Ms. Laura Mercier: Please Liberate Your Luxe Lash Curler

On a recent trip to the mother ship (Sephora) I noticed that 95% of lash curlers resemble instruments one finds on the doctor's tray during an oft-feared female ritual, the annual exam. (No FTC, I'm not sure if that figure is accurate.)

When I'm getting beautiful in the morning, I'd rather not attack my eyelashes with an ob/gyn-like device. That, and my deep set eyes, led me to look for more from my lash curles. A few months ago, while chatting with my local Laura Mercier counter attendant (love her!) at Nordstroms I found a beautiful, friendly, ergonomically correct lash curler that left my lashes feeling cushioned, cared-for, and well-shaped. Unfortunately Laura Mercier's luxe burgundy-colored lash curler is only available as part of her $125 Eye Design Kit. (Laura, could you please reconsider this error in marketing?)

Until Laura reconsiders, Sephora has a pared down but architecturally identical version for only $14(pictured above). It's not the real thing, but my lashes haven't been this happy in a long long time. Enjoy!

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Beauty's Product: New Mini Lip Colour Palette from Laura Mercier

A rose colour palette to match your rosy cheeks this winter! This mini lip colour palette will set you back $40 but I find it completely irresistible.

Laura Mercier Cherries Noir Collection

Ms. Mercier's latest for fall. Gorgeous, isn't she? I'm going to Sephora for breakfast to get my hands on that new lip velvet. Get the lovely details on the full look here.

Beauty's Product RAVE: Lychee Lip Plumper by Laura Mercier

Isn't she beautiful? This stunner caught my eye whilst playing in Sephora. Smooth and silky upon application this sexy little white applicator paints on perfect plumpers. Leave it to Laura Mercier to make a Lychee sexy. The otherwise odd, rather unattractive fruit makes for a plumper pout, and smoother, hydrated lips. After applying, a cooling effect builds up over 20 minutes to plump lips, lasting up to two hours. The product however absorbs right into the skin leaving your suddenly plumper visage a tasty mystery. I couldn't stop playing with my lips the whole day. So fun.

Just to feed my growing obsession with Southeast Asian plant-based cosmetics lychee, and it's odder looking cousin Rambutan, are pictured below.

Beauty's Product: Laura Mercier Eye Basics

When Laura emails I listen. You know how I purchased her Mineral SPF powder a few weeks back? It's changing my entire makeup routine and I love, love, love it. I'm just as intrigued by these new and improved flawless formulas for your eyes! Laura Mercier re-introduces her iconic Eye Basics, creating a perfect water-resistant and crease-proof canvas to brighten and smooth imperfections. Enriched with natural botanical extracts,Eye Basics also offers healing benefits. Get the full list of ingredients and benefits here. Place a minimum order of $50.00 and receive complimentary shipping (on lauramercier.com only.)

Beauty's Product: It's Mercier, Laura Mercier

There is nothing I love more than beauty products gone Bond. As much as my beauty routine can be flummoxed by long delays, forgotten brushes, and new climates, travelling forces me to become a beauty MacGyver of sorts. Laura Mercier has gotten totally hip to the idea and her new Undercover Pot masterfully combines three key award-winning products:

Secret Camouflage - easy touch-ups
Secret Concealer - combat dark under eye circles
Translucent Loose Setting Powder - control shine throughout the day

This is a new Beauty's SPOT must have.

Travel Life Saver: Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15

Although I often claim Eminence Organics' Sun Defense SPF 30 is the be all and end all of mineral products, it does in fact have one flaw: the packaging. Do you have any idea what it's like to have found the perfect product (organic, SPF 30, absolutely invisible to the naked eye) and not be able to use it every day because the packaging is so effing impossible? Yes, you're women, of course you do. The Eminence Organics' Sun Defense brush through which the minerals are dispensed is a finicky miserly hag. Most days I fight the good fight or break the brush and MacGyver my way into the mineral treasure chest. On travel days, I don't have the time to mess.

Fortunately for you, my dispiriting conundrum has transformed me into a seeker of suitable minerals and/or SPF combinations. My last attempt, while a good piece of the SPF/tint/moisturizer puzzle, left me with uneven coverage and enough oil to solve our current energy crisis. Horror on Connecticut vaccay. Ran back to the city to hunt for minerals.

At long last, the Sephora in Union Square provided my sanctuary. After seeking aesthetic solace and testing every available powder with minimal ingredients I discovered, not surprisingly, that the much-hyped Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15 won the top prize. The coverage is complete and the final finish is practically perfect. It's not organic but Zinc Oxide and Pearl Powder are the only ingredients. The SPF 15 doesn't measure up to Eminence's SPF 30 but I don't have to break the effing container to apply it either. My skin drinks it in with a calming satisfied ease that assures me it is relatively earth and body friendly. I tried it with a number of different brushes and found the Sephora Brand Platinum Bronzer Brush was the Kelly Clarkson of the this impromptu contest.

Laura Mercier totally digs my summer lip color

So remember how I totally fell in love with NARS Lip Laquer in Capucine? Apparently Laura Mercier has also fallen for the sunset look on the lips. Both the NARS Miami Sunset collection and Laura Mercier are built around the colors of a summer sunset and it is such a beautiful summer look. Honestly I'd love to try and describe it to you but Laura did a great job and I have a movie night to attend to where I will be watching Freaky Friday. So I'll let her explain the look below.

L'Heure Magique: The magic hour. When the light begins to gently fade and the world becomes surreal. Capture your "magic hour" with the soft, yet feminine hues of silver-blues, heather and hints of pink and peach that reflect the sun's retreat amidst a smoky sky using the three new limited edition Eye Colour Trios.
Get This Look.
View the entire L'Heure Magique Collection now.
Hurry! Complimentary standard ground shipping now through Sunday, June 29th at 11:59 PM CST. Offer available on lauramercier.com only.

Alert! Nordie's pre-sale starts today! Chanel, Dior, Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown Exclusives on Sale!

Where can you get MAC, Chanel, Juicy Couture, NARS, Kiehl’s, Laura Mercier, Marc Jacobs, Dior, Bobbi Brown and Philosophy on sale? Nordstroms of course. Or on your couch while visiting Nordstrom.com.

On July 18th through August 3rd, shoppers nationwide will rise with the sun and rush to their nearest Nordstrom. This ritual signifies the beginning of the two week period where the limited supply of coveted Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusive items become available. So, what is the best way to guarantee a successful shopping mission? The answer is easy: PRE-ORDER!



Beginning June 23rd, Nordstrom is pre-selling your favorite exclusives both in stores and online at Nordstrom.com, allowing consumers to reserve these limited-edition offerings from their favorite brands. On July 18th the race to the cosmetic department will begin, as devoted beauty junkies can seize the opportunity to get a hold of these unique items.