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, Estée 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. 🙂
Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée in Topaz Chameleon, $40
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 Gelée in Topaz Chameleon, Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon in Dramatic Teal and Pure Color Gloss in Citron Kiss
Swatches from left to right: Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée in Topaz Chameleon, Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon in Dramatic Teal and Pure Color Gloss in Citron Kiss
The Estee Lauder Pure Color Topaz collection for spring 2012 includes…
- Pure Color Five Color EyeShadow Palette in Topaz Mosaic, $45
- Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon in Dramatic Black, $22
- Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon in Dramatic Teal, $22
- Sumptuous Extreme Mascara, $23.50
- Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée in Topaz Chameleon, $40
- Pure Color Gloss in Citron Kiss, $22.50
- Pure Color Sensuous Rouge in Lip Color in Sultry Caramel, $28
- Pure Color Sensuous Rouge Lip Color in Sensuous Nude, $28
- Pure Color Sensuous Rouge Lip Color in Sublime Nectar, $28
- Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Teal Topaz, $19
Hell on Wheels
Okay, who else watched the Hell on Wheels New Year’s marathon on AMC yesterday?
Anyone? It’s this Western drama about a ragtag group (it’s always a ragtag group) of people working on the Union Pacific Railroad in the late-1860s. It took me all of two episodes to get hooked and come to the conclusion that I would not have liked working on the rails.
And yes, that is Common in the pic above…
I know, I know. I can’t help but roll my eyes a little when singers/rappers try to act, but he’s actually not half bad.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hi Karen,
Can u tell us the release date for this?
Hi Grace,
Still waiting from PR for the official date, but it should be trickling onto counters within the next few weeks!
The South of France is lovely, but my ginger self came back from there with heat rash! Also, you can tell the ladies who spend too much time on the beach by the sun damage.
The colors are gorgeous! I’ll have to make a trip to my local Lauder counter to go play!
Ugh, the swatches look so tempting!
Hey Karen! Happy New Year!
I’m a sucker for teal liners-love the colour but wow yeah, it’s so long and sharp looking! Weird!
I watch Hell on Wheels! I like it a lot! AMC makes such great shows.
You look fabulous. Like Salma Hayek in the movie Frida!
The highlighter is on presale now at the EL website. I’m ordering it, because I have the one from the Modern Mercury release and it is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Holy moly those gelee’s are some kind of wonderful! (I have the cyber eyeshadow collection too!)
I totally don’t mind that your posts are out of whack with the seasons… because in Australia our seasons are out of whack with everyone else’s up north so I love seeing all those gorgeous bright colours you’re showing.
I love the colors in this palette. Dark blue eyeliner is very on-trend right now -and the makeup looks beautiful with your complexion!
Happy New Year! The swatch of the Illuminating Powder is sooo beautiful. Makes me wanna get that withing a minute(when it’s available).
the liner is so pretty! 🙂 im imagining it with a totally neutral eye!
I’m so with you on this looking like a summer launch. Maybe it’s for the winter Cruise set? 🙂 I haven’t watched Hell on Wheels but it sounds pretty cool. Then again, I couldn’t watch Deadwood because everyone was too dirty (and rotten teeth just gross me the heck out). It’s an ongoing joke with my friends that the dirty people are the reason I could never have lived in the old west. 🙂
Karen, you look sooooo pretty! 🙂 Im really excited for this collection!
What kind of brush did you use to apply the powder gelee? How would you rate the brush that’s included?
Hi Rebecca,
I use a MAC 187 duo fiber brush (aka the skunk brush). I’m not crazy about the included brush; it doesn’t cover enough surface area and it applies the product in a patchy way.
Gorgeous collection for summers but I just can’t get the feel of it right now amongst all the fall makeup! You look great!
Karen, Thanks for the great new recipe! We don’t have Trader Joe’s near where I live in South Florida, but can use Frozen or Fresh Ravioli instead. I am always looking for quick, easy peasy new recipes that are also healthy.
You’re welcome, Linda! If you have any healthy recipes to share I’d love to hear about them! I’m always looking for new, easy healthy dishes too. 🙂
One of the most beautiful pictures of you yet!!
Happy new year!