Laura Mercier Foundation Primer: swatches, pics, review

Hello, Beautiful!

Today I want to talk about a great primer that I've used for years. In the photos I'm only showing a deluxe sample sized tube because I ran out of my full sized tube a few months ago.

Check out my pics, swatches, stats and review...

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

Shade: color-less

Shade Description: A clear foundation primer.

 

Basic stats for Laura Mercier Foundation Primer:

Formula: water-based liquid

Coverage: invisible

Wear: prolongs makeup wear

Cost/Availability: $30.00 (1.7 oz full size). Available on Laura Mercier's website, Sephora's website, and everywhere else Laura Mercier is sold.

Packaging: squeeze tube/twist-off cap

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

Formula:

This is a water based liquid primer enriched with vitamins A, C and E.

Coverage:
Looks whitish, but goes on invisible.


Wear:
Prolongs your makeup wear by creating a perfect canvas for makeup application.


Cost/Availability:
$30.00 (1.7 oz full size). Available on Laura Mercier's website, Sephora's website, and everywhere else Laura Mercier is sold.


Packaging:
Squeeze tube with twist-off lid.


Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Review:
This is the second foundation primer I ever purchased (the first was Smashbox Photo Finish Primer). I believe I purchased my first tube of this over 5 years ago, and re-purchased again. I ran out but luckily still have a deluxe sample which I've been using a lot of lately.

This primer feels good on my skin and does what it should: it creates a great base for makeup and prolongs my makeup wear. This is one of my favorite foundation primers, and I've tried/own a lot of brands & formulas of primer. I never have issues when I use this primer.

I do recommend this primer!

Now let me know what you think...

Have you tried this primer? Do you want to try it? Discuss in the comments below.



FOTD: My 5-Minute Face for Quick Morning Routines!

Hello, Beautiful!

Every mommy needs a quick morning routine, a 5-Minute Face - even if sometimes it takes slightly longer. Even if you're not a mommy, I think a 5-Minute Face is something every woman should have as their go-to, in-a-rush makeup.

My 5-Minute Face doesn't always take 5 minutes, but I still call it that because sometimes it does take just 5 minutes and other times slightly longer. It just depends on what else I'm doing while I'm putting on my makeup and if I need to stop my makeup process to do something else (like pack up my son's lunch, let the dogs out, or throw laundry in the dryer).

My 5-Minute Face routine changes all the time because I find new products I love or want to use. Below is my latest 5-Minute Face routine.

Please ignore my hair... that is 2nd day hair and I just didn't have time to do it that morning!

PRODUCTS USED:

1. Mally Perfect Prep Poreless Primer in Glow (not shown in the photo).
2. Mally Cancellation Concealer System in Light/Medium, with the dual-ended brush (fluffy side for the powder, other side for the concealer).
3. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Bamboo Beige, applied with e.l.f. Cosmetic's Powder Brush in small circular motions.
4. Mally Poreless Perfection Skin Finisher in Medium, applied with my Iman fluffy power brush.
5. Mally Effortless Airbrush Highlighter & Blush compact, applied with the dual-ended brush (which side for the highlighter, black side for the blush). I applied the highlighter to the tops of my cheeks, brow bone, eye lids and down the nose.
6. Tarte emphasEYES for brows Amazonian Clay Waterproof Brow Pencil in Medium Brown.
7. Mally Evercolor Automatic Waterproof Eyeliner in Onyx.
8. Benefit They're Real! Mascara - two coats to the top, one to the bottom.
9. Mally Shaded Lip Balm - from the Mally Perfect Prep Lip Treatment System.

Tell me what you think...

Do you have a 5-Minute Face Routine? Discuss in the comments below. You can also email me with any questions/comments.



Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation: swatches, before & after pic, review

Hello, Beautiful!

About 4 or 5 years ago I purchased my first tube of Laura Mercier's Silk Creme Foundation. For some dumb reason I never re-purchased it. I finally got my senses back and recently repurchased this fabulous foundation! I forgot how great this foundation is!

My Before & After pic using Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

Basic stats for Laura Mercier's Silk Creme Foundation:
Formula: a thick liquid foundation
Coverage: medium to full
Wear: long-wearing
Shade Range: 8 shades available on Sephora's website and 9 shades on Laura Mercier's website
Container squeeze tube; twist off lid
Cost: $42 for 1.18 fl oz full size
Availability: find it at Sephora or Laura Mercier
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!


Formula:
This is a thick liquid foundation; but even though this has a thicker consistency it still feels light weight. Oil-free and good for all skin types.

Coverage:
Medium to full coverage depending on application method, but mostly full coverage. This is an excellent choice for anyone looking to cover all their flaws.

Wear:
This foundation lasts a long time, especially when paired with a primer and setting powder. I forgot how great this foundation was.

Container:
A squeeze tube with twist-off lid. Easy to use.

Cost/Availability:
This foundation is pricey but worth every penny. You can find it at Sephora or on Laura Mercier's website, along with other high-end beauty retailers.

Review:
I love this foundation. I'm mad at myself for waiting so many years to buy another tube. This foundation goes on beautifully, looks great, covers all my flaws, and lasts all day. This is an excellent foundation! I highly recommend!!!

Let me know what you think! Do you own this foundation? Do you have any questions about this product? Leave me a comment or send me an email!

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base

Hello, Beautiful!

I have to say, I'm really surprised that I'm in love with a drugstore brand primer. I've been using higher-end brands for primer (Smashbox, Make Up For Ever, Laura Mercier, etc.) and they've worked so well. I've heard bad things about drugstore brand primers (but hadn't tired any personally) so I stayed clear of them. That is, until I received a sample in a magazine of L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base.

I saw the before & after photo and was intrigued.

Here's what that looked like:

[The photo above is from the L'Oreal ad for this product]

As you can see in the photo above, the dark hyperpigmentation and dark under eye circles in the "before" picture disappear in the "after" picture. I know there is a lot of retouching involved in that "after" picture, and it's not all truth, but there has to be some truth behind it for them to show that example... right? I certainly didn't expect this product to erase all my hyperpigmentation from acne scars, but I did hope it would help.

Here's what this primer promises:

[The photo above is from the L'Oreal ad for this product]

My Experience:

It did minimized the look of my pores and fine lines (which most of my other primers do not). My skin did look and feel smoothed and resurfaced. My skin did feel velvety-smooth to the touch. Basically it did everything is said!

Although, I find it funny it doesn't mention anything about the dark hyperpigmentation and under eye circles in their before/after picture that seem to disappear. You'd think if they showed that example, and it truly did such amazing things, it would be mentioned on that list.

Regardless, this primer did blur my hyperpigmentation and dark areas. It doesn't magically make it all disappear, but I it did work some kind of magic. It wasn't like "wow, they're completely gone", it was more like "wow, they seem faded" - which in turn helped my concealer and foundation work better (less darkness to cover).

Here is a swatch of what the product looks like (it looks pink in jar):

You apply this primer in circular motions all over your face (or to the areas you want to focus on; I apply it everywhere). After you apply it, allow it to set for a minute or two. Then you can apply the rest of your makeup as normal.

My makeup lasts all day when I'm wearing this! This may be one of my favorite products of all time!

If you haven't tried this yet I highly suggest you do so! It costs around $12.99 depending on where you go. I picked mine up at Target and used a $2 off coupon I found in a magazine.

Have you tried this product? If so, what do you think? If not, will you be picking it up soon?

Also, don't forget about our Secret Sale Week (coming soon). Read the blog post below for more info!

xoxo with love & beauty,

Crystal Valentine B.

- The woman who runs ValentineKisses.com