Today’s shop has been sponsored by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! #essenceEssentials #essenceAtTarget #CollectiveBias
Today I’m going to share with a super quick and easy makeup look that’s perfect to wear to your high school or college classes! It takes less than 10 minutes, is super budget-friendly (using all essence cosmetics), plus it’s natural looking (making it perfect to wear to your classes!). Before we get started, I want to talk a little bit about why I’m using all essence cosmetics for this look.
Why I Love essence cosmetics
Between textbooks and living expenses, our budgets can get pretty tight when school rolls around. That’s where essence cosmetics comes in. Essence is an up-and-coming brand that provides high quality, on-trend products at amazingly budget-friendly prices (we’re talking $6 and under for most products!). There’s absolutely no need to spend hundreds on department store makeup to look fresh, natural, and flawless!
Another thing I love about essence is that they don’t advertise through expensive print or TV ads. Instead, they invest in the development of high-quality, innovative products. Personally, I find it so refreshing to find a company that prioritizes product quality over celebrity/model endorsed advertising!
Speaking of product development, essence also strives to make safe cosmetics that won’t harm our skin or bodies. 95% of essence products are manufactured in Europe, and their ingredients adhere to the strict standards of the European Union Cosmetics Directive. Plus, their products are cruelty-free!
Price Breakdown for this Look
Now let’s move on to the price breakdown of everything I used for this look. All together, the total for this look comes to only $35.90! (I found most of these items at Target, and also used a few that I already owned.)
- Essence Eyebrow Designer Pencil – $1.99
- Essence Soft Touch Mousse Makeup Matte – $4.99
- Essence Pure Nude Concealer – $3.49
- Contour Powder – $3.99
- Silky Touch Blush- $2.99
- All About Rose Eyeshadow Palette – $5.49
- Gel Eye Pencil Waterproof – $2.99
- I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara – $4.99
- Longlasting Lipstick – $2.99
- Gel Nail Polish – $1.99
For my ‘tools’, I kept it minimal – I used a fluffy round brush for my blush/contour/highlight, an eyelash curler, and my fingers for the eye shadow. So let’s get started with the tutorial!
High School Makeup Tutorial
Start by lightly filling in the brows using the essence Eyebrow Designer Pencil. Here I’m using shade 02 (Brown).
Next, grab the essence Soft Touch Mousse Makeup Matte and gently swirl two fingers in the mousse. Then press your fingers onto your cheeks/chin/forehead, and slowly blend the foundation out moving outwards. (By the way, this foundation is incredibly easy to apply using just your fingers due to its silky smooth texture.) Here I’m using the shade 01 (Matte Sand).
To conceal dark circles and highlight the under eye area, draw a few lines in a triangle shape under the eyes using the essence Pure Nude Concealer, then blend out. Dot on the concealer on any red spots or blemishes that you want to cover, and gently blend out into the foundation. Here I’m using the shade 20 (Pure Sand).
Grab the essence Contour Powder and, starting with the contour color, grab a small about of powder with a brush (because this stuff is very pigmented!). Gently tap off the excess, and apply under your cheekbones and anywhere also you want to contour (along the temples, forehead, and jawline). Blend in.
Next, grab the essence Silky Touch Blush in the shade ‘Babydoll’ and apply to the cheeks and blend in.
Finally, to finish out the cheeks, grab the essence Contour Powder compact and apply the highlighter lightly to tops of cheeks.
For the eyes, grab the All About Rose Eyeshadow Palette and start by applying the matte mauve-taupe shade (#1) all over the lid.
Then take the darker matte brown (#2) and apply to the outer corners, then blend into your crease. You can use your fingers, or a brush (these shadows are very pigmented, and blend out well either way!).
For a long-lasting liner, grab the essence Waterproof Gel Eye Pencil. Apply tight to the lash line, making sure to get in between your lashes to create natural looking definition. Extend the liner a little past your outer corner to create a subtle wing to ‘lift’ the eyes.
Curl the lashes and apply two quick coats of the essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara. This mascara adds tons of length and volume just in the first swipes, so you don’t need to go crazy with it!
For a natural looking pop of color, apply the Longlasting Lipstick in ‘On the Catwalk! (a berry red)’. I love this lipstick because it starts out somewhat sheer to create a natural look, but is also buildable if you prefer a bolder lip.
And no makeup look is complete without a little nail polish! Ever since I tried essence’s Gel Nail Polish, I’ve been blow away. It builds to opaque coverage in 2 quick coats, is non-streaky (thanks to the wide brush), and lasts for 5-6 days on me without chipping.
Here I’m using the shade ‘amazed by you’ – it’s a pretty plumy purple that transitions well for Fall.
Then you’re all done!
Be sure to check out essence cosmetics the next time your at Target for some amazing and affordable makeup to create your back-to-school look! And for a chance to win an essence megahaul, enter the MegaHaul Contest here!
What are your go-to everyday looks for high school or college?
