Wicked Wednesday: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Demo & Technique

 If you can recall my review on LM Tinted Moisturiser, I did say that I would do a demo post and that I'd also teach you how to stretch your money and product further. So below is a photo of my (a part of) my cheek without anything on.

I use LM Tinted Moisturiser in Sand. So here's what the product looks like prior to blending. It has a foundation-like consistency. It's not thick like most moisturisers.

This is after blending it out with my fingers. As you can see, the product pretty much disappears. It's a perfect match for my skintone. You might say that it looks like it doesn't give any coverage what so ever. Well, that's because I've applied very little and a lot of the product probably ended up seeping into my fingers as well. I know it works because I've coverage some light pimple scars with it before.

So how do I maximise my usage of this expensive little product? I usually squeeze out some on the back of my hand. Then using my fourth/ring finger, I dab and dot the tinted moisturiser all over my face. I load my foundation brush up with a bit of regular moisturiser (so that it doesn't take up the tinted moisturiser) before blending the product out. If I feel like my foundation brush isn't doing a good enough job of blending it out, I use a Sigma Angled Kabuki brush to buff it into my skin, after having loaded it with regular moisturiser of course.

What foundation technique do you use? Please do share!

Triple S: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20 Review

I've been using Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturiser for a month now and it's high time I wrote a review for it. First off, I'd like to point out how much I love the packaging. So much so that I've kept the box. It does not have a "luxurious feel" like YSL does but it definitely has the "high quality feel". This product comes in a tube, so we technically should be able to squeeze out as much product as we can (unlike foundations that come with a pump).

As you can see, it says "lightweight flawless coverage" on the packaging. I'd give a big tick for the "lightweight" part. This product does not make you feel clogged up/heavy/saturated like some moisturisers can. As for "flawless", I think it's a very relative term. If your skin is in poor condition, with very prominent scarrings or breakouts, I would not recommend this to you. You're better off with a medium to full coverage foundation because the coverage for this product is sheer to light. If you have wonderfully beautiful skin, then this product is perfect for you. I am by means saying that I have perfect skin. Once upon a time, I did. Now, I'm very far from it. I use this product to cover up the light pimple scars that I have and to even out my skintone.

This is one of those products that isn't for everyone because different people need/want different amounts of coverage. For me, I am quite content with it because it cuts three steps to one. Sunscreen + moisturiser +  light foundation = tinted moisturiser! Great for people who have very little time to get ready in the morning. It's SPF 20 should be enough to protect us in the bus/car or on the streets when we're on our way to work/uni and exposured to the sun. In terms of lasting power, it's not the best. After all, it is a moisturiser and it is mostly absorbed into your skin. So you're guaranteed a hydrated face but not a lasting coverage.

The only downside to this is that it is expensive. However, as I mentioned before in my April Haul post, Laura Mercier prices have dropped in Australia. It now retails for $59. I believe it was previously $80+. You get 40ml out of it, which should last you quite a while if you don't use it frequently (like me). I will be doing a demo with this product in an upcoming post and I'll also show you how to "stinge" on this product; make it "last" longer and stretch your money's worth.

Summary

• High quality packaging. 
• Lightweight. Flawlessness depends on skin condition. Sheer coverage
• Only recommended for people with very minimal pimple scars and blemishes. 
• Mainly used to even out skintone.
• Three steps in one! Has SPF 20. Whoot!
• Expensive 

Do you use tinted moisturisers? What do you think of them?

Sweet & Sassy Saturday: April Haul

So you know about the Sigma makeup brushes that I bought but those weren't the only things that I bought this month.

One fine day, when I should have stayed in the library to study for an upcoming quiz, I went to David Jones. I'm sure a number of the staff there know me by face now. I think I visit that place way too frequently. Anyway, I was avoiding the Bobbi Brown and MAC counter as much as I could (although I did stop to enquire about a MAC lipstick) because I've been to their counter so many times I feel bad for not buying from them more often. I headed over to the Laura Mercier counter, which I had only ever been to once and never met the counter manager there before. Also, I've heard Sam from Pixiwoo praise LM products on a few of their videos and I wanted to look at their famous tinted moisturiser.

I was swatching their tinted moisturiser on my hand when the LM lady approached me. She was so friendly, talking to me about the product, colour matching me and applying some on my face to get a feel of it. It was so light that I could barely feel it but pigmented enough to cover the redness on my nose. She said that my colour is Sand and it really was a perfect match for my skin, even my boyfriend agreed. At first, I went away to inspect beauty products at other counters, choosing to buy the tinted moisturiser another day. Then, as I discussed about it with my boyfriend, he said that I should get it if I liked it so much. Plus, Laura Mercier has had a price drop and it made it all the more a good deal. So I went back and told the LM lady that I changed my mind. She was more than happy to sell it to me.

That day, I also stopped by Estee Lauder. They had set up a display promoting their Idealist Even Skin Tone Illuminator. As I was examining a bottle when the counter manager, who was also very friendly, came over to talk to me about the product. I was really curious for I've heard and read some good reviews on it, particularly from Emily (Emily's Anthology). The lady was so kind to give me a couple of samples to trial it for a few days. I have yet to give it a go. I'm hoping that it will remove the acne scars that I have and even out my skin tone in general. Getting a radiant glow out of it would be a bonus. I will post a review once I've trialled it, so stay tuned.

I've been wanting a hair donut for a long time now. I finally bought one from Price Attack because it was the cheapest I could find ($10) compared to other stores. I could have easily bought one from eBay for $2 but I'm keeping my promise. I apologise for the terrible photo. I've also made a sock bun and I will be doing a comparison between a store bought and a homemade hair donut soon. I will probably accompany that with a tutorial.

Summary: 

• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer gives a lovely sheer coverage. Sheer enough to feel like but pigmented enough to even out skin tone.
• Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skin Tone Illuminator sounds very promising. Will trial and review it.
• Hair donut: Store bought versus homemade review and tutorial to come.