I was suppose to post up a combined review on RMK but I decided to review Estée Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator instead. This is going to be a short but “sweet” review.
One thing I love about Estée Lauder is the bottle. Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator has this light blue shiny opaque signature bottle that comes with a gold cap. If you been following the blog you should know I grabbed 2 bottle from Suria Meriang Staff Sales for RM140 per bottle of 50ml. This has been in my wish list for quite some time but I wasn’t encouraged to get it as I’m told that I applied too many stuff on my face lol.
At the back of the bottle, it says that Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator should be applied before moisturizer. I treat this as a serum and a whitening product so I applied this after 2 serum. Whitening product will make the skin drier therefore I’ll apply hydrating cream after that.
The pump is also made from the same gold cap. The pump system is actually pretty good and well made. It pumps the content out smoothly, without over-dispensing the serum. Depending on my mood, sometimes I use 2 pumps and sometimes I use 3 pumps.
The serum is a milky shimmering light gold and the texture is not oily at all. It glides on the skin smoothly with a slight citrus scent. Personally I’m not bothered with the shimmers. It’s not the same shimmer that you find in makeup so rest assured. I believe the shimmers is what gives the skin that illuminating glow.
Now. Here is what I don’t like about Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator. Immediately after the first usage I had bad breakout on the whole of my right face. A few days after that the breakout became worse, reddish and painful. After a week I started to get panic. I was desperate for a solution and suddenly I remembered that Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil can balance back the hormone within our face and THANK GOD I purchased a bottle during Clarins VIP Beauty Workshop back in May 2012. On that very night I started using Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil mixed with Clarins Toning Lotion and within 3 days the breakout stopped and the bumps subsided. I continued using Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator after Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil to lighten the acne marks that I had from the breakout. Amazingly the combination works well together. At that time I still didn’t know it’s the Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator that is giving me the breakout. Until I read from Estée Lauder Facebook comment then only it makes sense to me. The breakout started right after I started using Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator. But since it wasn’t giving me anymore problem I continued using this from time to time provided I’m on Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil. I tried using this after I stopped using Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil and I had breakout again.
The question is…do I love it or hate it? I don’t like it for a simple reason. It doesn’t lighten any of my acne marks, gave me severe breakout and I think my Guerlain Meteorites Perles can give me more illuminating effect than this.
Next review I’m going to rave about how Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil saved my face from breakout.
Estée Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator is available at all Estée Lauder counters.
Price: RM240 for 30ml, RM350 for 50ml
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. I bought the product on my own
Comments (11)
aw what a pity!
this is on my wishlist too! been wanting to try this for the longest time!
It doesn’t suits me but it suits most people :). I do have an extra brand new bottle to sell off. Do drop me a mail if you’re looking for one 🙂
Aww poor dear! I was tempted to get this serum as well but the Senior Counter Manager at KLCC told me to use the basic ANR and Pore Refining serum to heal my skin condition. Once my skin gets better, then perhaps I can try the Illuminator. Glad the Clarins oil saved the day for you 🙂
Yea she told me the same thing too lol. I can still use this provided I use Clarins Lotus Oil before that.
I have breakout after using it. Somewhat glad I didn’t buy the actual size. The BA gave me the samples after consultation.
You too? Oh no. Some user doesn’t experience breakout and they actualy benefited from it.
I’m not sure whether Idealist is a range of its own, but I have breakout when I use Idealist. I remember back then, it was named Idealist only. Nothing fancy. I could be wrong but I remember it was Idealist. Small bumps back then, I stopped completely. Then the one I just tried, yes breakout and still hoping it would get better. It takes forever to clear. Some users are lucky – no breakout etc.
I don’t get small bumps. I get huge red painful pimple the next day of using. No warning 🙁
I just bought it. The Estee Lauder consultant intro me to use it to lighten my acne marks. hope it work for me. ^-^
Hope it works for you. It doesn’t for me unfortunately. Had breakout and the acne marks are even worse.
ohh…hrmm..
hope so. =) tq