Beauty ponders

The packaging is drop-dead-gorgeous and so it should be for its price (between 60-70euros, so try to catch it in discount when it's 30% off or so). The gold cap, the gold pump, the beautifull letters, the milk glass bottle - it's a picture perfect don't you think? The pump works easy in dispensing and you can also take it off to get the rest of the product out of it when it's getting empty. The bottle contains 30ml of product.

Initially I bought colour 3 natural beige (left) in the summer, but in the winter I need colour 2 flesh beige (right). Colour 2 is a very neutral colour that will suit most fair skin tones, I mostly have a hard time finding a colour that suits me and this does it perfectly! Colour 1 is called ultra fair and has a very pink undertone to it. There are a total of 8 shades available. As you can see it's well pigmented and provides a decent coverage in the swatches. It looks very liquid and creamy, but after blending it in, it leaves a more powdery finish. It also has a flowery scent to it, it's very light and doesn't disturb me but gives a nice touch to the luxurious feeling...

I have a hard time finding a foundation that suits me... I've already tried several but there always seems to be something wrong. For reference, I have dry and sensitive skin. My problem with most foundations is that when applied they look gorgeous but after an hour or so, they get all cakey/powdery on me, horrible... And when I'm lucky enough to ran into one that doesn't have this effect, I get spots from using it. Don't you just hate that?

Then I read about Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer, having great coverage for a moisturizer. Surely this would be great for my dry skin. Nothing to lose so I went and got it...

The color range isn't great, 7 shades available and most of them are very dark. Picture from karlasugar.net, great site for swatches.

The product promises:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is a sheer, lightweight moisturizer with SPF 20 & a hint of color that can be used in place of foundation for a natural appearance while adding a healthy glow to your complexion. Moisturizing formula hydrates skin, softening & easing fine, dry lines. Leaves a natural, dewy finish. Features an antioxidant vitamin complex that acts as a free radical scavenger to protect the skin from even the most aggressive effects of the environment. Extremely long-wearing, stays colour true & wears evenly. Add SPF and sheer finish to the skin by mixing 50% Tinted Moisturizer into your Foundation (1.5 fl. oz./40ml)

The product comes in a tube, love this, is simple and yet sophisticated like all Laura Merciers products. Getting product out of it is an easy job but don't squeeze too hard or you'll end up with too much of it. The scent is ok, not too artificial but I can't recognize anything in it.

Product itself is very runny (what did you expect otherwise) and applies easily. You can use a brush or your fingers, it's all the same. Just make sure you blend enough or you'll see the streaks of your fingers/brush.

The product leaves a dewy glowing finish which I'm very fond of. The coverage is good, it covers my minor flaws and a bit of redness as well... It can be compared to a light-medium foundation coverage which is a big plus for me. It doesn't cover freckles (pic underneath). Add some concealer on certain spots for a more evened out tone.

In the morning I use my regular moisturizer, once that has sunk in I apply Laura Merciers just as I would apply foundation. This product is perfect for me: the color suits me, it covers the things I want it to cover, it doens't get cakey on me, it has an SPF of 20 and best of all I don't break out from it... I've been using it for a couple of months now and this is my HG product for summer... I give it a 5 star recommendation!

Price range is around 40$, available in several stores but you can also purchase it online. There's also an oil-free version available if you have combination-oily skin.