Essence Cometics: 2 New Collections! Vampires on Holiday

I've blogged about the German brand before. Essence just became available in the U.S. this year when it launched to ULTA. Their premise is super-cheap-whilst-still-cute products. I've become a bit bored with them because I see the same old tired products at ULTA. Recently, I heard about two new collections, both available come July. Question is: Will it come to ULTA or is it a German exclusive?

The two collections are "Twilight" and "Return to Paradise". Yeah, that's right. They're making a Twilight collection.If you guys are aware, there's already been makeup made (twilightbeauty.com), which comes in the lines Luna or Volturi. Nordstrom also makes team Edward or team Jacob palettes (lame, I know).
Heres a disclaimer: I am NOT a Twilight fan. I just never understood the appeal. However, I AM a make-up fan =).

Twilight:

It's a little boring to me. It's a cute idea to have the eyeshadows shaded like a moon, but the colors are a but ho-hum.Not pictured are two more nail poilish shades, two more lip glosses, and a glitter eye pencil. I MIGHT want to get the shimmer powder pictured =)

The more exciting collection for me is Return to Paradise:

How cute is that? The colors are really pretty, and I HEART baked eyeshadows. Other products that aren't shown: another baked shadow trio, another liner, and another lipgloss. I really like the shimmer powder, because it reminds me a lot of Benefit's powder packaging =). I REALLY like cute and neat boxes.

I'm really crossing my fingers that these get released at ULTA beside the regular line!

What do you guys think? Tempting? Or pass?

Smashbox $5 Dollar Deals at Ulta!

Seriously, I come across the greatest deals when I'm trying to cute back on spending. 

I get really bored at work, and so I sit here browsing random makeup sites like a creepy lurker.

Right now, Ulta.com has three Smashbox products for only $5! You can get the Eyeshadow Duo in Glow Getter, Lip Enhancing Gloss Duo in Luster and Pout, and Blush/Soft Lights Duo in Undercover. Yeah that's right, you can get TWO lipglosses for $5 total. Crazy, I know. I'm not a huge fan of Smashbox eyeshadows, but I think I'll give this a go. The only problem is, I hate paying for shipping, which means I have to find another $35 worth of product to get free shipping.. what to get?

I'm trying to cut back and get rid of most of my makeup, and just buy high quality items like MAC, Dior, and Chanel every once in awhile. Quality over quantity! But these deals keep getting to me...

FIVE DOLLA HOLLA!

What do you think? Yay or nay?

Urban Decay Deals at Ulta!

Yes, another post about another good deals (can you tell I spend ALOT of time shopping?)
Ulta has Urban Decay Smoke Out Kits for only $19.99!!! (Originally $34 each!)
Yeah, I hyperventilated a little when I saw this... The kits each include four eyeshadows, a mascara, and two eyeliners (including the loved 24/7 pencil in zero)
It comes in three colors: (Pictures from Ulta.com)

Sweet Lucy (silvery gray):

Ju-Ju (rich brown):

Yerba (greens):

Get them HERE!
AHHH! I want them ALL! GIMME GIMME!

Ulta also has an exclusive Urban Decay Mother's Day Face Case:

Only $14.00!
It comes with 3 eyeshadows, one blush, and 3 lipglosses. Check it HERE.

I'm not really wanting the Face Case, not too keen on the colors, but the Smoke out kits are a great deal!

Essence Mini Haul w/ Swatches

I'm not sure if you guys remmeber or not, but I blogged about Essence being released at Ulta last month. The brand is dirt cheap so I finally decided to try it out. I ended up buying six eyeshadows

Top row: Eyeshadows ($1.99 each) in Love Talk, Pretty Funky, and Metropolitan
Bottom row: Colour and Shine Eyeshadows ($2.99 each) in Fabulous, Pretty Rockin', and Stage Beauty

Swatches: (In same order as above)

All of the regular eyeshadows have a shimmery sheen/sparkle to them. Love Talk is a pretty deep green color and is pretty pigmented. Pretty funky is kind of an olive color, and it SUCKS. It took me awhile just to swatch it because the pigmentation is so bad. In the pot it's such a pretty color, and is actually one of the prettiest. I don't see myself actually using it though, because the quality is so poor. Metropolitan, however, is the most pigmented and the smoothest out of the three. It's a really vibrant brown. It looks lighter in the pot than when swatched.

The Colour and Shine Eyeshadows are gorgeous. They're all baked and can be applied wet or dry. I haven't tried them wet yet because the pigmentation is great dry already. Fabulous is a brown-bronze color with copper shimmer. Pretty Rockin' is black with silver shimmer. And Stage Beauty is a pretty golden tan.

I highly recommend the baked shadows. As for the regular shadows, I feel like it's a hit or miss. In stores, however, they do have pull out testers so you can swatch the colors. If you can't get to a store, get them online at Ulta. HERE for the regular eyeshadows, and HERE for the baked ones.

Essence has arrived at Ulta

 

Essence cosmetics, a German brand, just came to Ulta!
Their products are dirt-cheap, nothing costing more than a measly 5 bucks!
The line includes bronzers, eyeshadows, mascaras, brushes and even blushes. Basically everything a cosmetics company should offer but at an insane price.
I can't vouch for the quality quite yet until I try it (which I will) but I'm always lemming for cheap stuff!
Check em' out  HERE

What do you guys think? Tempting or pass?