Mercier Mondays #5 // Laura Mercier Sheer Lip Color

Today is the final installment of my Mercier Mondays series. Most of the series focused on tried-and-true products that are the backbone of my makeup bag. Foundations and powders are the necessary building blocks to our looks, but color is what takes it to the next level. Color cosmetics are what make me go from makeup "enthusiast" to makeup "hoarder."

Makeup hoarding is my little dark secret. Eyeshadow palettes stack aplenty in my collection, and my lipstick drawer won't shut without creative shuffling. We all have something that makes our eyes light up like Gollum holding the ring, and my lifelines lie with eye and lip products. I simply cannot "collect them all!" fast enough.

Like any good makeup hoarder, there is a methodical catalog in my brain that keeps stock of my treasures. I have my go-to lipstick shades, but what hooks me into buying just one more tube, even if I already have a similar color, is when I hear a celebrity whose style I covet divulging their favorite products and shades. One such product was Laura Mercier's Sheer Lip Color in the color Baby Lips, which is one of the shades used on Christina Hendricks on the set of the hit show Mad Men. In a recent post by Allure magazine, Mad Men's makeup artist, Lana Horochowski, revealed the shades she uses to make Christina turn into Joan: "More than anything, I get asked about Joan's red lipstick. But the thing is, she almost never wears red! She normally wears a pale pink, like Laura Mercier Baby Lips or MAC Fanfare. Christina Hendricks's lips are just naturally vibrant." (Mad Men Beauty: Five Surprises We Learned From Makeup Artist Lana Horochowski)

Laura Mercier's site describes Baby Lips as a "sheer-warm-pink". It does impart a soft, natural flush to the lips as sheer lipsticks are wont to do, but the color can be built up. By using a heavier hand, it increases the intensity of the warmth of the pink as well as plays up the hint of peachy-coral that lies dormant in the shade until applied heavily. Worn sheer or intensely, it's a beautiful, feminine shade that is appropriate for any occasion. (After all, Joan wore it to work!)

Mad Men wasn't the catalyst in me coveting 1960s fashion, but it certainly fanned the flames of my already existing obsession. The show's fashion and makeup crew meticulously research the looks of the decade to bring us an historically accurate portrayal of how men and women presented themselves in the workplace. I garner much inspiration from the show, but the 60s influenced my personal style long before Mad Men made it cool again. On the rare occasion that I dress for modern times, this shade of lipstick is my secret way of feeling groovy and channeling my inner Joan Harris.

Do I own more cosmetics than any one woman deserves or could use in a lifetime? Probably. But if I had to choose just one brand of cosmetics for the rest of my life, it would be Laura Mercier.  I find the quality to be unrivaled, especially where foundations are concerned, and the color selection is at once impeccable and sophisticated. There are products from other brands that I enjoy, and I don't mind the occasional cheap thrill from the drugstore. But when I want my makeup to create the perfect canvas and perform the way I'm now accustomed to, I turn to the brand that has gained my loyalty: Laura Mercier. 

Laura Mercier Sheer Lip Color - $23

This is not an affiliate link.

Molly's Beauty Corner // Kiehl's Cuddly-Coat Conditioning Rinse

When I agreed to be the first canine contributor to this blog, I don't think I realized what I was getting into.

For my inaugural post, my editor wanted me to do a doggie manicure/pedicure. First, she rolls me out of bed on a Friday morning to take me to the VET (where I had my nails trimmed) at 8am. Then after all that, the bitch thinks she's going to paint my nails PURPLE. After 3 botched attempts, she finally took the hint. Not happening today! Lovely readers, today you'll have to settle for something a bit less traumatizing, yet still fancy enough for my refined palate: Kiehl's Cuddly-Coat Conditioning Rinse.

I know what you're thinking. "Conditioner for a dog?" "But, isn't she a short-haired dachshund?" To be honest, when my editor/owner first brought it home years ago, I was skeptical, too. I thought it was just another novelty dog item she'd wasted her money on. In fact, she spends less on her own conditioner at Target. I know I deserve the finer things in life, but I would have settled for a good T-bone steak. Seeing as being bathed is part of my job around here, I thought I'd sit still and keep my mouth shut for one extra step in my beauty routine. 

For once, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only does it make me smell divine, but it leaves my coat shiny and soft, too. The packaging says it's formulated with Chamomile Flower Extract as well as Palm Kernel-derived conditioners to leave my coat soft and glossy. I don't know about you, but those things sound tasty. I lick my paws after every bath, but I can't taste anything. Despite the label misleading me into thinking I'm in for a delectable treat, I have to give this product 2 dewclaws up for its fresh scent and the softness it imparts upon my coat.

At $17 for 12 fl. oz, this item is definitely a treat. But because I'm a dog, I'm worth it. Also, a little goes a long way! We've had this bottle for a few years and the product is still going strong, so it's a cost-effective indulgence. (More cost effective than that ridiculous doggie sushi she once bought me!) 

I've tried other doggie conditioners, but nothing compared to this original from Kiehl's. Speaking like a beauty blogger, this conditioner is definitely my holy grail. I may have a short coat, but this product makes me feel as soft as a newborn pup!

As for the doggie pawlish, that will have to wait until another day. Rest assured, I sought my revenge on my editor for trying to paint my nails: I rubbed myself in the carpet right after my bath. Now it, too, smells and feels great. Thanks, Kiehl's!

Seriously, are we done yet?

Mercier Mondays #4 // Crème de Pistache Body & Bath Collection

Thus far in the Mercier Mondays series, I have discussed the staples of my makeup bag. Like any other major beauty brand, Laura Mercier's product range doesn't stop at cosmetics. Today's post is on a few items from their line that are pure luxury: the body & bath collection.

These items are a far cry from your average shower gels and lotions. After all, they're not bath & body products. They're body & bath products. The distinction alone makes them feel that much fancier. The lotion isn't lotion, but rather a soufflé body crème. Bubble bath is far too pedestrian a term for this collection. The honey bath comes complete with a honey dipper to decant the product from its glass jar. From the name to the presentation and contents, these items are downright delectable.

Crème Body Wash, Honey Bath & Dipper, and a sample-sized Souffleé Body Crème 

The fragrances in the body & bath collection are mostly of the gourmand variety. I find that I am drawn to gourmand scents in general but usually refrain from wearing them so as not to smell like a walking cupcake. (After all, 5 days out of 7 I probably have frosting on my face.) Laura Mercier's gourmand scents are different. In no way reminiscent of a junior high perfume, they're what I like to call "grown-up gourmands". Each is one is a unique cocktail, inspired by their namesake and blended with other complementary notes to make a delicious, yet wearable scent.

While my nose has yet to meet a scent in this collection that it does not like, my favorite is the Crème de Pistache. Verbatim from the website, its description reads: this scent captures the essence of creamy pistachio nuts combined with almond, praline and hazelnut nuances and freshly whipped cream for a rich, luscious experience. While you wouldn't think wearing such a sweet scent as pistachio would be appealing, this creamy scent sinks into the skin and leaves a lightly sweet fragrance with a hint of nutty pistachio. Anything but overpowering and only a slightly literal take on the pistachio, it is one of the most sophisticated gourmand scents on the market.

I drooled over these for years before I ever worked up the nerve (or the extra cash, thanks in part to an email coupon from the company) to buy them. These fancy products come with a fancy price tag as well, ranging from $15-$60, but bath aficionados will find these to be absolutely worth every penny. In particular, the items in the range that come in heavy glass jars (honey bath, scrub, and soufflé body crème) have the dual purpose of being beautiful items to keep on display on your bathroom counter. Vanity aside, these products perform at a level that justifies their price tag. Each product, though delicately scented, will layer well together to lightly perfume the skin. Unlike some heavily fragranced body products, they beautifully master the task of being scented and moisturizing, never irritating.

As the price prohibits me from using these daily, you can see from the photo I am using them sparingly and milking them for every last drop. They are the most luxurious products I've ever used in my shower. Threats to my pocketbook aside, the only other problem with the body & bath collection? Temptation. They genuinely smell good enough to eat.

Laura Mercier Crème de Pistache Body & Bath Collection

This is not an affiliate link. 

Maybelline The Nudes Palette // A Review and Swatches

My love for makeup is generally reserved for high end/department store brands. Though I'm willing to try new things, I think I will always be biased toward high end cosmetics. As such, I'm normally not the first person in line to try a new launch at the drugstore...but nothing draws me in hook, line, and sinker like a neutral eye palette.

Maybelline recently released The Nudes palette which contains 12 neutral shades of eyeshadow, a rare achievement for a drugstore brand. Modestly priced at just under $10, this palette is a great budget alternative (though not a dupe) for the Urban Decay Naked palette. This would also be a great palette for a beginner (of any age) as the packaging contains a helpful chart with suggestions for shadow pairings, breaking the shade groupings into quads, trios, and duos.

Slated for a June/July release, this product hasn't hit the shelves of every drugstore yet. Most people who've managed to snag one have found them in Bed Bath & Beyond's Harmon drugstore section (of all places). This is where I found mine, which was the last one on the display. I even managed to pay just under $7 for it using a store coupon. So far as I know, this palette is not limited edition.

I find the quality of the shadows to be on par with what you might expect from a drugstore palette. Not every shade is highly pigmented or easy to work with, but it's more hit than miss. Some of the shades didn't produce the greatest swatches, but ended up being easy to work with on the eyes. The real stand-outs of the palette are the darker shades, which pack some pretty serious punch. The lighter shades, though not majorly pigmented, are great blending shades.

Having swatched each shade (over Laura Mercier primer) for your viewing pleasure, here is my shade-by-shade breakdown. (Starting with the top row, left to right.)

1. White metallic highlight shade with a gold shift. Quite flaky and chunky.
2. Taupe shade with a satin finish. Color needs to be built up to stand out. Would make a great transition shade.
3. Cream matte transition shade. Color needs to be built up to stand out, but performs well on the lid and creates a blank canvas.
4. Lovely and highly pigmented bronze metallic. Very smooth to work with.
5. Cool matte taupe. Hard to see the difference between it and #2, though it's easier to use than #2.
6. Highly pigmented matte espresso.

7. Highly pigmented metallic warm mocha brown.
8. Highly pigmented matte cocoa.
9. Metallic gold. Pigmented but slightly flaky. Color needs to be built up to stand out.
10. Dark brown, leans more satin than metallic, but is pigmented.
11. Metallic nude shade that would work well for highlight or blending.
12. Matte black, not a very deep black.

How I got this look: Shade 3 all over the lid, Shade 9 in the inner corner of the eye, Shade 4 on the outer corner of the eye, Shade 7 to deepen the crease, Shade 11 on the brow bone and to blend the edges, bronze eyeliner (MAC Teddy), black mascara (Maybelline Full 'N Soft Very Black).

Given the price point, I find this palette to be an excellent deal. Though a couple of shades deliver a lackluster performance, the darker shadows in the palette more than make up for this. Overall, I'm pleased with my purchase and glad I bought into the launch hype. How many neutral palettes does one girl need, you ask? The answer is simple: all of them.

They See Me Rollin'... // The Target Scooter

Yesterday I did something that I swore I would never do. For years I have been completely resistant to the idea of doing this activity. Not only was I afraid of what others would think of me if I engaged in this activity, but I was afraid for the safety of all of those potentially judgmental people...

I took the electric scooter at Target. 

It's no secret that I love shopping anywhere, anytime. Perusing the aisles of any store is my solace, my happy place. Also, I like to think that there is truth in the phrase "shopping is my cardio". Living with a physical disability, I like to take that one step further and say "shopping is my physical therapy". In fact, during a particularly challenging and emotional physical therapy session 2 years ago, my physical therapist suggested that I do my exercises in a park or outdoor environment in order to make it more enticing rather than just doing them at home. My destination? Stanford Mall. 

Over the years, however, I have found that shopping for extended periods (whether just window shopping or carrying an armload of purchases) is incredibly fatiguing for my legs, and sometimes not in a good way. The aftershock from the impact of traipsing those hard floors can sometimes carry into the next day. In fact, the current issue I am having with my knee came to a head when shopping with a friend. I nearly passed out from the physical pain I was in (though I had a smile plastered on my face because I was desperate to enjoy the afternoon) and had to leave the mall (gasp!) empty-handed. Unfortunately, it seems that retail therapy is not the best form of physical therapy for me lately. 

While I am a major lover of online shopping for this reason, sometimes nothing beats wandering the aisles and checking out the merchandise. Instant gratification aside, it's also something that's tied into my feelings about my independence: I want to know that I don't HAVE to rely on another person or service to get the things I genuinely need and to do the things I enjoy. 

When I had a cane after surgery in 2012, I still managed to push the cart with one hand while using my cane with the other. Since I have had to use crutches, I have found that putting the crutches under one arm and pushing the cart takes major coordination. Motivated by the desire to maintain my independence and to get some exercise, I shopped like this even as my body has made the gradual decline into the situation I am in today. While it's do-able when I need to run into our small local grocery store to grab a couple of items, having to wander a larger store like Target is more of a challenge. Even so, shopping smaller stores is no simple task for my legs, or my whole body for that matter. (Side note: for major grocery hauls, I have them delivered. Delivery service is inexpensive, and getting groceries feels like more of a chore than a Target run.) But after nearly passing out in the middle of a children's clothing boutique, I realized that push had come to shove and my days of shopping as physical therapy, at least in big box stores, were over.

During one of my water aerobics classes, we were discussing pain management and how we as a culture can be resistant to our options. We resist taking aspirin for a headache. That's for weaklings. Taking the electric scooter? That's for lazy people. We don't view these options as health management. It clicked with me then that taking the scooter was not "the lazy choice". I physically can't get around the store with a cart and crutches. I am the person those devices are designed to help. I know that I have tried everything I can to be independent on my feet, but right now (and maybe from now on) I am unable to do a large shopping trip without help.

Swallowing my pride (and my fear), I hopped on a scooter at Target yesterday afternoon. With my list in tow, I headed to the cleaning supplies aisle. I found that they are surprisingly pretty easy to drive (though slightly slower than I would have liked) and maneuver. I wish they were a little more compact, as it can be difficult to pass a cart coming down the aisle, but I actually enjoyed myself. The fear and shame melted within minutes, and I was so thrilled with being able to get the job done myself that I puttered around the ENTIRE store just because I could. After all, no trip to Target is complete if you haven't gotten at least a few things you don't really need. 

The thought of not being able to do the things I love the most as I deal with the ups and downs of my disability is frightening. My top two favorite pastimes (travel and shopping) require major walking. It is frustrating not to be able to do these things the way in which I used to be able to do them--which was a challenge even then. As life becomes progressively more challenging for me, I have to remember that taking the help is not giving up, but rather reclaiming my life.

I took a video of me learning to drive the cart. Because operating a phone while using the cart seemed like a great idea.

Mercier Mondays #3 // Eye Basics

Keeping it in the theme of staples, eyeshadow primer has become a staple in everyone's makeup bag in recent times. Promising to boost the color of our eyeshadow and keep it crease-free all day, eye primers -like face primers- earn their keep.

I had never heard of eyeshadow primer before I tested the Laura Mercier Eye Basics at Macy's. I quickly wrote it off as a fad item that did nothing more than my concealer was already doing. However, at the end of the day when I noticed that my eye makeup looked as fresh as it had at the counter, I was completely sold.

Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen (top) and Eyebright (bottom)

Due to its cult following, most people flock to the Urban Decay Primer Potion when shopping for an eye base. While it is a good product, I much prefer the Laura Mercier Eye Basics. For one, I prefer its texture as it is a smoother, creamier base that dries down quickly. Though it also leaves a less tacky finish than UD's Primer Potion, shadow has no problem adhering itself to this primer. Finally, it delivers on its promise of extending the longevity of your eye makeup, keeping your shadow vibrant, crease-free, and in place for the entire day.

The Eye Basics shade range is one of the most extensive I've seen in the eyeshadow primer market, boasting a whopping 8 shades. Beyond the usual skin tone shades, there are blue, peach, and yellow toned shades which aim to brighten and even out the skin. Though I have the blue "Eyebright" shade, I don't find it to work any better than my usual shade, Linen. Both brighten my eye area and give makeup a long lasting finish.

Hand swatches of Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen (top) and Eyebright (bottom)

I have worn this product alone when aiming for a no-makeup look, but I find it works better with a light dusting of powder or neutral eyeshadow over it. I've found it to be true of all eye primers that they work better with eyeshadow than alone, ironically enough. Even so, once you try an eyeshadow primer you'll wonder how you ever got by without one.

Laura Mercier Eye Basics - $25

This is not an affiliate link. 

Mercier Mondays #2 // Pressed Setting Powder

I've noticed a theme emerging in choosing products for my Mercier Mondays series: they tend to be staples that I cannot live without, dependable products which I purchase again and again, and often are the only products of their kind in my collection. Though I love to experiment across brands, setting powders, much like primers, are few and far between in my collection. I have yet to find one that does a better job than Laura Mercier's Pressed Setting Powder in translucent.

Laura Mercier Pressed Setting Powder

Setting powders are the unsung heroes of the makeup world. Their performance can make or break your look's longevity, yet they do their job correctly by being invisible. We expect them to set our makeup for the long day ahead, keep it in place, and do so without being dry, cakey, or chalk-white.

The Laura Mercier site describes their pressed setting powder as a "fine-milled French 'cashmere' talc". They are right on the money in describing it as finely milled: it goes on smoothly and blurs into nothing, taking imperfections with it. It does so all without changing the look or appearance of your foundation and locks your look into place.

Because of its invisibility cloak, photographing it in action would require a National Geographic photographer. However, I believe the photo below of the product in its packaging, large divot in the center and pan exposed, is evidence enough: this is one seriously beloved product in my collection. It's becoming evident to me that the Laura Mercier brand is the backbone of my collection.

Laura Mercier Pressed Setting Powder - $34

This is not an affiliate link. 

Split Knee Caps and Post-Mortem Birthdays // Putting the Spite in Despite

Yesterday I found out I have a split knee cap. I will have an MRI done this Sunday to further investigate and see if I have good cartilage. This will help determine whether or not surgery will be worth it. (They'll be consulting with a trauma surgeon.) Given my condition, surgery might be a waste as it could be a recurring problem. Fearing another ruptured tendon seems stupid now, given that I wish it were now my problem. The grass is always greener elsewhere...

I am unclear as to how I injured my knee this way. My new doctor noted that isn't unusual, given my lack of/poor level of sensation in my legs. Neuropathy is a mixed blessing. However, I'm still managing pain in the aftermath of the injury. Walking is not easy. I've been doing modified moves in my swim classes. I would prefer not to add "chronic pain" to my already long list of conditions.

The doctor was very nice and is helping me set up my own "mini clinic" within the hospital for the various problems I have with my spina bifida. As he noted, people with SB have great care until they're 18, then it tends to fall off the map. Truth. (In all fairness I let it fall off the map because I am/was exhausted by dealing with it.) He also recommended that I get Canadian crutches. Kind of resisting because I am already sick of looking like the poster child for being a crip... I can only grin and take so much. Right now, I'm not even interested in color coordinating them with my clothes.

So, like the doctor said, more questions and less answers as of right now. It's never cut and dry for me. Mobility is always the end goal. Preserving my half-ass situation. I feel like the boat that keeps springing leaks...

Yesterday was also my late dad's 57th birthday. Speaking of things that never get easier, that tops the list. This year marks 25 years since his passing.

Though I had my good cry yesterday (and I feel it was completely justified given all that yesterday was) I am hanging onto the aire of mystery that will linger until after the MRI. (Heck, maybe longer.) Here's hoping, like the X-rays of the rest of my affected areas showed, that I'm in pretty good condition despite my long list of issues. Fortunately, it still feels easier to push despair away because I've got too much to do than expend all of my energy tending to my health and emotions. I'm far more interested in fighting for what I have left than pissing and moaning about what I don't.

I'm not the poster child for being a happy gimp. I hate my situation. I'd trade many things (but not everything) to change it if given the opportunity. Everyone deals with their health in different ways, and my way isn't to be the smiling inspirational speaker that tells you that you can overcome any obstacle you set your mind to. I've never been one to happily accept being force-fed this situation. My way is to say f*ck this, and to put the "spite" in despite. I do things despite my health, despite the fact that I wasn't supposed to be able to, and despite the things thrown at me. Any chance I have to spite my poor health, I take it.

Maybe it's more socially acceptable for people to say "you can do it!" rather than "f*ck this". However, social acceptability seems more of an enemy when your own body goes against the norm, and you have no choice in the matter.

Mercier Mondays #1 // Tinted Moisturizer and Foundation Primer

To kick off my June Mercier Mondays series, I thought it appropriate to discuss the first products I ever purchased from the brand: the tinted moisturizer and foundation primer.

Currently working through Sephora deluxe sizes - a little goes a long way!

Laura Mercier is known for their "flawless face" technique, and their cult-favorite tinted moisturizer is part of the flawless face line up. While there are 4 variations to choose from (illuminating, oil-free, crème compact, and regular) all are packed with broad spectrum SPF 20. The regular version (in the shade nude) remains my favorite across not only Laura Mercier's product lineup, but across the product lineup of any brand out there. It is indeed my holy grail foundation.

Rarely do I wear full coverage foundation. I'm quite pleased with my skin and though I wouldn't consider it perfect, I do like to let it show through rather than cover it up. More often than not, I opt for sheer coverage products, so I most often reach for a tinted moisturizer as my base.

Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer delivers the sheer coverage I'm looking for without ever being cakey or heavy. It is easily buildable if you desire another layer of coverage and blends with ease. While most products with SPF can give off that sunscreen smell, this tinted moisturizer has no detectable scent. It never clings to dry patches, living up to its duties as a moisturizer, and I sometimes reach for this product for spot touch-ups when wearing other foundations that can cling to my dry patches. Best of all, it's great for quick applications if you're in a rush, sinking into skin immediately and leaving no evidence behind that you're wearing makeup while still blurring minor imperfections and creating an even complexion. So confident I was in this product's ability to give me a "my-skin-but-better" appearance, I wore it on my wedding day.

Before

With primer and tinted moisturizer + minimal product (mascara, under eye concealer, eye shadow primer + neutral shadow, translucent powder, clear lip balm)

Laura Mercier's Foundation Primer was the first makeup primer I had ever tried before. For someone on a student budget, like I was when I purchased my first tube, it may seem like an expendable part of one's makeup routine. As I learned, however, a primer can not only aid in the application of your product but also extend its wear, making it a workhorse that earns its keep in your collection. There are a whopping 7 primers in the Laura Mercier lineup that go the extra mile by illuminating, bronzing, hydrating, or other functions, but again I remain loyal to the tried-and-true original formula. While you can apply the tinted moisturizer without the primer, the primer definitely adds more ease to the application and extends its wear time. The colorless formula also doubles as skincare, containing vitamins and antioxidants that nourish the skin. Because it does such a great job, I have yet to stray from this favorite and have never purchased a primer from another brand.

As a self-professed product junkie, that fact alone speaks for itself.

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - $33

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen - $43

These are not affiliate links.