This holiday season I’m getting my dose of classic holiday color from Estee Lauder’s new Ultimate Red collection.
Doesn’t the packaging look rich and luxurious? A traditional holiday release in the spirit of cashmere turtlenecks and chestnuts roasted on an open fire?
Here are pictures of most of the 13-piece collection for lips, eyes, face and nails. They’re all limited edition, which makes sense considering the season.
Take a peek, and let me know what you think. 🙂
Estee Lauder Signature Eyeshadow Quad with Lattice Pattern in Lavish Plum, $35
Estee Lauder Signature Eyeshadow Quad with Lattice Pattern in Gold Opulence, $35
TurboLash in Gold Effects, $32
Gel Eyeliner in Black, $20
Opulent Shimmer Powder, $32
Estee Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick with Fluted Top in Simply Red, $20
From left to right: Opulent Shimmer Gloss in Gold and Cranberry, $18 each
Swatches
From left to right: TurboLash in Gold Effects, Gel Eyeliner in Black, Opulent Shimmer Powder
From left to right: Estee Lauder Signature Eyeshadow Quad with Lattice Pattern in Lavish Plum, Estee Lauder Signature Eyeshadow Quad with Lattice Pattern in Gold Opulence
From left to right: Opulent Shimmer Gloss in Gold, Opulent Shimmer Gloss in Cranberry, Estee Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick with Fluted Top in Simply Red
Estee Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick with Fluted Top in Simply Red
Opulent Shimmer Gloss in Gold
Opulent Shimmer Gloss in Cranberry
What’s the verdict? Are any of these lighting your fire?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
THE RED LIPSTICK.
is it blue based? is it orange based?
if it’s a blue based true red i am totally lemming it!
.-= ines + cha cha’s last blog post… 10 Wintertime Beauty Tips =-.
Hi Ines,
It shows up with a lot of blue on me… then again, my skin tends to bring out blue tones.
The Gold Opulence quad is calling me!
Hmph, wish Cranberry was more pigmented, it would have been such a gorgeous red color! Ohhh, I still love it nonetheless. And the packaging is so Christmas-y! 😀
.-= Maggie’s last blog post… Alas, a Review! Revlon Super Lustrous Lipglosses =-.
Hi Maggie,
It might be pretty for layering! I kinda like that it’s sheer, as it makes red easier to wear.
I want that gold mascara! I remember seeing one in beautiful packaging a few years ago at Saks but didn’t get it. 🙁 What’s the color like, and how pigmented is it?
I also love that Lavish Plum quad. I has all the colors that I was looking for in Chanel and Dior!
Hi Pinksoysauce,
I just swatched it today. When I give it a try (hopefully tomorrow!) I’ll let you know.
Isn’t the Lavish Plum quad drool worthy? I think I need to wipe my chin. 🙂
The eye palettes dont grab me but that shimmer powder is so pretty. I’m really liking the red lipstick and cranberry lipgloss. Wonder when it’ll be out here 🙂
.-= Paris B’s last blog post… Min & Shunji Matsuo Hair Studio made me look more Korean or Japanese than ever! =-.
Seeing this reminds of me getting my first makeup kit type thing . I was around thirteen(?) & the makeup was Estee Lauder . Six years later, I still have the brushes . They’re complete crap . It’s so nostalgic ! Though the packaging wasn’t nearly so lux as this . The goldiness of the packaging reminds me of the Yves Saint Laurent i love. It just looks so luxurious ! Have you ever tried any of their makeup products ? I always look & lust over stuff on BeautyTicket.com . Have you ever visited the site ? It’s terribly tempting .
The Gold Opulence quad is lovely [:
Hi Noemi,
I’ve tried some YSL… I like the eyeshadows and think the gloss is just OK.
I held onto my very first makeup for a loooong time. It was from Clinique!
I think the mascara I saw two years ago was a Guerlain gold one. It was prettier but the vibration effect of the Estee Lauder makes it more appealing. 🙂 Thanks for the help, Karen!
Hi Pinksoysauce,
So, I’m a little terrified about the vibration but I’m gonna try it in the name of makeup science!
Wish me luck, LOL!
opulent shimmer gloss in gold looks super lovely karen! I actaully got Estee’s christmas collection last year and the eyeshadow palette was pretty good. Glad they added an eyeliner to this yr collection 🙂
.-= Blovet Beauty’s last blog post… 100th Follower Giveaway =-.
Hi Blovet Beauty,
I liked their holiday stuff last year too. They always do elegant very well!
Ah, that gold gloss looks like a nice dupe of Benefit’s 24K gloss (a fav that I refuse to accept has been discontinued). Sigh!
.-= sarahPUFFY’s last blog post… FOTD with H.I.P Shadow Duo in Roaring =-.
Hi sarahPUFFY,
I refuse to believe that Kiss Me is gone! The new Kiss You version just isn’t the same.
I love the shimmer gloss in Gold. It’s very similar with the shimmer gloss in Strawberry by Jordana 🙂
.-= Tavia’s last blog post… La Prairie Life Threads – Silver, Gold & Platinum – Perfume Collection – Fall 2009 =-.
Hi Tavia,
Girl, are you still up?!? Go to bed!
I’m loving that red lipstick!! The quads look good too, esp compared to the puny Christmas releases from MAC for around the same price.
Hi Shiny,
LOL! I take it you didn’t pick anything up from MAC holiday.
Cranberry looks so yummy and I like the gold effect mascara as well!
.-= Citrine’s last blog post… Too Faced Metal Eye Liquid Eyeliner =-.
Hi Citrine,
Cranberry looks delicious, right? I kinda wanna eat it, LOL!
I’m loving that cool toned red lipstick. Gold packaging is so luxe!
Hi Babybubblz,
Yes it is! I think that’s one of the big reasons why I like this collection so much. 🙂
do i hear fergie’s “glamorous” in the background?
lol these are just simply that. the shimmer powder looks soo lovely~
Hi Ezzie,
LOL! Funny you should mention that song. I listened to it yesterday while doing situps!
I LOVE EVERYTHING !
Hi Ruth,
Sweet! What do you think you’ll pick up?
Hi Karen,
Those are gorgeous 🙂 I’m still trying to figure out what red should be my first red lipstick/lip color . . . And you keep providing me with more options 🙂
I have a question for you about the Lippman Happy Birthday polish . . . I’m thinking about buying it (not getting it shipped, since that add $8 to the $18 it already costs) for my 30th birthday next Wednesday, but before I do that, I want to know how hard it is to remove. Have you tried? Did it wear pretty well since last week?
Thanks, and I’m sorry to bother you in this thread, but I posted in the other thread last week, but I think it’s been buried by now . . .
Thank you!
Hi Hyzenthaly,
Sorry I didn’t get to your comment earlier! Happy Birthday isn’t hard to remove. I used this method, and I took it off without too much fuss. I wore it with just a base coat and it stayed on very well — hardly any chips!
Soon you will be in the dirty 30 club, WOO HOO! Got any big plans for your birthday?
Ahh! I love the lipstick and the gloss in Cranberry. I’ve got a $25 gift card to Neiman Marcus, so I may check those out there.
Hi L,
Nice! I hope the color works for you.
Everything looks so gorgeous that I think I just died a little inside :/ Lavish Plum will probably be marked up insanely in Canada, but I’ll be swatching it nonetheless! And then trying (and possibly failing) to talk myself out of buying it.
We need to see that mascara on your lashes STAT, girl!
.-= Rae’s last blog post… So how does a line famous for oil cleansing fare with eye creams? =-.
Hi Rae,
LOL, working on it!
That shimmer powder looks AMAZING. I want it!!
Hi Caitlin,
It’s super pretty! 🙂
estee lauder is REALLY upping their packaging and lineup! I’m loving that shimmery powder, more for the packaging and the pretty hash marks hahaa
.-= M’s last blog post… How To Get A Fabulous Haircut On A Budget =-.
Hi M,
I agree. This year EL’s had a major makeup renaissance. I’m loving a lot of their new releases!
Wow, this is a pretty lovely and well-rounded collection! Other than the Lavish Plum quad, nothing really stands out as anything I don’t already have though… though I do wish the Cranberry gloss showed up more on your lips. If it were more pigmented it’d be just gorgeous.
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… NOTW – OPI Merry Midnight w/ hearts =-.
Hi Catherine,
Yah, I hear ya. It’s super pretty layered on top of the red, though.
they are lovely 😀
.-= Sherry’s last blog post… Waiting blog makeover @mymomsbest =-.
Hi Sherry,
Yay! Glad you like this release. Do you think you might get anything?
I know that estee lauder owns bobbi brown, so how does the gel eyeliner compare? Is it on a par with bobbi brown one?
Hi Alison,
I wore it today and it performs very similarly to MAC Fluidline (which I think works better than Bobbi’s).
Good thing I started controlling my spending since early this month…..saving up for I know, gorgeous Christmas collection stuff.
And the lippies really got me, and I really want to try the Turbolash with glitters….already in love with my current Turbolash now.
And the shimmer powder….gorgeous!!
.-= Vonvon’s last blog post… EOTD: Chanel Les Regards Eye Palette =-.
Hi Vonvon,
I’m so scurred to get on the motorized mascara train! I hope I don’t poke my eye out. 🙂
I love that red lipstick! The eyeshadow quad in Lavish Plum looks good too.
.-= gio’s last blog post… Are you applying your skincare products correctly? =-.
Hi Gio,
I wore the red today and loved it. Do you think you might get it?
That Plum eyeshadow quad looks like just the kind of purples I’ve been looking for… 😀
.-= Trude’s last blog post… Announcing: Nancy Orozco Photography! =-.
Hi Trude,
I played with it a little today and so far I like it! It’s a very pretty quad.
I didn’t buy any x-mas collections yet but I will look into the red lipstick and the gold gloss. Thanks for the swatches.
Hi Ally,
You’re welcome! I hope the lipstick and gloss work for you.
That lipstick is calling me… I’m lost!!! That is the first thing I’ll get with my paycheck 😉
Hi Karen B.,
Oh, that red would look stunning on you! Is your hair still dark? I think your darker hair color plus this color would pop!
The Opulent Shimmer compact is gorgeous. The packaging definitely speaks “holiday” to me.
.-= amy’s last blog post… LOTD Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in 76 Ming Swatch on Lips and Review =-.
Hi Amy,
Definitely! There’s no denying what season this release is for.
I loooove gel/cream eyeliners. I have had my Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner for half a year and I still have 3/4’s of it left. I wouldn’t mind trying Estee Lauder’s Gel Eyeliner during this time too 😉
Hi Ashley,
I love them too! Do you ever layer them beneath shadow? I do that when I need makeup to last a long time.
I’ve tried TurboLash mascara before and liked it well enough, though mine was black. It really does make lashes look long, even though it sometimes clumped a bit if I used more than two coats. Gold Effects seems like it would be pretty on the tips of black mascara-ed lashes.
I so want the Opulent Shimmer Powder and Opulent Shimmer Gloss in Gold. I don’t think I’m going to get them, though, because my Halloween makeup already made a fair dent in my bank account.
Hi Samantha,
Oh, do tell! What makeup did you get for Halloween?
i want it all!!! especially the cranberry and the eyshadows.
🙁 will i be able to afford it all?
Hi Amy,
The shadows are a pretty good deal for the price. The pans are big, so you get a LOT of product.
Ooohh everything looks stunning! Go E.L.! Doesn’t hurt that Hilary Rhoda loos amazing in the promo pic. I love the gold palette, it’s beautiful!
.-= Marce’s last blog post… Nivea Star Fruits Labello – Review & Swatch =-.
Hi Marce,
This is turning out to be quite the collection! I’m so happy to see EL getting so much love.
Is the shimmer powder shimmery all the way through or is the shimmer just a spray on top? It looks gorgeous.
I really, really wanna try the gold mascara!
I love the vibrating wand mascaras too. I really notice a difference on my lashes.
Hi Erica,
As far as I can tell it’s all the way shimmery. But I’ll you know if it isn’t!
I am a little scared to try the gold mascara (motorized items near my eyes freak me out), but we’ll see!
I’m LOVING the Opulent Shimmer Powder, the lipstick and cranberry gloss 😀
Hi J,
The lipstick + Cranberry Gloss = OOH BABY!
I have found the trick with those vibrating mascaras is to comb the wand through the lashes *very slowly* wiggling it a bit as move from root to tip – and only comb through with the mascara wand once or twice, otherwise the lashes can quickly turn into a clumpy mess.
And the wand moves so fast, you really don’t fell it, but the effect is great. Definitely let me know what you think when you try it.
I love the Lancome vibrating mascara.
Hi Erica,
Okay, noted. *Gulp* Seriously, if you see me with an eyepatch tomorrow, you’ll know what happened, LOL!
Oh my god, I want that mascara! I’m SO IN LOVE! But… I’m not really sure if I’m willing to dish out $32, at least until I can see how it looks on someone’s lashes.
.-= Rebecca’s last blog post… Super Simple Smokey Eye: Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Quad =-.
I LOVE your site!! What a great way for me to explore new palettes and products before I venture out to the makeup counter. The purple eye palette looks very wearable, I will be going to the Estee’ Lauder counter asap!
whoaa that mascara looks intense. let me know how it is when you try it! im a little scared to use vibrating mascaras too since im not too coordinated 🙂
Wonderful swatches! Love the lipstick, Lavish Plus e/s and that gold shimmer! :love:
Thanks for swatches! 🙂
Morning Karen,
I’m not very hand/eye coordinated so I always put on my eyeliner BEFORE my shadows. I’m too lazy to bother and practice putting on eyeliner after eyeshadow. I think that’s why my eyeliner never wears. Although I have to admit, putting eyeshadow over of my eyeliner may cancel out the intensity of the eyeliner.
I have the Gold mascara and I LOVE it! I’m a sucker for colored mascara!