REVIEW! | Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Medium Ivory

What can I say about Laura Mercier's Silk Creme Foundation besides I LOVE IT?  Hmm.  That may actually sum it up in full!  LMSC is something I've been wanting to test drive for a long time.  Earlier this summer, when I got some sun and my current foundation options were all way too light, I finally picked it up.

The foundation comes in a handy-dandy squeeze tube, making it's lack of glass packaging a real traveller's treat.  As I said previously, I bought the shade Medium Ivory when I had more color earlier in the summer and had no foundations that matched my new skin tone.  I'd morphed from NW20 to somewhere between NW30-35.  Oddly enough, even though my tan has completely faded, Medium Ivory is still a perfect match!  My skin is typically MAC NW20, NARS Deauville (Sheer Glow), and Revlon ColorStay in Buff Beige for point of reference.

Below I've swatched it on my NW20 arm in indoor lighting and with a flash.  You can really see the gloriousness of the matte finish in the flash shot!  The matte has some life and doesn't look overly "done" or powdery.

This foundation is so unique in that there's literally no wrong way to apply it.  Fingers, wet sponge, dry sponge, dry brush, wet brush, kabuki brush, flat brush - I've tried every application and it comes out flawlessly every. single. time.  I have never been able to apply base using a flat foundation brush and not see streaks and general creepiness that has to be smoothed out with fingers until I tried it with the Silk Creme.  It came out beautifully; no streaks, no brush strokes, nothing needed to be blended down.  The coverage is on the medium-to-full side, but it feels completely weightless and...well, silky!  This foundation lasts beautifully all day on my combo/oily skin.

Onto the face swatches!  I had a seriously angry chin blemish (a "chemish"?) when I took these, so just try to ignore it! :)  Here's my face sans makeup.

Below I'm wearing Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation only - no primer, concealer, or powder.

As you can see, it gives my skin an almost airbrushed look, which makes me REALLY happy!

This is one of my favorite foundations ever, and I am pretty picky about foundation.  The fuller coverage without the heavy feel combined with the completely fuss-free application makes it a total rock star in my book!

My Rating: A

Where to Buy: Laura Mercier, Sephora

Below is a complete list of the makeup used in the look above, in case anyone's curious!

Face:
Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Medium Ivory
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla (full review here)
MAC Select Cover-Up in NW25
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium

Cheeks:
MAC Powder Blush in Prism (matte)
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

Eyes:
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
MAC Phloof! (tear duct and brow bone highlight)
MAC Quarry (lid and crease)
MAC Sumptuous Olive (lid and outer crease)
MAC Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner in Lord it Up
Maybelline Lash Discovery in Black
Benefit Bad Gal Lash in Rich Black

Lips:
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Black Tea & Raspberry
MAC Lipstick in Smash Hit (glitter)