Merle Norman • Luxiva Sheer Defense Tinted Moisturizer • Tinted Moisturizer

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*TOP REVIEWER* MissBrittanyM on 8/28/2012 1:00:00 PM more reviews by MissBrittanyM

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

very nice tinted moisturizer, but with very limited shade selection. only 4 shades available, and the light is a bit too dark on me (NW15ish). but it feels good and has spf. goes for about $30 here. if they redid this and expanded the shades, i'd definitely repurchase.

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smhr on 3/15/2012 9:53:00 AM more reviews by smhr

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

My friend uses this and it looks flawless on her skin. I decided to give it a chance. The sales clerk was sweet and helpful and gave me a couple of samples. The first was L-10 and would work for the winter when my skin is paler. The second sample was ML-30 and was slightly darker and better suited for summer. Both were cooler toned/neutral tints and what I am looking for. Neither of the tints worked for me. Even with a light application both had a foundation look and feel to them. In about an hours time, my skin looked cakey and the tint creased into my nasal-labial lines. I couldn't take it and washed it off. For now, I will stick with the SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion SPF50 and apply the M.A.C. StudioCareblend powder over top. Don't like extra steps in my routine, but will have to for now.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

EmmaW00dh0use on 1/20/2012 2:42:00 PM more reviews by EmmaW00dh0use

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I use this everyday as my moisturizer (I have oily skin so this is plenty of moisture for me). Smells clean, evens out skin-tone and doesn't turn orange. My two complaints are that L10 is slightly too dark for me, but since I am a really pale person this is nothing new for me. I just blend over my ears, neck and collarbone. Also, you get a lot less product in the new packaging for the same price.

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amberlady on 11/3/2011 1:31:00 PM more reviews by amberlady

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Love, love, love, love!!!!! My go-to product for my face. I've been trying out a lot of different foundations lately from Dior, to YSL Teint Resist, to MUFE HD, to Smashbox and I always come back to this. I have dry skin, and most foundations dry me out even more no matter how well I moisturize so I love that with this product I never have to refresh my face with a spray or anything. It glides on so smooth, and has the perfect amount of coverage while still allowing my skin to show through. It lasts the entire day without slipping, but it may not if you have oilier skin...however it reapplies just as smoothly I've found. There's a picture in my profile where I'm wearing this in the shade tan if you want to see for yourself (never mind the naked lips in the pic, still had to kiss my man goodbye :x ) I highly recommend this if you're not a big fan of foundation but still want to be polished. Another great Merle Norman product in my opinion!!!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Tlee on 10/22/2011 10:52:00 PM more reviews by Tlee

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I hate that this costs so much. There, I said it.

And they repackaged it, with less in it, and the price didn't reflect that. Dammit.

However. I wear it every day. I wear it with the MN Mineral Powder over it and I look like I'm wearing nothing, it's a beautiful finish, and I am safe from the relentless California sunshine. I'm 56, regularly mistaken for 40. That's genes (thanks, Mom), living a life with happy choices, and wearing sunscreen since 1982.

MN has some terrific products. Too pricey -- and the sales reps need to update their looks; too much helmet hair and shimmery eye shadow in the daytime -- but I will go there regularly for this foundation combination. It's a great one, for me!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Daniela1977 on 7/1/2011 3:27:00 PM more reviews by Daniela1977

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

LOVE LOVE LOVE this TM. This have great coverage ( not like most TM that have minumum coverage ) and lasting powder is amazing as well.
Also skin looks really nice and fresh. I take one lippie off JUST b/c of the low SPF. Can't wear this at AM but love it for PM.I am MAC 15-20 and the color ML30 is PERFECT.,

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pinklemonades on 4/16/2011 9:32:00 AM more reviews by pinklemonades

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

This is a fantastic tinted moisturizer. It gives more coverage than typical T.M. but feels very light on the skin and looks very natural and not made up like foundation. My only complaint is that it is not at all sweatproof for the hot, humid summer months, but overall it is the best tinted moisturizer I have tried from department store to drugstore.

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prettyinpink88 on 11/18/2010 3:23:00 PM more reviews by prettyinpink88

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Nice product if you want sheer coverage but yet it covers very well. Nice consitency and smoothes over skin flawlessly. I am using this as my foundation over a moisturizer for the cooler months. I apply using my foundation brush and don't need alot of product. I paid $36 which is about average for your high end foundations but feel it will last me quite a long time. Glad I decided to try it.

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kanka999 on 11/2/2010 7:16:00 PM more reviews by kanka999

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I gave this 3 lippies because for the price, I wanted to love it and I just didn't. I think if it were cheaper, I would have just kept it but after wearing it for a few days, I wasn't all that impressed and so returned it. I was matched to ML30 which looked dark but on was an OK match for my NC20 skin. I just kind of felt like I looked dirty...maybe splotchy is a better word. I could feel it on my skin too. I didn't expect full coverage, but like I said after paying $36 and some change, I wanted it to be a HG and it just wasn't. I will have to say that it spread very nicely. I just purchased Aveeno's TM and am liking it so far and it was less than half of MN. I'll update on that one in a few days.

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*TOP REVIEWER* gurululu on 11/2/2010 6:48:00 PM more reviews by gurululu

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

I will have to update about its longterm effects on my skin, but as a new user, I have to say I am impressed so far. I have worn Clinique Almost makeup for years. I never appreciated its lack of staying power, but never could find another light makeup that didn't accentuate lines and, most importantly, had a true neutral undertone. I am a mut with some pink, some yellow/ olive undertones. When I wipe the almost makeup on a piece of white tissue, I see neutral beige / brownish color. For some reason, neutral tones bring out the best combination of undertones and hide my lines best. Although I haven't been in the sun for 10 years and am very fair (lighter than 10 in Mac), the ML30 in this line is the neutral color that immediately sunk into my skin. It looks brown on tissue, just like my old Clinque, but melts into my complexion perfectly because of its neutral tones. my neck is as white as a sheet of paper but you can't see the contrast. I checked the website and ML30 is the only (n) neutral color of the 7 listed. So the owner of this MN store in Summit NJ, really listened to me when I said I want a neutral color even though she was tempted to give me the lightest color. So far, this lasted much longer over my very rich sunblock (LRP Lait) with some loose powder from Clinique, no fine lines, no settling into pores, no lines of demarcation even on my fair skin, evened my skin tone, but did not make my perfection look completely flawless. It goes on creamy yet has a very natural light finish that is not shiny, glowy or greasy. The loose powder sits over it nicely and doesn't cake up. However, it is October here and not very humid. Let's hope this does as well in the hot, humid, summers. I also like the extra titamium (physical) spf over my chemical LRP. It gives me a sense of security in the case that the chemical block dissipates without me knowing.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

sadie324 on 9/6/2010 3:46:00 PM more reviews by sadie324

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Like everyone else said, great tm! I LOVE it! this was my first foundation of any kind, and I've been using it ever since! this wonderful and works great for even a teens skin! ;)

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caymen on 7/28/2010 3:54:00 PM more reviews by caymen

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This was my product of choice for years, I loved it. I provided fantastic coverage, yet allowed my skin to show through. I never had so many compliments on my skin as when I wore MN tinted morturizer, people tended to think I was not wearing make up, a plus to me. I have combination, sensitive skin with rosacea and it was still perfect. It wore well. The color line was limited but I worked with it by having two shades, a summer and winter and mixing the rest of the year. No big deal for the perfect foundation.
Unfortunately when they expanded their color line they also added a full spectrum sunscreen, before it had only be UVA, now it breaks me out every time I try to wear it. It still looks great but I cannot tolerate it. I am now in search of a suitable replacement. I am so sad that MN messed up the perfect product.

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viiixxxen on 6/7/2010 4:11:00 PM more reviews by viiixxxen

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

If I could, i would certainly give this 10 lippies! I've been using this for 3-4 years now, and I absolutely love it so much that even thought I cant get Merle Norman in my country, I ask for my aunt who lives in Canada to send this to me (one bottle a year, if I use it everyday, so the price pays of really nicely).

First of all, must say I have oily, acne prone skin, my shade in MAC is NW20 and I use this TM in the color "nude", which is a perfect match. It gives you more coverage than most tinted moisturizers and a very natural finish (matte in the right areas, like my nose and chin, but still is dewy in the cheek area, just that "natural glow" sort of thing). It usually last for me around 8 hours in the summer, blotting only once. In the winter, its goes day to night and I could only wish the concealer in my dark circles (i use mac select moisturecove) would last that long.

As I'm oily, in the summer i find this is just enough moisturizing for me, but in the winter I use jus a TINYYYY bit of my Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (Clinique) before I apply this TM. Also, if i'll be staying outdoors or doing some kind of activity, i skip this just because the SPF of 15 it's not enought for me anywhere but indoors.

Usually I prefer to apply this with very clean hands, just a little bit goes a long way. Non-latex sponge works as well for me, but no brush gives me such a good result.

All and all, this product is for you whaetever your skin type, I'm pretty sure you can find a good match in your skin tone and, surprisingly, it never made me break out (not even when my skin was going to a MAD time). Just use some moisturizing before if your skin is dry/really dry (even just in some areas) and you should be just fine. Just remember that this tinted moisturizer DOES give you coverage, a little bit like a light to medium foundation, so if you are looking for very sheer coverage this might not be your thing.

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kcj1314 on 4/3/2010 1:14:00 AM more reviews by kcj1314

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This was just okay. For the price I was expecting more. My biggest issue was that it gave me tiny pimples everywhere after a week or two. I will not repurchase.

edit: found this in my bathroom and tried using it again. it officially is the culprit of my cystic acne...especially around my jawline!

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*TOP REVIEWER* rbyars1 on 12/21/2009 8:43:00 AM more reviews by rbyars1

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Wow, I underestimated Merle Norman for a long time, writing it off as an "Old Lady" brand but I have really been pleasantly surprised recently with two products in particular. #1 is the Ultra powder foundation and #2 is this tinted moisturizer. It has an excellent consistency, not too thick and not too thin. It's very easily spreadable and belnds like a dream. I was lucky to also find a match in the lightest color (L10- formerly known as "bare") For reference I am LLL cool toned and about NW15-20, L10 matches perfectly..I blend the tm just like I would any other foundation because it has some decent coverage, but still is very light and doesnt feel heavy or cakey. In fact it goes on perfect with my MUFE kabuki (another love of mine, ha). Top off with a little translucent powder and I am good to go all day. This TM has great staying power, makes it thru an 8hr workday easy. If you have been debating on Merle Norman and have a studio nearby, please give them a try as there are some undiscovered gems in the bunch, this TM is def one of them. If you prefer TMs with a little coverage like a very light foundation, you really will love this. Oh yeah..been using it for 3weeks and no breakouts or clogged pores :)

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dovely on 12/5/2009 10:29:00 AM more reviews by dovely

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I love this stuff. I was using physicians formula organic wear, but that made me really dry for some reason. I do use a moisturizer under this, because alone it is not hydrating enough for me. It had light/medium coverage and is great for days when you just want a little coverage to even skin tone. I used it during my pregnancy to even out some temperary pigmentation I had. Highly reccommend this product.

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grnfaerie on 10/9/2009 8:44:00 PM more reviews by grnfaerie

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I get my eyebrows waxed at a Merle Norman store, so everytime I go there they try to push products on me (which is usually really annoying.) This time however, I'm so glad they talked me into buying this because it's great! I have oily skin, so I wasn't keen on using an additional moisturizer, but this doesn't make me oilier than usual and the coverage is pretty good. The best things about it are that it doesn't break me out- which a lot of things do, and the SPF in this really works well. I can be out in the sun all day and definitely tell the areas where I wasn't covered. On days that I need more coverage I'll brush on some mineral foundation over it.

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KittyKatBlonde on 10/4/2009 8:31:00 PM more reviews by KittyKatBlonde

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I have been searching for the past 5 years for something that would work for my aging, rosacea, extremely HARD to color match face. I have tried just about every foundation (liquid, mineral, powder, you name it) out there. I can never get a good color match and all the foundations I have tried seem to collect in my lines and wrinkles. To cover what I wanted covered, I would have to go to a heavier foundation which looked like a mask and the mineral foundations always got shiney and eventually looked oily and I have dry skin. MN tinted moisturizer, which I didn't think would be enough coverage, has been AWESOME for me. I have it in ML30. It is neutral enough not to be too yellow or pink for my skin, yet seems to cover or blur a good deal of my redness and skin damage. It has UVA and UVB protection (both chemical and physical sunscreen in it), which some may not like but is needed for my rosacea skin. I do wish it had a higher SPF as it only has an SPF of 15. I put this on my face and neck and it seems to blend both together without looking like make up at all. It feels light on. I then dust with MN translucent powder. The tube is a generous size, however at $36 it is a bit pricey but no more than some foundations. I haven't tried the mineral powders from MN that have been mentioned in other reviews with the TM but might because of the good reviews. I did purchase some foundation from MN as well as I thought I needed more coverage. Their timeless foundation. I find that this goes well over the tinted moisturizer. However I found out I like the tinted moisturizer w/o the foundation best. I now just use the actual foundation to dot on an area where I might need a bit more coverage. MN foundations and TM look so much more natural than anything else I have ever tried. I am sorry it took me until 45 to discover MN.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

HeidiJ on 9/23/2009 10:40:00 AM more reviews by HeidiJ

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

Another winner from Merle Norman! To me this could be considered a tinted moisturizer or a light foundation. I have the color L20, and wear MAC NC15-20 for comparison. The shade is an ivory with a slight yellow undertone. This applies wonderful...I dot some on my face and blend with the BeautyBlender sponge and get a flawless finish, slightly dewy. It lasts all day without fading or streaking. I apply the MN Mineral in L20 over this, and it looks great. A little pricey at $33, but if it works and looks great that isn't an issue.

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*TOP REVIEWER* blushingpale on 7/3/2009 5:17:00 AM more reviews by blushingpale

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I actually went to MN for the pressed powder fdn, but ended up buying this because I was worried the powder would dry out my cheek area too much. Me: dry/combo skin, rosacea, very fair skin, neutral-toned Mac NC/NW 15 and EM Fair. Enlarged pores and redness and some bumpiness issues.


I was prepared for the aggressive salespeople thanks to the other reviews so that really wasn't an issue, but I was shocked when the price turned out to be $46 Cdn, before tax.


I got the lightest color, Bare, which is actually a little too dark for me but I don't mind getting some color from a tm, especially in summer, and the color looked decent once applied. Evened my skin tone but no coverage so I used some mineral foundation over the top. It didn't minimize my enlarged pores and if anything emphasized them but the mineral foundation helped. Also this tinted "moisturizer" didn't seem to moisturize much but didn't dry out my cheeks, and it did get shiny on my nose pretty fast. I touched up with powder which left it looking a bit caky but not too bad.


My overall feeling was "meh" so I ended up returning it after a few days because I just couldn't justify paying so much for a tinted moisturizer that, on me, performed no better than CG smoothers tm (sadly no longer available in Canada). And the color was just a wee bit TOO dark, meaning I had to put some bronzer on my neck so I didn't look too mis-matched. Not a bad product though, if you can find a good match and just want something that will even your skin tone without drying you out. I might have kept it to use in winter if the color were lighter.... I had read reviews of this product before buying, and several fair-skinned reviewers mention that they felt the lightest color gave them "a glow" but for me it went a bit beyond that --and my skin is still a shade darker than the very palest tones, so I thought I should mention this for all the PPPs out there.

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