Sunday, June 8, 2014

Estée Lauder Crystal Baby Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée Blush

Each season, I to on a crazed lookout for a new Estée Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée ($40). Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée is my absolute favorite Estée Lauder product. I was expecting a bronzing or golden color for summer - maybe something like Heat Wave or Shimmering Sands - but instead, I was able to purchase from Nordstrom this new pretty pink Crystal Baby. I note the purchase from Nordstrom because I have been unable to locate this gem on Estée Lauder's own site, nor have I been able to find it at the counters - odd, I think. I'd be willing to bet it's a limited edition, but it is not listed as such at Nordstrom online.

Estée Lauder describes Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée as a "tribrid" formula of liquid, powder, and gel that goes beyond face powder to give you a sexy, sophisticated glow. The color smooths on as an all-over soft sheen, but can be layered for luminous pearly highlighting. Crystal Baby Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée is described as a high-polish blush with a luminous, silky finish - all true.

I love every Illuminating Powder Gelée that Estée Lauder has introduced, and I'm thrilled to add to my growing collection. This one will enhance your natural pink look with a sexy, polished glow. It illuminates my complexion with its blendable and buildable coverage for a finish that can go from subtle and soft to highly pearlized. This ultra-luxurious gelée features a delicate pattern to celebrate a look that reminds me of the Art Deco period.

You can see in my photo above (with the blue background) that the real thing is lighter and cooler than the photo shown at Nordstrom. I worried when I started to review my photos, wondering if the full sun in which I snapped the photo had drained the color from the powder. It hadn't. I have examined it, and I believe my photo is closer to the real deal than the online sales photo. Both are lovely colors. I am pointing this out because the pink is a cool pink, and anyone expecting a warmer shade might be disappointed.

I applied Crystal Baby with a sponge-tipped applicator at the top of my arm and using the same applicator, blended it out in the larger swatch below. I should have used its own custom sponge - not sure why I didn't - because it's a great applicator. It's one of the few applicators that comes with a product that I really like. I took my swatch photos in full sun. I applied the gel powder with medium intensity at the top of my arm and lightly below. I wish I had taken a wider swatch at the top to flatter the beautiful color. You can see how sheer the color is. Fortunately, I don't have visible veins on my face!

I think this pastel pink is gorgeous. It's perfect for my complexion, which has pink undertones. My skin is fair, like the model's, but I think it will be lovely on all skin shades. As your skin darkens from pale toward chocolate, it will show off more highlighter and less blush, I think. Does that make sense to you?

I'm thrilled with my new Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée Blush and hope I don't have to wait past autumn for another shade. I got worried when I asked about a new Illuminating Powder Gelée at the counter about two months ago and found the representative had no information. My plea to Estée Lauder? Please don't ever discontinue this product.

Photos at top and of model courtesy of Nordstrom; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

6 comments:

Eileen said...

Ooooooo . . . So pretty! I picked up my Crystal Baby yesterday and today is the first time wearing it. I have smooth skin for a woman my age and so I don't have to worry too much about exaggerating wrinkles and crinkles on my cheeks or near the outer corners of my eyes. To be on the safe side, though, I use a fan brush to apply Crystal Baby and it prevents me from getting carried away with shimmer overload. If I used the applicator with which it comes, I'd look like I was sporting twin disco balls--one on each cheek! LOL This really is a very pretty product and will flatter a number of different skintones. It looks lovely on your pale pink toned skin, I love it on my light slightly peach toned skin, it looks beautiful on Sabrina's light medium olive skintone, etc. The gelée blush/highlighter is the star of this release and will probably to fast.

evo said...

It's a LE item for Nordstrom only. I received confirmation from their facebook page.
I only asked because I am in Canada and it's not coming here! waaaah! Luckily I was able to order it online and have it shipped to my US address

Unknown said...

Gorgeous!! So glad I met you Saturday at the ReVive breakfast. How did I not know about you for so long!

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Unknown! I also enjoyed meeting. Wasn't that breakfast delicious?

Shari said...

Think I figured out how to get my name on my comments now... Yes, that Revive breakfast was fab. Loving your blog. Thank you for doing this!!!

Ellen said...

I saw a swatch of this color on another blog and ordered it hoping it would be similar to the golden pink highlighter in MAC's Sharon Osbourne's Refresh skinfindish duo, which is the most perfect highlighter I have ever found, but it is only one quarter of the pan, so I do not have very much and didn't want to order another one for the very same reason. This is much cooler when swatched, so I really didn't think it would work on me since I look better in warm colors. However, when on the skln, the color doesn't show up as color but mor as a slight highlight, and I have very fair skin. I think it does a better job of highlighting than the MAC procuct, and I was looking for a dupe of that one. So I think this would make a very goood highligter for any skintone, as the color in the pan is deceptive, and the product seems to meld with your skin and highlight without adding much color. I've never used any of the Estee Lauder gelees before because I generally do not like very shimmery products, but I'm glad I tried this one. Beauty blogs are killing my budget!!! I love the quality of Estee Lauder's pure color eyeshadows, but their new blushes are very hard to open, and lack a selection of warm colors. Their new foundations are excellent. Another brand that I am going to have to take another look at. Oh no!!!!!!