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Urban Decay

Urban Decay Naked On the Run Palette

December 17, 2014

The latest addition to the Urban Decay Naked series is the travel palette called Naked On the Run ($54, limited-edition). I’m a huge fan of the Naked Eyeshadow Palettes so I jumped on the bandwagon and ordered the newest palette of neutrals which has products for eyes, lips and cheeks.

Naked on the Run has five neutral eyeshadows with a mix of shimmer and matte colors, a mini 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner, a Naked Gloss, Bronzer, Blush, Highlighter and a mini Perversion Mascara. The colors in this palette:
  • Dive Eyeshadow is a sparkly medium rose pink with a high frost and some gold sparkle
  • Fix Eyeshadow is a matte light-to-medium tan brown
  • Resist Eyeshadow is a shimmering warm taupe
  • Dare Eyeshadow is a matte medium-dark warm brown
  • Stun Eyeshadow is a sparkling chocolate with gold and brown chunky shimmer
  • Bronzer is a finely milled soft bronze color
  • Blush is a cool pink with a slightly satiny sheen
  • 50/50 Highlighter is a satiny pale pink shimmer
  • Stag 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner is a deep brown with some plum tones, it has a lovely shimmer
  • Sesso Lip Gloss is a nude plum pink with an iridescent sheen

The Naked on the Run Palette is designed to be travel-friendly or to carry with you on the go. It does have everything you need for a complete look (minus brushes) and the colors are versatile, neutral, extremely pigmented and easy to wear. The compact however is huge. It’s about 5.4 inches by 5 inches and a little over 1 inch thick. For a travel palette I expected something more compact, but the palette is deep to accommodate compartments for the lipgloss and mascara. The mirror is one of the biggest that I’ve seen in a compact which makes it super useful to apply the product whether you’re at home or traveling or on the go.

For size reference next to a medium-sized tote and magazines. You can see that the Naked on the Run is fairly large. It won’t fit in any of my makeup bags, but it does fit into one of the larger compartments in my purse:

Scarf by Nordstrom, iPhone Case by Gray Malin, L’Occitane hand cream mini, Prada Saffiano tote, Fujifilm Instax Mini 25 (similar version here and here), Smythson Notebook, NARS Contour Brush

For the products, the eyeshadows are richly pigmented and velvety in texture, true to Urban Decay’s signature eyeshadow formula. There is a higher degree of frost with the shimmer shades but I found them very wearable. The colors do seem to be standard neutrals, but with most of Urban Decay’s neutrals, I find they always manage to add a special mix of shimmer or sheen to their neutrals that gives them a new twist making them unique.

The cheek products which include the bronzer, blush and highlighter are finely milled with a very soft texture. The pigment is sheer to medium but buildable. I reviewed two of the Naked Flushed Palettes before and think I might be the only one who cannot wear them on their own. There is something about the texture that makes my cheeks look very dry where pores are suddenly emphasized and skin looks chalky. I had the exact same experience with this palette, but based on reviews I’ve read, it appears I might be in the minority with my thoughts on the cheek products.

Sesso Lip Gloss is a gorgeous plum rose pink but it’s very sheer. You can see the natural lip through the lip gloss but it does leave a very natural rosy tint. It has a smooth texture with a slightly minty scent. I like the Naked Lip Glosses because they make the lips feel hydrated and smooth without that sticky tacky gloss feeling. Lasting power is medium for a few hours before it disappears. This is exclusive to the palette.

Stag Eyeliner is a really pretty dark brown plum shimmer. It leans more plum on me. I believe it’s currently exclusive to the palette, but I hope that Urban Decay adds it to the permanent line or releases a powder shadow version of it. It’s really quite pretty.

Last but not least, the palette includes a mini Perversion Mascara. This is the first time I’ve tried it although it’s been on my radar for months. The 200+ customer reviews on Sephora were mixed so I didn’t know what to expect. I found it lasted all day without smudging or flaking. The color is a rich deep true black and stayed the same rich color once it dried. For application I felt like I had to pack on 3 layers to make it adhere to the lashes. Application was overall easy and clump-free. It defined the lashes and added a bit of volume. The only thing I didn’t like about this one was that it didn’t hold the curl quite as well as other mascaras I’ve tried.

Swatches, eyeshadows swatched on the arm without a base:

Eyeshadow pigment is richer when swatched over a base (here is a mix of face primer and tinted moisturizer):

Other products with swatches on bare arm:

One last shot:

I’m a huge fan of the Naked series so this is overall a nice addition for me. The cheek products take extra work for me to make them work. I need to add a dewy base or highlighter underneath to make them look less chalky-looking but the colors are nice and naturally flattering. If you already own all the other Naked Eyeshadow Palettes and Naked Flushed Cheek Palettes you may find this has too many similarities to the others to justify owning. Even though this is designed to be a travel palette for on-the-go, I don’t know how I feel about lugging this around in my purse. The compact seems fairly sturdy and while I am usually gentle with purse handling, I’m not sure that I would want to leave this inside for an extended period of time. Also the palette is huge and takes up a lot of space in my purse. I did test it on-the-go with me for a few days and for me it’s just too big to carry around.
I’m happy with mine, but it’s not something I plan on repurchasing. For reference, Naked + Naked2 + Naked3 swatched here, Naked2 Basics swatched here, Naked Flushed featured here.

You can find Naked on the Run at Urban Decay counters and stores now. Online at Sephora, Ulta, Urban Decay and Nordstrom.

Did you buy Naked on the Run or test it in store? What did you think?
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By Terry

By Terry Baume de Rose Set (Limited-Edition)

December 15, 2014

By Terry has released a limited-edition Baume de Rose Collection Set ($89 for 5 mini tinted rose balms, each 2.3 g/0.08 oz, made in France). This is a luxurious beauty set cased in a small pink box and ribbon. There are five mini lip balms in a tube format. One is of the items is the classic Baume de Rose which is clear with a slightly milky pink tint. The others include some Baume De Rose Nutri-Couleurs in wand format including Rosy Babe 1, Cherry Bomb 3, Fig Fiction 5 and Toffee Cream 6. Even though I already own the full size versions of three of the five items, I was intrigued by the compact packaging and wand format of the rose balms and ordered a set from Net-A-Porter.

The balms in this Baume de Rose Set come with angled and beveled sponge tip applicators. The little balms are miniature in size making them perfect to store in a small clutch or purse. These are tinted balms so it’s only natural to expect them to be on the sheer side. There is still quite a bit of pigment in them so they do show up on my lips. The texture is medium to thick. They feel like a balm on the lips and go on smoothly, but they don’t slide off like some lip balms do. The slightly thick texture helps them stay on the lips – however since these are balms, these won’t stay put on your lips all day long.

The colors in the Baume de Rose Set this year:

  • Baume de Rose is a sheer milky pink that goes on clear
  • Rosy Babe 1 is a baby pink cream
  • Cherry Bomb 3 is a luscious pink red
  • Fig Fiction 5 is a sheer purple plum
  • Toffee Cream 6 is a warm nude pink tan

With any flash or sunlight, the balms reflect their naturally glossy sheen. Once applied, they give the lips the most luscious natural sheen and they feel quite amazing on the lips. 

Without flash:

I’ve reviewed the full sizes of the Baume de Rose, Mandarina Pulp, Boom Berry/Fig Fiction/Toffee Cream before on the blog. The colors in the Holiday Baume de Rose Set are identical in undertone to the full size in pots, however I found the colors in this set to be a bit sheerer in pigment and slightly thinner in texture. I suspect a part of the sheerness is due to the applicator. The sponge picks up less color compared to a lip brush that I dip into the pots. I’ll show swatches of the set vs individual pots below.

First, some packaging comparisons. The full size Baume de Rose Gloss ($53 for 7 ml/0.23 fl oz) versus the minis ($89 for the set divided by 5 equals $17.80 per balm for 2.3 g/ 0.08 oz):

The full size Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur ($56 for 7 g/0.24 oz) pots versus the minis ($89 for the set divided by 5 equals $17.80 per balm for 2.3 g/ 0.08 oz):

Comparison swatches:

Lip swatches:

I’ve been a huge fan of By Terry Baume de Rose (for the original, gloss and tinted pots). They are extremely pricey so I would call these a super luxurious treat versus a must-have. There are quite a few other lip balms I adore that are more affordable but none of them compare to the By Terry. If you’ve tried a Baume de Rose you know that these are luscious balms that have a beautiful rich but soothing rose scent. The formula is creamy and smooth making it feel like your lips are getting a spa treatment when you apply it.

The Baume de Rose Set is also a luxurious splurge. If you have been wanting to try the tinted Baume de Rose colors but don’t want to spend $56 on a full size pot, this is a much more affordable way to try multiple colors. My favorite color out of all the tinted options is still Fig Fiction (it’s the one of the prettiest plum lip colors I’ve tried).

I give this a thumbs up although I have a slight preference for the full size pots. It is a really good intro set to By Terry’s Baume de Rose, but will also make a really beautiful gift this holiday for someone special.

If you’re looking for this set, I recommend purchasing it soon – it has already sold out on Space NK and Barneys (although you might still be able to find them in stores). Online you can find this set at Net-A-Porter and Beauty.com, while supplies last (it is limited-edition).

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Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty Midnight in Paris

December 14, 2014

Marc Jacobs Beauty has a new limited-edition Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer this holiday called Midnight In Paris ($24 for 13 ml/0.43 fl oz). It’s a deep indigo teal cream polish that was first featured in Marc Jacobs’ Spring 2014 runway show. This holiday’s polish comes with a silver reflective cap and the bottle is cased in a black velvet stand with a keepsake box. The presentation and design is beautifully executed making this a lovely gift for those who love nail polishes.

Midnight in Paris is a richly pigmented indigo cream. The pigment is insanely good and I was able to get full even coverage with just one coat. It is very dark in color making this almost like a midnight black, but there is enough blue in it that it still looks blue on the nails. The formula on the Marc Jacobs nail lacquers vary depending on finish. Some are jelly sheers, others are high metallics while some have a more refined shimmer. Midnight in Paris is a pigmented cream (similar formula to the Runway Nudes swatched here).

Here it is swatched with two thin coats. I used the Formula X Base Coat and Chanel Laque Brilliance Extreme on top (my hand and nail care essentials here).

A few comparisons to some other deep inky blue polishes:

Burberry Teal Blue (swatched here)
Burberry Ink Blue (swatched here)
JINsoon Rhapsody (swatched here)
Dolce & Gabbana Peacock
Louboutin Lady Twist (swatched here)

If you already own a lot of deep indigo nail polishes, you might want to shop your stash and skip this one. The formula is really amazing with this one though. One coat is enough to cover the entire nail and in my experience Marc Jacobs nail polish last remarkably well without any chipping or tip wear for up to 5 days.

Midnight in Paris is a limited-edition shade. You can find it at Sephora and Marc Jacobs Beauty while supplies last. Did you check out anything from the Marc Jacobs holiday collection or order any of the Black Friday sets? I’d love to hear what you think is good.

P.S. The Sky-Liner Set (reviewed here) is back in stock online at Sephora!

Midnight in Paris was provided courtesy of Marc Jacobs for review consideration.

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Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin Nail Color – The Nudes

December 8, 2014

Earlier this year Christian Louboutin released a classic red nail polish called Louboutin Rouge followed by thirty additional shades in three families called The Nudes (neutrals), The Pops (brights) and The Noirs (dramatic dark shades). The nail polishes are among the most expensive in the market, priced at $50 each but have been selling out repeatedly. I pre-ordered these from Nordstrom back in August before they were released. I received them the first week of September and have been putting each shade to the test for weeks. I’ve already reviewed and tested the classic Louboutin Rouge (more thoughts in this post). Today I have all ten nudes to share with you (yes, my fingers have been very busy swatching!).

The Louboutin Nudes have two different finishes. All are creams without any shimmer. There are shades with a sheer finish and then colors with more opaque coverage. The range of nudes is quite wide, but the soft pinks are very similar in effect with slight variations in undertone. First, the packaging is quite stunning. These have long heel spikes for handles. All the nude colors have a pearly beige finish on the handles with large glass jars to hold the polish. Each one contains 0.4 fl oz/13 ml of polish. All of mine say they are made in the USA.

Packaging these seems like it would be quite challenging to construct a large box. Instead of encasing the entire polish + handle in a box, these come with a cardboard container that goes around the glass portion. Mine were all wrapped individually in study stock when they were shipped. They all arrived in tact and without any scratches or issues:

The colors are labeled at the base:

Here are all the shades lined up side by side:

Colors and descriptions according to my testing below.

  • Tres Decollete is the darkest pink with a blue base, this one is sheer but has the most coverage out of all the soft pinks
  • Sweet Charity is a super sheer soft white cream, this was the only shade I did not like, mainly because it took four coats to get decent coverage, three coats gave the nails a soft glossy look, but one I think could be duplicated by cheaper brands
  • La Favorita is a medium warm pink, the pigment is sheer, but applied smoothly and evenly with two coats
  • Simple Nude is a warm camel nude that has medium-to-full coverage
  • Me Nude is a cool mauve nude with excellent pigment, it had smooth flawless coverage
  • Just Nothing is a beautiful nude that leans beige, but still has a bit of pink in it so it doesn’t look orangey on the hands
  • Alta Perla is a unique grey nude with a hint of sage, the formula is medium on this one, with two think coats you might still see the nail underneath some fingers, I applied a slightly thicker second coat to get full coverage
  • Tutulle is the perfect nude pink cream
  • Zoulou is a really lovely chocolate nude cream with excellent pigment
  • Madame Est Nue is a the lightest pink, it’s a nude pink that has super sheer coverage

One more view below, same order as above, but in direct sunlight:

Swatched side by side, lightest to darkest:

Individual photos and swatches, I’ll indicate how many coats I used for each one. I tested these with a number of different base and top coats. The cult favorite Seche Vite gave major shrinkage with these polishes on tips and cuticle areas causing these to get tip wear after 1 day. I don’t recommend it, although I know many people love that brand. I really liked mine with the Deborah Lippmann Rehydrating Base Coat to help color adhere to the nail, and then topped with either the Chanel Laque Brilliance Extreme or Dior Gel Top Coat. Louboutin has their own Nail Care Kit, but after splurging quite heavily on the colors themselves, I decided to try what I already had first. Using either the Dior or Chanel Top coats allowed for 7 days of wear without any chipping or tip wear which I found very impressive with this formula.

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Sweet Charity, shown with four coats

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Madame Est Nue with three coats

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La Favorita with two coats

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Tres Decollete with two coats

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Tutulle with two coats

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Just Nothing with two coats

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Me Nude with two coats

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Simple Nude with two coats

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Zoulou with two coats

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Alta Perla with two coats (pinky has three coats)

The wear on these is really amazing in my experience. I didn’t want to say that I would fall in love with $50 nail polishes but the colors that Louboutin has released are truly flawless and naturally flattering. A good flattering nude can be hard to find. There are many good ones out there, but so many are either too pale, too warm, too orange or just look pink on my hands. Louboutin hands down has created the perfect palette of nude polishes with a diverse range to suit any skin tone.

If you’re looking to splurge, I would say you definitely don’t need all ten of the nudes. My thoughts rounded up:
  • For a soft pink, I like Tres Decollete the best, although La Favorita comes in close second
  • For a medium nude, Tutulle is my favorite because it has a bit of pink, followed by Just Nothing which is another great nude
  • For unique colors, Zoulou and Alta Perla are the best picks, they do have a similar vibe to other brands, but these ones just work so well with the skin
  • Two to skip for me include Sweet Charity (just too sheer) and Simple Nude for my specific skin tone is too match so it blends in (if you’re lighter or darker in skin tone, I think this will look lovely on you)

One last shot, my personal take on the Louboutin Nudes cluster:

I hope you enjoyed this roundup. It’s taken me weeks to complete but I can say that I highly recommend these if you’re looking to treat yourself (or a friend). The $50 price tag on 10 shades has certainly been an ouch on my wallet, but I have no regrets. Available now at Nordstrom.


Special thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post.
For more information, refer to my Disclosures.

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Chanel

Chanel Rêve D’Orient Quadra Eye Shadow

December 3, 2014
Chanel has released a limited-edition eye shadow palette called Rêve D’Orient Quadra Eye Shadow ($70 for 2 g/0.07 oz, made in Italy). It was initially a special release only to the Chanel Boutique in New York on 57th Street. My dear friend Café Makeup e-mailed me to let me know the news in early October. By the time I received my order in the mail it sold out. The good news for Chanel fans is that this palette has launched at other retailers. I have thoughts and swatches to share with you today.

Chanel Rêve D’Orient was designed for the Dubai Cruise Show earlier this year. Each shade has a stunning star pattern embossed on the powders. Opening it simply took my breath away. The colors in the palette are well pigmented. The shades are a bit powdery so you might get a tiny bit of fall out with it, but it isn’t anything different than I experience with most powder shadows. The pigment is very smooth. All the shades have some degree of shimmer. The shades are quite complex with multi-dimensional shimmers. In some light the colors look more warm, in other lighting (like the one below) the gold tones show up more making it look more neutral.


The colors that are in this palette:
  • Deep warm brown with a very natural shimmery sheen
  • White gold ivory shimmer, I like that this is an ivory color that doesn’t turn yellow
  • Sparkling but very smooth true gold shimmer
  • Satiny pigmented black, this one applies very smoothly

Swatched on the arms with a brush. The palette comes with tiny white-tipped sponge applicators but I always prefer to use brushes:

Some have wondered how the Chanel Rêve D’Orient compares to the Charlotte Tilbury Fallen Angel. Both have beautiful star patterns embossed on the surface. They are very similar in overall effect, I would say that the Charlotte Tilbury pulls more cool-toned on me, while the Chanel is more neutral.

The differences I’ve seen from testing:

  • Charlotte Tilbury’s quad has a creamy texture, Chanel’s quad is more like a traditional powder
  • The black shades apply almost identical in the finish, I have a slight preference for Chanel’s because it’s more satiny and slightly smoother when you apply it
  • The deep bronze shade in Charlotte’s is more metallic, Chanel’s bronze has slightly more red/plum
  • Charlotte Tilbury’s pale shades are ivory champagne pink and silvery tan with a mauve sheen
  • Chanel’s pale shades are an ivory gold that’s off-white and the gold is a pure gold

Between the two, I prefer the Chanel, mainly because I can wear neutrals on the eyes easier than I can pull off cool tones. Although the shades in the Chanel palette do have a similar vibe to previously released singles, I think the formula, texture and pigment in the Chanel Rêve D’Orient surpasses the singles. The colors just blend in beautifully with the lids and the color adheres well to the lids. They layer together really well and the shades are distinct enough in undertone and texture that they don’t all look the same once applied.

It’s a splurge at $70 but in my opinion I’ve found it to be totally worth the splurge. It performs well, the pigment is super smooth, the colors are super easy to wear, and it’s extremely versatile for day, night and almost any occasion.

The Chanel Rêve D’Orient Quadra Eye Shadow is limited-edition. It has already sold out on a few sites I mentioned a few days ago, but right now still available at Nordstrom, Macy’s and Chanel.com.

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Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty The Sky-Liner Petites Highliner Collection

December 2, 2014

Marc Jacobs Beauty released some beautiful sets for the holiday season. The Sky-Liner Petites Highliner Collection ($45 for 7 eyeliner minis, each 0.37 g / 0.01 oz) has been on my list for quite some time and after a few days of testing I can say that I think it’s a must if you like eyeliner and want some options that are beyond the basic black and brown.

This set has seven different minis of the Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliners (full sized options are $25 each). These are twist-up gel pencils that are waterproof. The pigment of these is quite intense but the formula is smooth and glides on the eyes nicely without any tugging. I was really pleased to find how easy it was to layer nicely and get a precise line. Given the smooth texture when you apply these, I was worried these might be one of those types of pencils that didn’t stay put. But after you let these sit for a minute, they truly are budge-proof. Compared to other long-wear pencils, I would say these last a lot longer than Urban Decay 24/7 pencils and even more than Chanel Stylo Yeuxs. Lasting power is as good as Burberry Effortless Kohls (reviewed here).

I had tested a mini that was a Sephora Beauty Insider 100 Point perk back in August and loved it. The other shades in this set are just as good and had it not been for the minis I probably wouldn’t have tried some of the other fun colors and totally missed out. It comes cased in a sleek black tin.

All the shades are shimmery except Blacquer. The shimmer isn’t overly frosty on the eyes though, for me it’s really perfect. I’m in my early 30’s and for those who want to know if anyone over 25 years of age can wear these, I would say absolutely yes.

The colors in the Sky-Liner Highliner set include:

  • O(Vert) is a shimmery sage green
  • Brown(Out) is a metallic deep chocolate brown
  • Sunset is an interesting warm coppery gold
  • Midnight in Paris is a deep teal shimmer
  • Th(ink) is a violet navy blue metallic
  • (Plum) age is a bright orchid purple shimmer
  • Blacquer is a lush glossy deep black
For size reference next to my hand, you can see these are really cute mini-sized liners:

If you’re like me and won’t buy sets unless you like all the colors know that all the shades are available for individual purchase. Wearing colors like Sunset and Plumage are a bit of a stretch for me based on my natural instinct. I gravitate towards neutrals but every once in a while I have a makeover at a counter (like with NARS and Chanel) where they use some more wild colors as an accent on the eyes. I’m always surprised that it actually looks nice although I’ve never been able to bring myself to splurge on a full sized pencil I know I will only use occasionally. For me, this is the benefit of mini sets. This year has brought a lot of sets that have items I know I will actually be able to use up while still giving me mini bite-sized options that I can test out before seeing if I want to splurge on the full-sized versions.

I still haven’t quite figured out how to wear Sunset (any recs would be appreciated) but I’ve tested each of the other six shades and really like them.

The Marc Jacobs Beauty Sky-Liner set retails for $45 and is limited-edition. As of right now, the set is still available online at Marc Jacobs Beauty. It was available at Sephora but looks like it’s currently sold out online, if you are brave enough to go to the mall these days, you might want to check in store. Update 12/13 back in stock online at Sephora! After testing the colors, I can say I highly recommend it. They last all day long and didn’t budge at all from morning until late evening.

Did you buy any of the Marc Jacobs Beauty sets? Or the Black Friday sets? What did you think?

The Sky-Liner Petites set was provided courtesy of Marc Jacobs Beauty for review consideration.

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Base Makeup Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide

November 21, 2014

The latest foundation innovation from Laura Mercier is her new Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation. She’s well known for her “Flawless Face” concept which includes four easy steps to achieving the most natural and smooth complexion for your skin type. The main steps include Prime, Cover, Conceal and Set. I used to use the Tinted Moisturizer religiously many years ago when I was in college with near-perfect skin. These days my face needs more than sheer coverage. I have some acne scars and areas I need medium to full coverage, but I still want something that looks natural. The new Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide offers medium to full coverage that looks like skin. It comes in 24 different shade options with a multitude of undertones which made me very excited.

I had an appointment with a Laura Mercier artist last month to tested the new Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide. The artist swatched several shades of the foundation along my jawline and on other areas of my face to find a good match. The foundation comes in a sleek tube that requires shaking to mix the formula inside. It’s very fluid but blends nicely on the skin to give medium coverage. If you try this at the counter, you will need to smooth it out with a finger to see how it wears on your skin – the color adjusts as you blend. I was matched to Honey. The foundation is designed to offer 12 hours of wear. It’s described as humidity-proof, sweat-proof, water resistant, oil-free, non-comedogenic, non-greasy and non-drying. It’s formulated to be suitable for all skin types (including sensitive skin). I found that it worked well with my sensitive acne-prone skin.

Since it had been a while since I had used any of the Laura Mercier foundations, the artist walked me through the Flawless Face process as a refresher.

  1. After cleansing and moisturizing my face, she used the Radiance Primer to prep the skin. There are multiple types of primers. My main concern was that I wanted a medium to full coverage foundation but didn’t want it to look too matte. The Radiance Primer was suggested to give a glow-from-within look.
  2. Next she followed with a thin layer of the Tinted Moisturizer in Sand. For good skin days she recommended the Tinted Moisturizer all over and then using a more pigmented foundation on areas I needed more coverage. She used the Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide in Honey on the forehead and cheeks for more coverage.
  3. For spot coverage and under the eye brightening, she mixed the two shades of the Secret Camouflage Concealer in SC-3. Concealer was set under the eyes with the Secret Brightening Powder.
  4. The final step was to set with the Loose Setting Powder in Translucent (a classic that I’ve never stopped using).

At home, the same Flawless Face look was easy for me to replicate. I added some color to the cheeks for a natural glow with the Matte Radiance Baked Bronze Powder in Bronze 02. For the eyes, I’ve been layering the cream shadow Caviar Stick Eye Colors. Three easy-to-use colors for a classic no-fuss look include Rosegold, Amethyst and Tuxedo. Rosegold highlights the entire lid naturally Amethyst gives a nice medium contour and is layer able for a natural or smokey look. Tuxedo doubles as a smokey liner. All the shades are blendable and layer well together. For the lips, a thin layer of the Lip Glacé in Pink Pop brightens the face with a sheer wash of color.

Above: Radiance Foundation Primer, Spiced Rose Creme Lip Color, Tinted Moisturizer in Sand, Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide in Honey, Lip Glace in Orchid, Bare Baby, Pink Pop and Nectar, Matte Radiance Baked Powder 02, Secret Brightening Powder and Caviar Eye Stick in Rosegold

What I used at home for a flawless face with a very natural look:

I’ve been really pleased with the way the Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide foundation in Honey wears.  At first swatch I thought it would be too warm but it blends in flawlessly with my skin. The warmth in it adds a bit of color to my face but is still an exact match. It has a thin fluid texture but isn’t too runny as long as you shake the bottle properly before use. It blends easily onto the skin and covers dark spots and uneven areas quite well while still looking natural. I’ve been using the fingers to apply or a damp sponge and the coverage is quite nice. Those sensitive to fragrance will be happy to know that there is no detectable scent in this foundation. As a plus, it photographs well with a flash. Lasting power is quite good when set with the Translucent powder, I was able to get 10 to 12 hours of wear each time I tested without any touch ups required mid-day.

Have you tried the Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide foundation? What shade do you wear? If you haven’t tested it, I highly recommend you give it a look the next time you’re at the counter.

Shop the post:

Special thanks to Laura Mercier for sponsoring this post. For more information, refer to my Disclosures page.

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