Getting to Know Estee Lauder & the Makeup Tips I Learnt!

I confess: I used to think Estee Lauder is a bit of a “mom brand” until very recently (to be fair though, that’s what I used to think about most luxury brands until not so long ago). With their new counter in Brussels (Inno Rue Neuve for those who might be interested), I decided to take a closer look at the brand and what it has to offer. The lovely Nathalie helped me out and even did a little touch-up that transformed my look. Are you ready to see the before/after, hear about the tricks I learnt, and find out what’s new at Estee Lauder?

I was very interested in their new base products, so Nathalie matched me to my shade of Invisible Fluid Makeup (3WN1. It looked OK on the back of my hand, but without trying it on my face I can’t really say how well it matches. Still, if you’re around MAC NC30 and are looking for your shade, take a look at this one). The Matte Perfecting Primer is also something I would love to try. I don’t get as oily as I did anymore, but still. Growing up in Taiwan with combination skin has made me a little obsessed with mattifying products! With everybody launching their version of the BB cream, Estee Lauder has jumped on the bandwagon with theirs. I like the sufficient SPF factor (35), and the darker shade of the two matches my skin tone better.

TIP 1: Don’t over blend your foundation. Nathalie found that I have the tendency of really sheering foundation out (when I was trying stuff on the back of my hand), but foundations are not lotions. There is a line between blending it in and massaging it in!

TIP 2: Do you get a little shiny? Carry a compact of mattifying powder and retractable brush with you in your purse. Using the included-sponge might result in heavier application. Also you might smear the makeup you have on!

TIP 3: Mix your concealer with your eye cream to combat signs of fatigue effectively. Dabbing a little of that in the inner and outer corners will brighten/open your eyes!

Estee Lauder is apparently number one in Belgium when it comes to skincare products. I’ve heard people rave about the Advanced Night Repair. I got some sample packets and I can’t wait to try them out! I will keep you posted, but since they are sample packets it would be more of a first impression!

Good news to those of us who live in Belgium: the Pure Color Blushes and some other exciting makeup are coming here later this year (around October)! Word on the road is that they’re amazing, so I can’t wait to take a look!

I told Nathalie that I’ve always failed to do a nude lip and she asked if I use a lip liner. Bang! That was apparently the problem! Apparently a lip liner that is just a tad darker than your natural lip color can prevent you from having concealer lips. Note that I said a tad darker, and remember to blend the lipstick well! In this picture you see me with a nude lip that doesn’t make me look half dead, and I was pretty happy with it!

TIP 4: Try to define your lips with a lip liner that is ever-so-slightly darker than your natural lip color before putting a very nude lipstick on!

She also put a brighter purple in my outer v and lined my eyes in a more dramatic way with a purple eyeliner (Black Plum) to make them pop. I really like the color, and Black Plum held up well on my lids until I removed it later that night (it was also warm and very muggy that day, so I was very pleasantly surprised). See how that extra bit of purple makes my eyes brighter? I guess they don’t encourage brown-eyed girls to try purple for no reason!

TIP 5: Don’t be shy! If a little more color/more dramatic eyeliner works well for you, there’s no need to play safe all the time!

All in all it was a great experience, and I’m happy I walked away with so many useful tips!

What’s your experience with Estee Lauder? Have you tried anything that impressed you? What is a makeup tip you learnt recently that you’d like to share?

Sunny, your beauty culture translator xx