Saving Face with Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer

“I created this product because I wanted to give skin a fresh, healthy, no-makeup look with a soft hint of color that evens and enhances without hiding the skin.”
—Laura Mercier

The renowned Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is a favorite of beauty industry professionals and consumers alike. With its natural-looking finish, it's known to be the face base of choice for models on their off time. I read somewhere that the Laura Mercier group pioneered tinted moisturizers, or at least set the standard for them. But what really sold me on this is how radiant and youthful my mom looked wearing it. I got this from the largest Sephora on the Vegas strip, conveniently located within The Venetian's Palazzo, our hotel. At $42 for 50 ml it's on a higher price point but in my opinion it's worth it. I've never worn anything quite like this.
Ingredients are nothing to be worried about. Unscented! (click for larger)

This lightweight formula provides ideal protection from the sun’s harmful, damaging rays with broad spectrum SPF 20 UVB/UVA sunscreen. It also controls oil-breakthrough with hydration to prevent dryness and soften and ease fine, dry lines. An antioxidant complex of vitamins C and E acts as a free radical scavenger to protect the skin from even the most aggressive effects of the environment, all while extremely long-wearing color stays true and wears evenly in a natural, semi-matte finish. Non-comedogenic and dermatologist- and allergy-tested to minimize the risk of irritation, it is perfect for all skin types, including sensitive ones.

It's packaged in a travel-friendly hygenic squeeze tube and comes in 12 shades. Sephora SA matched me to Bisque, "for light neutral complexions with balance of yellow and pink undertones." I've never seen a more accurate description of a shade. It swatches neutral but is still a perfect match for me and my sallow complexion.
This base has THE MOST natural finish I've ever encountered, while subtly evening out skin tone and lending a healthy glow. Coverage is light but buildable; as you can see on my product-free face (just freshly washed!) above it veils my perinasal hyperpigmentation and spots without erasing them completely plus adds a refined radiance for fuss-free not-quite-makeup flawlessness. Just the kind of effect boys who "prefer their girlfriends without makeup" are looking for.
It is a dream to use, simply the least time-consuming product I have tried. I just use my fingers to pat and blend (sometimes not even blend properly haha) and I'm done within 2 minutes. I love that I can use it to freshen up quickly after a dip in the a pool. It applies mildly tacky at first but quickly dries into a soft satin finish. I've tried piling on the layers and it never looks cakey, although my combination-oily may end up shinier than I'd like. You may set it with powder but since I'm always rushed in the morning I wear it as is. I do have to blot with oil control film by lunch time.
This is excellent for both young and mature skin; it looks great on both me and my mom. The low SPF 20 is icing on the cake, sufficient for indoors, but if you're spending a significant amount of time under the sun you'll need to supplement with sunscreen, or foundation with higher SPF, if you wish.
A few rather familiar photos of me with a complete look using just this on the face, no setting powder or foundation. This is the only face base that does not cake or flake on me in this weather, and based on other reviews, it fares quite well in the Philippine humidity as well. It's something I will be hoarding come Black Friday.

The Wrap

Pros

Excellent unscented formula with a natural satin finish that gives you a lovely glow
Wide selection of shades for neutral, cool, and warm undertones
Good for all skin types, young, and mature
Super easy to use
Hygenic packaging
Travel-friendly at 50 mL

Neutral

Expensive, but it's not hard to see why
The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 comes in 3 variants (original, oil-free, and illuminating) and retails for $43 at Sephora and major department stores. Philippine retail price isn't far off at PhP 1,850 at local Rustan’s counters.