I’m going to assume that you are, or have been, a makeup junkie, and so therefore you have probably had one (or more) moments like I did the other night at back-to-school night, when your makeup universe collides in such a way that you’re, like, “WHOA!”
I can’t be the only one. I just can’t.
I was just sitting there in Connor’s preschool classroom wearing some Laura Mercier products when my nose honed in on someone’s perfume (I have a bloodhound’s sense of smell). It was familiar, but I couldn’t place it, and the source of that scent — swear to gosh — knocked around in my head for days, like a song stuck in my head.
Then, half asleep one night in bed, it hit me! It was Laura Mercier Eau de Lune, which I wore every day for three years straight in the early aughts.
Dang, dawg, I’ve been wearing Laura Mercier makeup off and on for almost 20 years! In fact, I can recall when it was a relatively new line. I remember going to a counter for the first time (must have been about 1997) and being intrigued by the makeup primer, which was very forward-thinking at the time. And their Tinted Moisturizer, Secret Brightening Powder, Eye Basics in Wheat and Stormy Grey eyeliner have all been in my everyday makeup bag rotation at different times for years.
Like I was saying…I just happened to be wearing a few pieces of LM makeup the other night, and it reminded me why I like wearing Laura Mercier makeup so much. Her style is colorful, but not too crazy, and has elegantly subtle touches of pizzazz, like a little glitter here, a demi-matte finish there… It’s also easy to amplify or dial down.
A few quick thoughts on what I’ve been wearing lately…
Foundation Primer ($38)
There are a few different versions of this (Oil-Free, Dry SKin, etc.), and this one is the basic Foundation Primer. It’s a colorless, lightweight primer in a moisturizing gel that instantly sinks into skin (rather than sitting on top). If you like primers that add radiance with barely-there pearl finish (like MAC’s Natural Radiance), you’ll like this, too. It’s an oldie but goodie.
Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($39)
Light as air and completely undetectable, this has a soft matte finish that looks natural to the Nth degree!
Caviar Chrome Veil Liquid Eyeshadow in Gilded Fresco ($29)
This one’s for the glitter lovers among us. Swipe a bit on bare lids, and then blend with a finger for the most delicate veil of silver glitter… It looks almost glossy from some angles.
Caviar Stick in Burnished Bronze ($29)
My latest cream shadow love. Like Gilded Fresco, this product’s true beauty hits when you blend and buff it out. It’s only then that the finish morphs from a shiny metallic into a soft sheen. I love it on lids all by itself with just a bit of MAC Coffee eyeliner. SO GOOD, YOU GUYS!
Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick ($29)
This smooth, opaque lippie will last on lips through multiple bottles of water (I’ve been drinking obnoxious amounts lately because I swear it’s the best thing when you’re fighting a cold). I wore Vibe (a medium nude beige) to back-to-school night, but I also like Fresh (a deep pink) and Hot (a reddish berry).
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
FaeFrau says
September 10th, 2019 at 10:57 amYou simply MUST (if you haven’t already), watch Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. So good (early 2000s)!
I wish LM made more palettes. She had one that was so sleek, tiny, minimalist, but I used it even for stage makeup, it was so good and versatile.
LM is like the tweeny sister of Bobbi Brown. 😀
Karen says
September 10th, 2019 at 7:20 pmLOL, I never thought of LM that way but I can totally see it.
Jennifer says
September 10th, 2019 at 1:47 pmI adore Laura Mercier so much. Now that I stop to think about it, it’s the line that’s been with me probably the longest, most consistently. I started out my makeup life with Clinique and Elizabeth Arden but I don’t still have those in my rotation. But I found Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer in nude in the late 90’s and have always kept a tube in my arsenal. I like a big tube for my makeup bag and a small tube when I can find them to keep in my purse for face emergencies.
I adore that Fresh color on you. The photo is simply smashing!
Jennifer recently posted … What’s Your Favorite Food Magazine?
Karen says
September 10th, 2019 at 7:19 pmThanks, babe. Hope you’re having a lovely week so far!
Chelsea says
September 10th, 2019 at 5:25 pmThat Caviar Stick in Burnished Bronze is beautiful!
The tinted moisturizer is so beautiful but it breaks me out unfortunately.
Karen says
September 10th, 2019 at 7:19 pmYou could rock that color, methinks!
Lorraine says
September 10th, 2019 at 6:08 pmLove LM’s products. her Candleglow Foundation is my HG- sad they discontinued. I still have many favorites though- especially the eyeshadows. easy to blend and pretty colors and finishes. LM so underrated in the beauty world. She may not have flashy trendy products but those everyday workhorse products give you way more bang for your luxury beauty bucks!
Karen says
September 10th, 2019 at 7:19 pmI think both her powder and cream shadows are great. I think I “need” (ha ha ha) to make my own palette solely devoted to LM.
Are you a perfume person? Her scents are wonderful, too.
Erica says
September 10th, 2019 at 6:30 pmYou look so gorgeous in that photo! I’m getting more and more into Laura Mercier lately. I’m obsessed with the Caviar Sticks (I got Caramel & Au Natural), and I’m very intrigued by the new, reformulated Tinted Moisturizer. Have you tried that yet??
Karen says
September 10th, 2019 at 7:18 pmHi Erica,
No, not yet! I have it on my list though. 🙂
Melissa Valdez says
September 11th, 2019 at 6:54 amLooking good Karen! Those colors are fantastic on you!
Karen says
September 11th, 2019 at 9:36 amThanks, Melissa! 🙂
yelena says
September 11th, 2019 at 8:05 amKaren, I love your product photos and flat lays! they are drool worthy!
also, the color Fresh on you looks amazing! like a hint of fall approaching, but not full blown goth/vamp, but also fresh, but mature, but just perfect!
lovely post!
p.s. how do u apply the burnished bronze eye stick? directly on lids then buff? on your finger then pat on? I would love to know!
Karen says
September 11th, 2019 at 9:36 amHi Yelena,
Thanks lady! I’m so glad you liked this post. 🙂
OK, Burnished Bronze… I like to keep it easy-peasy, so usually I apply the stick directly onto bare lids (too lazy to do primer these days), from lash line to juuuuuuust above the crease. Then I take a finger or a tapered blending brush (like the MAC 224) and buff out the edges. You could run a domed shadow brush (like a MAC 217) across the top of the pencil and do a light buff of color onto your lids as well!
Let me know if you have any other questions. It’s an easy formula to work with, and it stays on all day for me.
Michele DiCola says
September 11th, 2019 at 1:38 pmLove the colors on you Karen . Hope you are having a great week .
I can’t believe I missed that Ulta DHC sale . I read your email went to the Ulta site and it was full price .
Any way don’t miss Hustlers w JLo .
My student Maddie Brewer is in it .
She is also an alum of OITNB !
Debbie says
September 11th, 2019 at 4:29 pmWow, loving the color of Burnished Bronze on you Karen. Might need to check it out myself, and if it’s not too “red” it might work for me too! Your pics on my screen throw some purple/plum which looks divine.
Kim says
September 12th, 2019 at 8:54 amThe only LM product I ever tried was the tinted moisturizer and it didn’t work for me. Not silicon-y enough. 😉 I see Erica above said it was reformulated. Speaking of, guess what I just got that has “new formula” on it. Faux Cils. I’m giving it time but, so far, it’s heavier on length and lighter on volume and you know I loved the original formula for the opposite reason. Sigh.
Karen says
September 12th, 2019 at 2:00 pmNO WAY! It’s been a while since I’ve used Faux Cils but that breaks my heart a little. 🙁