Makeup: Laura Mercier Flawless Fuide foundation in “linen” and Orchid lip glace c/o, Caviar eye sticks in Khaki + Tuxedo
I’m working on several DIYs to get holiday-ready (sequin clutch, full skirts, and tie-neck bows) and hope to finish the tutorials soon! This upcoming Thanksgiving weekend should be the perfect time for at-home projects before a month filled with festivities. For today I have a holiday makeup post using a few favorite products from Laura Mercier. I’m a big fan of quick and easy makeup – I’ve raved about her foolproof caviar eye sticks which work as an eyeliner + shadow in one, and also own her tinted moisturizer (I took “bisque,” for reference) thanks to several of your recommendations. In this post I’ve used LM’s new Flawless Fluide foundation, which has a little more coverage than the tinted moisturizer and a velvety finish. After smooth skin and creamy eyeliner, the only accessory really necessary is a festive lip! Here’s the same face with a different lip color to complement another ensemble:
Laura Mercier “Red Amour” lip, pearl jam necklace c/o Accessory Concierge
I’m a powder foundation girl most of the year, but have found that liquid works better on winter days when my skin gets really dry. LM has a liquid foundation primer which I’ve heard great reviews about. Due to my sensitive skin, I decided to stick with my usual regimen of Eucerin daily moisturizer on my face and Aquaphor healing ointment for lips. I let both “set” while doing my hair, and then applied a coat of the flawless fluide foundation with my fingertips.
Vintage mirrored vanity tray – similar here or here
I was told by a makeup artist that the foundation starts out thinner, and the more you shake the bottle, the more it thickens up and adds to the coverage. I absolutely love the finish (not cakey or shiny at all) on this foundation and how lightweight it feels. It’s supposed to stay put for up to 12 hours and be sweat and humidity-proof, which I appreciate although can’t speak to yet since it’s winter. My one gripe is with the packaging and tube opening, which can get messy after all the shaking. I combed through reviews online and found some helpful shopper tips that worked – 1) don’t store the foundation with the cap facing down, and 2) shake after you remove the lid, with a clean finger covering the tube opening.
As you can see above, one of my main trouble spots is discoloration on the chin. A layer of this foundation was enough to even out the area and conceal the dark spots. You can add concealer at this point if needed – I did not in this post in order to show the foundation coverage by itself.
For the eyes, I’m still obsessed with these caviar eye sticks and have grown my collection slowly over the year. To apply, draw a smooth line on your eyelids. I used a learned tip to draw with your eyes open (good for those with hooded eyes like myself) so you can see where the shadow will be visible when your eyes are open and it doesn’t get covered-up in the folds. You can leave it as-is after drawing on for more saturated color, or blend immediately with your fingertips for a smoky look. If blending, do so quickly as the color will “set” within a minute or two and won’t budge for the rest of the day.
Left: Khaki as shadow with Tuxedo as liner vs right: Khaki alone, 2 layers blended
The most versatile color in my opinion is still “Khaki,” which is a taupe color if applied thinly and can build up to be pretty dark and dramatic. I use this often either alone, or as a base eyeshadow to layer other colors on top. I also have “Tuxedo,” which I substitute in lieu of liquid eyeliner when in a time crunch. It’s creamy and more smoldery as a liner versus liquid which is very clean. At this point you can finish your brows if needed (mine are a bit unruly and spotty these days so I used a MUFE brow pencil) and add mascara (used Benefit “they’re real”), bronzer or blush if so desired.
For lipcolor – I tested quite a few shades asking for colors that’d make a smile look whiter. Apparently the key is colors with blue undertones, like deep reds or berries, which counteracts with yellow in tooth enamel. I usually fear shades on the purple-y end of the spectrum, but loved this “Orchid” gloss and the teeth-brightening effect.
I’ve been motivated to experiment more with lip color in general since it can change up the look even with other elements remaining the same. This was my favorite deep red out of the ones I tried – “Red Amour” in a very creamy, non-drying formula that lasted a decent amount of time.
Thank you to Laura Mercier for sponsoring this post! Please share any of your favorite foundations for dry skin or long-lasting lip colors for the holiday season :
)
Loving your style and cute makeover..Looking lovely!!The sequin dress is so classy and beautiful:)
-Merrie K.
PetiteCareerGirl.com
Don't be so mean. Jean does have flaws, we all do, and most make up tutorials they just pretend rather than showing their real face. She's cute either way.
Love your styles..How tall are you? I am 5 ft and 95lbs and I wonder if I am way shorter than you. Before I order would like to figure out if the clothes will look good.
t
It's a vintage tray I got from an antiques fair, but this one is similar! http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/taymor-antique-rose-resin-mirror-vanity-tray/3259355?Keyword=vanity+tray
Aw thank you! I didn't really do much…it's just tucked in here. You can see in my most recent post how it looks completely untucked. Please note the length is a cropped style, so it's shorter than most sweaters.
Hi Justine! Thank you! I still use this process: https://www.extrapetite.com/2011/03/current-hair-curling-routine-easy-loose.html however one difference is I no longer use the clip on my curling iron. I just keep the clip closed and curl all of my hair on the exterior of the curler barrel, to avoid any crimping marks!
Hello – I apply foundation on my entire face, but on occasion I do dot it on as a spot concealer. If you have naturally great skin I would agree all-over application is definitely not necessary! I would use a formula designed to be a concealer, though, for better coverage. For a spot concealer, LM has "secret camoflauge" which is popular, and I also like MAC select cover-up which is a liquid formula.
Great tutorials, and I'm absolutely loving that sequin dress…stunning!
xoxo,
Andrea
http://www.andreaeveryday.com
I love the sweater look on you! So cute and yet so elegant and chic like you yourself 🙂 I especially like how you're wearing the white sweater. May I ask you what did you do to the sweater to make it like this?
I love the last look and the first beauty look! They're all so great. The last look reminds me of the icnoic miu miu flare dress! Thanks for sharing. x
Cynthia
http://www.pinchofchic.com
Love the vanit's tray, just what I ve been looking for! Mind sharing where you got it from? Thank you!
The looks look lovely, especially the sequin dress one! Even without foundation, your skin look excellent 🙂
http://www.stylefile.in
Great tutorial! I really like how the foundation works–I feel like everything I've ever tried leaves spots shining through. The eyestick is really neat too–I'll have to try! I love how you can blend or just leave as a nice thick line.
Style by Joules
Thanks for sharing Jean! Your skin looks flawless!
http://www.racheldinh,com
Beautiful make up, thank you for the tips!
The outfits are gorgeous too!
Wimbledon Upholstery cleaners
Gorgeous outfits, the make up look so elegant and chic.
xo,Diana
http://www.TheNeonFactor.com
1.4 for this – also have the 1.8 as well and it is indeed awesome!
f1.4 or f1.8? I've got the f1.8 and love it.
Love the taupe color eyeshadow, the smokey effect which can be created with this shade is really beautiful and sexy! Gorgeous lip colors too and great to know that similar shades can achieve a teeth whitening effect! Thanks for the recommendations.
Prudence
http://www.prudencepetitestyle.wordpress.com
Can you do a hair tutorial? I love how you have such effortless waves!
I think it might be sold out, Jean. I haven't seen it on the web site recently. It came with cocoa, amethyst, rose gold, and moonlight. I use the cocoa and amethyst as liners. All the colors are so pretty.
Hi Jean! Do you apply the foundation to your entire face or just a few areas? I personally don't like a layer of foundation on my entire face and was hoping what you've shown works as a spot concealer. Thanks!
Hi there – I feel you on winter and skin issues. I hope you like Eucerin…they have tons of choices but I prefer their "daily protection" best which is less thick and sticky. Been using it for probably a decade thanks to my derma!
Hi there – I think you can do either but I personally prefer just one pop of a bright color : ) For that outfit I'd wear gold pumps with bare legs, or basic black pumps with black tights if it's freezing out. Or you can go with a neutral clutch and let color shine through colorful heels.
Hi Olivia! It's OPI "Manicurist of Seville" : )
Thank you for the tip, Julia! Hats off to you for applying foundation while commuting…I'm always in a frantic rush each morning, but haven't quite mastered that one yet!
I love both as well! The sharpener on MUFE is a nice touch, but I love LM's colors. Thank you for the tip on stila. I have their lip stain and will have to check out stay all day.
Hi Eve – it's the one Alaina posted (thanks Alaina!) but an older version. We've been meaning to replace them but I'm a little attached for sentimental reasons lol. They're decent chairs and the changeable slipcovers are even better.
Thank you! I didn't realize Sephora had a 4pc – will have to check it out. I just saw the 6 pc gift set and grabbed it for one of my friends for Christmas : )
It looks like an Ikea bar stool: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S29874591/
I love Laura Mercier and recently bought her foundation primer in radiance. Works well on its own or under tinted moisturizer. For dark spots I recommend brightening cream or products with retinol, the only proven treatment to undo previous skin damage while preventing further wrinkles and sunspots 🙂
Xo
Joyce
A doc's guide to health and beauty!
http://Www.teawithmd.com
I think Jean's home gets a lot of natural light filtered through sheer curtains or something–I actually really like it!
You have such nice, glowy natural skin! I need to check out Eucerin what with this winter wreaking havoc on my poor face. That red lipstick really pulls your 2nd outfit together; reds usually lean either too blue, pink, or orange on me so the fact that Red Amour is described as a neutral seems really promising!
Thanks for the festive-look ideas.
I can smell how pathetic you're. Sour grapes!
Jean, I have a similar summer sleeveless dress from Ann Taylor. I also have the same exact AT sweater. Just curious what footwear (color, etc) did you pair with this outfit? I love the dynasty red KS clutch! It really pops! That's why I'm curious what you did with the shoes? Pop or no pop? (referring to your outfit above: ANN TAYLOR SWEATER,MODCLOTH SKIRT)
I love the color of that caviar eyeliner!
COOCOO FOR COCO
It's a Canon 6D with a 50 mm lens.
Thank you for sharing!! (Btw, think some of the recent photos have contrast or exposure too high and it's making an unnatural glow in the background.)
Love that you're bold enough to show your natural flaw filled face!
love this post!
This is beautiful!
Of all the colors in the picture, I love the one on your nails the most <3. What brand and color is that?
I love your make up. Especially the red lipstick.
http://www.eyelikefashion.com
I also recommend Clinique's Even Better Makeup SPF 15 as a good liquid foundation for winter if you have problem with dry skins. In fact, I use that all year long since the smooth liquid texture makes it extremely easy to apply with just fingers and it is a great sunscreen substitute in summer. Sometimes I have to do makeup while commuting to work… and this Even Better foundation has never failed on me!
Julia || Closet de Jules
Recent Post: J.Crew Winter Peacoat Review
Love the finish of this foundation, looks very natural on you!
xx
Yvonne
http://tellmeyblog.com
I also love the MUFE aqua shadow sticks along with the LM ones. For lasting smudge proof lip color, try Stila stay all day in Patina or Aria!
I love your posts, but I have to ask a question unrelated to fashion – where did you get your barstools?? Those are almost exactly what my friend has been looking for for her home for the past year!
I love the LM caviar sticks, too. I bought the 4-piece set on Sephora last month and use them almost every day. The red lip color is very pretty and goes so well with the taupe shadow.
Beautiful make up and outfit! Which camera do you use to shoot these photos?