The summer collections are trickling in, hooray! Yup, winter’s days are numbered, and spring’s almost here. Just imagine how great all those summery shades of bronze, gold, coral and teal will look with your upcoming tan.
After class today I swung by the Estee Lauder counter to see Bronze Goddess, one of the first summer releases so far.
It’s a fairly large collection of summery eye and lip makeup, bronzers, self-tanners, a fragrance and even a nail polish thrown in for good measure.
Even though it was pouring down rain outside, the collection made me daydream of surfing and beaches… and beach dudes.
The Sand & Sea Eyeshadow Palette ($40) and Duo Tone Eye Pencil in Aqua and Teal ($18.50) are gonna be keepers.
Sand & Sea features six shimmery shadows, most of which apply surprisingly cool on my tanned skin.
Both of the uber-shimmery colors in the Duo Tone pencil have incredible staying power. I swatched ’em five hours ago, did the dishes, and can still see them both on the back of my hand.
Duo Tone Eye Pencil in Aqua and Teal swatches on top row, Sand & Sea Eyeshadow Palette on bottom
What do you think of the two High Gloss lipglosses, Golden Goddess and Coral Goddess ($17 each)?
Pure Color Lipstick in Golden Goddess ($18.50) reminds me of MAC High Tea lipstick…
Golden Goddess Lipstick
From left to right: Golden Goddess Lipstick, Coral Goddess High Gloss, Golden Goddess High Gloss
In a collection called Bronze Goddess, there has to be at least a few bronzers, right?
Holla!
From left to right: Soft Matte Bronzer ($30), Soft Shimmer Bronzer ($30), Soft Duo Bronzer ($32)
Luminous Liquid Bronzer ($28.50)
And then there’s SunBlush Illuminator ($32), the collection’s one lonely blush…
Self-tanners ($22 to $28.50)
Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Golden Goddess ($18)
Estee Lauder is also launching a new line of plumping summer stick lipglosses called Gloss Sticks ($18.50). I swatched the ones that caught my eye — Summer Melon, Pop Pink and Nude Almond.
Gloss Sticks
Pop Pink: a creamy hot pink
Summer Melon: a creamy coral
Nude Almond: a shimmery light tan
Luminous Liquid Bronzer swatch on top; Gloss Stick in Summer Melon, Pop Pink and Nude Almond on bottom
What say you about Bronze Goddess?
I really like the Sand & Sea palette, Duo Tone pencil and Coral Goddess lipgloss.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Glosslizard says
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:23 pmSand & Sea is gorgeous, but with so much gold/bronze goodness, I’ll admire it from afar! I love the duo tone pencil and Pop Pink gloss stick!
Nina says
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:59 pmThis has got to be the most gorgeous Estee Lauder collection I’ve seen!
Alexzandra says
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:13 pmI like the Pop Pink and Nude Almond gloss sticks, but I think I like the the eyeliner duo the most (the colors are hecka vibrant!) Also, I have to say that I’m disappointed that the blush looks so blah.
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 9:00 amHi Alexzandra,
The Duo Tone eye pencil is heavenly. It’s so shimmery and really rich in color! I have a feeling you’ll like it if you’re into vibrant blues. 🙂
connie says
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 pmwhich of the 3 gloss sticks was your favorite? right now i’m crushing on summer melon!
and i wish it’d stop raining (well not really, we in the bay area need the rain!) so we could just skip ahead to summer and i could match these summery colors with some cute skirts and earrings : )
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 8:59 amHi Connie,
It’s a toss up between Nude Almond and Pop Pink, but Summer Melon looks REALLY pretty, too.
I was happy to wake up this morning to some sunshine, finally. Is it clear out in your neck of the woods?
Alison says
February 24th, 2009 at 12:41 amWhat a lovely collection, I was lucky enough to get the fragrance last time round, I always wear it when I need cheering up as it smells like summer holidays! I’m really liking the gloss stick in nude almond and the nail polish looks pretty too.
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 8:58 amHi Alison,
When I got home from my errands yesterday I busted out the fragrance oil and sprayed some on my arms. The scent instantly takes me to summer.
Nude Almond looks so pretty. I think I drooled a little when I swatched it, LOL!
Victoria Maria says
February 24th, 2009 at 1:57 amSometimes I can’t help but thinking….Estee Lauder owns everything….MAC, Bobbi Brown, Stila, Clinique….how often do you think they get a poplular product from one brand copied to another! Those lipsticks just remind me of MAC slimshines. I believe we are buying the same product in different packaging 🙂 Not that i bothers me, I was just wondering!
/Victoria
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 8:55 amHi Victoria Maria,
The lipgloss in stick form has been a huge trend over the last year. I’m digging it, though…
Karen4 says
February 24th, 2009 at 3:12 amI’m so into the coral lips! I might like to try the summer melon gloss stick. I have a few Estee Lauder lipsticks, and for me, they don’t have a lot of staying power, so I’m hesitant to spend the money. Perhaps the gloss stick will be more to my liking.
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 8:54 amHi Karen4,
I’m into the coral lips, too. 🙂
Do you have MAC Lychee Luxe lipglass? It’s a coral lip must!
Tali says
February 24th, 2009 at 4:50 amThe blue eyeliner duo.. 100% going to buy
MAYBE a bronxer (no shimmer one)
POSSIBLY a lipstick
Ive never really owned EsteeLauder or E Arden before as the regular colections tend to be very basic and mumsy (i say this as my mum wears their stuff.. lol)
BUT now.. i may reconsider and go bankrupt!
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 8:53 amHi Tali,
The duo is AWESOME. I swear it won’t move for nothing. Just for the heck of it I left it on my hand yesterday and it even lasted through my shower.
Yvonne says
February 24th, 2009 at 5:12 amSorry, I’m completely off-topic from this entry, but could you pretty please post a ‘Caring for oily skin’ entry like the one you did for dry skin recently? Thanks in advance 🙂
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 8:52 amHi Yvonne,
Sure. 🙂
Sylvie says
February 24th, 2009 at 5:27 amThey seem to have the same stuff year after year. It’s always golden goddess or bronze goddess. To tell the truth, I think that most summer collections are boring. Except Cool Heat last year. Cool Heat stood out like nobody’s business.
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 8:49 amHi Sylvie,
I liked Cool Heat, too.
Rose says
February 24th, 2009 at 6:46 amWOW i think i am in love with this entire collection. I love summer because of all the golds and bronze!
I usually dont check out other collections other than MAC, but thanks to your swatches, i know what counter im heading to!
Thanks!
Rose´s last blog post..Giveaway!
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 8:40 amHi Rose,
Me too! Throw in some khaki and I’m in heaven. 🙂
Once you check it out let me know what you think. I hope you like it!
tanya says
February 24th, 2009 at 7:05 amthat coral goddess is calling my name….i’m ready for summer!
tanya´s last blog post..balmain bliss
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 8:40 amHi Tanya,
I’m ready for summer, too. I could really go for some beach weather right now. 🙂
cloudburst says
February 24th, 2009 at 9:02 amI almost never even look at EL’s makeup b/c I don’t find their colours inspiring (with the exception of the line they did for Tom Ford). However, this collection looks gorgeous! Especially the e/s palette. Golden Goddess l/s looks great too.
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 9:03 amHi Nina,
I love it, too — almost as much as Fuchsia Now!
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 9:04 amHi Glosslizard,
The gold and bronze shades apply pretty cool! Maybe you can pull it off. 🙂
Karen says
February 24th, 2009 at 9:05 amHi Cloudburst,
I gasped when I saw the palette. It’s one of my favorites from EL so far!
Jian says
February 24th, 2009 at 10:28 amOoh, those gloss sticks look suspiciously similiar to the Clinique colour surge butter shine lipsticks…
Fair says
February 24th, 2009 at 10:38 amThe Sand & Sea palette is really pretty, but I know for a fact three of the colors are too pale for my skintone. 🙁 I need another palette to rival my love for the Spiced Chocolate quad a.s.a.p.
Faye says
February 24th, 2009 at 1:03 pmKaren, you should definitely try the stick glosses when you get a chance. I bought four of them a few weeks ago and they are freaking gorgeous — and the feel is divine! They have great pigmentation and staying power, but they feel smooth, moisturizing, and glossy. Instant love.
They didn’t have the eye palette when I was there, though . . . now I have to go back.
Katie says
February 24th, 2009 at 1:34 pmHi Karen,
On the topic of bronzing….do you have any favorite self-tanners or self tanning tips for me? I’m trying to find a good face tanner that won’t make me look like I’m wearing self tanner.
Thanks!
Catherine says
February 24th, 2009 at 3:10 pmWOW! You know, Estee Lauder is not usually the brand I think of when I think of exciting makeup collections, but this is so gorgeous! My heart about stopped when I saw the Sand & Sea eyeshadow palette. And Summer Melon might just be the perfect coral I’ve been looking for!
Louise Gray says
February 24th, 2009 at 3:34 pmHey!
Those colors are just beautiful and up my alley. BUT….
I want to wait and see what Karl has to offer me. hahahahah
Even though the cheap so and so is discontinuing samples or so I have heard. How you doin’, otherwise???
Louise
lexi says
February 24th, 2009 at 7:11 pmhi Karen,
I have NEVER been excited over an estee lauder collection…till now!!! ME LIKEY!!!
Karen says
February 25th, 2009 at 7:56 amHi Lexi,
Right? My makeup spider senses immediately started tingling when I saw that palette. It’s gonna be SO ON!
Michelle says
February 24th, 2009 at 7:26 pmI agree on your picks, the palette, the eyeliner duo and the coral gloss. I also like the nude almond. How would you use that bright eyeliner Karen? I have a few color liners but I hardly use them. I don’t know if I should use the same color eyeshadow, or if that’s too much. I read in a magazine once that you can simply skip eyeshadow all together and line your eyes with bright color, then finish off with two coats of mascara. What do you do?
Karen says
February 25th, 2009 at 8:03 amHi Michelle,
I would do one of two things:
1. I’d wear it by itself on the top lash line with a ton of mascara or false lashes (assuming I could get my act together and apply the false lashes decently) or
2. I’d wear it on the upper or lower lash line with a complementary powder eyeshadow layered on top of it. When I layer I like to do it to create a gradient of color so I wouldn’t necessarily use a matching shade. I’d probably find a color that works with it to change it just a little, like a brown, black or purple (or any other shade that I thought looked cool).
Marisol says
February 24th, 2009 at 7:33 pmPretty colors! I like the intensity of the liner too.
Marisol´s last blog post..My wannabe Apartment Therapy bookcase
Karen says
February 25th, 2009 at 8:03 amHi Marisol,
The liner is no joke. It even lasted through a shower!
Gloria says
February 25th, 2009 at 12:20 amThe eyeshadow palette really reminds me of an eyeshadow palette from Lavshuca (Japanese brand). It was part of their Summer 2008 collection. I’ve never seen it in person (tried getting it since my sister left Taiwan before the stores received it), but I’ve seen a lot of pictures. Kathi at Lotus Palace has good pix here: http://lotuspalace.blogspot.com/2008/05/kanebo-lavshuca-summer-2008.html
It’s really similar, no?
I really should have gotten it since everytime I look at its pictures, I’m just like, “oooh pretty!”
Gloria´s last blog post..Webcam Fun and Work Issues
ParisB says
February 25th, 2009 at 1:54 amBronzer’s not my thing but these do look pretty. I’m waiting for you to get the Vivid Beauty collection so I have an idea about the illuminating powder 🙂
ParisB´s last blog post..Review: Stila Precious Pearl eyeshadow palette
Michelle says
February 25th, 2009 at 3:23 pmOh okay great, thanks for the tips, this really helps 🙂
Meghan says
February 25th, 2009 at 5:27 pmi LOVE the eyeliner, what a beautiful shade. i also really like the pop pink, i dont have a shade like that. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good pink like that from mac or any of the brands at sephora?
Miss J says
February 28th, 2009 at 4:18 pmOMG i want those bronzer – both matte and shimmer!
heyhey says
March 1st, 2009 at 1:55 pmI have to concur those turquoise/teal/gold colors look AWESOME on olive skin. I’m surprised. I’d have walked right past that color palette prior*, but having seen these swatch tests it might be time to hit the EL counter. It’s like a trip to the meditteranean coast — on your face.
*particularly because other sites I’ve see demo swatches on reallllly light skin, which frankly is nearly useless for me.