Guest Blog: Craft Your Perfect Foundation

Laura is one of our Bluemercury Beauty Council members - our store experts who bring you expert advice, tips and trends every day. Here are a few key tips and tricks to keep in mind about texture, finish and color to help you put your best face forward.

Laura Fischer Grillo

Bluemercury Beauty Council

Shrewsbury, NJ Bluemercury Store

Finding your perfect foundation match can be overwhelming. When choosing a foundation, you first want to ask yourself:

What type of look am I going for?

I always ask Bluemercury clients this question before discussing skin type because there are a lot of women with oily skin who still like a dewy foundation, and women with dry skin who prefer something matte and shine-free. It's all about the marriage between your foundation and primer, so any look is achievable despite what type of skin you have. Once you've decided on your signature look, we can find out what products might best suit your needs.

What is your skin type?

If you are dry or dehydrated from climate change, opt for a moisturizing formula that you can build on for additional coverage. If the formula is too thick and dense, it is more prone to settle into dry patches. The right primer can help to fill in pores and provide a smoother canvas for the makeup to glide on seamlessly.

Beauty Council Picks for Dry Skin:

PRIMER: HourglassNo. 28 Primer Serum 

YSLFusion Ink Foundation
Lune + Aster CC Cream

Bobbi Brown Nude Finish Tinted Moisturizer

If you have combination to oily skin, think about foundations that either have a "satin" finish to let your natural glow shine through, or formulas that are "matte" if you want to keep shine at bay. Either way, an oil control primer is your best friend. This will ensure that your natural oils will not separate the makeup on your skin and leave it looking patchy.

Beauty Council Picks for Combination Skin:

PRIMER: Rodial Instaglam Airbursh Primer

Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation
NARS Vevet Matte Skin Tint

LauraMercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide

If you have mature skin and are looking for a foundation that can multitask, there are a lot of great formulas that infuse makeup and skincare, containing peptides for firming, antioxidant protection, brightening agents and hyaluronic acid to plump up fine lines and wrinkles.

Beauty Council Picks for Mature Skin:

PRIMER: Lune + Aster Hydralift Primer

Trish McEvoy Beauty Balm

Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation

ByTerry Terrybly Densiliss Foundation

How do I choose my shade?

Visit your local Bluemercury store to try out some different shades - one of our experts can make great recommendations. I tell women to look at the skin on their chest to find their true color match. Often times yellow-toned foundations are the best for camouflaging redness. Pick three different shades you feel are in your color range and try a swatch against your collar bone. Whichever shade is almost invisible will be your best match.

Show us your foundation finds on Instagram: #bluemercury

Behind-the-Scenes at New York Fashion Week Fall '16 with Bobbi Brown & NARS

It's been a whirlwind week of incredible fashion and beauty at New York Fashion Week! I was thrilled to attend my favorite shows being styled by some of my favorite beauty brands and artists: Marchesa with beauty by Bobbi Brown and Rodarte with beauty by NARS.

Being backstage at the Marchesa show with Bobbi Brown is energetic and inspiring! Bobbi's natural, elegant looks were feminine and subtle with flawless skin and pink cheeks.

In action with Bobbi backstage showing me her new not-yet-released correcting powders. She is one of my all-time favorite entrepreneurs! 

Bobbi Brown for Marchesa. Her brows are perfection!

Bobbi Brown pink palettes with not-yet-released tone-perfecting powders!

 Bobbi's behind-the-scenes workstation 

Bobbi Brown for Marchesa (Photo: Harper's Bazaar)

Marchesa Fall '16

Get the look: Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Burnt Red,  Retouching Powder in Rose and Pink, Eye Opening Mascara, Skin Foundation Stick

I loved the gorgeous dark ombré lip from Nars at Rodarte. The dark burgundy lip complemented by brushed-up, full brows is perfect for the fall season!

Nars for Rodarte (Photo: NARS)

Pre-Rodarte show with the ever-so-chic Julia Restoin Roitfeld 

Get the look: Audacious Lipstick in Liv, Velvet Lip Pencil in Train Bleu, Luminous Moisture Cream, Soft Velvet Loose Powder, Highlighting Blush Powder in Miss Liberty

xo, 

Marla

New + Notable: Beauty I Love This Valentine’s Day

This gorgeous bouquet is from our friends at UrbanStems.com!

Valentine's Day is a great time to treat the ones you love - and yourself! I adore a polished and natural look for spring and we have so many amazing new products for this. Here are some of my favorite new indulgences: 

#1 NARS Lip Glosses in Instant Crash (soft apricot) and Vida Loca (pale pink)

I love a nourishing and long-lasting lip gloss and these new shades are great for transitioning from winter to spring.
Perfect for: Each of your girlfriends

Instant Crash

Vida Loca


#2 Bobbi Brown Nude on Nude Eye Palette

This matte palette's neutrals pair perfectly with a nude or bright lip color. I love that these shades don't require blending, and the dark espresso shade makes a beautiful liner. Coming soon to bluemercury.com! 
Perfect for: Your sister and mom

#3 Oribe Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo & Antidote Conditioner

 I've never seen anything like this shampoo! Volcanic ash is the key ingredient in this fun, innovative, foaming mask great for a once a week deep cleanse. The replenishing conditioner is super nourishing with a cocktail of 18 vitamins and antioxidants.
Perfect for: Your best friend

Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo

Essential Antidote Conditioner - 18 vitamins

#4 Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation

Sheer, lightweight formula that gives an incredible glow for day or night.
Perfect for: Yourself!

BeautyBlitz Asked: What's In My Bag?

BeautyBlitz recently asked me what I carry in my bag. It was fun and nerve-wracking - you never know what you might find in there between the office, soccer games and travel.

See what I have in my bag here and don't miss the full article on BeautyBlitz.com. What's in your bag?

Photo: BeautyBlitz.com

1. Saint Laurent Cabas Rive Gauche Bag

2.  Lune+Aster Stratosphere Volumizing Mascara

3.  Lune+Aster Lip Gloss in CEO

4.  NARS The Multiple in South Beach

5.  Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Lip and Cheek Color in Perfect Plum

6.  NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anna

7.  M-61 Power Glow Peel

8.  Crème de la Mer

9.  Deborah Lippmann The Stripper To Go 

10. Acqua di Parma Colonia

Packing Essentials: Palm Beach Winter Escape

Resort travel during the winter is not my favorite. I am pale and pasty, and the last thing I want to do is get into a bathing suit. I popped into our Bluemercury store in Bethesda to stock up on winter pick-me-ups for resort travel. Here are some of my secrets:

1. Travel with lots of sunscreens. I believe you should have the right sunscreens for the right time of day. I love Clarins’ new Multi-Active Day Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 20 for morning breakfast with the kids. It rehydrates and pre-hydrates before an active, sun-filled day. After breakfast, I will jump up my sunscreen level with SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 which has a gorgeous tint and evens out my skin tone. Packed with titanium and zinc, it is an amazing physical block. Later in the afternoon, post-shower and pre-sunset as we sit outside with friends, I love using La Mer’s antiaging SPF 50 UV Protecting Fluid. Infused with La Mer’s Miracle Broth, it is hydrating but doesn't make your skin look shiny.

2. Focus on your legs. My bare white legs stand out like a sore thumb. I pack Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel and put it on my legs before I go to the pool for a little self-tanning boost. At night before I go out, I use St Tropez Self Tan Luxe Dry Oil. It tans and makes my legs look goddess-like!

3. Don't forget the lips. My lips are dry so I always pack Fresh's super hydrating Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy. I pack a range of fun lip glosses - this is one my daughters and I adore - Entrepreneur by Lune+Aster. (Yes, I created this and yes, I am trying to brainwash my daughters.)

4. Bring your favorite fragrance. Acqua di Parma Colonia is fresh, delicate and not season-specific. There’s nothing like warm nights, golden legs, a chic dress and your favorite fragrance. That is what resort vacationing in the winter is all about!!!

Barry and I with Leonard Lauder, the Steve Jobs of the cosmetics industry, enjoying lunch at Mr. Lauder's Palm Beach home!

Mask Mania - Which Mask Is Right For You?

Masks are back!

Masks – which have been around since the Brady Bunch – are back. I keep asking myself why and here is what I think: they are targeted treatments that fix your skin for whatever is bothering you at that exact time.

Post-Travel: We all know the feeling - You just took a trip and feel grimy and dirty from the airplane's recycled air – Use a deep cleansing clay mask. I love Bobbi Brown's new Instant Detox Mask ($47) with Hawaiian Sea Water & White Clay.

Winter Blues: Parched and dry skin from wind or cold can be irritating and uncomfortable– use the heavenly Fresh Rose Face Mask ($62) packed with rose petals and aloe vera gel.

Brighten and Smooth: M-61 Vitablast C Scrub & Mask ($44) with brightening vitamin C and E, hydrating papaya, and natural exfoliating amber powder leaves your skin feeling baby smooth.

Need A Little Lift: Try La Mer The Lifting and Firming Mask ($245) with the concentrated Miracle Broth™ for perfect plumping.

Energy Boost: I just tried Kiehl’s new Tumeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque, and loved the invigorating cranberry seed exfoliant that brightens and restores your skin. (Coming to Bluemercury February 2016!)

There is a mask for everything... the only trouble is choosing which one to use!

7 Things I Love Right Now

1. Bobbi Brown Mini Mask Trio. Who doesn’t love a mask for every time of day! Whether you’re feeling dry, dull, or grimy, there is a mask in this kit to address your concerns.

2. Barney's private label ankle boots. Comfy and well priced, I buy a new pair every year.

3. Oil. Perfect for parched skin, I love Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil ($42). La Mer The Renewal Oil ($240). Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate ($46).

4. WBJ and NYBJ afternoon updates. Perfect snack-sized headlines to keep up on the local business news of the day!

5. Near & Far: Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel. The latest genius cookbook of favorite food blogger Heidi Swanson, 101cookbooks.com. Her sauces, dressings and combinations are to die for. Definitely gifting this to foodie vegan friends this holiday season.

6. Mighty Leaf Chamomile Citrus Tea. They serve it on Virgin Airways, which I take when I fly back and forth to California (we are opening a number of stores there!). It is delicious and keeps me hydrated and warm!

7. Brow pencils. My eyebrow hair is going gray. I had thick thick brows when I was a kid and never even contemplated a brow pencil until I was in my thirties. Eyebrow pencils are so easy - swipe and done. My favorite: Trish McEvoy Precision Brow Shaper ($28.50) in Natural.