Laura Mercier Mini Lip Glacé Set Giveaway Contest

This limited-edition, now sold-out collection of four mini lip glacés offers a quartet of super-flattering shiny shades. The high-shine lip glosses provide rich, long-lasting color and a brilliant glaze finish that creates the appearance of fuller lips. It was a $55 value that sold for $38.



Anyone who wants a variety of wearable and flattering shades in one collection will love the set. The shades are beautiful; they don't feel sticky or heavy; and they won't feather or bleed. These are Laura Mercier's lip glosses at their best.



The formula captures the glassy, light-reflecting sheen that we all love in a lip gloss. It also features the Laura Mercier Lip Complex, a unique blend of moisturizing, anti-aging, and antioxidant ingredients to hydrate and protect the lips and leave a wonderfully smooth surface. The shades in this collection are Rose, Sparkling, Baby Doll, and Ambre Rose - all desirable.



There are a few simple steps to enter this contest. First, all you really have to do is leave a comment on this feature. After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment).



You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers.



You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. Just make sure to include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet and mention the giveaway title. I will tweet the contest this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry. Only one tweet will be counted as an entry. I appreciate multiple tweets, but it's not necessary.



The deadline for entries will be Saturday, September 10, at midnight. The next day, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.



This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I won't be able to replace it with another. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.



Good luck!



Update: I really do use random.org to select winners. I know some of you enter over and over again and haven't won a contest here yet. I wish I could afford to change that. Please keep entering. Odds are that someday random.org will call your number. Also, we have another contest starting tomorrow for Neiman Marcus Beauty Week, so come on back!

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Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour

Laura Mercier's fabulous new eye shadows, Caviar Stick Eye Colour ($24), arrived at my local Neiman Marcus last week, and I'm impressed. Inspired by Laura Mercier's cult classic Caviar Eye Liner, Caviar Stick Eye Colour offers a superbly easy way to create a smoky eye look - one that can range from subtle to dramatic, depending on your application technique.

Available in seven irresistible, creamy shades, the water-resistant sticks offer glamorous color. I find it interesting that the first two shades I purchased, Khaki and Amethyst, reminded me of Chanel's Khaki Platine and Rose Platine eyeliners, even though the Laura Mercier shades are darker. I bought another one of these Laura Mercier beauties on my second round. Steel was calling my name.

We continue to have makeup-melting weather, so I only rolled out the color of my three new shades a tiny amount for the photo at right. Steel is shown at left, Khaki in the center, and Amethyst at right. I did get two decent swatch photos - one in full sun and one when the sun ducked behind the clouds.

The shades on my arm, top to bottom, are Amethyst, Khaki, and Steel. I applied them heavily and directly from the tubes. I did not smudge them, which is recommended. Because the shades set quickly (they are long-wearing and transfer- and crease-resistant), it's best to smudge them quickly, using your fingertip to achieve the intensity you desire. They blend beautifully.

At left above, the three shades are shown in full sun. My "cloudy" photo, shown at right, probably depicts the shimmer level more accurately. The colors are not super-shimmery, but rather subtly shimmery. Once blended, they lose much of the shimmer, leaving behind a gleaming smoke in one of your favorite shades. The problem with my swatch photos is that the actual shades are best portrayed in the full-sun photo. Steel is not as blue as it appears in the photo with the white hydrangea, and Khaki does have a khaki hue, although it's very brown too.

If you want to see more photos, head over to The Non-Blonde. Gaia chose Sapphire, Amethyst, and Khaki. Amethyst looks like a different shade on her skin, but Khaki looks remarkably similar on both of us.

These stunning eye shadows are available at Laura Mercier's Web site and your favorite Laura Mercier counter. I bought mine at Neiman Marcus. Make sure to look at the Classic Smoky Eye Palette too.

Photo at top courtesy of Laura Mercier; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Laura Mercier Pine Bronze Sateen Eye Colour from the Canyon Collection, Fall 2011

There are six eye shadows on display with Laura Mercier's Canyon Collection for Fall 2011. After agonizing over the lovely choices, I selected Pine Bronze Sateen Eye Colour ($22), a limited-edition shade that launched with the collection. It's a perfect fall color.

Five of the new shades are Sateen Eye Colours.

• Canyon Clay, a limited-edition warm-toned putty pink
• Cedar, a limited-edition brown-toned yellow
• Gold Dust, shimmering, pale golden yellow from the permanent collection
• Pine Bronze, a limited-edition olive/khaki green with a taupe cast and gold shimmer - the one that dazzled me
• Stellar, also from the permanent collection, a pale pink

There is one Luster Eye Color shade, Chocolate, a shimmering, rich brown. All together, the shades present a palette of the earth's majestic tones, inspired by the lush, engaging colors that dance off canyons at sunset.

Burning sunsets of ambered gold, lush green foliage, and rustic copper canyons...Eyes are dusted with natural neutrals with golden highlights.

Here's a photo of Pine Bronze in the compact. It looks pretty in the pan (it was the tester that lured me), but even better on the eyelid. The complexity of the shade was hard to capture in a swatch photo. I took photos at three different times of day, in lighting from overcast to bright sunlight, and I snapped only one photo that is an "adequate" portrait of the shade.

The photo at right shows a heavy application with a sponge-tipped applicator in full morning sun. I hope you can see that the green is a taupe-green blend enlivened with shimmering gold. Pine Bronze is aptly named. Some may see it as bronze with a khaki cast, while others will see a khaki that leans taupe. Either way, it's a gorgeous color.

Pine Bronze is beautiful on the eyelid when combined with golden shades. I tried it as an accent shade with two golden bases: a shimmering yellow gold and a satin-finish rose gold. Both looks were stunning. I'll be playing with this one for weeks, wearing it, I'm sure, before its season arrives.

Pine Bronze could not be a more enticing seasonal shade. I love fall fashion. I'm captivated by the rich colors, often with a touch of ornamentation that signals a return to luxury after summer's casual end. This year, my autumn look will be complemented by this gorgeous Laura Mercier eye shadow.

You can find the Canyon Collection at the Laura Mercier Web site and all Laura Mercier counters in the department stores. I bought mine at Neiman Marcus.

Photo at top by Laura Mercier; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Laura Mercier Cheek Mélange in Canyon Sunset for Fall 2011

Laura Mercier has introduced her Canyon Collection for Fall 2011. For weeks after seeing it in the store, I considered the pieces I had to have vs those I'd like to have. There comes a point (usually when paying my credit card bill) when I realize I cannot have everything I want.

When I first saw the collection in person, I nearly swept four eye shadows into my "buy pile." Out of necessity, I finally narrowed it down to one limited-edition shade, which I will feature tomorrow. That was tough! There were lipstick and lip gloss shades that called to me - until I opened the caps. The fragrance in the lip colors was just too strong for my taste.

The limited-edition superstar of the collection, though, Cheek Mélange in Canyon Sunset ($40) would not be denied its place on my bathroom counter. It's even prettier in person than it is in the advertisements, and I swear there are variations of the compact that lean cooler and pinker (better for my skin) than the warm, Mediterranean tones I've seen in the testers. Call me a crazy lady, but these swirled blended shades cannot all be exactly the same from one compact to the next.

The imagery of a canyon sunset, with pink, peach, and mauve shades punctuated by a gold overspray, gives this compact an undeniable appeal. On the skin, when blended, the shades become a warm hybrid - warm pink-peach in some settings, mauve-peach in others. Like the changing of the colors that grace the sky as the sun sets, the blush will highlight your cheeks with variations of color, all flattering.

I took two swatch photos, purposely with different backgrounds, to show you the blended colors on my arm and how pretty - and variable - they can appear. As usual, I applied the cheek color way too heavily to get a good representation of the shade in my photos. Against pink flowers at right, the shade displays its pink personality. Against a dark red, almost invisible, Japanese maple background below, it's warmer. The angle against the morning sun was almost identical when I took these photos, proof of my belief that the shade is a chameleon. It's actually a perfect shade for now, as July melts into August.

Have you ever wondered why Laura Mercier doesn't seem to receive the same amount of beauty buzz as other established brands? I've noticed it for a few years, and I can't figure out a reason.

Laura Mercier is a lovely lady. I took a master class with her once, a bazillion years ago, and was struck by her warmth and "one of the girls" approach to beauty. Because my skin is so Northern European, sometimes I think her shades are designed for women whose skin derived its tone closer to the Mediterranean Sea, like hers. Even so, there's always something for me to love in her collections.

I hope you'll check out the new Canyon Collection. I'll bet there's something there for you too. You can find it at the Laura Mercier Web site and all Laura Mercier counters in the department stores. I bought mine at Neiman Marcus.

Photo at top courtesy of Laura Mercier; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

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Laura Mercier Gel Lip Colour

Laura Mercier's new Gel Lip Colours ($22) are the latest lipstick addition to the Laura Mercier makeup collection. I purchased three. I didn't think I would purchase any of them because my friend Gaia, The Non-Blonde, and others had mentioned that they are highly fragranced. As a rule, I don't like fragranced/flavored lipsticks. For the new Gel Lip Colours, I made an exception when I played with them in the store. The why's follow.

Gel Lip Colour is described as soft, smooth, and shiny. The gel formula gives them great slip, making the color glide onto the lips without any special application effort. They are said to provide a soft color-wash payoff. I wouldn't call the color soft; I think it's vivid.

I find them much like Chanel's new and already beloved Rouge Coco Shine in terms of saturation and finish. They gleam with a subtle shine, but they are not what I would describe as exceptionally shiny (like the new Dior Addict lipsticks). The color is fairly saturated; it's not transparent like gloss. I have worn them with and without gloss. I do add gloss when I want more shine. I think they feel more hydrating than the Rouge Coco Shines. As they say on Twitter, #justsaying. They cost less too.

The color is long-lasting (for me). I like that characteristic. Even after the gleam is gone, I have color. Fortunately, I "lose the taste/fragrance" pretty quickly. It's not an unpleasant taste. I assume it's related to the emollient-rich peach, apricot, and almond oils in the moisturizing formula, and I can definitely taste the vanilla in the ingredients. These Gel Lip Colours remind me of my favorite YSL Gloss Volupté Sheer Sensual Gloss Sticks in that respect. The mango in the YSL Gloss Sticks doesn't bother me; others (like Kari at Fab over Forty) find it distracting. Anyhow, the taste and fragrance dissipate fairly quickly. Either that, or I get used to it.

I purchased three shades: Berry Sorbet, Rosette, and Sweet Cherry. They are swatched at right in that same order, top to bottom. My photo was taken in outdoor sunshine. I think all three shades are beautiful. I couldn't make up my mind on one, so I purchased three. What's new?

Below, I've appended a second photo, taken in slightly more sunshine. I decided after I initially published this feature to add it.

The colors are much more sheer on my arm than they appear in the tubes. They do offer vibrant color on my lips because, like many, I have rosy lips. It may sound silly, but these are what I call "adult lipsticks." They enhance a woman's femininity, without gimmicks or heavy metals. That shouldn't surprise me. Many (and I do mean many) years ago, I attended a master class led by the gorgeous Laura Mercier at Neiman Marcus. To this day, I have an image of a beautiful Mediterranean woman when I think Laura Mercier.

It surprised me that Laura Mercier's Web site described the Gel Lip Colours as limited-editions. Maybe they are a test case and will stay in the line if they continue to be successful. They are so pretty, I think they deserve it.

If you want to see the full list of ingredients for each shade, pop over to Laura Mercier's Web site. I love the availability of ingredient lists online. You can purchase these lovely lip colors at all Laura Mercier counters and online. All of my favorite department stores have them.

Photo at top courtesy of Laura Mercier

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Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour

Laura Mercier's latest eye shadow, Baked Eye Colour ($22) has to be sampled to fully appreciate how nice it is! By baking the powders, Laura Mercier has created beautiful, marbled shades that flatter the eyes, glide onto the lids, and provide smudge-resistant, lightweight color that lasts all day.

These eye shadows are prettier on the skin than they are in the pan. There are six lovely shades. Ballet Pink (really peachy gold - or golden peach) is shown above. Black Karat (really an olive brown, but described as black gold with gold pearl) is shown at left.

The additional shades are:

• Terracotta (warm copper),
  
• Lagoon (bold turquoise),
  
• Petal Pink (soft pale pink), and
  
• Violet Sky (rich indigo violet).

Ballet Pink, shown above, isn't really pink on the lids. You can see in my swatch photo at right that it's a golden peach. I didn't purchase it originally because I didn't want a pink eye shadow. It's anything but. I did purchase Black Karat on the first go-round, which captured me as soon as I got it.

My photo at right was taken outdoors in full sun. I applied the luscious shadows with a sponge-tipped applicator to get you a good view of the actual shades. Ballet Pink at the top is a beautiful shade that you can wear alone when you are in a hurry, as a base shade for layering, or as a lower lid color paired with a deeper color for contour. Black Karat is a complex shade, with "notes" of olive green, brown, and gold. I don't "get" the black description - other than the way it looks in the pan.

There's a darker photo at left, included to give you a second "exposure" so that you can see how the shades might appear in different lighting. Both shades shimmer in a good way. I think they will appeal to every age group. You can apply them wet or dry. If you apply them with a wet brush, the color will be intensified. I am perfectly happy with how they look applied dry.

Even though I must have enough eye shadow to sink a sailboat, I am very happy to have these two Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colours among my choices. You can see them at any Laura Mercier counter. I would advice you to try them in the store, rather than purchasing online - if you can. The colors are deceptive in the pans, and the swatch photos online are misleading. I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus. I know they are also available at Saks, Bloomingdale's, and Nordstrom.

Photos at top courtesy of Laura Mercier

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