Estee Lauder

These Shimmering Sands Are More Than a Mirage: Estée Lauder’s Innovative Pure Color Illuminating Powder GelÃ¨e in Shimmering Sands

March 2nd, 2012 by Karen 25 Comments

estee lauder shimmering sands

Ever since that time I sent El Hub out to buy toilet paper and he returned with four rolls of crummy one-ply paper that felt like tree bark on my booty, I take care of replenishing the TP around here.

Stay with me. I’m going somewhere with this… 🙂

As I was on my way out the door the other day to pick up some Ultra Soft Charmin (the best!) from Target, I glanced at myself in the hallway mirror and said, “Dang, K-Dawg! You’re wearing hella bronzer, girl!”

I was shimmering, and bronzed, like I’d just gotten back from a week in the South of France.

Merci beaucoup, Estée Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Powder GelÃ¨e in Shimmering Sands ($42).

estee lauder shimmering sands
Shimmering Sands on my cheeks, across my forehead and along my jaw line

I haven’t always been this inspired by the Estée Lauder brand. Matter of fact, up until a renaissance a few years ago in which I think they started cranking out some really innovative products at a rapid clip, I didn’t often think of EL as a super bold or cutting-edge line.

Recently, releases like the Cyber Eyes Collection, Pure Color Blushes, and now this here Shimmering Sands, have totally changed the way I look at the brand.

Sands is a warm and shimmering peachy golden bronze powder from the new limited edition Bronze Goddess Capri collection, and it’s designed to be worn as a bronzer, a highlighter and/or a blush.

And that’s not all. Texture really sets this multitasking powder apart. Part liquid, powder and gel, it feels lightweight, creamy and smooth on my skin.

Throw in some punchy pigments and an almost mirror-like shine, and Shimmering Sands reminds me of a marriage between a MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, with its metallic finish, and a creamy NARS Multiple. Just really super cool.

estee lauder bronze goddess capri swatches
From the left: Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee in Shimmering Sands, Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon Duo in White Sands/Molten Lava and Pure Color Gloss in Shimmering Mirage
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These Bronze Sands Are Limited Edition in Capri: The New Estée Lauder Five Color Gelée Powder EyeShadow Palette in Bronze Sands

March 1st, 2012 by Karen 43 Comments

estee lauder bronze sands (3)

Earlier today on my walk outside with Tabs, I felt a chill in my bones. It was a little breezy and crisp today, but you wouldn’t have known it looking at Tabs. He just slinked along in his built-in fur coat, pulling me behind him on his leash.

When he felt he’d adequately secured the perimeter of the front yard and noticed me shivering, he reluctantly agreed to accompany me back inside the house.

As soon as we shut the door, I made a beeline for my makeup, thinking that a summery, beachy look would warm my cold bones. I grabbed the new Estée Lauder Pure Color Five Color Gelée Powder EyeShadow Palette in Bronze Sands ($45).

estee lauder bronze goddess capri bronze sands

Like a ray of late afternoon sunlight in the sunshine-stocked Bronze Goddess Capri Collection, Bronze Sands shelters five metallic powder eyeshadows in shades of gold, bronze, beige, brown and teal. A few swipes of these soft, smooth powders, which feel almost like a cream to me, and my lids glow with rich, shiny color.

Nice. 🙂

estee lauder bronze sands (1)

Other than a few flecks of teal and brown shadow showing up on my cheeks and beneath my lower lash lines, I don’t notice much fallout from these at all.

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An Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Has Been Spotted in Capri: The New Bronze Goddess Capri Collection, Coming in March

February 28th, 2012 by Karen 31 Comments

estee lauder bronze goddess capri

It’s never good when you get a text from your boss that starts with the words, “Uh, oh.”

There I was, sitting at my desk, minding my own business and surfing the Lonely Planet website on my break for summertime surf destinations, when I hear the familiar sound of my iPhone signaling a new text message. I look down at the screen and see the words, “Uh, oh.”

Long story short, because Tabs booked back-to-back kitty modeling jobs for every week this summer, I don’t get to take any vacation time through September.

Not one day.

“Uh, oh,” he says. “All booked up for summer. No vacations for either of us.”

Either of us, he says. As if! He’s not the one stuck in Novato. He gets to see the world, stay at four-star hotels, eat at the best restaurants, and never has to pay a thing, while I’m eating grilled-cheese sandwiches at home and having Mango Bars for dessert.

Sometimes, it’s just not fair…

Seriously, his idea of slumming it is having to stay at the Four Seasons on The Big Island, instead of Maui.

I know, I know — Tabs is the talent; I’m just the assistant. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a right to get angry.

Oh, well… Hopefully these new pieces from the limited edition Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Capri Collection can cheer me up.

The summer 2012 release coasts on to counters stores next month (it’s currently available now online) and comes with two summery fragrances and 13 bronzed bits, some new and some re-promoted, in sun-kissed shades of gold, brown, turquoise and white.

Reviews coming just as soon as I finish transcribing Tabs’ manuscript.

Oh, yeah — didn’t I mention? He’s writing his autobiography right now. It begins, “Meow, mrow, meow-meow.”

What a diva, right? Cat’s got some nerve… 🙂

Here’s a quick look at seven pieces from the release. Have a look, and let me know what you think.

estee lauder bronze goddess capri bronze sands
Pure Color Five Color Gelee Powder EyeShadow Palette in Bronze Sands

estee lauder bronze goddess capri shimmering sands
Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee in Shimmering Sands

estee lauder bronze goddess capri molten lava
Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Molten Lava
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The Estee Lauder Mad Men Collection, and a Letter to Don Draper

February 27th, 2012 by Karen 64 Comments

estee lauder mad men collection

Dear Mr. Draper,

Thank you so much for your kind note! It’s always so nice to hear from you.

As you know, I’ve served as head of West Coast operations here at Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, for five years now, and while I currently love what I do, I feel it soon may be time for a change. Your recruiter couldn’t have picked a better time to contact me.

I’m so flattered that you and your team believe that I should be the person to take the new International Pet Modeling/Gravy Division at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce to the next level.

I had my lawyer skim through the contract you sent over, and I have a couple of quick questions.

First of all, how flexible are you on the requirement that all employees drink during the day? I understand if it’s part of the corporate culture, but I’m something of a teetotaler and have a difficult time functioning even after a small glass of wine. If possible, I’d like to remove that clause.

Also, I must insist on having my own office and assistant. I was informed that Ms. Olson’s desk is located near the employee break room. I do not know how Peggy feels about that, but such an arrangement would not work for me.

If I do accept the position, I would also like to be able to invite friends of mine to the office from time to time, like Cherry and Evening Rose. Both are part of the new Estee Lauder Mad Men collection. Not only are they very familiar with your work, but I would go so far as to call them admirers of yours…

estee lauder mad men collection boxes

estee lauder collection cherry lipstick creme rouge pouches

estee lauder mad men collection creme rouge in evening rose and lipstick in cherry
Lipstick in Cherry on the left and Creme Rouge in Evening Rose on the right

estee lauder mad men collection creme rouge in evening rose
Creme Rouge in Evening Rose
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When the Boy Notices Your Skin, That’s Illuminating: New EstÃ©e Lauder Illuminating Perfecting Primer

January 26th, 2012 by Karen 45 Comments

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Oh, El Hub… Bless his heart. As much as I love that man, it took him three days to notice that I had pink streaks in my hair.

THREE DAYS.

And those streaks are not subtle.

So when he turned to me one day last weekend said, “Your skin looks really great today. Did you do something different?” I figured that the product responsible deserved a shout-out.

All hail the new EstÃ©e Lauder Illuminating Primer!

Designed for normal, combination and dry skin types, this lightweight $32 liquid primer, which I apply after moisturizer but before foundation, smoothes the skin to downplay fine lines and imperfections, imparts a soft opalescent sheen (like a mellower version of MAC Strobe Cream) and moisturizes with vitamin E and shea butter.

I like the lightweight, lotion-like texture, among other things, which reminds me of Laura Mercier’s Primer, and my nose likes the faint floral scent.

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Unblended (left) and blended (right)
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January 25th, 2012 by Karen 39 Comments

Holy frickin’ rad, Batgirl! I almost don’t know where to start…

The new EstÃ©e Lauder Pure Color Blushes are so packed with pigment that they might even make seasoned MAC addicts shed glittery tears of joy.

To put them in perspective, a husky tabby’s butt barely rivals their size. 🙂

And the powders? Let me put it this way: softer and finer than powdered sugar.

The 16 new powder blushes dance onto EstÃ©e Lauder counters, and into EL’s permanent line, next month. This week, I’ve been getting acquainted with one of the shades from that launch and three from a limited edition collection coming in May.

Clockwise from the red pan in the lower left: The Siren, Fearless, Naughty and Electric Pink

Carnation-colored Electric Pink is the shade bound for the permanent line. Soft and wearable, it kinda reminds me of a chillier version of MAC Blushbaby.

Reddish orange Naughty, bright red The Siren and hot pink Fearless, the bright limited edition shades, comprise a three-piece Pure Color Blush Collection By Tom Pecheaux, and when they arrive in May, they’ll be exclusive to Macy’s.

All four blushes apply with vibrant color that stays true from morning till night, and only one thing stands in their way of cheeky domination…

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Swatches from the left: Fearless, Electric Pink, The Siren and Naughty

January 2nd, 2012 by Karen 19 Comments

It’s just a little out of whack, like wearing a turtleneck to the beach in summer or a bikini in a snowstorm. Ever since I started following seasonal beauty launches, my internal beauty clock has been months ahead of the actual present season.

You know that one cousin who always wears fall-ish matte red lips to the Fourth of July family picnic or spring pastels in December? That’s me now. Guilty as charged.

I’ve gotten so used to wearing colors targeted to seasons other than the current one that when a spring collection that looks like a summer launch comes along in the middle of winter, it doesn’t seem that bat sh*t cray-cray at all!

See, technically, EstÃ©e Lauder’s new Pure Color Topaz collection is a spring 2012 release, but the color palette of bronze, teal, taupe, sand and citron seems more like summer in Saint-Tropez to me than Easter Sunday brunch.

I wore the teal eyeliner, gold gloss and bronze blush from the launch last weekend and very felt poolside polished (very “Calgon, take me away…”). Granted, the whole summer siren thing doesn’t really work when you’re just parked in front of the computer in knee-high socks, uncombed hair and sweats, but as soon as I win the lottery and take my first vacation to the South of France, I’ll be able to conduct a more proper field test. 🙂

Estee Lauder calls this a “tribrid” compact with a liquid, powder and gel. Basically, it looks and behaves like a shimmery and pigmented rosy bronze powder blush. I think it might be too intense for many offices but would look right at home on a casual, ocean-view dinner date. Super pretty, but with its brief, two-hour wear time, it’ll probably fade by the time you’ve finished that last bite of mango sorbet.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B-

Pure Color Gloss in Citron Kiss, $22.50

Yellowish in its tube, Citron Kiss applies more like a sheer gold with micro flecks of silver sparkle. Great if you like your lip looks on the quiet side, or if you’re on the market for a golden gloss to layer.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon in Dramatic Teal, $22

I like this pencil’s smooth texture and intense color. I think it produces really pretty smudgy eyes, but the long tip terrifies me! I keep coming this close to poking out an eye (it comes with a sharpener).
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

Estee Lauder Pure Color Topaz products from top to bottom: Pure Color Illuminating Powder GelÃ©e in Topaz Chameleon, Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon in Dramatic Teal and Pure Color Gloss in Citron Kiss
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