Above: Steps to a flawless face, including Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation Primer, Tinted Moisturizer in Natural and Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide in Macadamia.
As the seasons change, so does my skin tone and, consequently, my foundation shade needs. In order to accommodate this transitional time, I have once again focused my attentions on the gorgeous Laura Mercier line. From the wealth of high-performance base products to the spectrum of shades in which they come, Laura Mercier enables the most flawless of faces!
Kindly scroll on for swatches of my favorite Laura Mercier concealer (the Secret Camouflage), swatches of ALL shades of the Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation and two bold Laura Mercier lip looks that resonate with the cooler months as well as the Bottom Line…
Above: Laura Mercier Makeup Artist Adam Mantell + Beauty Professor
My swatching session began with a wonderful meeting with Laura Mercier Makeup Artist Adam Mantell, who expertly guided me through some of the base options. First up was the Secret Camouflage (available at retailers including Lauramercier.com, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Sephora and Space.NK); I have used this incredible cover up since my early college years and, to date, haven’t found a concealer that covers an errant blemish better. With two shades (a cooler and warmer option) for customizable blending and an opaque, drier texture for immediate adhesion and coverage of the spot, this concealer cannot be beat. Secret Camouflage #3 (SC-03) is a spot on shade match for me and I have gone through nearly five compacts over the years. If you haven’t yet tried it, I highly recommend giving this formula a spin!
Above: Swatches of the first four shades of Secret Camouflage.
Shade Descriptions (per my experience):
SC-1: Very fair neutral beige for @N10-15 skin
SC-2: Very light neutral beige for N20 skin
SC-3: Light neutral beige for N23-25 skin
SC-4: Light-medium beige for N25-30 skin
SC-5: Medium beige for N30-35 skin
SC-6: Medium dark beige for N35-40 skin
SC-7: Dark beige for N40-45 skin
SC-8: Darkest beige for N45+ skin
Above: Swatches of the darker half of the Secret Camouflage shades.
Above: The copious amount of base products in the Laura Mercier line.
Onto the foundation! Now that my post-summer tan has all but faded, I have had to change shades to match my lighter complexion. Although I can wear the gorgeous gleaming Radiance Foundation Primer year round, I am now shade Natural (suitable for NC 23-25 skin), rather than Bisque (my summer shade) in the Tinted Moisturizer and Macadamia (suitable for NC 23-25 skin), rather than Dusk (my NC 30 summer shade) in the Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation.
The Tinted Moisturizer (all shades swatched HERE) is apropos for casual days when just a bit of coverage is desired but, as one who adores medium+ coverage, the Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation (available at retailers including Lauramercier.com, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Sephora) is my formula of choice on a regular basis. With an ultra-light texture and a demi-matte, invisible finish, this liquid foundation covers imperfections and lasts for hours. The fact that it comes in 24 shades of varying undertones guarantees that one is sure to find a befitting match!
I had the opportunity to swatch EVERY shade of the Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation in various lighting situations…kindly scroll on for shade desriptions and images…
Above: Ingredients for a flawless face.
Shade Descriptions (per my experience):
Shell: Ultra light beige for fair skin with rosy undertones (@N/NW 10)
Cream: Ultra light beige for alabaster skin with neutral undertones (@N/NC 10)
Vanille: Very light beige for fair skin with neutral undertones (@N/NC 15)
Ivory: Very light beige for fair skin with warm undertones (@NC 10-15)
Ecru: Light beige for light skin with rosy undertones (@NW 20)
Cashew: Light beige for light skin with yellow undertones (@NC 20-23)
Linen: Light beige for light skin with netural to rosy undertones (@N/NW 23)
Macadamia: Light beige for light-medium skin with yellow undertones (@NC 23-25)
Butterscotch: Medium beige for medium skin with very warm yellow undertones (@NC 27-30)
Buff: Light beige for light-medium skin with neutral to rosy undertones (@N/NW 25-27)
Dune: Medium beige for light-medium skin with neutral undertones (@N 27)
Honey: Light beige for light-medium skin with neutral to peachy undertones (@N 25)
Dusk: Medium beige for medium skin with neutral to warm undertones (@NC 27) **My summer match!
Golden: Light beige for light-medium skin with warm undertones (@NC 25)
Suntan: Medium beige for medium skin with warm, tan undertones (@NC 30)
Praline: Medium/medium-dark beige for medium skin with neutral undertones (@N 35-37)
Maple: Medium beige for medium-dark beige skin with neutral to warm undertones (@N/NC 30)
Chai: Medium-deep beige for medium-deep skin with warm undertones (@NC 35)
Nutmeg: Medium-deep beige for deep skin with neutral to rosy undertones (@N/NW 40-45)
Pecan: Medium-deep beige for deep skin with neutral to warm undertones (@N/NW 40-45)
Amber: Medium-dark beige for medium-dark skin with warm undertones (@NC 35-37)
Chestnut: Deep beige for rich ebony skin with cool, rosy undertones (@NW 50+)
Truffle: Deep beige for rich ebony skin with netural to warm undertones (@N/NC 50+)
Espresso: Deepest beige for rich ebony skin with neutral undertones (N 55+)
Above: Swatches of the first 8 shades (fair to light-medium) in direct sunlight.
Above: Swatches of the first 8 shades (fair to light-medium) in outdoor shade.
Above: Swatches of the next 8 shades (light-medium to medium-dark) in direct sunlight.
Above: Swatches of the next 8 shades (light-medium to medium-dark) in outdoor shade.
Above: Swatches of the next 8 shades (medium-dark to richest ebony) in direct sunlight.
Above: Swatches of the next 8 shades (medium-dark to richest ebony) in outdoor shade.
Above: Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Orchid and Creme Smooth Lipstick in Red Amour.
To further reflect the cooling trend outside, I decided to temporarily bypass my normal pinky-nudes in favor of bold purples and reds that capture the soon-to-be festive season perfectly. The Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Orchid (available at retailers including Lauramercier.com, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Space.NK) goes on like a semi-sheer, ultra-reflective stain and packs just enough pigment to totally transform the lips.
The Creme Smooth Lipstick in Red Amour (available at retailers including Lauramercier.com, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sephora and Space.NK) takes lips to the maximum, drenching them in velvety soft crimson for a classic take on the red lip.
Kindly scroll on for images of both of these stellar lip products (I am also wearing the Smooth Finish Flawless Finish Fluide in Macadamia!) in action…
Above: Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lipstick in Red Amour…the quintessential red.
Above: Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Orchid is a lovely hybrid of pink and purple, for a very wearable grape-tinged fuchsia.
Above: Swatches of Red Amour and Orchid in direct sunlight…such bright and vibrant colors!
Above: Bold lip color in varying textures = endless possibilities.
Above: Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Orchid, alone on the lips.
Above: Orchid in outdoor shade.
Above: Orchid in direct sunlight.
Above: Orchid with a flash.
Above: Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lipstick in Red Amour alone on the lips.
Above: Red Amour in mixed outdoor lighting.
Above: In direct sunlight.
Above: In direct sunlight.
Above: With a flash.
–Shop the Post–
Bottom Line: The classic nature of the Laura Mercier line guarantees easy to wear, timeless shades with a flawless finish. I hope you enjoyed this brand spotlight and welcome your questions and comments!
What are some of YOUR favorite Laura Mercier products?
Good things ahead…xx,
–The Beauty Professor
*Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Laura Mercier through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post focused on the Laura Mercier line, all opinions are my own.
looking for a good foundation and as usual, turned to your blog & swatches, which are SO helpful!!! I am usually just a shade darker than you, so you have made my life so easy 😉 That red lipstick – Wowza!! I was scrolling down and just stopped! Makes your eyes pop! thanks for the info, reviews and swatches – I rely on you for this stuff since I live out in the country. WHY I need $$$ make up out here is beyond me, but, hey, I'm 54, I can do what I want 😉
Comments (18)
Thank you sooo much for all the lovely swatches! Love the new lip products on you, it really glows and your eyes are stunning in the sunlight!
Hi Sharlynn!
My pleasure and thank YOU for the kind compliment!
xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor
I'm pretty sure I'd be between Shell and Creme! Those lippies are fabu!
Glad you've found your way to a match, Clever Girl! And yes, aren't the lippies so very pigmented? Love!
xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor
The link to the tinted moisturizer swatches goes to your initial review of this foundation? *confused*
I have swatches of all of the Tinted Moisturizers in that particular post, Shelly!
Hope that helps…xx,
–The Beauty Professor
Red amour is simply gorgeous on you! Those medium bright shades compliments your skin so well 🙂
Hi Marianne,
Thank you ever so much…I truly appreciate the supportive words!
xx,
–The Beauty Professor
I know you're a nude lip girl, but this red is amazing on you!! Your green eyes really pop. Lovely pictures, as always! xoxo
Too, too kind, Blondie…many thanks!! It is an adventurous color but I had fun wearing it!
xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor
Your swatches are always so the best, but just some feedback on the shades. I'm NC40-42 and Chai matches me really well.
Thanks for sharing, Cel!
xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor
Hi Rachel!! What shade do you suggest of "tinted moisturizer" for a skin NW20 MAC? I am from Brazil, and I can´t try the shades in a store… 🙁
I suggest the shade Nude!
Hope that helps…xx,
–The Beauty Professor
Gorgeous swatches as always, would you say Cream, Shell or Ivory is closest to Nars Siberia in all day wightless luminous foundation?
Thanks, Hildegerd!
I would say that Ivory is closest to NARS Siberia!
xx
-The Beauty Professor
This post was so gorgeous and helpful!! I found this blog post while online shopping and helped me out sooo much. Thanks a lot 🙂
looking for a good foundation and as usual, turned to your blog & swatches, which are SO helpful!!! I am usually just a shade darker than you, so you have made my life so easy 😉 That red lipstick – Wowza!! I was scrolling down and just stopped! Makes your eyes pop! thanks for the info, reviews and swatches – I rely on you for this stuff since I live out in the country. WHY I need $$$ make up out here is beyond me, but, hey, I'm 54, I can do what I want 😉