I gotta be honest, a part of me thought I had the whole natural bronzed glow down pact between my Nars and Bobbi Brown beauty products.  Using Nars Bronzer in combination with Bobbi Brown’s Bronzer, all the while using Chanel foundation, I thought I had the perfect beauty combination in place.  Of course, until a random trip to Sephora led me to my new found love…Laura Mercier.  Finding the perfect light weight products to take away any concern of “heavy face” in 90 degree weather, and to boot the shimmer that comes off both these products is remarkable.  Beginning with Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer, this is magic in a bottle.  So lightweight, yet it offers amazing coverage to the face and has a subtle shimmer built in to create a natural glow.  A very small amount goes a long way, so expect to only use minimal amounts during application (like a pea size drop for each side of the face and another for down the center of the face for coverage on the forehead-nose-chin).  Once you’ve applied your tinted moisturizer, close out with Laura Mercier’s Shimmer Bloc.  So excited about this product!  While it serves as a bronzer and highlighter to apply to your upper cheekbones, above/around your brow bone, and your nose/forehead, it can also be used as eyeshadow.  Hands down, this is a MUST HAVE (MHS) and worth every penny at its $38 price tag.  If you have deeper skin tones, you the darker side of the palette on the nose, and the lighter side of the palette for the rest of your face.  Quick note- you can still apply blush with this product, and I recommend you apply your blush first (still SIL with Illamasqua powder blush), then apply the shimmer bloc.

Cat5 Thanks:  Special shout out to KJ at Sephora in Richmond, who was not only rocking out these products on her face, but let me try out a million other products with zero complaint until I fell out in LOVE with Laura Mercier’s products! 

Cat5 Tip: In the past I was using a “foundation” brush for application, which is a flat brush that reminds you of painting.  KJ turned me on to another foundation brush, which after using once and getting such even application with minimal product I’ll never go back to the other.  It’s the Sephora Classic Mineral Powder Brush #45, which retails for $26 

Pictured above (from left to right):  Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc- $38, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer- $42 

~Lauren Deloach, editor of Category5~