Laura Mercier

Face of the Day: Rosy Neutrals for Work With Laura Mercier

October 27th, 2021 by Karen 9 Comments

rosy neutrals for work laura mercier — Shimmering lids with matte cheeks and lips for a polished work look

Happy hump day! 🤗

So…this is my new favorite work look. I’m calling it “rosy neutrals,” and it’s been in steady rotation for the past couple weeks.

Cream shadows FTW

I stumbled onto it quite accidentally. See, I didn’t have any clean eye brushes around (story of my life), so I ended up grabbing a few Laura Mercier cream stick shadows and let my fingers do the blending.

Gotta love cream shadows, right? They’re great for those quick and easy eye looks! I’m thinking I need more LM cream stick shadows in my life ASAP. Do you have any favorites? I want to get some matte and shimmer finishes.

A multitasking blush/highlighter brush

OK, back to the brushes… Now that I think about it, I actually only used a total of two brushes for this look — a fan powder brush to dust some MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, and a split fiber brush to blend and apply my blush and highlighter (Laura Mercier Ginger Blush and Indiscretion Illuminator).

Have you ever used a split fiber face brush? They’re interesting. One side of the brush has bristles that are better for more intense application, and the other side has another type of bristle better for more diffused application.

MAC makes one I use and love called the 127 Synthetic Split Fiber Face Brush. To apply blush with it, I use the side with the tan bristles (the more intense side), and for highlighter, I go with the black bristles (the diffused side). To blend, I sweep the tip of the brush to buff out any hard edges.

It’s a pricey brush at $37, but it’s a workhorse IMHO! Worth the investment. I use it almost daily.

Speaking of workhorses…

If you’re on the market for a rosy brown neutral, you need to get Laura Mercier’s Nu Prefere Lipstick into your life! If you’re a MAC Velvet Teddy girl, you’re going to LOVE this shade. It’s a lot like MAC Velvet Teddy, but a little pinker (more pink?), so it’s slightly brighter with a little more sheen. I also think Laura Mercier’s Rouge Essential Creme Lipstick formula is a tad more user-friendly and isn’t as drying as the MAC Matte Lipsticks are.

Makeup worn in this look

Eyes: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colors in Wild Rose and Kiss From a Rose (inner corner), and Rose Thorn (outer corner); Ilia Clean Gel Liner in Dusk (tightline), Laura Mercier Caviar Volume Mascara, Chanel Boy de Chanel Eyebrow Pencil in Brown

Cheeks: Laura Mercier Blush Color Infusion in Ginger, Laura Mercier Face Illuminator in Indiscretion

Lips: Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Lipstick in Nu Prefere

Base: Laura Mercier Tinted Moiturizer in Wheat, Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiere Radiance-Perfectiong Foundation, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden

Skin care prep: Laura Mercier Refining Creme Polish, Laura Mercier Illuminating Eye Creme, Laura Mercier Multi-tasking Moisturizer, Nourishing Rose Oil, Laura Mercier Hydrating Lip Balm, Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer

I’m having the craziest week!

I’m talking deadlines upon deadlines at work, and lots of quick, last-minute turnarounds. I’m trying to get through it with a smile on my face! 😅

It helps when I force myself to take breaks, and I actually schedule them into my day. When a break comes around, I make myself take a walk so I’m not tempted to do anything else productive. Haha.

While I walk, I often listen to music, and here’s what I had on rotation yesterday:

Take me back…

The more I listen to this, the more I hear old-school MJ!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Bold Lip of the Day: Laura Mercier Femme Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick

October 26th, 2021 by Karen 9 Comments

laura mercier femme october-25-swatch — Today’s bold plum-berry lip! 😊

Ah, what a difference a bold lip makes… I was going for a vintage vibe today, so I grabbed this matte plum-berry by Laura Mercier. Femme is from the Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick line, and it’s currently on sale for $21, down from $30.

I like this formula a lot because it’s long-wearing and completely opaque. One layer and your done!

The formula feels flexible and comfortable on my lips, but if your lips tend to flake/dry out with a matte finish, then I’d prep with a lip balm first. Today I used Laura’s Hydrating Lip Balm, which is just, eh…OK.

What’s been your go-to bold lipstick lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Four Steps to Fabulous Fall Matte Lips

August 11th, 2021 by Karen 11 Comments

laura mercier fresh — Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Lipstick in Fresh

Gah! I’m so excited about 1) sweater weather (anyone else totally over the heat?), and I can’t wait for all of the full-on pigmented matte lip colors for fall! I’m already building my army of berries, reds and roses…

If you’re all about rich, autumnal lips like I am, here are four application tips to help you get fabulous matte fall lips that look great all day long.

1. Step one: Get prepped

Prep your lips by applying your favorite moisturizing balm to remove any dryness. (I’m a fan of CeraVe Healing Ointment, myself.)

2. Step two: Soften those edges

With a finger, press a thin amount of your favorite liquid concealer all along the edges of your lips until your lip line kinda disappears into your skin. Then, wait a minute for the concealer to dry. Right now I’m loving Hourglass Veil Retouching Concealer (it’s what I’m wearing in these pics), but any good pigmented liquid concealer should do.

3. Step three: Set it and forget it

Load a tapered eye brush with a translucent setting powder, and lightly dust a layer on top of the concealer to set it.

4. Step four: Just add color

Apply your rich fall lip color either directly from the tube, or using a brush. Then, step back and admire your beautiful lips! 😊

laura mercier femme — Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Lipstick in Femme

urban decay the big one — Urban Decay Matte Lipstick in The Big One

I wasn’t the only one inspired to wear something colorful today! This is Connor’s peacock-inspired look.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Product Spotlight: Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in Clique

August 5th, 2021 by Karen 9 Comments

laura-mercier clique velour extreme matte lipstick — Reddish pink perfection!

Srsly, who knows more about chic, effortless makeup than Laura Mercier? Thanks to LM’s intensely pigmented reddish pink Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in Clique, you’ll swoon, then pick yourself up, then pull together a lovely look in a few quick swipes. Just add black kitten liner, a lengthening mascara, your favorite blush, and you’re off to adventure! 😺

If you’re already gently dipping your toes into fall season makeup like I am…or you intend to start soon, the ultra-matte formula is perfect. Velvety and smooth, it doesn’t make my lips flake and doesn’t leave behind any dry spots at the end of the day.

Oh, and FYI, you won’t need a separate lip liner because there’s a hidden sharpener in the tube! Use it to file the twist-up lippie down to a fine tip, and then draw a sharp edge along your lip line.

These are normally $30, but they’re on sale right now on lauramercier.com for $21! Also, while you’re there, you might as well check out the Roseglow Caviar Sticks, too…if you 1) love hidden gems and 2) are into bright, glowing lids. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

A Little Bit of Bravery

July 21st, 2021 by Karen 18 Comments

bossy cosmetics power woman essentials swatches — BOSSY!

If you’re bossy and you know it, shout hooray.

HOO-RAY! 😀

How cute is this palette? The cover takes me back to my stiletto wearing days! The palette ($25) and hot pink liquid lippie ($25) are by a small indie line from the SF Bay Area called Bossy Cosmetics. Both hail from Bossy’s Power Woman Essentials collection.

My spider sense gets tingly Urban Decay vibes from the palette! The shadows are a lot like UD’s — soft texture, highly pigmented, with a teeny bit of fallout. I’ve used the matte brown, matte black and shimmery olive, and those shades blend, well…like a boss. Sorry, I had to go there! 😂

I love the name of the pink lipstick — Bravery. Don’t let the flat matte fool ya either. It isn’t one of those lipsticks that splits into cracks as the day goes on. It moves with me as I smile and sing, and it feels relatively moisturizing as far as liquid matte lipsticks go. Oh, and it’s unscented and unflavored, just in case you were wondering!

bossy cosmetics bravery lipstick — See the shimmery olive on my lash lines?

This dynamic duo has been my go-to blush lately…

I swipe the Chanel cream blush in No. 20 on my cheeks, blend out the edges with my fingers, then set it with Laura Mercier Ginger blush.

I like how natural it looks!

Makeup worn in this look

BASE: Avene Solaire UV Tinted SPF 50

EYES: Bossy Cosmetics Power Woman Essentials Eye Shadow, Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara, Boy de Chanel Eyebrow Pencil in Deep Brown, MAC Teddy liner, Hourglass Retouching Fluid in Sand

CHEEKS: Chanel Blush No. 20, Laura Mercier Ginger

LIPS: Bossy Cosmetics Bravery

Speaking of bravery…if you have any extra courage to virtually relay my way, could you please send it on over? I could use a boost! Got big things to conquer in the next few months, with one of the biggest things being sending Connor to kindergarten next month…

I knew this time was just around the corner, but why did it have to come so soon??

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

What Makeup Are You Wearing Today?

July 9th, 2021 by Karen 14 Comments

Here’s mine! How about you? Did you keep it casual today or go all out? Something in between?

EYES — MAC Teddy liner; three Laura Mercier Rose Glow cream shadows in Wild Rose, Forbidden Rose and Rose Thorn; Lancôme Le Monochromatic in Ooh La La; Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara, Chanel Boy de Chanel Brows in Black
CHEEKS — Lancôme Le Monochromatic in French Affair
LIPS — Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick in Off-Duty and Goddess mixed together
BASE — Avene Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF50, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in Dore 50 and Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid in Sand

That’s it for me.

Hmm… I wonder if any of us are wearing the same things today!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

FOTD: Glowing Rose Gold Lids With Black Winged Liner for Anniversary Date Night, Laura Mercier Rose Glow Caviar Sticks, and an Excellent, Affordable Hair Oil by Hask

July 8th, 2021 by Karen 23 Comments

I brought a whole bag of makeup with me to Hawaii last week, and I did not crack it open once…

I know! Pandemic-era K-Dawg continues to amuse me. ? Packing that bag wasn’t for nothin’, though, because I used it yesterday to put on some makeup. We went out to dinner last night to celebrate our wedding anniversary (15 years!), and, yes, I actually painted my face. Then I had to snap a few shots because if ya don’t take a pic (or two) with your cat, then it officially didn’t happen.

FYI, in case you were wondering what 15 years of marriage is like, in a nutshell…it feels like lugging around your husband’s pain-in-the-butt XXL bottle of gluten-free tamari in your Kate Spade purse when you go out to eat sushi (fun fact: soy sauce isn’t gluten-free), but then having so much fun once you get to the restaurant, HA HA HA!

The Warriors Roll from Sushi Tri restaurant in Novato: real crab and avocado topped with spicy mayo, seared salmon, tobiko, crispy fried onion and scallions with unagi sauce

The Pretty Lady Roll with fresh salmon and avocado topped with fresh scallop, ikura, lemon slices and special sauce

Anyway, MAKEUP! I HAZ IT! This look uses a mix of the products from the makeup bag I packed to go on my trip (so, lots of tried-and-true Chanel faves because I’m on a Chanel kick) and some new cream shadow sticks from the recently launched Laura Mercier Rose Glow collection, which, side note, IS GORGEOUS!

The shadows have shimmer, but it’s a low-level glow, not a high-shine metallic frosty finish, and it’s dreamy! The shadows blend like butter, too, so my eye makeup came together in a flash.

All in all, the look took about 20 minutes from start to finish…

laura mercier rose gold swatches — These swatches are Rosie-Pose approved!

I’m really happy with how it turned out, and I’ll definitely wear it again soon.

Before my Hawaii trip fades away to a distant memory, I’ve gotta give a shout-out to these travel-friendly hair oils by Hask I found at Ulta. I originally brought the Argan Oil Repairing Shine and Monoi Coconut Oil Nourishing Shine Oil vials with me because they were super compact and just $2.99 each, but I ended up LOVING them.

They’re great if you’re looking for an oil to apply to freshly washed and conditioned hair and want mega moisture without weight or greasy strands.

FYI, the oils do contain silicones, so keep that in mind if you’re particular about silicone-containing hair care products.

I spent a lot of time last week at the beach and the pool, and my hair would have looked and felt rough if it hadn’t been for these bad gals. Good stuff, and so, so affordable!

Hard to believe that we’re already in full-on summer, isn’t it? Back-to-school is just around the corner, and I’ve already noticed the beach items and swim suits at stores are starting to be replaced by notebooks, pencils, highlighters and book bags. It’s been so long since I’ve lived with the rhythm of a school year, and it’s just sinking in right now that since Connor will be starting kindergarten in the fall, this will be my schedule for the next few years.

Before you go, take a second to let me know what the weather’s like on your end. It’s been comfortable and relatively cool here in the North Bay Area…for now. It’s a dreamy upper 70s, which won’t last but a moment, I know, but I’m enjoying it while I can.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

FOTD: One Lipstick, Two Looks: Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick in Nu Prefere

June 16th, 2021 by Karen 9 Comments

Good morning, fellow makeup lover! Today, my colleague and I are wearing the same lipstick, a creamy pinky brown by Laura Mercier called Nu Prefere, and, quite frankly, I think my colleague’s lewk is so much more interesting than mine. ?

New Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer

If you’re a Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer fan, 1) CONGRATS, because it’s one of the best tinted moisturizers out there, IMO. The coverage is even, and it looks like legit real skin. Plus, they’ve just expanded their range to 20 shades!

The one I wear is called Wheat, and it’s the only thing, beyond a touch of under-eye concealer, that I’m wearing as a base in these pics. No setting powder, no smoothing primer, nothing! I think it looks great on its own.

Makeup I’m wearing in this look

EYES: Urban Decay Brow Blade in Dark Drapes, Laura Mercier Caviar Volume Mascara, Laura Mercier Stormy Grey Eyeliner, Clinique Black Pretty Easy Pen, Laura Mercier Eye Colours in Cocoa and Nude Rose, Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator
CHEEKS: Laura Mercier Blush in Ginger, Laura Mercier Face Illuminator in Indiscretion
LIPS: Laura Mercier Nu Prefere Lipstick
BASE: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer in Wheat

Makeup Connor is wearing in this look

Pixi On-The-Glow Blush in Juicy, Ruby and Fleur
Laura Mercier Nu Prefere Lipstick
Zoeva Eyeliner

It’s going to be a hot one today, so the itinerary at “mama camp” will involve a trip to the pool, where we’ll be wearing PLENTY of sunscreen, of course!

Hope it isn’t too hot where you are.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen