Estée Lauder - Part Deux

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Launch Event

Thursday, July 23, after a horrendously rainy walk from the wrong (oops!) Macy's to the Watertower Place Macy's, I looked pretty much like I felt. Exhausted. Drowned-rat-like. My feet were dying (it's not good to walk over a mile in 3 1/2 inch heels) and I really could have used a bit more anti-perspirant that morning. Or a long soak in a hot tub.

But I was determined to participate in the second half of our Estée Lauder review - the party at Macy's for the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Launch Event. And man, oh man, was I glad I made it.

First, we all gathered around to hear the story of Estée Lauder.



We learned how Mrs. Lauder stood outside a department store for 8 hours trying to convince the store's buyer to allow her six inches of space for the original Youth-Dew product. How she wasn't allowed to give away samples so instead, dropped an entire bottle so that the beautiful Youth-Dew scent brought buyers running. How important she felt it was to touch her customers.

We all received a gorgeous gift bag - full of sample products and as well as a full sized sample of this:



And it? Is awesome. My lashes have never looked this long without looking clumpy. I'm a convert for sure.

Best of all, though, we also learned how important that personal touch really is. Every one of us got a makeover. My makeup artist, (and really, she was...I was a wreck by that time, she had her work cut out for her) Sorka, asked me about my skin, chose a foundation and a concealer that was the most perfect match I'd received (and yes, she gave me a sample!)...dotted my cheeks with blush and my eyelids with a beautifully natural tawny color that didn't crease at all.

The icing on the cake, though, was her application of lipstick (I never wear lipstick) that didn't make me stare at myself wondering, "Where did these lips come from?". It was perfectly natural and had just the right amount of shimmer.

See?



Don't just take my word for it though. Read about the rest of the BlogHer Reviewer's experiences at the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Event at Macy's!

Now, seriously...could you tell I had walked 10 blocks in platform heels in the rain?

What's your favorite makeup product and how does it make you feel?

The Inhabited World by David Long

I devoured this book. It's a glimpse into the mind of a spirit left to wander the house where he committed suicide. He watches the people who inhabit his home - trying to piece together what happened in his own life. His story stays just out of reach until Maureen moves in.

Long's writing is descriptive and deceptive in it's ability to drag you in.

Leave me a comment here if you'd like this book - my buddy the Random Number Generator will choose the lucky recipient on Wednesday July 22nd.

Love, The Hotfessional

UPDATED: The winner is witchypoo! Congratulations witchypoo!

Estee Lauder is my new BFF

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair

I turned 46 years old in May. Forty-six. How did that happen? I look in the mirror and see the same face that looked back at me when I was 26. I never paid much attention to my skin aging before, I was more worried about the zits that I couldn't seem to grow out of, but once I got closer to 50 than 40, I figured it was time to change my tune.

(Okay, that and BlogHer and Estée Lauder invited me to review Advanced Night Repair. But really! I was going to look for something to use to combat years of ignoring sun and pollution damage when the offer came, and who am I to say no?)

My usual skincare routine is lazy at best. I wash my face, throw some toner at it, and then...if I don't see any new pimples, I moisturize. Making the commitment to pay attention while using this product meant really PAYING ATTENTION.

And so I did.

I washed my face with my usual cleanser, used my toner, and then applied the Advanced Night Repair. Estée Lauder recommends using their moisturizer afterwards, but since I didn't have any, I used my regular moisturizer.

It's amazing. Well and truly - even though everything else about my skincare routine was the same, my skin does look younger - it feels firmer and has a glow that it hasn't had since...well, since I was 26. I no longer have dry or blotchy patches - my face is evenly hydrated and evenly toned. I can only imagine what I'll look like when I pick up more of the line. (Dare I say it? hot?)

Retail Price: $47.50 --- For more information, click here.

The packaging is great. The logo on the brown and gold bottle is pure Estée Lauder. The dropper dispenses just the right amount of the serum. It's a small enough package to get through airport security (important since I travel weekly)!

The liquid is a clear, creamy-ish gel with a slight fresh, citrusy scent. It smooths over skin easily and absorbs quickly.

If you're ready for healthier, younger-looking, glow-tacular skin, this is definitely a product worth considering. Don't just take my word for it, though. You can read other reviews here.

Even better:

Estée Lauder invites you to AMERICAS NIGHT TO REPAIR. On Thursday, July 23, 5-9PM, visit any Estée Lauder Counter and get a free 10-day supply of New Advanced Night Repair, no purchase necessary (while supplies last).

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How about you? What skin problem would you like to repair?

Ehemmmm.

So, is this thing still on? No, really. October 16, 2008 was the last time I posted here? I guess my whole idea of pointing you to good books kinda fell by the wayside, eh? Must have something to do with the whole losing my job, finding a job, outrageous travel schedule, etc, etc, and whine, whine, whine.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm doing a review for BlogHer soon (and hope to do more) and their rules are pretty stringent about having a DIFFERENT site for some of the products. Plus, I'm all about ME on My Life as a Hotfessional (well, okay, that and bitching about others), so reviews don't really fit there.

Anyway - my way of saying, "Stay tuned".