Estee Lauder Fall 2011: Pure Color Modern Mercury Swatches and Review

Here are some of the products that I was able to try from Estee Lauder Fall 2011 Pure Color Modern Mercury collection. Tom Pecheux's inspiration for this collection comes from his reflections on modern architecture which are pure art. The reflections bouncing off the buildings never look the same because of the nuances of the facade and the play of light and metal. He wants these makeup pieces to have the same effect: you wear the same makeup, and yet your looks take on a life of their own, and they never look the same way.

Pure Color Eyeshadow Duos:


Platinums, Black Chrome




Platinums




Black Chrome







Platinums


Black Chrome

I am really liking the Pure Color EyeShadow Duos. First of all, I am in love with the packaging. They look so luxurious; the mirror in the compact is a major plus. The colors are saturated and apply smoothly on the skin. Platinums is so pretty; it holds two of my favorite colors to blend together: an icy silver with tiny purple flecks, and a mid-tone shimmery grey. Combined with the Black Chrome, these two duos make a great smokey eye. Black Chrome contains a matte black and a shimmery charcoal-black with tiny blue, purple, pink and green flecks.

As you see in the swatches, these are very pigmented. Application is great; smooth and buttery. Even the matte black was a cinch to blend.  Staying power was very good over a good base.

Liquid Eyeliner:


Graphite


Graphite


Graphite - see the morphing shade


Silver Zinc


Silver Zinc


Top: Graphite
Bottom: Silver Zinc


Wearing Graphite

These Pure Color Liquid Eyeliners are reminiscent of some of the liquid liners I've used with a felt tip- namely Illamasqua and MAC SuperSlick liquid liners. These glide well on the lids and I like the fact that they have other colors other than black, and yet can still be used for neutral looks and not garish, bright in-your-face shades. There are only three shades so the color range is kind of limited, but you can use these for a wide variety of looks.

When I saw Graphite, a grey-silver-pewter liquid liner with shimmer, I really didn't think much of it because I thought it was just your usual silver liner. When I applied it on the lid, I was surprised that each photo I took looked different - sometimes it looks charcoal, other times it looks silvery, sometimes greenish, and sometimes it looks pewter. Tom Pecheux was so right in saying that the nuances of these shades are incredible, ever-shifting and moving. The first time I wore it, my eye look was complimented by our server when the family went out for dinner.  Graphite is my new favorite liner.

Silver Zinc is like a khaki-gold liquid liner that also morphs into different shades when worn.  Very pretty.   I will probably wear this when I have a very dark eye look in order to lighten up the overall look.

Pure Color Velvet Lipsticks:


Nude Velvet, Red Velvet, Fuchsia Velvet


Nude Velvet, Red Velvet, Fuchsia Velvet


Red Velvet


Red Velvet


Nude Velvet


Nude Velvet


Fuchsia Velvet


Fuchsia Velvet


Nude Velvet, Fuschsia Velvet, Red Velvet







What I really like about Estee Lauder lipstick is how even it applies on the lips. It never looks splotchy or patchy when applied. It also softly glistens with a creamy finish. It is soft matte with really pigmented shades- a nude beige, magenta and true red. I will be wearing these in some of Estee Lauder looks I have lined up.

Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee:


Modern Mercury










Modern Mercury





Probably the pièce de résistance of this collection. The Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee in Modern Mercury is a "tri-brid" system of liquid, powder and gel. It is a "multi-powder" formula that creates a soft shimmer on the skin when applied dry and a darker flush of color when applied wet. It contains a unique blend of golden pigments and pearls that give a pretty luminosity. I LOVE the packaging. It is in a sort of wave formation that makes it look like it comes in different shades, when in fact it is just one uniform shade in a wave-like form in the compact. Lovely and unique. This looks exactly like what Tom Pecheux had envisioned about the phenomenon of modern buildings reflecting different hues and dimensions.

All in all, this collection is more about the nuances in the products rather than the uniqueness of the shades. The colors are not that original, like the lipsticks are just your quintessential nude, magenta and red. And yet what makes this collection unique is how Estee Lauder incorporated the ever-shifting nuances of metals and shimmering pearl into the products. My favorites are the Powder Gelee, liquid eyeliner and EyeShadow Duos.

The Shades Of U Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Note: Press samples were provided by a representative of the company for consideration. All opinions are completely mine.