Estee Lauder

What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?

Estée Lauder Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Radiant Makeup ($42 for a 0.47-oz. bottle — on sale now for $21)

Gonna keep this short and sweet (for once! I KNOW.) because, sadly, this gorgeous sheer and satiny skin tint is being phased out, but since there are still quite a few shades left on esteelauder.com, I wanted to give it a mention in case you like minimal coverage and wanna grab one for 50% off.

“Touch on, buff and blend to your perfect nude. Polishes and evens skintone for a healthy-looking glow. Skin-loving, weightless and comfortable formula instantly hydrates. 8-hour wear. Innovative stick combines liquid makeup and applicator in one. You’ll know it’s time to replenish as the stick becomes smaller until the clear window disappears.

“This makeup is a different formula than our original Double Wear Stay-in-Place liquid foundation. It is instantly hydrating and leaves skin with a radiant glow. All day 8-hour wear. In shades for all skintones.”

— esteelauder.com

Yes, the sponge applicator’s lame. You’ll end up with too much on your face if you go there, so ignore it. The trick to this is to twist the base at the bottom ever-so-slightly, so the tiniest bit comes out, and work it your skin with your fingers. Then you’re only a few pats and swipes away from radiant, glowing spahhhhhh skin that looks preternaturally smooth all day long.

Remember the fabulous LE NARS Hydrating Glow Tints? This has a very similar barely-there “Oh, hello there, freckles!” type of look. Très Megan Markle on her wedding day.

How does Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Radiant Makeup compare to the other Double Wear Foundations?

I’m still working my way through the collection, but here’s what I have so far…

• Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30 — Cushion Stick is very sheer with a subtle glowing satin finish, while Nude Water Fresh is medium coverage with a soft matte finish. Cushion Stick works for dry skin or for those with fine lines (HELLO, MY NAME IS KAREN). Water Fresh would be a better fit for oily skin.
• Estée Lauder Double Wear Light — Cushion Stick is sheerer than Double Wear Light, which has medium coverage (similar to like Water Fresh). Double Wear Light’s finish more of a velvet, so it’s compared to Cushion Stick it’s more matte, but it’s not as matte as Nude Water Fresh.

[Continue reading…]

What is Deep Dive? I’m glad you asked! It’s a new series in which I’m reviewing a bunch of Estée Lauder Double Wear products from their permanent collection. Let’s find out what’s good! ?

Back in the day (like, when people carried pagers and weren’t at all trying to be ironic about it, and beards on hipsters weren’t ubiquitous), my skin was Oil Slick City. Now, my face resides in a rustic hamlet called Oh So Dry It Hurts, although it’ll visit its former residence every once in a while.

Does it do this because it has nothing better to do? Or, does it do it because it thinks it’s funny (haha!) to torment me? Or, maybe it just goes there because it’s hot.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30 ($42 for a 1-oz. bottle)

A couple weeks ago, during a blisteringly hot week in Novato when my forehead produced enough grease to fry a whole chicken, it was clear to me that I needed to change my foundation game to better handle the heat. Luckily, the Double Wear Dream Team over at at Estée Lauder cooked up Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30, an oil-free AND oil-controlling liquid foundation that’s both lightweight (it’s runny like a serum foundation) and long-lasting.

“Real-skin flawless. Real protection. 24-hour staying power. Waterlight. This fluid, long-wear makeup feels like you have nothing on. Moves comfortably with your skin. Looks fresh, natural, healthy, even-toned. With SPF 30 and anti-oxidants, it’s your invisible defense against environmental damage from UV rays and pollution. Instantly and continuously hydrates with a moisture complex of red fruit extracts, including watermelon, lychee seed and apple. In shades for all skintones.”

— esteelauder.com

Back in my oily-skinned heyday, the only real way to lock down shine was with a heavy layer of matte, caked-on makeup, but it’s a totally different story now. Now, there’s no reason why oil-prone peeps can’t get comfy coverage that feels like they aren’t wearing anything at all.

[Continue reading…]