Laura Mercier Ad Campaign Fall/Winter 2011/2012

Stunning mineral illuminating powders with pearl powder and diamonds...

This post is actually part two of the Haul.

I wasn't planning on getting Laura Mercier's mineral illuminating powders - I didn't even know about them, to be honest - but once I'd tried them, I had to get them. There are two colours to choose from and I first got Starlight. Then I went back and got Candlelight, too. I adore these!

Starlight (L) and Candlelight (R)

Starlight is the lighter shade and it's described as a 'golden nude' on their website. It has a beautiful, soft shimmer that's supposed to give a natural, healthy glow. The ingredients are really glam: pearl powder, diamonds, emeralds and other precious / semi-precious stones!

It's definitely not for using all over the face but it's pretty as a highlighter. If you look at the swatches below, you'll see that Starlight is the most subtle because it blends in better with my skintone. MAC pigment Naked is rather pink and Vanilla is very white with a strong and visible sheen.

(from L to R) Starlight, MAC pigment Naked, MAC pigment Vanilla

In daylight (no direct sunlight)

In sunlight - sparkles are visible

In artificial light - also sparkly

Candlelight is more of a pink tone. It would add a nice bit of colour and shimmer to a beauty powder or light blush on the cheeks. It might even work as a blush on its own but I haven't tried that yet. Or as eyeshadow, actually. These powders are basically like MAC's pigments.

I swatched Candlelight alongside some random colours on a different day in different lighting (still outside). Candlelight ended up in the middle. Naked pigment is on the left and Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish on the right.

L to R: MAC pigment Naked, Candlelight, Soft and Gentle MSF

The one last thing that I got is the new Secret Finish - Mattifying. It comes in a small tube and the consistency is slightly strange; it's described as a liquid-gel that instantly absorbs excess oil and removes shine for hours. It's primarily for touch-ups.

I've only used this once so far but noticed that you have to be careful with the application. Don't try to rub the product in because that will 'push' the make-up around and possibly 'dilute' it. Better to spread it out on the back of your hand first, then just tap it into the skin. 

Whew. I think that's enough Laura Mercier for a while. Coming soon is MAC - the new collections that I wrote about in my wishlist. Yay! 

Haul: Aveda, Laura Mercier, OPI

My husband didn't change his mind, of course, so I had to return his shirts today. Got that money back - and headed straight for the beauty department. Here is what I got - and I'm keeping everything.

Aveda

I got bath salts called Soothing Aqua Therapy. It's supposed to refresh, hydrate and relax. I've never tried any bath products from Aveda before so this will be interesting. I also got samples (yay!) of their smooth infusion shampoo and conditioner. 

OPI

I got their nail and cuticle replenishing oil. I've been using this on and off for years. Apply to cuticles at night before you go to bed and you will wake up with nicer looking nails. Mine look absolutely terrible at the moment. 

Laura Mercier

I think Laura Mercier does great powders so I picked up a couple of those and a brow definer. 

First, the brow definer. It is a wax/gel in a pot, applied with a brush, that keeps hairs in place. It comes in three colours and I got it in Fair, the lightest colour.

It's not as dark as it looks in the first photo. Here's another pic, taken outside. 

Now for the swatch.  

After taking the picture on the left (below), I thought I was done so I started to rub it off. Then I noticed that I couldn't get it off. It had virtually stained my skin and it only came off with soap. Great for summer. 

The secret brightening powder is a very light powder made specifically to set concealer. This is an incredible powder, it's light, doesn't crease and is supposed to lighten the eye area with its tiny flecks of shimmer. In her book "Make-up Masterclass" (review coming soon) make-up artist Jemma Kidd lists her favourite loose powder as being this one.

It comes in two colours and I actually use #2, an off-white. But I wasn't concentrating (too busy looking at other products) and ended up with #1, which is very white. I can still use this so I won't bother returning it but don't you hate it when that happens? 

Anyway, the white one reminds me of MAC's Prep and Prime transparent finishing powder, except the MAC one is matte and Laura Mercier's is not. 

Secret brightening powder 2 and 1

What else... I got two mineral finishing powders. I won't go into that now. I tested it and wrote about it here.

There will be a separate post on the mineral illuminating powders because they are so amazing. 

Have you tried any of these products? 

Update on t-zone oiliness: Laura Mercier powders

I'm trying to say good-bye to a shiny forehead so I've been testing two Laura Mercier powders that I got at the beginning of the month: the mineral finishing powder 1 and the loose setting powder in translucent.

I've tested two skincare+makeup combinations:

1.

Estée Lauder's Resilience Lift Extreme for dry skin

MAC's Studio Sculpt foundation

Laura Mercier's mineral finishing powder

2. 

Clinique's dramatically different moisturising gel only on the t-zone 

Resilience cream applied to rest of the face

MAC's Studio Sculpt foundation 

Laura Mercier's loose setting powder 

The results have been similar. And very positive. With #1 the shine on the forehead at lunchtime (4-5 hours after initial application) is controlled, I would say. It's definitely not matte, the way I like to have it, but it looks fine. Therefore if I used the oil-free gel and this mineral powder, I would get even better results.

One sunny day last week I was busy all day - doctor's appointment, lunch appointment, shopping - and didn't bother with touch-ups. Eight hours after first applying everything as per #2, I just used an oil-absorbing sheet on my forehead... and didn't even (need to) re-apply powder.

Conclusion

Basically, if I'm going to use a rich face cream all over, I need the mineral finishing powder because this controls sebum production. 

If I use two different skincare products - an oil-free product on the t-zone and a richer cream on the cheeks - then I can stick to the loose setting powder... but the mineral powder will be even more effective.

I like both powders but am undecided as to which one I should get a back-up of (!). You get a lot more for your money with the loose setting powder (29g vs 12g for the mineral powder!) so I am tempted to stick to this one. But the mineral finishing powder is so incredibly silky and fine, it's a dream!

Have you tried either of these powders?

Mini haul: Laura Mercier and Clinique

I would describe my skin type as normal most of the time; not particularly sensitive, nor too dry or too oily. I have relatively good skin - I get spots only on rare occasions. My t-zone tends to get a bit shiny but if I use skincare for combination skin, it's usually not enough and my skin feels tight.

Lately I have really been struggling with oiliness on my forehead, though. To be honest I have always regarded skincare and make-up rather separately, and not really considered: skincare + makeup = effect?

Well, I think it's time to change that. Since my day cream ran out, I've been using one moisturiser for day and night: Resilience Lift Extreme for dry skin from Estée Lauder. This is my first jar of the stuff and I like it. It smells wonderful (passion fruit) and is anti-ageing, which is reassuring. It has SPF 15, which is important for during the day. It's fine to use at night as well because the sun protection isn't activated unless you go out.

But I think it's too rich as a day cream, for me at least. It doesn't matter which foundation or powder I use, my forehead starts to shine after just two hours!

So I went out and got Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. I'm planning on using this oil-free gel only on my forehead.

I'm still looking for the perfect loose powder, as well, so I got two. Both are from Laura Mercier: Mineral Finishing Powder in #1 and Loose Setting Powder in Translucent.

I used to have the loose setting powder and liked it so this is a repeat purchase. I'm going to give it another try.

The mineral finishing powder is new to me and there are so many positive reviews out there, I had to get it!

As any effective experiment should be conducted, I will only test one variable at a time! So I shall be starting with the mineral powder first.

Foundations I'm trying to use up and the would-I-repurchase test

Even when I've find a foundation that I like, I'll keep on trying out others. And as I'm incapable of waiting to buy until I've finished what I'm currently using, I end up with - dare I say it - too many. The good thing about this is that I can compare products side by side.

My favourite foundations are MAC's Studio Sculpt in NC25-30, mineralize compact in NC30 and Face and Body in C4. But they are the darker end of the spectrum for me. So in the winter months I have been using (and trying to get rid of!) the 'older' products that also happen to be lighter in colour. These are:

1. Laura Mercier's oil-free tinted moisturizer in Nude

When I first got this, I was really impressed that my t-zone didn't shine as much or as quickly. I was using her powder to set it, which I don't anymore, and I'm using a different moisturizer under the foundation so the effect isn't quite as wow now. I don't find the coverage to be too low or sheer; I think the name 'tinted moisturizer' is misleading.

Would I repurchase? Yes, in another colour, perhaps. But I still have a back-up that I got when I was really into Laura Mercier...

2. Bobbi Brown's Moisture Rich foundation in Beige 

I like that it comes with a pump but I don't like the way the cap gets dirty. That's a minor complaint that has nothing to do with the product itself, which is fine. I use so little - half a squirt - that I get quite sheer coverage (similar to Laura M's tinted moisturiser). The glass bottle is fine for using at home but obviously not for travelling.

Would I repurchase? No.

3. Bobbi Brown's Luminous foundation in Warm Sand 

I was given this (tester) and this is too light for me so I'm not using it at all (I thought I'd mention it, though). There's also the risk of pouring out too much product. But the coverage is better, if that's what you're looking for, and more moisturising, with anti-ageing properties. I do like the creamy formulation and overall finish.

Would I (re)purchase? In theory, yes, but probably never will.

4. Shu Uemura's Face Architect in 764 

Another glass bottle. It comes with a pump (good) and the cap is much bigger and doesn't fit so snugly onto the pump so it stays clean - not a smudge of old, crusty foundation anywhere. Nice creamy formulation with good coverage.

Would I repurchase? Yes. And I would prefer to get this than Bobbi's Luminous but in a different shade (sometimes I think it looks too rosy).

Swatches of the above four foundations.

Laura Mercier, BB Moisture Rich, BB Luminous, Shu Uemura

5. Foundation sticks from Bobbi Brown (beige, warm beige) and Chantecaille (Camomile) 

I just don't like foundation sticks. I never re-apply foundation during the day (especially when I'm out) so I don't need it in solid form. Some people might find them useful for applying around the nose when you have a cold and need to blow your nose all the time. Anyway, looking at the swatch of Warm Beige, I think it's too pink. Camomile is too light for me. I should put this together with my concealers so I'll remember to use it.

In the swatch photo - look how they emphasise my pores! Ugh.

Would I repurchase? Never.

Foundation sticks in Beige, Warm Beige, Camomile

6. Bobbi Brown's Smooth Skin fondation in Beige 
Another tester that I was given. I've never used it. I used to hear such negative reviews about this product that I'm quite honestly scared to use it. I know that it doesn't sell well, either, so I'm not surprised it's being discontinued - isn't it? It says 'last chance' on their website.

Would I (re)purchase? Never.

I completely forgot to swatch this foundation when I was doing the others - it goes to show how unloved this is by me - so on its own:

When I look at all of these swatches, they colours look so different that I'm rather horrified - how could I never have gotten strange remarks?!

Do you try and finish products, even if they are no longer right?