I've been searching for a replacement fond de teint since my dearly departed Prescriptives went defunct. How I loved their foundation - the perfect undertone, the perfect shade, a formulation that lasted all day in a convenient pocket-sized tube, medium to full coverage that nixed the need for concealer, and all in a formula gentle enough for sensitive skin. You people don't understand - I was literally devastated when I realised I'd purchased my last tube (even though, knowing me, I didn't realise it was my last tube until I tried to buy some more and couldn't find it anywhere so ... I wasn't that sad).
But life goes on. I ran into the arms of Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick (meh), Nars Sheer Glow (too watery), Mac (don't get me started), Iman (... just OK). And then I discovered a few Laura Mercier foundations that were actually worthy of a blog post. So here goes...
1. Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation in Toffee Bronze
This really is oil free -- I mean REALLY oil free. It dries down so quickly that you have to work with just a tiny bit of product at a time. Great coverage, good finish, didn't break me out, but my skin just felt really dry after wearing this all day. I will say a little goes a long way, I bought this over a year ago and I still haven't repurchased it (maybe cause I bought a bunch of other stuff). I actually think I would recommend this to someone living in a warmer climate, who has an oilier skin but needs less coverage.
2. Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Foundation in Toffee Bronze £31
Really luxurious. I guess I went for it because I just couldn't take the dry oil free foundation, so I careened in the other direction. But what a nice direction! It literally felt like a face cream to me. The only problem was, it never actually set. It rubbed off on everything and was so whipped and creamy that I'd end up touching it up all the time - and big glass jars of cream don't travel well... I'd recommend it to someone with drier skin who doesn't need as much coverage, and who doesn't really need something long lasting.
3. Laura Mercier Mineral Pressed Powder SPF 15 in Warm Chestnut £31
This makeup is the TRUTH people. Pretty much all the good things I said about Prescriptives, but with an added SPF. The ONLY tiny thing is, it's a powder, so it dries my skin a tiny bit by the afternoon. I don't care though, I just put on a bunch of moisturiser and it's fine. YAY!
If you're unfamiliar with my skin type, I've got combination skin that's slightly dehydrated. My main concerns are: maintaining an even skin tone, keeping my skin clear and preventing fine lines.
[Today's title is a quote from the film The Dreamers, which stars Michael Pitt (he also starred as Kurt Cobain in Gus Van Sant's Last Days). When his character meets the French twin brother and sister, they go on a walk by the Seine and offer him a sandwich, to which he replies the above. First impressions are everything people.]
