Laura Mercier does not need an introduction when it comes to makeup and makeup products, the brand has been loved and trusted for decades. I have three products from the brand which have been on rotation since last few weeks and glad to share with you – Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Lip Parfait Creamy Colour Balm, and Extra Lash Sculpting Mascara.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is a multi-tasking product which is lightweight, an essential for everyday use and for a no-makeup look. It has a sheer hint of color and the finish is natural dewy, no doubt why it is an award winner. The moisturizing formula provides a beautiful glow to the skin and is perfect for all skin types, it does not emphasize any dry areas or make my oily areas oilier. Skin looks like skin but a beautiful radiant version of it, more even toned. It can replace foundation if you are looking for a very lightweight sheer hint of color.
The tinted moisturizer stays on well for over 8 hours. The main ingredient for hydration – ‘Sodium hyaluronate hydrates and softens fine lines, dry lines. Broad Spectrum SPF 20 UVB/UVA sunscreen plus a power-blend of antioxidant vitamins C and E help protect skin from the damaging effects of the environment.’ I have shade medium and works well for me. It applies well with fingers, sponge, and even with a makeup brush. Definitely a keeper!
Laura Mercier Lip Parfait Creamy Colour Balm is a 3-in-1 lip color which provides medium to full coverage, balm level comfort, and high shine lip gloss finish. The formula is very smooth and creamy, comfortable to wear, glides on beautifully, keep the lips moisturized plus with color and shine. The lips look and feel supple and natural. The staying power is nice too. I have swatched shade Amaretto Swirl which is a Pink Beige and suitable to most of the skin tones, it is a beautiful nude shade on my lips.
Laura Mercier Extra Lash Sculpting Mascara – is a nice mascara, but I do feel it clumps after few hours of application. It gives a nice volume to the lashes. I do like the comb applicator which has a large, firm brush that coats the lashes well with just one swipe. I have this mascara in shade black.
Laura Mercier products are available at Sephora, Sephora Canada, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
*Press samplesOne of the best things of trying new products and writing about them is that as time passes, you naturally start looking at products with few of your top expectations from that product based on its category like face, lips, eyes. For me, base makeup is the most important step, similar to my other love of life, painting, where I have to create the perfect base on the canvas in order for the other products to sit and mix in well for the whole painting to look good and for that creation to stay longer. Similarly, for the makeup, the foundation is an important part of any makeup user as it can either make your day or break it. A foundation that looks cakey, emphasize your concerns on the face, not suitable to your needs of the finished look, does not feel comfortable – no one will like it. I have been using the Nars Sheer Glow Foundation for the last few days.
My expectation in regards to the finish of the foundation is always radiant and dewy, so from the name of the foundation – the word ‘glow’ did caught my eye the first. I was curious to try and see how the longevity, performance, and finish of it looks on me.
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation is described as a sheer, buildable foundation with a natural-looking finish. The foundation is very lightweight and glides on nicely onto the skin, blends easily and is buildable from sheer to medium coverage. The finish looks very natural and radiant without looking or feeling heavy or cakey. It did not emphasize my dry areas of the phase neither it made my oily areas oilier. The longevity is good, stayed on well for over 8 hours for which I tested. I did not do any touch-ups during the days I tested it. It did not emphasize the pores or my problem areas and acne. The good thing is that is available in a wide range – 40 shades for all skin types. Another thing I have noticed is that for me, it works great when my skin is behaving well or when I do not have many dark spots from previous pimples to conceal. This would also be not a concern as a concealer can be used specifically for the problem areas. Overall, a nice foundation.
As mentioned here and on my Instagram a few times, Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation has been on my top list for over a year and I still love it. If you ask me to compare between the two, Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation provides more coverage, looks more radiant, and longevity is amazing though it is not as lightweight as this sheer glow.
I have swatches both the foundations that match with my medium skin tone with golden undertones, Sheer Glow is a little less warmer than Radiant Longwear but I can make them both work for me (never stop experimenting and mixing products).
Nars Foundations are available at Sephora, Sephora Canada, Hudson’s Bay, Lookfantastic, Nordstrom, Saks, and Neiman Marcus.
*Press samplesFresh has a really amazing and much-awaited launch – their first night cream. Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Night Cream is all you need in a night cream – the texture is luscious yet lightweight, the formula helps skin look fresh, de-stressed, and moisturized while keeping the skin comfortable while it works overnight. It is power packed with the antioxidants that detoxify and helps recover the skin from the day.
The new star ingredient in Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Night Cream is Super Lotus which captures the natural power of the whole living lotus plant when they are in full bloom. The process involves gently pressing the plant to extract the juice and then concentrated further to create the key ingredient Super Lotus.
Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Night Cream is lightweight, whipped moisturizer infused with a delicate peach scent, helps to boost, hydrate, and deliver antioxidant protection for a youthful look. The cream is suitable for all skin types, even for my combination skin prone to congestion. It is a nice moisturizer and does gives a boost to my skin when it is looking dull and in need of help, especially in this harsh winter weather.
While using this cream in the night, my skin looks and feels hydrated, comfortable, and supple in the morning. The packaging of the cream is in a heavyweight blue glass jar which looks beautiful. I have tried many products from the brand in the past and there is not one that I didn’t like and very happy to have this new launch – Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Night Cream in my routine.
Fresh beauty products are available at Sephora Canada, Sephora.ca, Nordstrom, and Nordstrom.ca
*Press samplesThe new fragrance duo Gentle Fluidity by Maison Francis Kurkdjian depicts the creativity and height of innovation from the master himself. What I mean to say is the same 49 ingredients with six main notes used in various proportions to create two separate olfactory descriptions. This is something very new to me and I felt so intrigued to try the creativity where a slight variation of an ingredient totally changes what the end result smells like.
‘Working the ingredient to express its full potential and meeting the challenge of composing two different Eaux de
- Juniper berries
- Nutmeg
- Coriander
- Musks
- Ambery woods
- Vanilla
The Gentle Fluidity duo was born of the perfumer’s imagination to offer two distinct olfactory silhouettes, for her or for him. Neither feminine nor masculine nor unisex, Gentle Fluidity reflects a changing society where the expression of personality takes center stage.
The two signatures differ in the unique balance of their formulations, as well as the colors and letters employed for their names. “Gentle fluidity”, an aromatic woody fragrance, is in silver, with a capital G, while “gentle Fluidity”, an oriental musk interpretation, opts for gold and a capital F. ‘
Gentle fluidity, Silver Edition – nutmeg, and ambery woods are dominant and release a vibrant, comfortable trail. As for juniper berry essence, it leads to an ascending, ultra-fresh, aromatic note, similar to a “gin frappé” effect, balanced by the dry, slightly balmy, spicy notes of nutmeg. The base notes reveal ambery wood facets ranging from sweet and enveloping to powerful and dry. On me, this fragrance feels relaxed, clean, and composed, the aromatic warmth makes it comfortable to wear. The longevity for this is really good on
gentle Fluidity, Gold Edition – generous, enveloping trail, we can find coriander seed essence and an overdose of musks and vanilla. The floral, spicy note of coriander seeds brings, just like musks, ethereal volume, and a lingering trail. In the base notes, the gourmand, reassuring notes of the vanilla accord enhanced by the ambery woods reveal a radiant, bright silhouette. It is a very nice – sweet, aromatic, and sensual scent on me – very well balanced. The longevity on my skin is good, stays for over 6-7 hours before I feel the need to reapply.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris fragrances are available at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and online at
One of my favorite lip balms is in a new ‘avatar’ and the feature I am most excited is the new shades and finish. I have shared it a few times here and on my Instagram, I have one in my bag and one on my vanity and bedside. If you do not know about it, Givenchy Le Rose Perfecto is a three-in-one lip balm for nurtured, fuller-looking, and vibrantly-colored lips.
Givenchy Le Rose Perfecto is available in two finishes: Skin PH reactive shades which enhance natural lip color and offer a made-to-measure look and vibrant shades for a sophisticated look. It intensely envelops lips with a creamy texture and leaves them deeply hydrated, smoothed & fuller-looking. In keeping with Givenchy’s codes, le Rose Perfecto is sheathed in a slim pink leather tube with a matching outer case and the metallic stud signature.
The formula of these multi-use lip product is creamy and glides on gently onto the lips, even when the lips are parched, dry, and in dire need of care. Lips feel nourished, plumped, and comfortable. Along with shea extract, it also contains hyaluronic acid spheres which fill in the lines and capture water molecules found on the surface of the lips. The spheres increase their volume by up to 50 times and the result is beautiful, smooth, and plump lips.
The palette reveals eight essential shades – Glazed Beige, Timeless Pink, Cosmic Plum – a range of pinks from nude and rosewood to deep purple and coral, accompanied by an iridescent translucent shade called White Shield.
I can totally see myself wearing all the shades and do keep in mind all the shades look different on different people, bringing out the best shade after reacting with your lip’s pH and something that suits your undertones. It is not sticky and does benefits the lips even after it has worn out.
Out of 7 available shades, all can be used alone or topped up with the White Shield No. 000 on the top for a holographic shine.
Givenchy Le Rose Perfecto is available at Sephora,