Estee Lauder & Origins

It's hard not to get excited by Estee Lauder's annual summer collections.  The very fact that everything comes embossed with 'Bronze Goddess' makes it lust-worthy and clearly spells out what most of us want to look like in the summer months or on holiday. 

I still have my eye on the new Bronze Goddess Soleil Eau Fraiche fragrance and the Sea Star Bronzing Blush!

As part of my summer product lust list, I was really keen to try the new Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Island Oasis Eyeshadow Palette which was inspired by the shades of the medditeranean.  All the colours in it just scream summer to me and it's always handy to have a compact palette to just chick in your holiday luggage. 

It has a selection of warm AND cool shimmering metallics and sunlit satin shadows all kitted out in a sturdy cardboard compact with a mirror and small double-ended applicator...

The vivid blue shade is bang on trend for this summer as bronzed glowy skin with a complimentary bright shade on the lids is very current.  This blue shade would really stand out against a tan! I love the olive green/black shade on the far left as a softer alternative for a smokey eye.  Of course the rose-gold anf bronzey shades are gorgeous and swatch really well. 

The shades become incredibly intense when you apply them with a damp brush and this also cuts out any fall-out issues.  So what are the down sides to this palette? Well as I said, I found that particularly the gold shade had quite a lot of fallout which resulted in my cheeks being covered in glitter which I HATE! I didn't notice this with the other shades when applied with a dry brush so I may just avoid the gold one in this respect.  However, when used with a damp brush, this no longer became an issue so really, it's just a case of how you use the palette.  I've made the mistake of disregarding products before just because I didn't understand the best application techniques that were required.  If you're not into applying eyeshadow with a damp brush then this palette isn't for you.

The shades all have good pigmentation, look very shimmery/metallc on the eyes and have good longevity when applied over a primer.

So in conclusion, this would be the perfect convenient beachy holiday palette with everything you need.  But don't expect these to be the best eyeshadows you have ever tried, they're good but they don't compare to my Dior palettes and they aren't creamy like Sleek eyeshadows.    If you are on a budget you could possibly find similar shades from existing Sleek palettes and make up your own custom eyeshadow palette. 

This palette is £31 and available here or at your nearest Estee Lauder counters.

I also wanted to mention my favourite daytime eye cream at the moment which is the wonderful Origins Ginzing refreshing eye cream to brighten and depuff.  This eye cream has won a few awards and is one of Origins 'top sellers' on their website. 

Here's the blurb:

"Late night? Long flight? Look tired all the time? Prepare to become one of the perky people! Nature’s clinically-proven morning-after eye cream instantly reduces dark circles. Unsightly bags and puffiness virtually disappear. And Origins proprietary complex of Caffeine from Coffee bean, Panax Ginseng, Magnolia Extract and natural optic brighteners rapidly wakes up, refreshes and restores radiance to tired eyes".

All that said, I wouldn't say it has faded my dark circles as mine are hereditory so they aren't going anywhere BUT the pearlescent fleshy shade of the eye cream really perks up my eye area and makes it easier to camouflage any darkness.  I do feel like it really refreshes and depuffs my eye area and in turn makes me look more awake.  It's light in texture, absorbs instantly and doesn't feel heavy.

It costs £20 for a 15ml jar which is a good deal because it lasts for ages.  You only need a very small amount for each application.  I like to keep mine in the fridge to give me a boost in the mornings!