Today I suffered a debilitating case of makeup buying indecision at the Neiman Marcus Beauty Event, a national event (in-store and online) in which visitors to Neiman Marcus stores who purchase $100 in beauty or fragrance products through March 2 receive a batch of six sample products along with their choice of tote bags in hot pink, teal or neon green.
Cute bag, yah? I entered the San Francisco Union Square store on a mission. I cruised the beauty department with my homegirl Jo-money, scoping out spring products from both Nars and Laura Mercier, but I couldn’t decide what to get.
I love both lines, but today I was caught between NARS Shanghi Lily and Laura Mercier Seduction. I knew I couldn’t get everything I wanted, but instead of actually getting anything, I ended up snapping pictures, assuming that as the day wore on I’d choose from one collection or the other.
I went to lunch thinking food might help (hey, it always does) and took a long walk down Market Street in SF, but the answer never came to me. I couldn’t decide between the two collections and went home empty handed. 🙁
Yeah, I know I should have just chosen a few products from each line, but I have until March 2 to make up my mind. Laura? Nars? BOTH? *Wallet throbs* HELP! What should I do?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Rachel says
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:55 pmI would have gone with the Nars. 🙂 But it is a tough decision since Laura Mercier is amazing too! Well good luck on the decision
Sandy says
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:02 pmGo Laura Mercier! LOL =) Thanks for the comment on my blog. Truly appreciate it *huggles* I’m hoping to haul some stuff from Inglot today but I’ve been quite stingy with spending my money ~_~
Breezy says
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:28 pmOoh both look awesome but I have to admit it looks like Laura Mercier has more stuff in there so I’m voting Laura!
alana says
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 pmLAURA! lol
Glosslizard says
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:19 pmHow ’bout the eyeshadows from Laura Mercier and a lipstick and the hot Greek Holiday gloss from Nars? I bet they’d look great together!
I got the gift set and I’m already getting addicted to the Fresh sugar acai body cream… it smells soooo good! I may end up going back before March 2 and getting some Fresh and the brand GWP! Thank goodness there’s a payday between then and now! Help!
Dao says
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 pmAre there anything that you really really want from both lines or the y are just so-so? Btw, did you check out the Lancome LUCI line? I’ve heard their lipsticks and glosses are really really good.
I’ve once read this line and want to pass it on: “When I see something nice, I just tell myself ‘It’s ok to walk away, the guilt will go away but the money once it’s gone will never come back'”
And thanks for the gloss recs, I would start from Sally Hansen to see what happens.
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 pmHi Rachel,
The LM palettes are very pretty, but the Nars spring glosses are very hot, too! Decisions, decisions… 🙂
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 pmHi Sandy,
You are welcome. I truly hope you start feeling better soon.
I *knew* you were going to pick Laura Mercier, ha!
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:09 pmThanks Breezy for your vote! I am going to back to SF tomorrow and may just swing by again to “visit” the counters again. Maybe some sleep will help me decide…
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 pmThanks Alana! Are you a LM fan?
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:15 pmHi Glosslizard!
Now I’ve got my eye on those LM eyeliners, oy, in addition to the quads!
http://www.lauramercier.com/products/colour/eyes/eye_liner/brilliant_eye_liner/
Only thing is though is I am very not coordinated when it comes to liquid eyeliner. I do much better with gel, so it might be a recipe for disaster.
I like Fresh scents a LOT! They smell um, Fresh, LOL.
I couldn’t resist giving you a street name! Hope you are having fun with your loot!
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:19 pmHi Dao,
I’ve been thinking about it a bit more, and I think I really want the glosses from NARS (Dolce Vita and Greek Holiday), and perhaps the Multiple. Maybe Manhunt lipstick too, because it’s pretty and it has a great name. But the Laura eyeshadow quads are fab. And the liquid liners in the jewel tones are sooo pretty. There are two new lipsticks that also look yum. I will sleep on it tonight and think about it for a while.
I have checked out L.U.C.I. I have a two glosses and I love ’em. Are you a Lancome fan? I’m really starting to like their stuff.
Oh, you are welcome! Check out the Antique Bronze shade. It’s one of my faves. 🙂
Tekoa says
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:53 pmBoth! Its the only option. 😉
Karen says
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:12 pmOh Tekoa, LOL, I like the “all of the above” answer, too.
Anna says
February 23rd, 2008 at 2:59 amKaren !!! tut tut….need you ask ! when in doubt…get both chick !! Going home empty handed is a crime !!
But….LM’s brightening powder is the best ! And the shadows melt like butter.
Ahhh………….just get both 🙂 🙂
Ping. says
February 23rd, 2008 at 4:25 amoh my.. i love the looks of NARS.. one day i will try it! can you believe it that my country do not have NARS!!
Sanita says
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:09 amHello Karen,
I think you should buy a little(or not so little) bit of both collections. By the way it remainds me of this post in my little blog:
http://youhaveneverlookedsogood.blogspot.com/2008/02/other-boleyn-girl.html
Ping. – It’s not so unbelievabl to me that you can’t buy Nars in your country because I can neither! And I can’t get Laura Mercier also and SOO much more. It’s sometimes so sad to think about this hole I’m living in aka small country in Europe – Latvia. But I can pick up some items when I’m travelling but it doesn’t happen so often I would want to. Also I use ebay. But my biggest hopes are that within a few years it will change, possibly.
Karen says
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:28 amHi Anna,
Oh yes, the Secret Brightening powder is so fantastic. I have #2.
I am thinking now that I might get one palette (but which one? ahhh!!), a lipstick and then a liquid eye liner. For now…
I don’t have any LM shadows! Which ones are your favorites?
Karen says
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:28 amHi Ping,
I hope you get to try it one day. You have to promise me that you’ll try on my favorite NARS lipstick EVER, Dolce Vita!
Karen says
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:33 amHi Sanita,
Hello to you in Latvia! I like to pick up items that I can’t get here in the US when I travel too. 🙂
Anyway, a hybrid of both collections – good idea! 🙂
Glosslizard says
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:38 amOk, barring the all of the above option I still like the Laura eyes and Nars lips option!
I am loving my loot! The Chanel gloss (Imaginaire) is so fab… Love! LM tinted moisturizer… Love! Shu eyeliner… Love! Shu shadow… Love! And since I spent less money than I was afraid I would, I’m thinking of going and getting a new paint pot! Girl Friendly was my first, and I think this is definitely a high addiction-factor item!!
Hee hee! Street name… Love! 😀
Karen says
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:49 amYou just reminded me about my lack of Girl Friendly Paint Pot. I will be in the city again today so I’ll stop by Nordstrom to see if they have it. Oh, forgot to say that I also got a few samples of the Armani foundation from Bloomingdales and I can’t wait to try them (hoping it doesn’t break me out).
I took out my Shu eyeliner (“drawing pencil”) last night and thought about ways I could combine it with Cash Flow Paint Pot. 🙂
TUPRNUT says
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:52 amWhat a problem you have, my dear. If I were in your shoes…. I would pick up a multiple from NARS as well as a lipgloss or two (I’ve only tested them and they’re divine). LM’s eye palette’s look awful pretty, too. Maybe you should just spread the love and buy a little of each!
Happy Shopping!
Ping. says
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:36 amoh man I heard about it! will definately keep that in mind. am planning to go aussie to visit bf soon, and the second most exciting thing would cosmetics! any other brand recommendation? hehe
Amanda says
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:44 pmwell I had to go look at both collections online to see what the choices are. I vote a little from both-
1) wild violet eyeshadow quad from Laura (I prefer the quality of Laura’s eyeshadows to nars…I only have one from each line, but the one LM I have is softer/easier to apply than the nars)
2) the multiple orgasm! you need to try this, since you don’t have one yet-I haven’t tried it yet either but it looks fab.
3) the lipglosses from nars they just look prettier to me, although LM mistress lipstick looks pretty too, and I’m interested in a review of the cream formula from her!
let you know what you get-can’t wait for some reveiws.
Karen says
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:14 pmHey Tuprnut,
That sounds like a good idea. Greek Holiday lipgloss from Nars was pretty darn hot, both by itself and on top of other lip colors.
🙂 Hope you are having a good weekend!
Karen says
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:17 pmHi Ping,
You should def. check out Becca! I love their foundations – the stick foundation and the tinted moisturizer are fantastic. They also have great cheek gels/creams, too!
When are you leaving for your trip? Are you excited to see the boy?
Karen says
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:20 pmHi Amanda,
Thanks for your input on the shadows. I’ve never really tried NARS shadows and have played a few times with the LM powdered shadows. Easy application is definitely one of the big things I look for in a shadow.
The Multiple looks REALLY good. I can’t wear Orgasm myself (I doesn’t really show up on my skin tone) but I have a deeper color called Torrid that I could pop on top of the Multiple if I wore it on my cheeks.
Ahhh! Decisions! 🙂
alana says
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:51 pmi dont have any of her stuff but it looks a lot prettier than the nars. imo =]
Karen says
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:06 pmHi Alana,
Oh yes, the quads are very cute in person. If you ever get the chance check out Laura’s foundations and powders. They are great! Have a good weekend!
Allou says
February 25th, 2008 at 7:04 pmI just got Laura’s adorable ivory bag, that has a mascara, lip and eye pencils a trio shadow palette and three mini lipsticks. It will be all I need besides the Mineral Powder foundation to put on a face when I am off to France. Or should I pack the Tinted Moisturizer? The Mineral Powder is amazing, really does the Flawless Face. Mme. Mercier has really brought things up a notch in the luxury department. I love the Nars colors, but LM has much better textures IMO. Have fun with the choices!
Karen says
February 25th, 2008 at 8:44 pmHi Allou,
Oh, France, I’m so jealous! When is your trip? Where are you going?
I am nervous about trying the Mineral Powder. I know so many ladies love the mineral makeup but I had a bad reaction to it once (broke out in really painful pimples) and after that I became gun shy. What do you like about it? Does it break you out?
Hmmm, maybe pack the tinter moisturizer…less chance of it getting loose and messy in your bag.
I am now 95% sure I’m going to hit the Laura couner! YAY!
desiree says
March 2nd, 2008 at 4:07 pmWell, Laura has a gift w/ a purchase of $125 so go with Laura & get 2 gifts. Laura’s gift is really nice too!
Karen says
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 pmGood call Desiree. Did you get anything good at the Beauty Event?
desiree says
March 4th, 2008 at 5:55 amHey Karen-No just worked it! You?