Known for her specialty of creating the flawless face, Laura Mercier is a world-renowned makeup artist and creator of Laura Mercier Cosmetics, Skincare, Body & Bath, and Fragrance. As the personal makeup artist to celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Roberts, and Juliette Binoche, and as a contributor to cover designs and editorial shoots, Laura Mercier creates looks that are both flawless and accentuate one’s natural beauty.
Raised in Provence, Laura began her training at age 17 when she entered painting school in Paris. After deciding to shift her talents from the canvas to the face, Laura attended the Carita School where she specialized in makeup application. Subsequently she represented Carita as a makeup artist and makeup teacher, working closely with Thibault Vabre.
In 1985, Laura moved to New York when she was asked to join the team to launch American ELLE. She immediately began working on advertising campaigns for Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, Clairol, as well as editorial spreads for magazines including ELLE, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Seventeen, and several other publications.
She began working with clients such as L’Oreal, Maybelline, Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Banana Republic, and many other cosmetic and clothing companies, while working with Madonna on her looks for print, television and film. Subsequently Laura entered into a four-year contract with Elizabeth Arden, designing the makeup looks for all of their advertising campaigns, and also worked with Chanel on the company’s beauty advertising campaigns in France.
In 1996, Laura developed Laura Mercier Cosmetics to benefit women of all ages and skin types. She personally created the colors to satisfy the needs of her clients, based on a classic and always-current palette, rather than seasonal trends only. The line, now in its thirteenth year, is now available in almost 853 stores in 26 countries at stores including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Sephora and many others.
The Laura Mercier line has received numerous accolades from customers and magazine editors. Her Tinted Moisturizer is repeatedly being named in magazine ‘Best Of’ awards. InStyle’s 2009 Best Beauty Buys included Tinted Moisturizer, Oil Free Foundation and Secret Camouflage. The 2007 and 2008 Best Beauty Buys also included Tinted Moisturizer. InStyle’s 2004 Best Beauty Buys included the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, Tinted Moisturizer and Lip Kisses, Allure’s 2003 Best Beauty Award for Courtisane Lip Colour and Cosmopolitan’s 2003 Best for Eye Paints.
In addition, Laura has received numerous awards for her involvement in the campaigns on behalf of Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Valentino, and Alberta Ferretti, as well as her cover designs for Vogue (working with photographer Steven Meisel for ten years), Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire and Allure, for her cosmetics. In addition to Sarah Jessica Parker and Julia Roberts, Laura’s current clients include Madonna, Susan Sarandon, Isabella Rosellini, Brooke Shields, Ellen Barkin, Celine Dion, Meg Ryan, Ashley Judd, Meryl Streep and Julia Ormond.
When she is not traveling with clients or for photo shoots, Mercier divides her time between New York City and Paris.
