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Estee Lauder

Product Shout-Out: Estée Lauder Defiant Nude Is the Neutral Palette You Didn’t Know You Needed

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estee lauder defiant nude
***ALERT*** Makeup workhorse! ***ALERT***

All through November, every single time I had to get ready for something — be it Thanksgiving dinner, a Novato Mothers Club meeting or lunch with a friend — I was always strapped for time (partly because I have bad time management skills, but I’m working on it. #keepingitreal).

With this palette, however, I was able to do a put-together makeup look from start to finish in 10 minutes time.

Yup, just when you thought when you’d seen and hoarded every neutral eyeshadow palette that you absolutely “needed” (“air quotes”) to get, along comes one from Estée Lauder to blow your mind.

Estée Lauder Defiant Nude ($54) has five powder eyeshadows — two mid-toned golden browns, a dark matte neutral brown, a neutral matte beige and a slightly darker matte peachy beige.

Do these colors sound pretty basic?

Yes, yes they do…

But let me tell ya, every single time I had to dress up and go out to see people looking respectable in the month of November, I grabbed this palette. Then I grabbed it again. And again. AND AGAIN!

It’s just so wearable, lovely and easy to use, and all of the shadows are long-lasting, with or without an eyeshadow base.

(Yes, sometimes I leave the house without an eyeshadow base… I know! Believe it or not, though, the world does not fall apart.)

estee lauder defiant nude swatches
wear Honey Bronze in Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation (NC42 in MAC)

You know me; I love my golden browns, cooler-toned browns and neutral browns, and this user-friendly palette masterfully sculpts the crease while adding an opalescent, understated glow to your lids. Plus, you can be imprecise with your application AND your blending, and your eye makeup will still look good.

That’s magical.

Estée Lauder gave it just enough pigment to define your eyes and add some color, but not so much that you’ll miss the movie because you’re stuck buffing and correcting and blending at home because you accidentally overdid it during the application.

estee lauder defiant nude
Wearing Defiant Nude on my lids and lower lash lines.

And they also have such gorgeous finishes! The two golden browns get the most play on my lids because they’re both… Well, you know how when you want your lids to glow, but you don’t want them to be so shiny that they scream “LOOK AT MY FINE LINES”? These two golden browns are it!

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Deep Dive: Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup

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estee lauder double wear stay in place honey bronze
I’m wearing your new favorite matte liquid foundation.

What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?

Double Wear Fan Girl Badge ?️?? unlocked!

The original Double Wear Stay-in Place liquid foundation is an O.G. cult classic, and it’s gotten mad love in gazillions of reviews. Basically, you can’t turn a corner without someone practically warbling a ’90s love song about it.


All my life, I’ve waited for someone like you a foundation like Double Wear

That’s why I waited a hot second to put it through its paces and make sure I wasn’t just falling for the hype.

Now that I’ve been using it a few times per week for a couple months…ya know what?

I totally get it now. It’s really THAT good.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup ($42 for a 0.1-oz. glass bottle)

estee lauder double wear stay in place honey bronze

But before we even get into how perfectly it sits on different skin types (mine is a HELLA fussy combo of oily, dry and normal areas with a sprinkle of acne-prone spots along my jawline, and my skin loves it), this foundation is already a winner-winner-chicken-dinner for me. It’s oil-free, truly transfer-proof (so no makeup on your favorite Price tee, hooray!), fragrance-free, and — get this — available in a staggering 56 shades.

By comparison, Fenty has only 40.

“Only,” she says, ha! Remember when the biggest department store lines had maybe 14 at the most? How things have changed!

From the Sephora website…

What it is
A 24-hour-wear liquid makeup with a flawless, natural, matte finish that unifies uneven skin tone and covers imperfections with buildable medium to full coverage.

What it does
Double Wear makeup gives you 24-hour staying power for a flawless, natural matte finish. This foundation unifies uneven skin tone and covers imperfections with buildable medium-to-full coverage. The makeup feels lightweight and so comfortable, you won’t believe it is super long wear. The non-acnegenic formula won’t clog pores, which may help avert breakouts, and helps control shine. It’s waterproof, won’t run, rub off, or smudge and lasts in hot and humid weather.

Double Wear comes in Cool, Neutral and Warm undertones with shades that have been blended so they won’t look grey on deeper skintones.

What else you need to know
This product is fragrance-free and has been dermatologist tested. It is oil-free, mattifying, transfer-resistant, dermatologist-tested, non-acnegenic, and fragrance-free.

My shade is Honey Bronze, which is a smidgen warm for my (MAC NC42) skin at the moment, but it’s darn close, and even though it isn’t spot on, I’m OK with that because it doesn’t oxidize, which has always been my biggest issue with this type of base. It’s really hard for me to find a matte liquid foundation that doesn’t darken as the day goes on, and this one stays true to the original color.

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Deep Dive: Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist

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estee lauder double wear set and refresh
Estée Lauder Set + Refresh

What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?

I’ve been skipping powder as of late (’cause I’m waaaaay too deep into this whole skin-that-looks-like-skin thing), so setting spray has been vitally important to me. I literally — literally, and I don’t mean figuratively instead — haven’t left home without it in weeks.

My all-time ride-or-dies are Urban Decay All Nighter (obviously) and the lesser known Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix, but, as you know, I have to try everything, and this one from Estée Lauder is a nice surprise.

Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist ($36 for a 3.9-oz. bottle with a pump)

Estée Lauder’s Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist doesn’t actually have any Double Wear branding on it, but if you hop on their site and check out the Double Wear section, it’s there among the foundations, concealers and whatnot.

I’ve asked around, and a few MUA friends have said that this particular spray is BOSS when you use it on top of the O.G. Double Wear Foundation.

I’ve yet to try that combo, but it’s at the top of my to-do list, along with 1) mourning the loss of single Nick Jonas to Priyanka Chopra (honest to god, I thought he was gonna ask ME to marry him), and 2) eating a bag of baby carrots in one sitting (because why the heck not?).

The fine, lightweight mist, which performs like it’s equal parts primer and dewy setting spray, is made for all skin types. You can use it before AND after applying your base products.

Whenever I douse myself in it, I revel in the fresh, subtle scent, which smells like spring sunshine to me — or, less metaphorically, like pears with a squeeze of lemon, brown sugar and a handful of freesia petals.

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Deep Dive: Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Radiant Makeup

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estee lauder double wear nude cushion stick radiant makeup honey bronze
So, this applicator is a little cray.

What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?

Estée Lauder Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Radiant Makeup ($42 for a 0.47-oz. bottle — on sale now for $21)

Gonna keep this short and sweet (for once! I KNOW.) because, sadly, this gorgeous sheer and satiny skin tint is being phased out, but since there are still quite a few shades left on esteelauder.com, I wanted to give it a mention in case you like minimal coverage and wanna grab one for 50% off.

“Touch on, buff and blend to your perfect nude. Polishes and evens skintone for a healthy-looking glow. Skin-loving, weightless and comfortable formula instantly hydrates. 8-hour wear. Innovative stick combines liquid makeup and applicator in one. You’ll know it’s time to replenish as the stick becomes smaller until the clear window disappears.

“This makeup is a different formula than our original Double Wear Stay-in-Place liquid foundation. It is instantly hydrating and leaves skin with a radiant glow. All day 8-hour wear. In shades for all skintones.”

— esteelauder.com

Yes, the sponge applicator’s lame. You’ll end up with too much on your face if you go there, so ignore it. The trick to this is to twist the base at the bottom ever-so-slightly, so the tiniest bit comes out, and work it your skin with your fingers. Then you’re only a few pats and swipes away from radiant, glowing spahhhhhh skin that looks preternaturally smooth all day long.

Remember the fabulous LE NARS Hydrating Glow Tints? This has a very similar barely-there “Oh, hello there, freckles!” type of look. Très Megan Markle on her wedding day.

How does Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Radiant Makeup compare to the other Double Wear Foundations?

I’m still working my way through the collection, but here’s what I have so far…

  • Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30 — Cushion Stick is very sheer with a subtle glowing satin finish, while Nude Water Fresh is medium coverage with a soft matte finish. Cushion Stick works for dry skin or for those with fine lines (HELLO, MY NAME IS KAREN). Water Fresh would be a better fit for oily skin.
  • Estée Lauder Double Wear Light — Cushion Stick is sheerer than Double Wear Light, which has medium coverage (similar to like Water Fresh). Double Wear Light’s finish more of a velvet, so it’s compared to Cushion Stick it’s more matte, but it’s not as matte as Nude Water Fresh.
estee lauder double wear nude cushion stick radiant makeup honey bronze
Honey Bronze! I’m an NC42 in MAC, by the way.

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Deep Dive: Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30

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estee lauder double wear water fresh makeup honey bronze
When you have enough oil on your face to fry meats and various potato products and then some

What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?

Back in the day (like, when people carried pagers and weren’t at all trying to be ironic about it, and beards on hipsters weren’t ubiquitous), my skin was Oil Slick City. Now, my face resides in a rustic hamlet called Oh So Dry It Hurts, although it’ll visit its former residence every once in a while.

Does it do this because it has nothing better to do? Or, does it do it because it thinks it’s funny (haha!) to torment me? Or, maybe it just goes there because it’s hot.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30 ($42 for a 1-oz. bottle)

A couple weeks ago, during a blisteringly hot week in Novato when my forehead produced enough grease to fry a whole chicken, it was clear to me that I needed to change my foundation game to better handle the heat. Luckily, the Double Wear Dream Team over at at Estée Lauder cooked up Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30, an oil-free AND oil-controlling liquid foundation that’s both lightweight (it’s runny like a serum foundation) and long-lasting.

“Real-skin flawless. Real protection. 24-hour staying power. Waterlight. This fluid, long-wear makeup feels like you have nothing on. Moves comfortably with your skin. Looks fresh, natural, healthy, even-toned. With SPF 30 and anti-oxidants, it’s your invisible defense against environmental damage from UV rays and pollution. Instantly and continuously hydrates with a moisture complex of red fruit extracts, including watermelon, lychee seed and apple. In shades for all skintones.”

— esteelauder.com

Back in my oily-skinned heyday, the only real way to lock down shine was with a heavy layer of matte, caked-on makeup, but it’s a totally different story now. Now, there’s no reason why oil-prone peeps can’t get comfy coverage that feels like they aren’t wearing anything at all.

estee lauder double wear water fresh honey bronze swatch
Honey Bronze is a pretty spot-on match for MAC NC42 skin.

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Deep Dive: Stay-in-Place EyeShadow Base

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estee lauder double wear stay in place eyeshadow base
Double Wear
Stay-in-Place EyeShadow Base, $21

What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?

I’ve been deep diving…metaphorically, into the world of Estée Lauder Double Wear as of late (in a nutshell, it’s soooo good!), so, in today’s episode of “The Previous Life and Times of Karen’s Many Failed Dates,” we explore the two seconds during which I dated a wanna-be Olympic diver.

He was beautiful, tan, book-smart and drove an old Mustang, but I knew it would never go anywhere because whenever I’d tell a joke he’d just sit there and blink slowly… Like crazy slow. And it would go on for, like, a minute.

It was so awkward! ?

At first I wondered if he had a terrible case of dry eyes, but then I realized that he just didn’t get my sense of humor. I dunno… Maybe I’d just assumed he got all of those abdominal muscles from laughing? Needless to say, it was over before it ever started, because in the immortal words of Hall and Oats, I can’t go for that. (No can do.)

OH, MY GAWD, KAREN, GET TO YOUR POINT. OK, OK! I’ve always liked Estée Lauder makeup, but it’s only been recently that I really started to love and appreciate the brand thanks to all things Double Wear, because everything I’ve tried so far has been magic.

estee lauder double wear stay in place eyeshadow base
I’m an NC42 for reference.

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Estée Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup Is Legit

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estee lauder double wear light 4 flash
Loving this foundation by Estée Lauder

Estée Lauder Double Wear Light ($42) is legit, and I know this because of my hot lunch date today with Connor and El Hub (Tabs would have come, too, but he was booked… BOO!).

It was chilly here today, so we got ramen…

Anywho… I didn’t wear a lot of makeup last weekend, and I was in the mood for a little something-something today, so while I was looking around for inspiration this morning, I found this easy bronze eyeshadow look from a MAC artist I just found on Instagram.

She’s so cute! Her name is Pelin Tutgun, and she’s from Turkey. She posted a video using one of my favorite MAC eyeshadows ever, Bronze (if you don’t have it yet, it’s amazing), a black liner and mascara.

And that’s it!

I love the end result and plan to do this look again soon. It’s kinda glam, but not overly glam, and best of all, it’s simple.

Makeup doesn’t have to be complicated all the time, ya know? I mean, it’s fun to get up in there with everything and the kitchen sink every once in a while, but I there’s something to be said for easy-peasy.

estee lauder double wear light
I’m an NC42 in MAC and wear shade 4.0, but as we get into summer and I pick up a little tan, I’ll switch to 4.5, which is tad darker.

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Victoria Beckham X Estée Lauder 2017

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estee lauder victoria beckaham 2017 blonde mink cheek creme top pic
Becks is baaaaaaack.

The following sentences must be sung to the tune of Wannabe by the Spice Girls:

So tell me what you want, what you really, really want.

Yo, I’ll tell you want I want, what I really, really want.

I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I really, really, really want Victoria Beckham to do her own makeup line.

LOL! 🙂

But until then, she’s back! Victoria Beckham, previously known as Posh Spice, is back for round two with Estée Lauder, which means YAY for all of us who loved the heck out of the first collection she did with them last fall.

estee lauder victoria beckham 2017 eye kajal saphir vanille
From the left: Cheek Creme in Blonde Mink, Eye Kajal in Saphir Vanille and Skin Perfecting Powder

The new Victoria Beckham X Estée Lauder is available now on counters and online, and it carries over some of the elements that made last year’s launch a hit with me, like the gold and black packaging (the outer part has a different pattern, though) and the overall luxe, weighty, good-heirloom-jewelry-like vibe.

The pieces look expensive…and they are expensive, so brace yourself for the sticker shock of an $85 pressed powder (!), a $60 cream blush and a $38 eyeliner, which would STILL be crazy town even if I won Super Lotto.

Obvs, Becks is going for the Tom Ford and Chanel customer.

I’m aggressively playing with three of the new pieces, and MAN! — that cream blush? But before we get to that, FYI, VB brought back some things from last year, like the Bitter Clove eyeshadow and Modern Mercury highlighter, which I loved then and still love now, so if you missed out on them last year or have an empty to replace, now’s yo’ chance.

estee lauder victoria beckham 2017 swatches
Swatches from the top: Skin Perfecting Powder, Cheek Creme in Blonde Mink, Eye Kajal in Saphir and Vanille

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