I received the Estée Lauder Double Wear Sheer Lightweight Makeup, complimentary from Influenster and Estée Lauder, for testing purposes in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated other than the complementary product and all opinions and commentary are my own. My links from the video are at the bottom of the post. If you would like to receive free products to try and review (you don't necessarily have to blog it), send me a message via my "Get In Touch" tab/box at the top right with your email and I will send you a link.
I received this to test back in mid-August and I wanted to wear it many times before I gave a review. So, just about two months later, I'm ready to give my feedback. I wore this foundation out to dinner, on date-nights, and even just because. I can say that I tested it during the day, night, wind, and rain. I know and understand why it has the 2021 Allure Best of Beauty Stamp. And let me tell you, I am in love this foundation. It’s liquid like water but spreads over skin amazingly and wears very light. I use a fluffy-like blunt tipped foundation brush to apply this. It also blends well with a beauty sponge. It spreads evenly and has a light-medium coverage and I can’t feel it on my skin like I can with thick heavy foundations, even cc creams (Did I say it is liquid, like water?!).
This foundation will last all day and into the night. I have worn this for upwards of 8-10 hours at a time and it looks great after several hours. I still have a habit of keeping powder compact on hand for t-zone touch ups, but you could really get away without it. Usually it's my eye makeup that starts looking worse than my face. I do wear a primer underneath my foundation as well as moisturizer (as well as an acne topical).
I have never picked the right shade, let alone off a screen, but I was able to pick my shade out and it matched perfectly (this never happens for me). They don’t have a wide array of shades (like some brands), so I’m sure I’m going to have to eventually mix shades for my winter skin tone (I’m reviewing with my late summer/fall skin tone). And I’m okay with that. I did read reviews after trying it out and that was a complaint by some reviewers; that they liked the product... but did not like the color range because of the fact of needing to mix to find their right shade.
I’m not an everyday makeup wearer - I often wear makeup when going out (end of the week/weekends). I tend to wear more makeup in the winter time. With that said, I’m unsure how long this will last me… but a little really does go a long way. And I can blend the mess out of my blush/contour and it stays put (my issue with other foundations is that they “move” or come off).
It is on the pricier side. A 1oz bottle retails for for $43.00, but Estèe is also an iconic, upscale, department store brand. They also have the following in their portfolio (aka they own these brands); Clinique, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, MAC, and La Mer. So, you are paying for a department store, luxury-type of brand when you purchase their product.
I could not find a Period After Opening symbol on my product or box but I did check the batch code printed on the box and back of the bottle itself and looked up the shelf life. It appears this foundation has a 36 month shelf life after production. The batch code is printed in black on the back of the bottle as well as imprinted on the bottom box (not the sku, but actually stamped into the cardboard).
My batch code was A80, so look for a letter/number sequence that is similar. You can use a variety of websites and apps to look this up and check the date such as; Cosmetic Calculator Website, Beauty Keeper App, and Beauty B#tch App. Above is a screenshot from the Beauty Keeper App. My batch was produced in August of 2020 and is best before August 2023.
If you do not know what a Period After Opening (or PAO) symbol is, I do touch on it in my video. A PAO symbol is found on the packaging of many cosmetics and toiletries. The symbol looks like a small open cream jar with a date, in months (signified by a M), inside of it. This symbol helps you identify how long a product is good for after opening it for the first time. Technically, a PAO symbol is present to alert consumers to the timeframe a product will be safe for use as well as stable after it is opened for the first time. So, if the PAO symbol has a 12M on it, it is generally good for 12 months after opening. So, think of it as an expiration date of sorts and throw out your cosmetics or toiletries after this opening date. I generally mark the back or a product with a sharpie the date/year of opening and or I’ve started using an app to track my open products (see free apps like Beauty Keeper or Beauty B#tch).
So, in Europe, PAO symbols are required for cosmetics with a "lifespan" over 30 months. This is not a requirement in the United States but can be found on many European sold cosmetics. I haven’t a clue why this isn’t regulatory in the United States, but I think it should be…
Conversely, a shelf life, is the amount of time from the production date that a product will remain stable, regardless of opening. A shelf life is more so when the item will expire and no longer be usable or lose its effectiveness.
For more on shelf-life, expiration of cosmetics, Period after Opening, and rules of thumb for tossing your cosmetics, visit; https://cosmeticsinfo.org/.
An ingredients list and breakdown can be found via this link; https://incidecoder.com/.
Overall, I rate Estée Lauder Double Wear Sheer Lightweight Makeup a 10 out of 10. It doesn't crease, flake off, or move. It is indeed sweat and humidity resistant. Don't be afraid of sheer in the name. It is a light weight foundation, but it really does mean business. I love that it is not cakey and that I can't feel it on my face like I can with other foundations. I think this foundation is great for those that are interested in wearing makeup but are afraid of it. And those that are experienced, need to give it a try. It's so easy to apply, I don't think I've applied any foundation with such ease before and it look so flawless. If you have any questions about it, ask in the comments below.
As mentioned in the video, I am not a stranger to Estée Lauder cosmetics. My mom would wear Estée makeup and their Pleasures Perfume. Their 2021 gift (aka Holiday Blockbuster as they call it) this year is pretty epic ($550 value). It is $75 with a $45 purchase. So, if you are interested in trying their products (or already love them) and have extra to spend - you can have just about a full face of luxury makeup to wear and some pretty amazing skincare products to try out (some are full size). The Double Wear Sheer Lightweight Makeup is $43 so the purchase of one more item, will make the gift available to purchase (unfortunately the purchase of the foundation puts you within a few dollars of qualifying). I'm currently working on another blog post about this and I will have it up in the next few days.
Video Links:
Products
›Estée Lauder Double Wear Sheer Lightweight Makeup -
Estee website ($43)USD: https://bit.ly/doublewearsheer
Sephora ($43)USD: https://bit.ly/dwsheersephora
›Milk Makeup Hydro Primer: Travel Size ($17)USD: https://bit.ly/travelszmilkprimer
Full Size ($34)USD: https://bit.ly/fullsizemilkprimer
›Docolor Brushes ($22.95)USD: https://bit.ly/docolorbrushes
›Color Science Sunforgetable 3pk ($69)USD: https://bit.ly/sunforgetable3pk
›Magic Star Concealer ($13.20 normally $22)USD: https://bit.ly/magicstarconceal
›UVé Blender 3pk ($29.99)USD : https://bit.ly/uvelalena84 | code: LALENA84, save 10%
(I have used these and their brushes since this video and they are the best)
›Cover Girl Professional Loose Powder ($7.49)USD: https://bit.ly/covergirlloosepwdr
›NYX Epic Ink Liner ($9.00)USD: https://bit.ly/nyxepicliner
›Maybelline Great Lash Mascara ($6.99)USD: https://bit.ly/greatlashmasc
›Thrive Causemetics: https://bit.ly/thrivecausemeticslalena84
Brilliant Eye Brightener ($24 each)USD. in Stella (champagne) & Estrella (white pearl).
Matte Legacy Lipstick in Kasia (blush mauve), is no longer available on their website.
Lip Mate High-Shine Reviving Topper in Charlotte is likely the closest to what I wore ($24)USD.
›Qür Clip Balm 2pk ($15)USD: https://bit.ly/qurlife
Not shown:
›Urban Decay, All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray ($33)USD: https://bit.ly/allnightersettingspray
Accessories:
›Pura Vida: https://bit.ly/pvlalena84 | code: LAURENBEASLEY20, save 20%
Layered necklace (magnet) clasp, Turquoise Bead Necklace, Satellite Shell Pendant Necklace, Bracelet of the Month, Shark Week Earring Pack.