I can't remember the last time I used Estee Lauder skincare. With the exception of trying Nutritious, the new lactic acid based skin treatment (you know, the one with the milk bottle shape), and Futurist, Lauder's new treatment anti-aging foundation, I didn't know much about their basic skin care. When I was in my late twenties, Night Repair was born and so paved the way to clearer, brighter skin. Estee Lauder was the second skin care line I used after graduating from Clinique. The line has grown with several new products produced each year. In this current time, I feel Estee Lauder is more complicated than ever, with so many lines within the main line. So what does Lauder have to offer a 42 year old like me? I decided to check out the Lauder counter at a nearby Strawbridges store here in Philadelphia, PA.

The sales associate for Estee Lauder was a bit distracted when I arrived. She was short-staffed and trying to do too many things at one time. To top it off, she was suffering from hay fever and coughing into her hands - the very hands that were going to be used on my face. After popping a lozenge into her mouth, I was relieved as the coughing subsided.

My skin type has had many conflicting evaluations. I seem to believe that in the warmth and humidity we Philadelphians tolerate, my skin needs less creams on it in the spring/summer months. However, she determined that my skin was normal to dry. I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt to find out what products she would use. She began with Tender Cleanser which can be tissued off and which seemed most convenient for her to use since there wasn't a sink at the counter. I had the impression that perhaps this wasn't the appropriate cleanser for me, but for now, all she was interested in was getting my face makeup off in the most convenient manner. The cleanser was ordinary in that if it wasn't backed up by the wonderfully refreshing purifying toner, my face wouldn't have felt clean. The purifying toner was wonderfully mild, alcohol free with some thyme in it. I've heard that thyme can be irritating - the operative word being can. I have never had a problem with it.

The moisturizing step is a bit complicated. Three products were used and at first I thought of the expense involved with three giants such as Fruition, Night Repair, and Resilience. I could use Avon's new Anew Perfecting Complex, which contains all of the same effects as the three Lauder products (plus there is an SPF 15 sunscreen in the Avon cream) for less than half the price, and come out with the same results. But, the Fruition does smooth out the skin with just 2 pumps and it does last for quite a while. It can be used under other moisturizers as long as the moisturizer used doesn't have an AHA in it, otherwise, it can be too drying on the skin. Next, a few drops of Night Repair was patted over the Fruition. Night Repair is something that can be used in the daytime as well as nighttime. I would consider changing the name of this product particularly because it has a sunscreen in it - why would anyone need that at night? It's a nice serum type moisturizer that, once again, is to be used under the moisturizer, which brings me to Resilience. A fairly standard moisturizer that contains some elastin to firm the skin, it's something I probably couldn't justify spending forty plus dollars on. However, considering three products were now applied to my skin, I was not in the least bit greasy.

My skin was now prepped for makeup. Since I have used Futurist foundation and found it to be quite appealing, I asked if she could use that on me. She liked the idea that I knew what I wanted, again, making it easier for her. This anti-aging foundation comes in several colors and intensities which at first seem to be too yellow for most skins. When I first was tested for "Cameo", I thought that it would look hideous on me. I told you the sales associate was distracted and now I was convinced she sold lampshades in her last job! She was ready to put a medium shade of powder on me when I asked is she was going to use concealer. After the age of 35, one discovers a new friend in concealer! Estee Lauder's concealer is okay and she was right to say you just pat it on - never rub it in. "Medium" seemed to be a good color for me and the coverage was okay, but not better than some other concealers I have tried.

She asked what makeup look I wanted. My Italian heritage has blessed me with dramatic coloring; dark eyes and hair and a slightly pale but olive skintone sometimes has me longing for blondeness and light eyes needing only a little bit of natural toned enhancement. But, hey, you are who you are. I told her I wanted neutral colors but she reacted as most makeup artists do - saying that I look good in more color. She even broke out the makeup brushes saying she felt like an artist. Oh, what the heck, I wanted to make her day! She combined a peach toned compact disc shadow all over the lids and she used a deep blue as a contour. I thought that contrast would be too intense but she wasn't heavy handed, and it did look nice. She outlined my eyes with a pencil in an amethyst color that gave softness to the look. She started to use a Spice blush but then blended it with Petal Desire when she realized she wanted to use a pink lipstick on me. Blush and lipstick should always match is what she told me. I was really starting to take a liking to this woman. She was really doing her job - showing who she thought was the novice makeup user all the tricks of the trade, even if she had to be reminded of them. Wineberry lipliner topped with Passion Pink lipstick completed the look. I couldn't wait till my boyfriend saw this - he likes neutrals and very natural lip colors. Oh, what do men know? I think a bright lipstick color is threatening to them for some reason!

All in all, I would say that with a little more training, this sales associate could graduate to a makeup artist. I was surprised that her makeup was applied beautifully. Maybe it really was a new career for her! The damage done? I bought the Passion Pink lipstick - blame it on an early mid-life crisis! I also bought the Pure Velvet mascara, which really thickens and separates more than any Chanel or Christian Dior mascara could. A promotion was currently going on - a FULL SIZE ThighZone (a great deal in itself since that retails for $45.00), two lipsticks, a Resilience body lotion, a small tube of Lip Zone, and a hair brushed all tucked into a large white striped beach bag for $18.50 with any purchase. Of course, I had to have it!

Tthree hours after my makeover, I didn't feel greasy at all. Maybe I really am drier at this time than I thought. I really don't want to buy a whole costly makeup line, but if I were in the market for it some day, I would consider Estee Lauder.