I believe good makeup is all in the base, which is why I was thrilled to try the new Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation which launched on February 22. The medium-coverage foundation is the brand’s first complexion product to launch in five years—and is meant to help you achieve Mercier’s signature no-makeup makeup look. Since one of my all-time favorite full-coverage formulas is Mercier’s Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation, I was curious to see how this new drop would stack up.
My not-so-low-maintenance routine involves the usual suspects—primer, foundation, concealer, and powder. Due to a mix of hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and honestly just loving a glam beat, I never really reach for any beauty product that doesn’t promise full coverage. Laura Mercier’s Real Flawless Foundation is said to have medium coverage so I was on the fence about how it’d address my needs, but I was still willing to give it a go. The buildable formula is also non-comedogenic (zero pore clogging!), fragrance-free, vegan, and suitable for all skin types.
I got the foundation in the shade 3N2, which is a caramel-esque tint that perfectly matched my medium-tan skin tone. The foundation also came with a brush, but I prefer blending with a wet sponge, like the Original Beautyblender because I’ve been doing so for years. Upon opening the bottle and pumping some onto my sponge, I already knew I liked the consistency. It was creamy, yet not too thick; it blended seamlessly. I didn’t need more than two pumps to cover my entire face and down along my neck.
One of the biggest issues I’ve experienced with foundations in the past is that oxidation changes the overall color of the product on my face after a few hours. In some cases, the foundation ended up looking more orange or red on my skin throughout the day, rather than complementing my natural skin tone. I made sure to leave this one on while I had a busy day to test its longevity. The verdict? After six hours of wear, the formula didn’t budge at all—nor did the color change. (FWIW, I also primed my skin with Laura Mercier’s fan-favorite setting powder, which likely helped with the staying power.)
While the formula didn’t provide the full coverage that I’m used to, it successfully covered up my blemishes with a veil-like effect. It also did so without the formula creasing around my eyes and nose, which I’ve found a lot of liquid foundation formulas tend to do.
Courtesy of Andrea Navarro
