Laura Mercier

I never fully understood the appeal of cake eyeliners until I got acquainted with Laura Mercier's. I noticed its quality every time I had my makeup done by a Laura Mercier rep, but didn't quite get it until I bought my own and started experimenting.

Laura Mercier Eye Liner in Black Ebony looks deceivingly simple. It's a pressed black powder with a matte finish- not exactly the stuff dreams are made for, right? But as soon as I had my brushes in it and played with various amounts of water (you need very little, by the way. I find that results are best with a damp+ brush) I could see why it has so many fans. Liquid black eyeliner is not exactly revolutionary, but this one gives you a lot of control over the finished look. You can draw it as thin or as thick as you like, manipulate the level of pigment and use it with various brushes.

I've found that it takes very little practice to get the hang of this eyeliner. Beginners would probably like to keep it a little more dry and use thinner and short bristled brushes, but Laura Mercier has created a very versatile product here which works with just about any brush or method you favor. The official recommendation is to apply with a flat brush, but my current favorite is actually a thin angled eyeliner brush by Eco Tools, of all things.

There's something about the velvety finish that is incredibly flattering. It's not glossy so it's never as harsh or retro as some black liquid liners can be. But it's also not too muted or boring. It's just right. Most surprising, though is the staying power. Applied over a lid primer but without using a sealing gel/waterproofing solution, this eyeliner stays put all day with no smudging or fading.

Bottom Line: I'm going to buy the blue one, too.

Laura Mercier Eye Liner ($22) is available from Sephora and most department stores.

Photos by me.

Today we'll be taking a much needed break from all the shiny and new colorful items to talk about a hardworking perennial staple: Laure Mercier Undercover Pot. This 3-in-1 multitasker is travel-friendly both is size and sturdiness and offers two concealers (one for dark under-eye circles and one for other facial imperfections) and a loose setting powder in a double decker format.

In the left pan at the top there's Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage. The oil-free and rather dry formula is mostly intended to cover blemishes and other unsightly issues. I use it to hide discolorations and the annoying redness that occurs around the nose, but since it's a bit to dry for comfort I mix Secret Camouflage with other substances according to need: cream, lotion, liquid foundation or tinted moisturizer. It gives a very good coverage without caking or looking too obvious. Using a concealer brush and blending carefully is essential, but that's a given.

Secret Concealer, the emollient substance in the right pan, is designated to hide under-eye darkness. It's more pigmented than one would expect and much darker than your Touche Eclat-style brighteners. As a result I use it in a somewhat different way- not so much to highlight the area but to blend and even out the part where the dark circle merge with the rest of the face. It makes any discolored areas disappear and gives an even look.

It's important to blend and work both concealers into your foundation or tinted moisturizer to make your face really polished and flawless (and not resemble a calico kitten). A technique I learned from the wonderful makeup artists of Le Metier de Beaute is to mix different ratios of foundation and concealer before applying to various parts of your face. This way you have maximum control over color, texture and coverage. Obviously, this  works with any brand.

The bottom of the pot contains Laura Mercier's Translucent Loose Setting Powder. The one that comes in the #2 shade has just the right hint of yellow to it, so it doesn't turn an olive complexion into an ash-covered mask. It melts right into the skin, giving it a natural finish and keeping everything in place. The pot is really small, so full size powder brushes aren't ideal here. What I use instead is the mini Kabuki brush that comes with those Bare Escentual trial kits.

Bottom Line: A staple in my travel bag.

Laura Mercier Undercover Pot ($34) is available from most decent department stores as well as from Sephora.

Photos are mine.

These three Laura Mercier mini  lip items were part of various GWP events over the last several months. I didn't keep track of what came from where, but it doesn't really matter. We're here to test and discuss the products, after all. As you can see, none are exactly my kind of colors, and looking at the swatches it's pretty obvious why- I think they bring out the yellow undertones in my skin. Nonetheless, the textures and quality are nice and at least in the case of the lipstick and gloss I've been putting them to good use by mixing and layering. I have enough dark lip colors that can be toned down a little for the season.

Duchess Rose is not the first time I've come across Laura Mercier's Satin Lip colour formula. I was in love with Currant but had to pass because the semi-matte texture didn't work for me. This problem is less acute in this much lighter color, and since I have to blend the lipstick with other products anyway, it's even less of an issue. Duchess Rose was more appealing to me in the tube. When applied it's a bit too warm and peachy to look good on me. It's also significantly lighter than my naked lips, which is not a look I'm comfortable wearing.

As you can see, the lip pencil in Natural Lips doesn't match the lipstick. It doesn't match anything else, either, and definitely doesn't look natural. I'm not sure who might have lips in this light brown or why would anyone want to have them. This liner was definitely a dud for me.

The Lip Glace in Bare Beige managed to get me interested in other Laura Mercier lip glosses. While the color is nothing to write home about (I apply it over red), the texture is very pleasant and light, the shimmer is subtle and the shine last after one drink. I see Brownberry in my future.

All these products in full size($19-$22)  are available from lauramercier.com. Most decent department stores stock at least some of them.

Photos by me.