Online Cosmetics

Showing posts with label Laura Mercier. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

New and Exclusive Products at Sephora.

What are your thoughts? Click HERE to start shopping.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Makeup Mondays With Mario: Picture Perfect

Hi Mario,

As a celebrity makeup artist who also does makeup for magazines and such, can you share some tips and favorite products that will help me look more beautiful in photographs? Thanks a lot!

Sincerely,

Livia

Livia,

When doing makeup that will be photographed, it's important that your skin has an overall even coverage to start with. Try to get a perfect foundation shade that will match your neck and body. Women tend to use a base that is lighter than their body. But when photographed, the face will look very washed out or too made up. Tinted moisturizer like the ones from Laura Mercier work great for photos because they have just enough coverage and pigment.

Try to stay away from pressed powders as they will give off a very flat and harsh look on camera. Instead, set your face with loose, translucent powders. Highlighting the cheekbones is one of my favorite tricks for photographs because it gives you that young and healthy glow to your skin. My favorite highlighter is Eye M Glam, of course, because of its sheer, golden glow. It’s also important to warm up your skin with bronzer so you don’t appear to be just one shade. Try LORAC TANtalizer Baked Bronzer across your cheeks and framing your face. It's a great shade and also looks very natural and warm in photos.

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,

Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Review/Swatch: Laura Mercier lip glace in Opal

I just did a review on my L'Oreal HiP shine struck liquid lip color and now I'm back with another lipgloss review ^_^. This time it's my Laura Mercier lip glace in Opal. Man, I get confuse between Laura Mercier and Laura Geller. Both are cosmetic lines and can be found at your local Sephora lol. I had to look at my lip glace several times to make sure it's Laura Mercier, not Laura Geller haha.

Anyway, I got this really cute sample of Laura Mercier lip glace from my Birchbox last year. If you guys don't know what Birchbox is then click HeRe to learn about it. I was pretty excited to see it included in the package since I've never tried any Laura Mercier makeup. I've seen it at Sephora but I never thought of buying them because of it's expensive price O_o.

SHADE, COVERAGE

It is sad to say the shade looks better in the packaging than on my lips O_o. The shade Opal looks nude but it's actually a pretty light pink shade with beige shimmers.The coverage is sheer and it barely shows up on my lips which is not necessarily a bad thing, but at least I want a hint of pink to show. It's definitely not a color to be worn by itself. I suggest to apply it on top of any lipstick to add gloss.

TEXTURE, APPEARANCE, LONGEVITY, SCENT

It has a gel-like texture and applies smoothly on my lips. It's moderately sticky and does not last long which sucks butt. However, it gives my lips a wet and shiny appearance making them look fuller and luscious and, it has a yummy vanilla scent that it so addicting...so yummy!

PRICE:

A full size lip glace is $22 O_o. Yikes, too expensive!!! Unless you want to indulge in this average lipgloss then go for it, but if you ask me, it's not worth it. You can get the same or better lipgloss at your local drugstore.

Before

I have discoloration on my lips O_o

After
I was hoping for more shimmers.

FINAL THOUGHT:

This is an average lipgloss with an expensive price tag. I don't hate it but it doesn't impress me enough to recommend it to a friend. In other words...it's an okay lipgloss. I'm glad I got a sample because I would never buy it in full size.

availabity: Sephora, LauraMercier.com
price: $22

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Highend beauty products for only $10

Being a makeup/beauty junkeee, I must admit that it does get a expensive to try so many different beauty products. I love trying all kinds to find the best one out there but at the same time I don't want to go broke lol. I'm excited to inform you friends that a company called Birchbox will allow us to try highend beauty products in a very affordable way.

What is Birchbox?

A monthly subscription service that will send you 4-5 highend beauty, makeup and skincare products like NARS, Benefit, Perricone MD, Korres, Too Faced and ect. They have been tried and tested by the Birchbox team so it's a guarantee that you'll get to try the best products out there in the market. If you end up loving the samples, you can purchase a full size product from their online shop.You also earn Birchbox points you can use to purchase full size products from their online shop. Every 100 points is $10. You earn by purchasing, giving feedback surveys and rating the products on their website. And the best thing is the price. It only cost $10 a month to subscribe or you can do a year subscription of $110. Go to their website www.birchbox.com and sign up.

You will get a card for every Birchbox . It will give you information on the month's Birchbox and, a list of all the samples with description and how to use them.

Ignore this list because I was sent the wrong card for this month. I called Birchbox and spoke to Katia, the co-founder and she said they were having problems and some people were sent the wrong card. She got my information and she will send me the right card and will give me 100 points in my Birchbox account. It was not a big deal for me at all but she was sweet enough to give me those points that I can use later on.

I appreciate it when a company puts an effort into making the packaging look nice and pretty. Birchbox added pretty tissues (it has shimmers) and a ribbon and those little details made it look special ^_^

Too Faced Prime and Poreless face primer

Cargo mini bronzer in medium

Perricone MD cold plasma

Laura Mercier lip glaze in Opal

The Face Shop Collagen masksheet

I'm loving my Birchbox and I really like all the samples they sent me. I can't wait to try them all out and do a review on them. I highly suggest that you go check out their website and sign up to get your own Birchbox too!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Makeup Mondays With Mario: You, But Better

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.

Hi Mario,

Usually, I don't wear much makeup. In fact, I usually just wear some sort of lip balm and then I'm out the door. But I recently decided to start putting some more effort into my look. So can you share some tips and products to help me look put-together, but natural? I want to look like a prettier version of myself - but I also don't have a lot of time in the mornings to apply makeup. Thanks a lot!

-Joan

Hi Joan,

I’m glad you've decided to show yourself some love by putting forth the little bit of effort to be a prettier you. Starting with just a few products will have you looking naturally beautiful and smiling in no time.

Tinted moisturizer, applied with your fingers to your face and blended into your neck, will even out your skin without feeling heavy at all. My favorites right now are from Laura Mercier and Lancome. Use a bit of concealer under your eyes to brighten up and also on any red or dark spots - try Smashbox High Definition Liquid Concealer.

If you brows need grooming, be sure to have this done. It gives an instant lift. Try filling in your brows with a brow pencil and focus on the mid to outer corners for the most natural result. Brow Tech To Go, also by Smashbox, is a personal fave. You can set your brow with the brow gel on the other end of the pencil.

Curl your lashes as I can’t stress enough how huge of a difference it makes. Just do it! LOL. Follow with a basic black mascara on top and bottom lashes and you won’t even need liner.

Looking in the mirror, smile and apply a bit of blush to the apples of your cheeks. To find the right shade for you, I recommend you go to a department store and have a makeup artist help you out. Another option is to choose a couple of drugstore shades and test them at home.

Answering this question brings back fond memories for me, so I will share them with you…

My mother never wore any makeup her entire life - aside from lip balm - and she still doesn't. I do remember, though, that on very special and rare occasions, she would take out this pinkish, natural lipstick tube and in front of the mirror, softly dab it a few times on her lips, barely applying any color. Next she would very gently and cautiously dab that same lipstick onto her cheeks, followed by a smile in the mirror. All together, this took about 20 seconds. I’d stare up at her and smile because I thought she looked so beautiful that way. I’m smiling again right now at this memory, even twenty years later.

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,
Mario
Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Top 10 Bridal Beauty Tips

Today, Mr. Spoiled Pretty and I celebrate our third wedding anniversary. With our recent move and all of the craziness that's going on in our lives right now, we almost forgot. But after remembering, we booked reservations at Supper, an excellent restaurant in our new 'hood.

This year is particularly special, because we celebrate the occasion with our son. Though Westley isn't scheduled to make his grand entrance until August, he'll enjoy a delicious dinner.

In honor of my nuptials, I'm taking this opportunity to pass along some beauty knowledge to brides-to-be. Back in 2007, I stressed myself out something awful trying to make sure my makeup was perfection; I wish someone wiser had taken me under her wing and saved me some major frustration. So I'm hoping that this post will serve that purpose and help a new generation of brides vow to be beautiful on their wedding day.

Here are my top 10 tips:

1. Don't get too trendy with your makeup or hairstyle. You want to look like a knockout on your wedding day, but you should still look like you. Years from now, you don't want to look at your wedding photos and think, “Who is that?”

2. If you're planning a pre-wedding facial or similar treatment, make sure you schedule it at least a week before. The last thing you need to deal with is an allergic reaction or an extraction-happy esthetician that leaves your face a marked up mess days/hours before your nuptials.

3. If you can, hire someone to do your hair and makeup on your wedding day. I'm not doubting your abilities…you might be the second coming of Kevyn Aucoin, but having someone to help means that you'll have one (or two) less things to worry about on the day of. And it needn't cost a fortune, either. You don;t need to hire a celebrity makeup artist to look like supermodel. Find a local beauty school and ask if any of the students are available for special events. Or go to the mall and get a makeover at your favorite makeup counter. If the salesperson does a good job, ask him/her if she makes house calls. My longtime friend/mane man, Erik, did my hair at my parents' house…and then attended our wedding as a guest.

4. Whether you're paying someone to do your hair/makeup or you’re a DIY kind of bride, always do a trial run. And take photos – from different angles and in different lighting. You might love the reflection in the mirror, but the pictures might tell a different story. And better for you to figure out what works (and what doesn't) in the months/weeks leading up to your big day – when you actually have time and the means to fix problems.

5. Don't rush to remove your veil. If you decide to wear a veil on your wedding day, wear it for the entire day - from your walk down the aisle until the end of the reception. A veil is that one element that transforms you from a woman in a white dress into a bride. Looking back at my wedding photos, I wish I hadn't been in such a rush to take off my veil and show off my hair. I much prefer the photos of me wearing the veil; they have a much more romantic quality.

6. Invest in some waterproof mascara, even if you're not the emotional type. At some point, someone is going to make you cry and you'll be happy you dodged a Tammy Faye Baker bullet.

7. If your hair has behavioral issues, I would recommend not washing your hair on your wedding day. Freshly shampooed hair doesn't hold a style as well as second day hair. And if your hair has a serious case of ADD, invest in a can of Elnett.

8. If your skin is on the oily side and you're afraid of looking shiny in photos, make sure to have blot papers handy on your wedding day. Powder does cut down on shine, but it can also get cakey-looking and settle into lines. Blotting papers are a better bet. Or you can do like I do and just grab a bunch of Starbucks brown napkins next time you get a Frappuccino; those suckers work better than most blotting papers I've used – and when Starbucks charges you $4-5 for some coffee, milk and sugar, they owe you some damn napkins. So take a handful and put 'em in your purse.

9. Invest in good makeup primers to keep makeup from sliding off of your face. I'm partial to Laura Mercier Foundation Primer and Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

10. I wore Giorgio Armani Silk Lipstick topped with Armani Lip Shimmer on my wedding day (click here to find out what else I wore). I asked one of my bridesmaids to hold my gloss for me - but when I needed it for a mid-reception touch-up, she didn't know where it was. To this day, she still insists that I lost it. Um, as if! I would never misplace a brand new Armani lip gloss. Anyway...I digress. Though this was a minor snafu, I'm often reminded of my mistake when I look at my photos. My lips are almost the same color as my face, so in some of the pictures, my mouth kind of just disappears. It still irks me to this day. So do yourself a favor and use a lip stain (like CoverGirl Outlast Lipstains) before applying lipstick and/or lip gloss. And don't ask your flighty friends to hold nuthin'.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Makeup Mondays With Mario: Hold The Oil

Hi Mario,

My problem is that when the weather gets warmer, my face gets very oily. It seems that no matter what I do, my face always looks shiny/greasy - which embarasses me. Can you recommend any products or makeup tips that might help me keep my shine under control?

Thanks!!!!!
Scarlett

Hi Scarlett,

You can control your naturally dewy skin's shine using a few products and/techniques. Start out with an oil-free, light moisturizer (Daneen recommends Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel) all over, prior to makeup application. Let that set in a couple of minutes, then apply Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light by Smashbox. If your skin doesn't need much coverage, I'd skip the foundation altogether and instead use a concealer on spots. Try Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage concealers. Use a loose powder to set the face, making sure that it's free of shimmer and sparkle, of course. Try Priori loose powder. For touch ups throughout the day, use Tatcha Blotting Papers to absorb shine. I once learned a tip from a brilliant beauty blogger who's spoiled pretty - she uses a Starbucks napkin to absorb oils on the skin. It truly works! All the more reason to go to Starbucks! Oh and one more thing- don't feel embarrassed for having oily skin – it's the most effective anti- aging product and it's all yours!

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,
Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Oscars 2010 Beauty: Carey Mulligan

Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan was beautified by makeup artist Georgie Eisdell using the following products:

"This was Carey's first Oscars so I wanted to make sure she looked age appropriate but still embrace the glamour of the night. Carey's dress was edgy and elegant so I wanted to keep her makeup looking fresh and youthful. I wanted to enhance the natural beauty of her skin so I used La Mer foundation lightly powdered with La Mer's translucent powder over that. For her eyes, I used Chanel soft beige and pink shadows from their spice palette. I used MAC's blacktrack eye liner followed by YSL's Faux Cils mascara in black. To finish off her eyes I sharpened up her eyebrows with Laura Mercier's soft blonde brow powder duo. For her cheeks, I wanted to give them a pinched cheek look with Dior's glowing color powder blush in fruit de la passion. For the finishing touch on her skin, I used Bobbi Brown bronzing powder in medium. And finally on her lips I used Dior addict lip polish 004. I used La Mer body creme on the way out the door to give her body the same glow."

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Look What I Recently Rescued From Sephora

Now that my I'm pregnant, a beautiful thing happened. My skin decided to act like it's got some sense. Seriously, my skin developed behavioral issues circa 1990 and has been screwing with my self esteem ever since...until recently.

I used to be that girl who wouldn't dare leave the house barefaced for a night out or a special occasion. I just couldn't get away with it. Now, not only has my complexion drastically improved, but I also have that fabled pregnancy glow...and I don't want to cover it up with the full coverage foundation I have in my beauty arsenal.

So last week, I decided to pay my little friend, Sephora, a visit. Mama needed some new makeup.

I ended up purchasing:

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Tan
Laura Mercier Undercover Pot in 4
Lancôme Hypnose Drama Mascara

At $42, Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer is pretty pricey. But is just so happens to be the best tinted moisturizer I have ever used in my entire L-I-F-E. And Laura gets big props for the wide range of shades. Can I get a hallelujah, brown girls?

Though I've been getting more sleep lately, I've started getting dark circles under my eyes - which I never had before. The shadows beneath my eyes were detracting from my glow, so those suckers had to go. I bought Laura Mercier's Undercover Pot because after spending an hour testing almost all of the concealers at Sephora, this one reigned supreme. Undercover Pot is a travel friendly pot with two amazing concealers: Secret Camouflage (oil free and stays in place all day long to cover blemishes, scars, and imperfections) and Secret Concealer (the emollient formula combats dark circles and allows for a smooth application in the sensitive eye area). The pot also includes Translucent Loose Setting Powder, which adds a velvety finish.

The Lancôme Hypnose Drama Mascara was a re-purchase. I just cannot be without this product. It is my mascara soulmate. I'm sure my friends at Lancôme would have replenished my stock; they're aware of how much I adore Hypnose Drama, but I didn't have time to wait. My old one was, well, old and I needed a new tube stat.

In the above pic, I'm wearing another of my new favorite products: Hourglass Cosmetics' new Prodigy Lipgloss. Hourglass sent me a sample a few weeks ago, and it has been a staple in my handbag ever since. I love the sleek packaging and non-tacky texture. If you're one of those girls who loathes a sticky lip, you are going to LUVRE this gloss. It come in six gorgeous shades, but "Legend" shade is my fave...it's like my natural lips, except 100% sexier. It is also available at Sephora.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Nordstrom.com Beauty Sale: Get On This!

Nordstrom is having a ridiculously amazing online beauty sale, and I didn't want y'all to miss out on these steals and deals! Here's just a sampling of the markdowns: