Tag: Estée Lauder

It’s been a year since the initial Victoria Beckham x Estée Lauder collaboration and guess the excitement hasn’t died yet.

In my review of the last launch I mentioned it was possibly the best makeup launch of the year. And I stick to my guns when I say, this year was just as GOOD!

With the addition of new and exciting products, I was (and many of you) have been waiting eagerly to get busy applying this loveliness on our faces.

So luckily (lucky me) press goodies arrived just in time, and I packed all my new VB and took it along on holiday this summer for a full 2+ weeks of testing!

From last years launch my top favourites were the Eye Metal in Bitter Clove, the Eye Kajal Duo Black Saffron/Vanille and the Modern Mercury Highlighter (Click here for the reviews).

Which explains why I practically leaped in joy to see new additions to the Eye Metals and Kajals!

This year I received, The Skin Perfecting Powder, Eye Kajal Duo in Java/Vanille, Eye Foil in Blonde Gold, Eye Matte Duo in Noir/Vanille, and the gloss in Desert Heat.

Skin Perfecting Powder. A translucent powder that sets makeup, blurs pores for a smooth airbrushed effect.

Eye Kajal Duo Java/Vanille. A dual ended kajal with medium brown and peachy beige.

Eye Foil Blonde Gold. A shimmering liquid champagne gold for a high metal shine.

Eye Matte Duo. A deep black and cream matte shadow.

Lip Gloss Desert Heat. A neutral brown nude.

From last year to this year, packaging changed slightly. Instead of the ridged matte black, we now have a pebbled leather effect on all but one of the powder products. Standing alone, the Skin Perfecting Powder released in a weighty gold (metal) case, obviously appealing to the customer with expensive taste.

The Eye Foil Blonde Gold was repackaged into a pot rather than the initial lip gloss style tube. Even though I’ve had mixed feelings on this change, I do love that the new packaging allows a lot more product to be picked up one go; for an even INTENSE metal look.

It’s the perfect topper to enhance your evening eye makeup! Therefore, still madly in love with this unique product.

Among the new releases, the Eye Kajal Duo Java/Vanille was a sure shot winner. I loved the first release in Black Saffron.

On first swipe I was relieved that the formula hadn’t changed. It’s as silky and smooth as the black and just as smudge-able. Since my daily look involves smudged brown liner, this was obviously my new go-to 😉

below I put together a bunch of my (best) black and brown liners for comparison. As you’ll see, the warmth and tones are different in every one.

My initial thoughts on the colour was that the red undertones were too pronounced. Although since I do wear my VB Kajals as a base for eyeshadow I find this works really well smudged closer to the lash line and topped with my new favourite bronzy brown shadow (Dior fall 2017 Bronze), a deep brown with warmth and soft red shimmer.

Bottom line, these kajals were made for smudging (for a worn in look), as the Tom Ford eyeliners which I also adore. Oily eye lids will most certainly need a primer before these go on and setting with a translucent powder or brown eyeshadow is recommended.

Among the mix of newness, the new lip gloss Desert Heat was somewhat of a let down. Although the colour was quintessentially Victoria, the formula looked and feels quite regular. Overall, if this was blind tested, i’d probably assume it was ANYTHING but a Victoria Beckham gloss.

My thoughts are, unless you love a nude gloss and can’t have enough, probably skip this. I most likely would not reach for it as often as my Brazilian Nude lipstick, which is pricey but fully worth the money in my opinion.

Onto more exciting things! The Skin Perfecting Powder was the jewel of the collection, quite literally! The metal gold packaging, so weighty and luxe, it just appeals to every luxury makeup collector.

What I love is that it does feel (and look) very much like something Victoria Beckham would use daily, a wonderfully rare expensive powder that makes you look like a superstar!

But is it?

What I can say is, in comparison to other translucent (colourless) powders, this doesn’t over mattify or dry out skin or emphasize flakes. It’s a very sheer powder, just enough to set makeup and leave a slight sheen. The finish is quite sublime. I would recommend this to anyone without major sebum issues, specifically for dry and normal skin types.

As a person with combination skin, I feel it doesn’t work hard enough to keep the oil under control. However, that being said, I do love it and use it most days, simply for the fact that it doesn’t make my skin look white (as most other translucent powders do) and blurs out the pores and other little lines around my face.

Ingredient list,

Zea Mays (Corn) starch. Nylon-12. Polymethylsilsesquioxane.zinc stearate. caprylic/capric triglyceride. Isostearyl Neopentanoate. Silica. Caprylxl Glycol. Hexylene Glycol. Phenoxyethanol. [+/- Mica. Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Iron Oxides (CI 77492). Iron Oxides (CI 77491). Iron Oxcides (CI 77499)] <ILN43787>

Last but not least, an entirely new product by Victoria. The Eye Matte Duos.

For testing I received Noir/Vanille. My usual smokey eye combo in the smallest palette ever.

As far as matte black shadows go, the texture was quite good. It didn’t feel dry to the touch and quite pigmented as would a high end shadow. The beige too, of similar quality, very silky to the touch and not at all patchy.

I believe the overall quality to be good. Packaging wise too, easily fits into a makeup bag and ideal for touchups.

However, I do own a load of other matte blacks and matte beiges… therefore do I really need it? The answer is, probably not. Although if you do fancy your smokey eye duo in fancy packaging, this would be the ideal choice!

Something extra special, to have and to hold.

Now on to a quick look I did while in Mykonos 😉 Of course my beach look is very simple, but I used the beautiful Java Kajal duo as the star of my makeup, so you see how I normally wear this!

Bottom Line

From what i’ve tested I believe the Eye Kajal Duos to be my favourites. Even though I don’t use blues much, I need to get my hands on the Saphir/Vanille duo as well before it sells out! It’s a great product and in my humble opinion, and a worthy addition to any makeup bag!

Also on the ‘love list’ is the Eye Foils in the new packaging. I apply these with my fingers, and like that I can pick up more product than before (as opposed to the old wand type applicator). Such a great way to add extra oomph to simple golden eye looks when I wear red lipstick! If you generally opt for minimal eye makeup this is a fool proof way to amp it up and look like a pro.

P.S- Do check out this review for Blonde Mink (cream blush) which is on my shopping list as well!

Pricing & Availabilty

This time around the Victoria Beckham x Estée Lauder collection will be retailing exclusively at Sephora Singapore.

Eye Foils – SGD70

Eye Kajal Duo – SGD58

Lip Gloss – SGD55

Skin Perfecting Powder – SGD102

Eye Matte Duo – SGD85

 

 

September has been quite the exciting month in terms of beauty hasn’t it?  We’ve seen tonnes of new lipstick releases, a flood of fall collections and also the highly anticipated Victoria Beckham collab with Estée Lauder.

I was beyond excited to review the collection so today I’m all set with speedy swatches and pics to give you the low down.

I received the London look + Modern Mercury highlighter as part of a press  gift. Everything which i’d normally gravitate to.

The London Look includes,

Eye Foil in Blonde Gold. A shimmering liquid eye product which can be layered over eyeshadow for a metallic high shine effect.

Eye Metals Eyeshadow in Bitter Clove. A deep molten bronze.

Eye Ink in Black Myrrh. A shimmering high pigment shadow meant to be used smudged for a sooty, smokey look.

Brazilian Nude Lipstick. A warm medium nude with strong yellow undertones.

Eye Kajal Duo Black Saffron/Vanille. A kajal duo of deep black & peachy beige.

All powder products within the collection come packaged in sleek black compacts. The effect is almost a matte, ribbed leather look which compliments Victorias edgy London style. The gold hardware too lends to the overall vibe of the packaging. Slightly oversized in proportion to the compacts and totally badass.

On the whole I like how sturdy the packaging feels. A little more ‘chunky’ than expected however still very luxe and could definitely take a beating day to day.

For a sexy evening look Bitter Clove would be my go-to single wash of colour. The texture is soft, bouncy and packed with pigment.

If a metallic, shimmery eye look is what you are after. Bitter Clove is THE product to look out for. What sets it apart from a sea of other similar eyeshadows would be the ultra intense shine and easy to blend formula. Almost a creamy, bouncy feel as you dip your fingers in.

Here’s a swatch set I took in direct sunlight to capture the shimmers better.

The closest match I found in terms of finish was the Gucci Mono Eyeshadow in Iconic Bronze. Similar in shimmer content and intensity, and catch the light similarly. The others never quite achieved the unique grungy shine Bitter Clove possesses.

For best payoff i’d recommend skipping a brush and using just fingers. It smooths out well and blends quite easily with barely any fall out (brush application gets the shimmers everywhere, it’s quite messy). An absolute dream to work with.

Black Myrrh unlike Bitter Clove is a less ‘vibrant’ formula. More modest in bling factor, but similarly well pigmented and blendable. The soft shimmers catch the light adding dimension to smoked eyes and plays well with bitter clove to contour the eye socket.

Digging through several black formulas I had at hand, I discovered the Tom Ford Cream Shadow in the LE Black Oyster duo almost identical. Even though in photographs subtle differences seem to amplify, to the naked eye, not so much. The only difference was that one was a powder and the other a cream, both achieving the same colour and shimmer factor.

That being said, powder shadows and cream layer and build in different ways, similar swatches don’t necessarily mean you won’t find a place for Black Myrrh in your stash.

For lining the waterline and tight lining, the Eye Kajal Duo was sublime. The formula, creamiest ever, with pigment to rival any other eye kohl on the market.

I also found these to wear really well with minimal smudging. Only transfer I noticed was in the outer and inner corner of the eye.

Sadly in terms of packaging, this Black Saffron/Vanille duo didn’t quite fit in with the rest. The overall look dare I say, was slightly cheap looking. Specially at this premium price, i’d expect something a little more luxe.

Among the more unique offerings, these new Eye Foils caught my eye. Something like a shimmer top coat for the eyes, they pack some serious bling. I’d reserve them for special occasions normally but don’t mind whipping them out on date nights too.

Packaging is pretty much a flocked doe foot that comes in a shiny black tube. Easy to use and mess free. Just swipe on eyes and blend with fingers.

These wear beautifully as the formula sets, with no noticeable transferring then on. The shade I have here is Blonde Gold, one of the two colours that released with the VB collection.

Moving onto Modern Mercury! As mentioned in my last VB x Estée Lauder preview post, Modern Mercury‘s a definite must have.

Initially released a few years back, when rose gold highlighters weren’t so easily available (which made it unique and highly sought after). This one’s a highlighter on steroids! Hands down THE most intense, high shine, mad pigmented highlighter I own.

I feel the deep rose gold base may not quite play well with fairer skin, though definitely a must have for anyone who’s looking to shine bright like a diamond!

Here’re some comparison swatches.

The exceptional pigmentation and payoff of Modern Mercury is hard to miss! I just love how it looks next to all my other top rose gold picks. The closest in terms of colour would be Tom Ford Moodlight which leans slightly more pink and less intense.

For those who don’t shy away from a killer highlight, Modern Mercury is a must have although in the event you do have very textured skin, keep in mind this does emphasizes all imperfections.

Last but not least, Brazilian Nude.

If there was one product that’s signature Victoria, this would be it.

As I applied it for the very first time, I couldn’t help think, WOW that’s the exact colour I always see Mrs. VB wearing!

What’s unique about Brazilian Nude is it’s noticeable yellow tones and lack of pink or peach. A true beige-y nude. Something that should work very well on skin with neutral or warm olive tones.

The most similar to Brazilian Nude is Givenchy Beige Mousseline. Sheerer in formula though pretty close in terms of colour.

Touching on formula, Brazilian Nude is a cream finish with semi opaque coverage. The colour is buildable though I do prefer the slightly sheer look which makes this more youthful as opposed to a flat block of colour.

As you’d expect from EL lipsticks, the formula is very comfortable worn. Creamy with an almost a balmy gel feel which seems to hug the lips. It wore well for 3+ hours and quite nourishing throughout.

Overall I do like Brazilian Nude and will be adding it to my daily nude lip rotation pile as I foresee myself using this tonnes. Plus the small packaging makes this ideal for lugging around in your makeup bag

*One more tiny detail to cover before heading to my final thoughts on the collection. These lipsticks come in a very compact size. Similar in concept to the Tom Ford Lips & Boys (though the VB lipstick contains much MUCH more product. I compared it side by side to a regular Estée Lauder lipstick and it looks pretty much the same size). The overall look is of a vintage lipstick, petite and space saving to fit into tiny evening bags. 

The London Look

Here’s the look I created using The London Look. I aimed for a shimmery unfussy eye and light base. Followed with strong brows and nude lip.

Prep the eye lid with a primer and some matte taupe shadow. Then a layer of Bitter Clove all over the lid (patten on and blended with fingers). Following with the eye kajal to the outer corners of the eyes close to the lash line and smudged it out. Set and smoke it with Black Myrrh.

For the face I used the soon to be released Tom Ford Waterproof foundation. Review to follow 😉

Cheeks lightly defined with a warm beige (MAC Cheek Pollen) and topped with Modern Mercury as a highlight.

Lastly pulling the look together, two swipes of Brazilian Nude. Done!

And a closer look at the lips!

 

Bottom Line 

As far as collaborations go, Victoria Beckham x Estée Lauder nailed it in terms of concept, quality and packaging. There hasn’t been a single dud in the selection I reviewed. The only product that fell short in terms of overall score was the liner which lost points for packaging though performance wise, one of the best liners ever! Super smooth and ultra blendable.

My top picks from the collection remain the same, except Bitter Clove has now topped the list, bumping Modern Mercury to second place. I feel it’s a product that excels in quality and will also prove to be a work horse in your collection. If you plan on getting just one thing alone, make it this!

Other Info

The VBxEstéeLauder collection is limited Edition & currently available for purchase at Tangs Beauty Dept. Also available at Estée Lauder stand alone boutique at Ion Orchard from the 1st October.

For complete price list, click here.

Since the Spice Girl days, Victoria Beckham/Posh Spice has come a long way. A British pop icon turned style icon and now the designer behind her very own label, Victoria is the definition of a strong independent woman.

As someone who’s admired her work, passion for design and work ethic I feel Victoria is the prefect role model for young girls all around the world.

Victorias business plan is a simple one. Give women what they need.

It has worked great for her label and now she’s applying it to makeup! Mrs Victoria, aka VB has now collaborated with cosmetics giant Estée Lauder to bring out a limited edition collection of essentials that every woman needs in her life. A dream come true for all VB fans and makeup addicts alike!

The collection is broken down into 4 looks. Inspired by Victorias favourite cities.

The London look.

Intense sooty black eyes marked with liner. Oil-slick shadow. Flecks of gold. Nude polished lips. Tough with edge, yet beautifully feminine at the same time. 

Eye Kajal Duo in Black Saffron/Vanille

Eye Ink in Black Myrrh

Eye Foil in Blonde Gold

Eye Metals Eyeshadow in Bitter Clove

Lips in Brazilian Nude

The New York Look

A sapphire eye. Luminous skin contrasted by matte bronze. The nudest glossy lip.

Bronzer in Java Sun

Eye Palette

Lip Pencil in Victoria

Lip Gloss in Moroccan Heat

The L.A Look

A youthful, laid-back look.Perfectly sun-kissed with nude lined eyes & fresh glossy lips. 

Bronzer in Java Sun

Highlighter in Modern Mercury

Eye Kajal Duo in Black Saffron/Vanille

Lip Gloss in Moroccan Heat

The Paris Look

Lips are matte in Sunset. Eyes are dramatically lined in charred emerald. Edged in charcoal foil.

Eye Foil in Burnt Anise

Eye Kajal Duo in Black Saffron/Vanille

Eye Metals Shadow in Charred Emerald

Lipstick in Chilean Sunset

The collection features 14 products ranging from primers to face enhancers, eye & lip products.

Starting with beautiful skin using Morning Aura Illuminating Creme. Part moisturiser, part primer, this is to brighten and give skin a fresh morning glow.  Retail price SGD 102.

A must have from the collection would be Modern Mercury. The legendary rose gold highlighter in Estée Lauder’s speciality gelee formula. This product is said to be one of Victorias favourites for creating that sexy sweaty skin look. Glad it’s back and now in this smokin hot VB packaging! Yessss! Retail price SGD 104.For contrast between glowy skin, the collection features a matte bronzer Java Sun. A perfect neutral shade that can be used for a subtle sun-kissed effect, or worn beneath the cheekbones for definition & contour. 

For intense sooty black eyes use Black Myrrh. A cream eyeshadow in a pressed gel-cream formula which can be used wet or dry.  This densely pigmented product delivers an almost black shade infused with pearl for a sexy look. SGD 70.

The collection also includes two Eye Metals Eyeshadows. Bitter Clove & Charred Emerald. These feature a precious metal finish with densely pigmented colour for strong and sexy eyes. Can be worn alone or layered over Black Myrrh for a high octane finish. Retailing at SGD70.

The collection also debuts a new and innovative product, referred to as Eye Foils. These liquid metal eye enhancers come infused with sparkling pigments & flecks in gold and silver to deliver vinyl like shine even after they dry. Two shades available, Burnt Anise & Blonde Gold. SGD 70.

All makeup junkies are bound to find The Palette containing shades of metallic blue, shimmery copper & charcoal grey irresistible! It’s a nice mix of neutrals with two bursts of colour, just enough to add interest and steer away from the boring. Retailing price, SGD116.

Victoria also takes an everyday staple, kajal liner to come up with her version of a dual purpose liner and brightener. Eye Kajal in Black Saffron/Vanille is a nifty little product for enhancing the eyes by subtle definition and brightening by using the lighter side to outline the lower waterline. Retail price SGD50.

To complete the eye looks, this collection features two lipsticks. Brazilian Nude and Chilean Sunset. Two staples in any woman’s wardrobe. It’s about having the basics to go from day to night. These retail at SGD76.

To achieve Victorias signature nude lip. Use the matte lip pencil in the shade Victoria. Either to outline or completely fill in the lips, a must have from the collection. Retail price SGD50.

Last but not least, for glossy lip lovers there’s a gorgeous warm nude lip gloss Moroccan Heat. Infused with Estée Lauders signature fig scent this gloss can be worn as is or over lipstick for a fuller pout. Retail price SGD50.

Concluding the preview of this collection, what were your favourites? I’m thinking the Modern Mercury highlighter and single shadows are must haves. And of course the nude lipstick Brazilian Nude to achieve Victorias sexy sophisticated pout! Gotta have ’em all to be honest. But at this price range one must prioritise and make that long list… 

Collection launch is set for October. 

*All information taken from the official VBxEstéeLauder press release.