The holidays are just around the corner. It's a time for celebrations and reunions with loved ones, but if you're a beauty junkie, then there's one other reason this time of the year is special: holiday sets! Most high-end brands have their own limited edition collection that features wearable art or sets for gift-giving. Now is a good time to collect some precious pieces, give an impressive beauty gift, or just get more value for your money.

Today I'd like to show you the Estee Lauder Holiday 2013 Sets. Every year the brand releases beautifully detailed solid perfume and powder compacts, and this year is no exception. These designs are inspired by the Zodiac and charms traditionally synonymous with good luck. Check 'em out!

Estée Lauder elevates the popular Zodiac theme with sleek golden-matte compacts adorned with a clear Swarovski® crystal and magnetic closure. In recognition of the 2014 Year of the Horse, Estée Lauder added a colorful, eye-catching crystal compact symbolizing success in the Chinese tradition. 

The Zodiac powder compacts feature the universally wearable Lucidity Translucent Pressed Powder. 

The new solid perfume compact collection exemplifies the theme of luck with elaborately crafted compacts, including the Golden Horseshoe and Lovely Ladybug.

This season’s solid perfume compacts feature Estée Lauder’s Beautiful, pleasures and Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia fragrances. 

Other than collectibles, Estee Lauder also has great sets that'll make even the hoariest makeup enthusiast giggle in excitement. Lol. (I've been meaning to use the word "hoary" here for years now). Click after the jump to see the sets + prices.

Good serums, I find, come at prices that will make you unconsciously swallow. A lot of research and technology goes into making them so that they actually work! But do you need them? If you already have great skin then you could skip using serums. However, if you feel that you need that extra healing power, nourishment, or a boost in solving a particular skin concern, then yes serums help a great deal.

One of the serums that I loved to use was the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair. This serum has been around for 31 years now and is reputed to sell one bottle every 8.5 seconds! I wouldn't be surprised, considering how well it works. I actually did a weekly report the first month I used it. I've seen a visible improvement in just one month with my blemishes fading quicker and my skin getting a nice glow.

That was last year. I'm constantly reviewing new skincare so I haven't been exactly faithful to ANR, but it's still on my top five list of serums. Perhaps it's time to try it out again? Estee Lauder just created a new version of it. It's called the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II (P5,300).

This new formula is said to be lighter yet more moisturizing with hyaluronic acid added into the mix. I have yet to try it out since I have just committed to a new skincare line, unfortunately, but it looks really promising. I don't know if I mentioned this already in my past reviews but I wished that ANR is more moisturizing; I'd prefer to skip moisturizer on top of it to immediately see the full effect.

Anyway! I'm rambling. Here are more details about the new serum, for your reference. :)

Have you tried a metallic lipstick before? I think this would be my first time! The Estee Lauder Pure Color Chrome Metal Lipstick in Coral Halo (P1,400) is part of the brand's Autumn 2013 Collection called Pure Color Metallics. This limited edition line is all about smooth, liquid metal finishes that are not your mother's frosty makeup. Think chrome, its dull sheen. That's what Estee Lauder was shooting for!

The formula is creamy and doesn't feel like a thick blanket on the lips. Staying power is average at 3-4 hours; it adheres well enough that it won't disappear after a meal, but it will fade. As with all EL cosmetics, this smells like fresh fig fruits. It's very pleasant and luxe!

The Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup (P1,900) has been in my stash for over a year now, but I must confess that I haven't used it - until recently, that is! The shade I have (Intensity 4) is a bit pink and light on my skin so I haven't used it as often as I should. Shade woes aside, I love the formula of this product. It's a heavy-coverage, long-wearing foundation that girls with oily and troubled skin will love!

Coverage and finish. Intensity 4 is kinda light and pink for me but as long as I use a sheer layer only, it will eventually adjust to my natural coloring. The coverage is quite heavy so I won't recommend using a thick layer in any case. A light application can already cover my eye bags and dark blemishes! It can also cover redness from fresh pimples and allergies.

The finish is matte, but it's not the flat kind of matte. It really perfects the complexion and gives it this flawless coverage. Just be careful about the amount you apply. Too much and the DW Light will look cakey.

Gel tints are for people who don't want to muck about with brushes and powders. They are super convenient and more natural-looking compared to powder brushes and, when applied correctly, lasts considerably longer due to the stain they tend to leave. Tints are also appropriate on all skin types - dry skin, oily skin, they will look good and feel good on top.

One of the latest tints out there is the Estee Lauder Pure Color Cheek Rush (P2,000). This is a gel blush that has a sheer, ultra-natural color pay-off that stays on for hours. It's better worn on bare skin to maximize its staining action, but you can also apply it on top of makeup if you prefer.

The shade I have, X-Pose Rose, looks like scary pink goo when it is pumped out, but it's actually a pretty pink rose shade once you break it down. I love that it's watery and easy to blend all over the cheeks. What I do is a place one pump on the back of my hand, spread it out, then pick up a tiny bit using my fingers. I then apply that to my cheeks, and voila, instant pink flush that doesn't look like makeup. 

I've said this once and I'll say it again: Estee Lauder is no longer your lola's brand. They have actually finished reformulating their color cosmetics under the Pure Color line and I tell you, everything is fantastic! From eyeshadows, liners, nail polishes, down to the lipsticks EL has a lot of fabulous, rich shades for you.

To prove my point, here's my lipstick of the moment: The Estee Lauder Pure Color Long-Lasting Lipstick in Fuchsia Fever.

Yes, it is as daring as it looks! It's a bright, ultra creamy fuchsia that just glides on the lips like butter and smells like EL's signature fig scent. It's not drying at all even though it's designed to be long-wearing. While it's rich and heavy with pigment, I find that it doesn't feel thick on the lips even with a couple of layers.

Estee Lauder is not just your mother and grandmother's staple brand. There's always something new and exciting in the Estee counters, something for everyone who loves luxe beauty! Here I shall present some of Estee Lauder's latest products, and my quick impressions about them. I'll be reviewing some of them in separate posts in the near future so do let me know which one you're most interested in, ok? ;)

First off, I have the Estee Lauder Pleasure Eau Fraiche (P2,800). This is a floral, powdery scent has top notes of pure white lilies and violet leaves. The floral heart of black lilacs, white peonies, pink roses and exotic karo-karounde blossoms comes down to a spicy after-glow. It's quite fresh and young along with the simple yet colorful packaging.

If you're more into nails then you should check out the Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer Collection (P900/ bottle).

Oh boy do I have a treat for you! One lucky Project Vanity reader will win a Michael Kors pouch set from Estee Lauder. It's basically a small clutch full of Estee Lauder goodies! I love the design as it looks very classic and easy to match up with any outfit. ^_^ 

Basically, Estee Lauder would like help in reaching the 80,000 mark on their Facebook Page. Once this has been reached, all four blogger partners will raffle off an MK set each on their blogs. So let's make quick work out of it, yes? Like the EL Philippines page now!

Full mechanics

1. Like the Estee Lauder Philippines Facebook Page. Say hi on their page and let them know you came from Project Vanity. 

Do you guys still like FOTDs? I rarely post them these days because, well, I don't often wear interesting looks. On a normal day out I'd be in neutral makeup and a bright lipstick. It's only for parties and events that I go all out! As it should be, at least for me.

Yesterday I was taking a few standard photos of my face since I used a couple of new products. Yes it's vain but because of this blog I have the valid excuse of, erm, documentation for purposes of reviews. Hehe. Anyway I was really surprised with how the photos turned out.

Zero editing. At first I thought it was the light, but I don't get photos this good at 4:30pm when the light is starting to fail. So what could it be?

This is a wee bit late but I thought I'd share it anyway! As you know Estee Lauder has been celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness month for 20 years now. Last October 9, the brand lit up the Ayala Museum in pink to draw support for the cause. Our museum is just one of the numerous monuments and landmarks all over the world (such as the Empire State Building, Sydney Opera House, and Tower of Pisa) that has been illuminated in pink!

Estee Lauder's best serum has got to be the Advanced Night Repair. It's ideal for women in their early 20s to 30s who want something to keep their skin refreshed and supple. If you're looking for something to combat sagging skin and wrinkles though, you should check out the Estee Lauder Perfectionist [CP+R].

I didn't try it myself but I gave it to a friend who loved it! She has extremely reactive / sensitive skin but she didn't get any pimples using it. She likes the brightening effect, but beyond that she needs more time to see the wrinkle lifting benefits.

Interested? Here's more information for your reference!

Estée Lauder introduces NEW Perfectionist [CP+R] Wrinkle Lifting/Firming Serum, featuring breakthrough CPR-75 Technology, a dual-action, advanced amino acid and protein complex that supercharges and re-strengthens skin’s natural collagen-building power.

Fast, effective and dramatic, CPR-75 Technology helps skin supercharge its ionic “pump” to help boost its critical, natural energy potential, promoting optimal repair.

Hi girls! It's a glorious Friday morning and I'm excited! I've been several shades of lazy and busy to go out lately so I've stored up all my appointments for this day. Call it streamlining operations - if there's anything I dislike, it's wasting time when there's a smoother way to accomplish things.

Anyway, I just want to tell you about an upcoming workshop by Estee Lauder. They are bringing in their Director of Global Makeup Artistry, Blair Patterson, to conduct the class! It will be held on October 13, 4:30pm at the Lubang function room of EDSA Shangri-La. Sounds fab right?

All you need to do is reserve and pay the P3,000 workshop fee, which is in reality consummable GCs at Estee Lauder.

It's been 20 years since Estee Lauder Companies launched their Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. Since then, it has been active in more than 70 countries and has raised more than $35 million to fund 140 Breast Cancer Research Foundation grants for medical research. This 20th year alone supports 13 research grants across the globe. 

This year's campaign theme is Courage. Believe in a world without breast cancer. Know we’re here until it’s true. This year’s empowering message highlights Estee Lauder's commitment to defeating breast cancer through education and medical research and celebrates hjgjthe life and legacy of BCA Campaign Founder and Pink Ribbon co-creator, Mrs. Evelyn H. Lauder, who passed last year. 

(Do read that link, it's a story on her by the New York Times.)

To celebrate, there will be a big press event on October 9 - quite exciting because I know they will illuminate a local landmark in pink! They also have a featured product

The rain has been raging non-stop since yesterday. Stuff that I've scheduled for today have been canceled, so I'm just at home! Hope you're staying dry wherever you are. Come to think of it - what's your weapon of choice in this kind of weather? Raincoat? Boots? Or just the plain ol' umbrella?

Don't forget to read my makeup/hair tips for rainy days! Anyway, today I want to review a nice eyeliner I've had for a while: the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil in Onyx (P1,295). I was initially unsure about this one when I first got it. It felt too soft and creamy to actually "stay-in-place". I'm happy to say that this eyeliner defied my expectations (or lack thereof) - it does stay on, with only minimum smudging as with most pencils.

What I like about the product

• Super creamy texture that makes it easy to line with, with no tugging or pulling. It's soft enough to be used as a cream eyeshadow.
• Pigmented on lids, though you have to go over the line two times to get a really solid black. This is a very deep, slightly bluish eyeliner. It's completely matte.

I've heard that Rustan's in EDSA Shangri-La has undergone a renovation. True enough, the place looks so chica now! I remember it being a bit gloomy and admittedly shabby before. Now it's bright, fresh, with gleaming counters and warm beauty assistants.

Last Saturday, I went there to check out Estee Lauder's new counter. What can I say - they really outdid themselves this time! They're occupying a big space near the entrance, complete with a lounge and a long table for anyone who wants to play with EL makeup.

Feeling like a queen. Lol!

The place looks so posh and worthy of Estee Lauder as a premium brand. After touring it, I settled down to listen to a cool and fairly new makeup tip that EL shared to us beauty bloggers. It's called their 4-step Simple Smoky eyes inspired directly by EL's creative makeup director, Tom Pecheux.

Hi Julia! :D

Step 1: With a generous amount of eyeliner, draw a circle on the back of your hand about an inch across.

I've been awake since 5 am today and so many things have been running through my head. Work, random bits of information, what I'm going to say online today. Those kinds of things. In the wee hours of the morning when I am the most alone, it's my dog who keeps me sane.

So! It's going to be an extremely busy week! To kick it off, here's a review of a couple of Estee Lauder CyberWhite Brilliant Cells products.

I'm not really into BB creams per se, but I do like tinted moisturizers when they actually have skincare benefits. The Estee Lauder CyberWhite Brilliant Cells Extra Intensive BB Cream is a skincare product first and makeup second. It doesn't have much in the way of coverage, but my skin always feels smooth and bright after using it.

It's the kind of product you throw on when you just want an evened complexion and SPF protection (it has SPF35). It does stay on for at least four hours, and works with my combination oily skin once set with powder.

It's been a month since I started using the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate. And how was it? Amazing, really. It helped my skin get that nice glow and smoothness, feats that few other products can do consistently. Unfortunately, I had breakouts in between from trying out new products, so I feel that the ANR hasn't given me its best shot yet. 

Here are my pics and weekly reviews! Check them out to compare.

This stuff is the bomb. The real deal. After three weeks of using the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate, I can honestly say that this is one of the best skincare products I've ever tried - up there with my Clinique Moisture Surge, Clinique Liquid Facial Wash, and Burt's Bees Toner. 

Observe:

Okay so, I've been using the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate for a week now. And these are my observations!

• My skin is incredibly smooth right now. The roughness from dry patches, blackheads, and random bumps are very much reduced. 
• Skin is more even and has a glow, so I tend to use less makeup.