Estee Lauder Double Wear 2W1 Sand - Installing a MAC Foundation Pump

I've been dealing with oily skin pretty much all my life. I try to use oil-free products and really limit my use of moisturizer for evenings and during the day only apply to areas I feel are really dry. Foundation has always been a bit of a problem for me because after a few hours I start getting oily and my foundation slips around. I'm really sensitive to certain chemicals and most foundation primers start prickling and hurting my skin a few moments I put them on - Notably Smashbox Photofinish Primer. This is my second bottle of Double Wear and I am so pleased, except for well - The terrible bottle design. After some research I found out that you can install the MAC Foundation Pump on the Estee Lauder Double Wear bottle and it would be a perfect fit! And so here it is, the hybrid love-child that I am adoring at the moment!

I've been on the lookout for a good medium-coverage, long lasting mattifying foundation. I've always sworn by Armani Longlasting Silk UV Foundation because it is mattifying and photographs really well, but it still felt a bit too oily to last all day. Then I came across Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation, and I must say there is a reason why this is such a cult favourite. 

The formula is non-acnegenic - which means it is tested and formulated not to cause or promote acne. This is great because during my massive breakout of 2011, I was really trying to simplify, clarify and sooth my agitated skin. It is very mattifying to the point where it feels a bit dry in the mornings during wintertime but it feels fine in two hours or so when my skin brings out its natural oils. Also, the formula photographs well which is an added plus. 

My colouring is 2W1 SAND, which is a yellow-toned beige. I have pretty fair, cool-toned yellow Asian skin, which I find is really hard to match. Usually warm toned foundations look orange on me, whereas cool toned foundations look pink, neutral foundations tend to look ashy... Its hard to find a true neutral yellow beige, but I found this colour to be perfect on me. 

I'm a sucker for packaging, the blue/indigo logo is pretty fun!

The foundation comes in a small frosted glass bottle.

 As you can see, the bottle doesn't have a pump on the top. It is a simple screw top. I found that I used a whole bottle in about 6 months. I think about 1/3 went to waste because its so hard to control how much flows out of the bottle since you literally have to pour the foundation out onto the back of your hand. I don't know why they would make it this way - In South Korea for every bottle you buy, they give you a FREE dispenser. In Canada, I asked the make-up counters and they had no idea what I was talking about...

Either way after some research I found out that the MAC foundation pump fits perfectly inside the Estee Lauder Double Wear bottle. I decided to give it a try.

This is the MAC foundation pump. It retails for CAD $7.00

 The pump comes with a safety clip. Its nice to save the clip for trips abroad. Even though you can lock the pump, sometimes there is product still left on the nozzle. This clip would be a good cover for it to ensure there is no leakage during travelling.

 When you stand them side to side, you can see that the pump tube is a lot longer than the Double Wear glass bottle. This means you have to cut the plastic tube with a pair of scissors to make sure it fits.

I cut about 1cm less than what it shows in the picture. I made sure I cut in an angle to ensure the tube is always open when its in the bottles. Just like how you always have to cut the stems of flowers in a bouquet in an angle before you place them in water, this ensures that the end doesn't stay flush with the bottle and stop liquid from dispensing.

 Make sure you unlock the dispenser to the dispense position. Then cut at an angle towards the dispensing side. This ensures that when you're nearing the end of the product, when you tip the dispenser it will tip it to the side it is sucking in the product from. You'll see what I mean when you're done :)

Now my HG foundation is even more HG with the amazing MAC Foundation Pump. So happyyyy!!

This is me wearing Double Wear foundation in 2W1 Sand :) at the Shaw Media Party

If you tried this, or already have this on your foundation, let me know! I'd love to hear from you.