Laura Mercier

With Laura Mercier Colour Dots and Baked Blush Illuminé, You Get the Glowing Cheeks of a Girl From an Impressionist Painting

May 25th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 9 Comments

I’m often inspired by art when I get ready in the morning — and not always modern art, à la Andy Warhol or iconic images of Twiggy — but sometimes, like during the deepest and darkest parts of winter, I’ll think of a novel or a particular Renaissance painting and try to recreate the spirit of the work or, if it’s a portrait, the glow surrounding the subject.

Sometimes with Laura Mercier I think of impressionist paintings, and it’s not hard to see similarities between some of Laura Mercier’s muted greens, steel blues and rich sienna browns and a color palette used by Claude Monet, right?

That’s perfect for me, as I love that romantic flush on the faces of so many impressionistic heroines. If you gaze at a Renior, you’re sure to see a glowing rose pink, and when my skin is at its most sallow or pale during the winter months, that’s the look I most like to create with my blush.

Thanks to the new Laura Mercier Colour Dots ($32) and Baked Blush Illuminé in Rose ($42), I’ll be glowing like a painting for months.

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Caught in the Rain With Laura Mercier: The Laura Mercier Spring 2016 Collection, “Paris After the Rain”

March 4th, 2016 by Anna Oh 34 Comments

beauty illustration of the laura mercier lip parfait by anna oh spring 2016 — Illustration of the new SP16 shades of Laura Mercier Lip Parfait

Here’s a look at the new Laura Mercier Spring 2016 Collection, starting with the “Paris After The Rain Eye Colour Collection (a $55 palette). While most spring collections would rather distract us from the winter blues, “Paris After the Rain” imagines a world “inspired by the reflection of lights on cobblestone streets and the dance of colours on zinc rooftops in Paris after the rain.”

Sounds like something out of a Nicholas Sparks novel, right?

laura mercier paris in the rain palette spring 2016 — The palette is housed in thick matte plastic (4″ x 3.75″ — smaller than my hand!)

Now, I should mention that I think Laura Mercier can do just about no wrong, and while every product isn’t always for me, I can usually imagine who would like and use them and how.

The Eye Colour palette was a surprise favorite of mine. With four super creamy matte shades (0.05 oz. each) and four soft glittery toppers (0.035 oz. each), it’s a versatile palette with lots of options for day and night.

laura mercier paris in the rain palette swatches spring 2016 — Matte eyeshadows in Champs Elysee, Saint Germain, Tour Eiffel, Le Marais + Multi Chrome Pearl Topper Formula (L-R) La Madeleine, Arc de Triomphe, Rue de Vivoli, Montmarte

lauramercier-paris-in-the-rain-swatches2 — A better look at the Multi Chrome Pearl Topper formula

Laura Mercier calls the baked lid colors “Multi Chrome Pearl Toppers” and suggests patting them on the lid after smudging the matte shades along the lash line. In the swatches above, it took two or three passes to build up the intensity. I think this would give a beautiful soft focus effect, but when swatched over a cream base, they really come to life!

laura mercier paris in the rain palette swatches — Swatches on top of a cream base

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Laura Mercier Master Class Colour Essentials Holiday 2015 Eye and Cheek Palette

November 18th, 2015 by Karen 15 Comments

The new 20-piece Laura Mercier Master Class Colour Essentials Collection eye and cheek palette ($125) looks a little like a day planner from 1998, or like a chic clutch you might take to an event where all the ladies are wearing dangerously high heels and carrying ridiculously tiny purses.

Still cute though, I think, especially with the brown and gold tortoiseshell-like trim.

The limited edition holiday 2015 palette comes with 12 powder eyeshadows, three blushes, two powder liners (for tightlining), a black eye kohl and two brushes, and it’s about two degrees of separation from Laura Mercier herself, because she handpicked all of the products.

I mean, it’s not like hanging out with her over tea and scones (I wish!), but it’s almost like having her do your makeup.

Almost.

LOL!

With such a wide variety of colors, finishes and formulas, the palette is packed with creative possibilities for endless looks ranging from day to night to nude to smoky.

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For a Shot of Shimmer, Try These Laura Mercier Fairy Dust Eye Shimmers

February 24th, 2015 by Karen 30 Comments

The new Laura Mercier Fairy Dust Eye Shimmers, $28 each — The new Laura Mercier Fairy Dust Eye Shimmers (five shades, $28 dollars each)

Yes, I’m picturing an invisible factory staffed by thousands of flittering fairies who crush precious gems with tiny magic hammers.

This, because of the new $28 Fairy Dust Eye Shimmers by Laura Mercier.

I’m also thinking, “Ooh, shimmer!” 🙂

As it turns out, these loose eyeshadows are more shimmery than glittery — like powdered pearls — so if you want bigger bits of bling, steer your tush toward Urban Decay, or somewhere else with mounds of glitter.

To use these, there’s a flat, wide brush attached to the bottom of the twist-off cap. Just swipe the brush, which should already be loaded with pigment, directly on your lids.

You can wear them on their own, blended with other shadows, or use ’em as like a sparkly topcoat, by layering them on top of an already finished eye look.

Laura Mercier Fairy Dust Eye Shimmer Swatches from the left: Crushed Copper, Crushed Platinum, Crushed Amethyst, Crushed Lapis and Crushed Opnyx — Swatches from the left of Crushed Copper, Crushed Platinum, Crushed Amethyst, Crushed Lapis and Crushed Onyx

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These Laura Mercier Paint Wash Liquid Lip Colours Are NOT Quick-Drying…Which in This Case Is Good!

February 24th, 2015 by Karen 26 Comments

Laura Mercier Paint Wash Liquid Lip Colour, $28 each — The Laura Mercier Paint Wash Liquid Lip Colours, $28 each

Um…but of course I couldn’t leave Sephora last night without grabbing at least some swatches. You know me all too well. 🙂

As I was making my usual rounds at the store down the street (I always start in the left corner by the front door and then meander counter-clockwise), Laura Mercier’s Painted Wash Liquid Lip Colours ($28 each) stopped me in my ASPCA Vans.

Bonjour, Laura! J’adore bright lipsticks.

Laura Mercier Paint Wash Liquid Lip Colour swatches from the left: Petal Pink, Red Brick, Coral Reef, Vermillion Red, Golden Peach, Fuchsia Mauve, Nude Rose and Orchid Pink — From the left: Petal Pink, Red Brick, Coral Reef, Vermillion Red, Golden Peach, Fuchsia Mauve, Nude Rose and Orchid Pink

Laura’s new line of lightweight liquid lipsticks is available now in nine vivid, deme-matte shades — Rosewood (a rosy brown), Petal Pink (a warm pink), Red Brick (reddish brown), Coral Reef (a pinkish coral), Vermillion Red (an orangey red), Golden Peach (a pale peachy pink), Fuchsia Mauve (a plum), Nude Rose (a pinkish brown) and Orchid Pink (a reddish pink).

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A Warning to All Crazy Cat Ladies Considering the New Laura Mercier Luxe Travel Brush Collection…

November 14th, 2014 by Karen 20 Comments

Take heed, crazy cat ladies. Rubbing the brushes in Laura Mercier’s $125 Luxe Travel Brush Collection across your face may induce irresistible urges to adopt additional cats.

WARNING: If you have already acquired a “gateway cat,” exercise extreme caution, especially around the Cheek Colour Brush, because it feels exactly like the softest, plushest, most downy delicious belly meat.

Makeup lovers have reported that it made them contemplate kitty crime. “I’m considering kidnapping an adorable tortie girl who lives down the street,” said one woman, “even though I know better…” 🙁

Gate-way cat
noun
Among members of the crazy cat lady community, the third cat is commonly referred to as “the gateway cat,” since it opens the door to adopting even more cats and posits the question, at this point, why stop at just three?

All eight of the brushes in this set feel kitten soft, from the fluffy Pony Tail Brush (fabulous for erasing hard edges, applying highlighter to those upper cheekbones, or for blending under-eye concealer), to the Angled Eye Liner Brush (great for thin lines and flicks, and it also doubles as a spot applicator for concealer). The set also comes with a travel case and a removable mesh cosmetic bag insert.

The $125 Laura Mercier Luxe Travel Brush Collection includes…

Cheek Color Brush

Secret Camouflage Brush

Pony Tail Brush

Creme Eye Colour Brush

Eye Crease Brush

Smudge Brush

Flat Eye Liner Brush

Angled Eye Liner Brush

Travel Case with removable mesh cosmetic bag

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Laura Mercier’s New High Coverage Concealer For Under Eye Disguises Dark Circles, But Demands Significant Elbow Grease

September 3rd, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Laura Mercier High Coverage Concealer For Under Eye in shade 4 — Wearing the new Laura Mercier High Coverage Concealer For Under Eye ($28) to cover up ye olde dreaded dark circles

If your current full-coverage under-eye concealer were a skimpy Brazilian-cut bikini, then Laura Mercier’s new High Coverage Concealer ($28 for a 0.27-oz. tube) would be a Victorian Era bathing costume, complete with skirt, bloomers, bonnet and shoes.

In other words, no skin be showin’ here, ma! Those dark circles will be covered-the-eff-up.

A recent addition to Laura’s permanent line, High Coverage is referred to as “three in one” by Team LM. It’s supposed to cover, de-puff and brighten under-eye circles, all at the same time, and it comes in 12 shades that correspond to the colors in Laura’s existing Secret Concealer range.

I had hoped to experience significant makeup nirvana testing High Coverage based on how much I’ve been loving the new Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation Laura released at the same time (one word: amazing), but to be honest, my feelings run hot and cold… My overall opinion depends on how psycho my skin is acting on any given day.

Annoying Dry Skin Issues: Chapter 1,576

My under-eye area is usually some degree of dry, from slightly dry to very, and when it’s very dry, High Coverage Concealer does not look cute.

Yes, it completely covers my dark circles, which is great, but the texture looks thick and heavy, and cracks appear around my fine lines.

It’s a different story, however, when my skin is behaving better (and I also jump through some extra hoops, which I’ll describe in a moment), in which case, High Coverage looks and works great. The cracking is kept to a minimum, and the texture looks natural.

Being somewhat dry and thick (it looks and feels like a thick paste, as opposed to a runny liquid), the formula is also pigmented — things that don’t often lend themselves to easy blending — so if you attempt to half-@ss the application, you could be in for a janky surprise (particularly if you have mature skin).

The way around it is to really get in there and do the work, and if you do, High Coverage can look lovely.

Here’s how I apply it

A drop the size of a pin head is enough, literally, to do both eyes. The back of the tube recommends dotting a bit on a fingertip and patting that beneath your eyes, but I tried that and wasn’t too crazy about the way it turned out. I thought it looked a little heavy…

Instead, I load a smidgen on the back of my hand, where I sheer it out using a synthetic tapered blending brush (you could use a brush with natural fibers for this, but I find that synthetic brush heads usually have stiffer bristles, which in this case handle the thick-ish formula better.)

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Laura Mercier Verbena Infusion Gel Body Scrub and Dry Oil Body Mist: Fitting for a Fragrant Summer Sendoff

September 1st, 2014 by Karen 4 Comments

Laura Mercier Verbena Infusion Gel Body Scrub and Dry Oil Body Mist

When I first fell for Laura Mercier’s Lemon Verbena Infusion, summer was just beginning, so today, with Labor Day being the unofficial last weekend of summer, I gave the season its swan song with the same light, refreshing scent (via different products).

Laura’s new Gel Body Scrub ($40) and Dry Oil Body Mist ($45) are two great ways to spruce up your bath game. The Gel Body Scrub has an interesting bouncy texture that I like. When you squeeze it between your fingers, it almost feels like you’re squishing a gritty marshmallow.

But…I mean that in a good way. It’s weird but cool.

Then there’s the Dry Oil Body Mist, which absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave my skin feeling icky or greasy. Perfect for when I’m too lazy to bother with body lotion after a shower (read: often). I’ll just spray this all over my skin while it’s still wet, and let the lemon verbena scent take me away…

You can sniff both of them online now and at Laura Mercier counters.