Estee Lauder single eye shadow in 63 Tempting Mocha

Mine is a makeup collection of the essentials. Some things are cheap but very good, others I can't stinge on. Eyeshadow is one of those things. Of course, when it comes to pricier items, most of us need to keep it on a need-to-have basis. All that being said, I'll be talking about my most essential eye shadow of all, Estee Lauder's single shimmer eye shadow in shade 63 Tempting Mocha.

Estee Lauder is a mid-level brand, a step above MAC but less splurgy than Chanel or Dior. What I love about this brand is that it punches above its weight in quality. So yes, it's pricey, but the quality is - for me - unparalleled. The packaging is much more tasteful and sturdy than Lancome (Lancome charges more money for their single eye shadows but doesn't even have a brush or a mirror, and it's made of the most cheep-feeling plastic and it's very breakable) and the makeup's finish almost outdoes Dior, with better lasting power too. This is a highly worthwhile splurge, because it will last you a seriously long time and no cheap eye shadow can give you the kind of wear time this can. 

On with the show...

The colour 

The shade of this shadow is a large part of what makes this an essential for me. It is a mauve-taupe made subtle by a pussy-cat gray hue, a slightly perly tone, and an undercurrent of warm mocha. In other words, it's a dusty shade of light purple but it isn't frosty or cold. This colour is very posh but understated. It blends in with most skintones, giving a very natural but sophisticated look. Looks nice alone as a single wash of colour with a little mascara, or as a base for a more dramatic look.

The Texture

The texture is wonderful. It doesn't look caked on or powdery, but rather it has a slightly shiny finish that gets into every crease and fold, it's completely yielding. The hold on this stuff is fabulous, staying on all day long. I like to use a primer, but it definitely isn't necessary.

The packaging

The way this product is presented is just the most luxurious, ingenious thing! The top is golden metal with the Estee Lauder brand name etched along the edge, the makeup itself is in a metal inner casing sunk into thick and very sturdy crystalline plastic. The whole thing feels like it could never break. It snaps shut in a very secure way, and you can open it to whatever degree you want and it doesn't fall shut on its own, making it easy to get the mirror at the right angle for quick applications. It has a plastic tray over the eye shadow which I never threw away - I like to keep it there because it acts as a barrier between the powder and the mirror, so that my mirror stays nice and clean. Oh, and did I mention it has its own mirror? In a single, that is a luxurious addition. 

Application

I like that it comes with an applicator, but I never use it. The spongy ones always absorb powders instead of transferring them. I like to use brushes. Any brushes that are decently soft (NOT PLASTIC! You can get nice and inexpensive cruelty-free brushes, but don't use plastic bristles!) will do well.

Have a great day everyone, and thanks for reading!

A.