On The Beauty Beat
Being a curious creature by nature, I rarely pass up an opportunity to try out new beauty products. Even though my preference is a natural “le no makeup look” effect (especially so in the summer) I’m always open to finding new ways to achieve maximum results with minimum effort. Regardless of how simple or complex your makeup routine, skin that looks healthy and glowing is an essential starting point, and sometimes we all need a little help to get it.
1. Good news for those of us in the States: I’ve been told by Clarins customer support that the “Extra Comfort” foundation I fell in love with in Paris last month will be available here in September or October! Fingers crossed…
2. In the meantime, if you can’t wait until fall and are looking for a great foundation for drier or mature skin that doesn’t settle into lines and pores and has coverage that builds from sheer to full, Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Foundation is definitely worth trying. Here’s the thing: a little goes a LONG way. Start with much less than you think you’ll need, and build where you need it. There’s a good range of colors too.
3. For applying primer and foundation, I still love my Kevyn Aucoin Foundation Brush best….
4. …but I’ve been reading so many rave reviews about the BeautyBlender Sponge, I had to give it a try. If you love a sheer, my-skin-but-better makeup application, you may love this little goody. You wet the sponge thoroughly, squeeze out excess water and towel-dry, then use the pointy end to apply the foundation which goes on evenly cake- and streak-free. After experimenting a couple of times, I found that a motion between dabbing and brushing worked best, but your preference may vary depending on coverage desired and the viscosity of your foundation. There’s a special cleanser for the sponge that you’re supposed to use each time, which adds about a minute to the makeup routine, but you may find that application is quicker so you come out even time-wise.
5. For those who are diligent with their high-SPF sunscreen use (and we ALL are, right??) the price of that dermal health and a solid investment in future wrinkle and spot prevention might be looking a bit pastier that we’d prefer. I’ve been bronzer-phobic after the first two I tried had me feeling like an Oompa Loompa. “No BRONZER!!!” I’ve been known to hiss at department store makeup people when they say “now let’s just add a little warmth…” But I relented after seeing this Laura Mercier “Bonne Mine” Stick Color “Bronze Glow” in the tube. Not even a hint of orange. It just provides a bit of that spent-a-few-hours-at-the-beach glow, very subtle.
6. Though you could apply it right out of the tube or with fingers, I find that I get the most controlled results with a brush. You could do worse than the Laura Mercier Crème Blush Brush, which I prefer for the nice short handle and dense, tapered bristles.
Do you change up your makeup routine in the summer months? Any new finds or favorite products?
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I haven’t found a bronzer that doesn’t make me look orange, or dirty-faced — so I gotta try this one!
Oompa loompa! My laugh of the day, thnaks
I have switched to a tinted moisturizer and it goes on smoothly just blending with fingertips…lighter for the heat if summer and no melting moments to deal with! I keep summer make up streamlined and simple.
I’ve just started using the Laura Mercier primer with spf 30. Sometimes I use just that instead of my old Clinique sunblock which made me look horribly pale. If I’m going out, I top the primer with the LM tinted moisturizer for a nice sheer look. My only complaint with the LM tinted moisturizer is that it does NOT travel well; it leaks out of the tube. I also have an LM concealer brush that is amazing. I don’t usually use brushes for foundation or concealer but this one really makes a difference.
Clarins and Laura Mercier are 2 of my favorites.
I’ve been using Yves St. Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation for a while now, and it’s fantastic. Even has SPF 19, and the shade the Sephora SA found for me is a perfect match. Only bad thing is that it comes in a glass bottle, and a tube would be so much better for travel!
(PS–Susan, still want to hear your reviews of the Clarins neck serum and the various “spot removers”!)
I love my BeautyBlender sponge! I feel like get nice coverage, but it doesn’t feel heavy. I am a LM fan as I use it everyday. I recently got SuperGoup SPF 34 Daily CC Cream in my Birchbox and have been extremely impressed with its performance. I use it as a primer during the week. When hiking on weekends I use it as my sunscreen for my face. It does a great job providing coverage even when I’ve been out on the trail 3-4 hours.
I use Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation which is packaged in a plastic squeeze tube. Perfect for travel. I’ve upped my game with sunscreen with Elta Broad Spectrum SPF 40. It’s a professional product sold in medical offices and Amazon. Avene products are wonderful too. My sun hats are getting more use!
Susan I’m interested to know what color foundation and bronzer you used in the Laura Mercier. I’ve been using Bobbi Brown’s Extra Tinted Moisturizer and like it quite a bit (a little goes a long way with this as well). The BeautyBlender sponge looks interesting. I’m about to try the Estee Lauder BB cream since it got such good reviews.
I’m looking for a great summer lipstick…a pinkish hue, but certainly not a bubble gum shade. Is there a long lasting product that’s not drying? I have had success in the past with lancome lipsticks but my favorite has been long discontinued.