wrinkles either.
Donna: OK, your description of the silver Essence stickers is reallly making me want to make the trek to Ulta! Now I kind of HAVE to know how (potentially awful) they are to work with. haha!
ReplyDeleteAnd I totally know what you mean--when I was younger I would let the polish cover my cuticles and just naturally let it flake off over time. LOL! When did we all become so anal with our manis? ;)
Argh!! I have been bouncing back and forth between my 2 localish Ultas and still no magnetics!! I wanted them very badly!!
ReplyDelete