Tag Archives: Estee Lauder

We all shine on: Liquid metallic eyeshadows 

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Sparkle and glow: Liquid metallic eyeshadows from the Estee Edit and Stila

“Don’t be afraid to let your light shine,” they say. Well, glowing will be a lot easier this spring with the liquid metallic eyeshadows that are popping up like daffodils.

My personal favorites are from the Estee Edit and Stila. Why? Because you have a bit of time to work with them before they set, but once they dry, they’re fixed in place with minimal fallout. Still, the companies offer very different formulas with different effects. Here’s what you should know:

  • If you’re looking for maximum gleam, Stila Cosmetics’ Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow is the choice for you. It’s the shinier, more reflective option and it gives your lids a truly bright, illuminated appearance. The results are gorgeous and, for me at least, the Stila product creates an evening out look as opposed to a daytime casual effect.
  • The Estee Edit’s Fluid Metal Eyeshadow is less in-your-face glittery than the Stila product and, in my opinion, it’s more wearable during the daytime hours. It’s also easier to sheer out — by using a firm eyeshadow brush, you can take the color from intense to muted and even create a gradient or ombré effect. And while Stila sticks closely to tried-and-true metallic shades ranging from silver to a combination of sheer silver, black and gold, the Estee Edit offers more offbeat options such as cobalt, green and blackberry with metallic shifts.

Left: The Estee Edit Fluid Metal EyeShadow in “Don’t Be Afraid” Right: Stila Cosmetics’ Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow in “Diamond Dust”

If you’re wondering who can wear these shadows, the answer is women of all ages. As an older woman, I’ve found they work best for me when I use them only on the mobile lid, and sometimes only on a portion of the mobile lid, such as the inner or outer half — especially when I’m using the super-glowing Stila product.

With metallic lipsticks and metallic eyeshadows making their comebacks, spring is your time to shine!

Top lipsticks for September 

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I post my lipstick of the day over on my Instagram account (makeup_plus_50). It’s a good way to keep track of my favorites while also maintaining a tally of what other Instagrammers like and don’t like.

September was a month for reds, but the most-liked shade was not crimson and — News Flash! — at $12 it was one of the least expensive lipsticks in my drawer. One of my followers even guessed that it was a super-high-end Yves St. Laurent lippie. It just goes to show that makeup doesn’t have to be expensive to deliver good results.

Without further ado, here are the most-liked lipsticks of September. They’re pictured clockwise from left in the accompanying photo:

1. NYX Ombré Lip Duo in Peaches & Cream, $12 at Ulta.

2. NARS  Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl, $26 at Sephora.

3. Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme in Dashing (Very Cherry), $30 at Sephora.

Estée Lauder steps up its game

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The Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Palettes

I have to confess that I’ve always thought of Estée Lauder as a brand for older women. Not in a good way, but as a mecca for matrons who’ve put adventure and sex appeal in their rear-view mirrors. (For the record, I see some clothing brands, including Alfred Dunner, Coldwater Creek and Koret, the same way. Those are my mother’s brands. If you ever see me in their apparel, just shoot me. It means I’ve given up on life.)

In any case, I wore Estée Lauder’s Fresh Air Makeup Base in Ivory Mist all through college. Back then, it was the thing to wear because choices were limited. Later, after the cosmetics market exploded, Estée Lauder was eclipsed in my mind by newer, fresher, “modern” brands. It probably doesn’t help that EL’s foundations no longer work for me; even the much-lauded Double Wear doesn’t sit well on my skin.

Estée Lauder, though, is working to modernize its image, as evidenced by the signing of its face of the moment, the trendy and social-media savvy Kendall Jenner. It also has made its way to Sephora counters after years of anchoring department store cosmetic sections. That’s a smart move, because stores like Sephora and Ulta are the go-to spots for younger women shopping for beauty products.

Anyway, other than its Heat Wave highlighter, which became a cult hit a few years back, Estée Lauder hasn’t been high on beauty gurus’ hot-product lists. But here’s some  good news: I impulsively purchased two items from the company’s latest roster of products. Both are from the Bronze Goddess Collection. The first is the Summer Glow Eyeshadow Palette and the second is the Summer Glow Multi-Palette. One has found favor with me; the other not so much. Let’s talk about the disappointment first:

  • The Summer Glow Eyeshadow Palette, $45 on sale at Nordstrom, is gorgeous to look at. It features six shadows, two neutral mattes and four shimmery but not glittery shades that range from pale rose to taupe brown. The standout is an unexpected pop of aqua. Sounds great, right? The problem is that the colors are prettier in the pan than on the lid. The payoff isn’t the best. I expected the shades to be bold and be beachy, but they’re pastel in reality. I’m going to try them with a wet brush to see if I can get better, more intense results.
  • The Summer Glow Multi-Palette, $45 on sale at Nordstrom, is the better of the Summer Glow entries. It features a highlighter in a golden shade, a blush that’s a warm rosy tint with a touch of shimmer, and a satin-finish contour that is actually more of a bronzer than a contour powder due to its warmth. I like this palette — it’s tagging along on my upcoming vacation — but I recommend it with a caveat: It’s really best suited for fair-skinned girls. While the highlight is universal, the blush and highlighter may be too pale for those with darker skin to bother with.

All in all, these palettes are promising steps forward as Estée Lauder courts younger buyers. The company has also just released a suite of products aimed at younger women in its new “The Estée Edit” line. These include the Flash Photo Powder, which I’ve tried and like, as well as a pore-vanishing stick and kohl eyeshadow.