Hey Guys!
I always like to keep you updated with foundations I have been trying and loving. I have been using Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation on-and-off for about a year now, but only recently have been using it on a daily basis. In the morning, I actually have been reaching for Laura Mercier over my Make Up For Ever HD. Shocking, I know. As soon as I realized that this was becoming a pattern, I knew I had to share one of my new favourite primer+foundation combos. I always use different brand primers with different brand foundations, but in all honesty, I love Laura Mercier Radiance Primer the best with Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation. This is also true with my trusty Make Up For Ever HD. I love Make Up For Ever Primer with their HD foundation, but typically don't like that primer with my beloved NARS Sheer Glow or even Laura Mercier Silk Creme. In my experience, I find using a corresponding primer and foundation of the same brand yields better results as typically they are formulated to work in conjunction with one another. During this post I will be reviewing two separate products, both by Laura Mercier: Radiance Foundation Primer, and Silk Creme Foundation.
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in "Radiance"
"Laura Mercier, the pioneer of Foundation Primer, introduces a breakthrough radiant formula to the collection. Foundation Primer Radiance not only provides a smooth silky surface for makeup application, but also it adds a sheer, healthy glow to the skin."
Directions: Smooth on Foundation Primer - Radiance by gently massaging over skin's surface. Can be applied over moisturizer or onto clean skin before Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Foundation or Concealer.
Ingredients: Water, Hydrogenated Didecene, Glycerin, Pvp, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Mica (CI 77019), Cetyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Propylene Glycol Isostearate, Glyceryl Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Boron Nitride, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleth-25, Ceteth-25, Tocopherol Acetate, Polysorbate 60, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Triethanolamine, Tropolone, Butylene Glycol, Plankton Extract. May Contain (+/-): Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxide).
Retail: $30 1.7 fl. oz./50 ml www.sephora.com
Review: If you were reading my last post on my "Current Favourite Makeup Routine" you would have noticed I was using Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance paired with MAC Pro Longwear Foundation. I ran out of my MAC foundation so I ended up switching over to my Laura Mercier Silk Creme, once again, and have been loving the results. The MAC Pro Longwear was a bit harder to work with because the consistency was so thick, I had to spray my foundation brush with Fix+ just to sheer it out so it could be buffed into my skin easier. In the end, I get a similar finish/wear time as I find both foundations are long wearing, except I don't have to work as hard with Laura Mercier Silk Creme as it is naturally forgiving on its own. I also find Laura Mercier Silk Creme to look more natural on my skin, almost undetectable. I don't believe this primer really prolongs the wear of the foundation, as I find the foundation wears well on its own. I have yet to use this primer with other foundations, but I will update you later if it helps other foundations stay in place longer. The primer adds radiance, like the name suggests, giving the skin a beautiful, lit from within glow. For those with fair skin, you may find this product to be too tinted as it is not clear in colour. For days when I'm having a "good skin day", I can wear this primer on its own and it gives a natural glow, evening out my skin tone ever so slightly at the same time. The first time I tried this primer was actually in a deluxe sample which I received by placing an order on sephora.com. I loved the sample so much that I placed an order for a full-size tube before I was even finished with the deluxe sample. I definitely recommend this primer if you have dry/normal skin, love having a dewy complexion, and if you already love the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation.
Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation
"The ultimate in flawless natural coverage. Silk Creme Foundation is a beautiful, light-diffusing formula offering advanced light-reflection properties which cause fine lines and wrinkles to optically vanish. Laura created an innovative foundation that delivers flawless, buildable coverage in a long wearing rich hydrating base."
"This long-wearing foundation evens out skintone as it increases skin luminosity and clarity for a radiant glow. The rich, creamy texture glides over the skin effortlessly for perfect application and blend ability. Perfect for rosacea and hard to cover pigmentation. Ideal for all skin types, an oil-free" - Sephora.com
Directions: Apply a small amount with a sponge. Blend gently into skin for a luminous flawless finish.
Review: I typically prefer liquid foundations over cremes. In general, creme foundations don't blend in as well to my skin, staying on top and moving around, settling in fines lines and transferring to anything my skin touches, even with use of a setting powder. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation is an exception. The formula blends in seamlessly, imparting a natural, luminescent finish that is long lasting, yet moisturizing to the skin. If you have ever tried MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation, the texture and consistency is extremely similar. The finish of both foundations are also very similar, but the difference I find between the two foundations is the wear time. MAC Studio Sculpt tends to slip around on my skin and by the end of a work day, it looks a mess. MAC Studio Sculpt is probably where I started to dislike creme formula foundations. On the other hand, Laura Mercier Silk Creme stays in place and looks pretty much exactly the same at the end of a full days work as it did when I first applied it in the morning. When using Silk Creme in conjunction with the Foundation Primer in Radiance, there is no budging of my foundation at all. I am absolutely loving the combination of both the Laura Mercier Primer and Foundation. My skin looks natural, flawless, and radiant. My ideal skin!
Yes, I absolutely love this foundation. However, there are a few things I dislike about Laura Mercier Silk Creme. First and foremost, I dislike the shade selection. There are 8 (?) shades available and I have tried 3 (Medium Ivory, Bamboo Beige, Cashew Beige) and none seem to be the perfect shade. Bamboo Beige is probably my closest match and works well with my NC30 colouring. You may be wondering, "Why did you end up getting a tube of Medium Ivory if Bamboo Beige is your best match?" I have a tube of Medium Ivory because my friend gave it to me after she suffered breakouts from the formula. I, on the other hand, have never had a problem with breakouts from this foundation. Another downfall is that unless your skintone falls between the light to medium spectrum, you will not be able to find a colour suitable to tan to dark skin tones. This actually presents a probably for me in the summer when a few weeks I am extremely tan. A quick fix to this problem is to set the foundation with a darker powder. I find the shade selection to be too pink/neutral for my liking and I would like a shade with a little more of a yellow undertone, but I typically fix this the same way, a yellow toned setting powder.
The directions recommend using this with a sponge. I own a Beauty Blender and I have been dying to try it out with the Silk Creme foundation as I have only used my go-to flat top kabuki brush to apply this thus far. I will update you guys later if you are interested in how I like using the Beauty Blender with this particular foundation.
I would recommend this foundation to those with dry/normal skin type as I could see this foundation being an issue with oily skin types as it is very luminous and dewy upon application. I have dry/normal skin and I think setting this foundation with a powder is essential. I can't imagine how those with oily skin would fair as this is bordering too dewy at times. I like using my CARGO Blu_Ray Pressed Powder in a mix of #20/#30 to get my perfect colouring.
I love the versatility of this foundation due to its buildability. You can sheer this foundation out with a moisturizer/wet sponge, apply it with a foundation brush (I like to use a flat top kabuki), or even use your fingers. For me, it is impossible for this foundation to look cakey. My skin looks flawless yet natural all at the same time. Some of my freckles still peek through, but blemishes and uneven skintone are completely covered. The foundation does not oxidize on me and a little bit goes a long way. You may think $42 is a lot of money, but trust me, a tube of this will last you longer than most liquid foundations as you only need a dab.
Here are some pictures of me wearing Laura Mercier Silk Cream Foundation + Radiance Primer:
FACE:
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer
Laura Mercier Radiance Primer
Laura Mercier Silk Cream Foundation "Medium Ivory"
MAC Studio Finish Concealer NW25
CARGO Blu_Ray Pressed Powder #20 + #30 (pressed lightly into skin)
Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess
MAC Margin Blush
MAC Whisper of Gilt Extra Dimension Skinfinish
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
BROWS:
Make Up For Ever Waterproof Brow Corrector #3
EYES:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
MAC Painterly p/p
Motives by Scott Barnes Ivory e/s
MAC Soft Brown e/s
MAC Cork e/s
MAC Brun e/s
Urban Decay 24/6 Eye Pencil in Perversion
MAC Carbon e/s
Dior Show Maximizer
Cover Girl Lash Perfection Mascara
LIPS:
MAC High Tea/Creme D'Nude/Peachstock l/s
MAC Wildly Lush l/g
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| Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in "Cashew Beige" |
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| Laura Mercier Silk Cream Foundation in "Medium Ivory" |
What is your current favourite foundation/primer?
