Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation Feels as Light as Kisses From a Baby Angel Kitten

August 11th, 2014 by Karen 45 Comments

New Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation in Chai ($48)

There are some things I am physically incapable of resisting, like…

A cute pair of cat lady socks.

Impossible. 🙂

And…

Re-watching The Hills, particularly when my Tivo takes it upon itself to record a 35-episode marathon in one fell swoop (“I’m only gonna watch one more today, I swear!”)

And…

A new foundation! — and my resolve is even weaker when said foundation promises to deliver on the three foundation criteria I value the most, aka TBT, “The Big Three” — great coverage, a natural finish and a lightweight texture.

After using Laura Mercier’s new Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide foundation ($48) for about two weeks, I think it’s time to share my results.

So, does it deliver the goods on TBT? In other words, is it all that and a bag of Backyard Barbeque Kettle Chips?

Let’s find out…

First, exactly what is it?

A recent addition to Laura’s permanent line, Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide is a new oil-free liquid foundation available in 24 shades.

After I read the back of the box when I spotted it at Sephora a couple weeks ago…

“This long wear, oil free makeup magically blurs imperfections for a smooth, seamless complexion. Lightweight and color true, it offers buildable coverage with a natural matte finish, perfect for all ages, all skin-tones, all skin-types.”

–from the box

…it took all of about 4.75 seconds for me to find Chai, which looked to be my shade, grab it, and make a beeline for the register.

A little dab’ll do ya

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation — Beside a MAC Lipstick for scale

I did pause briefly when I saw the price… $48 for a 1-oz. bottle does seem like a lot, but thankfully I soon realized that I wouldn’t need to use a lot. Literally, like, 4-5 drops is enough for full coverage, so that makes the price a little less cray.

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation tip — The tip always looks like this, even when I close the cap tightly

The whole tip situation is a tad irksome… Due to the packaging, some of the product is definitely being wasted. Even when I screw the cap on tightly, the bottle doesn’t seem to close all the way, or in a secure way, and some of the product leaks out on the tip inside the cap.

Like that stranger on the bus who always stares at you and sits a little too close (seriously, take a picture, dude, it lasts longer), this is super annoying.

A featherweight formula

I think the formula is going to make or break this for a lot of gals/guys. It’s thin — almost watery — like MAC Face & Body and Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, and it’s probably something you’re either going to love…or not.

I happen to be a fan of watery foundation formulas that feel lightweight on my skin because I feel like they let my pores come up for air.

Well, Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide is beyond lightweight. It’s well into featherweight territory, and when I wear it I feel like I’m barely wearing anything at all.

I’d even go so far as to say that it feels even lighter than my beloved MAC Face & Body.

Bust out yo’ Beauty Blender

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation before (left) and after (right) — Oh, Chai! It’s my bare face, dry lips and cray hair, LOL! I’m wearing the shade called Chai…

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 333

August 11th, 2014 by Karen 41 Comments

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll for August 11, 2014

You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

What’s the weirdest thing in your refrigerator right now?
You mean, other than what’s left of El Hub’s two-week-old birthday cake (which has very likely gone bad, but he refuses to throw away)? This: two Bath & Body Works Body Splashes. LOL! Putting them on just feel so friggin’ good when it’s hot…

I used to also keep an eye serum roller in there (Clinique’s All About Eyes) for hot days, but I recently used it up (NOTE TO SELF: Get a new eye serum roller for the fridge).

Some of the best moments in life are [FILL IN THE BLANK].
Quiet. And they usually don’t seem epic or significant at the time, but later you realize that they were.

[FILL IN THE BLANK] brings me major makeup joy.
Perfectly applying false lashes in one try without having to adjust them brings me major makeup joy. Just dropping them down and then whoomp! — there it is!

[FILL IN THE BLANK] is overrated.
Being a grownup is overrated…

As are pants. Pants are terribly overrated.

Shimmer or matte?
GUUUUURL, you know I love the sparkly stuff. 🙂 But as I get more “mature” (air quotes), I find myself increasingly reaching for mattes. They’re great for defining the crease and carving out cheekbones while not calling out mah pores — all that good schtuff.

That said…I could never pick mattes over shimmers. I just couldn’t (I mean, I lived through the ’90s), so consider me part of Team Shimmer, but I’ll be on a sub-squad called Team Very Subtle Sheen.

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!

1. What’s the weirdest thing in your refrigerator right now?
2. Some of the best moments are [FILL IN THE BLANK].
3. [FILL IN THE BLANK] brings me major makeup joy.
4. [FILL IN THE BLANK] is overrated.
5. Shimmer or matte?

One of the things I do first thing on a lot of Monday mornings is scour my favorite productivity websites for a new tip or technique to latch on to that week… Something to help me focus and get things done.

I was doing that this morning when I spotted this: Schedule Your Day Backwards to Get Everything Done in a Timely Manner.

Interesting… I do a lot of different to-do list-type things, but I can’t recall ever trying this.

Here’s my concern, though: what if I don’t do one of my scheduled tasks at its predefined specific time? Does that throw the whole thing out of whack?

I wonder…

Most of my to-do lists don’t have structured times. They’re just a list of things, and I do it that way so I’m free to pick and choose when I do each one throughout the day, like, the creative stuff when I feel most creative, and the monotonous stuff when I feel…most monotonous, LOL! 🙂

Eh, what the heck. I’ll give it a try… I like the idea of knowing when you’re supposed to stop.

Yeah, knowing when I’m supposed to take Tabs for his afternoon walk promises to keep me in his good graces, and that’s a very good thing.

Good luck this week, babe. Let me know how you’re doing today.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 308

August 10th, 2014 by Karen 21 Comments

Dear Tabby is written by Tabs the Cat, commonly regarded as “the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel.” Founded in mid 2012, it has quickly become the most widely syndicated cat advice column on earth — known for its fresh, feline perspective on lifestyle, fashion and style issues affecting cats and humans.

Pushed to the breaking point

DEAR TABBY: I can’t take it anymore, Tabby. My humans are pushing me too hard. They’re always trying to get me to kitty model for them and climb the cat tower and teasing me with toys, which they know I can’t resist. They even make me wear these humiliating outfits, which are almost always glittery and too tight. I feel like I’m ready to snap. I’m also lashing out at friends now, and I actually swatted at the neighbor’s kitten yesterday for pouncing on my tail.

Help! What should I do? Should I tell them the truth? That I just want to sit in a sunny corner all day long and play D&D (I love the dice)? I don’t want to hurt their feelings, but I need some time to myself.

—Stressed in Spokane

Every cat feels stressed from time to time

DEAR STRESSED: I know exactly how you feel. Humans can be incredibly annoying, but they can also be nice to have around. First, most of them have thumbs, which are essential to opening things like doors and cans of gravy. Second, they can be kind of soothing sometimes, and they’re also pretty easy to train.

In fact, I’ve trained mine to perform a number of tasks, including booking all of my public engagements, paying my iPhone bill, and administering my deep-tissue kitty massage.

I really think you should talk to your humans and let them know you’re stressed, but try to understand that they do what they do from a place of love. Definitely grumble when they pick you up, because they might eventually get the hint, but if not, try to catch up on sleep at night, which is when most humans temporarily shut down.

How much is too much love?

DEAR TABBY: I’m worried that I love my human too much, and I’m not sure what it says about me as a cat. I see other cats who treat their humans with apathy or outright disdain, but I just want to love mine. Is that wrong?

My human actually lives with me. She rents a room and works as my assistant (I work at home in performance art). She pets me every morning, prepares my food, cleans the bathroom, and then goes to her other job. And then when she returns home, she pets me again and we hang out.

I know this is weird because she’s just a human, but she’s also my best friend. Tabby, is it possible to love a human too much?

—Devoted in Daytona

She's really pretty great — She’s really pretty great

DEAR DEVOTED: In a word, no, it is impossible to love a human too much, because they crave attention, but there’s also a flip side to this. The more friendly and loving you are, the more treats and massages you’re likely to get.

Many cats are unwilling to acknowledge this relationship because of our independent nature, but it’s true. I’ve seen it myself.

Try this sometime: when food is scarce, pay even more attention to your human, and see if you receive more treats or an extra serving of gravy. I think you will.

Contrary to what many cats believe, I don’t see a downside to loving humans, and I don’t think you can love them too much. Sure, it’s important to maintain professional work boundaries at the office, but that’s true of any family business.

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7 Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora! (Ends Monday)

August 9th, 2014 by Karen 307 Comments

They say, “It works a lot of your hip flexors,” when you rent a kayak. “Down here, around here.” But they don’t really tell you about your arms, your back, your shoulders, your thighs, your butt or your fingers (from holding the paddle).

Yeah…little sore this morning, LOL!

That’s what four hours in a kayak will do to you when you’re no longer the, uh…springiest of chickens.

But it was worth it. I had a blast.

In other news, OMG! Kittens hasn’t been too kind to me yet. I lost another $2 last night (it’s a penny slot), which is better than losing more than that, I guess. I’m going to give it one last try today… I’m not the biggest gambler in the world, so I mostly stick to penny slots. I think the grand prize mega jackpot on OMG! Kittens is something like 4000 pennies…but I’d prefer a kitten jackpot. 🙂

Have a great weekend, whatever you’re up to, and good luck in the giveaway. Tabs has been texting me off and on throughout the trip. He and his petsitter played Dungeons & Dragons last night. Tabs is a ninth level paladin named Chevalier… I guess he fought some hell hounds.

One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open to U.S. and international readers.
You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
- What’s your favorite melon (water, honeydew, cantaloupe, etc.)?
- Have you ever had wallpaper in a room? What did it look like?
- Have you ever lost any makeup on vacation?
- What’s the best waterproof mascara?
- Have you ever tried stand-up paddling?
- Who makes the sturdiest nail polish?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, August 11, 2014 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Kayaking Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay

August 8th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

Pencil In a Date With the New MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils on Your Lash Lines

August 8th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Wearing the new MAC Fluidline Eye Pencil in Black Brilliance ($16) on my lash and water lines

You know, I don’t think I’ve ever actually finished an entire pot of MAC Fluidline. I’ve gotten pretty close several times with Blacktrack, but I usually get distracted by something else (it happens), and then misplace or forget about the particular pot I’m working on, so I open a new one.

This inevitably leads to someone saying, “What sane person needs five half-used pots of gel liner?” when they visit my house and notice the five half-used Blacktrack Fluidlines on the counter, to which I can’t make a smart-a$$ remark because, c’mon, only crazy makeup hoarders keep five pots of half-used Blacktrack.

MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils (left to right) in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue Sea, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance — Fluidline Eye Pencils (left to right) in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue Sea, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance

Now, though, I’m betting I’ll actually be able to finish one of the new MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils ($16 each US, $19 CAD), richly pigmented twist-up gel pencils coming soon to MAC counters with the A Novel Romance collection.

I’ve been wearing Black Brilliance, the black shade, a lot lately, and I seem to be going through it quickly. The soft formula glides so smoothly across my lids and lash lines that I sometimes get carried away with it.

There are also many other colors available, like Earth Sign (a deep, shimmery brown, which is a lot like Teddy, but not as reddish bronze) and Water Willow (a deep khaki green), which have also become close, personal faves. I love ’em on lash lines, where they stay put for 12-14 hours.

MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance — Fluidline Eye Pencils in Atomic Ore, Earth Sign, Deep Blue, Metropolis, Water Willow, Evil Twin and Black Brilliance

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La Prairie Anti-Aging Hydra Tint Sunscreen SPF 20 Sheer Tinted Moisturizer: I Really Don’t Need To Get Addicted To This But…

August 8th, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

To put it in perspective, a bottle of La Prairie Anti-Aging Hydra Tint SPF 20 Sheer Tinted Moisturizer costs about as much as Choupette Lagerfeld spends daily on gravy. A 1.4 fl. oz. bottle costs $100 (OMG!). That is a lot of gravy, yo.

With a price like that, one would expect something phenomenal, right? Nothing short of tinted moisturizing perfection?

La Prairie is a high-end skin care line with prices that hover around mucho and dinero, but by comparison to their $465 Cellular Radiance Emulsion SPF 30 Lotion and $300 Skin Caviar Luxe Souffle Body Cream, Hydra Tint seems almost affordable.

Yeah…not really.

So, you know how I am almost never not looking for foundations and tinted moisturizers that look like real skin yet provide enough coverage to downplay the whole freckle situation and even out my skin tone? Well, this stuff does that.

It’s weird… Before I massage it in (I wear shade 30, which is one of four shades available and the one that most closely matches my skin), it doesn’t look anything close to my skin tone. It actually looks too pinkish red.

But after I work it in and give it a few minutes to settle, almost suddenly, it matches. My skin looks more even-toned and radiant. My pores appear smaller, and everything just looks, I dunno…more J. Lo with a fan and big hair.

This being summer, I have a slight tan and some additional reddish tones in my skin, but in winter, shade 30 might be a little too pinkish red for me. At that point, I may not be able to wear one of the other shades, either, as all of them seem to lean pinkish red.

“Tinted moisturizer with sun protection for a perfect complexion. Anti-Aging Hydra Tint SPF 20 blends mineral-infused color and illuminating pigments for natural-looking color and sheer coverage that disguises imperfections. Protects the skin from UV rays and age spots, and opens moisture pathways in the skin to increase hydration. Dispenses easily from a convenient squeeze bottle, blending seamlessly into your morning routine. Minimal time for exquisite results. Perfection has never been so simple.”

—laprarie.com

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Casual, Carefree Jouer Summer 2014 Collection Lip Sheer SPF 15 in Sheer Rosy Stain and Luminizing Cheek Tint in Rosy Glow

August 8th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Wearing Jouer's Luminizing Cheek Tint in Rosy Glow and Lip Sheer in Sheer Rosy Stain — A casual no-makeup makeup look with Jouer’s Luminizing Cheek Tint in Rosy Glow ($24) and Lip Sheer in Sheer Rosy Stain ($22)

Rolled-up jeans, toes in the sand, head to the sky (So you can look for animals in the clouds… Can you see the husky tabby in those clouds right there?!) — this is what it feels like to wear Jouer’s two new summer pieces.

Jouer Luminizing Cheek Tint in Rosy Glow, $24 — Luminizing Cheek Tint in Rosy Glow, $24

Jouer Lip Sheer in Sheer Rosy Stain, $22 — Lip Sheer in Sheer Rosy Stain, $22

The vibe I get from Jouer’s $22 Lip Sheer SPF 15 in Sheer Rosy Stain and $24 Luminizing Cheek Tint in Rosy Glow is California casual, carefree and laid-back (think no-makeup makeup). Both the sheer lipstick and the cream blush, which doubles as a lip tint, have pH-reacting pigments to create a personalized sheer rosy tint, with a slightly glossy finish.

Jouer Luminizing Cheek Tint in Rosy Glow (left) and Lip Sheer in Sheer Rosy Stain (right) — Luminizing Cheek Tint in Rosy Glow (left) and Lip Sheer in Sheer Rosy Stain (right)

Jouer Luminizing Cheek Tint in Rosy Glow and Lip Sheer in Sheer Rosy Stain with a MAC lipstick for scale — With a MAC Lipstick for scale

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