Laura Mercier is a high-end beauty brand that is known for making classic, understated looks. Its cult-favorite translucent loose setting powder, tinted moisturiser, and caviar stick eyeshadow range are just a few examples. The brand has stayed true to its simple style since it started in 1996, even though beauty trends change all the time.
The range is all about making your skin look natural with a touch of luxury. I even chose Laura Mercier for my wedding makeup almost 20 years ago. So I really wanted to try its newest product, a tinted blur balm. It is said to be a balm-to-powder tint with smoothing peptides to improve texture and give a long-lasting finish. It comes in eight matte shades and has light-diffusing pigments to help blur the skin. It can also be used for contouring.
As a 41-year-old beauty writer, I usually choose a full-coverage foundation for everyday glow. After almost 15 years of testing products, I always go back to the same Dior base. So, could this new release make me change my mind? I got some samples before the launch to see for myself.
How I checked
I checked how long the formula lasted and what kind of finish it gave (Helen Wilson-Beevers/The Independent)
I wore Laura Mercier’s new tinted blur balm for two days, once on a night out and once during a long day at work. I checked out how well it covered and how my skin looked and felt while I was wearing it. I also wrote down if the formula could be built up and if it could give me the smooth base I want.
Read more about the best tinted moisturisers that have been tested for glowing skin.
Laura Mercier’s tinted blur balm
Laura Mercier tinted balm review by IndyBest
Eight different colours
Important parts Peptides, squalane, and oil from camelina sativa seeds
Why we like it
- A base that is light and easy to build on
- Feels soft on the skin
- Compact has a mirror in it
Pay attention
- There are only eight colours to choose from, and it doesn’t quite cover up blemishes.
Find out more
The balm comes in a fancy gold compact with a good mirror, which makes it look like a high-end makeup treat, which fits with the £39 price tag.
The balm-powder mix is light; when I put it on my hand, it feels creamy and like a veil. It won’t make your skin greasy like many balms do; instead, it feels silky smooth and almost sheer when you only use a little bit.
Laura Mercier tinted balm review from indybest
The packaging of the product makes a good first impression (Helen Wilson-Beevers/The Independent)
Peptides, squalane, and camelina sativa seed oil, which is high in vitamin E, are some of the skin-care ingredients in the product. I could feel the nourishing and softening effects right away. Some powders stick to my fine lines or settle in dry spots, but I was happy to see that this one didn’t. Instead, it gives you a smoothing layer that you can add to for more coverage.
The balm makes your skin look smooth and matte, and even after putting on a few layers, the light coverage stays subtle. In fact, I’d also suggest wearing it over foundation to get the smoothing, matte finish while maintaining a level of coverage. The balm is great for covering up dark circles under the eyes when you dab it on with your fingers, but it doesn’t quite cover up blemishes. Also, because it can be layered, you could mix a few colours to contour.
Laura Mercier tinted balm indybest review
I could make the product smooth (Helen Wilson-Beevers/The Independent)
The powdery, silky-soft formula keeps it from sliding off with wear, and I’m happy to say that the balm stayed on all night. I did have to top it off during the day, but that wasn’t a problem because the mirror was so helpful and the formula was so smooth.
£39 from Cultbeauty.co.uk
Prices might be different
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Is the Laura Mercier tinted blur balm a good deal?
The tinted blur balm gives my skin a natural, matte finish and smooths out imperfections without being too heavy. This product can be used as a lightweight base, concealer, finishing layer, or for contouring. I usually like full-coverage foundation, but this powder-balm formula has become one of the things I use every day.
How I tried out Laura Mercier’s tinted blur balm
I tested the balm for two situations because this review was based on first impressions rather than wearing it for a long time. I used the balm with a lot of make-up for a night out and with very little make-up for a day at the office. I looked at how well the product held up, how well it looked, how easy it was to use, and how much it cost. During the trial, I also looked at the following:
- I felt how smooth the balm was and what effect it had.
- I wrote down how I would use the balm for the best coverage and finish, and then I tried it out with a brush and my fingers.
Results: I checked to see how long the balm lasted on my skin and if I would keep using it every day.
Why you can believe what IndyBest says
Helen Wilson-Beevers has been writing about and reviewing all kinds of beauty products for more than 16 years in the media. She has talked to a lot of professionals in the field, like MUA Katie Jane Hughes, so she knows which products are worth your money. Helen knows what makes a formula work when it comes to the tinted blur balm because she has already tried the best tinted moisturisers and foundations for dry skin for IndyBest.
