Passionate About Color

I’m a sucker for pretty packaging. Even more so for luxurious and lush packaging, as I always feel like I want something to indulge in. I’ve never spent hundreds of euro’s on a bag or coat, but I do like to spend some extra money on beauty products or accessories that make everyday life a tad more glam. These Estée Lauder products have exactly those features - I love the stylish deep dark blue & the rich gold colors. 

Estée Lauder is adding extra shades to their Double Wear Foundation lines, featuring now six shades of powder foundation. I’m not a huge powder fan; I’ve always been the liquid foundation type. Powders can provide quite a full matte coverage, but I don’t like the dense feeling on my skin when actually applying it as a foundation. I tested Pure Beige (2C1), which is the lightest shade and totally my tone. For reference: I used to be a NC25 with MAC although I think I’ve turned a shade lighter lately. Estée Lauder promises medium coverage with this one and do live up to their promise: I’d even say that you can go for a full flawless coverage when doubling up this powder using a sponge. The added sponge is great for precise application, although you could also use one of those big luxurious powder puffs. Remember to pat the powder on instead of wiping it on, as this is the only way to properly blend it into your skin and gain good coverage. 

As I don’t really use powders in that way, I’ve tried the product out as I always do: as a “stipple-on” powder (using a brush) after BB cream, to mattify my complexion and to even everything out. Stippling on the product with a big powder brush, I add the powder on without wiping and it mattifies my skin instantly. The formula is oil free and should also control sebum production. My T-zone is quite oily & I must say that when I apply the powder around 7AM in the morning, I will still get oily in the afternoon. I’m not sure if I’ve ever found a product that actually ‘stops’ sebum production, or perhaps you could apply the powder more densely to really gain from the oil control benefits. You can always touch up the oily bits during the day, or just use blotting papers if you don’t carry a lot of make-up with you in your bag. Oily skin types probably consider these things standard tools for on-the-go, anyway. I’ve replaced my blotting powder with this powder the last couple of weeks & I haven’t complained!

(On my hand: I applied my regular BB cream first, and then dabbed on powder with the sponge on the top part of my hand. Notice how the top part looks matte & the bottom part holds a shine? Another plus is how the powder does not look cakey at all)

A newcomer in Belgium from Estée Lauder are the Pure Color Blushes. This packaging is just insanely beautiful: I love the shiny gold compact, which sometimes is a bit hard to open but holds a beautiful treasure. The Pure Color Blushes come in six colors for now, and I got Peach Passion. Peach Passion is gorgeous peach with pink hues that seem to take the upper hand in outdoor light. It’s a great color for pale skin tones and works great on my face. This color is classified as a shimmer blush, although the shimmer isn’t too strong. Happy about this, as I don’t like an all around disco effect on my cheeks.

(On my powdered hand: swatches in natural light, which brings out a bit more of the pink tone. On the left is a heavy application & on the right a thin application as I wear it mostly. Notice the slight but not overpowering shimmer?)

These blushes also contain an antioxidant complex featuring cranberry and goji berry extracts, which make the color pigmentation quite rich. I only swipe my brush back and forth once, which is more than enough for a natural flush. I’m also very stoked about how long the blush stays put on my face: it stays on all day and even after a long working day I’ve still got a (of course not perfect, but it’s still there!) healthy flush on my cheeks. Brilliant! Quick tip: I find that blushes stick better to the skin on prepped skin, so don’t forget to use a moisturizing cream and for optimal results liquid foundation before applying. I’ve worn this blush quite a lot since I got it, so it’s definitely a winner. 

Both products are available as of the 15th of October and are releasing together with a new line of lacquers (an all red collection!) in all Estée Lauder retail points. Double Wear Stay-In-Place Powders go for €41,00 & Pure Color Blushes are prices at €37,00.