Laura Mercier Folklore, Fire Glow and Earth Glow

Laura Mercier just released their new collection for Summer 2013, called Folklore. The collection focuses on earth tones combined with natural bronzed skin. The promo photo below is from their US website. Center piece of the collection is a baked bronzer, which is slightly shimmery. LM usually does a good job with baked formulas. If I haven't just purchased my Guerlain bronzer, I might have given it a try. The collection also has three lip crayons, similar to Clinique's Chubby Sticks. Since I was rather not very happy with my recent purchase of their last lip stick formula (creme smooth lip color) I passed on this one too. After having purchased their creme eye liner in Espresso, I wanted to give the green creme eye liner a try, so this one was my pick together with two illuminating eye colors, which I would like to present you today.

Laura Mercier Folklore Collection Promo Photo

Laura Mercier released similar eye shadows with their holiday look. I somehow missed those as I was too busy with releases of other brands. A decision which I somehow regretted later. So as soon as I have seen those two gorgeous summery shades released, I knew I had to get them.

Two of the three illuminating eye colors from Laura Mercier Folklore Collection

Each eye shadow comes in a plastic dark brown case, including a mirror and houses 2.50g/0.09 OZ of product. This is a rather usual size for a single. Each eye shadow costs 24$ in US which can be ordered at their website, 24 EUR in Germany and can be purchased either online or from Laura Mercier counter in Breuninger Stuttgart.

Laura Mercier illuminating eye colors, left Fire Glow, right Earth Glow

There are three colors released in this collection. Sun glow, a shimmery metallic gold, Fire Glow which is a metallic reddish copper and Earth Glow which is a warm brown with golden shimmer. I picked up Fire Glow and Earth Glow to combine them together for a copper metallic smokey eye, knowing that this summer everything metallic is trending...

Laura Mercier illuminating eye colors, left Fire Glow, right Earth Glow

I was also told at the counter that those can be applied wet, almost like the baked ones. I think since they are very pigmented when used dry, it is not really necessary to go for a wet application. On the other hand if used wet, they show their metallic quality a bit better. For the below swatches I used them dry, applying a few heavy layers with my fingers.

Laura Mercier Illuminating Eye Color arm swatches of Fire Glow and Earth Glow

As you see, the shimmer of Earth Glow is rather subtle. I don't think I will be using the brown on its own, but it surely compliments the gold or the copper shade to define the eye while preserving the metallic texture. Below I took a slightly out of focus picture to show the shimmer.

Arm swatches slightly out of focus to see the shimmer effect.

For eye makeup below, I used the copper shade on the whole lid, applied the brown shade with a MAC 217 on the crease. I then used one of the new Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks in Sugar Frost on inner lid and brow bone to highlight. I used Laura Mercier's creme eye liner in Espresso and applied it with their angled eye liner brush. As you see, I couldn't get a perfect line for this eye make-up but I assume it takes some time and practice to get used to the angled brush. 

Laura Mercier illuminating eye colors in action

I used Chanel Le Volume Mascara to finalize this look. Usually some copper shades don't look good on me, this is why I don't own many of them. This time together with the metallic theme I would like to give it one more try and I liked the result.

Eye make-up using Fire Glow and Earth Glow of Laura Mercier

Final thoughts: Laura Mercier's new illumination eye colors are nicely pigmented and matching with the metallic madness coming up this summer. If you don't like reddish shades on your lids, you can give golden Sun Glow a try. The staying power was just fine when applied with a primer. Earth Glow compliments Sun Glow or Fire Glow to define the look without loosing the metallic touch. 

What do you think of these illuminating eye shadows? Do you like metallic look on the eyes? Have you tried those out yet?