Laura Mercier
Laura Mercier | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 2, 1960 Arles, France |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, professional makeup artist, author |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Known for | Founder of Laura Mercier Cosmetics; personal makeup artist for Madonna and other celebrities |
Laura Mercier (originally named Michèle Mercier, born on 2 October 1960) is a French entrepreneur and professional makeup artist.
Early life
Mercier entered the world in Arles, France as the youngest among three sisters. At the age of 16, she pursued studies in art at L'Ecole Supérieure d'Arts Appliqués Duperré located in Paris, where she concentrated on painting and drawing. Subsequently, she enrolled at the Carita Paris Institute, a beauty academy and salon, where she trained as a makeup artist. To distinguish herself from actress Michèle Mercier, she adopted the professional name "Laura." After completing her education, she relocated to New York City and secured positions with prominent publications such as Elle, Allure, Glamour, and InStyle.
Career
In 1985, Mercier moved to New York City to serve as a makeup artist for the American edition of Elle. Following a Vogue photoshoot, she became the personal makeup artist for Madonna and contributed to campaigns for major brands including The Gap and Chanel. Her roster of celebrity clients also features Julia Roberts, Mariah Carey, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
The year 1996 marked the founding of Laura Mercier Cosmetics, initiated by Janet Gurwitch—formerly Executive Vice President at Neiman Marcus—in partnership with Gary Kusin. The brand centers around Mercier’s concept of the "flawless face," which emphasizes makeup that enhances natural beauty. This guiding principle shapes both product innovation and marketing strategies.
Alongside her ongoing freelance makeup work, Mercier is also an author; her 2006 publication, The New Beauty Secrets: Your Ultimate Guide to a Flawless Face, supports and reflects her brand’s philosophy.
In 2014, Mercier collaborated with Claudia Poccia to raise awareness for ovarian cancer, donating proceeds from their efforts to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. That same year saw the introduction of the New Attitude collection, broadening her line of products.