Without You Smoky Eyes: Yes, More with the Loose Eye Shadows

So yes, I bought more loose eye shadows. You guys, I bought lots of stuff from BFTE Cosmetics, and I seriously want to roll around in them and call them my preeeeccious. That's not at all weird, is it? Ahem...

Anyways, I wanted to play with a few of my fun new colors, and was immediately drawn to the combination of Wizard's Wand and Without You. Here's what I came up with!

A peek at the other products used in this look:
• L'Oreal Lacquer Liner in blackest black
• Estee Lauder lipstick in rose amethyst
• Cargo blush in beach
• CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion mascara
• L'Oreal Power Volume Collagen mascara in black

Before starting this eye look, I've prepared my eye area with Too Faced Shadow Insurance. It is very slightly tacky, so it really grabs on to the loose shadows pretty well. I pat each shadow into it's location, and then blend everything afterwards.


Once the shadows are in place I blend a bit. I lined with the gel eye liner (love this stuff, it lasts forever!), and then applied the 2 mascaras. I love applying the L'Oreal first, which really grabs each lash and adds crazy volume. Putting the CoverGirl on afterwards does add volume and length, but it also really lets me be sure that there aren't any clumps or tangles.

The final look!

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Lippie Love: Estée Lauder's Nude Velvet

Estée Lauder

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Lippie Love: Estee Lauder Nude Velvet

Estée Lauder

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Lippie Love: Estée Lauder Pure Color Sensuous Rouge Orchid Surrender

I think Estée Lauder should be better known for their lipsticks. I swear they are amazing.

The Pure Color Sensuous Rouge line is very hydrating. I almost hesitate to call it a lipstick. It's more of a balm with the coverage of a lipstick. It applies beautifully, lasts 4-6 hours (depends on how much coffee I'm drinking, truthfully), and the color is amazing.

Love. It.

Estée Lauder

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Lippie Love: Estée Lauder's Red Velvet

This lipstick felt pretty hydrating and looked perfect for about 5 hours.

Estée Lauder

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Estée Lauder's Sensuous Nude: A Perfect Woodsy Musk for Fall

The weather is finally turning cooler here in Michigan. I am so excited for fall! This has always been my favorite time of year. For me, fall is crisp cool air, leaves crunching under my feet, football games and I haven't even started on the fashion/beauty of fall. Tall boots, great dresses and blazer, dark nails and lips... and of course a great scent. As soon as the temp drops, I want bergamot, amber and musky scents! Lucky for me, Estée Lauder has created a new addition to their Sensuous lineup just in time for me to obsess over it.

“Sensuous Nude captures this vision of modern sensuality and bares all the warmth and softness of a confident woman at her most open and free” says Karyn Khoury, Senior Vice President of Corporate Fragrance Development Worldwide, Estée Lauder. What does that mean? I really am not quite sure. But, this is definitely a sensual fragrance, warm and cozy but with a slightly different take than previous musky scents that I've tried. While I'm still not 100% sure what Karyn Khoury was saying, I definitely agree with her that this is a modern, sensual scent that is also soft.



Notes:
Top Notes: Sicilian Bergamot, Mandarin, Baie Rose, Black Pepper
Middle Notes: Jasmine Petals, Muguet, Coconut Water, Honey, Musk
Base Notes: Translucent Musk, Sandalwood, Amber, Melted Woods Nature Print, Heliotrope, Vanilla

I think that when this scent is first applied, it definitely is a bit spicy and peppery. And then there is some random citrus from the mandarin thrown it. Truthfully, I'm not a big fan of the opening. Mandarin and pepper? It's fine, but not my fave. And really, it is somewhat strong and easily overwhelming. I sprayed it on earlier today as I was still writing this post, and when I entered the kitchen my husband immediately said "Wow, you are wearing a lot of perfume." In actuality, I had a very small spritz on my wrist.

Luckily about 20 minutes later everything calms down a bit and the perfume is much more subtle. It is definitely still there, just not in your face. It suddenly becomes a quiet and warm woodsy scent. The amber comes out as well as the vanilla. There's just a hint of jasmine and I swear there's a little sweetness from the honey, though I don't smell honey. It is warm and enveloping. I want to wear it with some great leggings, my new fall boots and go crunch around on some leaves. It is perfect for work or weekends!


Estée Lauder

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Currently Obsessing Over: Estée Lauder Pure Color Posh Petal Palette

Recently Estée Lauder released a collection of Pure Color Eye Shadows created by Tom Pecheux, Creative Makeup Director for Estée Lauder. The palettes really made their debut at the Fall 2010 Derek Lam show, but I believe the addition of the duos was new in August. As well, 56 additional shades were introduced. Regardless, they sent out a few samples and I fell hard for the 5 shadow palette that they sent me.

The shadows in these palettes are amazing. There are 5 different finishes: matte, satin, shimmer, metallic and frost. Your eye will not scream "Look at me! I'm wearing a frost!" This isn't that ugly 70's frost we all think of when we hear frost. Instead, the finishes are all subtle differences in texture. Perfect to mix and match for different day and night looks.

The shadows are now available in duos, which are really easy for a simple look. I personally prefer the 5 shadow palettes, which are great for slightly mixing things up.

"These palettes are my babies. They create so many looks for women from daytime to a naughty nighttime date and give you the option to play with your look.
-Tom Pecheux

Read on to see the palette that has my heart all aflutter.

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Palette to Covet: Estée Lauder Travel Exclusive

I feel like Estée Lauder is taunting me. They come out with these great travel exclusives and I have no other excuse to travel! If you're heading anywhere near an airport, keep an eye out for this great palette. (As an aside, I seem to remember the duty store was online, but I can't find it. If you have the link let me know!) The palette includes a great selection of Estée's Pure Color Eye Shadows and Lipsticks.

Shadows (top to bottom, on the right side of this pic):
• Black Crystals
• Silver Ball
• Enchanted Forest
• Polished Platinum
• Sugar Cube

Lippies (top to bottom, on the left side of this pic):
• Scarlet Siren
• Cafe Chic
• Fuchsia Fever
• Beige
• Candy

Estée Lauder

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Concealer Series: Estée Lauder's Double Wear

I've heard from many friends and family that this concealer is amazing. It is one of those concealers that pops up frequently in reader's choice awards (like the ones over on Total Beauty). After finally trying it out myself, I can understand all of the hype!



Consistency: Liquid, comes in a tube with a sponge tipped applicator
Blendability: Very blendable. I swear it should be labelled HD.
Buildable coverage: Yes
Feeling on skin: Lightweight feeling
Wear: >12 hours
Problems with wear: None
Shades Available: 6 shades in a pretty wide range of skin tones, I used Light.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Concealer

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Concealer Series: Estée Lauder's Ideal Light

To me, Estée Lauder's Ideal Light is what the cult favorite Touche Eclat should be, but isn't. This is a concealer with decent coverage, with the added benefit of light diffusing particles.

According to the Estée website:

Light-reflective Photo Optic™ technology diffuses light to minimize the look of fine lines, wrinkles and imperfections.

I admit that usually the idea of light diffusing particles makes me a tad nervous. Some companies just don't seem to have the light touch that is needed with them, and instead of distracting from imperfections you end up calling attention to them with too much shimmer. Not cool. This Estée pen has just the right light touch, which I love.


I rated this a 3, but really it is nearly a 4 in coverage.

Consistency: Liquid
Blendability: Very blendable
Buildable coverage: Yes
Feeling on skin: Lightweight
Wear: 10-12 hours
Problems with wear: No caking or settling into fine lines
Shades Available: I used light, there are 4 skin toned shades and a Soft Pink, described as a "highlighter shade is ideal for all skintones. Brings light to your face and focus to your features."

Estée Lauder Ideal Light

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Estée Lauder Wicked Green Nail Polish

3 coats to opaque

Estée Lauder

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Estée Lauder's Spring 2011 Lippies

When I first saw Estée Lauder's Spring 2011 lippies, I have to admit that I was afraid. Not just a little afraid, but really afraid. What on earth were they thinking?? The crazy neon colors did not look flattering, I didn't think they would sell well, someone in the higher ups over there had gone crazy.

Of course, it turns out that they were smarter than me, the colors are actually very pretty and flattering. Read on to see what those shocking neon lip glosses really look like.

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Estée Lauder Spring 2011: Wild Violet

Yet another spring collection that just seems really pretty to me.


The eye shadows especially appeal to me, though that is usually the case with Estée Lauder eye shadows. They've also created two new, limited edition shades of Pure Color EyeShadow in Untamed Violet and Sugar Cube.


Also included in this collection are four new, limited edition shades of Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Wild Violet, Wild Coral, Wild Blossom and Wild Fire. As well, there are four Pure Color Gelées in Electric Cherry, Electric Violet, Electric Pink and Electric Coral. I have some of the lippies sitting here waiting to take swatch pictures, I promise I'll try to get to them soon!

Estée Lauder Spring 2011: Wild Violet

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Estée Lauder and Harpers Bazaar Team Up!

Every year Harper's Bazaar has their Fabulous at Every Age issue, and this year they are teaming up with Estée Lauder to conduct their second annual model search contest!

As well, to celebrate Estée Lauder is releasing a limited-edition Fabulous at Every Age lipstick and gloss, Estée Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Bitten Fig and Pure Color Gloss in Red Tango. I admit that I was a bit nervous that they were both reds, but I assure you they seem to be very flattering for many skin tones. They are available at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide, as well as on Saks.com and EsteeLauder.com. The white zippered carrying case (seen above) is available at select Saks locations with the purchase of a Fabulous at Every Age limited-edition lipstick or gloss.

Read on to learn more about the model search and to see swatches of the lipstick and gloss!

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Estée Lauder's Wild Storm

Part of Estée Lauder's Wild Violet Collection (for Spring 2011, yes, already available, it seems too soon!), this nail polish is a pretty pewter color. The picture above is pretty representative of how it looks about 95% of the time, and while it seems to hint at some shimmer you really have to look really hard to see any at all, it is basically a creme. The color is very well pigmented, I got full coverage with 2 light coats or 1 heavy coat of polish. I usually get about 5 or 6 days of wear from an Estée Lauder, pretty good considering how much I usually put my nails through!

I do think that dark greys will be everywhere on nails this spring, of course spurred on by Black Pearl, which is sure to sell out soon. I bought Black Pearl a few days ago, I'll compare the two soon!

Estée Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Wild Storm

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Derek Lam Spring/Summer 2011

If you're anything like me, you have a big collection of very pretty eye liners and eye shadows at home that you can't really wear everyday. That bright purple? The navy with silver shimmer? Can you really incorporate them into your every day life? Or, at least the part of your life where you do things like go out for dinner to CPK with your husband, maybe not the part where you are raking the leaves in your yard? Though, the navy idea would be really great for the season football tickets I now have for games in a very big, big college stadium that shall remain nameless.

Anyways, my whole point is that sometimes it can be hard to see ways to work these fun colors into our normal lives. Once you hit about 26, it seems like the approach to makeup changes. There's less color and sparkle. Why? Who wants to look like a teenie bopper or Vegas Showgirl when really you're a lawyer or stay at home mom? You want to be taken seriously. So, the makeup is less exciting and we forget how to incorporate color into our everyday lives. Unless it is taupe.

Well, Estée Lauder Creative Makeup Director Tom Pecheux is coming to our rescue with this look he created for the Derek Lam Spring/Summer 2011 runway. Yes, the color is rather bright, but think of how easily this can be adapted with any color! I'm picturing a navy, plum or even a dark gray-green. You could do this with almost any color, the point is that Tom is showing how to balance the rest of the face around the color. (Apparently the answer is a little color on the rest of the lid, perfect skin and light nude lips. I don't know about you but these pictures make me want to run to my nearest Estée counter and buy every face product Tom used. I also must have that lipstick when it comes out this spring!)

Read on to see what Tom used to create this look.

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