Hello!
The Pantone Colour of the Year 2014 is Radiant Orchid and no doubt, many color stories in the 2014 beauty collections will feature varying shades of plums, mauves and purples. Before we welcome Radiant Orchid, I thought it fitting to say a little goodbye to Emerald, the Pantone Colour of the Year 2013.
These 2 Laura Mercier products were part of my Holiday season purchases. I own and love Laura Mercier’s Black Karat – a blackened gold baked eyeshadow and these are no less. The Illuminating Powder blush was just a spur of the moment thing but no regrets there either. Let’s take a closer look.
I picked up the Coral Red Quad (I think it retails for S$56) because I liked the color combination – it’s one of the few quads where the deepest shade is a more forgiving russet rather than a very deep brown which is often the norm in quads like these. I’ve come to realize that I don’t really like very deep blushes and prefer brightening shades. The Illuminating Quad is very finely-milled – there is a very subtle shimmer to it which translates into a soft glow on the skin.
I picked up Emerald Trio for myself and the Amethyst Trio as a gift for a dear friend. These are pigmented, pearlised and very smooth. For maximum impact and opacity, these are best used with a slightly damp brush or over a good sticky base. I’ll admit I must have at least 5 other deep emerald greens like Emerald (extreme right in the palette) but Malachite (centre) is the shade that really intrigued me – it is a blue-emerald green interlaced with a strong gold pearl which is rather unique among the greens in my stash.
Here is a simple look I put together using the Emerald Trio and the Coral Red Quad (and ooops, I only realised my left eyelid is a little swollen after I took the photos).
Base: Orbis UV Cut Sunscreen On Face Light SPF34 PA++; Sofina Ange Long Keep Base
Foundation/Powder: Shu Uemura Face Architect Smooth Fit Fluid Foundation in #734; MUFE Full Cover Concealer in #12 & #14; MUFE Pro Finish in #127; Chacott Enriching Powder HD (as a finishing powder)
Eyes: Laura Mercier Emerald Trio – Malachite (moving lids); Catrice Liquid Metal Eyeshadow in Under Treasure (crease); MAC Mega Metal Eyeshadow in Dalliance (browbone highlight)
Eyeliner: Dollywink Liquid Eyeliner; Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Intense in Peacock (lower lash line); Laura Mercier Emerald Trio – Emerald (lower lash line)
Mascara: Shu Uemura Tokyo Lash Mascara
Cheeks: Laura Mercier Illuminating Powder in Coral Red Quad (swirled)
Lips: NARS Cinematic Lipstick in Last Tango
And I leave you with a shot of some of my favorite Emerald-coloured acquisitions of 2013. I’ve always been a bangle girl – I don’t care too much for bracelets but I love love bangles and being ethnic Indian, I’m really spoilt for choice. For the Indian woman, bangles, as well as other jewelry (real gems or faux) are considered auspicious (I actually wear a pair of bangles on a daily basis – Mom will throw a fit if I remove them!) and I pile on the coloured bangles whenever I go out. Here, I’ve pulled out one of my favorite sets of emerald green bangles, a pair of white diamanté bangles accented with crimson and emerald diamanté (red, white and green is an extremely popular color combination in Indian ethnic wear and jewellery) and an emerald-coloured antique-style pearl and diamanté earring and pendant set.
I still love you, Emerald!
Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely holiday with your family!