Essence Cosmetics Foundation Stick in 03

The Initial Swatch That Shocked Me

When I first swatched shade 03, I was blown away - it looked very fair and definitely leans yellow, which is exactly what us pale olive girls need. The match was so good I could hardly see the swatch on my skin!

Close-up swatch of Essence foundation stick shade 03 blending seamlessly into pale olive skin

The initial swatch of Essence foundation stick in shade 03 - almost invisible on pale olive skin

No Oxidation - The Real Test

As a fair girly, I know better than to trust a foundation before it dries down. But she did not dry down darker - there's not any oxidation at all! Color me impressed, this is rare for drugstore foundations.

Foundation swatch after drying showing no color change or oxidation on pale olive skin

Foundation fully dried down with zero oxidation - maintaining perfect pale olive match

The Great Foundation Disappearance

Here's where the drama begins - I bought this at Ulta, got home, and realized the foundation stick was missing from my bag! I checked my car everywhere, drove back to Ulta, checked cameras - they swore they put it in my bag. I was devastated thinking my $6 olive foundation find was gone forever.

Empty shopping bag showing missing foundation stick purchase — The moment of panic realizing the foundation was missing from my Ulta bag

The Miraculous Sidewalk Discovery

A week or two later, my husband found the foundation stick on the sidewalk near our car! Somehow it had fallen out and survived outside for weeks with the lid still on, not dirty, no water damage. It was a miracle how she was looking all over my face after that adventure!

Essence foundation stick held up after being found on sidewalk weeks later — The recovered foundation stick found on the sidewalk after weeks outside

The Finished Makeup Look

Here's the finished makeup look with the foundation - I stand by what I said, the shade match is perfect for pale olive skin. I added some powder because I'm an oily combo girl, and overall she doesn't look bad at all.

Completed makeup look featuring Essence foundation stick shade 03 on pale olive skin

Full face makeup look showing perfect pale olive foundation match

Honest Texture Assessment

She does look a little bit makeupy around my chin area and forehead lines - she's settling a lot. If you have any dryness, I would be careful because she's clinging to those areas on my face. But for the price and shade match, it's a solid drugstore option.

Detailed view of foundation texture on chin and forehead areas of pale olive skin

Close-up showing foundation texture around chin and forehead lines