The year-end festive period is a love-it or hate-it time for many.
On the one hand, who doesn’t love winding down with the year, as people slow down, take time off to spend with loved ones, enjoy the school holidays with their kids, and revel in the Christmas and New Year festivities.
On the other hand, just think of the stress all that brings! LOL! 😀
Well, Laura Mercier has a few Holiday releases to create a little oasis of calm and encourage that little bit of me-time, to help you cope with the stress of the year-end holidays and festivities 🙂
Laura Mercier Ambre Vanillé Luxe Body Collection – RM290 | £70
There is something decadent about gourmand scents, especially during this festive time of year. While I personally find them a little rich in our hot weather, it is actually quite a homey, warm, comforting scent when the weather turns cold, or when worn in a cool room.
It is this that Laura Mercier banks on with their sweetly gourmand Ambre Vanillé scent. After Creme Brulee, this one’s quite a Laura Mercier classic! 🙂
The scent is unmistakably sweet and gourmand, bringing to mind a sweet vanilla dessert dusted with brown sugar. It makes me think of the brown sugar boba milk teas that is now so popular.
Incidentally, I popped my brown sugar boba milk tea cherry just yesterday, and I have to say that it isn’t quite my cup of … well… tea! LOL 😛 I find it too sweet and sickly a drink to enjoy, even if the tapioca pearls were quite soft and chewy.
But the Ambre Vanillé Gourmand scent reminds me of this. The warm amber notes warm and ground the sweet vanilla and brown sugar base. It is a scent for someone who enjoys sweet fragrances.
In cold weather, I expect it to be lovely and warming. It is a scent that makes you think of warm kitchens and laughter. But when the weather is hot and sticky as it is here, I struggle to enjoy it. Perhaps, in a cold air-conditioned room. But not otherwise.
What you get in the Ambre Vanillé is a lovely and good sized selection of the following items, all scented with the unmistakable scent of Ambre Vanillé:
- Ambre Vanillé Honey Bath – 200ml
- Ambre Vanillé Souffle Body Creme – 200ml
- Ambre Vanillé Creme Body Wash – 100ml
- Ambre Vanillé Eau Gourmande Eau de Toilette – 15ml
It really is one for someone who really loves this scent, or who loves gourmand scents of desserts and sweet, rich scents. If I were gifted with this, I know I would struggle 😛
But I personally could see myself enjoying the Ambre Vanillé Honey Bath or Creme Body Wash.
The Ambre Vanillé Honey Bath is quite interesting. If perhaps, you quite enjoy the occasional scent of ?Ambre Vanillé but don’t really want to commit to wearing a perfume that lasts for hours on your skin, this might be one to consider.
The Ambre Vanillé Honey Bath is a lovely lush and luxurious shower creme that is scented with the sweet, thick scent of amber and vanilla. It feels like you’re bathing in a dessert. It smells that lush!
The product comes in a jar, and to be fair, can be a little treacherous to scoop out, as the texture is viscous. It is, for all intents and purposes, just like runny honey in a tub. So, be sure you pick it out with dry hands, and the accompanying honey dipper before your shower. It lathers up very easily into thick, pillowy bubbles and makes every bath or shower time a treat!
Be warned that your shower will smell like you’ve been baking up a storm. But is that really a bad thing? 😀
The scent does linger a little on the skin, but not as strongly as that of the perfume, so I do find it more palatable.
WHERE TO BUY: Laura Mercier stores, SpaceNK, Cult Beauty
Laura Mercier Indulegence Extrême Infusion de Rose Mask Duet – RM280| US$68
If you’ve got your body and senses sorted, the next thing you’d turn to for a spot of self-indulgence is a face mask.
In the limited edition Indulegence Extrême Infusion de Rose Mask Duet, there are 2 new cream masks:
- Infusion de Rose Purifying Clay Mask – Made with kaolin and bentonite clays, the Purifying Clay Mask is designed to draw out impurities from the skin and deep cleanse it. Soothing rose water and Vitamin E ensures that your skin isn’t dried out in the process.
- Infusion de Rose Moisturizing Glow Mask – A moisture mask, the Moisturizing Glow Mask contains hyaluronic acid, French Sage Extract, a Bio-Active Amino Acid complex and soothing rose water to hydrate and moisturise skin.
I like that this mask duet is packaged as one, because there is great benefit in following up a clay mask with a moisture mask. Once the clay does all the deep-cleansing, it is time to put back all the moisture and rehydrate skin!
RELATED READING: Have you tried following up a clay mask with a moisture mask for more radiant skin? READ HERE
I personally do not find the Clay Mask to be overly drying, while the silky gel-creme texture of the Moisturising Mask does feel comfortable.
While I cannot say that I look to Laura Mercier for skincare (their forte really is in makeup) both these masks aren’t too bad for what they’re supposed to do.
Laura Mercier Make It Glow Translucent Loose Setting Powder Glow – RM187| £38
What is the Holidays season without a little shine and glow?
The iconic Translucent Loose Setting Powder by Laura Mercier now comes infused with shine in the form of fine pearl pigments. It gives skin a gentle illuminated glow that can be quite flattering instead of the full-on shine of most highlighter products in the market.
The effect can be quite flattering, as it gives a soft, diffused effect to the skin, blurring imperfections and helping you look party ready or at least, radiant, despite the Holiday stresses 🙂
This limited edition set comes with a contoured brush, that fits the contours of your face, so you can brush on the powder just where you need it – on the high points of your cheekbones.
WHERE TO BUY: Laura Mercier counters, SpaceNK
Do you love or hate the year-end Holiday festive season?
I love it. I don’t love the crowds, the traffic and the general push from retailers to buy, buy buy. But I love the general feeling of goodwill and happiness in the air. Oh, and I do love finding some good beauty deals to haha! 😀
Paris B
Disclosure: Featured products were press samples by the brand for consideration. Our commitment is to honesty and fairness. For review guidelines please read the disclaimer.
Beauty hors d’oeuvres serves up bite-sized nuggets of information about new beauty releases, store openings or events with quick, cursory thoughts on them. It is presented as an appetizer to whet your appetite for something meatier and designed to offer quick information. See other beauty nuggets here. For more meaty posts read the product reviews.
Merry Christmas/ happy holidays to you Paris ! (In advance anyways)
I used Laura mercier creme Brulee series (bath, shower gel, scrub) for years now before getting pregnant. Absolutely love them. Tried all other scents — Ambre vanille, Figs, coconut etc, all are just too, too pungent. When I applied Ambre Vanillé body lotion to office, I could smell myself whole day, the scent even overpowered the laksa I bought for lunch (!!)
Creme Brulee is exception cos I am a fan of caramel. Even then, I couldn’t use the creme brulee series when pregnant.
Thanks for your review on the clay mask. Clay mask has the same effect of matte lipstick on me (sends me running haha!). Good to know that this clay mask is not too drying
Me too Paris! I love the general atmosphere of Christmas and all the festivities that go along with it (even though I didn’t grow up celebrating Christmas actually..). I also love how you can treat those that maybe you forget about during the year (e.g. neighbours, work colleagues etc.). The one big negative for me is the wastefulness that can occur during this time of year (over-buying).
Question: Is the LM Make It Glow Translucent Loose Setting Powder Glow new? Or is it their ‘regular’ loose illuminating powder?
It’s my favourite time of the year! Everything feels light and joyful and there’s just pure bliss in the air 🙂 While I don’ really celebrate it with anyone, I still enjoy all the festiveness.