Raised in Provence, France, Laura Mercier began her career as an artist in Paris before transferring her talents to become a makeup artist and instructor. Moving to New York in 1985 her ability was quickly seized upon by cosmetic companies, department stores and the media. She developed her own range of products in 1996 for women of all ages and skin types. The colours she has created are based on classic enduring palettes as opposed to transient trends that come and go. The Laura Mercier philosophy is based on the premise that a beautiful look starts with great looking skin. "Before applying any colour, I always create a fresh canvas – a flawless finish. Making your skin look perfect is the first and most important thing you can do to achieve a truly great look".