Sunday, March 21, 2010

Sunday, March 21, 2010 ~

Review: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF20 - Nude

I hit pan on all 2 or 3 of my foundations, so I went to Sephora to find my next love. I tried all the popular ones - MUFE, Diorskin, Hourglass, Nars Sheer Glow, Perricone MD, Josie Maran... etc. I must have tried every foundation there was in the store - to all of them, I have only one thing to say - HELLO DRY FLAKES! Now, the Diorskin foundation was quite good, but the finish was too matte and somewhat powdery, and I'm a dewy kind of girl. I did like their hydrating concealer, however.

Now, you should only apply foundation on a properly moisturized face (and I do), but if a foundation can manage NOT to emphasize dry spots when you have them... all the better, no? That's what I found in Laura Mercier. Really, it was the only thing in my Sephora that did not accentuate my dry spots, and actually made my skin feel nicer, like a moisturizer would.


Packaging 4/5
Don't really care about this category when it comes to base makeup. The tube is nice and compact, and I don't have a problem with squeezing out too much. Pump is my most preferred though. The best thing about the tube packaging is the fact that it travels really well. Light and easy to pack.


Application 5/5
With fingers! I've also tried this with my Sonia Kashuk flat top blush brush, and that works well too. But I like the results a tiny bit more when I just use my fingers. Little goes a long way.


Shade Selection For Me: 3/5, For Others: Who knows?
I have this in Nude, and it's a bit pink. They've come out with a new shade called Bisque - but that one looks a little too gray - where is the yellow Laura Mercier?!

Coverage For me: 4/5
Covers up redness on my cheeks, and evens out my face. Still need concealer though, as expected for a tinted moisturizer.

Texture 5/5
A moisturizing cream that's light and airy. Very nice.



Finish/Look 4/5
Gorgeous dewy finish, will not sit in dry spots. However, I have to say it doesn't camouflage pores very well - I'm talking about the ones on the sides of your nose, or on your cheeks. In that way, it is like a true moisturizer.

You can tell the right side is dewy, where the product is applied.

Blends really easily.

Lasting Powder For me: 5/5
Most people say this doesn't last long, but on me, it wears all day just fine! I don't know why that is. Underneath, I wear sunscreen, and an extra layer of moisturizer. No primer, and no setting powder.

Price 1.5/5
$42 for a tinted moisturizer!!! Granted, my previous foundation was $56 - but that was a bona fide coverage foundation!

OVERALL: 4/5 Good!
minus (-) points: bad color selection, and pore coverage.
plus (+) points: dewy finish, doesn't accentuate my dry spots, and lasting power.

Next on my list to try: Chanel Teint Innocence Compact - gotta love those cream-to-powders!

15 Reactions to this post

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  1. Edna said... March 21, 2010 at 8:25 PM

    Thanks for the review. I was thinking about buying the LM tinted moisturizer in the flawless face kit

    http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P214230&categoryId=C12210

    What shade are you in MAC? So I can get a general idea on what color I should get.

  2. K said... March 21, 2010 at 10:27 PM

    Wow Thanks for this review! You just enabled me to purchase a tube for myself.. now i need to find my right shade.. :( that's sad there's no yellow tones

    i have light neutral skin though

  3. stellarvixen said... March 22, 2010 at 12:15 AM

    ohh reading your review made me wanna go back to LM tinted moisturizer with SPF!!

    i hate flaky too~~and crack! so far am mixing my Brtc or Dr.Jart+ bbcream with Paul&Joe liquid fdt

  4. Georgina said... March 22, 2010 at 1:09 AM

    what?! no yellow toned shade? thats bizaare hehe :D

  5. Fruity Lashes said... March 22, 2010 at 1:21 AM

    ah nice review. i haven't used a TM for years maybe it's time for me pick up one as well. i'm also interested in reading your chanel review

  6. Bijin Blair said... March 22, 2010 at 1:33 AM

    Doesn't emphasize dry spots? Now, I wish all foundations/TMs do that :)

  7. Jenni said... March 22, 2010 at 4:22 AM

    thanks for the review!

  8. K said... March 23, 2010 at 1:13 AM

    which do you prefer? Legere bb cream or this one?

  9. Anonymous said... March 23, 2010 at 7:34 AM

    my favourite among all LM TM is the iluminating one. and i agree with you on the shades. LM is quite bad at it. there should have been more to choose from. it makes me feel that it's like a d/s brand at times... you know d/s skin basic stuff usually have very few colours to choose from. Nevertheless, LM is very very very good at its TM, regardless which type.

    Awesome review. I like the clear cut manner of your style. :)

  10. Annie Dong said... March 23, 2010 at 1:03 PM

    @K: I much prefer LM over L'egere, or any BB cream for that matter! BB creams, for some reason, tend to make my skin very dry. They all break me out. Not really sure if others have the same experience though. My skin is quite sensitive. In addition, they are harder to blend, and generally look too gray for my skintone. Hope that helps! :)

  11. Anonymous said... March 24, 2010 at 9:55 AM

    LM definitely do great TM! A tad expensive but a worthwhile investment.. did you get any oxidizing?? the nude would go darker on my skin as time went by.. i was thinking of getting porcelain but it might be too pink one :/

  12. Laura L said... March 25, 2010 at 1:14 AM

    really nice, I'm intend to try it too. but not now, I'm so poor right now. hmm, nude suit for NC20-25?

  13. Shop N' Chomp said... March 25, 2010 at 9:09 AM

    Hey girl! Cheers to pineapple buns...hehe. =D I've heard great things about this TM but really why *don't* they have yellow shades?!

  14. Anonymous said... April 11, 2010 at 6:23 PM

    Thanks for the review on this super popular tinted moisturizer. I wonder if you've tried Estee Lauder foundations yet. They have a Light version that's almost like a TM. The regular version is good too and gives coverage. This is from reviews, I've not tried it myself :S

  15. Anonymous said... April 5, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    I love how it gives you a dewy finish.

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