Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Compact: A Review

I have been a faithful user of Laura Mercier’s Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer for many years. I was a convert ever since I was displeased with Stila's Tinted Moisturizers lack of coverage. LM's Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer (OFTM) had great coverage. It was also a little dewy, which is a look I LOVE. So, when Sephora alerted me to Laura's new product, her tinted moisturizer in compact form, I was sold even before I heard about the hefty $45 price. This is a common happening in my life: I decide I need a specific product, sell myself on it, convince myself that no matter what I'm going to purchase it, and then find out the price. Shopping fail. Please note that the OFTM is $43. What's with the $2 difference Laura Mercier? Strange.

The liquid tinted moisturizer is perfectly easy to apply. I used to use a foundation brush to apply, but realized my hands were quicker and actually a better tool. Application took less than a minute. But, could this compact form of the tinted moisturizer cut that LONG minute in half? And, more importantly, would it save me from making tinted moisturizer hand stains on my white walls when I'm trying to keep my balance while putting on my flats in the morning? Trust me, even after a thorough hand washing I still manage to make smudges on my once crisp white walls. THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!

To make a long review short, I will tell you this: Those expecting an identical product to the liquid tinted moisturizer will be a tad let down, but also pleasantly surprised. The dewy look is gone and the coverage is a bit less than the liquid version, but I actually really liked the product. I went ahead and bought the OFTM along with the new compact so I didn't have to choose between the two. Options are always nice.

But, I would be cautious if you are prone to dry skin. The compact might not be too forgiving to people with dry spots or acne. I had a small blemish that was healing and therefore very dry. The compact version didn't look so good over it. I had what looked like a small ring of dry skin at the spot. So, that's something that should be considered. Also, he compact is not oil free. They haven't made an oil free version yet, so this is also something to consider. As of yet, I haven't broken out. And I feel less shiny. Points for the compact.

Overall, I'm digging the product and I'm happy with my purchase. I think it will be an even better product on the nights where I'm leaving work to go to a ball or gala or movie premiere, don't have time to stop at home and need to do my makeup in the bathroom on the fly. Yes. That's my life. Always leaving my beige cubicle at 5:30 to make it to some $40,000 a plate fundraiser.

Lately Loving: Brow Tech

I think you get it by now that when I like a brand, I tend to stock up. You know I'm crazy in love with Fresh products, but I'm checking out some of Smashbox's best sellers (like their life changing BB Cream) and I'm not disappointed. Let me introduce you to Brow Tech- a combination of powders in 2 shades and a wax. Using an angled short bristled brush, you apply the darkest shade right at the base of your brow and then use the lighter shadow brushing upward in the same direction as your hair growth, essentially just filling it in, and then you use the same brush with the wax and also brush upward to keep your brows in place. I then use a brow brush and sweep them exactly as I want them. I have semi-problematic brows who can be unruly or can be easily over groomed and this little trick really helps put everything in its right place.

Brow Tech in Brunette

What other brow tricks do you have up your sleeves? Any favorite Smashbox products? Are there any products you couldn't live without?

Lately Loving: BB Cream

I feel like I've been hearing about BB Cream everywhere lately. On TV, in magazines, at the drugstore- it's BB Cream fever! But what IS this super popular cream everyone is buzzing about? I was determined to find out and I'm happy to share the spoils of my research with all of you! This weekend I stopped by Smashbox to get a crash course in all things BB Cream..and some other fun make up finds that I'll tell you about later! So here's the deal. BB Cream, which is short for Blemish Balm, was first created in Germany and originally used as a cream for post surgical and laser procedures. It was big in Asia and employed whitening properties and is now making it's way into the American market. It's pretty much an all in one product giving you primer, foundation, sun screen, oil control, and moisturizer. Kinda sounds like a miracle product right? Well, it kinda is!

Smashbox BB Cream

I typically moisturize my skin with Hope in a Jar before using any make up and then use Benefit's Pore-fessional and my usual make up routine and I'm out the door. I rarely use foundation because I don't like too much coverage, but what I am loving about Smashbox's BB Cream is that it covers like a tinter moisturizer. It's very light coverage, but just enough where it gives you a flawless base. A little goes a long way and a good tip I was given was to work in sections. So no dabbing spots all over your face and then blend. Squirt just a pea sized amount on the back of your hand and then use your fingers to apply and blend. I like to use a lightly dampened make up sponge to blend. BB Cream does hydrate, but I still like to use my moisturizer underneath and you could also use an additional primer if you have one you're partial to. This is really a great product and make up lasts on top of it throughout the day. Smashbox's BB Cream is priced at $39 which is actually a pretty great price considering how little you need and how long one tube will last. Pretty much every beauty brand is making a BB Cream and one of the selling points for me with Smashbox was the variations of shades available.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on BB Creams and if you've found one you like or feel free to ask any questions you might have as well.

I'm No Spring Chicken

Ladies, today I turn to you in search of advice. I'm about a minute away from a big birthday and I can feel new wrinkles creeping in every day. I've tried various under eye creams, but I'm still on the hunt for a really good one. I just finished a tube of the Kinerase Intensive Eye Cream and now I'm trying one from Clinique. They are ok, but I guess I'm looking for something to wow me. Also, any good tips for under eye concealers or brighteners are welcome. I've tried the Benefit Erase Paste and remember liking that. Have you tried it? HELP! What do you use? What would you use if money were not an issue? What have you tried that you liked and what about ones that you were not impressed with?

{This is how I feel}

Any help is appreciated here...I'm sure there are others looking for a good tip as well, so please share! 

Lately Loving: Prime Time

Happy Hump Day! Hoping the rest of the week goes by quickly and happily for everyone. I know I've been talking about my make up routine for Lately Loving including blush, highlighter, and primer. Who doesn't need a good product recommendation from time to time? I found out about Stilla Prime Pot months ago and this has been a game changer for me. It's available in 2 shades- Taffy and Caramel. I use the Taffy and it creates a great base for my eye shadow and keeps it on all day without creasing. It also hides any veins on your eye lids and since using it, I've gotten a little lazy with my shadow routine and I now only use shadow on my lid and the rest of the eye is covered with the prime pot. Revolutionary time saver for me.

This would also be a great product if you want to just wear liner and have a very natural look to the rest of your eye, like so:

Photo from The Beauty Department

Do you use a primer for your shadow? Which do you use? We are always open to recommendations and tips!

Lately Loving: Orgasm

Hey you guys, it's not what you think! I'm talking about Nars Orgasm blush and it's my all time favorite blush.  Nars makes some amazing products, especially their blushes with saucy names like g-spot, deep throat, and sex appeal, but don't be fooled by these raunchy names, the colors are gorgeous and this is a high quality product.

Orgasm comes in a powder compact or as "The Multiple"- a cream stick that you can use as blush, a lip color, or an eye shadow. I first bought it as the powder compact and I wear it over my Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer to give it an extra glow. Orgasm is a peachy pink with a subtle gold shimmer and it flatters just about every skin tone. After a very sad drop on the bathroom tile, the powder blush in the compact shattered a bit, but it's still usable. In a panic, I bought The Multiple. This goes on a little more sheer, but it's just as beautiful. There is also an Orgasm Illuminator that you can add anywhere for an extra boost of orgasmic beauty- or if you're really feeling saucy, check out the super orgasm!

The Classic powder blush

Tell me, do you use Orgasm? Isn't it the best? Do you have another blush secret that we should know about- spill it sister!

Lately Loving: Josie Maran Argan Oil Highlighter

A few months ago I walked into Sephora searching for some kind of highlighter that would forever change my life. I was looking for something that would magically make me glow, with a subtle dewy complexion. I didn't want to look like a glittering stripper, I wanted a glow. After playing with several different products, I decided to go with Josie Maran's Argan Illuminizer and I have to say, I've been very happy with this choice!

After falling madly in love with Moroccan Oil, I admit that the initial reason I was drawn to this product was because I thought the Argan oil would do something special for my skin and I like to think it does. I use this product 2 ways. The first way I use it (and I do this as part of my daily make up routine, along with Benefit's Pore-fessional), is with just a tiny dab on my cheekbones up to my temples under my blush. The second way I use it is that I will sometimes mix in just a little spot with my foundation. I don't wear foundation every day, and I would save this for the summer. It gives a very subtle glow without looking like you stuck your face into the glitter drawer. A little goes a long way with this, it stays on well, and the bottle will last you for quite awhile.

Do you have a favorite illuminizer or highlighter? Tell me your secrets!!

Lately Loving: Beauty Pore-duct!

Birchbox really came through for me this month with an awesome product that I would probably have never tried if it didn't literally show up on my door stop. I don't use a primer as part of my everyday beauty routine, but I do on occasion when putting on the ritz. Primers are a great way to camouflage pores, even out coloring, and provide a smoother base for foundation. Benefit's Pore-fessional is $29 is some kind of miracle primer. The Pore-fessional is weightless and does a great job minimizing pores, smoothing, matte-ifying, and it smells really good. It gives your skin such a smooth finish before foundation and is not greasy unlike some other primers I have tried. I've already purchased the full size and I now wear this pretty much everyday, usually just over moisturizer and with my usual make up routine.

I have a few other primers in my arsenal (all I've gotten as samples from Sephora or Birchbox) and this is an instant favorite. I highly recommend The Pore-fessional if you're in the primer market and maybe even if you aren't.

Have you tried this yet? What did you think? Was it love at first application??