I know I’m little late with this review, but this limited edition collection from essence has become available quite late in Romania and it went out of stock real quick. I decided it’s still worth showing it on the blog because it’s one of my few latest acquisitions and I enjoy it very much.

The Into the Snow Glow collection was available just for about a month, from mid-December to mid-January, which is typical for the limited edition that essence releases all the time. The collection contained some skin care products, such as a sugar face scrub and a glitter peel-off mask, which I didn’t buy because I don’t know how good their skincare stuff is, a makeup bag – which is kind of boring and I didn’t need another bag, a sparkly lip topper – too glittery for my taste, a fixing spray, two brushes and the star of the collection – a face and eye palette.

I wanted to get both brushes, but the highlighter brush was out of stock. I also got the palette because I couldn’t resist its cuteness and the fixing spray. Let’s talk about the products, starting with my least favorite.

essence Into the Snow Glow set & glow fixing spray

I don’t know if this spray does anything for my makeup because I can’t apply it properly. The sprayer doesn’t give off a fine mist, but a strong spritz that makes my face wet in just a few spots. I’ve used it just two times but I don’t like it so I think I will use it to wet my brush. The bottle contains 30 ml and it was 3,5 euros. Oh, it also has a name, it’s called 01 Sweater Weather Is Better Weather – they always have such cute names for their products.

essence Into the Snow Glow eyeshadow blender brush

I’m not the best when it comes to reviewing brushes because I didn’t try so many brands, but I like essence brushes. I have another eyeshadow brush which I have for about 6-7 years now and trust me it’s still good as new. This brush is called 01 Let It Snow and it has such a cute design, with silver confetti in the handle. It’s fluffy, synthetic and it applies the eyeshadow nicely. I like using it to apply eyeshadow in the outer corner of the eye because of its shape. It was very cheap, just 1,50 euros and it’s totally worth it.

essence Into the Snow Glow face & eyeshadow palette

This palette is seriously underrated in my opinion. I saw some people review it on YouTube and most of them were not impressed by it and said that they liked the essence ho!ho!ho! palette more. I think that for the price, the quality is reasonable. The eyeshadows are soft, but not overly powdery, they are not muddy on the eyes and they last a decent amount a time when applied over a primer.

The packaging is what drew me to this palette. It’s so darn cute! It’s cardboard with magnetic closure and it has a beautiful image on it with a snowy mountain and trees and a polar bear and snowflakes that have that holographic effect. In other words, I just had to buy it although I don’t need any more eyeshadows or face powders for that matter. The palette is called 01 Baby It’s Cold Outside. What I don’t get about this palette is who is it supposed to be for. The eyeshadows have a neutral color story with a pop of coral and some olive-green shades, while the highlighters are very colorful and “out there”. For example, I’m a neutral eyeshadow girl because I can’t wear crazy colors at work and the lilac and green highlighters are certainly not something that I could wear. So I’m a little confused.

The palette contains 14 eyeshadows, both matte and shimmery. There are more shimmery eyeshadows than mattes, but the shimmers are discreet, nothing too crazy.

 

The swatches are honestly not as vibrant on my crappy camera as they are in person. This is the top row, with the following shades, from left to right:

Bare – a matte light brown color, basically a nude color to apply as a base or in the crease.

Nude – a shimmery golden-brown.

Dusty Rose – a shimmery rosegold shade.

Velvet – shimmery berry shade.

Twilight – another brown shade with some silver shimmer.

Fire – light brown shade with more of a satin finish.

Bear – shimmery chocolate brown.

The bottom row of eyeshadows, from left to right:

Fair – shimery golden shade

Retro – coral  shade, very in tone with the Pantone color of the year.

Blossom – matte dark brown, cool-toned.

Pine Tree – shimmery coffee brown shade.

Chocolate – shimmery light brown shade.

Cloud – olive-green shade.

Night– matte black shade, but not as rich as I would like it to be.

I know some the browns look very similar, but they look different in reality and you can’t definitely tell them apart on the eyes.

There are also 4 blushes in the palette, 3 mattes and one that is shimmery.

Pink Wink – matte coral-pink blush.

Morning Sun – dark pink shimmery blush, suitable better for darker skin tones.

Rosy – matte hot pink blush.

Dawn – matte berry blush.

The blushes are all quite pigmented so I would advise to apply them with caution because a little goes a long way.

Finally, there are 6 highlighters, all of them having fine glitter particles, so you can wear them either as a light shimmer on the face or apply more layers if you like that “blinding” effect.

Ice, Ice Baby – mint green shade.

Diamond – golden shade.

Freeze – lilac shade.

Light Chaser – light orange shade.

Fairy – a natural, nude shade.

Glistening – peachy shade.

Considering that this palette was only 10 euros, I would say that you get a lot for your money- 14 eyeshadows, 4 blushes, and 6 highlighters. I certainly don’t regret getting my hands on it but it’s not something for those who have a lot of neutral palettes and are tired of them. The highlighters are also very nice, just the mint green and the lilac ones may be not as wearable but they can always make for great eyeshadows or to use them in the inner corner.