Laura Mercier St. Tropez Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a semi-opaque, darkened beige with a little peachiness and marigold shimmer. The texture is really smooth, soft, and delicate; these remind me a lot of Guerlain’s Rouge G finishes–just the way the shimmer plays with the lip color and how it sinks into lips (in a good way, such that the color looks one with your lips).
Laura Mercier’s Shimmer Lipsticks have a rather strong floral scent to them, while several of her other lip products are heavily vanilla scented (not sure why these are different). I get three to four hours of wear (about average), and I find these neither drying nor particularly moisturizing, but they are comfortable to wear. Sandcastle applied evenly and easily without having to layer on a lot to get opaque color.
It applies and wears so beautifully while looking natural on lips, despite the darker hue, and the way the shimmer warms up the color is very fine and subtle.
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
8.5/10
Application
4/5
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Laura Mercier Sandcastle Shimmer Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a pink-tinged peach beige with pale champagne micro-shimmer. It delivers opaque color, and it looks a bit creamy, though it doesn’t have a lot of slickness when applied. The color reminded me of Guerlain Giny Rouge G Lipstick, but it’s a touch pink (and yet, it’s also not pink enough to be like Guerlain Gillian).
Laura Mercier’s Shimmer Lipsticks have a rather strong floral scent to them, while several of her other lip products are heavily vanilla scented (not sure why these are different). I get three to four hours of wear (about average), and I find these neither drying nor particularly moisturizing, but they are comfortable to wear. Sandcastle applied evenly and easily without having to layer on a lot to get opaque color.
It really captures a great balance of shimmer, creaminess, and color to make for a very flattering, easy-to-wear shade. It's not warm or cool but neutral, which will make it appealing across skin tones.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9/10
Longevity
8.5/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
The one I hav been using is actually a smaller size included in one of Laura Mercier’s gift sets or travel kits (can’t remember), but it was 0.33 oz., whereas the full-size version (which is pictured in this post) is a full 1 oz. It took me six months of regular usage to go through it, so I imagine a full-size should last at least a year with daily use or a year and a half with 3-4 uses a week. I just picked up the full-size during Sephora’s F&F sale last month.
I love it because it sets my makeup, keeps it in place throughout the day, and helps minimize oiliness. It never looks powdery, and it never looks obvious–it has a silky smooth texture as it is a finely milled loose powder that disappears on the skin. The soft, featherweight texture means it never feels heavy over foundation. I like using this with MAC’s 134 brush and dusting all over after finishing foundation and blush.
The only area this product could improve on is working longer than six hours – I do find a hint of oiliness starts to peek through by hour seven or eight, and I’m normal-to-dry, so I imagine that very oily skin types may find they need a touch-up after three or so hours.
P.S. — I recommend only peeling back (or cutting) half of the label, because you don’t need that many holes exposed to get a good amount of product.
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Product: 29/30
Value: 9/10
Ease of Use: 4/5
Packaging: 4/5
RECOMMENDATION: It’s fabulous on dry and normal skin types, but it may not produce as stellar results on the oiliest of skin types. I fully recommend giving it a shot, though – one of my staples!
Mix, match and be merry with this amazing selection of fun and festive Laura Mercier Eye Colours – packaged in a portable case with a double-ended Eye Colour/Smudge brush for on-the-go application. Shades Include: Sparkling Dew, Chocolate, Latte, Pink Tulip, Ultra Violet, Pink Copper, Mica and Black Ice
Travel Brush Set ($85.00) (Limited Edition)
This must-have brush collection includes all the tools needed for perfect holiday makeup application with four double-ended Laura Mercier brushes and a Finishing Brush in the sleek zipper case. Includes: Secret Camouflage/Camouflage Powder, Flat Eye Liner/Smudge, All Over Eye Colour/Ponytail, Brow Definer/Brow Grooming and Finishing Brush
Mini Lip Glace Set ($48.00) (Limited Edition)
Never be caught with less-than-perfect lips this holiday season. This party-ready five-colour collection gives lips extra sparkle, gloss and shine. Shades Include: Sparking, Violet, After Hours, Bare Beige and Rose
Availability: October 2010 (I spotted everything online at Neiman Marcus, but not yet up at Laura Mercier)
In this price range, lipsticks tend to be more pigmented, have less synthetic scents, and wear an average of four hours. I’m not typically disappointed beyond belief with a lipstick formula in this price range. Brands from MAC to NARS to Smashbox fall into this price tier, while designer brands like Chanel, Dior, and YSL are in the next tier. There are really SO many brands and formulas to choose from in this category that I had to split this post into two parts!
PROS: Creamy, opaque, glossy, wears for 3 to 4 hours, moisturizing
NEUTRAL: 0.10 oz., slight sweet scent
CONS: Very limited shade range
MY REC: These aren’t quite as glossy or as creamy as the Silky Finish line, but they’re more opaque. I still find them rather creamy and moisturizing, though. Some of mine seem to have a very subtle sweetened scent while others have none.
PROS: Creamy, moisturizing, glossy, wears for 3 to 4 hours
NEUTRAL: 0.10 oz., shades range from sheer to semi-opaque, slight sweet scent
CONS: Short shade range centered around pinks
MY REC: The Silky Finish is a much glossier, often shimmered lipstick compared to Benefit’s Full Finish range. These actually remind me quite a bit of Laura Mercier’s Stick Gloss. They’re more moisturizing than the average lipstick and have a slicker texture, too. Some of mine seem to have a very subtle sweetened scent while others have none.
NEUTRAL: 0.12 oz., scent-free, more neutral/pink based shade range
CONS: One finish (semi-matte)
MY REC: I like the pigmentation and creaminess in the texture of Bobbi Brown’s Lip Color. Sometimes I get caught in thinking that Bobbi Brown is all about sheers, but then the Lip Color line always reminds me that it’s not always the case. Despite their creaminess, they’re not moisturizing; not drying either, but not particularly moisturizing.
NEUTRAL: 0.14 oz., more neutral/pink based shade range, scent-free
CONS: Wears 2 to 3 hours (despite being touted as long-wearing)
MY REC: I think Clinique makeup often gets overlooked, but I like how much of their makeup is scent-free. I also think they’re worth more than just a glance given the price tag.
PROS: Opaque, true-to-tube color, wears 5 to 7 hours, lots of fun shades
NEUTRAL: 0.14 oz., scent-free
CONS: Mostly matte finishes, dry
MY REC: It’s important to note that while the texture itself seems a little dry, these lipsticks don’t suck the moisture out of your lips, but they definitely don’t impart any either. With an abundance of matte shades with drier finishes, these are not ideal for those with dry to ultra dry lips.
PROS: Creamy, opaque, moisturizing, wears 3 to 4 hours
NEUTRAL: Guava-scented
CONS: 0.06 oz., limited shade range
MY REC: My biggest issue with these is how little you get; they’re half the size of Korres’ Mango Butter Lipsticks and $4 more. The Guava lipsticks are more opaque and not as glossy in the finish, but they’re a little less moisturizing than the Mango Butters.
PROS: Creamy, moisturizing, semi-sheer, wears 3 to 4 hours
NEUTRAL: 0.12 oz., mango-scented
CONS: Name/numbering system doesn’t always match tube color, limited shade range
MY REC: I find these very moisturizing, and I love the glossiness of the finish, because it almost looks like you’re just wearing a gloss. If you have dry lips and haven’t tried these, you might want to give ‘em a shot.
MY REC: I’ve found these to be very creamy, and they’re often more on the opaque side of color. They impart some moisture but I wouldn’t consider it a moisturizing lipstick.
PROS: Moisturizing, glossy, semi-sheer, wears 3 to 4 hours
NEUTRAL: 0.12 oz., Berry-scented
CONS: Very limited shade range
MY REC: It’s very comfortable to wear and feels incredibly moisturizing–it’s just a shame that there are so few shades available.
The Lipstick Comparisons series is designed to provide a quick reference summary sheet for some of the many available lipstick formulas. It seems like most brands have at least a couple of formulas, if not half a dozen, and it can be difficult to find the formulas that will work best for your budget, coloring, style, or taste.
This is not necessarily a best of list, and it’s not exhaustive–it is based on actual lipsticks that I’ve tried; they are all, however, decent to excellent lipsticks. (And perhaps, some day, it will be an exhaustive list.) I have summarized my experience based on pros and cons, but also some “neutral” factors that may be pros or cons, depending on your preferences. I will update this series as I try new lipstick formulas.
Laura Mercier Sequin Eyeshadow ($22.00 for 0.09 oz.) are a shimmering, glittering formula of eyeshadow. It’s similar to Stila’s Jewel Palette, Urban Decay’s Stardusts, and Bobbi Brown’s Sparkle Eyeshadows. They all have this nearly creamy, slightly tacky, texture that’s chocked full of shimmer and glitter. It’s this new breed of glitter eyeshadow with a base that seems to hold the glittery bits together, so they don’t end up all over your face instead.
Laura Mercier’s Sequin Eyeshadows feel a little smoother, less glittery, but still incredibly shimmery. I found both shades I tried sheerer than Bobbi Brown’s (which are the most pigmented that I’ve tried), but infinitely more opaque than Urban Decay’s. Bobbi Brown’s are better bang-for-your-buck at $24/0.13 oz. but they’re both considerably more shadow than your average powder shade (I imagine this new glitter formula is heavier). However, neither of these shades are represented in Bobbi Brown’s line, so it’s more about what shade tickles your fancy.
Peacock is a darkened teal with a silver sheen and a gray base. It reminded me a bit of MAC’s Teal pigment, except more of a glittery finish than a frost.
Sterling is a silvery-white with a lilac sheen. Very icy and cool-toned–think MAC Vellum Eyeshadow. This one was sheerer than Peacock.
I was able wear these alone without any noticeable fallout throughout the day, but more importantly, they did not crease during the six hours I wore them. I do prefer them over a base, just because it feels so bizarre not to use one!
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!
Product: 27/30
Value: 8/10
Ease of Use: 4/5
Packaging: 4/5
RECOMMENDATION: The color range for the Sequin Eyeshadow line is still quite limited, with the brand seeming to release one or two shades with each seasonal collection.
