Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact SPF 25
Price: $42 for 7 grams
($6 per gram)
CRUELTY FREE!!!
Laura Mercier is known for her array of impressive foundations and her Tinted Moisturizers. Both Laura's Original & Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizers have a ginormous cult following that's rarely seen with that type of product and they are known for providing some of the best coverage levels you can get with a Tinted Moisturizer or American BB Cream.
Because of this, it wasn't surprising when
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact was released a few years ago when it claimed it's place one of the first cream compacts in the United States to call themselves a "Tinted Mosturizer compact or BB Cream Compact."
Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact essentially claims to be "Laura Mercier's Classic Tinted Moisturizer in compact form." If that were true, then the primary difference would be the element of convenience that a compact offers but there are actually many more differences than similarities!
Formula & Performance:
The Tinted Moisturizer Compact is essentially a cream foundation housed in a cute little Laura Mercier Compact that's your basic dual-compartment design to house the included sponge and the foundation.
The formula itself is a true emollient formula and should not be confused with a cream to powder foundation. Initially, it may seem a bit thick and hard but it warms up quite well once you work with it a bit and it blends well with a sponge, fingers, or brush.
Personally, I would have expected the Tinted Moisturizer Compact to have a bit of a thinner, sheerer formula with quite a bit of slip (something like Mac Prep + Prime BB Compact) but it really isn't like that at all.
Instead, the Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact has only a minimal amount of slip and it stays in place pretty well for a cream foundation. Unlike many options that are too moisturizing and require a ton of powder to set them, the Tinted Compact needs very little powder (is any at all) and because it's emollient based by not overly hydrating it works very well with powder alternatives like Mally's Poreless Face Defender.
Coverage is impressive and definitely not like a tinted moisturizer. You can easily blend out the Tinted Moisturizer compact if you only want sheer coverage (of course if you do that you'll need additional sun protection) or you can build coverage up past the medium mark with minimal effort.
Because it's a cream foundation and doesn't have the powder/setting properties of a cream to powder foundation, you can use any application method you chose with the same basic results. (The principal difference between a brush and your fingers or a sponge is the coverage level you'll end up with.)
*I would highly suggest using a brush or your fingers to apply the Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact over a sponge; only because it is a foundation on the expensive side and sponges eat up so much product.*
Shades & Finish:
The shade range is spectacular with 13 or 14 shades in the lineup. (A few have been replaced but they seem to keep the number of shades available in the 12-13 range.)
The lightest shade, Porcelain, is very light and will suit moist fair skintones. It does have yellow undertones, but they're a neutral yellow that's soft and should work to diffuse minor redness instead of making skin look jaundice like many pale yellow foundations.
The deepest shade is either Mocha or Walnut. They're very similar and difficult to tell apart but they're deep enough to work with most dark skintones.
The other shade are all neutral. Some lean slightly yellow or pink but they all have some degree of flexibility.
The one thing that I wish Laura had done differently is the way she named her shades. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to the order of the shades anywhere and because they're identified by names and lack a numerical system it can be pretty confusing- particularly if you're trying to shop online!
Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact has a very natural looking finish. If you have very dry skin than you'll get a slightly-glowing-natural foundation finish. If you have oily skin TM Compact may appear dewy. Laura describes the finish as a "satin" finish and while that's not an inaccurate term I don't want to give the illusion that there are sparkles.
You can always adjust the finish by using powder and a primer. Just be sure that you chose the right primer for what you're trying to achieve. (i.e. don't get a moisturizing primer if you want a matte finish foundation.)
Sun Protection:
Another huge difference between Laura's Tinted Moisturizers and her Creme Compact is the addition of sunscreen that's effective against UVA rays.
Her classic Tinted Moisturizer has adequate protection against UVA rays in only some of the shades and her Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer only protects against UVB rays. (This doesn't make them bad it just means that you'll have to wear additional sunscreen with them.)
The Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact on the other hand; provides sufficient protection against ALL UV rays (as long as you apply it liberally enough.)
If you want a more matte finish but don't want to use a powder you can always use a silicone primer with adequate sun protection like Tarte's 12 Hour BB Priming Treatment which has SPF 30 and works very well under cream foundations!
Final Verdict:
Those with oily skin who want to try a cream foundation may have some luck with the Tinted Moisturizer Compact because the finish isn't overly dewy. If you have dry skin you absolutely should try the Tinted Compact. Don't think that it will be a one-step moisturizer and foundation; but it will probably knock at least one step off of your normal makeup routine.
This is a great foundation for everyday type activities and if you have spring or fall cookouts that don't quite warrant full-on-summer-makeup & oil control.
If you like cream foundations than you should definitely look into Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizing Creme Compact. The name may be a bit misleading but nonetheless it is a high performing, well formulated foundation that is worth the price.
CRUELTY FREE!!!
Laura Mercier is known for her array of impressive foundations and her Tinted Moisturizers. Both Laura's Original & Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizers have a ginormous cult following that's rarely seen with that type of product and they are known for providing some of the best coverage levels you can get with a Tinted Moisturizer or American BB Cream.
Because of this, it wasn't surprising when
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact was released a few years ago when it claimed it's place one of the first cream compacts in the United States to call themselves a "Tinted Mosturizer compact or BB Cream Compact."
Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact essentially claims to be "Laura Mercier's Classic Tinted Moisturizer in compact form." If that were true, then the primary difference would be the element of convenience that a compact offers but there are actually many more differences than similarities!
Formula & Performance:
The Tinted Moisturizer Compact is essentially a cream foundation housed in a cute little Laura Mercier Compact that's your basic dual-compartment design to house the included sponge and the foundation.
The formula itself is a true emollient formula and should not be confused with a cream to powder foundation. Initially, it may seem a bit thick and hard but it warms up quite well once you work with it a bit and it blends well with a sponge, fingers, or brush.
Personally, I would have expected the Tinted Moisturizer Compact to have a bit of a thinner, sheerer formula with quite a bit of slip (something like Mac Prep + Prime BB Compact) but it really isn't like that at all.
Instead, the Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact has only a minimal amount of slip and it stays in place pretty well for a cream foundation. Unlike many options that are too moisturizing and require a ton of powder to set them, the Tinted Compact needs very little powder (is any at all) and because it's emollient based by not overly hydrating it works very well with powder alternatives like Mally's Poreless Face Defender.
Coverage is impressive and definitely not like a tinted moisturizer. You can easily blend out the Tinted Moisturizer compact if you only want sheer coverage (of course if you do that you'll need additional sun protection) or you can build coverage up past the medium mark with minimal effort.
Because it's a cream foundation and doesn't have the powder/setting properties of a cream to powder foundation, you can use any application method you chose with the same basic results. (The principal difference between a brush and your fingers or a sponge is the coverage level you'll end up with.)
*I would highly suggest using a brush or your fingers to apply the Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact over a sponge; only because it is a foundation on the expensive side and sponges eat up so much product.*
Shades & Finish:
The shade range is spectacular with 13 or 14 shades in the lineup. (A few have been replaced but they seem to keep the number of shades available in the 12-13 range.)
The lightest shade, Porcelain, is very light and will suit moist fair skintones. It does have yellow undertones, but they're a neutral yellow that's soft and should work to diffuse minor redness instead of making skin look jaundice like many pale yellow foundations.
The deepest shade is either Mocha or Walnut. They're very similar and difficult to tell apart but they're deep enough to work with most dark skintones.
The other shade are all neutral. Some lean slightly yellow or pink but they all have some degree of flexibility.
The one thing that I wish Laura had done differently is the way she named her shades. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to the order of the shades anywhere and because they're identified by names and lack a numerical system it can be pretty confusing- particularly if you're trying to shop online!
Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact has a very natural looking finish. If you have very dry skin than you'll get a slightly-glowing-natural foundation finish. If you have oily skin TM Compact may appear dewy. Laura describes the finish as a "satin" finish and while that's not an inaccurate term I don't want to give the illusion that there are sparkles.
You can always adjust the finish by using powder and a primer. Just be sure that you chose the right primer for what you're trying to achieve. (i.e. don't get a moisturizing primer if you want a matte finish foundation.)
Sun Protection:
Another huge difference between Laura's Tinted Moisturizers and her Creme Compact is the addition of sunscreen that's effective against UVA rays.
Her classic Tinted Moisturizer has adequate protection against UVA rays in only some of the shades and her Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer only protects against UVB rays. (This doesn't make them bad it just means that you'll have to wear additional sunscreen with them.)
The Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact on the other hand; provides sufficient protection against ALL UV rays (as long as you apply it liberally enough.)
If you want a more matte finish but don't want to use a powder you can always use a silicone primer with adequate sun protection like Tarte's 12 Hour BB Priming Treatment which has SPF 30 and works very well under cream foundations!
Final Verdict:
Those with oily skin who want to try a cream foundation may have some luck with the Tinted Moisturizer Compact because the finish isn't overly dewy. If you have dry skin you absolutely should try the Tinted Compact. Don't think that it will be a one-step moisturizer and foundation; but it will probably knock at least one step off of your normal makeup routine.
This is a great foundation for everyday type activities and if you have spring or fall cookouts that don't quite warrant full-on-summer-makeup & oil control.
If you like cream foundations than you should definitely look into Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizing Creme Compact. The name may be a bit misleading but nonetheless it is a high performing, well formulated foundation that is worth the price.
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| Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact Foundation Swatches of Shades Almond, Bisque, Blush, Caramel, Mocha, Nude, Porcelain, Tawny, Tan, Walnut, *Cameo, Fawn, Natural, Ochre, & Sand, not shown |
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| Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Cream Compact SPF 25 Swatches of Shades* Porcelain, Blush, Nude, Natural, Bisque, Ochre, Sand, Almond *Tawny, Tan, Walnut, Mocha, Fawn & Cameo not shown |
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| Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Compact Swatches of Shades* Porcelain, Nude. Sand, Blush, Tan, Fawn, Tawny, Caramel Mocha, Walnut *Natural, Bisque, Tan, Ochre, & Cameo not shown |
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| Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Creme Compact Swatches of Shades Almond, Bisque, Blush, Caramel, Mocha, Nude, Porcelain, Tawny, Tan, Walnut, |
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| Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Compact Foundation SPF 25 Porcelain, Nude, Sand, Blush, Tan, Fawn, Tawny, Caramel, Mocha, Walnut |
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