Hey Y'all!!!
I first spotted the Estee Lauder Pure Color High Intensity Lip Lacquers back in late August. I had tested a few shades on my hand. None of the shades in the collection had caught my eye with the exception of Mirrored Mauve. I liked Mirrored Mauve not because it was a unique shade, rather mauves shades are my favorite by default. It is a magnetic attraction!
These richly pigmented liquid lip colors cost $25. Given the high price point, I was a bit hesitant to purchase these lip products until I felt that these were truly impressive. Just in time my mom received a 10% coupon to Dillard's (a U.S. department store). Fortunately, Dillard's, unlike Macy's, Belk, and Kohl's, does not exclude cosmetics/fragrances from the 10% coupon it sends out to its store-card holders. Although 10% is not much, it at least covers a little more than the state retail tax (7 - 9%).
Packaging
Classy. I like this gold. This gold packaging looks much more elegant and sturdier, yet simpler, than the gold tubes of YSL lipsticks.
I first spotted the Estee Lauder Pure Color High Intensity Lip Lacquers back in late August. I had tested a few shades on my hand. None of the shades in the collection had caught my eye with the exception of Mirrored Mauve. I liked Mirrored Mauve not because it was a unique shade, rather mauves shades are my favorite by default. It is a magnetic attraction!
Price
It is my impression that Estee Lauder is a brand that attracts individuals from an older age group (mid-30s onwards). Apparently, these days people are saying 30 is the new 20 and most days I do feel as if I have the "naivety" of a 14 year old. Wow! Why did I go off on this tangent? Anyways, I feel like young women (early to late 20s) in the beauty-blogger-sphere are more aware of brands such as Urban Decay, Benefit Cosmetics, Too Faced, Tarte, etc. rather than Estee Lauder.
Some of my most favorite products are from Estee Lauder - Sumptuous Lash Volumizing Mascara, Pure Color Blush, Pure Color Lipsticks, and now these Lip Lacquers.
Packaging
Classy. I like this gold. This gold packaging looks much more elegant and sturdier, yet simpler, than the gold tubes of YSL lipsticks.
Estee Lauder Pure Color High Intensity Lip Lacquer is an opaque liquid lip product. It is an intensely pigmented synthesis of a gloss and lipstick. Lacquers are most often thicker than glosses with a patent leather sort of shine and not the sheer shimmer/sheen shine of a traditional gloss.
The swatches on my arm in the pictures below demonstrate the saturated color that appears by just a single swipe of the sponge-tip applicator across the arm. Due to its rich pigmentation, this product must be applied carefully and in front of a mirror. These lacquers can be worn on top of a lip balm, unlike a stain-gloss that requires dry clean lips.
Mirrored Mauve
Wet Plum
Amber Halo
When these lacquers are first applied, your lips may feel slightly uncomfortable. No, you will not feel a tingling, burning, or stinging sensation. These are not lip plumping products. No, these do not have a minty or pepperminty scent. What am I talking about then? Initially, these lacquers make my lips feel as if they are "trapped", like I have a film of some sort covering my lips. So, these lacquers adhere to your lips, which makes you feel like some foreign thing, like honey, is sticking to your lips, but not to worry because it is not a tacky-sticky feeling. In just a few seconds though this feeling on my lips disappears.
The few seconds of heaviness is definitely worth it because once these lacquers set in place, the weighty feeling is lifted and you are left with a youthful, colorful pout. The only downside to these lacquers is that sometimes, but not always, my lips feel dry after this product wears off or I remove it. It makes me feel like my lips were exfoliated. This might only be an issue for people with chapped lips. I don't have chapped lips. My lips can get a bit dry from time to time if I am dehydrated or have the heat on too high in the car or at home.
Lip Swatches
Wet Plum - shades like MAC's Rebel or Urban Decay's Venom look awful on me. This on the other hand suits me perfectly. Sometimes you just need to find the right brand or formula or shade of a particular color and then it suits you so well as if it was specially designed for you.
Amber Halo - I think this is the first traditional beige-nude shade to suit me. I have tried so many nude lipsticks in the hopes of achieving the Jennifer Lopez's or Eva Longoria's trademark caramel-beige-nude pout, but every lip color I tried would look chalky on me... until I found this one!
Mirrored Mauve - this color fooled me. On my hands it looks like a warm mid-tone mauve pink. However, on my lips it appears more cool/blue-toned and much brighter. This is the barbie hot pink for my beige-olive (Southeast Asian / Middle Eastern) skin tone.
Demo Swatches
Wet Plum
Amber Halo
Mirrored Mauve
If you like YSL glossy stains, but want a cheaper alternative. If you like liquid lipsticks, but want something more glossy than matte (ahem ahem like Stila or Armani). If you like long-wear glosses, but want more pigmentation and color variety. If you like the Maybelline Color Elixirs or L'Oreal Extraordinaire Lip Colors, but feel like something is still missing (i.e., poor pigmentation, too much slip, etc.)? The Estee Lauder Pure Color High Intensity Lip Lacquer is the answer for y'all!!!
Please support StrawberryHeartsChocolateDarts @
Your friendly comments are much appreciated.
Thanks!
Pretty colors!! I like amber halo a lot!! The gold in the packaging is gorgeous
ReplyDeleteGreat review!! I love Amber Halo on you, it truly is the perfect glam nude color! I really want that one! I feel that Estee is seriously overlooked, but it shouldn't be!!
ReplyDeleteOk, you have convinced me to try these. I want Amber Halo! I shop for cosmetics at Dillards too. :)
ReplyDeleteThose are pretty colors! Estée Lauder has great products!
ReplyDeleteThese have great pigmentation! I'm not much for liquid lipstick, but they look nice.
ReplyDeleteDes Simple Charm Beauty