Musings of a Muse

The big question on everyone’s mind since I mentioned it would be is Laura Mercier’s Flawless Face Kit worth it?

Only Four Steps? Hmmm….will it work?

And the answer:

Yes.

Yes, Yes, Yes.

You need it.

Like yesterday.

You might know from reading my past posts I’m not too fond of Tinted Moisturizers. They don’t work for me. Although I don’t have a ton to cover I still have been having rather dull skin lately and my foundation is definately my bestest friend when it comes to freshening my skin up. Tinted Moisturizers fail to offer me the coverage I need to give my skin a boost of awake-ness and freshness. I’ve tried a few here and there and none of them do much aside from sink into my skin as any normal facial moisturizer would without offering the benefits of coverage. Granted, they are not supposed to cover EVERYTHING but I was hopeful they’d give my skin a healthy glow as my foundation does.

Laura Mercier obviously gets the award for doing Tinited Moisturizer right because turns out she has a brilliant formula that’s pigmented and moisturizing while offering light coverage which of course is especially nice in the humid and hot weather and of course SPF 20 to keep our skin healthy and happy while in the rays of the harmful sun. The coverage offered is sheer but it’s also pigmented enough to liven up dull skin and offer a nice canvas for makeup.

Now the Laura Mercier Fawless Face Kit is available via Sephora only and is $65 USD but you get quite a bit of bang for your buck as the kit includes a fair number of nice items.

I’ve done the math, I’ve broken it down, and I think $65 USD is a fair, decent, and nice amount for the kit.

The kit comes in two color selections which I think is a bit disappointing. I got the nude which is good for fair to light tones. The second option is sand which is good for light to medium tones. I imagine if I went to a counter they’d stick me with sand but I think it’s an unflattering selection for my skin tone so I went with nude.

Now the disappointment stems from the fact if your skin is a deeper shade than fair, light, or medium you’re out of luck. That stinks le sigh.

The kit includes

A nice size clear makeup bag (great for stashing this entire collection in when traveling)
1 oz Foundation Primer
1 oz Tinted Moisturizer
0.21 oz Undercover Pot Duo (concealer and setting powder)
Secret Camouflage Brush
Camouflage Powder Brush
Sponge
Powder Puff

As I said I did the math and here’s the break down:

Undercover Pot Duo $34 USD for 0.2 oz size

The size since the pot I got with the Flawless Face Kit appears quite large and full size but I’m unsure of the normal size. This could likely be the full size but I’m unsure. Regardless, the pot contains a healthy amount of both concealer and setting powder.

Tinted Moisturizer 1.5 oz $42

You get a 1 oz size with the kit so the regular size is not much bigger than what you get.

Foundation Primer 1.7 oz $30

This is considerably larger than the 1 oz included with the kit but still since this is so emollient a little goes a long way!

Both brushes are full size brushes and retail for $26 USD and $28 USD

Powder Puff $12 USD

Sponges are sold in four packs at Laura Mercier’s site so that’ll be $3 USD for one.

Grand total: $163 USD or as stated by Sephora $159 USD knock off a few dollars from the total for the oz sizes and it’s still a great deal!

The Laura Mercier Flawless Face Kit with all of the above included (not the same size listed) costs $65 USD.

Yup, it’s a steal.

Now the review…

I mentioned a little about the Tinted Moisturizer but I’ll go on to say that the formula is lightweight, offers good hydration and moisture without feeling greasy, and gives my face a very flawless, awake appearance.

Prior to using the Tinted Moisturizer you can prime your face using the foundation primer. I’ve used Laura Mercier’s Foundation Primer before after getting a sample with an order I placed. It’s not your typical primer as it’s not silicon based. It’s simply an extra layer of moisture that helps prep your face prior to foundation. If you’re familiar with Laura Geller Speckle the texture and formula of this primer is about the same. As far as making your foundation last longer I really have noticed much different but I do love this as prep before foundation because it makes blending so much easier.

Another first for me is the Laura Mercier Undercover Camouflage Pot. Like Bobbi Brown’s concealer palette this contains both a corrector and a concealer. Either blend the two to create a single flattering shade or brighten and correct with the lightest shade and layer the darker shade for total concealing coverage. This is moisturizing, creamy, pigmented, and wonderful for older eyes as it doesn’t settle into fine lines or crease. The setting powder, again like Bobbi Brown, sets the concealer without aging the eyes or settling into fine lines.

I don’t think I own a concealer brush and I’m quite smitten with the Secret Camouflage brush since it made applying the concealer easier and mess free. I normally don’t bother with brushes to apply concealer but this is a god sent for getting into the corner of my eye and under the lash line to cover every little nook and cranny. I seemed to successfully cover all my woes with very little tugging when I used this. I can see it becoming a holy grail item and I’ll be reaching for it daily.

The Camouflage Powder brush picks up just the right amount of powder to set the concealer. I like that it captures just a tiny bit of powder because I seriously can’t wear a ton of powder under my eyes. The days when I could conceal circles with powder are long gone and powder sinks into my fine lines aging me 10 years. This brush picks up a tiny bit and smooths it into place beautifully.

The sponge and puff are probably not something you’d totally benefit from. I prefer smoothing on foundation and TM with my fingers so the sponge is a waste for me however I did feel like the puff was quite posh. It’s a large puff with a nice loop hand on the back so you can press powder into the face with ease.

All in all I felt like the kit really did give me flawless face coverage. It’s perfect for Summer when you want to wear alot less makeup but it’s also great for those days you’re looking for minimal makeup, or you’re in a rush, or you’re just heading to the gym or store and don’t need a ton of coverage. I was very happy with the size of the products but in particular I was impressed that they included full size brushes.

The kit is well worth your money in my humblest and I’m sticking a Muse Approval on it for purchase since I was very happy to have shelled out $65 USD for it.

Below basically consists of me wearing the entire kit plus some blush and gloss. Yes, this would be the same photo from my recent Maquillage Neo Climax Neo Lip Review.

That’d be the Muse trying to kill two birds with one stone! I firgured I could get away with posting one FOTD for the gloss and use the same one for my Laura Mercier Flawless Face Kit Review! Hope you don’t mind too much!

Nice one Laura Mercier. The Muse Approves!

Own this kit?

Love it?

Love Laura Mercier makeup?

Tell the Muse!

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer Review

Bobbi Brown Moisturizing Cream Compact Foundation Review

Although it has it’s cult following Maquillage is not my favorite branch of Shiseido cosmetics. Maquillage has some seriously great releases just nothing that every caught my eye so much that I was panting after it!

However, after much debate I decided to indulge in a Shiseido Maquillage Neo Climax Lip after reading quite a few raves for this particular item.

Neo Climax Lip is a combination lipstick and gloss that comes in a rather slick push up style packaging. I love the packaging and the applicator. Twist and the applicator saturates with color, swipe across lips and done! The applicator is a smooth plastic head which I normally don’t fancy but in this case it works very well and fits comfortably to the contour of your lips while delivering color and gloss.

The formula is where the problems begin for me with this one. You may recall my review on L’Oreal Infalliable Lipgloss and one of my main rants with the product was the strange waxy feeling of the gloss Neo Climax Lip happens to sport a similar formula. Although I like both glosses it’s very difficult getting used to having a waxy film on your lips. In all fairness this particular formula allows the gloss to have super long lasting power however dealing with it all day is difficult. It just just feels like I have a mask around my lips which is rather weird.

Aside from my rant about the formula I have to say that the color I picked is so outstanding that I’ll definately be using this again even though the formula isn’t to my liking.

The color is a very light shimmering shade of peachy pink that matched so perfectly with my skin tone and just brightened up my entire face. It gave me both a look of health and innocence that was simply stunning or at least I thought so. I don’t have the number for this color at the moment but I’ll correct this post later today with the correct number. I believe it was PK 356 but don’t quote me on that.

I’ve been looking for a color like this my entire life it seems. It’s just a combination of peachy, pink, and sports that natural look to your lips.

I simply love it.

I was so deeply impressed with the color I’ve decided to Muse Approve Shiseido Maquillage Neo Climax Lip for purchase. I think I will be indulging in a few more colors and if they are anything like the one I tried I’m sure to be VERY pleased.

The Muse likes this one and is temporarily putting bad formulas aside and entertaining her joy for an amazing color!

Likey!

Craving more great gloss posts? Find ‘em below!

Jelly Pong Pong Lip Cushion

Tarte Double Dose Lipgloss Review

Aube Gloss Frutina Summer 2008 Review

MAC Dazzleglass Review

Dior Summer Collection 2008: Ultra Addict Gloss Reflect Review

Tried this?

Love it?

What are some of your favorite glosses that you love to hate?

Tell the Muse!

I dunno what Lip Wax is but I think I need it.

Giorgio Armani Beauty is releasing six shades of lip color entitled Lip Wax. The lip color is advertised as a “blush of color for the lips” which of course made me all hyper to get me some. Doesn’t that sound delightful?

From what I read it sounds intriguing. It’s a weightless formula for lips that has a satin finish and as you can see offers a seriously pigmented pout.

Each pot is $26 USD and can be purchased directly from www.giorgioarmanibeauty.com or visit your local Neiman’s, Nordies, or Bloomies to nab yourself some.

Colors available are:

Nude Beige
Antique Rose
Sienna
Raspberry
Cardinal Red
Deep Chianti

I have my eye on Sienna and Antique Rose. Maybe a review to follow soon!

Love these?

Want ‘em?

Tell the Muse!

It’s hard not to notice that the hottest Fall trend this season is the vampy black lipstick. It’s possibly the most difficult look to pull off in the Muse’s humblest opinion. Those lucky individuals that can work it are truly something to envy and those who can’t pull it off seek another alternative to this sexy look.

In comes Lancome with it’s new luxe lip set created by Aaron de Mey, Lancome’s new artistic director of makeup. This kit is $48 USD and contains Color Fever Gloss in Piha Black and Color Fever Lipstick in Piha Red.

The idea of mixing black and red may sound twisted but do take a look at the sexy lip look created using both:

Lips like this call for a really corny Vampire dance off!


Here’s the catch. Only 500 sets are available of this posh lip set! Eep! Time to rush to Bloomingdale’s 59th in November! Or call ahead to put your name on the list at (212) 705-2886.

I put my name on the list already! I know I can’t pull off the goth purples and blacks I see cropping up in different collections this season so I’m very tempted to try this out for myself. You have to admit that contrast of all that red topped by a tiny bit of black is super sexy! Color Fever Gloss is one of my favorite glosses from Lancome do to it’s innovative applicator. Lancome is one of the few companies that have adapted the popular Japanese heart shaped applicator to their glosses. This makes for ease of application in a major way. The applicator is large and saturates well with color, one swipe gets full glossy lips in seconds! Loves it! It’s been suggested that you can also use Piha Black on your lids as well as your lips which sounds like an interesting concept. Black definately doesn’t work on my lips but I’m hoping the red will mute that and make it as popping as the promo images however when all else fails maybe I can sport this on my lids for a glossy smoked out look!

Whether or not the Muse can work this remains to be seen but try I will! You’ll see a review sometime in November for the kit!

Want this?

Loving all the black that’s popping up for Fall?

What are some of your must have vampy glosses and lipsticks from this season’s collections?

Tell the Muse!

Lancome’s Mystery Game Collection Review

Lancome’s Fall Collection 2008 Featuring a Review of the coveted Elephant Bronzing Powder

Lancome’s Maquicomplet Complete Coverage Concealer Review

The Muse is still rounding up concealers for you! Here’s her latest review!

Concealing our lids is just as important as concealing under our eyes. That’s where Clarins Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base comes into play.

I normally use Benefit Lemon Aid for prepping my upper eye area. It’s my holy grain product, you’ll have to pry it from my cold dead hands one day. I love this stuff. However, I was recently intrigued by Clarins Instant Eye Perfect Base so I decided to cheat on good old Lemon Aid and give Clarins a shot!

Now there aren’t a ton of products on the market right now that are using for prepping above the eye so Benefit and Clarins are definately unique in that aspect but where as Benefit preps it doesn’t prime and Clarins happens to do both.

The instant light comes in a click style pen which as you know is my ideal applicator for concealers and foundations. You simply swipe this on your lid and pat into place and it preps your eye area giving you a fresh look. When I say preps I simply mean that it creates a flawless finish to the eye while allowing your lid to match up with your under eye. Example: You conceal your under eye area but your lid isn’t looking nearly as fresh looking and concealer is simply to heavy for the lid! Solution: Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base! Take your Instant Light, smooth on, and perfection! Smooth lid, refreshed, bright, awake, and ready for shadow.

Although this happens to be ideal for prepping the lid might I suggest the amazing benefits as a primer. I hate to say this but this stuff actually works better than Urban Decay Primer Potion at prepping, priming, and allowing your eye shadow to blend on smoothly and last all day! Don’t get me wrong UDPP allows my shadow to last all day too but I experienced last fall out when using Instant Touch and my shadow blended quite nicely and smoothly after use.

Now the formula is extremely creamy, very moisturizing and easy to blend but I was slightly disappointed in the color. Although I got the lightest and only shade available which is 00 I still felt like it was just a little too flesh colored for my liking. I prefer my concealers to have a whiter base as I feel it brightens my eye area better. However, even though the color was borderline peachy it blended seamlessly with my skin without any problems.

This one gets a coveted place in my daily use line up and I find I’ve reached for this everyday since getting my hands on it. I like this one and I’m going to approve it for purchase!

Visit Clarins site for further information on Clarins Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base.

Make Up For Ever Lift Concealer Review

L’Oreal Visible Lift Concealer Review

Patricia Wexler, M.D. Instant Airbrush Concealer Pen Review

Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Concealer Review

Physicians Formula Circle RX Concealer Review

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Review

Lancome Maquicomplet Coverage Concealer Review

Jelly Pong Pong Nicola Roberts Dainty Doll Concealer Review