All about laura mercier cosmetics

Since she launched Laura Mercier Cosmetics a decade ago, painter-turned-makeup artist Laura Mercier has seen it grow to a $90 million a year business.

"Love your face the way it is. If all we do is focus on our imperfections, we'll never recognize our unique individual beauty. When you have a vision of yourself as you are rather than as you think you should be, you're at peace with yourself and can focus on your best features. As soon as I stopped saying I look awful I recognized that I could be beautiful."

That may sound like advice from a shrink, but those are the words of Laura Mercier, painter turned makeup artist, and head of one of the hottest luxury cosmetics brands in the world, Laura Mercier Cosmetics.

She eventually became an instructor at the well-known school and began working closely with Thibault Vabre, one of the most renowned makeup artists in France.

In 1985, she moved to New York, and went to work for Elle magazine. to join the team launching the American edition of Elle magazine.

After her stint at Elle, she began working as a makeup artist for other top fashion and lifestyle magazines, including. Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, and Glamour and for fashion photography superstars Patrick Demarchelier and Steven Meisel.

Mercier believes that the most frequent mistake women make with makeup is either using too much foundation or the wrong color. Dissatisfied with the products available, she launched her own cosmetics company, Laura Mercier Classique, in 1996, promoting her philosophy of the "flawless face." Although her line includes dozens of color and skincare products, she's best known for her concealers and foundation.

It takes four products to achieve the Mercier flawless face: makeup primer to hold foundation in place; waterproof concealer to cover flaws; a foundation to even out skin tone, and translucent powder to set the makeup.

Town & Country magazine recently published their list of the "150 Best Beauty Products" and Mercier foundation was first on the list, and the Tinted Moisturizer #8. Her Secret Camouflage Concealer has also made a number of "Best of" lists, including ivillage.com's and Allure magazine.

In addition to her company, Mercier is one of the most popular makeup artists in the worlds, with a client list that includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Roberts, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Oprah Winfrey. She frequently does the makeup for the covers of Vogue, Allure, Elle, W and Marie Claire.

Mercier has created the faces for a number of top designers, including Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace.

Laura Mercier Cosmetics has flourished in a crowded market, and 2005 sales of $90 million are predicted. The Mercier line now includes dozens of products, including skin care, fragrance, body and bath care, makeup brushes and tools.

Her products are available at a number of high-end department stores, including Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's and Bergdorf Goodman.