Laura Mercier
Delivers Oscar Glow

By BeansTalk Associate Editor Andrea Goodwin

BeansTalk’s bread and butter is our red-carpet coverage. This year, as we were ogling million dollar necklaces and earrings and jotting down every dress designer’s name, we couldn’t help but notice how some stars had incredibly pretty make-up looks. These looks were formal and camera-ready, but also natural and not overdone.

We are pretty sure that Helen Mirren was on every major fashion pundit’s “best” list. (Not to mention, who could forget Jack Black and Will Ferrell vying to take this “hot” woman home!) As elegant as her Christian Lacroix gown looked and moved that night BeansTalk wants to give credit to her make-up artists who wisely selected Laura Mercier’s Cheek Color in “winter bloom" for her face. This shade gives a sheer pink sheen to the cheek bones, and is subtle enough that an actress can blush authentically when giving an acceptance speech, as Mirren did that night.

BeansTalk has learned that the Laura Mercier cheek colors for spring were just made available in stores in January. In developing them, creator and company visionary Laura Mercier wanted to create a blush formula that was extremely easy to use and virtually mistake-proof. She also wanted to eliminate harsh, unnatural colours and the possibility of hard, visible edges when applied. So, she began by selecting the most wearable, natural shades—providing a range for all skin tones and depths without so many shades as to overwhelm the customer. She then developed a silky, smooth formula that applies sheerly and lasts. The result is a natural-looking, easy-to-apply cheek color. BeansTalk quicktip: If you are ready for spring, try this compact in the “orange blossom” shade, which gives a light peach hue to the cheeks.

The retail for the compact is $22.00. It is available on counters as of January 2007 at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora, www.lauramercier.com.

Above: Helen Mirren poses with her Oscar for Best Actress for her work in 'The Queen' backstage at the 79th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, February 25, 2007. (Mike Blake/Reuters)