Laura Mercier’s 17-Piece White Magic Holiday Collection Promises To Brighten Spirits While It Illuminates Lips and Lids

I’m really hoping to feel some holiday magic this year because last Christmas was a blur. You know all the fun (sometimes frantic) things that come with the holidays, like spending time shopping for meaningful gifts, carefully wrapping presents (as opposed to just slapping things together with tape) and decorating the tree? Last year, everything I did was last-minute. This year, I want to take the time to really savor the holidays and make them a priority, you know? Life is too short.

That magic I mentioned? — there’s actually some happening now over at Laura Mercier counters, where the White Magic holiday collection is available.

The 17-piece limited edition launch heralds the holidays with shimmery pastels, illuminated skin and shiny, glossy lips.

When I look at these products, I think of the word, “glow.” But not in a bronzed, beachy way. I’m thinking more in terms of regal, otherworldly winter ice queens riding silent sleighs across snow-covered fields…

White Magic is one of those collections with a healthy dose of shimmer and pastel.

Ya know, I do like pastels, and I think a little shimmery white or baby blue on the lids close to the lash lines can look very artsy, particularly with thick cat liner, but generally, with my tan and warm skin tone, I think they get a little lost on me. But I think they can look phenomenal on gals with lighter skin, and on younger women (shimmer isn’t always so forgiving on mature skin).

The collection isn’t all pale colors and shimmer, though. There are moments in which darker, more intense colors break through, and those are the ones that make me do grabby hands. 🙂

Like Mocha Myth lipstick, which is like an updated version of the classic ’90s brown lip…

It’s a dark, neutral reddish brown — totally something someone could have worn back in 1994 with a plaid shirt, hoop earrings, jeans and Timbaland boots, except that back then, the lipsticks were almost always matte. This one’s smooth, comfy and creamy, with a metallic finish that seems fresher. I bet it would look striking on gals with darker skin tones, especially as an everyday lip shade. And it’s great for dry lips.

Pinkish purple Flamingo lipstick also caught my eye. (It’s referred to as Girly on Laura’s website… Not sure if that’s a typo.) It’s a lot like one of my favorite MAC lipsticks, Syrup, except that Laura’s is slightly sheerer and more pink.

Now, I know that a purple-toned lipstick might sound a little scary, but it depends. Find the right one, and you can use it as a nude lippie. I think the pink in this one makes it wearable and flattering.

As for the eye products in the collection, talk about COOL! Gunmetal gray taupe Twilight Caviar Stick Eye Color is so cool, and by that I mean that it’s both cool toned and cool, as in really neat. 🙂 I even see hints of violet when I wear it on my warm skin.

For an easy gray smokey eye, I’ll draw a thick line on my lid right next to the lash line, and buff out the edges using an eye brush with a dome-shaped head.

You do have to work fast though…because once this sets, it doesn’t budge for 12 hours.

Another gunmetal shade, Gunmetal Smoke, is one of the Tightline Cake Liners in the launch. It’s a very complex color — kind of blackish gray with hints of navy — that I bet would flatter most eye colors.

To their credit, the Tightline Eye Liners don’t irritate my sensitive eyes, but they’re not exactly flexible. Basically, they have a specific job — doing thin lines along lash and water lines.

I have tried to use them for thick eye liner looks, but it was a wholly frustrating experience…

Oh! I almost forgot the Brilliant Glacé in Nude Prism, which for some reason I keep referring to as “Nude Prison.”

Er…yeah.

A shimmery, sheer beige, it looks rather challenging in its tube, but I think it’s super flattering on lips, where I like it as a layering gloss. It gives an extra level of sparkle and serves to tone down crazier colors. Plus, it’s moisturizing and non-sticky, which means comfortable.

These pieces and the rest of the White Magic collection are available now at Laura Mercier counters and online.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen