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PREVIEWING: essence Cherry Blossom Girl Collection

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Elaine

It’s no secret that essence Cosmetics is one of my favourite drug store brands. It’s ridiculously inexpensive and the quality is phenomenal for the price. I’ve reviewed some of their releases in the past, and I’ve always loved the results.


So when I found the ‘Cherry Blossom Girl‘ line in stores, I knew I had to pick up some of the pieces. And the best part? Even buying the entire set wouldn’t cost anymore than $25.00! 

The Cherry Blossom line is taken straight from the ‘geisha girl’ lifestyle of Japan. Soft cherry blossom shades with a strong reds, bright yellows, and cool greys, intense red lips, and statement eyelashes round out this collection. 

Here are some of my favourite pieces from the line, as well as some swatches of the products I picked up. See anything you like?


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essence Cherry Blossom Girl’s ‘Quattro Eyeshadow’ ($3.99 CAN)


I’m absolutely loving these shades for the springtime. I love the wearability of the lighter colours and the pigmentation of the darker ones. 

essence dubs the colours an eyeshadow with endless possibilities – two subtle nude shades, with two intense smokey shades. The shadows provide both matte and shimmery effects. Available in Dreaming Under A Cherry Tree. 
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essence Cherry Blossom Girl’s ‘ ‘Lipstick Pencils’ ($2.49 CAN)

I’m intrigued by the colouring of these. They perfectly match the eyeshadow quad – but are they wearable? I’m hoping these pencils are a little sheerer than they appear, because the pigmentation might be bright! 

essence claims that these lip pencils will provide intense finish with a velvety matte sheen. Rock a orange-y red or a peachy apricot – available in colours Cherry Cherry Girl and It’s Peach, Not Cherry. 



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essence Cherry Blossom Girl’s ‘Highlighter Pen’ ($3.49 CAN)


This is the product I’m most excited for – the highlighter pens! It’s a super soft shimmery pen available in one shade that provides a little bit of glow to your face. I’m looking forward to using it around the eye area to enhance the corners of my eyes, my eyebrow bones, and my cheekbones. 

essence dubs this the ‘eye-catcher’ – a super highlighting pen that’s available in Konnichiwa Girls. 

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essence Cherry Blossom Girls’ ‘Nail Colours’ ($1.99 CAN)

I’ve got a love/hate relationship with nail colours – I love the muted & nude shades. Therefore, it’s safe to say that I like two of the four colours posted beside!

essence calls these shades ‘Tokyo in Summer’ – warm colours with high coverage. The four colours provided are (L t R) Fortune Cookie, My Little Kimono, Cherry Cherry Girl, and It’s Peach, Not Cherry. 



________________________________________________________________________

essence Cherry Blossom Girl’s ‘Shimmering Body Powder’ ($3.99 CAN)

This would be my second-most anticipated product! Besides the fact that it smells absolutely divine, the shimmer is so subtle that it’s perfect for entire body coverage. When I go back to the store, I’m planning to purchase in bulk! 

essence deems this product from the geishas – a subtle fragrant body powder that provides an all over shimmer. Available in one shade called Hello Glitty. 


________________________________________________________________________

essence Cherry Blossom Girl ‘Blush’ 
($ unknown)

A super cute blush with two beautiful rosy tones! I’m loving the imprinted cherry blossom on the actual blush – too cute!

essence calls this multi-colour blush a fresh and rosy addition to any make-up bag. Comes in one shade, Asian Sensation. 






________________________________________________________________________

essence Cherry Blossom Girl ‘Paper 
Lashes’ ($ unknown)

I’m a little skeptical about these lashes. While they are insanely gorgeous, they are a little impractical. These lashes might best be left for a fancy night out, when you are looking to make a statement. Another worry – with lashes so pretty, would you ever want to waste them? Are they reusable? 

essence’s artistically designed paper lashes are dubbed the highlight of this release! Available in one lash design, Hidden in Sakura Garden. 



________________________________________________________________________

essence Cherry Blossom Girl ‘2 in 1 Eyeliner’ ($3.99 CAN)

There are two sides to these pencils, which I find intriguing. One side provides broader definition, while the other one provides a smaller delicate definition. Sounds like a good way to capture a cat-eye! 

essence thanks the semi-permanent texture of the pens for the long-lasting properties it provides. Available in two shades (L t R) Big in Japan and My Little Kimono. 

________________________________________________________________

I only managed to pick up a couple products that I deemed my favourites. Here are some of the swatches – aren’t the colours beautiful? 

Courtesy of Ashley McKernan

Here’s the beautiful quad I picked up – the swatches are very pretty, and also, very light (depending on how much you put on, that is!). Love it for the office. 
Courtesy of Ashley McKernan
See above for swatches of the eyeshadow quad, the the It’s Peach, Not Cherry lip crayon. From top to bottom, it’s the colours in a clockwise circle, with the lip crayon on the bottom. I found the Cherry Cherry Red colour to be too bold for my taste!

Courtesy of Ashley McKernan
My favourites, hands down, are the highlighter pen and the 2-in-1 eyeliner. The permanency of the colour of the eyeliner makes it a win, and the fact that it’s dual sided based on preference is amazing. Can’t wait to use this one! The highlighter pen is just too cute – I’m loving the sheer colour it produces. 
Courtesy of Ashley McKernan

I’m also liking the all-over body shimmer. Swatching it is too difficult due to it’s sheer nature, but you can see here the tiny hints of colour and shimmer it would produce. Lovely! 
Courtesy of Ashley McKernan

As I said, I’m not a huge fan of overtly bright nails, so I only picked up this colour – My Little Kimono!
_________________________________________________________________

So what do you think of the Cherry Blossom Girl line from essence? Pretty? Tweet me at @AshleyMcKernan or email me at ashley@torontobeautyreviews.com!

NOTE: Product photos courtesy of essence EU; personal photos and swatches courtesy of Ashley McKernan

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For an easy, juicy burst of color this summer, grab yours at @sephoracanada! 🌊

(And check out my blog to learn more about why I love multi-use products!) 

#torontobeautyreviews #milkmakeup #easymakeup #cleanbeauty #summerbeauty #sephoraca #jellytint
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So, with that advantage in mind, let me use this small platform to say to anyone who is listening:

Never forget that Pride started as a riot. 

That Pride is more than slapping a rainbow on something, jacking up the price, and saying “love is love” for four weeks out of the year. 

That true allyship involves action and accountability, 365. 

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Never forget that queer folks have always been here. 

That you can’t erase us, ban us, or legislate us out of existence. 

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That it exists even when it’s no longer trendy or politically advantageous. 

That we notice and remember who speaks up and who is silent. 

That we contain multitudes. 

That we deserve safety, compassion, legal protections, love, joy, and a future - just like every other human. 

That not all of us are “out” and don’t need to be; that we will invite you in if and when we choose to, and if and when we feel safe to do so. 

That queer folks make the world better. 

And that, despite seemingly insurmountable odds, we’re going to be ok. 

Because resilience, creativity, collaboration, and resourcefulness are fundamental parts of who we are. 

So we’re not going anywhere. Get on board.

Happy Pride!

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Wearing:
@milkmakeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint in 2
@tower28beauty Swipe concealer in BU + GetSet Powder + OneLiner in Paint My Number
@aboutfacebeauty liquid eye shadow in Take a Trip
@ardellbeauty Bat Those Lashes in Enchantress*
@annabellecosmetics Free Spirit eyeliner* + Master Volume mascara*
#QuoBeauty Rainbow maker 
@makeupbymario MoistureGlow in Rosewood Glow

*gifted 

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If you have any questions, ask away! ⬇️

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For now, here’s a snap of my typical minimal makeup look. Takes 5 mins, tops! 🎨

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@baileynelsonca August glasses 

*gifted products 

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*gifted 

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Wearing:
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@milkmakeup sculpt stick in Toasted 
@annabellecosmetics kohl eyeliner in black* + Sky Limit mascara*
@tower28beauty GetSet powder + OneLiner in Paint My Number (as blush)
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*gifted products 

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@annabellecosmetics Kohl eyeliner in Balsam Green*+ Sky Limit mascara* + Perfect Fit setting spray*
@colourpopcosmetics Just My Luck palette
@hauslabs Triclone Skin Tech concealer in 03
@milkmakeup sculpt stick in Toasted + cooling water jelly tint in Splash 
@rarebeauty lifting brow gel
@tower28beauty GetSet powder in translucent + Oneliner in Paint My Number 
@kjh.brand Hyper Shine Highlight kit in Lite Pink 

*gifted products 
#mytbrfave #torontobeautyreviews #tbrcontributors #beautyforeveryone #greeneyeshadow #easymakeup #makeupinspo
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Amanda and her team are extraordinary artists (and wonderful humans!) who give your flowers a new life and preserve memories. Every time I walk past this piece on my wall, my heart glows with flashbacks of my wedding day. 

If you have an important event that includes flowers, do yourself a favor and book with Parched to get them preserved. They accept flowers from across Canada, and have worked on blooms marking all occasions of life, from graduations, baby showers, weddings, and memorials. They can even create pendants using flower remnants! 

Bouquet: @coolgreenandshady 
Wedding photographer: @alexa.studios 
Wedding planner: @karinalemkeweddings 
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#Beer #torontobeautyreviews #mytbrfave #tbrcontributors #prague #europetrip #tripideas #spaday 

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