Since we live in the tropics, we often associate glowing or dewy skin with oiliness.

That is changing now as soft glowing skin is seen as more suitable for our tropical climate and would be perfect for the Filipino woman complexion.

I have always been a fan of Laura Mercier. The Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 is my daily go-to because of its lightweight coverage. But, I am the sort of girl that uses different foundations for different events. Evening events always call for a foundation that provides more coverage.

So, when I heard about the new Laura Mercier Candleglow foundation that makes your skin radiant just like candlelight does, I made a trip down to the launch at Rustan’s Shangri-La to find out more. At the event, makeup artist Mark Qua demonstrated the many different ways to use the Candleglow Foundation.

Before I go into details of that, here’s the 411 on the new product. It is marketed as medium coverage foundation with lightweight finish that leaves the skin hydrated, soft and radiant. Natural ingredients in the formula such as radiant pearl mica and refreshing purified water give you a dewy finish.

During his demonstration, you clearly saw the model’s skin instantly brighten up after application. Mark used a blending sponge with a “dab and roll” technique to achieve that natural flawless skin look. The foundation is relatively sheer, but not as sheer as the brand’s tinted moisturizer.

The flexibility of the Candleglow foundation makes it a day-to-night foundation. Use it on its own for a day look. When you are ready for a night out after a long day in the office, build it up with the Laura Mercier primer for a long-lasting heavier coverage, before setting with loose powder. Concealer under the eyes helps freshen your look as you prep to paint the town red.

Candleglow foundation comes in 24 shades, which means all skin tones can now get that natural-looking glow.

Photography Kenneth Tangonan
Model Alaiza Malinao