Hands up if you have a list of demands when it comes to perfecting that no-makeup makeup look. Long-wearing, mild coverage, a diverse shade range, and protecting your skin without leaving any sticky, tacky residue? Check.
Because we’re all about enhancing the complexion rather than concealing it (plus our mighty high standards), we find ourselves dreaming up a clean second-skin finish; a lightweight formula to give our complexion that dewy natural glow and keep our skin nourished. It is a wish Laura Mercier’s New & Improved Tinted Moisturizer wishes to grant.
This perfect blend of skincare and makeup — technically an improved formula to its OG Tinted Moisturizer — claims to soften fine lines and simultaneously promote long-lasting hydration up to 24 hours through it’s potent blend of macadamia and kukui seed oils and tamarind seed extract.
Bearing a light, nude-skin finish, Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer also delivers on higher suncare protection with SPF 30 UVB/UVA and a creamier texture that brings about more coverage. Glide it on its own for instant luminosity.
That’s not all — this multi-functional powerhouse also has 20 skin-perfecting shades from very fair neutral to very deep cool. As for what we love about the tinted moisturizer, well, we tested out on a few models with different application methods such as using your fingers, makeup sponge and a brush, and then finished with a natural makeup look. Here’s how it turned out!
Application: Using fingertips
For a light coverage with a quick and convenient application.
Saffron Sharpe, Influencer.
As an influencer, Saffron is always headed for numerous engagements she’s got on her social calendars. To help her perfect her in-transit beauty routines and provide a quick makeup touch-up en route to a work lunch, applying this product using your fingers is a foolproof method for those on-the-go like herself. Saffron simply grazed a small amount on her cheeks, forehead and chin, and gently massaged the product to even out the coverage.
Coverage-wise, this leaned more towards the light side for a sheer finish. The lightweight formula was also a plus, drying down on the skin pronto without leaving a sticky residue and letting your skin breathe. Now, if that doesn’t seem fitting for our shores, we don’t know what does. A quick touch-up with a few makeup essentials (read: lipstick and mascara) and Saffron’s natural look was complete.
BASE
Tinted Moisturizer, $77
EYES
Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Cocoa, $49
Caviar Volume Mascara, $44
FACE
Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer in 3W, $49
Flawless Skin Infusion de Rose Nourishing Oil, $98
LIPS
Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick in Control, $40
Application: Using the Flawless Finish Makeup Sponge
For mild coverage and even application.
Nurul Suhaila, Athlete.
When she’s not being a full-time athlete (and a Silat world champion), this product is ideal for use in between training sessions and downtime. As the product promotes hydration and SPF30 throughout use, it ensures a nourishing and protected complexion from the sunrays. Applying the product using the brand’s makeup sponge, Suhaila easily managed to hug the contours of her face with an even lay down. The formula glides and sinks into the skin almost immediately, providing a second-skin dewy finish. As the sponge has minimal product absorption, it allows you to repeat if fuller coverage is required and supports more even product distribution.
Lightweight but mild in coverage, breathable but fine line-minimising — Laura Mercier has another winner in its already impressive arsenal. As we found the new formula more viscous than the latter’s watery texture, this made the application perfectly manageable when Suhaila used a makeup sponge. Claims of its soft-focus effect for a naturally dewy finish proved to be no understatement. Truly one for the ages.
BASE
Tinted Moisturizer, $77
Translucent Loose Setting Powder in Glow, $70
EYES
Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Caramel, $49
Eyebrow Pencil in Soft Brunette, $38
FACE
Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer in 3N, $49
Flawless Skin Infusion de Rose Nourishing Oil, $98
Blush Colour Infusion in Chai, $49
LIPS
Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick in Brun Naturel, $40
Application: Using a Creme Cheek Brush
For a mild, buildable coverage and an easily achievable smooth base.
Ann Lopez, Model.
Some wise words from a model, Ann Lopez states that comfort and subdued makeup are king when going for castings. With such a natural skin-perfecting finish, this product can easily be used any time, anywhere, whether you’re fixing your makeup in the cab to your next shoot or using your phone as a mirror to touch-up. Ann buffed it onto her skin and then blended it out in circular motions. She held the brush with a loose grip closer to the ferrule for added control during application. As this brush is thick and dense at the base, the bristles with the longer edge can easily smooth into face crevices.
We’re really not brown-nosing when we proclaim that the Laura Mercier’s predecessor has been one of our go-to tinted moisturizers for the longest time. Even Ann shared similar sentiments! Our tall expectations of version 2.0 were met. Providing options for darker skin tones, we easily matched Ann’s natural skin tone to a deep cool shade. The new and improved formula is lighter yet creamier in texture, and slightly more heavy-duty in performance.
BASE
Tinted Moisturizer, $77
EYES
Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Cocoa, $49
Caviar Chrome Liquid Eye Colour in Veil, $49
Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer in 3N, $49
FACE
Face Illuminator in Addiction, $73
LIPS
Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick in Chocolate Divine, $40
Interview with Jason Hoffman, Global Beauty Director of Laura Mercier
With more brands leaping onto the makeup minimalism bandwagon as well, we can’t help but wonder — is the skincare-makeup hybrid what we should be striving for? We get the global beauty director of Laura Mercier, Jason Hoffman, to answer our burning questions.
“Making Artistry Effortless.” What does this mean to you as a makeup artist?
Making artistry effortless is about sharing tips and tricks that allow makeup to be simplified a bit. When you combine these techniques with products that actually do what they claim, artistry becomes easier and as a result, much more enjoyable.
How is consumer demand in the skincare-makeup hybrid market changing? Beauty consumers are much more educated today and as a result, the technology needs to be more advanced. Clients want products that make them look instantly amazing but also, offer long term benefits. A prime example is our new Tinted Moisturizer. It still offers a beautiful radiant complexion but now it has more skincare properties to help hydrate, nourish and protect the skin from environmental damage. That is what consumers today want and need.
The “no makeup” makeup minimalism is a well-favoured movement in Asia, but not so much in the US. What is your take on this?
I much prefer the minimalism of Asia especially when it comes to skin. I think that red carpet was the trendsetter for makeup in the US. Influencers now teach consumers about makeup, but it’s still a very “Hollywood” aesthetic which tends to be a bit heavier. I think as long as it looks as good in person as it does on camera, it’s fine to wear whatever makes you happy.
What would you say are the defining characteristics of Laura Mercier’s aesthetic?
First and foremost, Laura Mercier is all about an impeccable complexion that looks like natural skin. It’s called “Flawless Face”. Second, we strive to bring out the best in each person’s features. It’s less about our aesthetic and more about celebrating the individual.
What are the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer do’s and don’ts?
Do: wear alone for sheer coverage or wear under concealer or foundation for additional coverage.
Don’t: try to build Tinted Moisturizer to a medium or full coverage. Save that for foundation.
Do: apply with fingertips or a sponge
Don’t: apply with a stippling foundation brush. The formula was not created for this type of application.
Do: apply to the face from cheek to jaw when finding the correct shade.
Don’t: apply to the wrist or arm and hold up to the face to color match
Written by Sinead Lee.
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