Laura Mercier Polished Collection: Eye Colour Duos in Golden Brown & Plum Spice
Laura Mercier Eye Colour Duos ($22.00 each, 0.09 oz. each) come in three different finishes: luster, matte, and sateen. From Laura Mercier’s Polished Collection, there are three new Colour Duos: Golden Brown (Luster), Cocoa Rose (Matte), and Plum Spice (Sateen). The new shades are–surprise, surprise–limited edition.
Golden Brown is a mix of a softened metallic gold and light bronze with copper-bronze sheen.
Plum Spice is a satiny smooth dirty peach and lightly shimmered dirty pinked plum.
Both duos had a very smooth, soft texture and the shadows swatched easily. Golden Brown had more color pigmentation and an even smoother feel than Plum Spice, which had more of a semi-sheer appearance and required some layering to get a higher intensity.
I think Laura Mercier fans will enjoy these limited edition shades, because both duos include colors that are easy to use, perfect for spring, and can be mixed with many products you may already own. If you’re more of a bright color eyeshadow kind of person, these probably weren’t designed with you in mind!
Everything I’ve tried from Laura Mercier has been all about creating soft, flattering looks with sheer or buildable color for everyday wear–these fit that philosophy to a T. I think this best describes the line (taken from the “about” section on her website): “She personally created the colors to satisfy the needs of her clients, based on a classic and always-current palette, rather than seasonal trends only.”
The duos actually contain a decent amount of product–it’s like you get enough to use in your lifetime, without having to invest a ton into it. By the ounce, Laura Mercier’s Eye Colour Duos are more affordable than MAC and just a little above Make Up For Ever eyeshadows. I’ve always liked her packaging–it’s kind of like a chocolate brown with bronzy shimmer/sparkles in the mix. Pretty, functional, and a little fun.
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!
Product: 28/30
Value: 9/10
Ease of Use: 4/5
Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you like soft, smooth color that applies evenly and without fallout, Laura Mercier is worth checking out!
Laura Mercier Naked Rose Lip Velvet ($22.00) is a brick-brown nude. Like Mocha Rouge, the color is difficult to describe, but it’s most certainly not what I’d think of when I read “Naked Rose.” (I would have expected a pink-y shade, maybe a beige-y pink!)
Lip Velvets are indeed long-wearing liquid lipsticks. They apply with a doe-foot wand applicator and go on extremely pigmented from the get-go. They are, however, more matte in finish (I’d consider it semi-matte, personally), so they do tend to feel dry on lips. What’s unique about the formula is that even though it feels dry, it’s not actually drying. The product just hugs and clings to lips, but it doesn’t actually dry them out as some matte products do.
As I mentioned in my review of Mocha Rouge, I don’t think the formula is that comparable to Chanel’s Rouge Allure Laques. Chanel is more moisturizing, don’t cling as much, and have a very glossy finish. The shade range is also completely different, so you can’t just pick one over the other so easily!
Again, I’d really love to see Laura Mercier expand the range to include more versatile and wearable shades in 2010.
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!
Product: 28/30
Value: 9/10
Ease of Use: 4/5
Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you’re looking for a work-safe, long-wearing lip color, check out Laura Mercier’s Lip Velvets.
The Scarlet Season: Laura Mercier Cherrywood Lipstick
Laura Mercier Cherrywood Lip Color ($22.00) is an almost neutral cherry red — it’s surprisingly muted for cherry, but with a name like “Cherrywood,” it’s the color I’d expect. It’s a downplayed cherry red with a touch of brick. I want to say it’s neutral, because in some lighting, it seems blue-based, but in other lighting, it seems orange-based. That’s kind of how I determine it must be more neutral than anything else!
It’s a creamy lipstick that goes on easily and looks a satin or semi-matte finish. It’s fairly moisturizing for such a matte formula, and the lipstick doesn’t feather or bleed on me. I gt about five or six hours of wear with this particular formula as well–always a plus!
What about you? Would you wear this red?
The Scarlet Season is a series of posts showcasing and featuring my favorite shades of red lips–from glosses to lipsticks that runs through December 2009. You can sure expect to see a lot of red this holiday season!
Laura Mercier Mocha Rouge Lip Velvet ($22.00) is a brightened up adobe brown–there may be a little redness to it, but not too much warmth–it’s not the easiest color to describe. It’s very neutral, despite its richness in pigmentation.
Lip Velvets are long-wearing liquid lipsticks. If you’ve been around the beauty-sphere for a bit, MAC’s Lac Lusters, which have been long discontinued. I know some of you are wondering how it compares to my beloved Chanel Rouge Allure Laques, and I don’t think they’re the same product. Oh, they’re most certainly similar–but they have different qualities that may appeal to you.
Lip Velvet is lightly creamy, very smooth, and intensely pigmented. It comes with a doe-foot wand applicator that’s fairly easy to use, but with the color richness, it’s best to apply with a mirror. The formula is also much more matte (I’d call it semi-matte, though) with some of the dryness associated with mattes. The product feels fairly dry on the lips, but it’s not actually drying. It’s not particularly hydrating, but it seems to retain whatever moisture you already had in your lips before applying it–making it no better or worse.
The color hugs and clings to lips and gives me around six hours of wear, plus a residual stain that lingers thereafter. This really is a long-wearing product that doesn’t dry your lips out (but just be prepared for it to feel a little… well, matte and dry!), which is a huge plus and often a failing of long-wear products. It goes on opaque in just one swipe, so you don’t need much product at all to get full-coverage color. The finish isn’t quite matte, as it does have a slightly glossy sheen, but it’s mostly matte.
Chanel Rouge Allure Laquesare more moisturizing and not quite as thick, plus they’re very much glossy. There’s no “matte” in Rouge Allure Laque; it’s shimmery, glossy color. I think just the difference in finish really makes them two different products, or at the very least, products to consider together rather than trying to pick one over the other.
Lip Velvet’s do beat Chanel on wearing time, though – they certainly last longer, and even the lighter shades tend to persist for hours. I hope Laura Mercier will add some more shades that *pop* during 2010–the existing shade range is a bit everyday, neutral, and work-safe. (Not bad things, but I’d love to see more variation!)
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!
Product: 28/30
Value: 9/10
Ease of Use: 4/5
Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: For long-wearing lip color that doesn’t dry out lips but lasts for hours, Laura Mercier’s Lip Velvets are a good place to start.
Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour Palette ($48.00, value of $108.00)
A first for the brand, Laura Mercier launches five perfectly paired baked eye colours in one convenient palette. Contour and define eyes with the mini double ended brush for on-the-go glamour. Create endless looks by using it wet or dry.
Included Shades: Champagne, Sepia, Mink, Malt and Sterling
Included Brushes: Crème Eye Detail Brush and Eye Colour Brush
Laura Mercier Petite Eye Palette ($28.00)
Perfect for every gal on every gift giving list, these pocket-size portable compacts contain four of the most flattering shades in warm and cool tones. Wear two for day or all four for sexy smoky evening eyes. This palette is the ultimate stocking stuffer or jet-setting sidekick.
Laura Mercier Mini Lip Glacé Set ($48.00, value of $55.00)
Never be caught with less-than-perfect lips this holiday season. Protect them with five perfectly portable Lip Glacés, each infused with Laura’s Lip Complex to help keep lips shiny and healthy. Layer with a favorite Lip Colour or wear solo for a translucent tint.
Included Shades: Pink Diamond, Babydoll, Violet, Ambre Rose and Bellini
Laura Mercier Colour Wardrobe ($100.00, value of $235.00)
Laura’s new Colour Wardrobe is the perfect accessory this holiday season. The two-tiered compact holds multiple Eye, Cheek and Lip Colours along with two finishing Lip Glazes and expert tools that will have you looking flawless in a flash.
Laura Mercier Deluxe Mini Brush Set ($85.00, value of $274.00)
The ultimate array in professional tools has arrived this holiday season! Laura’s expert brushes for eyes, cheeks, lips and brows are in space-saving sizes so you can travel light but always look your best. Each double-ended brush fits neatly in a chic zipper case that rivals even your favorite clutch!
Laura Mercier Touch-up Brush Set ($45.00, value of $129.00)
No need to redo when you can retouch! Laura’s travel-friendly tools make it easy to perfect your look from power shopping to happy hour. The sleek holiday case accommodates four mini brushes and a pocket-sized mirror.
Included Brushes: Cheek Colour Brush, All Over Eye Colour Brush, Eye Crease Brush, Flat Eye Liner Brush
Laura Mercier Soufflé Sampler ($50.00)
Always a favorite of Laura’s, ultra-rich whipped Soufflé Body Crèmes are scented with blends of the finest gourmande notes, including Almond Coconut Milk, Crème Brûleé and Crème de Pistache. The active ingredients in the silky smooth formula instantly nourish the skin and enrich it with much deserved vitamins and protein derivatives, while shea butter and macadamia nut oil provide conditioning benefits. The sampler set of four ounce plastic jars is just perfect for travel.
Laura Mercier Candles – Almond Coconut, Crème Brûleé and Warm Roasted Chestnuts ($48.00)
Let the heavenly aroma of Laura Mercier candles drift through any space to create a warm, welcoming ambiance. Treat your senses to and share it with the people you love this season. Each candle is ozone friendly and has a 100% cotton wick for a clean, even burn.
Laura Mercier Foiled Eye Colour ($22.00)
Celebrate the holidays with glam limited edition shades of gold and silver for a night out on the town.
VIP Gold
VIP Silver
Laura Mercier Lip Glace ($22.00)
Dress lips in the perfect shade of pink this holiday season with the limited edition After Hours Lip Glace with a hint of sparkle.
After Hours
Availability: October 2009 at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora and www.lauramercier.com.
