Good As Gold

I’m loving all things gold lately. I want to throw the glinty metallic hue into everything, from outfits to beauty routines to tablescapes. Here are some the goldies I’m loving lately.

1. Laura Mercier Illuminating Eye Color in Gilded Moonlight ($24)
2. Gilded striped cake via Pinterest
3. Sephora + Pantone Universe Opulent Lacquer Trio in Gold ($18)
4. A natural, gold-infused tablesetting (via Ruffled on Pinterest)
5. Stella McCartney Shiny Starlets Glitter Pumps ($600)
6. Kate Spade New York Idiom Bangle, “Look on the Bright Side” ($58)
7. J.Crew Factory Sequin Evening Bag ($42.50)
8. Tory Burch “Fox Head” Drop Earrings ($52.79)
9. Topshop Glow Highlighter in Polish ($18)

What hues are having a moment in your life? Share in the comments. Have a great weekend! xoxo

Laura Mercier Holiday ’12

Laura Mercier’s Holiday 2012 collection is sleek, sophisticated, and unabashedly glamorous. It’s dominated by soft pinks & nudes, dark, rich shades, skin with a rosy glow, and major eye drama.

Take a peek at the items in the collection below.

*Items marked LE are limited-edition.

Glamour Wardrobe: Double Decker Colour for Eyes, Cheeks & Lips ($98): A whopper of a travel palette. Includes the following:

• 8 Eyeshadows in Buttercream (Matte), Peridot (Lustre, LE), Heather Plum (Lustre, LE), Midnight Navy (Sateen, LE), Sable (Sateen), Sandstone (Sateen), Cherrywood (Lustre, LE), & Coffee Ground (Matte).
• 5 Lip Glaces in Sugarplum, Chambord, Dolce, Brick, & Papaya.
• 4 Sheer Creme Cheek Colors in Pink Veil, Golden Glow, Bronze Veil, & Rose Glow.
• 4 Brushes: Travel Pony Tail Brush (eyes), Dual-ended Crease/Smudge Brush (eyes), & Travel Lip Color Brush.

Artist Luxe Liquid Liner ($125): This is my favorite item in the collection, only because I can’t remember seeing anything like it before. Three vials of black liquid liner come with a reuseable fine-tip liquid liner pen. When you run out of ink, refill with the next vial and your liner is as good as new. Even if you wear a cateye or some form of winged liner every day, this will still last you quite a long time. Tucked in LM’s holiday croco-embossed case.

Mini Lip Glace Collection: Soft Nudes ($48): A pretty set of 5 of Laura’s signature glosses. Included shades are Bare Pink, Sweetheart (LE), Bijou (LE), Bare Baby (LE), & Bare Blush.

Mini Lip Glace Collection: Rich Berries ($48): Included shades are Violet, Rose, Cerise (LE), Sangria (LE), & Bare Beige.

Mini Baked Eye Trio – Smoky Metallics ($25): Three baked shadows let you create the ultimate smoky eye with shades of steel, charcoal, and black. Each shadow is laced with shimmer, and can be applied dry for a muted daytime look, or dampened for an intense, metallic nighttime eye.

There are more great kits after the break.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Crème Compact Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen

I’ve mentioned in several past posts that I’ve never worn foundation. It feels so heavy & cakey on my skin, and I don’t like the way it covers up my freckles. As an alternative, I love tinted moisturizer. It’s a lightweight, natural-looking alternative to foundation that still gives the coverage I need to achieve an even skin tone.

The one drawback to tinted moisturizer? It’s messy. Because it’s got a thinner consistency than regular moisturizer, it can get everywhere. Forget bringing it with me in my makeup bag because if it leaks, my purse is done for. So it stays on my vanity, which is really a drag on the mornings I’m running late and have to do my makeup on the train (which is quite often).

Laura Mercier may change that. Her brand new Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact Broad Spectrum SPF20 Sunscreen ($45) takes a liquid and turns it into a solid. I know there have been several compact foundations out there, but I’ve never seen a tinted moisturizer in solid form. This convenient compact can be tossed into your purse or makeup bag without worrying about spills and drips. The formula provides sheer coverage that you can layer to give your skin a customized finish. The moisturizer visibly softens fine lines while giving skin a nice dose of hydration, giving it a dewy effect. I’ve heard great things about Laura’s regular tinted moisturizer, so I’m sure this new formula will be a homerun, too.

More info & photos after the break.

Ask SugarSocial: Selecting The Right Concealer

If there’s one thing that seems to stump women in the beauty world, it’s face makeup. Finding the right product for you, whether it be foundation, concealer, or powder, can be tough because not only do you need to match your skintone, but you need to find a formula that gives you the coverage you desire and addresses your needs. No wonder it’s so difficult! Reader Margot is currently stumped…and who could blame her?

Margot asked:
Can you give me the best under eye concealer for a 56 year old woman? I have olive skin yet I need a good yellowish concealer to cover a blue tint under my lower lashes…have spent a small fortune on products – ALL kinds of products and nothing gives me the coverage that I need. Either too oily or too chalky…have been in the cosmetic business, so I know how to apply even the most difficult products…I just need the right one!!! PLEASE help.

What’s In My Makeup Bag

I have 3 makeup kits: a train case that has all my products that I often use when I do makeup for other people, a bigger personal case that contains the items I don’t use every day (like my smoky eyeshadows and the like), and a small bag of everyday essentials. By far, the items I turn to literally every single day are stashed in the smallest case. Here is what’s inside that case. I would recommend these products without hesitation; they’re the ones I rely on day in and day out.

1. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink ($24): This cream blush lasts all day, and is the prettiest pink shade I’ve found. It glides on whisper-soft for a gentle blush, and layers beautifully for a more pronounced flush. Note: this is the old packaging of this product; check out the new packaging, available now.

2. Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($19): Since the She Uemura curler is only sold online now, I use this–and it’s just as good. Curls expertly, with all-day hold.

3. MAC Strobe Cream ($15-$30): I mix a few drops of this into my tinted moisturizer for extra glow.

4. MAC Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden ($23): This shimmery bronzer gives my fair skin just enough bronzey glow that’s believable, not fake. Note: This packaging is from the 2010 “To The Beach” collection, and is no longer available. Refined Golden is part of MAC’s permanent collection, so the bronzer itself is still available.

Keep reading for more products!

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer

I have been searching high and low for months for a new concealer. I don’t typically have permanent dark circles under my eyes, but I’d been noticing lately that by the middle of the day, I started to look really tired. It was happening almost every day. In my endless hunt for the perfect concealer, I tried products from MAC, Smashbox, Clinique, Urban Decay, Benefit, Korres, and Maybelline–all in the past 3 months. Not one of them lasted. Everything slipped and/or faded away away after just a few hours of wear.

And then a Sephora sales rep steered me toward Laura Mercier Secret Concealer ($22). The concealer is just the right consistency: creamy, with a tiny bit of firmness. It’s moisturizing, which is essential for the thin skin of the undereye area.

This little pot saved me from dark circles! There’s little I can say about it, other than it works. Once it’s on my skin, it stays put, and the coverage stays true throughout the workday. Finally, I’ve found something that sticks. No more haggard face! And although the pot looks tiny, a little bit of product goes a long way.

I apply this with a concealer brush (MAC 195) for flawless coverage. It gets the concealer right up to my lower lashline, spreads the product evenly around the area eye for full coverage, and blends beautifully so that it looks like I’m not wearing any makeup.

Prior to finding this gem, my go-to products were MAC Pro Longwear Concealer ($17) and Smashbox High Definition Concealer ($20). Although I liked the way they both felt on my skin, they really didn’t last long on me at all. My dark circles started peeking through after a few hours. I can say with confidence that this formula keeps all my complexion imperfections s secret for the entire day. Maybe that’s where they got the name?…

What’s your favorite concealer? I’m always looking for recommendations, so share in the comments!

Laura Mercier Spring ’12: Lingerie

Laura Mercier’s spring 2012 collection, Lingerie, is pretty similar to most of the other collections we’ve been seeing for spring so far — at least in terms of color. While it’s not full of bright and vibrant colors, the shades are pretty, muted pinks, peaches, and nude tones that are lovely for transitioning into spring. They make the whole face look lighter, which I think captures the feeling of spring nicely.

So, while Mercier thinks these shades remind her of the silky feel of a slip or lace lining unmentionables, I think they pair perfectly with the rebirth idea of spring. Take a peek at the collection after the jump.

Laura Mercier Fall ’11: Canyon

Laura Mercier is known for her polished approach to natural beauty. Her fall 2011 collection, Canyon, totally fits within that realm, and features beautiful earth tones reminiscent of amber deserts, illuminated sunsets, copper canyons, and green foliage. No one feature stands out; everything is gently highlighted to bring balance to the face and maximize natural beauty. Cheeks and lips are bathed in warm ambered hues, and eyes get the green treatment with pine and cedar-inspired hues.

Click through for photos and details.

Nordstrom Fall 2010 Trend Show: Paint the Town Beautiful

Twice each year, Nordstrom puts on a fashion show…for makeup. The Philadelphia fall 2010 show, “Paint the Town Beautiful,” was on Oct. 23. Nordstrom corporate beauty director Julianne De’Chaump emceed the show. Like last year, Julianne was high-energy (at times waaay louder than necessary), and products were flying into the hands of audience members so fast, you’d think you were on Oprah’s show.

Julianne shows the crowd the Osmotics on-site facial machine with blue copper and LED treatments. Complimentary quick facials were given after the show.
MAC Senior Artist Romero Jennings (aka my makeup idol) talked about MAC’s fabulous 227 face brush (which he’s holding here in his hand), and big lashes being a huge fall trend. MAC #7 and #44 lashes are his top picks, paired with loads of Dazzleglass gloss and flawless skin.

Models worked the runway between the 3 acts: Everyday Beauty, Bold Beauty, and Modern Beauty. Themes that kept popping up as being huge for fall: bold brows, flawless skin, and dramatic red lips. Bold color on eyes and lips was hyped, too.

Laura Mercier Holiday 2010

Laura Mercier‘s holiday collection is festive, fun, and full of color. The small collection features 3 limited-edition seasonal sets that are Here’s a peek at what you can expect from this brand this holiday season.

Eye Colour Sampler ($48, pictured above) packs eight eyeshadows in a portable palette with a dual-ended brush for on-the-go touch-ups and application. Colors: Sparkling Dew, Chocolate, Latte, Pink Tulip, Ultra Violet, Pink Copper, Mica, Black Ice.

Arguably Laura’s most popular product, the Mini Lip Glace Set ($48) gives you a chance to sample the lip glosses with 5 party-ready colors that are somehow juicy, glossy, sheer, and loaded with color. Shades include Sparking, Violet, After Hours, Bare Beige, Rose.

Travel Brush Set ($85) gives you all the tools you need in travel-friendly format. The brushes are full-size heads with travel-size handles and a handy carrying case, making these a necessity, not a luxury. You get a fluffy foundation/bronzer brush, a dual-ended shadow brush (for blending and placing color), a dual-ended angled brush and spoolie brow brush, dual-ended foundation and concealer brush, and dual-ended liner and smudge brush for eyes.

Available October 2010.