Base Jump: Laura Mercier’s New Tinted Moisturizers Will Make You Rethink Your Foundation Routine
I am not the target demographic for a tinted moisturizer. I cling to full-coverage foundation to mask hyper-pigmentation and late nights; anything in which words such as “natural” figure prominently just feels too risky. The one-time outlier on my vanity was Laura Mercier’s ubiquitous tinted moisturizer, which I used regularly before committing to a steady diet of primer, foundation, and color correctors. The daily essential Meghan Markle has credited for her “dewy glow” has long been a makeup-artist favorite. “When I started it was such a revolutionary product,” says Monika Blunder, the woman responsible for the lit-from-within complexions of Gemma Chan and Amanda Seyfried. A fan since its launch in 1996, Blunder recalls the original as the first sheer base to align with her skin-first aesthetic. “When things are too matte or plastered on, I just lose interest.”
She has a point. The arrival of makeup-melting warmer weather left me wondering if my full-coverage formulas had lulled me into a false state of security, the equivalent of a cosmetic Snapchat filter. So I was delighted to learn that Mercier’s original lightweight cream was getting an update this month. Reformulated with hydrating macadamia nut oil and vitamin-rich kukui seed—plus an expanded range of 20 shades—I decided to bring it back into rotation.
At first, I missed the safeguard of foundation. In the past I could always count on my freckles and discoloration to remain hidden, secrets only revealed after a double cleanse. Mercier’s Flawless Perfection Lumiere, a regular base in my rotation, had become a favorite thanks to its promises of a completely even complexion and 15 hours’ worth of wear time. To fully embrace a tinted moisturizer, I had to move in baby steps: mixing in a few drops of foundation until I could slowly grow accustomed to baring it all.
I quickly realized that I didn’t have to waste time mixing. The subtle finish discreetly evened things out and looked great all on its own. Putting away my foundation was a humbling experience that required a mental shift: baring your skin means baring your soul, or at least becoming comfortable with the idea that perceived imperfections aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Blunder’s advice for foundation junkies looking to make the transition? Use a dampened sponge to buff out the coverage. But don’t be afraid to finger paint, she advises, “so you can see the luminosity—and life—in your skin.”
Originally Appeared on Vogue
