Don’t be Envious, You too can be Dominant and a Rebellious Rose with Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipsticks

Some time last year (2014) I showed you a new lipstick from Estee Lauder called Pure Color Envy Shine and I said how much I liked it. Estee Lauder lipsticks and I go way back… back to the days of Tea Rose – because it was in every GWP I ever received! haha! If you too remember using that, please holler!

But even as I was raving about Pure Color Envy Shine, our friends in the other half of the world looked at me in a little puzzlement. They didn’t get any shine lipstick, what they got was Pure Color Envy. I read that it was a beautifully creamy formula with lovely bright colours. Naturally I wanted what I couldn’t have. Don’t we all?

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However, early this year, Estee Lauder finally brought in the Pure Colour Envy Sculpting lipsticks and I finally understood why these come highly raved. They are fabulous lipsticks, if you like creamy, pigmented, opaque lipsticks that come in lovely packaging. I have 3 shades and I wouldn’t say that any of them have any shine or gloss to them, but they aren’t matte either.

They are… adult lipsticks. I know, that sounds weird, but this isn’t a lipstick you’d buy if you were younger, I feel because you’d still be put off by the more mature vibe that Estee Lauder and the texture of these lipsticks give off. I know, I’ve been there. When I was younger, I’d go “Estee Lauder? That’s for aunties!” Now that I’m an aunty, I buy Estee Lauder – don’t judge me LOL :D

But before I finished up the tube of Rebellious Rose that you see in the foreground of the picture above, I thought I’d better tell you why I like these :)

Well, the main reason I like these is because of the opacity and creamy texture. I like sheer lipsticks, the way the Japanese brands do them, but when I want a punchy lip colour, I have to turn to an opaque and pigmented texture. For these, I like a lipstick that will swipe on opaque in one swipe, and not dry my lips out. A couple of personal favourite creamy lipstick textures are from Guerlain Rouge G and Tom Ford.

So, when I tried these Pure Color Envy lipsticks, I had a moment. It felt like I was using a lipstick like a Rouge G or a Tom Ford, except it didn’t carry a similar wallet-busting price tag.

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The Pure Color Envy lipsticks are creamy with strong pigment so the colour in the tube applies pretty much as it looks on the lips. I also find that because it’s so pigmented, the colour of your lips doesn’t really affect how it looks the way it can a sheer lipstick.

The packaging is similar to that of the Pure Color Envy Shine – a sleek and sturdy dark blue case with a cover that holds shut with a magnet. The Pure Color Envy Shine lipsticks have a blunt, flat top, while the Pure Color Envy ones have the traditional slanted bullet.

They slick on lips like butter, spreading very easily and going on opaque with just 1 swipe. It is also comfortable to wear and not drying for me at all. I thoroughly enjoy wearing these but for one little niggling thing – scent.

There is no scent. Not in a true sense. It doesn’t have that strong fig scent that has infused Estee Lauder lipsticks since time immemorial, but it has a faint, sweet scent with an underlying waxy ‘lipstick’ smell. I found that the waxy scent seemed more pronounced in 2 of the shades I own, while it was much fainter in the other. It isn’t awful but it’s there and it cements this as a bit of an ‘aunty’ lipstick :P

I was sent 3 shades over time – Rebellious Rose, Envious and Dominant and it was opportune that they were from 3 different colour families so you have an idea of the sort of colours and opacity I mean.

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Each of the swatches were done with just 1 swipe down my arm and on lips, which I think gives you an idea of the sort of opacity and pigment in these creamy bullets. They are incredibly easy to wear and flattering. There isn’t any shine, although it isn’t a flat matte. I’d just call these a creamy texture, with the attendant shine that comes with cream, and leave it at that.

• Rebellious Rose – This is a lipstick I have in my daily wear pouch that I pull out whenever I need a touch up, or when I want a lip colour that is an everyday colour, which doesn’t stand out too much. It is a bit of a muted rose and a very work-friendly colour. No fear of standing out with this one! I’m also about halfway through this, because I use it so often.
• Envious – This one’s a straight red. Just look at it! Not one for the faint-hearted, but if you love red lipstick or are bold, check this one out. I promise you, you’ll make people envious because they’d wish they were wearing this, or dare to!
• Dominant – This one had the lightest scent of the 3 lipsticks I have. I was a little hesitant to wear this one, as this sort of fuchsia pink isn’t quite me. But it turned out to look a little less fuchsia and a little more red on me, which I appreciated. But you have to like bold colours to wear this one too!

If sheer lipstick isn’t your thing, then you might like these. They are easy to wear, not drying, creamy and have beautiful shades available. The only thing I’d caution you about is the scent.

IN A NUTSHELL

The Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting lipsticks come highly raved worldwide and rightfully so. The beautifully packaged deep blue and gold tubes hold a bullet of creamy and pigmented lipstick that is opaque in just 1 swipe. The colours are intense and bold and quite true to what you get in the tube. I find these very comfortable to wear but I must note a slight waxy ‘lipstick’ scent which can put people off. But if it doesn’t bug you, there are some beautiful colours to explore in this range of excellent quality lipsticks at about half the price of their more luxurious contemporaries.

PROS: Creamy texture that does not travel, Opaque in 1 swipe, Pigmented and intense colours, Longlasting, Not drying, Elegant packaging

CONS: Slight waxy scent can be off putting, Colours look a little muted and not very exciting but translates better when swatched

WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who likes creamy, pigmented and opaque lipstick with strong colour

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The nice thing about these is that despite it being a creamy lipstick, I find they last a nice long time and they fade quite nicely without leaving a dreaded ring of colour. I usually can take it from morning till about lunch time with no problems or fading. After lunch, if I just blot (and don’t eat oily or messy food, or eat messily – yes it happens!) then I get a nice muted tint of colour that continues on to the afternoon. Sometimes, I just top up with a sheer, glossy lipstick. I carry a ton of lipstick with me daily so my lip colours never look the same throughout the day LOL! :D

Have you tried these Pure Color Envy lipsticks and have a colour you like? Do you like creamy lipsticks?

Not many people like creamy lipsticks, from my experience. A lot of people associate creamy lipsticks with heavy, waxy 80’s style textures, but rest assured, technology has caught up and things have improved a lot in the lipstick department! I like creamy colours for days when I want to look more polished and more “adult”. Otherwise, I go sheer and glossy for a younger feel :D

Paris B

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick Price: RM103 | US$30 Availability: Estee Lauder counters and Sephora

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