Review of Estee Lauder: New website and cosmetics review for Blogher
Sunday, November 23, 2008
I was given the opportunity to order $100 of makeup from esteelauder.com to review their new web site and their products through BlogHer . As I received money to order product, this is a paid review, but it does not influence the opinions expressed here.
The main word I would use to describe Estee Lauder cosmetic line and their website is PRETTY. They are packaging and marketing geniuses. Everything about their site and their line is very pleasing to the eye. The site itself is slow loading on my computer but that is mainly due to the fact that I have an Internet connection that runs at the pace of cold tar.
Their site is easy to navigate and has several tabbed options to look at that include how-to tips, instructional videos, what's new and special offers. I have always loved Estee Lauder's gift packages. Right now there is a 5-piece gift option for purchases over $50.00 to die for. The eyeshadow pallet alone would be worth it.
As I navigated the site I noticed that they have several options for the user to get help with questions and to find the right product. They have a tool called imatch foundation finder that helps you find the right foundation for you and your lifestyle. I will admit to being frightened about trying to order foundation that I had never used online. I have difficult skin to match and so I was not sure that I could trust ordering something I had never tried that would look good on me. However, since it was not on my dime, it made me a little braver and so I tried imatch out.
It took me through questions about my skin tone, type, and my preferences for coverage and then recommended two different foundations for me. I ended up selecting Resilience Lift Extreme in fair. I love this foundation. It gives a nice, medium coverage that isn't too sheer or too thick. The best part about it is that it is very creamy and applies like a dream. Often, because I have combination skin that leans towards the dry side, foundation that I select that doesn't feel drying often ends up leaving my face feeling like it is slathered in a layer of oily goo. This foundation left my skin feeling creamy and lovely hours later. The shade was PERFECT. I couldn't believe it. Of all cosmetic products, it is essential to get the right foundation shade and I couldn't believe how well the imatch tool worked. Big thumbs up for it!
I also used their skin care finder to select a face wash. This wasn't nearly as scary as thinking about ordering foundation online. I have found a moisturizer that I LOVE (sorry, Estee...it's from a different line), but I have been unable to find a face wash that I am happy with. I wanted something that did not exfoliate (I have one of those as well) but would also be non-drying and non-oily. They recommended Soft Clean Foaming Moisturizing Cleanser.
For me, this purchase was the most bang for your buck. It's a reasonable $19.00 for 4.2 oz. I was surprised at how large the tube was and you only need to use a tiny bit because this product goes a long way. It did a great job and felt sooooo good on my skin. It left it feeling soft and dewey and supple instead of taught and dry like a lot of cleansers. It moisturized without going overboard by feeling greasy. The only drawback is that the scent is rose petal and a little too strong for me. It almost borders on grandma smell, but still doesn't cross the line, so it's fine. I think I am going to be very happy with this product and will buy it again.
I spent the rest of my stipend on lip products. I have plenty of lipsticks and so I ordered a lip pencil and two different lip glosses. I have to admit that I was disappointed in everything else I purchased. My main complain is that there are no real options for sheer or even neutral lip glosses. The colors are very bold and bright and that really is not what I am looking for in a lip gloss. I wanted to get one bold lip gloss and one sheer, moisturizing lip gloss.
For bold color, Pure Gloss lip gloss is your product! It has coverage as good as a lipstick and a brilliant shine to it. The biggest drawback, and it is a big one, is that it is quite sticky. I don't see me wearing this every day but I do like that I have it in my makeup bag for nights out. Because their Carmel color was sold out, I ended up ordering Tender Lip Balm in Berry. HELLO PINK! It is very shiny and very pink. It does moisturize my lips well and has an SPF of 15, but the size of the tube is not very generous, it has a slight taste to it that I don't really care for and is a bit sticky. The main drawback is the color, though. I don't know how often I'll wear it.
My last product was the Twist Up Automatic Lip Duo. I think I would have been happier ordering the regular lip pencil. While the brush on the end is helpful, the refills are a bit of a pain and I wasn't happy with the color selection. There really weren't many options for a neutral shade and while I do like that the pencil is highly pigmented for long use, I just don't care for the color.
They do have a live chat option with a beauty consultant that I wish I had taken advantage of to ask for help with ordering my lip product, but I find those sorts of functions intimidating. I regret not trying it out, though. If only they had a tool for finding lip products that they do for skin care and foundation!
My end verdict is that there are lots of great things to find at Estee Lauder and with their new website. I will be back to look at more of their skin care and foundations. I don't know if I will give their lip line another go, but I will definitely shop here again. Maybe I'll order $50.00 of stuff just to get my hands on that awesome gift pack, because it looks amazing.
Labels: cosmetics, estee lauder, review
