It’s no surprise that as a beauty editor and an avid consumer of beauty, in general, I have an unspoken fondness for Laura Mercier products. The translucent powder, in fact, has been my holy grail. I’ve also heard multiple inspiring stories of the founder – a globally renowned make-up artist of the ‘80s and one of the most successful entrepreneurs of current times, Laura Mercier. Born and brought up in France, Mercier was one of us – a hustler, a keen observer and an artist hungry for creative satisfaction – before she channelled her drive into building her beauty empire in 1996. “I thought I’d die on my job,” she says about her time as Hollywood’s go-to make-up artist. The 63-year-old beauty expert and entrepreneur continues work as a freelance make-up artist and is also a published author. Here’s more from our interesting conversation:
ELLE: Your brand is finally making its way to India. Are you excited?
Laura Mercier (LM): I’m thrilled and elated. It is a market we’ve wanted to foray into for a long time, and the overall process was quicker than any other market we had opened in previously. I consider it an achievement for me.
ELLE: After everything you’ve achieved, what continues to drive you?
LM: I pinch myself every morning because I feel fortunate that I have had such a career. Of course, it was hard work. I would never tell anyone that you can be successful without sacrificing something. But, for me, it was worth it because to be able to do something you are passionate about is a matter of great luck.
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ELLE: You decided to give up the hustle of being a go-to make-up artist and focus on developing your brand. Do you miss it?
LM: It’s funny because I was obsessed with making my products and having my own line. It is the dream of many, but it’s not for everyone. I tremendously enjoyed the excitement of going to the studio, working with different people, and going through different trends, but it took away my entire personal life. I worked all the time – on weekends, at night, during the fashion shows… At one point, I thought I would die on the job.
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Being a make-up artist and travelling the world with models and celebrities gives you creative guidance in an unimaginable way. However, working on and developing your brand takes work, too, especially in a world where the cosmetic industry is saturated. From promotions to meeting clients and educating people, I did everything. I had no other option but to move on from my profession as a make-up artist to that of an entrepreneur. I did miss the creative excitement, but my new job was just as exciting. Even though we had limited budgets for advertising, the brand became a success, and I’m proud of it.
ELLE: How does social media impact the beauty businesses today?
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LM: It’s a world of influencers and bloggers and an entirely new era. Before this, there were journalists and beauty editors who knew what they were talking about. It’s not a criticism against anything or anyone in particular. Still, like we have good content creators, we also have more mediocre people who think that it’s so easy and anyone can do it. It’s a melting pot but a great tool for talking to crowds. And in terms of make-up, it is a pot of creativity where new trends are born. I see interesting things on it.
ELLE: What is your opinion on make-up trends?
LM: In my vocabulary, I can’t let trends dictate my work. Of course, there are certain rules, but I think make-up is a tool to accentuate your personality. However, I believe you can always make a trend wearable, even if it’s shocking at first. Let’s say colours are back in trend, but you don’t want to wear green, blue, or purple; you can always make it your own with just a swipe of light grey or mauve on the eyes. You are following the trend without making it look crazy.
ELLE: What does a day in the life of Laura Mercier entail besides work?
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LM: My days are full of different things that I love. I have a house in Provence, so between gardening and decorating the house, I’m slowly getting back to painting, which was my first love. I also spend my day reading and meeting friends. I am slowly getting into healthy eating and learning new ways of healthy cooking. I’m still working on product development for the brand, and I couldn’t be happier.
ELLE: What would you consider the high point of your career?
LM: There were many exciting moments, but when I started to work almost exclusively with certain celebrities, like Madonna, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, it was a fabulous learning experience on a human level as well as on a creative level. Also, I’m proud of working with sought-after photographers during the ‘80s and ‘90s. I started my career with ELLE France, a weekly back then. It was a lot of hard work but a great training ground. I must say that the magazine is extremely dear to my heart and will always be. There were many such moments, but meeting and working with Madonna is my most precious memory.
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ELLE: Laura, what’s next?
LM: Every day is a gift; whatever happens, I will always consider it a gift. I get excited about each day. And, of course, I would continue to build my brand.
Read the full story on ELLE India’s new issue or download your digital copy via Magzter.
