Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Estée Lauder Metallic Sage

I missed the limited edition Estée Lauder nail colors they released this past spring (fortunately all the ones I wanted were cremes, so I am telling myself that they are easily dupeable and indeed I likely have close enoughs in my stash already). I wanted to make sure I didn't miss the fall limited edition polish in the Modern Mercury collection, Metallic Sage. I kept an eye out online and when I saw other people had gotten it, I knew it was time to go hunting. Because this brand is only available in a few stores, and not ones that are on my usual shopping route, I called ahead so I wouldn't waste a trip. I phoned Nordstrom and asked for the Estée Lauder counter. I got connected, as evidenced by the voice picking up and saying "Estée Lauder". I asked if they had Metallic Sage nail polish in stock. "Who makes that?" the voice at the other end of the line says. Sigh. I told her Estée Lauder; she said she didn't have it. I am still not convinced she knew one way or the other about it. I gave up and ordered online from Macy's.

Metallic Sage is what I'd call an olive green (not as dusty & grey as what sage is in my opinion) with golden shimmer. I used three coats but could probably have stopped at two. Indoors, the shimmer is definitely visible but not dominant, so not what I'd call "metallic". I like it, though; it's one of those types of colors I used to think of as yucky but now think of as very intriguing.







Outside in the sun, blam! The shimmer pops—gold and copper and bronze and I think I even see some bright pink in there. The base color also warms up in the sun, and makes the indoor photos look sage-y in comparison.



Here's me getting all arty with it—I think I even accidentally managed to get some of that bokeh certain of my photographer friends are always going on about. (Bokeh seems to be something photographers argue about the definition of, sometimes in great technical detail, so I gave up on finding a definitive link to explain and will instead point you to Wikipedia.)



Estée Lauder polishes retail for $19, so in the same neighborhood as Chanel on a cost per ounce basis. The Estée Lauder bottles feel more luxe to me than Chanel; they're heavier and the cap is metal, not plastic. Last I checked Metallic Sage was still in stock on some websites, like Dillard's. (There's also an Amazon seller who has it listed for $38.99—and the cremes I missed at $69.99 and $79.99!— which strikes me as obnoxiously greedy.) I didn't get a chance to do any comparisons of this one, but Nailed did a great post about it with a lot of alternatives; I recommend it and her blog.

25 comments:

  1. OK what is bokeh?? I really live this color-its pretty! Seriously KarenD-I dedicated a whole post to you-the least you could do is read it! It's been up for 2 days now!!!! HAHAHAHA!

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  2. Fingers, I failed to realize not everyone has bokeh-discussing friends like me; I just edited to add a link to explain. And I will go look at your entry right now--I've been busy working to make money to buy more nail polish. :)

    Tee Dee, thanks; I do too!

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  3. Very nice color! It reminds me of a polish I got from H&M, Hunt me down, although it doesn't have any shimmers in it.

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  4. I was reading through the post thinking that I didn't particularly like the polish, it didn't look all that special. And then that shimmer! Just wow!

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  5. That pix with the sunlight is awesome...this seems a colour right up your alley...and I guess I'm not a photographer in any size or shape as I have no idea what bokeh means...off to google or check out link!

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  6. I love this...I've "almost" bought it 2 or 3 times along with Ultra Violet. Hm. Hmmmm. Thanks for the pics! It looks great on you.

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  7. I've seen this one in stores but the price tag freaks me out ;) The color is gorgeous though.

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  8. What a pretty color. I'm a sucker for greens. :)

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  9. Ooh, this one is pretty! Really interesting. I don't have any Estee Lauders, but the bottle is pretty swanky looking. I like it!

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  10. gorgeous, but i'm afraid, because of the price, i'll never try it ;-)

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  11. Gorgeous, especially in the sun!

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  12. Such a pretty polish! It reminds me of another polish, but I can't think of it now. I LOVE that last photo!

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  13. It's beautiful, especially in you pic with the tree bark, Im really liking the cute bottle I don't have any estee lauder in my collection, I think I need one lol, don't you hate when you know more than the sales people that always happens to me at ulta.

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  14. Wow, in the sunlight it really shines, gorgeous! I hate when I miss out on things and regret it forever! The scalpers out there make it that much worse!

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  15. I love Estée Lauders bottles with all that glass. :)

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  16. Pretty color ^^! Too expensive for me but really nice :)

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  17. Lovely polish indeed. And outside it really looks even more amazing. Here it never got released. Still waiting on that one.

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  18. :D funny conversation with "beauty expert"! Happens here, too, especially when you are looking for a specific polish (and obviously you know reference, collection and even cost/ml ratio) and sales assistants haven't a clue about it.
    Anyway I saw this color in a beauty store last week. Heavy bottle is impressive but I thought I could skip this expensive guy...
    BTW I learnt a new word, I like the bokeh effect)!

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  19. Now I'm dead jealous. I saw swatches of these - wanted to get it. Sold out so quickly I didn't know what hit me. I am not going to pay the outrageous prices on ebay though. I will content myself to drooling over your pics!!!

    GORGEOUS!!!!!! I love colours like this.

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  20. the last photo with the tree is wonderful! Really sets the mood for this color

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Thank you for reading and commenting! I greatly appreciate knowing I'm not just talking to myself here. :) I'm moderating most comments now due to the spate of spammers who claim to be looking for sexy times.