There are some things I am physically incapable of resisting, like…
A cute pair of cat lady socks.
Impossible. 🙂
And…
Re-watching The Hills, particularly when my Tivo takes it upon itself to record a 35-episode marathon in one fell swoop (“I’m only gonna watch one more today, I swear!”)
And…
A new foundation! — and my resolve is even weaker when said foundation promises to deliver on the three foundation criteria I value the most, aka TBT, “The Big Three” — great coverage, a natural finish and a lightweight texture.
After using Laura Mercier’s new Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide foundation ($48) for about two weeks, I think it’s time to share my results.
So, does it deliver the goods on TBT? In other words, is it all that and a bag of Backyard Barbeque Kettle Chips?
Let’s find out…
First, exactly what is it?
A recent addition to Laura’s permanent line, Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide is a new oil-free liquid foundation available in 24 shades.
After I read the back of the box when I spotted it at Sephora a couple weeks ago…
“This long wear, oil free makeup magically blurs imperfections for a smooth, seamless complexion. Lightweight and color true, it offers buildable coverage with a natural matte finish, perfect for all ages, all skin-tones, all skin-types.”
–from the box
…it took all of about 4.75 seconds for me to find Chai, which looked to be my shade, grab it, and make a beeline for the register.
A little dab’ll do ya
I did pause briefly when I saw the price… $48 for a 1-oz. bottle does seem like a lot, but thankfully I soon realized that I wouldn’t need to use a lot. Literally, like, 4-5 drops is enough for full coverage, so that makes the price a little less cray.
The whole tip situation is a tad irksome… Due to the packaging, some of the product is definitely being wasted. Even when I screw the cap on tightly, the bottle doesn’t seem to close all the way, or in a secure way, and some of the product leaks out on the tip inside the cap.
Like that stranger on the bus who always stares at you and sits a little too close (seriously, take a picture, dude, it lasts longer), this is super annoying.
A featherweight formula
I think the formula is going to make or break this for a lot of gals/guys. It’s thin — almost watery — like MAC Face & Body and Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, and it’s probably something you’re either going to love…or not.
I happen to be a fan of watery foundation formulas that feel lightweight on my skin because I feel like they let my pores come up for air.
Well, Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide is beyond lightweight. It’s well into featherweight territory, and when I wear it I feel like I’m barely wearing anything at all.
I’d even go so far as to say that it feels even lighter than my beloved MAC Face & Body.
Bust out yo’ Beauty Blender
When it comes to applying this stuff, I think you’re definitely gonna want a sponge. When I first started using it, I was using my fingers, both to apply and blend (which is what I normally do with MAC Face & Body), but ya know, the finish didn’t look quite right. It looked stark, and matte and, I dunno, almost too finished, if that makes any sense.
Maybe it’s due to the amount of pigment in the formula. I don’t know. But the finish is also very matte — so matte that if you don’t have have something like a damp sponge to really work it into the skin and sheer it out, it can look harsh.
Ah, but used with a damp sponge — I use a Beauty Blender — it’s darned near perfect. Like that whole “real skin” quality, with blurred pores and disguised imperfections, and it does what it does without looking heavy or turning you into a mannequin.
It’s all gravy…
Once I figured out a good way to apply this, it was all easy from there…
Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide foundation matte-iffies my combination oily-dry skin for 10-12 hours, smoothing out everything and mellowing out my pores. With it, I can even skip using a setting powder on some parts of my face, like my dry cheeks and chin, if I want.
The entire Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluid foundation line includes…
- Shell: very fair with cool undertones
- Crème: very fair with neutral undertones
- Vanille: very fair with neutral/slightly warm undertones
- Ivory: very fair with warm undertones
- Ecru: light with cool undertones
- Cashew: light with neutral/slightly warm undertones
- Linen: light with neutral/slightly cool undertones
- Macadamia: light with warm undertones
- Butterscotch: light with warm undertones
- Buff: light-medium with cool undertones
- Dune: light-medium with neutral/slightly cool undertones
- Honey: light-medium with neutrals/slightly warm undertones
- Dusk: light-medium with warm undertones
- Golden: light-medium with warm undertones
- Suntan: medium with slightly cool and neutral undertones
- Praline: medium with neutral undertones
- Maple: medium with warm undertones
- Chai: medium with warm undertones
- Nutmeg: medium-deep with cool undertones
- Pecan: medium-deep with neutral undertones
- Amber: medium deep with warm undertones
- Chestnut: deep with cool undertones
- Truffle: deep with neutral undertones
- Espresso: deep with warm undertones
It’s one of the most comfortable full-coverage foundations I’ve ever worn — very much like my holy grail MAC Face & Body, but with a matte, rather than a dewy, finish, and added smoothing/pore-minimizing power.
I’m really loving this right now, and bonus! — it comes in so many shades. 🙂
PRICE: $48 and available in 24 shades
AVAILABILITY: Part of the permanent line; available now at Laura Mercier counters and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+/A- (great shade selection, and it performs like a champ, but I’m not too keen on the packaging)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Looks beautiful on you, Karen! I also rewatch the Hills! (why?! It’s so stupid!) I wonder if you stored the bottle upside down it wouldn’t leak out the bottom…
Hi Karen!
I picked this up at a Sephora Rouge event last week. It was so new to the store that they didn’t even have the display but the sales associate was kind enough to rummage through the stock to find what I thought was my color. I am usually ALWAYS a mixture of two shades. That’s the case for me here. Dusk is about 1/2 a shade to dark but the others were way to light or pink. BUT I just mix in a few drops in of a more luminizing, lighter, foundation and it lasts me all day. I haven’t tried to BB but I will now. It definitely can look a little dry to start off with. But with my oil slick of a face I have a nice glow by the end of the day. :~)
Great that it felt so lightweight. I’m a BB Cream/CC Cream kinda gal because of the skin benefits and I like for the coverage to look like my skin but only better. You know the whole, “I woke up like this,” look that took you about 10 minutes to perfect? Lol. I don’t like foundation on my face, unless it’s a special occasion, because it usually feels too heavy.
I feel you on the price tag. You never get enough product to justify the price. But then I think about how great it makes me feel (new makeup makes me do my happy dance and feel beautiful) then it’s a total #score!
LOVE this foundation! I’m also in the shade Chai and I’m just amazed at what it does to my face. It’s a better fit for me than Face and Body, which is a tad too dewey for my combo/oily skin. I’m also unhappy about the packaging leaking but I just don’t care at this point, I’m in foundation heaven!
Looks like I’ll be trying a new foundation once I use up my Estee Lauder Double wear.
What Shade would you Recomment for a Mac NW 25-to NW30??
I have warm Tones in my skinn but i am always no matter how Pale or Tanned in between Shades.
Hi Linni,
Hmm…if you have warm tones, I’m guessing Cashew or Macadamia.
I absolutely hate when packaging does that. Hate it!
But at least the foundation looks nice. 😀
Yeah, it’s not like I can easily store it the opposite way. Sigh!
Karen—lovin’ how this foundation looks on you! I’m the lightest of the shades—SHELL and I also picked mine up two weekends ago when we were away—I haven’t yet had the chance to sample it, but will try on Wednesday (my next day off from work)……
Hi Donna,
I can’t wait to hear what you think of it! Btw, what is your MAC shade?
I can wear NW15 and either NC10 and NC20–depending on Formulation, but it’s been eons since I was color-matched at MAC.
OK, good to know. Just in case someone here is in that range and asks for a recommendation, I now have a reference. Thanks, Donna!
It looks so natural! I’ve been wearing foundation absolutely never lately!
Hi Chelsea,
I skip makeup when I’m feeling under the weather too (especially when my nose is stuffy). When you’re ready hopefully you can find a shade in this line that will be light enough to match your skin tone. Or you could mix it with something to lighten it a little. There’s always options. 🙂
I hope the fur babies are taking good care of you!
Jiji spent a lot of the day with me! He’s napping on the couch next to me right now. He’s a good boy.
I have two girlfriends who are/were makeup artists for different companies who offered to let me buy unused stuff from their stashes when they teach me to do stuff, so I’m pretty excited about that.
Aww, what a good boy. Between the naps and the healing gifts of mice, I’m sure you’ll be healthy soon! 🙂 Kitties have healing powers, I swear.
Oh god, I was so grossed out, though I do appreciate that he caught them for me. Last time we had a mouse he just played around with it and let it go and I slept in fear.
Oh gawd! That’s awful. Tabs does the same thing on the rare occasion that he catches something outside. Last time it was a lizard. He toyed with it for a long time, and then let it go. Cats are a-holes sometimes!
And um…did you ever find the mouse?!
Yes, thank goodness! The next night we locked the cat up in his room, and set out mouse traps and got it. I HATE mice!
That’s some serious coverage, I’m impressed!
Hi Ms. Heathen,
It is! And if you want additional coverage, like on freckles and whatnot, you could probably use a pointy concealer brush to do stop coverage. 🙂
I recently got a sample of this and I’m really enjoying it. I love the thin consistency paired with the matte finish, it’s just perfect for my oily skin in the summer. I’m glad you’re also loving it! Now I know it must be good stuff 🙂
Hi Natalie,
I’m happy to hear you’re loving it! Do you usually set it with a powder, too? Oh, and what shade are you using?
I usually set it with a powder, but that’s just because I’m mega oily, I think combo skin would be fine without. I wear ivory and I’m about an NC20 in MAC.
Just wanted to second the Ivory shade, I’m also NC 20 in Mac and have golden undertones. Ivory worked out perfect.
I’ve recently bought so many foundations but this one looks lovely!
makeupmusicbooks.blogspot.com
Hi Karen! Seriously, if my skin looked as nice as yours bare I wouldn’t wear much base. I too am a foundation fanatic. I’m wondering if this is similar in consistency to the Bare Minerals liquid foundation. What do you think?
I love how this foundation looks on you! I will definitely need to get a sample of it next time I’m at Sephora. I hope there is a shade that will match my skin.
I love foundations that settle into a matte finish! 🙂 This definitely sounds like a great product Karen.
My Face and Body was missing the other day, so I bought the Maybelline fluid foundation that is newly out, I don’t like buying a new high end foundation when I have a bottle I love, because then the one I love stops getting love. It’s so nice, it’s slightly dewy but not as sheer as Face and Body. I’m happy and probably will try a similar formula through a different brand, maybe this Laura Mercier one or the ysl one. And luckily I found face and body! I love that stuff too. I can’t see myself going back to UD naked either.
Wow, that looks ah-mazing! Going on my wish list pronto!
Look at how flawless it makes your skin look! :-O
$48 sounds downright reasonable after your last tinted moisturizer review. 🙂 Oh, I hear you on the cap. That is definitely a deal breaker for me. I’d by constantly wiping the tip and using that on my face. I know. Breakout city. And not being able to use my fingers is a negative for me, too. That said, the finish looks great on you and I like the sound of the texture. I far prefer watery to thick/dry, which was one of the things I didn’t like about the LM tinted moisturizer.
I just bought this the other day! I’m not having the same issues with the packaging though– I store it upside down, so maybe that makes a difference? Cap side up!
The finish is pretty matte but I really like the way it looks. I always use my beauty blender anyway so I think I would like this. Hopefully I’ll be able to find a color match. Oh, and the socks are so cute! Lol I love the colorful kitty design
the last time i was impressed with foundation was with the kat von d lock-it tattoo. this one is promising, thanks for the heads up karen! looks real good on ya.
Haven’t tried that one! Do you still wear it?
What is the difference between maple and chai? They have the same description of medium with warm tones…..
How about nc25. What shade do you recomend? Thanks before..
What are your thought on the Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer? Yay or nay?
what do you think what shade would match me if i m in mac nc35,estee lauder cashew,nars stromboi….
Ok, this late late comment might border on stalkerish, but I just had to come back and say THANK YOU!!!
I remembered your post about this foundation and as it seems that we have a similar kind of skin (combination – oily with some dry spots, plus mine is also sensitive and with redness) and we like the same kind of foundations that at first glance should not suit us (lightweight, being MAC Face and Body a favourite) I knew that I had to try it out.
OMG, I just came back from the store and I am in love. I am lucky enough to have a small and very friendly store where I live that carries LM. So I basically asked if I could putter around and when they said yes, I grabbed a few shades of this, a brush and a mirror and went to work. I am still wearing it and it is absolutely love!
I love this foundation too! It’s the first time anything has ever matched me so well (macadamia). I just read your Nars All Day Luminous foundation, which you had linked back to this one, and I thought, “Glorious! I already own that one.” In the Nars review, you mentions that you use two primers with this….which ones?
I’m getting out my beautyblender after reading this. I’ll definitely follow your lead on the primers too. Your blog is such a help (and SO entertaining!).
What do you set it with? I know this is old but i’m just finding it and i was using a brush to put it on and nope that is horrible so i just ordered the beauty blender (thank you for that suggestion) and now i need to maybe use a setting powder what do you suggest for those small areas that need it?