Blossom Dearie

A review of Essence Cosmetics “Blossoms etc.” Limited Edition Collection
By Jessica M

Essence Cosmetics releases several Limited Edition seasonal
collections per year, and the offering for this spring and summer in
the United States, called Blossoms Etc., is my favorite yet. It
features “gentle pastel shades and floral designs,” with the good
quality and low prices that Essence is known for.

I’ve been impressed by Essence’s nail polishes for a while, and the
Blossoms polishes live up to my expectations for the brand. I’ve
tried Forgot-Me-Not, a lavender-blue crème that reminds me of the
Periwinkle crayon from the big Crayola crayon box. (It looks more
shimmery in the bottle than it does on the nails.) I wore two coats
of Forget-Me-Not as my manicure last week and received several
compliments. The other shade I’m testing is I Like, a mermaid-y green
that dries to a cool seafoam crème (with very discreet shimmer) on the
nails. Like Forget-Me-Not, it lasts well and it’s eye-catching in a
fresh, soft way. ($1.99 each)

The eyeshadows in the Blossoms Etc. collection are duos: the darker
shade is a well-pigmented matte shadow, and the lighter shade is
shimmery and sheer. Bloom-a-Loom is the lilac/pink duo, and
Forget-Me-Not is the purple-lavender duo. I usually stick to neutrals
for my eye shadows, but these colors are flattering and not overly
bright, so I’m able to fit them into my everyday “look.” ($2.49 each)
And wait, what’s that interesting-looking compact peeking into the
corner of the photo?

Here’s a better look at Flower Power Multi Colour Powder, an embossed
mosaic of pink, peach, nude, and light bronze shades. It has fine
shimmer, so it’s a perfect finishing touch for cheekbones or temples.
I always admire high-end embossed highlighting powders and blushes,
but I rarely buy them, because I know I’ll end up hoarding them at the
back of a drawer. This powder is priced so affordably, however, that
I can use it without guilt. ($2.99)

And what spring line would be complete without a pretty lip gloss?
This shade is Flowerkissed. I love its carnation-pink color. This
gloss has a doe-foot applicator and applies smoothly for a creamy,
moderately shiny finish. ($1.99)

Blossoms Etc. was released in May, and this line of May flowers will
be around only until supplies are gone, so if you’re curious, do check
it out soon!

Essence Cosmetics is available at Ulta stores, the Ulta website
(http://www.ulta.com/), and Fred Meyer stores (in the Pacific Northwest
region).

Images: All photographs by Jessica M for BlogdorfGoodman
Disclaimer: Press samples were provided by Essence Cosmetics