I thought that the new SPF 30 Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer from Stila was going to be my tinted moisturizer for this Summer, but I may be wrong. I am currently obsessed with the new one from La Mer. It is La Mer The SPF18 Fluid Tint.

Combining it's almost miraculous skincare formula with a must wear sunscreen and a subtle tint, not only does this tint give your skin a bit of a very natural sun-kissed glow, but it is moisturizing and protecting from the sun.

Fluid Tint absorbs instantly into the skin leaving, while gliding over effortlessly. The color is real and natural, available in three shades: Light, Medium, and Dark. I was using the light shade, but now with a bit of a faux tan, the medium shade blends well with my skin tone.

Like all of the La Mer products, this is far from ordinary.  The company's infamous formula, gemstones absorb light energy transforming it into beneficial "green light" to boost it's anti-oxidant properties.  It also contains photonic spheres that redirect and diffuse light, while light-reactive seaweeds impart natural humectant properties to keep skin moisturized, thus preventing dehydration.

A 1.7 oz. of the SPF18 Fluid Tint is $65, available at La Mer counters  in Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and online at lamer.com.

Looking for a brightening foundation? A foundation with the benefits of powerful ingredients that nourish the skin while making it look beautiful? A foundation with an SPF? Look no further than The Treatment Fluid Foundation from La Mer.

The ingredients and what this foundation does for the skin is amazing. I can not come up with the words to describe all of the background to it, so I will let La Mer do that for me:

"Engineered with weightless color and La Mer’s remarkable skincare benefits, this silken, lightweight fluid has the power to transform the complexion. Gemstones capture light energy to create a translucent color palette, optically erasing imperfections to reveal a naturally flawless complexion. Created with a rare blue algae transformed through La Mer’s exclusive bio-fermentation process, a Blue Algae Lift Ferment along with precious marine and plant actives immediately add radiance while working continuously to lift the skin, restoring a lasting firmness, clarity and brightness. Skin’s ability to renew itself is greatly enhanced as it is trained to sustain a smoother, softer, more resilient appearance. Flexible medium coverage brings skin a naturally luminous finish. Protects with SPF15. "

I have not been so impressed with a foundation in a long time. And you know I try many of them. Instantly my face is lightened and brightened with this makeup. The color Ivory is perfect for my pale skin tone and it blends easily into my jawline for no line of demarcation.

I have experimented in application by applying simply with my fingers, a sponge, a sponge to blend what I apply to my face, and I also even tried applying with a foundation brush. I have found that pumping the foundation out of the pump twice onto the back of my hand, dotting the makeup on my forehead, chin, and upper cheekbones and then blending this out with a sponge works very well for a lighter coverage. I then take what is left of the foundation on my hand and run the sponge through it and blend on the more red parts of my cheeks for a bit heavier coverage. After a long day, the foundation looks just as flawless on my skin than it does as when I first applied it.

La Mer’s The Treatment Fluid Foundation SPF has a retail price of $75 for 1 oz., which admittedly is more than I ever thought I would spend for a foundation. But seeing the difference in how I look and feel about my skin on a daily basis makes this a splurge worth making. There are ten foundation shades to choose from that matching a variety of skin tones.

It is available wherever La Mer is sold, at select Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and of course online at lamer.com.

Are you a sucker for the buy one get one free sales, or two for ones? I sure am. I wonder if Prescriptives had this in mind when creating their new Anywhere Multi-Purpose Makeup Stick. Why, you ask? Because for $35 you get two portable sticks.

How convenient.

With a long-wearing formula and SPF 15, I would love to try this. Available in 24 shades to boot!  

I was asked by Elizabeth Arden and Glam to try out an innovative new foundation from Elizabeth Arden. I have not used liquid foundation in years until the past few months, where I have sort of fallen in love with it all over again.

This one, Intervene, is no exception. Intervene Liquid Foundation is made for maybe a bit "older" skin, with special ingredients such as Biodormin™ which helps to put a pause on aging signs.

 
Sort of embarrasing to take a photo of myself, especially wtihout makeup, but to get the true look of results, I thought it was important enough to bare the shame.

To read more about this great product and to see more about how I felt about, check out my full post over on Aging Fabulous. 

This is the Too Faced One Night Stand Collection. Not that I am fond of the name One Night Stand, I am very fond of Too Faced's great pigmented products and like many of the new products in this new collection.

Immediately, I took notice of the Lash Gems. Not that I would wear them, but for a girl out for a long night on the town club hopping, these look too cool. They are said to be weightless pearls, but I am sure you must wait and be very patient as you apply them evenly. Has anyone ever tired these before?

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Call me a little wacky, but I actually TIVO QVC's beauty shows if I am not home to watch them live. Yes, I am a bit of a beauty freak. Have you figured that out yet?

But these shows not only contain some great products, but great application and product tips as well. I love the different sets they put together, and they usually have an item exclusive to QVC, or special pricing. What's not to love, ladies?

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I am always on the hunt for a great concealer. And a concealer that doesn't need a a touch-up throughout the day is difficult to find. While I have a few favorites that I use in the winter, I have been looking for something lighter, that can be touched up when needed during the hot summer months.

Voila - a new product from DuWop called Surface. Packaged in a lipstick tube, it reminded me of my very first concealer I used in high school. With all the new packaging on the market, DuWop hit it out of the ballpark with this ordinary packaging of an extraordinary product.

Surface is very smooth, and lightweight. It is the perfect texture to cover up under-eye circles and spots here and there. And for the portability I have been looking for, this is it.

When I apply it under my foundation, I simply swipe it on, and blend with my finger. But get how easy this is - when needing a later day touch-up, I just swipe it on, and leave it. No muss, no fuss. It is just so perfect where it is put.

Surface comes in 4 versatile, easy to match shades for $22.50. Look for DuWop's surface at Sephora.com.

Touted as the best foundation primer on the market, I am finally using Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer. But before I started using it on a regular basis, I put it to the test.

Here is the description from Smashbox.com:
"Create the perfect canvas for foundation application with our best-selling PHOTO FINISH FOUNDATION PRIMER. With grapeseed extract to soothe and protect skin, this colorless formula fills in fine lines and pores to help skin appear visibly softer with a smooth velvet finish. Use after moisturizer and before foundation for complexion perfection."

So onto my testing.

The first time I tried it out, I had applied my regular eye cream and then Philosophy's When Hope is Not Enough Replenishing Cream (meant for night time use, but my skin has been so dry). I opened the tube of primer (the travel size tube, which is a perfect size), and dispensed a small, almost pea sized amount. It felt like the silicone serum I had used on my hair. Well, duh, Teri... it is silicone based, I thought to myself. Anyway, it smoothed out over my skin very easily, and the slippery feeling quickly turned almost powder like - in the feeling that is. I waited a few minutes, and applied MAC's Select Tint, which is really a tinted moisturizer, and followed that with my regular powder of choice, MAC Studio Fix.After a few hours, I saw no difference, and my skin actually looked a little more yellow than normal. Hum.

The next day I tried it over a very light-weight moisturizer, and still followed with my tinted moisturizer and powder - and the results were amazing.  I loved the way my skin looked so flawless - and the look lasted well into the night.

My next try was over the same light-weight moisturizer again, but this time I used only my Studio Fix Powder on top of it. And to my satisfaction, it worked like a dream again. I was surprised that using only a powder, my skin didn't look dry or cakey. Wonderful.

To me it seems as though the primer creates a barrier. It doesn't let anything from the skin (oils, pores, etc.) get into the makeup. While at the same time. the same barrier helps the makeup and powder from sinking into the skin. It just lies there on a perfect surface.

My feeling is that if used with the correct moisturizer, this primer will work best. Maybe on my first try I didn't use enough of the primer, but I have a feeling that the heavy moisturizer was the culprit.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer comes full size in a glass bottle for $36 or in a smaller "travel" size tube, which I like using, for just $15.

If you are looking for a primer, or have read the editor raves like I have about this one, don't hesitate anymore. I know you will be happy with it too - and make it a part of your daily routine as I finally have.