7 January, 2016

Yves Saint Laurent beauty favourites, old and new

Trying out a new lipstick is fun but trying out a genuinely new product that does something different is even better. Especially when it works.

I’m late to the blur perfector party but boy am I happy we found each other. I got my hands on the YSL Touche Eclat Blur Perfector balm-powder hybrid (below) last autumn and have been enjoying it immensely. Aside from the case itself (a masterpiece in the art of beauty packaging in the Insta age…), the process of de-shining with this product is like beauty alchemy. Used sparingly, it mattifies and ‘blurs’ pores almost magically, with its super-slippy silicone texture. I apply with fingers over makeup, but it can be used it on its own too. The only thing it doesn’t do for me is give any kind of rosy ‘glow’ as the blurb promises…

My Blur Perfector arrived in a ‘kit’ of goodies YSL sent me to keep by my side, but the box actually contained a few products that I know and love already. A lot of them are lip products as YSL is focusing on lips in a big way. When I first got back into red lips, YSL’s Rouge Pur Couture was the one I swore by (my mum uses it too). It goes on really well, the colour range is classic but vibrant and the gold packaging speaks for itself. New for me is Rouge Pur Couture The Mats which is fabulous if you like your mattes on the creamy side. Matte lipsticks tend to drain the life out of my face so I like to apply this (over lip balm) and then blot it so it’s more of a stain. (Below is Rouge Pur Couture The Mats in shade 201 in the middle, with Rouge Pur Couture on either side (shade 68 on the left and 6 on the right.) I’ve also finally realised the key to ‘casual’ red lips is an otherwise bare face, so a good base, no blush and minimal eye make-up. For that, I love my trusty Touche Eclat highlighter pen to use over sheer foundation which downplays any blemishes or shadows.

Another Yves Saint Laurent lip hero for me is the Volupte Tint-in-Oil that was launched last January. Lots of brands are doing these pigmented lip oils now (Dior’s version is great too) and I think they’re so easy for subtle make-up days when you might want a hint of colour, plus lots of moisturisation.

When it comes to mascara, I’m very much a less is more girl, so I passed on the terrifying ‘Extreme Blue’ Volume Effet Faux Cils mascara. I did step out of my comfort zone to try the Burgundy version though, which I love. While this promises amped up baby doll lashes, if you just stick to one coat on top lashes only, you can get a ‘done’ effect that’s not OTT. Added bonus: the formulation of this mascara has recently been improved. It’s now much more oil-enriched, meaning it won’t dry out or flake.

I’ll admit I haven’t tried these ‘mat’ nail colours yet. I’ve always had a lot of time for Yves Saint Laurent nail polishes, but I think I’d rather wear matte nails in spring when my hands themselves aren’t ‘matte’ and dry. As with the lip colours, these are my go-to classic shades – a scarlet red (Le Rouge Mat), an uplifting orange (Le Orange Mat) and a pinky neutral (Le Nu Mat)…