Monday, July 7, 2014

Estee Lauder Perfectionist Foundation; Review & Swatches of Shades

Estee Lauder Perfectionist Youth Infusing Makeup SPF 25
New for Fall 2014
Price: $45 per ounce, (also available for
$45 is the New Perfectionist Sculpting Brush)

Estee Lauder has just released their newest foundation which is a foundation & serum hybrid. Perfectionist promises to "reignite your youth", firm, brighten, hydrate and basically cure all signs of aging in 8 weeks...
Estee Lauder's new Perfectionist Youth Infusing Makeup is following suit with the current trend of combining- (no I'm sorry; infusing) foundations with a miracle cure serum for the ultimate two in one product.

Cosmetic companies have released these serum foundations lately and it seems that (like the BB Creams,) every company will eventually release at least one of their own. Perricone MD Serum Foundation, Physicians Formula Youth Infusing Foundation, Bare Escentuals Brightening Serum, and even It Cosmetics CC Veil Beauty Fluid Foundation and Urban Decay Naked Weightless Foundation would have to fall in to this category.

Estee Lauder didn't make such a dramatic jump into the world of foundation & serum hybrids as they maintained a more traditional foundation with consistency with Perfectionist which has a thicker-than-many-liquids, but nowhere the thickness of a cream foundation.

My skin matches 1N1 Ivory Nude which is pretty pale, but will be too dark for the fairest of the fair skintones. You'll probably find that your Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place shade is pretty compatible, although Double Wear is available in 31 shades and the Perfectionist is limited to 21 shades.)

Overall, I did like this foundation as a foundation but it didn't "wow" me and I didn't find it to be a revolutionary product. It does have some skincare type ingredients and cell-communicating ingredients in it, but they really are in a small quantity and most definitely will not be sufficient enough to replace your normal serum, but that's to be expected with these types of products.

The best anti-aging protection you'l get from this foundation is the SPF 25, especially considering that any key anti-aging ingredients won't remain stable in the glass bottle if they are exposed to light.

The consistency is smooth and it blends easily. It isn't thick like a cream foundation, but it is a little thicker than many of its watery serum-foundation competitors. Coverage is definitely a natural looking Medium and, while it can be built up to full, it definitely performs best when applied moderately versus heavily. (A light application is not an option if you want sun protection.)

Lasting power is better than many foundations, but this does not have the drying effect of many Long-Wearing, Transfer Resistant formulas, making this a good choice for those with normal-dry skin. Those with oily skin will probably find this to be too hydrating and the satin finish will only exacerbate oily areas.

Because it is summer right now, I find myself looking to wear more formulas suited for oily-skin than dry-skin, but come winter, my normal skin will likely be on the dry side and I'll find these formulas more compelling.

While I don't find satin finishes like this one offensive on their own and I don't mind a hint of shimmer, I'm not a huge fan of sparkles. I just find that their presence cheapens products rather than add the "ethereal glow" their intended for. The sparkles in the Perfectionist Foundation are not visible upon application, however, after drying and upon close examination, you can see some scarcely scattered fragments of glitter. It's not alot and its barely noticeable, but they are there so be warned.

Again, I find that the most impressive release in the Perfectionist Pair, was definitely the Perfectionist Sculpting Brush, but at $45, I personally just can't justify the price for the foundation or the brush.

For a Cruelty Free alternative,  Buxom Show Some Skin Weightless Foundation SPF 30  is incredible similar to Estee Lauder Perfectionist Foundation in almost every capacity.

Mally Ultimate Performance Liquid Foundation. and NYX Full Coverage Foundation are great foundation options if you don't need a foundation with sunscreen.

Also, check out It Cosmetics CC Veil Beauty Fluid Foundation SPF 50 which is a cushion foundation but has a similar finish and coverage level to the Perfectionist Youth Infusing Makeup.

Estee Lauder Perfectionist Youth Infusing Foundation, Swatches of Shades 1C1 Cool Bone, 2C1 Pure Beige, 2C3 Fresco, 3C2 Pebble, 5C1 Rich Chestnut, 6C1 Rich Cocoa 1W2 Sand, 2W1 Dawn, 2W2 Rattan, 3W1 Tawny, 3W2 Cashew, 4W1 Honey Bronze, 4C3 Soft Tan, 5W2 Rich Caramel, 6W1 Sandalwood 1N1 Ivory Nude, 2N1 Desert Beige, 3N1 Ivory Beige, 4N1 Shell Beige, 4N2 Spiced Sand, 5N1 Amber Honey
Estee Lauder Perfectionist Foundation, Swatches of Shades
Top Row-        1C1 Cool Bone, 2C1 Pure Beige, 2C3 Fresco, 3C2 Pebble, 5C1 Rich Chestnut, 6C1 Rich Cocoa

Middle Rown- 1W2 Sand, 2W1 Dawn, 2W2 Rattan, 3W1 Tawny, 3W2 Cashew, 4W1 Honey Bronze, 4C3 Soft Tan,                              5W2 Rich Caramel, 6W1 Sandalwood

Bottom Row-   1N1 Ivory Nude, 2N1 Desert Beige, 3N1 Ivory Beige, 4N1 Shell Beige, 4N2 Spiced Sand, 
                         5N1 Amber Honey
Estee Lauder Perfectionist Youth Infusing Foundation, Review & Swatches of Shades
Estee Lauder Perfectionist Foundation, Swatches of Shades
Top Row-        1C1 Cool Bone, 2C1 Pure Beige, 2C3 Fresco, 3C2 Pebble, 5C1 Rich Chestnut, 6C1 Rich Cocoa

Middle Rown- 1W2 Sand, 2W1 Dawn, 2W2 Rattan, 3W1 Tawny, 3W2 Cashew, 4W1 Honey Bronze, 4C3 Soft Tan,                              5W2 Rich Caramel, 6W1 Sandalwood

Bottom Row-   1N1 Ivory Nude, 2N1 Desert Beige, 3N1 Ivory Beige, 4N1 Shell Beige, 4N2 Spiced Sand, 
                         5N1 Amber Honey
Estee Lauder Youth Infusing Perfectionist Makeup SPF 25; Review & Swatches of Shades 1C1 Cool Bone, 2C1 Pure Beige, 2C3 Fresco, 3C2 Pebble, 5C1 Rich Chestnut, 6C1 Rich Cocoa  Middle Rown- 1W2 Sand, 2W1 Dawn, 2W2 Rattan, 3W1 Tawny, 3W2 Cashew, 4W1 Honey Bronze, 4C3 Soft Tan,                              5W2 Rich Caramel, 6W1 Sandalwood  Bottom Row-   1N1 Ivory Nude, 2N1 Desert Beige, 3N1 Ivory Beige, 4N1 Shell Beige, 4N2 Spiced Sand,5N1 Amber Honey
Estee Lauder Perfectionist Foundation, Swatches of Shades
Top Row-        1C1 Cool Bone, 2C1 Pure Beige, 2C3 Fresco, 3C2 Pebble, 5C1 Rich Chestnut, 6C1 Rich Cocoa

Middle Rown- 1W2 Sand, 2W1 Dawn, 2W2 Rattan, 3W1 Tawny, 3W2 Cashew, 4W1 Honey Bronze, 4C3 Soft Tan,                              5W2 Rich Caramel, 6W1 Sandalwood

Bottom Row-   1N1 Ivory Nude, 2N1 Desert Beige, 3N1 Ivory Beige, 4N1 Shell Beige, 4N2 Spiced Sand, 
                         5N1 Amber Honey
Estee Lauder Perfectionist Foundation; Review & Swatches of Shades
Estee Lauder Perfectionist Foundation, Swatches of Shades
Top Row-        1C1 Cool Bone, 2C1 Pure Beige, 2C3 Fresco, 3C2 Pebble, 5C1 Rich Chestnut, 6C1 Rich Cocoa

Middle Rown- 1W2 Sand, 2W1 Dawn, 2W2 Rattan, 3W1 Tawny, 3W2 Cashew, 4W1 Honey Bronze, 4C3 Soft Tan,                              5W2 Rich Caramel, 6W1 Sandalwood

Bottom Row-   1N1 Ivory Nude, 2N1 Desert Beige, 3N1 Ivory Beige, 4N1 Shell Beige, 4N2 Spiced Sand, 
                         5N1 Amber Honey

9 comments:

  1. I find this works best over a Japanese SS like Biore SaraSara (works like a primer and ups the SS ante). That way I can apply it thinly and evenly with a RealTechniques buffing brush and get immaculate coverage. The color Sand works for my NC25 ish tone. Just a couple drops for the whole face and it gives a natural MSBB finish. Not wild about the cyclopentasiloxane which triggers hormonal acne in some but over a SS it might work to prevent this. Samples are huge and should last a few weeks. Not affiliated with EL.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you found a match with sand, but I'm kind of sad the lightest warm shade is NC25. I will make a note that Sand=NC25. Thank you!

      I agree, samples are huge and if you can manage to get two 5ml samples that's 1/3 of a bottle- not too bad, you've gotten $15 worth of foundation WITHOUT supporting a company that tests on animals!*

      I agree with you 100% that you should always double up and use this over s sunscreen with proper UVA/UVB protection because most people wont apply liberally enough to get the full SPF!

      I wouldn't worry about the cyclopentasiloxane (CPS), research has consistently debunked the notion that silicones are in any way capable of triggering acne because the size of the molecule is too large to penetrate the pore. Unfortunately, people see cyclopentasiloxane especially, but also dimethicone on the bottle and assume that that's what was causing their breakouts because those are two of the first ingredients so they get all the blame.

      The irony of the situation is that cyclopentasiloxane is just as common (if not more so) in skincare, acne treatments, and primers than it is in cosmetics, and many of the most proven acne treatments on the market have little more than Salicylic Acid, water, and silicones to absorb the oil. Plus, extensive research has proven that silicones are gentle enough to use on burns and may actually help heal some scares!

      If people do have a sensitivity to texture, for whatever reason, I would recommend that they use a product with Cyclopentasiloxane instead of dimethicone because CPS evaporates/dries with exposure to air, but dimethicone is semi-water soluble and you can leave it out for 6 months without it drying up. None of this is bad, but I personally am a HUGE CPS fan and I prefer products that are CPS based vs Dimethicone based.

      *Just remember that many sales associates at departments stores are on partial commission (usually something like $6/hr + 3% of sales), you want to make sure that you dont punish any exceptionally helpful SA's if you're anti testing, so I will always be up front with them and when I have a Cruelty Free purchase, I will always bring it back to a SA who helped me- even if its not their counter!

      Sources:
      http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/silicone

      Delete
    2. How can Sand be the 'lightest warm shade' and be equal to NC25 which means 'neutral cool'?..

      Delete
    3. (I had trouble signing in, so 'anonymous' was the easiest way to post.)

      Delete
    4. This is a REALLY good question. MAC is one of the only companies in the world who does undertones the way they do. Most companies like Lauder, Lancome, L'Oreal, etc consider Yellow=Warm and Pink=Cool. Mac switched this up and called yellow NC and Pink NW.

      Many many many managers of MAC and makeup artists will tell you that even though NC means Neutral Cool the easiest way to remember it is NOT COOL because anyone who is NC in MAC has yellow undertones and will be considered WARM in almost every other brand.

      This is one of the prime examples of why you have to look for the definition behind the term because there is absolutely no consistency between cosmetic companies (don't get me started on BB's or CC's!) The good news is, if you know your're yellow or pink toned most companies will list a description of their shades somewhere!

      Thanks for the feedback- I wanted to make sure anyone can say anything anytime! I know alot of websites & blogs make you sign in but It ALWAYS seems to be more trouble than its worth (at least for me), so I know I made the right decision!

      Delete
    5. If you think about it, Mac is probably more correct in their naming of undertones because pink=red and red=hot so pink probably should be warmer and yellow should be cooler, but thats not how most companies do it. The consider people with pink undertones to have a "cool blue" effect that looks best in silver. It just isn't a system that's entirely based in logic so you have to do your research!

      Delete
  2. I heard they might replace their resilience lift foundation with this. i own both formulas and while i like this, it is inferior to resilience lift, imo. Did you hear anything about this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did. I was actually going to post an update this week! Unfortunately, my local Estee Lauder manager told me that they are fazing out Resilience Lift and replacing it with Perfectionist! I like the Resilience Lift formula...alot, but the shades are all too dark for me so its not a huge loss for me, but I suspect that alot of people will be as upset as you are which is probably why they're doing a gradual "faze out" instead of a straight discontinuation.

      I would stock up if I were you. You have two years from the date of opening to use it, although the sunscreen/antioxidants may be less effective, the formula should remain intact!

      Delete
  3. where can i purchase 2 in cool bone estte lauder perfectionist youth infusing foundation please help
    daniel oneil 504 415 6746
    pawpaw121447@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

I don't moderate comments before they're posted but I do make it a point to read & respond to every one of them. I LOVE hearing what you guys have to say so thank you for taking the time to let me know what you're thinking!