Laura Mercier

3 Mostly Beauty Related Things: New Launches from Urban Decay and Laura Mercier

March 29th, 2022 by Karen 11 Comments

Hi, friend. If you need me, you’ll find me surgically attached to my Bose noise cancelling headphones. It’s the only thing saving me right now from a meltdown. Side note: the construction is still happening at my house.

Anywho, three quick things…

1. Urban Decay’s new All Nighter with vitamin C

Their cult-classic makeup setting spray is getting a skin care upgrade. UD added vitamin C, cactus flower water, a subtle lemon scent and bright packaging.

It’s currently not on the UD website, but expect it to be online soon, for about $33.

2. Laura Mercier’s latest Tinted Moisturizer

Speaking of reinvented classics, Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer now comes in a dewy finish. A soft pearl in the new Tinted Moisturizer Light Revealer imparts a subtle sheen.

It has SPF 25 and is available in 14 shades. A 1.7-ounce tube is $48.

3. Sawyer 20% Insect Repellent Spray

With the contractors going in and out of the house, our windows and doors stay open all day long. Unfortunately there are a ton of mosquitos in Novato right now, and if it wasn’t for this bug spray, I would be devoured by all the insects within striking distance.

It doesn’t have an obnoxious scent, and a little goes a long way. A 3-ounce bottle is $8.50.

How are things on your end? Quiet, I hope!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

4-Step Lavender Lids

January 21st, 2022 by Karen 2 Comments

laura mercier orchid ilia cool nude palette — It takes just four steps to get this lavender lid look

Easy eye makeup? YES, PLEASE. This four-step lavender lid has been my go-to all week long.

It involves a layering technique, which I think is fun and easy. You start with a shimmery cream shadow base, and then layer and blend a matte powder shadow on top. The result? A shimmery base that peeks through the matte for a soft, subtle shine.

To get a similar look, you’ll need…

A shimmery cream eyeshadow, like Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Orchid. I like this one because I can blend it easily with my fingers.
A matte lavender powder eyeshadow. This one’s from the Ilia Cool Nude Eyeshadow Palette.
A black liquid liner. I used my favorite Clinique Easy Liner in Black. The flexible felt tip makes it easy to control the width of my lines.
A shimmery dark purple powder eyeshadow. This one is also from the Ilia Cool Nude Eyeshadow palette.

Four steps to lavender lids

Apply your cream shadow as a base, and blend the edges with a brush or finger.
Layer the matte lavender eyeshadow directly on top, then blend.
Line with the black liquid liner.
Layer the shimmery dark purple eyeshadow on top of the liquid liner with an angled brush; blend the edges.

Add your favorite brow product and mascara, if you’d like, then get ready to shine!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Stuck on These Sticks

November 3rd, 2021 by Karen 18 Comments

laura mercier caviar stick eye color 2 — I should probably collect a few more colors, yeah?

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a Halloween for makeup lovers 👻💄– a day specifically for makeup aficionados where one could walk up to a house, ring the doorbell and squee, “Trick or Treat!” and the person at the door would hand out makeup? I’d go to the house handing out Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks over and over, ha ha ha! 😂

These have been my jam lately. You don’t even really need a brush to blend them! Fingers do just fine. Add a swipe of liner and a swish of mascara, and you’ve got a polished eye look in mere minutes.

That’s impressive!

I usually do a lighter color all over my lids and a darker color like Plum or Cocoa in the outer corner.

Please tell me you’ve got Cocoa in your makeup collection. I think it’s a must!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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