essence

Essence is a German beauty brand founded in 2001 by Christina Oster-Daum, built around the idea that great makeup shouldn't cost a fortune. Launched with just 49 products in 2002, Essence quickly became the top-selling brand in Germany and has since grown into one of Europe's biggest names in cosmetics, now sold in over 50 countries. The brand keeps things playful and experimental, with new launches and trend editions dropping constantly to keep pace with what's popular.

The Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara is the brand's biggest hero, sold somewhere in the world every 4 seconds, using a conic fibre brush to deliver dramatic volume and length without any clumping, and for an extra lift beforehand, the Volume Booster Lash Primer is infused with Acai Oil and Mango Butter, instantly boosting the volume of any mascara while nurturing lashes underneath. The Inner Eye Brightening Pencil is another go-to, using a soft, universal pale pink shade along the waterline to instantly open up and brighten the eyes, while on the lips, the Line N' Stain Tattoo Lip Liner delivers a lightweight, highly pigmented stain for a natural, long-lasting finish that won't budge. To keep shine at bay throughout the day, the Matte Oil Control Paper rounds things out, absorbing excess sebum in seconds and leaving skin perfectly matte without disturbing makeup.

Essence's Fragrance range brings the same playful, affordable spirit to body mists. The Juicy Bomb Body Mist in Viva Vanilla blends Velvet Plum and Sugared Violet with a warm base of Vanilla and Sandalwood, giving a sweet, feel-good spritz for an instant refresh. The Juicy Bomb Tropical Drop Body Mist in Coconut Crush brings pure island vibes instead, with a creamy blend of Coconut and golden Caramel that feels like bottled sunshine.

Essence's Lash Princess range has become a global cult favourite for its ability to deliver false-lash volume without needing actual falsies. The Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara Waterproof uses a conic fibre brush to coat every lash for a bold, clump-free finish that holds up in humidity or rain, while the Lash Princess Sculpted Volume Mascara takes a slightly different approach, using a specially shaped brush to sculpt and define lashes with intense volume.

Alongside their well-known makeup, Essence has a colourful Skincare collection built to tackle everyday concerns. The Spot Squad Pimple Patches are packed with Tea Tree, Salicylic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid to calm and protect troubled spots fast, in cute, playful designs that make skincare a bit more fun. The Bright Eyes! Under Eye Stick uses Aloe Vera, Sunflower Oil and Hyaluronic Acid to brighten and revitalise the under-eye area, while the Magic All In One Face Cream uses colour capsules that adapt to your skin tone, hydrating and evening out the complexion with SPF10 built in.

Start with the Jelly Grip Hydrating Primer, a lightweight jelly formula that hydrates while giving makeup something to grip onto for longer wear. Follow with the Natural Matte Mousse Foundation for a lightweight, breathable base with medium coverage, then use the Stay All Day 14H Long-Lasting Concealer to cover imperfections and dark circles without settling into fine lines. For shape and colour, the Powder + Bronzer Contouring Duo Palette gives you a matte contour and luminous highlighter in one compact, and the Soft Touch Mousse Blush adds a soft, natural flush that transforms from mousse into a delicate powder finish. Finish the base with the Gimme Glow Luminous Powder Highlighter on your high points for a buildable, buttery glow.Moving onto the eyes, shape your brows with the Super Last 24h Eyebrow Pomade Pencil, which comes with a built-in silicone brush and sharpener for defined, smudge-free brows. The Nude Edition 9 Colour Eyeshadow Palette mixes matte and shimmer shades for anything from an everyday look to something more glam, and the Longlasting Eye Pencil adds definition that holds for up to 18 hours. Finish the eyes with the I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara, using an elastomer brush to coat lashes with bold, dramatic volume, and complete the look with The Slim Stick Lipstick, a creamy, velvet matte lipstick enriched with Jojoba, Macadamia and Coconut Oils that keeps lips comfortable rather than dry.

Essence is entirely cruelty-free and PETA-certified, they also offer a range of vegan-friendly products.