Inspired by the way modern architectural works flirt with light and dark, how the very same structure can look completely different depending on the angle from which it's beheld, and how metallic touches magnify this effect, Tom Pecheux, Creative Makeup Director of Estée Lauder, created the Estée Lauder Modern Mercury Fall 2011 Collection. Pecheux hoped to create a similar effect via makeup, with multi-faceted shades that could be worn ina bevy of ways.
The Modern Mercury makeup collection, then, includes velvety lip color shades with a satin sheen, metallic liquid liners with a molten ore feel, and shimmering shadows in eclipse-worthy hues.
Check out the full collection, as well as swatches of some of the collection's starring players, after the jump.
PURE COLOR VELVET LIPSTICKS
The new Estée Lauder Pure Color Velvet Lipstick ($24 each at Estée Lauder counters and EsteeLauder.com) features a matte finish but doesn't dry out lips or look flat and lifeless. In fact, the lipsticks are richly pigmented, glide on smoothly, and offer great coverage — perfect for creating an intense look. The lipsticks come in three shades: Nude Velvet, Fuchsia Velvet, and Red Velvet.
Below, you'll find a swatches of the Red Velvet shade, a robust, holiday-ready hue:
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PURE COLOR EYESHADOW DUOS
The Modern Mercury collection includes three limited-edition Estée Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow Duos ($30 at EsteeLauder.com): Modern Mercury, Platinums, and Black Chrome. All three eyeshadow palettes feature metallic and highly reflective shades with a velvety soft texture. Not only can the two colors in each palette be blended together, but you can layer colors using various palettes since they all work together in harmony and have a similarly modern, futuristic, sultry feel.
Below, you'll find swatches of the Platinums Pure Color Eyeshadow Duo, which features a shimmering, taupe-ish gray shade with rose gold undertones and a chalky, velvety smooth eggshell white hue.
Next, check out the shades in the Modern Mercury palette, which includes a very light silver, Tin Man-worthy color and a darker, pure titanium metallic shade. Together, these are ideal for an avant garde smokey eye look.
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PURE COLOR ILLUMNATING POWDER GELEE
One of my favorite products in the collection is the Estée Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée ($40 at Estée Lauder counters), which has a scale-like design with a rippling, wave-like formation that creates a 3D visual effect. Rather than a rosy or peachy blush shade or a golden bronze hue, this powder combines the best of both worlds, helping to illuminate any complexion and make it look like it's basking in sunlight. There is, of course, a seashell rose tint to the golden bronze hue thanks to the micro pearl particles for an added bit of dazzle.
Here are some swatches showing the effect the powder has on skin:
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PURE COLOR NAIL LACQUER
With the Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Metallic Sage ($19 at Estée Lauder counters and EsteeLauder.com), you can give nails an olive green color laden with a glossy sheen and saturated with yellow gold particles
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PURE COLOR LIQUID EYELINERS
The Modern Mercury collection includes three Pure Color Liquid Eyeliners ($21 each at Estée Lauder counters and EsteeLauder.com) in steely industrial shades: Graphite, a gunmetal shade; Black Quartz, a petroleum-like black; and Zinc,a gold-tinged, tarnished green. Each liner features a felt applicator tip so you can draw bold lines with the utmost precision, and the shades themselves feature glistening sparkle particles that add a reflective sheen.
