For how many weeks now I had been asking/searching Google and Social Networks these questions: Where to buy Essence Makeup in UAE? Where to buy Essence Makeup in Dubai? Where to buy Essence Cosmetics in Dubai? Where to buy Essence Cosmetics in UAE? Try it yourself for you to know that it is hard to find an answer. There are some blog posts from yesteryears and I visited the places mentioned but then tough luck. Those places no longer sell Essence makeup or Essence cosmetics whatever term you prefer.
Visited the Exquisite shop in Times Square even though it is very far from my place. Hyper Panda in DFC even though it is not my favorite mall. And even visited Ansar Gallery in Sharjah even though I detest the traffic in that area. Sadly those shops no longer carries Essence. The only shops I know that still sells them are Carrefour Express in Oasis Mall and Geant in IBN Battuta Mall. But both shops are very far from me and with very limited choices. That's why I'm trying to find other places where this brand might be available. I would like to know if there are shops near to me and/or shops that have other items that are not available in Oasis Mall or Geant IBN Battuta Mall.
I was glad to see that there is a Carrefour Express (?) in Al Ghurair Mall. With question mark because it is quite big to be an Express. I walked fast and searched the whole area thinking that if it is indeed an Express they would carry Essence.
And why I am so keen in finding Essence shops in UAE? Well there's nothing I can do with all the price increase around while the salary stays the same for almost a decade now. So the only factor I can control is my expenses. Meaning I need to look for the most affordable in the market. I am still a little obsessed with lip products and blush on which is pretty evident with my previous posts. This started last year and I think it will go on for another year or two. But then I can't afford what other shops has to offer. Essence is the only brand I know that dirt cheap but with good quality. I can reward myself without leaving a deep holes in my pocket.
It would be heaven if Essence skin care products will also be available in the UAE market. But that is just another wishful thinking. I know it will never happen as Essence is a dying brand in UAE Market. This is an unknown brand among make up junkies and make up gurus in the UAE. Most of them can afford high end/more popular make ups so I don't think that they will bother to patronize make up brand this cheap.
FEBRUARY 16, 2016:
Update. There is a mall in Ajman called Matajer Mall. Inside this mall there is a Carrefour Express. And... Essence Cosmetics is very much available and still affordable as ever. SO it's a good news for those who are in Ajman and into affordable make up. Ciao!
MARCH 26, 2017:
I was on Carrefour Mirdif City Centre over the weekend and I have seen Wet and Wild cosmetics. I know it is not related to Essence cosmetics. But then I think it is also quite popular and affordable even though the prices are higher then Essence. So just an alternative for those who can't easily find/locate Essence. But those who advocate cruelty free and yet affordable make up there is another brand from Germany called Catrice. The downside is so far I found them only online via Souq. Those who will be visiting Germany would easily find it in Rossmann Outlets I think but I have never been to Germany, instead I have been to Turkey where they have branches of Rossmann. And this Rossmann carries Catrice as well as Rival de Young and Rival de Loop.
If Germany can produce affordable cosmetics why the US can't? I am not comparing the brands from US and Germany (and Asians) and those US brands making me feel as if they are high end. I have some lipsticks from Catrice that I will be sharing soon. Uhm, as soon as I get the time to take snapshots. :)
JULY 02, 2017:
There is now a grocery shop in King Faisal Street Ajman named Mars Hypermarket. Just go to the second floor and you will find Essence there. You many not find the latest the Essence has to offer but the basic ones will do.
November 09, 2017:
Are you familiar with United Hypermarket? The one I know of is in Dubai. I do not know what the street is called but it is near the Muraqqabat Police Station. Anyway as I was browsing Instagram last night I came across their Sharjah branch account. And I found out that they carry Essence and Catrice!!!!! I do not know if they are still on sale today but I am asking a friend to take me there and check them out. I would like to see for myself the items they offer. And I would like to have some Essence Metal Rock Eyeshadows the one that came out in liquid form.
November 12, 2017:
Over the weekend I was able to visit 2 shops that carries Catrice and Essence. One was in Joanna in Dragon Mart and it is written in one of the comments below. And the other one was United Hypermarket Sharjah. Out of the two better to visit the latter. United Hypermarket Sharjah has an almost complete stocks of both brands. Meaning some of new releases are available as opposed to Joanna. Plus United Hypermarket has social media accounts and somebody is taking time to answer the question and queries posted! I suggested that if they could also bring P2 if possible. Which is another affordable German brand of makeup. ☺
November 16, 2017:
Do you know Safeer Mall? Inside Safeer Mall there is a shop called Xpressions Style and it has some Essence products. But not all branches do have Essence. Like the one in Ajman Al Nuaimia I asked if they have Essence, they do not have. You can check Safeer Mall in Sharjah or Century Mall in Dubai. Or you can buy from them online with shipping fee of 15.00AED. Ciao! ♥
2018.04.22
Notice that some people are still visiting this post so I thought I'll give a final update. Visited at least 3 shops last weekend (unintentionally) Mars Hypermarket in King Faisal Street Ajman, United Hypermarket Sharjah (Essence are all 40% off) and Carrefour in Oasis Mall. They are selling the least Essence products they have. Soon it will be gone in physical shops in UAE. Not sure until Souq will sell it. They do not know the exact reason. But I don't think people will mind that much. Do you? The latest products from Essence and its sister company Catrice are now all made in China. The reason why I bought from Wet & Wild or ELF only once for the same reason. As well as Nyx. Not being obnoxious here though do not get me wrong. If you cannot really avoid wearing/wanting makeup then may I suggest shift to Korean brands? Lot are springing everywhere. And they are still on the affordable side. Just do not go after the most popular ones like The Faceshop. Got my Tony Moly bronzer for only 20.00AED while my It's Skin blusher for only 23.00AED.
Visited the Exquisite shop in Times Square even though it is very far from my place. Hyper Panda in DFC even though it is not my favorite mall. And even visited Ansar Gallery in Sharjah even though I detest the traffic in that area. Sadly those shops no longer carries Essence. The only shops I know that still sells them are Carrefour Express in Oasis Mall and Geant in IBN Battuta Mall. But both shops are very far from me and with very limited choices. That's why I'm trying to find other places where this brand might be available. I would like to know if there are shops near to me and/or shops that have other items that are not available in Oasis Mall or Geant IBN Battuta Mall.
I was glad to see that there is a Carrefour Express (?) in Al Ghurair Mall. With question mark because it is quite big to be an Express. I walked fast and searched the whole area thinking that if it is indeed an Express they would carry Essence.
And why I am so keen in finding Essence shops in UAE? Well there's nothing I can do with all the price increase around while the salary stays the same for almost a decade now. So the only factor I can control is my expenses. Meaning I need to look for the most affordable in the market. I am still a little obsessed with lip products and blush on which is pretty evident with my previous posts. This started last year and I think it will go on for another year or two. But then I can't afford what other shops has to offer. Essence is the only brand I know that dirt cheap but with good quality. I can reward myself without leaving a deep holes in my pocket.
It would be heaven if Essence skin care products will also be available in the UAE market. But that is just another wishful thinking. I know it will never happen as Essence is a dying brand in UAE Market. This is an unknown brand among make up junkies and make up gurus in the UAE. Most of them can afford high end/more popular make ups so I don't think that they will bother to patronize make up brand this cheap.
FEBRUARY 16, 2016:
Update. There is a mall in Ajman called Matajer Mall. Inside this mall there is a Carrefour Express. And... Essence Cosmetics is very much available and still affordable as ever. SO it's a good news for those who are in Ajman and into affordable make up. Ciao!
MARCH 26, 2017:
I was on Carrefour Mirdif City Centre over the weekend and I have seen Wet and Wild cosmetics. I know it is not related to Essence cosmetics. But then I think it is also quite popular and affordable even though the prices are higher then Essence. So just an alternative for those who can't easily find/locate Essence. But those who advocate cruelty free and yet affordable make up there is another brand from Germany called Catrice. The downside is so far I found them only online via Souq. Those who will be visiting Germany would easily find it in Rossmann Outlets I think but I have never been to Germany, instead I have been to Turkey where they have branches of Rossmann. And this Rossmann carries Catrice as well as Rival de Young and Rival de Loop.
If Germany can produce affordable cosmetics why the US can't? I am not comparing the brands from US and Germany (and Asians) and those US brands making me feel as if they are high end. I have some lipsticks from Catrice that I will be sharing soon. Uhm, as soon as I get the time to take snapshots. :)
JULY 02, 2017:
There is now a grocery shop in King Faisal Street Ajman named Mars Hypermarket. Just go to the second floor and you will find Essence there. You many not find the latest the Essence has to offer but the basic ones will do.
November 09, 2017:
Are you familiar with United Hypermarket? The one I know of is in Dubai. I do not know what the street is called but it is near the Muraqqabat Police Station. Anyway as I was browsing Instagram last night I came across their Sharjah branch account. And I found out that they carry Essence and Catrice!!!!! I do not know if they are still on sale today but I am asking a friend to take me there and check them out. I would like to see for myself the items they offer. And I would like to have some Essence Metal Rock Eyeshadows the one that came out in liquid form.
November 12, 2017:
Over the weekend I was able to visit 2 shops that carries Catrice and Essence. One was in Joanna in Dragon Mart and it is written in one of the comments below. And the other one was United Hypermarket Sharjah. Out of the two better to visit the latter. United Hypermarket Sharjah has an almost complete stocks of both brands. Meaning some of new releases are available as opposed to Joanna. Plus United Hypermarket has social media accounts and somebody is taking time to answer the question and queries posted! I suggested that if they could also bring P2 if possible. Which is another affordable German brand of makeup. ☺
November 16, 2017:
Do you know Safeer Mall? Inside Safeer Mall there is a shop called Xpressions Style and it has some Essence products. But not all branches do have Essence. Like the one in Ajman Al Nuaimia I asked if they have Essence, they do not have. You can check Safeer Mall in Sharjah or Century Mall in Dubai. Or you can buy from them online with shipping fee of 15.00AED. Ciao! ♥
2018.04.22
Notice that some people are still visiting this post so I thought I'll give a final update. Visited at least 3 shops last weekend (unintentionally) Mars Hypermarket in King Faisal Street Ajman, United Hypermarket Sharjah (Essence are all 40% off) and Carrefour in Oasis Mall. They are selling the least Essence products they have. Soon it will be gone in physical shops in UAE. Not sure until Souq will sell it. They do not know the exact reason. But I don't think people will mind that much. Do you? The latest products from Essence and its sister company Catrice are now all made in China. The reason why I bought from Wet & Wild or ELF only once for the same reason. As well as Nyx. Not being obnoxious here though do not get me wrong. If you cannot really avoid wearing/wanting makeup then may I suggest shift to Korean brands? Lot are springing everywhere. And they are still on the affordable side. Just do not go after the most popular ones like The Faceshop. Got my Tony Moly bronzer for only 20.00AED while my It's Skin blusher for only 23.00AED.
