IF you’re into beauty, there are some things you must try at least once, no matter how expensive or unattainable they are at the moment.
Only someone who’s into beauty and isn’t really rich would purchase a foundation worth over P1,000. I mean, why would you? There are drugstore foundations that work, right?
But if you’re someone who lives and breathes beauty (not to be confused with someone who’s already beautiful to begin with), there is a difference even if you’re the only one who notices it.
Drugstore foundations, with the exception of a few, usually turn pink on me. Sometimes, these foundations are okay for one or two hours and then they disappear. I mean, I do the whole moisturizer-primer-setting spray routine, and the foundations just seem to vanish.
“I can’t believe you’ve never tried ELDW!” exclaimed a beauty blogger friend after I told her I’d never tried Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup.
“I use it during the summer, and it can withstand even profuse sweating,” she added.
So I finally got a bottle of ELDW in Warm Creme. The bottle came with a pump, which is apparently a big deal. A bottle costs P2,400.
I don’t know how much the pump is. That amount might seem too expensive for a small bottle of foundation but if you’re looking for something that won’t fade in our weather, then this is it.
I’m kind of lazy to powder my face after applying foundation, and I usually go for the dewy look. Even without a setting powder, ELDW really goes the distance. To apply, it’s better to use a sponge or your fingers. The foundation sets really quickly, and it can set on your face if unblended right away. I work on my face in portions, using a damp Beautyblender.
You need to prep your skin before applying ELDW. I tone and moisturize after cleansing. If your skin is dry, you can mix the foundation with a bit of oil (I use MAC Prep+Prime Essential Oils) to make it more workable.
Estée Lauder claims that ELDW lasts for 24 hours. Does it? I would never wear any foundation for 15 hours, but I did wear ELDW for 10 hours, and it didn’t fade or transfer. I didn’t need to retouch, too. I think I used blotting papers on the seventh hour, but that’s about it.
You need an extra strength makeup remover for ELDW. Micellar water isn’t enough. I normally use the Banila Co Clean It Zero followed by Simple Micellar Cleansing Wipes. Then, I wash with whatever cleanser I’m using at the moment.
If there is anything I don’t like about ELDW, it’s that it’s a pain to take off. But that is outweighed by the fact that it lives up to its name and is really long-wearing.
If you want something lighter but still long wearing, the Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup is the weightless UVF-fighting version of ELDW.
I haven’t tried that yet. What I have tried is the amazing and life-changing Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II. The hype is real for this one.
This serum is supposed to be used at night (just two drops). You wake up with soft and supple skin. After five days, you’ll see a visible difference in terms of skin tone and brightness. I sometimes use this during the day (half a drop) mixed with foundation.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II is oil-free and nonacnegenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores). It’s also fragrance-free, if you have sensitive skin.
The product isn’t just for antiaging. It can be used by women in their 20s with acne scarring. More about Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II in future columns.