Estee Lauder Pure Color DESIRE ROUGE EXCESS LIPSTICKS Review, Swatches

Estee Lauder Pure Color DESIRE ROUGE EXCESS LIPSTICKS Review, Swatches

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, July 18, 2019

For me, the biggest problem with the Estee Lauder Pure Color Desire Rouge Excess Lipsticks is that name. WHY Pure Color? Why not start a whole new range instead of adding length - and confusing - to a handle?
I'll explain.
First, we had the Estee Lauder Pure Color lipsticks. Then came the Pure Color ENVY Sculpting lipsticks (reviewed here) - regular first, followed by a matte range. Then, we had the Pure Color LOVE Lipsticks (reviewed here). Liquid lipsticks followed (all reviewed here) - Pure Color Love Liquid lip colours, and Pure Color PAINT-ON Liquid Lipsticks. ARGH! Stop already! Can't they remove the "Pure Color" suffix at least now? Why is it on every darn lipstick launch ever? Surely Estee Lauder Desire Rouge Excess is enough without tacking on Pure Color in there?
Enough ranting about the name. Let's talk about the lipsticks themselves. These come in stunning packaging, possibly the best we've seen from Estee Lauder. Very heavy metal. All gold. Satisfying click. Incidentally, these are the lipsticks that are supposed to have the highest percentage of pigment in any Estee Lauder lipstick so far.

Scroll down for the review, swatches, and demo of the Estee Lauder Pure Color Desire Rouge Excess Lipsticks.

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Best of Beauty 2017: Favourite Lipsticks

Best of Beauty 2017: Favourite Lipsticks

Reviews Cosmetopia Digest   Sunday, December 31, 2017

Here's my penultimate post of the year (yes, there's one more left, and no, it isn't "Happy New Year", haha). This is the last installment of the Best of Beauty 2017 trilogy. It features my favourite lip products. Not just lipsticks - I've included my favourite bullet and liquid lipsticks, lip liners, toppers, balm, and glosses. Should probably have added a scrub - but nothing much wowed me this year, and it turns out that my favourite Lush Bubblegum breaks me out around my mouth. Pretty much all Lush products have been breaking me out badly - I wonder why!
Anyway, favourite lipsticks.

Scroll down to check out my favourite lip products for 2017 - including lipsticks, lip glosses, lip liners, balms, and more. 

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Best Beauty Advent Calendars For 2017: Holiday Gift Guide

Best Beauty Advent Calendars For 2017: Holiday Gift Guide

Selfridges Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, October 06, 2017

This year, there are so many new names jumping on the Beauty Advent Calendar bandwagon, right from luxury store Harrods, to drugstore favourite Soap & Glory. Which hopefully means that the brands which previously had Beauty Advent Calendars would have to up the ante and make their calendars better than ever before, right?
LookFantastic has certainly done that this year, as also FeelUnique and ASOS. This ensures that you are coming back for next year's box!
Given that there are now more than 50 different Beauty Advent Calendars out there, I was hard-pressed to narrow it down to 15. So this - calendars which have improved with each year - became a criterion, and I've also included some of the new names, based on the contents.

Scroll down for the best Beauty Advent Calendars for Holiday 2017, including prices, contents, where to buy, and more.

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Estee Lauder Pure Color Love Lipsticks Review, Swatches

Estee Lauder Pure Color Love Lipsticks Review, Swatches

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Estee Lauder's Pure Color Love Lipsticks came out earlier this year. Despite having "Pure Color" in the name, the packaging and look seemed to be a departure from the Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipsticks - see review here and here. I picked up three after falling in love with the shades in-store.
There are different sets in this range - Matte, Pearl, Chrome/Foil, and Creme. I only picked the creme ones; you get enough matte from liquid lipsticks, and I like my bullets lippies to be hydrating when I touch-up.
There are 30 shades in the range, and there's something for everyone, from the subtlest of neutrals to the vampiest and boldest lippies. 

Scroll down for the review, swatches, and demo of the Estee Lauder Pure Color Love Lipsticks.

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Mid-2017 Makeup Haul, Including 10 Lipsticks!

Mid-2017 Makeup Haul, Including 10 Lipsticks!

YSL Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, August 15, 2017

I usually go on two makeup shopping-sprees in a year - the first one is around June-July, and the second one is around Christmas/Boxing Day, to take advantage of the sales.
This year, my haul was mostly from Harvey Nichols (I missed a gorgeous GWP by one day; can you believe it?), Selfridges, and Debenhams. The haul included 10 lipsticks, but just the two eye palettes. But why am I talking about it? You can see my haul for yourself further below.

Scroll down to see my mid-2017 makeup haul from Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and Debenhams.

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2015 Favourites: 10 Best Eyeshadow Palettes

2015 Favourites: 10 Best Eyeshadow Palettes

Urban Decay Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, December 31, 2015

Happy New Year's Eve! I am staying indoors for the first time in years because the breakout I thought was acne is actually an infection I caught after travelling to flood-infested areas three weeks ago. My GP did a swab and culture - I'm running a temperature and have withdrawn from public life for the next three weeks.
This was one of the most difficult posts of 2015 for me - narrowing down my favourite eyeshadow palettes of the year to just 10. I had to leave out some favourite staples such as Cargo Cosmetics Summer in the City and MUA Spring Break.

Scroll down for the list of my 10 favourite eyeshadow palettes for 2015.

Disclaimer: Favourites lists are entirely subjective. What may be an awesome product to one person may not work at all for another.

FOTD: Holiday Bold Lip Makeup Ft. Bourjois Air Mat Foundation, Estee Lauder Colour Portfolio

FOTD: Holiday Bold Lip Makeup Ft. Bourjois Air Mat Foundation, Estee Lauder Colour Portfolio

Smoky eye Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Dusty rose is the lip colour I reach for about 90 per cent of the time. The other 10 per cent, I reach for similar subtle neutrals, mauves or corals. I was flipping through my 2015 diary and saw the New Year Resolutions made last January - experimenting with bolder lipstick was on the list. A pity to let the year go by without trying it out, so I reached for a recent golden orange-red purchase.

Scroll down for my Holiday makeup look, featuring bold lipstick, Bourjois Air Mat Foundation and Estee Lauder Colour Portfolio 2015.

Estee Lauder Colour Portfolio Ultimate Makeup Kit for Holiday 2015 Review, Swatches, EOTD

Estee Lauder Colour Portfolio Ultimate Makeup Kit for Holiday 2015 Review, Swatches, EOTD

Travel Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, December 21, 2015

Did you like the Lancome Auda[City] in Paris eyeshadow palette, reviewed here? If yes, you need the Estee Lauder Colour Portfolio Ultimate Makeup Kit for Holiday 2015. No, they are not dupes. Similar soft neutrals across the spectrum - not just meh browns, but also rosy, khaki, purple and smoky shades. A similar wearable mix of s shimmers, satins and mattes without chunky glitter.

Scroll down for the review and swatches of the Estee Lauder Colour Portfolio Ultimate Makeup Kit for Holiday 2015.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick swatches: Intense Nude, Tumultous Pink

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick swatches: Intense Nude, Tumultous Pink

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, February 26, 2015

Rich, creamy goodness in 20 classic shades from Estee Lauder.

If you have already seen my review and swatch of Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in shade 410 or Dynamic here, you know I love the range. I now have more lipsticks to show you from this Fall 2014 launch. Intensely creamy and pigmented, these lipsticks have better staying power than is expected of regular bullet lipsticks, and come in 20 mostly classic shades. 
I am not going to waffle on about packaging, formula and so on, since I already waxed eloquent in my review of Dynamic. Suffice it to say that Intense Nude is even softer and creamier. It may not last the promised six hours on me, but definitely manages four.

Check out my swatches of Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Intense Nude and Tumultous Pink.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting lipstick 410 Dynamic review, swatches

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting lipstick 410 Dynamic review, swatches

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, August 14, 2014

There is nothing quite like discovering a new lipstick you love for every reason - shade, formula, texture, pigmentation....
I hit my favourite Estee Lauder counter recently, and the SA showed me the Pure Color Envy Sculpting lipsticks, which were launched earlier this year. There are 20 shades in this range of pigmented, moisturising lippies. While I swear by the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Lip Duos seen here, I was intrigued enough to pick one. I tried out three other testers as well - Insatiable Ivory, Intense N*de and Rebellious Rose, but she did not have two of those in stock and I was on the fence about the third, so I had to settle for shade 410 Dynamic. I have asked her to let me know when they turn up. I also picked up a couple of samples, which I will show you along with the other products I bought.

Here is my review and swatch of the Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in shade 410 Dynamic.

Estee Lauder and Dior birthday haul, and presents

Estee Lauder and Dior birthday haul, and presents

Skin care Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, April 15, 2014

It was my birthday yesterday so I took the day off for a bit of much-needed "me-time". I had ended my shopping ban in the last week of March to pick up some treats for myself. The beauty goodies are mostly skin care and a powder compact - I only use pressed powder foundation, which itself gives me a dewy look soon enough, given how oily my face is. If I dared to use liquid or cream foundation, my face would be swimming in oil, even if I set it with powder. Besides, pressed powder applied with the Beautyblender Pro lasts longest on my skin, keeps me matte for longer and saves time on "setting".
Enough about the glories of pressed powder foundation; here are a few things I hauled, and a few prezzies I received.

Gradient NOTD with Estee Lauder Hot Coral and OPI Chopsticking To My Story

Gradient NOTD with Estee Lauder Hot Coral and OPI Chopsticking To My Story

O.P.I. Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, April 09, 2014

I received a bottle of Estee Lauder nail polish in Hot Coral for my birthday last year, and had swatched it here. With my birthday coming up on Monday, I thought it would be nice to pull out Hot Coral again and do something different with it.
This time, I went in for ombre or gradient or sponge nail art. Call it what you will, I have found it difficult to get the different shades of polish to blend seamlessly. This is my best effort till date, and is far from perfect. I used O.P.I. Chopsticking To My Story along with Hot Coral, because the latter was a little too tomato red and I wanted to "orange" out the coral a little. The above photograph is indoors, with flash.

September 2013 empties

September 2013 empties

Soap and Glory Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, October 01, 2013

I managed to use up a full-sized body butter for the first time ever, thanks to full-body moisturising! Here are the products I finished in September 2013:

August 2013 empties

August 2013 empties

Vichy Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Apart from some Lush empties which I can't photograph since I exchanged the pots for a mask (see previous post here and my Lush empties here), I used up more full-size products in August than I did in the last couple of months!
Full-size empties:

Manicure: Estee Lauder nail polish in Hot Coral and flakie

Manicure: Estee Lauder nail polish in Hot Coral and flakie

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, August 21, 2013

I'm not a season/trend person and it took me a while to cotton on to the coral-in-summer-2013 trend. But I had received an Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Hot Coral for my birthday and fell in love with the super-fab packaging and the colour. It is my most expensive polish till date.

Stain, scrub and salve: My top lip products

Stain, scrub and salve: My top lip products

Yes To Carrots Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, August 05, 2013

Five is too small a number, but this tag has been going around for a while and Shikha of Sorelle Grapevine, who tagged me, insists that I need to stick to five. So I'm sort of cheating with an also-rans section!
Here are my Holy Grail lip products:
1. Chanel Rouge Double Intensite in Rose Garnet
2. Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub
3. Smith's Rosebud Salve
4. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil in N@ked
5. Lancome La Laque Fever in Chromed Pink

July 2013 empties

July 2013 empties

Primer Cosmetopia Digest   Sunday, August 04, 2013

I haven't used up many products in July, though I need to finish three Lush pots in August so I have five to return at the shop when I go on my quarterly Lush haul.

The only full-size product I used up in July was the Palmer's Moisturising Body Oil. For people who have been skiving off full-body moisturising like me, I recommend this body oil. It is incredibly non-greasy and you only need a few drops just after your shower and all those reptilian fish scales will soon be gone. It is great value for money as a full-body moisturiser. I'm on my second bottle now.
I finished up the Kava Kava 60 second mask for dry, damaged hair from my July Glam Guru Box. There was plenty of product for one use and it helped reduce frizz post-wash.

Debate: The world's top five cosmetics companies

Debate: The world's top five cosmetics companies

Shiseido Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, March 18, 2013

Wikipedia has a list of the world's top five cosmetics companies. The order, by revenue, as of 2012, is:

1. Procter & Gamble (owns Olay, SK-II, Max Factor and CoverGirl)
2. L'Oreal (Blimey. Owns everything from Lancome to YSL, Urban Decay, Essie, Maybelline....)
3. Unilever (TRESemme, Noxzema, Dove and so on)
4. Shiseido (Owns NARS, BareMinerals and so on)
5. Avon

War-time supplies: A make-up hoarder confesses

War-time supplies: A make-up hoarder confesses

YSL Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, March 12, 2013

War is coming. 
If you look at my make-up hoard, you may be forgiven for getting that impression.
I decided to go through the top-most shelf in my dressing-table cupboard and was shocked to find quite a few items I've repurchased time and again, despite already having enough of the product. So this is another rather shameful yet honest post about my weirdness and how I've hoarded stuff.
Here is Benefit Porefessional. My all-time favourite primer. I'm using one tube for special occasions (more on my daily primer later), and I had a vague idea that I had another full tube somewhere inside. Turns out I have two more.
I like Benefit Dr Feelgood, though it's not an everyday item for me. I haven't even scraped the top layer off the first tin, and I seem to have bought another.
Chanel Rouge Double Intensite in Rose Garnet turned up six times. I love this colour and it is my all-time favourite lippy. I keep a tube in my bag and one for travel, but what are the other four doing???

Four items answered to the name of Estee Lauder's Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Duo in Mega Mauve. I can't even remember buying this lippy more than two times.
I also have three YSL Touche Eclats. It is my all-time favourite concealer, and I'm only using the first one. And why do I have so many refills of Shiseido's Sheer Mattifying Compact and Sun Protection Compact? These are in addition to the ones in two compact cases - one in my daily make-up bag and one for travel.

So you think I only hoard high-end products? Here are four Revlon Colorstay Ultimate lippies - all in shade 75. And I don't even like the shade or the formula!
I cannot, for the life of me, tell you why I've gone and bought three of these L'Oreal Smoothing Serums. They're okay for pre-styling use, though I prefer John Frieda. Still, three full-size bottles?

I also found three anti-dandruff shampoos which I no longer use, thanks to Lush Snake Oil. By the way, these are all from the top-most shelf. I haven't dared to look at the other shelves, bags or drawers.
I have just taken a solemn oath, by all make-up ever known to humans, not to buy any more of these products until I'm on the last tube or case of each. Does anyone else hoard like this?

Green EOTD: MAC Treat Me Nice liner and Bourjois Smoky Eyes in Vert Trendy

Green EOTD: MAC Treat Me Nice liner and Bourjois Smoky Eyes in Vert Trendy

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, February 15, 2013

I wanted to use my favourite green eyeliner - M.A.C.'s Treat Me Nice - last night (so it is an EOTN, not EOTD). M.A.C.'s liquid liners have really good brushes which don't fall off and the formula does not come out sheer or in clumps.