This is a slightly awkward present idea to post as I have only in the last few days discovered it has largely been discontinued (bar one place!). I have decided to post my thoughts anyway as the world of illuminating primers can be a tricky one to navigate and if you can find a primer with similar qualities (I have some terrific alternatives towards the end of this post!) you will be onto a winner.
I first heard about the brand Estée Edit – the millennial sister of Estée Lauder – via YouTube stars Sam and Nic Chapman, aka Pixiwoo, but it wasn’t until I went to a talk hosted by beauty author and journalist Sali Hughes that I saw the effects of Estée Edit’s fantastic primer up close.
Sali was interviewing hair stylist to the stars, Sam McKnight, about his new haircare range in an intimate setting at Liberty. I was sat just three rows back, completely mesmerised by Sali’s glowing skin. I decided I had to ask her what she was wearing as soon as the interview was over and to my delight she was was more than happy to divulge her secrets. The foundation she was wearing was Chanel Sublimage (an eye watering £98) but underneath it was (you guessed it)…Estée Edit Beam Team Hydrate + Glow.
The primer comes in two shades – the standard Beam Team and a ‘Bronze’ (warmer) version. The liquid cream in the tube provides the main illuminating primer and the solid cream highlighter in the flip top lid can be pressed into the skin for a more obvious shimmery finish.
As you can see in the swatches above shown here in natural daylight, the primer (top swatch) has a beautiful golden shade and the highlighting cream (lower swatch) a slightly denser consistency and warmer hue.
Seeing Sali’s skin up close was the second time I have seen stunning results from an illuminating primer worn underneath foundation. The first time was when my old housemate Sally (another Sally!) wore Clarins Beauty Flash Balm under her Laura Mercier Silk Creme Moisturising foundation. Like Sali, my friend was wearing not one but two illuminating products (a primer and a foundation) so one would need to test them both individually and together to see which provides the greater sheen. If you are seeking a ‘glow from within’ finish, an illuminating primer, worn underneath a dewy foundation, might just be the trick for you!
The secret to selecting a good illuminating or radiance primer is to go for one with a very fine, pearlised finish (i.e. no obvious glitter). Highlighting products vary a huge amount and ones at the cheaper end of the spectrum are sometimes (though not always) less refined than their premium counterparts.
I could go on and on about illuminating primers (and should probably save this for another post 😉 ) but in addition to the Estée Edit Beam Team, which I have loved, I have also been super impressed with Victoria Beckham’s Morning Aura (though cannot quite bring myself to pay the requested £72.00).
Estée Edit Beam Team Hydrate + Glow
THE FACTS
How much is it:
Please do not hate me but it seems that the only place this primer can still be bought is via the U.S. esteelauder.com and I suspect perhaps only online (yikes!). I can see it listed on eBay but would hesitate to buy any makeup or skincare from eBay unless you absolutely trust the seller. This kit from Amazon looks great but there is only one left in stock.
<Drum roll>
But fear not! For I have not one but THREE fantastic alternatives for you 🙂
- The Laura Mercier Radiance Primer (£30) is gorgeous. Not as shimmery as the Estée Edit but gives good glow. Great worn under a light veil of foundation.
- Becca Firstlight Priming Filter (£32) and Becca Backlight Priming Filter (also £32) are both sublime. The latter is closer in shimmer to the Estée Edit than the first which imparts more of a dewy, rather than a shimmery glow.
Where can I buy it:
We have covered this already and you will only not want to hurl tomatoes at me if you live in the States, know someone who is traveling there soon or are happy to pay international shipping (here come the tomatoes….). My sincere apologies to the rest of you *hides*.
Who is it for:
Beauty lovers and anyone obsessed with dewy, or hyper real skin.
How to use it:
Simply massage a coin sized amount into clean skin. Wear on its own, just on areas you wish to be dewy, or under your foundation. The solid highlighting cream is designed to be pressed into the top of the cheekbones, cupid’s bow, under the brow bone and temples. This will impart a more obvious radiance.
Coming up tomorrow…
A product I discovered in Australia which has changed my mind about personal deodorants…
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!