Essence HELLO, GOOD STUFF! Review
Clean beauty is still far from going mainstream, but luckily for us, it’s becoming easier to find. Essence was one of the latest to jump into the non-toxic bandwagon with this HELLO, GOOD STUFF! product line. But is it as good as it sounds?
Even though this is Essence’s first immersion into more natural formulas, the truth is the brand has been doing astonishing work creating vegan, cruelty-free, and nasty-free products for a few years now. Always keeping the low-cost price tag.
The Essence HELLO, GOOD STUFF! product line has 6 products: serum, primer, tinted beauty cream (available in light and medium), bronzer (available in light and medium), mascara, and 3in1 face mist.
What will I be reviewing today? As I tend to keep my routine to the minimum, I’ve purchased only four of these to put into the test: tinted beauty cream in the shade 10 light, bronzer in the shade 10 cocoa cool, mascara (because that’s a staple for me) and the 3in1 face mist (hello face mask).
Without further ado, let’s start with the review.
Tinted Beauty Cream - 10 Light
The name says it all. This is a moisturizer with some color on it, to give your skin a “healthier” look. A perfect alternative for those days that you need to look polished, but don’t feel like using any makeup.
You can easily apply it with your fingertips, just as if you were applying face cream. Just make sure that you spread it thoroughly, so you don’t end up with one area more tinted than the other.
One layer is enough to give your skin a healthier look, but if you have some blemishes or spots… apply two layers instead.
After applying this tinted beauty cream, you can feel that your face is hydrated healthily. It doesn’t feel oily or heavy at all. So I dare say that this tinted cream is suitable for pretty much every skin type.
If you have combination skin (like me), it’s perfectly normal that some areas turn a bit shiny after a few hours (around 3 to 4). When that happens, apply a little bit of setting powder or blotting sheets, and you’re good to go.
This was by far the best experience I had with a tinted cream (and I’ve tried a few) and the cheapest. Total win!
Pros: natural formula, price, long-lasting, and how easy it is to apply (bye-bye, beauty blender).
Cons: only available in two shades (light and medium).
8/10
Matte & Glow Bronzer
I had high expectations with this one, especially because its formula has 99% natural ingredients.
Essence HELLO, GOOD STUFF! Matte & Glow Bronzer is split into two parts: matte (darker) and glow (lighter). Which might be a bit confusing when you apply it for the first time. Especially because the glow formula isn’t glowy at all and the matte one happens to be matte. So I’ve decided to mix both. From forehead to chin.
What happened? Well, the matte formula is highly pigmented and it’s hard to blend out. Making it hard to create a polished and healthy look.
Imagine opening your cupboard and applying cocoa powder straight to your face. Yup, that’s pretty much what I ended up with. It also has a strong cocoa scent.
Pros: the formula with 99% natural ingredients and the price.
Cons: how hard it is to apply it (even if you’re an experienced makeup user), the glow formula is a complete waste of time and money.
4/10
3in1 Face Mist
I am always a bit skeptical when the same product has more than one function. But I have to say that Essence HELLO, GOOD STUFF! 3in1 Face Mist was a positive surprise.
Let’s start with the natural formula and watermelon scent. Most setting spray formulas in the market have a lot of alcohol and, therefore, a really strong intoxicating smell. Which makes this one quite pleasant.
Also, the mist is surprisingly good. Gentle and pleasant. Which was an absolute surprise coming from such a low-cost product. Just a piece of advice: the very first time you use it, don’t do it straight to your face. But in a different direction.
In my case, the first time I sprayed it, the product came out more like a spit than a pleasant mist. But it only happened once. All the other times it worked perfectly.
Perfect to carry with you when you’re out and about and need to freshen up a little bit. Especially now that we need to wear a face mask wherever we go.
This is also a nice alternative if you want to make your makeup last a little longer. And yes, you can tell the difference: it transfers less product to your face mask.
Pros: it smells great and not intoxicating (like most setting sprays in the market).
Cons: not as effective as some of the most acclaimed setting sprays in the market (like Urban Decay or Morphe) because of its formula, but on the other hand, it’s way better for your health and wallet.
6/10
Volume Mascara
This one became my favorite mascara from the very first day I tried it. Essence HELLO, GOOD STUFF! Volume Mascara is easy to apply and so comfortable on your lashes if you’re using it for hours on end.
I like the wand (not made of silicone) and how easy it was to apply the product without smudging.
What surprised me the most is how well it performs, especially when compared with some high-end mascaras I tried this year. And yes, not looking like a raccoon after a few hours means a lot to me (especially when I am out and about running important errands).
Pros: vegan, natural formula, cruelty-free, long-lasting, and very affordable price.
Cons: couldn’t find any.
9,5/10
Final thoughts
Even though this product line is far from being perfect, it shows us that it is possible to create affordable clean beauty products.
I think it’s a start and I can’t wait to see more low-cost brands making their way through this new path.
