We're always impressed with Yves Saint Laurent Beaute's new collections - remember their Holiday range from last year? Those palettes are still some of my favourite products ever. But it's summer now (we swear, it's supposed to be anyway) so let us introduce YSL Summer Look 2012.
Based around an image of the seductive YSL woman in summer (there she is above - if only I looked like that in the pool), the look has a focus on a glowing, warm complexion, the iridescent earthy tones of sand and sea shells, and contrasting sharp pops of colour.
Three shades of bronzer feature in this collection, the Terre Saharienne Collector, embossed with a snakeskin pattern and in beautiful, sophisticated tortoiseshell casing with a mirror in the lid. The formula is made up of crystalline pigments that catch the light and reflect it back which gives the skin a lovely luminosity, plus they have SPF 12 so they offer some sun protection. We tried shades Harmonie N° 2 - Sunkissed, and Harmonie N° 3 - Bronzed. Sunkissed (below left) is a trio of colours: pink, light brow, and peach which gives a burst of rosy apricot warmth to the complexion.
Bronzed (above right) is a matte duo of browns which swept altogether instantly gives your skin a lift and a glow that looks completely natural - which is just what you want in a bronzer! This shade is great for sculpting too, just sweep a little under the cheekbones.
If you're nervous about using bronzer, don't worry - Creative Director Make-up Yves Saint Laurent, Lloyd Simmonds, has some advice. "To give a skin tone the warmth of having just flirted with the sun, I apply [it] in light touches, concentrating on the cheekbones and very lightly across the nose and up into the temple. Then I brush it horizontally across the eyes and across the forehead into the hairline. Without, of course, forgetting the chin, neck and décolleté."
Summer 2012 also features four shades of shimmery, earthy toned, sand and shell-inspired lipgloss: we tried the darkest, #52 Golden Pebble, a dark brownish-purple (which smells of sweets). Not a gloss for the faint hearted, but would look great on darker skin. Not sticky, and can be built up or dabbed on for however much intensity you want.
There are four Rogue Pur Couture lipsticks too: we tried N° 41 Rouge Madras which is one of the nicest reds I've tried, really, really strong. A creamy formula with a hint of shimmer that can be blended into a stain or layered on for full glamourous effect.
Four shades of La Laque Couture also feature in the collection, three sandy shades including a beautiful gold and then the popping, bright Corail Colisee (reviewed and swatched here).
Oh and the mascara in N° 4 Majorelle Blue and the limited edition N° 5 Gold Sand. How. Amazing?
Want. Get it all here.
