When I was nineteen years old, my best friend Pam and I both read Esteé Lauder’s autobiography—hoping, somehow, some of that cosmetic ingenuity would rub off on the two of us for our own lofty makeup empire dreams. At the time, Pam and I had recently spent the entirety of a Huey Lewis and the News concert conceiving a makeup line that was half mad science, half Crayola rip off. Needless to say, the makeup line never took off of course (save for the scary lip gloss experiment conducted in my parent’s kitchen)—but I distinctly recall sticking to Pam’s leather passenger seat as she wheeled around downtown Greeley, Colorado in the searing August heat, Esteé’s candy-red hardcover book clasped in my sweaty hand.
I read passages aloud to my friend as we drove around during our lunch break, mouth agog at Esteé’s seemingly strange beauty regimens (gloves on during sleep? What?). Her entire persona brought to mind Faye Dunaway’s intense Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest—I was certain Esteé was the type who'd prepared a perfume-infused ice bath for her face every morning and wrapped her head in carefully arranged bandages as to halt the signs of aging.
Perhaps it was because of this that I came to think of Esteé Lauder products as being just a tad too mature for someone as ridiculous as myself. My mother used Esteé Lauder products. They were gold capped and perfumed. The few times in my life I’d breezed past the Esteé Lauder counter, their color selections were modest and sensible. I’ve always been a MAC girl when it comes to such things—give me bright trailer trash pink and eye-searing red, please.
I’ve never been loyal to a brand for very long throughout my adult life. I went through a pretty devout Chanel phase, but I think my bank account suffered considerably for it and I never quite was satisfied. I possess a ghostly pallor that very few makeup brands seem to accommodate in their foundation selection. Most times, I end up with slightly orange-cast face (ack: oxidation!).
For years, I used a Tarte foundation that had nice coverage, some kind of anti-aging ingredients that now escape my memory, and came pretty close to matching my skin tone. Then, two months ago—what the hell—discontinued! At the time, I was livid. I thought I’d found my holy grail foundation. I have gone through the disappointment of discontinuation more than once in my cosmetics career. After the Tarte debacle, I had a revelation: I needed to switch to something that had been around for years. Decades, even!
I immediately thought of Esteé Lauder. It’s been around for yonks! I turned to the Internet for reviews and user comments on EL foundations. Based on what I read, it seemed they were highly revered and recommended highly. As soon as I could, I scooted on out to the nearest Esteé Lauder counter. I walked away with DoubleWear foundation in shell, a cool-toned ivory.
Application: One downside is that DoubleWear comes in a glass bottle with just a screw-top lid and no pump. Protip: apparently one can purchase a pump from the MAC counter that fits this bottle. However, I wasn’t aware of that little tip right after purchasing my own bottle, so I was stuck with it as it came purchased. I poured a dime-sized amount on the back of my hand and used a stippling brush my first time applying. A little went a long way, and despite the reviews I read online, I found it went on very easily and covered evenly.
Coverage: Medium to full, depending on how crazy you want to go. A few times I went a little overboard and it did feel a little mask-like. The less the better for this formulation, I think.
Result: Matte, completely even-toned, and it even covers blemishes. This isn’t for the faint of makeup heart. If you want some of your “natural beauty” to shine through, use something else. This is for those of us who want a nice blank canvas before we begin our artistry. No setting powder needed—even for a grease ball like me (seriously, I am such an oily bastard, the fact that this makeup stays matte without powder is a miracle).
Overall rating: 4/4. This is reasonably priced ($35 for 1 oz. bottle), has incredible staying power, doesn't go greasy, doesn't sink in pores, has a seamless finish, and is all around just great.
- Mandee
My grandmother and mother both wore EL so I very much think of it the way you described. I'm on the hunt for a new special occasion foundation though so I think that I might have to give it another try some time soon!
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