I could not do a Top 25 beauty must-have list without mentioning this hero product by Estée Lauder.
I have replenished it twice since I first discovered it back in 2012 and will no doubt continue to buy it for a long while to come.
Year round it is usually the first product I reach for after my morning skincare routine. Crossed between an ultra sheer tinted moisturiser and a light bronzing gel this product is my ‘glow in a tube’. It perks up lack-lustre skin in seconds and on mornings when I haven’t slept all that well it gives the illusion that I have.
I would describe it as being like an Instagram filter for my skin (something warm like Ludwig or Hefe :)) and whilst I really appreciate it during the winter months when I am feeling particularly pale, I will invariably turn to it during the summer months when I want the tint of a self tan but without the permanence or the tell-tale smell.
Having applied a light veil, I will then either go straight to concealer (on a good skin day) or will reach for a medium coverage foundation and lightly layer this over the top if I feel my skin needs a bit more coverage.
The texture is ever so slightly grainy and the product comes out grey. As soon as you start to warm it up with fingertips it transforms into a sheer veil of colour.
If you like Estée Lauder products and are familiar with their long-running Daywear range you’ll love the familiar smell. To my mind it is cucumber-y, clean, subtle and I never tire of it.
As you can hopefully see from the above photo, once massaged in, the skin is left slightly tinted and glow-y. I have always been a fan of the dewy look when it comes to bases, rather than matte, and I adore the sheen this product gives, but if matte skin is your go-to you this product is not for you.
In addition to being my go-to natural glow provider it also boasts a broad spectrum SPF of 15 (a tad low for some but rather have it than not) plus a cocktail of anti-oxidants which promise to fight free radicals as well as premature signs of ageing. Lines are softened, skin is left hydrated and the skin tone evened out. Basically, I LOVE IT.
Estée Lauder Sheer Tint Release
THE FACTS
How much is it:
John Lewis are currently selling it for £37.80 (they have a sale on) but other sites like Boots are selling it for £42.00 so it pays to shop around.
Where can I buy it:
Erm, it would probably be quicker to list places where you cannot buy it 😉 According to American site WWD, Estée Lauder is the world’s forth highest grossing makeup company (after L’Oréal, Unilever and P&G) so I very much doubt you will have trouble finding it.
I recommend trying the product first on the back of your hand to check you like the texture and effect. Important: the ‘tint’ will only really show up on pale Caucasian or pale Asian skin tones. Anything warmer than olive/Mediterranean will struggle to see any warmth (Estée Lauder maintain it ‘enhances the look of any skin tone with a healthy, even-toned glow’ but I will let you be the judge).
Who is it for:
Anyone really, though the paler among you will appreciate it more. It is especially great on dehydrated skin types and those with clear skin (if you have acneic skin or severe pigmentation/scarring it will not provide sufficient coverage and you will need to apply something on top).
How to use it:
Using finger tips massage a light veil all over your face, as you would apply a moisturiser. After massaging it all over my face I like to apply a little down my neck to ensure the colour blends seamlessly. A little goes a long way so try not to apply too much in one go. If you feel you could do with a bit more simply apply another layer but bear in mind the effect will still remain sheer. From here you can either go straight into adding colour (e.g. eyes, cheeks. lips etc) or if you feel you need a bit more coverage down the t-zone panel lightly blend a medium coverage foundation over the top (but only where you need), and then apply the rest of your makeup.
Bonus tip:
If you are a fan of sheer tint release products (there are one or two good ones) and your skin is more combination than dry you might like to compare this one with Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Tinted Moisturiser (£30). It has a much higher SPF (40) which greatly appeals (though I find it slightly less hydrating than the EL). Interestingly Origins also do an SPF 15 Sheer Tint called VitaZing (£30).
Coming up tomorrow…
A zen-like hair product that is like having a mini spa every time I blow dry my hair. Namaste!
A bit more about my Advent Cal:
My advent-themed calendar is designed to give you, lovely reader, some ideas for presents this gifting season. The list is based on my Top 25 Beauty Buys of recent years. Of the 25 products which made the cut, some I have used for the first time this year and others I have been using for several years. The selection criteria for each product was as follows:
1. It is a product I have repurchased or know I will definitely repurchase at some point
2. It is an item I believe will genuinely make an awesome gift for someone this Christmas
This series is not sponsored and you should know that, like many makeup artists, I am one of the fussiest people I know when it comes to selecting and using beauty products. They have to blow me away. Hope you enjoy!