review: estée lauder idealist even skintone illuminator.

last week i was flicking through stylist magazine when this advert for estée lauder's even skintone illuminator caught my eye. i admit that i have limited experience with the brand (we fell out once they discontinued my favourite eyebrow pencil) and so i was doubly intrigued by this new product.

it purports to be some kind of super base (BOOMBADABABOOMBADADA BASS... sorry) and promises to even out complexions and minimise the appearance of blemishes, all while illuminating the skin. definitely the sort of product i've been looking for since the dawn of time. i therefore had made up my mind and go and seek it out... that is until...

nails - barry m (peach melba).

... a sample was waiting for me further on in the magazine! woohoo! it was clearly fate. i do wish that more magazines gave more cosmetic samples rather than perfume samples (one sniff and the joy is over) or foundation samples (which won't cater for everyone) to be honest. so, i went home rather chuffed and excited to try it out.

now, i'm going to be mean and give you nightmares but this has to be done: a 'before' photo of my skin without any make-up on. i mean, i personally couldn't care less but i understand that some of you may be easily traumatised - and consider this a disclaimer, because i am not paying for any therapy you may require thereafter. as you have probably gathered, my skin is pore central, with dark circles around my eyes. i have some redness on my cheeks and around my nose, along with some old scars from spots. i also have eyebags large enough to store britain's debt.

before.

my first impressions of the product were good - it looked like a yellowy, tinted lotion, and had a lovely citrus smell. i applied it sparingly at first, and then looked in the mirror. hmm, no change. i then applied some more. once again, no change. i then used up all of the sample, and failed yet again to see any sort of even complexion before me. this irked me somewhat, for sure.

by this point the product felt quite thick on my face, and took a while to absorb into the skin. it does illuminate your skin, but frankly, i fail to see how it wouldn't - because even moisturising can accomplish the same effect. however, i do believe that it would act as a nice base for make-up, as my foundation glided on top and stayed put all day... but that isn't something that my (cheaper) primers are incapable of.

after.

suffice to say, i'm glad that i got the chance to try before i buy, because it really didn't work for me. it costs £46 (OUCH!) and boy, i'm so happy my money didn't go down the drain. sorry estée lauder! in other news, i'm really enjoying brick tones (so oranges, reds, browns, terracottas) as of late because it warms up my face. it's definitely more of a summer look but i'm so wild and crazy and off the rails that i'm wearing it now.

 jumper - river island.

face: estée lauder even skintone illuminator, no 7 essential natural mineral foundation (220 light beige), bourjois healthy mix foundation (2), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: maybelline gel liner, mac studio fix lash (black), mac eyebrow pencil (stud), the body shop brow & lash gel.
cheeks: bourjois delice de poudre bronzing powder, sleek blush (rose gold), no 7 vital illuminating highlighter powder.
lips: chanel (a mysterious shade from a long time ago - the label has rubbed off).

the shade of this lipstick is killing me. it's from a long time ago (much longer than i'd like to admit) so if you suspect you know the shade name, do let me know! it's definitely discontinued though which is a shame. it's a nice orange terracotta and completely unlike anything out there right now - which is probably testament to how old it is, hence it being out of style! haha.