Elizabeth Arden goes on a nautical Summer Escape

Elizabeth Arden goes on a nautical Summer Escape with this limited edition makeup collection in marine-inspired packaging, and colours of summer bronzed skin, pink lips, and navy eyes.

I think makeup in summer should be fresh and radiant – and this ticks all the boxes. It has a stunning bronzer for sun-flushed skin, a rosy gloss stick for lips, a highlighter in the perfect flush of pink, and a stylish cornflower-blue nailpolish.

Here’s the new collection which is on Elizabeth Arden counters from 1st August 2014. I shot it against my nautical Trelise Cooper dress in polkadots and stripes, and my straw boater hat, to complement the nautical theme. I love the ropes on the packaging and the navy and coral colourway.

The hero of the makeup collection for me is the bronzer. The Pure Finish Summer Escape Bronzing Powder ($69) pictured above in Warm Glow 01, is a baked-finish marbled bronzer with a light yet radiance finish.

This pretty nail lacquer is entitled ‘Sailor Girl’ and would look cute either with denim, or a sunfrock, and especially perfect teamed with white. It is $29 so a bit more than OPI which is $25 but is incredible creamy and rich – I got this finish below in just one coat.

For eyes, the Summer Escape collection has a limited edition Beautiful Color Define and Highlight Eyeliner duo ($45) two-ended pencil with a deep shade for the upper lash line, and a light shade for the lower lash line. The Beautiful Color Lash Enhancing Mascara ($58) comes this season in Ocean Blue, which takes me back to the Eighties (but you don’t have to wear it with shoulderpads and listening to Depeche Mode if you don’t want to.)

Pure Finish Cool Radiance Highlighter ($55) is a multi-use product that can add a dewy finish to eyelids, cheeks and even lips. The opalescent pink shade ‘First Mate 01’ comes in a twist-up tube and can be applied direct to the face and blended in with fingertips.

Beautiful Color Gloss Stick ($39) is a bit like Clinique’s Chubby Sticks and MAC’s PatentPolish Lip Pencils, in that it has a convenient stick applicator like a lip pencil, but with a rich pigment and a shiny finish.  It comes in four summery shades of coral, rose, watermelon and a neutral.

If you don’t like a dry powder eyeshadow in summertime, here’s a soft and creamy shadow in a smooth, long-lasting colour. Pure Finish Cream Eye Shadow ($45) comes in Sand Dollar (peach-coral shimmer), Overboard (vibrant pearl blue) and Achors Away (metallic bronze.)

Megan Robinson
15th July 2014