In end of Jan 2012, Estee Lauder released a bold Pure Color Topaz collection for Summer 2012. It was inspired by the warm, sun-bleached tones of the desert. Think yellows, browns, soft glistering shades. This limited edition makeup collection features a mosaic of sublime bronze, taupe and sand dune shades with hints of sparkle in it.
“Conceived by Estee Lauder Creative Makeup Director Tom Pecheux, pieces of the Topaz collection debuted at the Derek Lam Spring 2012 show where Pecheux complimented the clean minimalist fashion with a dreamy, warm look of shimmering eyes highlighted in yellow, lightly bronzed contoured cheeks and a sheer golden lip that captured the mood of the season.”
I received three items from the limited edition collection – Estee Lauder Pure Color Topaz Mosaic Eyeshadow Palette, Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Polish and Estee Lauder Pure Color Lip gloss, for some reason all are very fitting for Autumn in my opinion.
Here it is the limited edition Estee Lauder Pure Color Five Color Eyeshadow Palette in Topaz Mosaic (RRP AUD$90). It is a mix of five sun-drenched neutral desert tones with a refreshingly pop of citron yellow at the center. Combining neutral bronze, taupe, sand dune with a pop of yellow for a strong yet invitingly warm eye. The citron yellow works as an illuminator or as a highlighter for a golden halo effect. Just a note though, the whole palette comes with specks of shimmer in it even though it isn’t obvious in the above picture.
Pigment wise, these shadows are medium and are buildable. I especially love the top left shade a pinkish beige colour that really brightens and compliments my eye and the citron yellow. Both shades are rarely found in eye shadow palettes they are both a keeper!
Estee Lauder Pure Color gloss in Citron Kiss (limited edition, RRP AUD$42) is an ultra sheer sun kissed shade that dresses lips with golden particle pearls for a shiny natural look. As I’m all for bold lip colours, this one compliments by locking in my lipstick and keeping my lips moist.
As for the nails, I love the Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Teal Topaz (limited edition, RRP AUD$38), definitely the highlight of the collection for me. Such a bold blue-green turquoise shade that compliments all type of skin tone and is a breathe of freshness to my nail polish collection. Looks awesome on toes too.
All products reviewed are currently available on counters
Pure Color Topaz Summer 2012 collection is available for a limited time only at Myer and David Jones stores, selected pharmacies and online at www.esteelauder.com.au
Following Estee Lauder’s successful make up line – ‘Double Wear’ from foundations to eye shadows, they have now included the new 12 hour staying power Double Wear Stay-in-Place lipsticks and lip pencils . Comes in a range of gorgeous and matching lip liners, if you’re a lipstick fan you wouldn’t want to miss out on these.
Top: #Stay Apricot (Lipstick), Bottom:#10 Russet (Lip pencil)
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Pencil in #10 Russet
RRP AUD$38
Applied with #10 Russet Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip pencil. Apply it all over the lip area, it doesn’t have to be perfect just make sure you line your lip all over. This is to ensure you prep your lips with a better ‘grip’ for lipstick application.
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lipstick in #Stay Apricot
RRP AUD$45
Double Wear lipstick is creamy and is easy enough to apply. I used the lip brush that comes with the lip pencil to even out the corners and to paint over the lips. The finish is a nice comfortable non glossy/sticky matte finish. If you tissue off and do a double layer, you are almost certainly guaranteed to have lipstick on your lip way past noon time. I love it!
Both products are available on Estee Lauder counters nationwide now
For glowy healthy skin and make up to last, here are some of the trialled and tested handy tips that has worked for me and helped me overcome skin issues. Hopefully you’ll find it useful during this silly season.
1) Wear a primer
One for the face and one for the eyes. Especially if you have oily eyelids NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base is god sent. Whatever you do, don’t put silicon based primer on your eye lids or else even the toughest long wearing shadows won’t be able to stay in place.
Other primer recommendations include - Benefit Stay Don’t Stray Primer $45, Napoleon Perdis Autopilot Pre Foundation Skin Primer $55, Face of Australia Face Base Primer $11.95, NP Set – Pre Foundation Brightening Primer/Calming Primer $33 each
2) Use mask regularly
5 years ago, I banged on about my obsession with facial masks. 5 years later, I still do and commit time and effort to do at the very least two facial mask sessions a week. Be it cream, gel, facial cloth, clay variation I make sure I do masks according to my skin’s need.
Facial masks that I recommend – Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask (for boosting), Rodial Snake Mask $85 (for tightening), Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability Intense Moisture Filling Mask $95 (for moisture), Jan Marini Skin Zyme Mask (for brightening)
3) Use lash strengthening products
With sparse eyelashes like mine and daily abuse (curling, mascara, make up removal), I find my lashes fall out faster than they can replenish that was until I met lash boosting products. These products not only work for lashes so if you have brow sparseness you can use it too. It helps to prevent lash prematurely breakage and to keep lashes healthy, strong and boosts the length.
Highly recommend – Rapid Lash Eyelash Renewal Serum $65, Xtreme Lash Amplif Eye Lash & Brow Fortifier $129, MAC Prep + Prime Future Lash Serum $60
4) Never neglect eye cream
It worked for me and I firmly believe eye cream works. With new technologies, eye cream helps to de-puff, tightens, reduce dark eye circles and plump up the eye area.
Try: Garnier Skin Naturals Caffeine Eye Roll-On $17.95, Estee Lauder Idealist Cooling Eye Illuminator $95, AUM Anti Age Organics Firming Eye Cream $26.95, StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles $69
5) Arm yourself with make up spray
Think of it as your “hairspray” for your face. Helps to lock in moisture, make up and to help blend everything together. Usually just spray 2-4 pumps all over face after make up is done and gently pat everything in place and viola, long lasting makeup all day!
Love: Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray $29.95, Clarins Fix Make-up Mist $34, Kora Balancing Rose Mist
Clinique – Chubby Stick
RRP AUD$59
One of 2011 best beauty innovation, the Chubby Sticks are definitely lip friendly and lip loving! I’m stocking one up just for ‘back up’ and if you’re not onto it yet, GET ON IT!
Clarins – Limited Edition Passion Face Palette
(Festive Face Collector Palette)
RRP AUD$65
Beautifully housed in a luxe compact and sprinkled with touches of gold pearl. Definitely a collector’s blush palette and it also gently illuminates the face and décolleté.
Estée Lauder – Starry Nights Swarovski Clutch
RRP AUD$125
The clutch also comes with a eyes & face palette, lipstick, lipgloss, eye liner and 2 travel sized makeup brushes. They all fits perfectly into the clutch that brings you from day to night look effortlessly.
Benefit – ‘I’m glam therefore I am’
RRP AUD$69
If party is your thing, you won’t want to miss this set. It covers everything party essentials from eyeshadows, face powder (with brush), girl meets pearl liquid pearl for face, lip gloss and mascara.
Benefit – All Decked Out
RRP AUD$109
My personal favourite pick only because I am a devoted fan for the POREfessional, Some Kind-A Gorgeous and Benetint! Classic and you can never go wrong with these 3 combo.
Benefit – Ticket to Glossytown
RRP AUD$49
You know how most of the beauty kit in the market always comes with shades that are undesirable and you’re always end up stuck with shades that you’ll never end up using? Well, you won’t have that issue with this because all the lip shine shades are actually very wearable and you’ll get plenty of wears out of them.
Jane Iredale – Chocoholicks
RRP AUD$50
These babies are good enough to eat out from the palette. Smells delicious, pigmented and minus the stickiness. The four flavours from these lip glosses are Blood Orange, Espresso, Very Berry and Chili Pepper. Amazing combination isn’t it?
Sally Hansen – Salon Effect Christmas Collection
RRP AUD14.95
I am obsessed with Salon Effects. You’re probably sick of listening how I love them but I’ll do it again anyway.
They are quick, comes with so many amazing designs, easy to use, doesn’t have any down time and definitely no smudges. What’s there not to love?
Harajuku Lover – Jingle G
“For the collectors”
A perfect gift for all ladies, how can you resist such a cute packaging? With notes like tangerine, gardenia, white star fruit, jasmine, orange blossom and honeysuckle this perfume is definitely a keeper.
RRP AUD$29
Available at Myer, David Jones, The Perfume Connection, The Perfume Shop and selected pharmacies nationally
Calvin Klein – Forbidden Euphoria
“For the perfume lover”
This modernised seductive fruity (mandarin, raspberry, passionfruit) floriental (peach blossom, pink peony, tiger orchid, jasmine) perfume is the younger interpretation of the iconic euphoria perfume.
30ml AUD$60
50ml AUD$90
100ml $120
Available at DJ and select pharmacies
Estée Lauder- Pleasures Happiness by Jay Strongwater Perfumed Solid
“For the serious players”
This perfume does not come cheap and is definitely one of Estee Lauder’s finest solid which gets released each year. Pleasure Happiness is my personal favourite from the collection.
RRP AUD$500
Available now on Estee Lauder counters
Yankee Candle – Sun & Sand Jar Candle
“For the home”
The perfect tropical beach breeze scent for home. A mixture of orange, lemon, lavender and musk delivers with Yankee Candle’s signature jars.
RRP AUD$19.95 (104g)
L’Occitane – Verbena EDT
“For the curious one “
Filled with Mediterranean verbena with geranium and citrusy lemon and housed in a glass bottle engraved with a verbena leaf.
RRP AUD$69.95
Available on L’Occitane counter now
Why I love it:
- Designed to fight dullness, dehydration & skin sagging
- These cream are designed for 24-hour lifting and restoring skin’s glow
- Star ingredients: Photo-Activated Lift Complex, Nocturnal Lift Complex
- I have been trialling their Eye Cream and Face/Neck Night cream and here are my thoughts:
- Eye Cream: This white creamy textured cream is quite rich when you dig it out of the pot, but once gently pat under the eye, it absorbed quickly and provides an illusion of brighter under eye area. I use this day and night pre and post my laser treatments and have no issues with it. Additionally, the cream did not break me out and concealers stayed put all day long without creasing into fine lines. I did not see a massive different with the Eye Cream and only time will tell by the time I turn 35, will I have youthful eye bags?
- Face/Neck Night Cream: This night use only cream has cooling gel (water) base. It is refreshing to apply especially post laser and it helps to keep my skin well hydrated. Due to its nourishing formula that helps to boost natural collagen production, I find that my lines (around the neck area) looks less visible whenever I use this product at night. It also contains luminising ingredients to help problem area look less visible and a smoother appearance. Overnight, I love waking up to plump and supple skin, fine lines around my neck definitely looked alot less visible (unfortunately they are still there and nothing but fillers will solve this).
- Overall, Face/Neck Night Cream is a winner for me as the refreshing cooling sensation is a bonus for the upcoming warmer months. While I did not see a massive difference in terms of lifting (touch wood, hopefully this means my skin isn’t that affected by gravity as yet), I like the water base formula and well moisturised skin without any breakouts.
Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Eye Creme 15ml RRP $98.00
Resilience Lift Night Firming/Sculpting Face and Neck Creme 50ml RRP $150
Available on Estee Lauder counters and online
“Inspired by modern architecture, in the phenomenal modern buildings that are like pieces of art, the buildings never ever look the same color because they are reflecting what is around them. You’ll never end up looking the same way even though you’re wearing the same makeup.” – Tom Pecheux
From the same Pure Color collection, this one of a kind illuminator comes in a golden compact housed with the most amazingly textured and sculpted illuminator that I have ever lay my fingers on. It’s also great how it comes with an oversized mirror.
This “tribrid” system is a combination infused with liquid, powder and gel texture that revolutionises makeup application. When applied dry, the golden and pearl pigments appear quite subtle (I usually dab with fingers/a slanted bronzer brush). For night events when I want to amp it up, I’d draw my makeup brush over a wet wipe to “wet” the brush and buff it over the palette for a intensed glowy, polished look. Gosh, gotta love multi-purpose products.
Texture wise, this baby is very soft to skin and is glides onto skin effortlessly. Well, hello instant luminosity!
RRP AUD$75
Available now on Estee Lauder counters and online now
#1 CND Shellac Mani at Miss Fox – Gorgeous design, long lasting and excellent customer service.
#2 Palm Beach Collection – Love the scent collection!
#3 Xtreme Lashes Lash Extension – Natural, doesn’t irritate the eyes and has been established in the lash industry for years to boot.
#4 Estee Lauder Pure Color 5 Color Eyeshadow Palette – EL makeup continues to impress me.
#5 Endota Spa Nail Polish – Gorgeous shade, did you know each Endota Spa has a nail polish shade named after them?
