ProductWhores

Chrome-d

Ohhhh, I love this palette so very, very much.  It's so sparkly and colorful and perfect for fall.  Which I am so ready for because it's been ridiculously hot in L.A. for days and I am SO OVER THE HEAT.  I want to wear boots and sweaters and be chilly and walk outside and not instantly be drenched in sweat.  MAKE IT HAPPEN, UNIVERSE.  Anyway, until sixty degree weather comes back into my life, I'm going to have to content myself with playing around with fall makeup, so thank God I've been impressed by almost everything I've tried so far. Especially this new favorite, Laura Mercier's Eye Chromes Palette.  It has four shades of shadow in it - a silver, a grey, a blue and a purple - and all of them can be used dry for a shimmer foil effect or wet for a metal chrome effect.  And they're SO pretty both ways.  Seriously, seriously gorgeous. Either way, they're super pigmented - this isn't one of those palettes where you pay $48 and get only a sheer wash of color. Even dry, you don't need to use a lot to get the color payoff that you want, but I really love them the way they look wet. It's so fun for a night out.  (I sort of have divided it this way - I wear them dry during the day and to work, but wet for a night out since they're a little more "disco" when applied that way). I'm just super in love with this palette.  Every shade is gorgeous and totally wearable.  More of them in other colors, please!   

A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Laura Mercier   

Make Some Eye Art

You can never have too many eye palettes.  Words to live by. I have so many, yesterday I spent a solid twenty minutes trying to pry a drawer in my vanity open because it was too full (WITH EYE PALETTES!) and had gotten stuck when I shut it. That's when you know you have a problem, people, because it's a BIG drawer.  But let's face it, I could fill my entire bedroom with them and I would still lust after new ones because, you know, makeup addiction is a powerful thing.  So of course I want Laura Mercier's new Eye Art Artist Palette to somehow find its way into my collection.  It has twelve shadows in both warm and cool shades that range from light to dark, so you can create a ton of different looks with it. (Versatility is key in a palette, especially if you plan to travel with it).  $55 is a pretty good deal for that many shades too, especially when they apply as well as Laura Mercier shades usually do on me.  (I haven't tried this palette specifically, but I've had really good results with their shadows in the past). Wait for me, Eye Artist Palette!  I'll come to get you soon!  

Glide To A Smooth Finish

Sometimes I definitely like a full-coverage foundation, but other times, like when I'm just running errands on the weekends, I like to let my skin breathe with a lighter coverage one.  It just seems healthier, you know?  Right now, the lighter foundation I'm really digging is Laura Mercier's Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide.  It's available in a whopping 24 different shades, which makes it almost impossible not to find your perfect match.  (Thank you, Laura Mercier!)  The formula itself is long-wearing (I get about seven hours or so before I start to notice it disappearing) and oil-free, and it has this really interesting "science" to it.  Basically, there's something called color-true pigments that are at the bottom of the foundation and reflective waters that float to the top.  When you're ready to use it, you just shake the package and blend them together and voila, the perfect mix!  The coverage on it is sort of a cross between a tinted moisturizer and a foundation - it definitely evens out my skin tone and hides the redness, but I'm not sure it would cover anything super noticeable.  (Luckily my skin is really clear right now, so I can't test that out!)  You don't need to use a ton of it to get the coverage either, which is good because it's a little pricey at $48, so it's much easier to justify knowing that it'll last a long time.  For all of you looking for a good, medium coverage foundation, check this one out.  The color-true pigments won't disappoint you!        

Note:  A sample of the above item was sent to me by a PR representative working with Laura Mercier

Sprinkle Some Fairy Dust

Who doesn't love to shimmer sometimes?  I, for one, don't want to live in a world where I can't have sparkly eyes whenever I get the urge.  Does anyone??  So I'm loving Laura Mercier's Fairy Dust Eye Shimmers.  They're available in five shades and come in the handiest packing - the brush is in the cap, so it's basically spill-proof AND you can use them on the go without having to bring anything else with you.  The shimmer factor in the shades is off the charts too - they're super sparkly, but in a grown up, adult way, not in a Studio 54 glitter explosion kind of way.  I tried Crushed Copper (the one above) and Crushed Onyx and I'm loving them both.  Onyx is the prettiest shade of green with gold shimmer.  I have green eyes so I tend to stay away from green shadows, but this is one I'll make an exception for every time.  And the Copper is a perfect neutral with gold sparkle.  Genius, really.  They actually look really pretty layered together too, so if you buy more than one, I highly recommend playing around with that for even more shimmery goodness.  Love love love!

Note:  Samples of the above items were sent to me by a PR representative working with Laura Mercier

Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide

My absolute fave go-to foundation for a flawless face has always been Laura Mercier's Oil Free Supreme Foundation... that is, until now!  Laura Mercier has completely outdone themselves with the release of their latest and greatest foundation - Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide.  This lovely, silky foundation goes on so smooth and conceals imperfections while leaving the most magical glow behind.  I love it so much, I can barely contain myself!!!  They have created this wonderful bi-phase technology which is said to deliver the most natural looking color and lightweight coverage.  I don't exactly understand the science behind it, nor do I care, because however they achieved it, it's absolutely brilliant.  Feels like you're wearing almost nothing at all, but still gives beautiful coverage.  For someone who loves really full coverage, this might not be the foundation for you, but for anyone who's looking for a light to medium coverage that looks stunningly like you're not even wearing make-up, this is a must-have.  They even have a handy-dandy shade selector on their site so if you already know your shade in their other formulas it's a no-brainer to make sure you pick up the correct Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide for your skintone.  This definitely does not disappoint... unlike some of the new fall flavors at Menchies right now (okay, okay, weird dig at Menchies but there are some nasty new choices this year!)

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Laura Mercier

Smoked Out

It may be too soon for holiday displays (I'm looking at YOU, World Market!) but it is never too soon to try and plan out your holiday party looks.  I myself usually go with a good smoky eye and a nude lip, although sometimes the lure of a red lip is too hard to ignore.  But I'm always on the hunt for a good smoky eye palette because let's face it, there's only so many times you can use the same one, even when it's amazing.  So far, my holiday winner is Laura Mercier's Smoky Suede Eye Colour Palette.  There are five cream-to-power-shades in the palette (Noir, Black Magic, Graphite, Slate, Ivory) that allow you to create anything from a subtler daytime look to a full-on nighttime smoky eye (my choice!)  The shades themselves are butter soft and blend easily, plus it's super portable.  If I was going on a weekend trip, I'd throw this one in my bag with a black liner (and maybe a brown one too) and my favorite mascara and I'd be good for the whole weekend because it's so multi-purpose.  (My favorite shade is Black Magic because it's super dark and sparkly and adds an amazing dimension to a regular smoky eye.  I'm kinda obsessed with it).  The palette also includes a double-ended cream eye color/smoky eyeliner brush, which works way better than the terrible brushes that are usually included in palettes.  I actually use this one!  That's a huge bonus, in my opinion, because you can never have too many brushes (and they're SO expensive, right?)  Let the holiday party season begin!

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Laura Mercier

Sheer Creme Colour for Summer!

Laura Mercier's new, and limited edition (eek!), Sheer Creme Colour is so stunning I am holding out all sorts of hope they'll release more shades.  Golden Pink is a sheer light pink shade with a golden shimmer to it.  It's extremely creamy and therefore super easy to blend (foolproof) and would look great on all skintones.  I've been using religiously on my cheekbones and also on my lids for a sunkissed look without a lot of fuss.  It's really the perfect product to add to your makeup bag for summer and I'm just bummed they don't have current plans to release more!  C'mon, Laura Mercier, I know you're reading this...

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Laura Mercier.

Gifts to Love!

I would like to assume most of you have already completed, or are nearing the end of completion, on your Christmas gift list (there is only two weekends left, people!)  But, in case you're still in research mode, let me make it a bit easier and suggest some truly kick-ass gifts that any girl would love to receive! 

Laura Mercier is one my of faves (as you probably already know) and there's a good reason for that - her stuff is fantastic!  Colors are always super wearable, foundation makes you look flawless and the palettes are to die for.  Sure, you have to shell out a bit more, but isn't your friend or family member worth it?  My fave of this season is the Luxe Colour Wardrobe.  This is, by far, the best palette she's ever released (and that's saying something because I obsessessively purchase her new holiday one every year).  The shadows are absolutely stunning (and you get 8 of them!) the brushes are magnificent (you get 3 - well, 4 if you count one as double-ended), 3 powder liners, one pencil liner, two blushes and one shimmer.  I am just so impressed with how many beautiful looks I've been able to create - everything from lovely daytime subtle to sexy smokey eye for night.  Yeah, it's pricey at $125.00 but it's actually a steal if you add up all the items you get in it.  LOVE this one!

Another fantastic palette for this holiday is the Masterpiece Series by Stila.  This palette box set is an absolute STEAL!  It's ridiculous how much you get for only $29.00.  You get three different palettes for three completely different looks (all with the look book, of course, so you can follow their instructions or craft your own if you want).   You get a total of 15 shadows and three blushes and about a billion different looks!  This is a fantastic gift and at the price, you might as well grab one for yourself while you're at it!

If you've got a friend who travels, you have got to check out Katie's Favorites Travel Set by Alterna.  Katie Holmes picked a few of her fave items and packaged them (well, she didn't exactly package them herself, but you see where I'm going) into this cute little cosmetic pouch.  Set comes with Caviar shampoo and conditioner (which are wonderful), Bamboo Translucent Dry Shampoo (amazing time-saver and must-have for any traveler) and my favorite of the bunch - Bamboo Smooth Kendi Dry Oil Mist (quite possibly the best, and lightest, hair oil to give shine and eliminate frizzies).  Retails for $29.95.

For the eye liner junkie, you cannot pass up Urban Decay's Black Market set!  First of all, UD liners are my absolute fave - they are so smooth to apply and smudge perfectly when you want them to and don't smudge when you don't want (if that makes any sort of sense).  I love, love, love this set - comes with some really beautiful liners and 5 out of the 6 are exclusive to this set!  It's a total steal, too, at only $24.00.  This is a wonderful must-have for your friend, co-worker, mom, sister and most-definitely for yourself. 

Note:  Some of the above items were sent to be by a PR representative working with the above brands.

Shimmery Goodness!

Ooooh, with all the Holiday releases, I'm kind of making myself crazy with excitement!  So much greatness to choose from, it's hard to keep my purchases narrowed to only a few.  If there's a definite must-have, this amazing set is on top for me - Laura Mercier's Shimmer Effects Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour Collection will make you lose your mind.  First of all, all four sticks are absolutely stunningly shimmery and look so beautiful either by themselves or used over a smokey eye.  They blend effortlessly and stay the whole day (no joke). I have been using them on top of my other eye make-up and they almost seal in the color, while adding such a beautiful glisten above my eyes.  I could not love this set more, and while it would make a great stocking stuff, your'e really going to want one all for yourself.  Comes with Pink Opal, Amethyst, Rosegold and my absolute fave Sugar Frost.

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Laura Mercier.

A Kiss Of Hope

As if I didn't already have reason enough to buy Laura Mercier products, they are supporting a very important cause during the month of September.  It's your chance to score some stunning products while feeling great about supporting Ovarian Cancer research through the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund (LMOCF).

The LMOCF was started by Laura Mercier, founder of Laura Mercier cosmetics, and Claudia Poccia, President & CEO of Gurwitch Products, the brand’s parent company, because both women’s lives were touched by loved ones who faced ovarian cancer.  In 2011, Poccia lost her younger sister, Laura Lia Murray who was only 39 years old, to the disease. Mercier has witnessed her dear friend, Ranee Flynn bravely battle ovarian cancer for years.

Last September, they, along with their colleagues at Laura Mercier cosmetics, launched the LMOCF with the mission of educating women about the disease, supporting those who were undergoing treatment, and funding research for a cure. 

This year, in order to support the cause, Laura Mercier will donate 100 percent of the profits from the sale of three products to the Fund.  Additionally, anyone may make a direct donation to the Fund through its dedicated website, www.lmocf.org. The new products, which launched this month, are outlined below.

BONNE MINE HEALTHY GLOW FOR FACE & CHEEKS CRÉME COLOUR PALETTE

The Laura Mercier Bonne Mine Healthy Glow for Face & Cheeks Crème Colour Palette is an easy way to achieve a sun-kissed glow.  This ultra-sheer, blendable and portable palette was inspired by Laura Mercier’s work with celebrity clients, who wanted a universal compact that would “wake-up” their skin. 

Retail Price: $48, LauraMercier.com, permanent

MATTE RADIANCE HEALTHY GLOW BAKED POWDER & MINI FACE BRUSH

Created to give skin an on-the-go, healthy, sun-kissed glow, this duet features an exclusive shimmering pink shade of Matte Radiance Baked Powder, plus a Mini Face Brush for flawless application.  Use the petite and portable powder for an effortless glow – just dust on the radiant, soft pink shade on the places that the sun naturally hits – the cheeks, nose and forehead. 

Retail Price: $36, LauraMercier.com, limited edition 

LIP GLACÉ IN KISS OF HOPE

A high-shine, perfectly pigmented lip gloss with rich, long-lasting colour and brilliant shine that creates the appearance of fuller lips. The Laura Mercier Lip Glacé in Kiss of Hope is a shimmering peachy-pink shade that virtually enhances any skin tone by creating a subtle contrast in texture.

Retail Price: $24, LauraMercier.com, limited edition

Beautiful products to support a beautiful cause.  What isn't to love?!