Laura Mercier Face Tint

An Essential Product

We've all been there. Whether you've overslept, got stuck in a traffic jam or found yourself with a million other things to do, you can't always avoid being late for work. Factor in the all-important hair and makeup morning ritual and you can pretty much guarantee no one will see your face until, oh, right around lunchtime.

On days like these, I inevitably opt to forgo the major product lineup. This means putting away my makeup brushes, foundation, blush, mascara, eye shadow, lipstick, lip gloss and anything else I might normally use. Instead, I grab a jar of Laura Mercier Face Tint. This finely-milled powder is a makeup aficionado's dream. With its intense (yet incredibly natural) pigment, versatile color selection and multitude of uses, it practically saves the day when I don't have time to complete a full face of makeup.

There are a handful of similar products available on the market today, but perhaps none is as versatile as this. It's a winner in my book for a number of reasons.

No Irritation

At the top of this sensitive, dry and clog-prone skinned gal's list are products that won't irritate my very frustrating skin. The Face Tint does not contain silicones or mica, both ingredients that can cause irritation to sensitive individuals.

Easy to Use

A product that I rely on in a pinch needs to be easy to apply in a pinch, too! This loose powder is quick and simple to apply with flawless precision. Depending on the type of look I'm going for and where I'm applying the powder, I rotate between several brushes to apply it. They include:

• Fan Brush: When I want a light dusting of color, I use a fan brush to sweep the Face Tint over my cheekbones. It accentuates them gently (no over-the-top '80s cheeks here, thanks) and leaves behind a natural finish.
• Bronzer Brush: Some people may prefer to use a blush brush, but I love using a bronzer brush to apply this tint all over the face. My brush of choice is the NARS Bronzer Brush, available at Sephora. It's short, stout and wide, with cropped hairs that pick up and distribute just the right amount of color. A brush built like this is ideal for really buffing the product into the skin; the result is a very clean, subtle finish.
• Eye Shadow Brush: The Face Tint is extra versatile, so it's just as suitable on my eyelids as it is on my cheeks. For this purpose, I use MAC's Large Shader Brush to generously sweep the color across my eyelids.

Diverse Colors

This is a product, first and foremost, for those areas of the face that benefit from some extra color. Those areas are generally the spots the sun naturally hits when you're outdoors – the temple, nose, cheeks and chin. It's fitting, then, that the tint collection consists primarily of blush-like colors. They include:

• Apricot: A vibrant peach
• Blushing: A natural, flushed baby pink
• Filtered Brown: A soft brown with a hint of rose

Apricot is surprisingly great on so many different skin tones that it's practically the holy grail of blushes. It has a slight hint of peach in it and is beautiful to wear during the spring and summer months.

Blushing is a radiant, girlish pink that's beautiful on a winter evening – I love it with glossy, red lips for an intensely flushed look.

Filtered Brown beats them all hands down, though. This is a sheer color that's not so much brown as it is rose. It acts as an instant pick-me-up on those days when you're racing against the clock, and looks beautiful on the eyelids and cheeks.

Packaging

The packaging may take some by surprise; it's certainly not as intuitive and user-friendly as it could be. The sifter may prove slightly messy as you peel the protective covering from it, so take precautions to ensure you don't spill any powder.

While that's a drawback, the upside is that this little jar will probably last you a lifetime with regular usage. Just shake the closed jar, unscrew the lid and run your brush in a swirling fashion over the powder that sits in the lid. In my experience, this lifts just the right amount of color to distribute on the face. Any more and you risk falling prey to the dreaded clown makeup look.

Where to Purchase

Laura Mercier's Face Tints are available for purchase at:

• Laura Mercier
• Sephora