Review: Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation!

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

Product Description: This long-wearing foundation evens out skin tone as it increases skin luminosity and clarity for a radiant glow. The rich, creamy texture glides over the skin effortlessly for perfect application and blendability. Perfect for rosacea and hard to cover pigmentation. Ideal for all skin types, and oil free & fragrance free. 

Directions:

 -Place a small amount on the back of your hand and work the foundation into the narrow end of a sponge.

-Apply to your face, working on one area at a time.

-Set with translucent powder if desired. 

Available in 9 shades, and is $42 for a 1.18 fl. oz./35ml tube. 

Review: My initial thoughts of this foundation is that it's exactly like MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation, which was one of my past favorite foundations. From the consistency, to the finish and wear time, they are extremely similar. The consistency of Silk Creme is fairly thick, yet lightweight.. almost like a mousse/gel, and very creamy. It does have a chemical smell like MAC Studio Fix Fluid or Revlon Colorstay, because it's fragrance free, but it's not bad and it doesn't linger. Like mentioned above, the foundation is available in 9 different shades which range from Light to Medium Skin tones. I'm not sure why, but there aren't any shades for Dark or Tan skintones. The deepest shade is "Hazelnut Beige", which is the match for MAC NC35-37 coloring. So, not very dark at all. The shade I chose was "Bamboo Beige", which is a golden beige for light-medium skintones. It's a good MAC NC30 color match. The coverage is excellent, and what I expected from reading reviews. It's full coverage, but can be sheered out as much as you'd like. 

Here's a comparison of MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC30 (top) and LM Silk Creme in Bamboo Beige (bottom). If you find that MAC looks orange on you, LM has more of a golden beige tone.

Application: As far as application goes, it depends on how much coverage you need for your individual needs. I like a nice medium coverage, so I first mist my face with a little bit of MAC Fix Spray, or apply a light oil-free moisturizer and then dot a little foundation on each area of my face (cheeks, nose, forehead, chin) and then I take a Flat Top Foundation Brush and blend the foundation. On areas where I need a little more coverage, I like taking a Duo Fiber Brush and tapping more foundation on areas that need more coverage, such as any blemishes I have on my cheeks. For the fullest coverage, you can use your fingers or a standard foundation brush. For a lighter coverage, you can mix it with a light moisturizer or apply it with a moistened sponge.

The finish is gorgeous. It actually contains several silicones, so if you have enlarges pores, this foundation will help conceal them. My pores seem much less visible, and my skin looks completely even. I suppose it depends on your skin type (dry, normal, combination, oily).. but my skin is pretty normal, sometimes a little oily in the t-zone. It starts out for me as a satiny, luminous finish, and as the day goes on, it becomes a bit dewy. The foundation states that it is suitable for all skin types, but I think this foundation would work best for dry and normal/combination skin types. I believe dry skin will most benefit from this foundation as it doesn't accentuate dryness and it contains moisturizers. Because of the dewiness of this foundation and the silicones, oily skin types may find that this foundation will slide around your face throughout the day and settle in fine lines. I recommend using a setting powder with this foundation, as with most cream formula foundations, because they tend to transfer easily. By the end of the day, this foundation has typically worn off my nose and lightened up around my t-zone. I wouldn't call it long wearing, but I do think it will get you through a typical work day. I do think it photographs nicely, and although it doesn't state there is an SPF, titanium dioxide is at the end of the ingredients list, which is a sunscreen. 

The following photo was approximately two hours after application, and after being outside in 85 degree weather. I wanted to show what my face looked like without powder, so I didn't set my face with a setting powder as I normally would. As you can see, my face became a bit oily.

Face: MAC Mineralized All Over Lotion (as a base)

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in Light mixed with Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in #20 (under my eyes)

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Bamboo Beige

Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder (to set concealer - applied under my eyes only)

Nars Irresistiblement Bronzer (on cheeks and up forehead, blended into my hairline)

MAC Coppertone Powder Blush (applied to the apples of my cheeks and blended up my cheekbones)

Eyes: MAC Nehru Eyeshadow (smudged into top and bottom lashline)

MAC Espresso Eyeshadow (smudged into Nehru on top lashline)

Stila Amethyst Kajal Liner (on waterline)

Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara

Brows: E.L.F. Studio Eyebrow Kit in Medium

MAC Brow Set in Girl/Boy

Lips: Rimmel Tiramisu Lip Liner Pencil

Wet n Wild Mega Matte Lipstick in 901B Think Pink (blotted with a tissue)

MAC Like Venus Dazzleglass

You can also click here, to view a recent FOTD where I set this foundation with powder.