Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover

Ok, so this is a foundation I'd been DYING to try after seeing Lily, Kelly and Hannah posting about it. I loved the packaging, a tube was such a nice change after the nightmare of trying to get the last bits of Double Wear out of the bottom of the glass bottle! If anyone has ever tried this you will know what I mean! The foundation is marketed as "Camouflage foundation", and apparently it covers tattoos and scars. The lady at Debenhams also told me it was waterproof, something I have yet to try! 

The reviews I'd read about this before trying it were absolutely glowing, all raved about its staying power and its "doll-like" appearence. As a full-coverage kind of gal myself, I couldnt wait to try. I always find when you go and ask for samples ever-so-politely at counters, that its really hit and miss. One EL counter (Debenhams) just put a tiny bit of it on my hand and expected that to be enough (thanks love), whilst the ladies at Boots bent over backwards running around trying to find a little jar to put a sample in for me. What is up with that! So annoying! Anyway I digress. 

I was matched with the shade "Medium/Deep", and the only bad thing I'd say to start with is that there are only 6 shades of this available, which is not ideal if you've got basically a really weird face like me. 
Some people think that its not that thick, and that Double Wear is actually of a thicker consistency, wheras others find it like concrete. I (just to be annoying), am probably somewhere in the middle. It is definitely thick, and I found it a bugger to get off last night (three make up wipes!), but you cannot deny its holding power. 14 hours later, my face still looked the same as it had when I had just applied it in the morning.

 I'm not going to go as far as to say it made me look flawless (modest much?), but it was definitely a step in the right direction. The coverage is full and thick, and for someone who normally likes to build foundation, (probably around 2 light layers of Studio Fix Fluid), this only required a tiny amount to achieve the lovely, thick look I love best. On another note, whilst cleaning my MAC 187 tonight, it took me SO long to get the brush clean and product completely out! My sister pointed out that this is to be expected as it is an apparently "waterproof" foundation, but it really was a nightmare! And that was only after 2 light uses of it!

So, final thoughts?

Coverage and staying power - Excellent.
Colour range - Average.
Overall - I found that it really sunk into the lines around my lips (aging!), and accentuated them to a degree that I could not ignore, even though I really wanted to love it! I found that it sinks into any available lines, and for a relatively wrinkle-free 22 year old, I reckon it would look truly awful on anyone with many wrinkles, it just does not do a face justice in that department! But I cannot deny the coverage and staying power, so I really am torn on this one!
I've tried it a few times since, and I think that maybe a thicker primer might help with the lines issue, but for me, as much as I wanted to love it, the accentuating of the lines around my lips and sinking in issue is not a good look!

Alice xoxo

Estee Lauder Idealist - Pore Minimising Skin Refinisher

I haven't seen any other posts on this around the blogosphere, so not sure if I'm totally behind on the times or actually just using something relatively unknown? Either way, let me know! 


Estee Lauder Idealist is a product I've been using for around 6 months now, and I first discovered it after a MUA applied it primarily to my skin before using the foundation at the EL counter. I was really interested to see if it would make a different at all, so took a sample home with me.


On the website, EL describe the product as; "This fast-acting serum delivers our most dramatic skin resurfacing benefits - more efficiently than ever before", and claim that it "makes pores appear 1/3 smaller - instantly. Repairs the look of uneven skin texture, flakiness and roughness". The final claim (phew) is that the customer will "see more clarity and luminosity" and that it "gives skin an overall more even tone".

photo - EL website

To talk about the claims made, I reckon I agree with really only two of the claims, but that's only because I find that I use it in a different way to how it is described.  It does even-out my skin tone, and I feel like it creates a really nice, smooth base for the rest of my make up to sit on.

Personally, I use it as a sort-of primer. As a primer addict, I'm always on the lookout for a new one, and although that's not what I was looking for with this product, I think its what I found. Usually, I tend to use it before my primer and moisturiser, but on the days when I have run out of primer (disaster!!) and have nothing else to use, I find it works just as well. I actually don't mind skipping the primer step if I have this product to hand, as I really do think that it does even out the skin tone, and leaves a lovely finish on my face.

I've also found that it can make some matte foundations appear dewy, something that I didn't know was possible?

Price-wise, I've been using this product for around 6 months now, and although it is pricey at around £52 for 50ml, I'm only around 3/4 of the way through my bottle. I was lucky enough to get 75ml for the price of £52 as it was on offer at Debenhams at the time I purchased it. 

I can see you reading  FIFTY TWO POUNDS FOR THAT ARE YOU JOKING!!!!, but honestly, I use at least 3 pumps of it everyday and I've had it for around 6 months now and I really see the difference! My friends at work really comment on my skin on the days that I wear it, and I really think that it makes a difference to how my foundation (aka my mask) and the rest of my make up sits on my face.

Would 100% recommend this product, I honestly can't say enough about it! 

And to top it off, one of my friends who is a total cheap-makeup freak, who refuses to pay above £10 for anything make-up wise, actually splurged on the 30ml of this one, because she loved it so much! So there you go! 

In a nutshell, its silky, easy to apply, and really makes a difference to how it all sits on my face!

Trying to work out if I've missed anything about this, please message / tweet/ comment me if you have anymore questions :)

Alice xoxo

Its my blogging debut, I'm having trouble finding another name to pursue....

I've been meaning to start this blog for around 6 months now, but never had the courage to do so. I'm OBSESSED with beauty blogs, such as the amazing Anna, Laura and Pixiwoo, and I have been reading them for ages now, but never thought that anyone would read anything of mine! Cliche I know!

First few posts are definitely going to be pretty shocking, but please bear with me!

So, to start, the boring bits.
I'm 22 (nearly 23, WHAT), I live in Wales and I have had a few blogs before this but they've been pretty shite and I've deleted them all. I basically spend most of my time on the internet reading blogs, so thought it was about time I write my own! I think this is mainly going to be beauty-based, but will probably have some odd stuff thrown in too!

Beauty basics (a la makeup alley).... I have dark brown hair, brown eyes, combination skin and a fair-olive complexion. Basically I'm casper in the winter but can tan in the summer if I try hard enough!

So I think I've written enough rubbish by now so I'm going to end it there and actually post something worthy! Just wanted to introduce myself first, please let me know if there's anything else you want to know in the comments below!

Alice xoxo