Hot or Not Beauty

Running away from the smoky eye mania that has engulfed beauty addicts everywhere, Laura Mercier presents another option for this year’s holiday season.

Shimmering white eyeshadow, ice blue kohl eyeliner, shimmering pink glace and a body sparkling mineral powder that adds an iridescent shimmer to your body.

I’m not a fan of overly glitter on your eyes, cheeks, lips and everywhere possible will make you look like a freaking disco ball, however when it’s delicately accented it can act like a Fairy Godmother’s magic wand and turn you into the belle of the ball.

Of all the items, the one that I frowned upon was the ice blue kohl, unless you use it on your waterline to give a little pick-me-up and make you seem more rested and glamorous, shimmering nearly white eyeliner on your top lid is something that I dislike, it’s one of those makeup pet peeves for me. So, if you’re getting it only to line the inner part of your waterline, why are you getting another eyeliner that looks almost exactly like a white one and does the exact same thing.

This collection caters more to the fair-to-medium toned complexions and if overdone can make you look like the Witch from the Chronicles of Narnia, so like everything that has obvious shimmer to it go in moderation and build your way up.

The winner was the body mineral powder, which I’m considering to purchase because it’s something I’d like to put on a girls shoulder, decolletage and accenting other areas of the body because if it gives out a hint of pearlized glow it can completely give you a fairy-like mystique that looks cute for the holidays. And I must say the feather duster intrigues me as well.

Do I think this is the greatest holiday collection known to man? No. Do I find it’s refreshing and gets away from the smoky eye mania that’s on almost every other single collection, yes.

So make a trip to a Laura Mercier counter near you and try these out.

Welcome back to part two of makeup for weddings (when I say weddings, it can apply to any sort of special event or cerimony that demands that you look your best and usually will have you photographed or videotaped for posterity), when we review the best type of makeup products to use.

First and foremost, a primer is mandatory! You want to ensure that your makeup holds all day long with the least bit of touching up necessary that will make you look always fabulous and prevent the “Oh dear, is it six AM already?” look.

Here’s a couple of options that (to me) have always been bullet proof:

Make Up For Ever’s Corrective Make Up Base - Available in several shades to correct skin discoloration/rosacea
Make Up For Ever’s All-Mat - Formulated for oily Skin and to ensure a matte look throughout the day.
Smashbox’s Photo Finish Foundation Primer - Also available in light, color corrector and anti-aging versions to suit your skin’s needs.
Laura Mercier’s Foundation Primer - Regular or Oil-Free

Blot the skin with a soft tissue to remove excess product (if needed) and follow with your usual makeup to even out the complexion. As always, regarding dark circle concealers opt for moisturizing formulas that avoid creasing and don’t enhance whatever lines you might have in that area like:

Estee Lauder’s Re-Nutriv Duo Concealer
Chanel’s Vitalumiere Creme Concealer
Dior’s Anticerne Perfecteur Concealer
Laura Mercier’s Secret Concealer

Where foundation is concerned, although we like to appear as natural as possible, more damaged skin (either sun damage or scarring) will require foundation with deeper coverage, also if you have oily skin avoid shimmery/dewy types of foundations, as the day progresses it will make you look greasy and that’s a definite no-no. Also, avoid shimmery powder and highlighters if you have uneven skin in terms of texture, the shimmer will atract light and make painfully obvious whatever you’re trying to conceal.

If it’s a afternoon/evening wedding, prefer matte or semi-matte foundation formulas so that the flash won’t reflect and wash out your complexion and avoid foundations with SPF, specially Titanium Dioxide. Opt for SPF in your primer or day cream.

Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer (sheer coverage with a fresh glowy finish) - For those who need sheer coverage and slight adjustment to their complexion, this is a consumer and artist favourite.
Make Up For Ever’s Face & Body Foundation (gel type, all skin types, dewy) - Sheer to Medium Coverage, water resistant and can be used on body
Make Up For Ever’s Lift Foundation (fluid, with powder for deeper in formula for deeper coverage, semi-matte) - Formulated for mature/dry skin with medium to full coverage.
Make Up For Ever’s Mat-Velvet + (Fluid, combination/oily skin) - Photographs gorgeously and medium to full.
Dior’s Diorskin Air Flash - (Spray Formula, matte finish) - Velvet finish with a lightweight formula

Use loose powder to set your foundation and to ensure a flawless application of other products that will follow, apply with a velvet puff for more coverage or a brush for a more natural finish.

MAC’s Loose Blot Powder - For oil-control and makeup hold, specially for combination/oily skin.
Make Up For Ever’s Super Matte Loose Powder - Impecable hold and extraordinary finish
Chanel’s Le Poudre Universel Libre - A gentle loose powder for more sensitive skin
Dior’s Diorskin Poudre Libre - Gentle loose powder completely oil-free

If your under-eye area has a lot of fine lines, avoid using loose powder in that area so you won’t accentuate them even further, also avoid heavy pigmented powders in that area it won’t darken the area that you’re trying to lighten.

Next follows the application of color products to the face…

True, I have been doing a LOT of Fall Collections for the past weeks, but ’tis the season when they’re being released and I would like to present as many options before you make your choice.

When most of them are going crazy for smoky eyes, Laura Mercier decided to go into the opposite direction towards a more natural and subtle type of beauty, evoking a rather relaxed look that she (appropriately) named Indian Summer.

Indian Summer describes the warm days that late October/November bring to us, as if it was a magical period where Summer comes back just to visit for a few days before turning into Autumn again.

OK, granted that it isn’t a collection with 20 or so different items to purchase, but what I find refreshing is that you can easily purchase this one without going bankrupt.

With three matte eyeshadows (Black Plum, Khaki and Nutmeg) and two shimmer ones (Patina and Gold Dust you can create soft, natural looks and easily transition them from day wear to evening wear.

The real novelty are the promised Lip Stains, for a natural non-defined lip shape with a less intense sheen than a gloss and the durability of a stain with a see-through color that keeps your lips colored but still natural and soft.

So embrace pure relaxation and the comfort feel of Autumn with Laura Mercier if you need an alternative from the smoky eye bandwagon that so many other brands are releasing this Fall.

For a couple of years I tried many tinted moisturizers in search of one that would even out my skin tone without the obvious look of a foundation.

After a lot of (painful) trial and error with many brands along the way, I finally decided to try Laura Mercier’s Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer. Originally since it isn’t available in my own country I was trying to find another suitable brand that would be more convenient to purchase without too much hassle.

During a trip to the US, I finally decided to try it out and was amazed by the results. At first I was a bit skeptical since I found the texture slightly denser than all the other brands I tried, however that same texture allowed it not only to even out my skin with a decent amount of coverage that remains sheer. It also has buildable coverage (with its own limitations of course) for those harder to cover spots.

The finish is slightly dewy without making it look overly shimmery or unnatural, it just gives you a healthy glow all over and your own skin shines through making you look perfectly flawless.

This tinted moisturizer is perfect for everyone who wants a more even complexion without the look of a foundation and I certainly advise it for all ages, from teens to more mature skin. My own mother has been using it as well and loves the way it sets on her skin.

My skin is prone to break-outs however I didn’t experience any problems with it and have been using it for almost a year now. Lasts a lot as well and it’s definitely my Holy Grail Tinted Moisturizer, as well as one of the products that I will definitely repurchase.

Laura Mercier’s Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer offers SPF20 and a quite decent selection of shades for most skin tones.

Yet another brand adds a tinted moisturizer to its ranks, it’s Chantecaille’s turn to revolutionize the world of sheer tints to the face.

A light, cooling, gel-textured tinted moisturizer packed with the usual Chantecaille botanical goodness and essential oils. For all skin types, “Just Skin” adds SPF15 and guarantees protection from sun, smog and free radicals.

More and more brands release their tinted moisturizer to please those who don’t like the feeling of foundation on their face and enjoy their skin shining through. To me tinted moisturizers are “the” alternative for men who want to even out their skin tone without having to resort to foundation, so I’m always on the look for a skin enhancer like this.

There are two problems for me with this product, the price being the first, $62 is a tad pricey for just a tinted moisturizer (although it’s typical for a luxury high end brand like Chantecaille), the second is the lack of shades for this product. Those with a darker complexion will probably have to resort to some other brand like Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier or MAC for a tinted moisturizer with a wider range of color choices.

My advice? Go to a Neiman Marcus near you and get a sample, sometimes when the product is exactly what you’re looking for then it’s worth to spend a little extra dollars on something that not only is good for you but makes you look your best.

After all, beautiful skin is the basis for incredible beauty.