Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, $42

I hardly ever wear concealer or foundation on my face but every once in a while I feel up for trying it out again. Last week I received this Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in a sample pack from Sephora. While I don't regularly use skin products like this, I was excited to try it out!

This tinted moisturizer is a nice thin formula that goes on light and doesn't feel greasy at all. I really like how it evens out my skin tone and actually delivers a "glow" that it promises. Not only does the tinted moisturizer take place of foundation, it also has SPF 20 so you don't need any additional protection for every day wear.

I think that this tinted moisturizer is good because the cream isn't too thick and it blends easily. I have tried others that just feel as thick as a crappy liquid foundation. I will say though, I'd rather save wearing a product like this for the colder/dryer months of the year. Another bonus of this product is that it comes in a variety of different skin tone shades! I hate it when there are just 3 options for a tinted moisturizer!

Final verdict:
Cost: For a big bottle $42, the bottle pictured is only a sample size.
Does it feel like you are wearing a lot of face product?: Not really, I was pretty impressed with how it just felt like I was wearing my regular moisturizer.
Repeat offender?: I think it is important to buy quality skin products, especially those that are meant to match your skin tone, so even though spending $42 on a tinted moisturizer seems like a lot I would probably still purchase this brand. My only suggestion, check it out at the store to make sure you can find a perfect match!

-M

Almay Smart Shade Concealer, $8-$10

Almay Smart Shade Concealer is interesting--it's one of their products in the Smart Shade line, which claims to have the ability to "sense" the color of your skin and adjust itself to blend in flawlessly. Therefore, it comes in only 3 colors: light, light/medium, and medium. I chose light.

The product starts out nearly white. It comes in a small container with a needle-point nozzle, all signs that point to "use a small amount." It's very thin and liquidy, making it easy to spread out and blend. It feels smooth and dries quickly, almost like a tinted moisturizer.

The color isn't quite as yellowy as in the photo (I also put on a ton here), but it does have a slightly yellow tone that works well with my skin and I think helps to mellow out redness.

It's sheer coverage--no stage makeup here. For someone like me who never wears heavy face makeup, I think it works really well. I've used it under my eyes (dark circles), my nose (red), and my chin (blemish scars). I feel like it gave an overall cleansing effect, like my face looks more alive but you can't really figure out why.

Final verdict
Cost: $8-$10, depending on where you get it. Available at CVS, Walmart, etc.
Color changing: It actually does change and blend into my skin--pretty cool! It has a slightly yellow tone, though, which might not work for all skin types.
Coverage: Fairly sheer, like a tinted moisturizer. Good for those who just want a little, natural-looking fix. It also has SPF 15 (always a plus for me).
Texture: Soft, nonoily, blends easily, and dries quickly. It feels like my skin can breathe through it (not cakey at all).
Repeat offender: Yes, I would buy this again. It gives me just the amount of coverage I'm looking for and has a great texture. Plus, I put it right on top of some zits and it didn't make them worse, so I know it's not clogging my pores. I'm interested to try their Smart Shade blush--it's, like, the future, man!

-T

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20, $42

Let me just say upfront: I don't like foundation. Sure, I'll wear some under my eyes if I feel like I look tired (which, uh, has been like everyday lately) or in a futile attempt to cover a bad zit, but I can't really do the all-over thing. Feels too heavy and I feel like it always looks fake, especially up close. So, I chose the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer as a free sample from Sephora because I figured this would be the closest to foundation I could bring myself to wear.

(Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude)
I must admit, this stuff is pretty nice. It's really thin, making it easy to blend a thin layer on my face. I was surprised by the coverage--it made a noticeable difference in evening out my skin tone. It felt light and soft, and I actually forgot I was wearing it. (Note: As with all face makeup I've tried, it did make my blemishes look, well, like I had tried to cover them with makeup. So, no exceptions there.) And, I learned that the color of blush really pops when applied over a nice base.

Final verdict
Cost: $42. Ow. Maybe if the price was, like, $30, which is still a lot, I'd be willing to pay for it. But $42 is just too much.
Coverage: Even though it's just a tinted moisturizer, it still evened out my skin tone noticeably. Plus it has SPF (even though it's just SPF 20, it's better than nothing!) and comes in a ton of shades.
Texture/feeling: This was my favorite part--it felt really light and soft. My boyfriend couldn't tell it was there.
Repeat offender: Well, if I had a ton of money then yes, I would recommend this. But, I just can't bring myself to spend that much!

-T

Sephora deal: This one is open to anyone with a Beauty Insider card (if you don't have one, sign up! It's free and you earn points toward samples!): 15% off your entire Sephora.com purchase with the promo code MADNESS. Good April 12-19.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock, $10

Ahh April, what's not to love? Longer days, springy dresses, the warm mid-day sun . . . I finally don't need a sweater on the drive home from work, so I've taken my Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30 out of winter storage. Yes, skin protection is a year-round job, but skin needs extra help as our hemisphere tilts toward the sun and we're not bundled head-to-toe. I use it daily on my arms, shoulders, and collarbone to avoid getting a farmer's tan in my daily car ride, and to protect myself from skin damage, freckles, moles, melanoma, etc. Of course, my moisturizer has SPF in it, but I'll use the Neutrogena stuff if I know I'm going to be out in the sun for more than a minute.

What I like most about this sunblock is its nongreasy feel. After you rub it in, your skin really is dry to the touch, almost powdery. I love the way it feels! Although, as a friend pointed out and I agree, it does leave an odd feeling on your hands. But, nothing a quick wash (or drop of sanitizer) won't alleviate. Plus, it has a great scent. It smells a bit like sunscreen, of course, but no one's gonna ask if you're about to go to the pool. It's light and leaves a fragrance kind of like baby powder.

I commuted to college and drove a lot in the afternoon sun. Two years into college I noticed more freckles on the left side of my face and arms. Moral of the story: Sun damage happens faster and easier than you may think. You don't have to be an avid outdoorsman to be at risk. Not to sound preachy but protect yourself! Especially if you're a pale girl like me. :)

Final verdict
Cost: $10--totally reasonable.
Feel: Feels nongreasy and dry--no shine left behind. Although, you might cringe at the way it feels on your palms, but you can totally wash it off.
Protection: SPF 30 has worked for me for basic, daily protection. It also comes in higher SPFs (55, 85, 100, etc.).
Other benefits: Waterproof, sweatproof, non-pore clogging.
Repeat offender: I've been really happy with it and would recommend it to my friends.

Be Good To Your Mother (Earth) 3 Full Size 24.7 Lip Sheers, $35

Tarte has truly become one of my favorite makeup brands in the last year. It started with me buying an eyeshadow palette by them without knowing much about the quality of the product. What I’ve gained from trying several of their products is that they are genuinely a high quality and environmentally friendly brand. I have been dying to get this awesome set of 24.7 Lip Sheers (found here and here) by Tarte forever, but I always thought the price was a little high. About two weeks ago one of my favorite online sample sale sites Ruelala.com (hit me up if you want an invite) had a sale on this exact set I’ve had my eye on all along and I went ahead and splurged.


I was so excited to try this set because like I said earlier, I’ve been trying to experiment with lip colors. In this set you get 3 full-sized tubes of Tarte’s 24.7 lip sheers and a really lovely deep purple reusable tote bag that zips up so you can always have it on hand (DC people I know you have that new bag tax so this is perfect because it fits in your purse or car without taking up a lot of space). In authentic Tarte style, the packaging the lip sheers come in are made with recycled aluminum and are adorned with the names Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. The lip sheers come in 3 colors, the first being Reduce which is a muted wine color; Reuse, a hot pink that can go on subtly or give you a sexy bright lip color; and finally Recycle, a nude to dry rose color. These sheers are seriously the perfect lip product for the spring and summer because they all have SPF 15 and they go on so lightly, it is almost like a colored chapstick. Unlike lipstick, the lip sheers don’t really get on your teeth, they act almost like a creamy lip stain.

Final verdict:
Cost: The price seems a little high for some lip sheers but these tubes are pretty big and you get three of them. Individually, 24.7 lip sheers cost $16 dollars each so you are getting a pretty good deal. And don’t forget you also get a tote bag and it seems like we can’t have enough of these.
Quality: Tarte’s products live up to their promises. They are high quality and guilt-free because the company is dedicated to making environmentally friendly products.
Versatility: These lip sheers can be worn everyday as a casual addition to your beauty routine or you could use them when getting decked out for a special event.
Repeat offender: If I manage to use all 3 of the lip sheers or find another shade that appeals to me I would definitely invest in another tube of this awesome stuff.
-M