What They Say: "Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation is a layerable, highly pigmented formula to be used only where needed & allows the user to determine the amount of coverage. Complete range of yellow-based foundations created to accommodate most women & help them achieve the most natural, "no makeup" look. Apply very sheerly or layer for more coverage. Never looks cakey or heavy because of the lightweight formula. Extremely long-wearing, stays colour true, & wears evenly. Vitamins A, C & E act as antioxidants to protect the skin from harmful effects in the environment. Oil-free, yet non-drying. Ideal for all skin types."

Jen's Experience: I generally keep two foundations on hand - one that has more coverage that I wear to work, and one that's a tinted moisturizer for weekends. This one is actually perfect for work. It's lightweight and doesn't look too overdone, but at the same time, the coverage is buildable so I can apply more in the places where my skin needs the most help. The shade "blush ivory" could not have been more perfect for me; it blends into my skin so incredibly well I can't tell where my skin ends and the foundation begins. Perfect -- except for one kinda big problem. It totally dries out my skin. With the temperatures over 100 degrees, it seems like it should be that hard to keep moisturized, but instead my skin feels like it's the middle of winter. I've tried my most luxurious moisturizers, and still my skin remains dry. If you've got oily skin, this is probably just the ticket. But for me, I need something that pampers my skin a little more.

Retail Price: $42.00 (LauraMercier.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Liner delivers long-lasting pure colour with a rich texture similar to Kohl Eye Pencils.

• Ideal formula applies effortlessly, & is mistake-proof


• Never drops colour onto the cheek or face


• Buildable pigment allows inifinite looks


• Use wet or dry for a smoky look

Jen's Experience: I was drawn to this eyeliner first for the rich black color (and being made by Laura Mercier certainly didn't hurt). I was a little disappointed when I first started using it. Wet or dry, it goes on very lightly -- you really have to layer it on to get any appreciable color to it. So, I guess in that respect, it's totally mistake-proof. I got the best color results using the Laura Mercier Wet/Dry Definer Brush that I got last year. It does blend nicely and makes it very easy to get the smoky eye look going on. Unfortunately, it does tend to smear a little if you wipe your eyes, so I tend avoid this one when I'm going to be staring at a computer screen all day. Otherwise, it does a pretty nice job of staying put and lasting throughout the day. Any doubts that I've had about it have been erased just by all the compliments I get when I wear it.

Retail Price: $22.00 (LauraMercier.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Laura Mercier Stickgloss cares for your lips while delivering colour in a sheer and sophisticated finish. Part Lip Balm, part Lip Colour and part Lip Glace, Stickgloss provides a sheer wash of colour, creates dimension and adds fullness to the lips. Stickgloss is ultra-hydrating and longer wearing than a traditional Lip Glace."

Jen's Experience: I picked this up when I was in New York for Fashion Week, and have been carrying it in my purse ever since. I chose a tint called Brown Sugar, a nice glossy, nude that looks great with my skin tone and is a great match with more dramatic eye make-up. This lip colour is really nicely moisturizing, and the moisturizing effects are long-lasting. Unfortunately, the color is not so much, an hour or two at best. Overall, it's not bad and it works pretty similarly to other glosses I have, but it's not something I would purchase again.

Retail Price: $20.00 (LauraMercier.com or your local Laura Mercier counter)

Rating:

What They Say: "Laura Mercier Lip Pencil is designed to outline, define & enhance the natural shape of the lip. Firm enough to draw a precise thin line, yet soft enough to blend, the creamy formula glides on smoothly & comfortably. Prolong wear of all lip colours by applying a lip pencil first - helps prevent lip colour from bleeding, feathering, or collecting in corner."

Jen's Experience: When I wear deeper colored lipsticks, I think that lip pencils are often essential to keep my color on my lips where it belongs. With all of the lovely reds and chestnut colors popular this fall, I've been getting a lot of use out my Laura Mercier lip pencil in Chestnut. It goes on so softly, but really does stay put. Because it blends so easily, I find that I can wear it with a variety of different red colors.

Sometimes I like to just wear lip pencil all over my lips and just wear a lip plumper or a gloss over top. Because this lip pencil is really thick, it just was a little too gummy to wear as all-over color. That's a minor thing, though, and not a recommended use of the product. As a lip liner, I am a big fan, and will likely be purchasing additional colors to go with my other lipsticks.

Retail Price: $18.00 (LauraMercier.com)

Rating:

About the Eyeshadow: "Laura Mercier's Mineral Eye Powders delivers an alluring sparkle with its loose powder formula. Highly versatile, these six shades can be applied wet or dry to change the texture and definition of the eyes. Ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested."

About the brush: "Laura Mercier's Wet/Dry Definer Brush is a unique, black synthetic fiber brush with short, pointed bristles perfection for precise application of wet & dry formulations. Extremely versatile, the Wet/Dry Definer Brush lays down colour evenly and the tapered tip allows for precise lining and filling in of the lash line."

Jen's Experience: After seeing how amazing this season's deep colors can be, I was really excited to have the opportunity to try these new mineral powders from Laura Mercier. Their regular Eye Shadow and Eye Creme are in my rotation of make-up that I wear both to work and out on the town. These eye powders looked really shimmery, so I assumed I would have to reserve them for evenings. Out of the colors I tried, Galaxy is a silvery white, Constellation is a deep purple, and Meteor is a jewel green.

I tried out Galaxy first, since it seemed the tamest, but quickly found that it wasn't very noticable on its own -- it needs another color to make it work. I moved on to Constellation, which reminds me a lot of their creme color in Titanium. Used wet with the definer brush, this color makes a great base for an ultra-dark eyes look. The color goes on almost as a charcoal. Meteor is the most striking of the three and the most intense, but was also my favorite. Even though it's a jewel green, it looked great with a variety of outfits even for daytime wear.

I was actually surprised (and relieved) by the lack of sparkle in the eyeshadows. They are still irridescent enough to create interest, but they're not so garish that they can't be worn to work or out for a casual shopping day. The color is really dense, and while I may lose some intensity throughout the day, I'm always surprised to come home and still have my eye colour relatively the same.

It's not always in the same place though. I found that when I attempted to apply this eyeshadow dry, I made a mess of it and ended up with flecks of shadow all over my cheeks. But when I apply it wet, I get so much shadow on the definer brush that it's easy to over-apply. It creases somewhat, so I end up applying the color to most of my eyelids. I also have issues with the eyeshadow migrating when I rub my eyes. If I keep myself busy and manage not to touch my eyes, the eyeshadow will stay perfectly in place for hours, though.

While this probably won't get a place in my regular eyeshadow rotation like my other Laura Mercier shadows, I will definitely keep these shadows around to throw a little interest in my make-up routine from time to time. The wet/dry definer brush is something that is a good pick for someone who is trying for the smoky or ultra-dark eyes look.

Retail Prices:
Eyeshadow - $20.00 each
Wet/Dry Definer Brush - $26.00

Ratings:
Eyeshadow -
Wet/Dry Definer Brush -

What They Say: “This weightless powder imparts a soft, gentle shimmer that’s flattering on everyone. It never looks harsh or artificial, even during the day and doesn’t add additional color.”

Toya’s Take: I am in love with this product! It has come highly recommended from other beauty mavens, so I knew I had to have it! Unfortunately, Sephora only sells it online, not in the stores, but I was in King of Prussia Mall (heaven!), so I was able to walk over to Neiman Marcus and pick it up at the Laura Mercier counter.

The powder lives up to the hype. It works as a beautiful bronzer for all complexions and a wonderful, shimmery blush for brown-skinned women. It adds a soft, luminescent glow to the skin and feels positively silky going on – it’s the smoothest powder I’ve ever felt! It’s marketed as a setting powder, but I wouldn’t really use it all over, unless you don’t mind having a faint glow on your entire face. However, when brushed lightly across cheeks, forehead, nose and chin (like you would with a bronzer) you instantly look fabulous. Be aware, though, that, contrary to what “they say”, the powder does add just a bit of color, in the case of “Sun Dust”, a coppery hint that I think is quite lovely.

Retail Price: $34.00 (at lauramercier.com and sephora.com as well as select department stores)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Laura Mercier has added two more best seller's to her famous Beauty Library...Bronzing Books in Bronzed and Gilded. The Bronzed Book includes 2 Pressed Powders, 3 Illuminating Sticks (in pressed form), 2 Stickglosses and 2 Eye Colours."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: My initial impression of these books is just how well the colors are coordinated. You do get a lot of options with these palettes due to the selection inside. First of all, I used the book in Gilded, as that was more suited to my skin tone.

The Pressed Powders (a light and a darker bronzer in each) are pretty easy to apply without looking heavy, and don't contain the heavy shimmer in some bronzers. My only complaint about them was that even when using a pretty high-quality brush, the powder seemed to leave a lot of residue all over that part of the palette afterward which I had to make sure to blow off.

The pressed Illuminating Sticks were something I've never tried but was really impressed with. The texture is hard to describe...not glossy like a lip gloss or even the consistency of a lipstick...more like that of a gel eyeliner. And laid on top of the bronzer, this gave a lovely glow. I used the more pink shade on my cheeks, and laid the more gold shade on top of the eye shadow and it gave some highlight to the center of my lid and browbones.

I wasn't overly-impressed with the Stickglosses; I felt they could have stayed on longer. But the color choices were nice, and if I had laid them on thicker with a brush over liner they may have fared better.

Finally, the Eye Shadow is something I really liked. Great combo of colors and smooth application with nice staying power. Very wearable.

Overall, I think if you're already a fan of Laura Mercier products and are looking for some new summer colors, one of these two palettes may give you the basics for your look. However, as a new client I wouldn't run out to buy one without at least testing some of the product in a store first.

Retail Price: $45 (lauramercier.com or sephora.com - UK and other international readers, help us out by letting us know in the comments if you know where other readers can purchase this internationally)

DeLush Rating:

I went to the Laura Mercier counter looking for some new eyeshadow colors, but came away with a modern take on some classic colors. With a fair complexion and blue eyes, I've been enjoying the brighter pastel colors that have been popular this season. But what to wear with the new khakis and trenchcoats that I've been seeing for Spring?

Laura Mercier's Metallic Creme Eye Color ($22.00) is the start to this totally modern neutral palette. Metallics are very trendy right now, and these eye creams will help give your eyes dimension without being overly shiny. Platinum is my base color for most occasions. It's a slightly pink-y beige color that helps to even out the darkness in my eye and give the main eyeshadow colors a base to really make them stand out when I apply it to the entire eye area all the way up to my eyebrow. For evening, their titanium looks great with or without another eyeshadow color. Cream eye shadows often don't last throughout the day, but applying on top of a foundation base and really setting it with powder make Laura Mercier's eye cream from morning throughout the day flawlessly.

Over top of the cream eyeshadow, I have two Laura Mercier Shimmer Eye Colours in Sable and Star Fruit ($20.00/ea). I apply the Sable (much darker than it appears on their site) on the area of my lower lids. I use my eyeshadow brush to bring the color above the crease on the outer edges of my eye. Finally, I take a little of the Star Fruit and put it on the apple of my eye lid, just for a little extra dimension.

You can easily bring this look into the evening by taking some dark grey eyeshadow, such as Laura Mercier's in Black Smoke and use it to line the edges of the eye on the top and bottom lashes in a very thin line. Then, blend the line you've created on the top lids upwards to create a smokey effect that is understated and elegant.

Not only am I in love with the colors, they're clearly high-quality products. The texture is very creamy. They apply easily and without creasing. Plus, they last throughout the day. These Laura Mercier eye colors are my best make-up purchase in quite a while.

Rating:

What They Say: "This botanical primer contains light reflecting ingredients that create a smooth invisible layer. It prepares and protects the skin enabling your foundation to stay fresh all day. "

Jen's Experience:  I got this product after seeing it used time after time on magazine cover girls.  I use this product on a daily basis underneath my normal foundation to even out my complexion and to make my foundation last longer.   I even use it on weekends without the foundation, with just a little powder.   You might think with a moisturizer, a foundation primer and the foundation itself that you would feel like Tammy Faye Baker, but this is very, very light.  You won't even be able to tell you have it on.  And there's absolutely no odor.   If you are using this to make your foundation last longer, you'll find that this works better on thicker foundations.  I haven't really seen it make much of a difference in the wear of my thinner foundations. 

Tips:  When I first started using this product, I thought it didn't really cover my some of the larger pores near my nose.  I figured out (after reading the directions more closely) that you need to really massage it into your face to get the full results. And then I figured out that you need more than just a thin layer over your larger pores to get the best results.  See more tips on the product web page.

Retail Price: $29.00 (Laura Mercier)

Rating:

"Taking inspiration from the overshadowing fog and storm clouds emulated in fall's fashion palette, Laura Mercier created the Stormy Collection. Eyes take center stage with shades of grey that are offset by inky ore-like metallic hues in the limited edition Eye Colour Quad and three new Kohl Eye Pencil shades. With intense shading on the eyes, lips are forced to surrender to minimal colour with the new Lip Colour - Creme shades. "

Jen Says: I have always been a huge fan of Laura Mercier and I love how their collections are always filled with items that work with trends from the current season but are colors that will work for seasons to come. The brights that are so popular this season come in the form of bright eyeshadow palettes and eyeliners. But all the coordinating shades, the charcoals, grays, and three fantastic lipstick shades in pink are the ones to stock up and keep for years to come.