YSL Beauty | Fall 2018 Collection

During the Toronto International Film Festival I attended the YSL Beauty Hotel Party which was a dazzling night of makeup, cocktails, games and music. This year the fall collection is inspired by high-fashion runway trends and pops of vibrant color. The polish is jewel toned, the lipstick is bold and there is enough shimmer to transform your complexion from dull to radiant.

The Limited-Edition Couture Palette Collector in Yconic Purple ($71.00) features a sensual combination of leather and nude contrasted with vibrant purple and intense blue. The compact is small and elegant making it perfect for travel and I love the glittery letters embossed on the outer lid. The shadows are rich, velvety lightweight and supple but I still recommend using a good primer to enhance color payoff and longevity. Generous layers may be required to achieve dramatic effects but the pigment blends wonderfully and the colors compliment all skin tones.

Seductive reds are my favorite fall/winter shades and these sultry hues are perfect for parties. The Tatouage Couture Metallics Lip Stain in 102 Iron Pink Spirit ($44.00) is a gorgeous burgundy with a bronzy sheen. The wide applicator evenly distributes pigment while the angular slanted tip helps outline and define. For complete coverage, apply in layers and allow the color to dry after each coat. Although there is some transfer, the stain adheres for hours before fading.

If you’re looking for the perfect festive red try the Rouge Pur Lip Couture in Le Rouge ($44.00). This iconic bombshell red evokes Hollywood glam with intense pigmentation, silky hydration and effortless glide. The Gold Edition Caps have sparkly letters for the holiday season and you can get them engraved for gifting.

For more precision, try the new Dessin Des Levres Styling Pencil ($37.00). Use it with lipstick or by itself to define and fill in the entire lip. The creamy pigment is rich and full-coverage for easy outlining plus the flexible blender attachment blurs and smooths to create a variety of stylish effects. I like that the pencil is retractable (no sharpening) and there is a shaping tool to reform the tip when it dulls.

The Couture Blush ($54.00) and Couture Highlighter ($54.00) are silky, weightless and iridescent. The blush transforms from satin to frosty shimmer for a beautiful fusion of color and radiance. It also revives dull skin and applies seamlessly without accentuating lines. The luminous highlighter contains reflective particles that create a soft candlelight glow.

The Full Matte Shadow ($37.00) is impressive if you’re looking for eye makeup that sets quickly and lasts all day without fading, smearing or smudging. For a cream shadow the formula is outstanding! Application is neat and the texture is easy to work with but the color selection is underwhelming. This pale beige does nothing for my complexion and looks rather dull. Most of the shades are nude (with the exception of a bright blue) so it would be nice to see some shimmers, glitters or metallics.

I know what color I’ll be using for my next mani! The La Laque Couture Nail Polish in 108 Mauve Alternatif ($32.00) is a stunning jewel tone purple with refined shimmer. This tantalizing shade is sophisticated, dark and alluring but the formula is a bit thin so you definitely need two coats for opaque coverage. I have yet to test its durability but I hope it lasts at least 4-5 days without chipping (fingers crossed).

I never leave home without spritzing on one of my favorite fragrances and Mon Paris Couture ($123.00 per 50 ml) is intoxicating, youthful and fun. Inspired by the city of love, this captivating scent is infused with litchee, raspberry, bergamot, mandarin and grapefruit. The middle notes include rosebud, orange and peony contrasted by a sultry base of patchouli and white musk. The aroma is light, refreshing and feminine - the kind of perfume you can wear to work and on a romantic date. It smells very similar to Daisy Love by Marc Jacobs and the bottle looks beautiful on my dresser.

YSL Beauty is available at Shoppers Drug Mart, The Bay, Sears, Sephora and online at yslbeauty.ca