MANILA, Philippines - If creating looks that are flawless and naturally beautiful is included in your Christmas wish list, then Laura Mercier can grant your wish. Laura Mercier is a world-renowned makeup artist and creator of Laura Mercier Cosmetics, Skincare, Body & Bath and Fragrance. She is the personal makeup artist to celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Roberts and Juliette Binoche.
Raised in Provence, Laura began her training at age 17 when she entered painting school in Paris. After deciding to shift her talents from the canvas to the face, Laura attended the Carita School where she specialized in makeup application. Subsequently she represented Carita as a makeup artist and makeup teacher, working closely with Thibault Vabre.
In 1985, Laura moved to New York when she was asked to join the team to launch American Elle. She immediately began working on advertising campaigns for Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, Clairol, as well as editorial spreads for magazines including Elle, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Seventeen and several other publications. She began working with clients such as L’Oreal, Maybelline, Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Banana Republic and many other cosmetic and clothing companies, while working with Madonna on her looks for print, television and film. Subsequently Laura entered into a four-year contract with Elizabeth Arden, designing the makeup looks for all of the company’s advertising campaigns, and also worked with Chanel on the company’s beauty advertising campaigns in France.
In 1996, Laura developed Laura Mercier Cosmetics to benefit women of all ages and skin types. She personally created the colors to satisfy the needs of her clients, based on a classic and always-current palette, rather than seasonal trends only. The line is now available in almost 853 stores in 26 countries at stores including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Sephora and many others. Her products are now available at all Rustan’s Department Stores in the Philippines.
The Laura Mercier line has received numerous accolades from customers and magazine editors. Her Tinted Moisturizer is repeatedly being named in magazine “Best Of” awards. InStyle’s 2009 Best Beauty Buys included Tinted Moisturizer, Oil Free Foundation and Secret Camouflage. The 2007 and 2008 Best Beauty Buys also included Tinted Moisturizer. InStyle’s 2004 Best Beauty Buys included the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, Tinted Moisturizer and Lip Kisses, Allure’s 2003 Best Beauty Award for Courtisane Lip Colour and Cosmopolitan’s 2003 Best for Eye Paints. In addition, Laura has received numerous awards for her involvement in the campaigns on behalf of Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Valentino and Alberta Ferretti, as well as her cover designs for Vogue (working with photographer Steven Meisel for 10 years), Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire and Allure, for her cosmetics. In addition to Sarah Jessica Parker and Julia Roberts, Laura’s current clients include Madonna, Susan Sarandon, Isabella Rosellini, Brooke Shields, Ellen Barkin, Celine Dion, Meg Ryan, Ashley Judd, Meryl Streep and Julia Ormond.
Creating the ‘Rosario’ look
In the Philippine entertainment scene, Laura Mercier cosmetic products were used to create the flawless and natural beauty of Jennylyn Mercado for the publicity photos for her movie Rosario. Rosario, a colorful period film, is an entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival.
Sean Stevenson, a Chicago-based regional training manager of Laura Mercier, created the “Rosario” look for Jennylyn. Here’s how:
Step 1: Prime the skin by applying Foundation Primer to clean the face. The Foundation Primer is a lightweight, creamy gel meant to be used prior to foundation to act as a buffer to outside elements. It is available in Oil Free, Regular and Hydrating Formula.
Laura Mercier’s Tip: Keep the Foundation Primer in the refrigerator for an even more refreshing feel on the skin and to help reduce puffiness.
Step 2: Apply Crème Smooth Foundation (available in shades like Warm Ivory, Vanilla Beige, Sunny Beige, Blush Ivory, Golden Beige, Tawny Beige, Porcelain Ivory, Shell Beige and Honey). Crème Smooth Foundation is perfect for normal to dry skin and offers buildable coverage with a radiant, smooth finish.
Step 3: Apply Secret Camouflage Concealer. This industry-favorite product comes in six shades. It is created with high level of pigment so your skin will achieve full coverage with little product used.
Flawless extras: Apply Secret Brightening powder to your under eye and blend outwards to hide dark circles.
Step 4: Set face with Loose Translucent Powder so as not to distort the color of your makeup. This Laura Mercier product is an extremely lightweight, sheer and silky setting powder that contains the finest French “cashmere” talc and a unique light-reflecting ingredient that creates a “soft-focus” appearance for fine lines and imperfections.
Day Look
Eyes:
1. Apply Wheat Eye Basics as eye primer.
2. Apply Butter cream eyeshadow to eyelids using an eye color brush.
3. Apply Coffee Ground eyeshadow on the crease of the eyes and blend with a ponytail brush.
4. Apply Black Caviar Eyeliner close to lash line with a flat eyeliner brush.
5. For the eyebrows, use the Blonde triangular eyebrow pencil and set with the Brow Powder Duo in Soft Blonde using a Double-Ended eyebrow brush.
6. Curl eyelashes and apply two coats of Full Blown Mascara to add volume to the lashes.
Cheeks:
7. Apply City Pink Blush to the apple of the cheeks with a Cheek Color Brush.
8. Apply Matte Bronzer on the temples of the face, under the cheekbones and jawline where the sun usually hits your face. Use the number “3” technique.
Lips:
9. Apply Sandcastle Crème Lip color and top with Pink Tulle Lip Glace.
Night Look
Eyes:
1. Apply Wheat Eye Basics as eye primer.
2. Using the Eye Colour Brush, apply Violetta Sequin Color Eyeshadow to the eye lids.
3. Apply Peacock Sequin Color Eyeshadow using a ponytail brush to give depth to the eyes.
4. Apply Black Caviar Eyeliner close to lash line with a flat eyeliner brush.
6. Curl eyelashes and apply two coats of Full Blown Mascara to add volume to the lashes.
Cheeks:
7. Apply City Pink Blush to the apple of the cheeks with a Cheek Color Brush.
8. Apply Matte Bronzer on the temples of the face, under the cheekbones and jaw line where the sun usually hits your face. Use the number “3” technique.
Lips:
9. Apply Truly Red Crème Lip Colour to give the look a little edge.
(Laura Mercier products are available in all Rustan’s Department Stores.)