YSL Youth Liberator Serum Foundation

There is always a woman with no flaws and a perfect complexion who models the latest foundation - and so it is with YSL's new Youth Liberator Serum Foundation ($69). I had an opportunity to have a professional application last weekend, and I looked just like the model above, I say as I grin from ear to ear. For one thing, I don't wear my clothing draped to my waist. My décolleté shows sun damage. Oh well, I've got the experience of age and its accompanying wisdom to compensate.

Youth Liberator Serum foundation is YSL's new, anti-aging foundation with medium-to-full coverage. It's the first foundation with "Glycanactif complex." It acts like a soft face lift, erasing visible signs of aging as it evens skin tone, hides imperfections, and perfects the look of the skin.  Really.

What's inside this hybrid skin-care/makeup foundation?

• Glycanactif complex is made from three glycans that are combined to make the skin look more radiant, feel plumped and hydrated, and appear smoother. 
• Color glow complex counteracts dullness and gives a healthy (and light) glow.
• Vitamin E and SPF 20 offer free radical and sun protection.
• Glycol gives a firming sensation with a tensor effect as it hydrates to keep skin soft and healthy.

YSL says that the skin yellows as it ages. This is one reason women notice that their long-time favorite foundation no longer matches their skin. Forever Youth Liberator counteracts this in two ways.

• The color glow complex provides an optimal combination of "bouncy powder filters" and pure pigments to reduce dullness, enhance your glow, and create a more even complexion.
• Glycanactif is a patented complex, exclusive to YSL, that adds radiance, lift, and plumpness (aka youthfulness).

The foundation is available initially in 10 shades - from really light to really dark. I am a Beige Rose 20, which matches my skin really well. It's a rare day when I am blown away by a foundation, but after my favorite YSL representative applied it to my skin, my skin looked really good, even toned, and healthy. Youth Liberator leaves a satin finish - definitely not at all shiny, but not matte either. I will admit that I came home after his application and took a nap, usually a foundation destroying activity if I sleep on my side. When I got up, my foundation looked untouched, so I knew immediately it has great wear time.

I came home, compliments of my YSL friends at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria, with a generous sample, which I've been wearing this week. I love it. All of my first impressions have been reinforced. I plan to buy Youth Liberator Serum Foundation during Beauty Event. That's a big deal because I don't even need foundation.

You can find it at YSL counters and the YSL Beauté Web site. I recommend you go to the counter for a perfect match.

Update: My thanks for one of my fave readers for telling me this feature had a typo. I wish more people would tell me. :)

 Photos courtesy of YSL Beauté

YSL Beauté Blush Radiance for Fall Winter 2013

The YSL display for Fall Winter 2013 features two new Blush Radiance ($45) shades: #9, called a poppy coral, and #10, a pepper rose. I have press information that there's a third - a sweet sienna for darker complexions - but I have not seen it.

Oddly, YSL describes #9 as being for blondes and #10 as being for brunettes, with no mention of skin tone. This blonde loves #10. I tested #9 and liked it too, but I forced myself to select only one.

I have worn YSL's little quad blushes for decades. Over time, new colors have been created, and others re-promoted every few years. I wasn't sure when I saw the Fall Winter Display how these two had changed enough to be dubbed new. The sweet representative wasn't able to explain to me exactly what's new, although she mentioned reformulation. So I asked our regional rep, who provided me with information that shows the matte vs. shimmer shades (earlier incarnations were matte vs. satin) and focused on the new gold case, engraved like Pure Chromatics. There's also a relatively large travel brush that you can see in my photo below.

Promoted as a two-in-one product, Blush Radiance is a powder blush that combines two different finishes for "made to measure" makeup. If you wish to use only matte or only shimmer, though, You will find it difficult to select just that finish. The Blush Radiance compacts are relatively small, and I love big fluffy blush brushes. So, I always mix the finishes for a pretty, gleaming effect.

Adorn your cheeks with a sensual flush of color and light with this ultra-chic compact. The two powder textures, matte and shimmery, seamlessly blend to capture light and create a radiant veil of color on your cheeks. Incredibly versatile, this blush colors, contours, and highlights to create any effect, from natural to glamorous. The beautifully blendable formula contains self-adapting pigments that capture and transform light's intensity into a vibrant color source that complements any complexion. Remarkably silky texture blends beautifully for buildable, custom color.

I took swatch photos in full, mid-day sun. I swatched a heavy stripe with a sponge-tipped applicator at the top of my arm and then applied a lighter, more realistic swatch in a larger area below the stripe - hopefully to portray how the color would look when applied with a brush (although it's still applied a little too heavily). I mixed the matte and shimmer shades.

I think this dusky rose is gorgeous. When the shimmer and matte shades are mixed, a beautiful gleaming color results. This rose tamed for fall could become my go-to blush in September.

I'm thrilled with my new Blush Radiance. It's probably best that YSL hasn't made any bold moves away from its popular design of Blush Radiance. It has a history and legions of dedicated fans, myself included. I like new things as much as everyone else, but there are some staples of my makeup wardrobe for which continuity is comforting.

The collection has arrived at Neiman Marcus. I have not seen it available at other retailers, but I'm sure it will be available soon. I looked on the YSL Web site, but didn't find it.

Photos courtesy of YSL Beauté or by Best Things in  Beauty

YSL Beauté Fall Winter 2013 Collection City Drive 4 Wet & Dry Eye Shadows in Classy

Cara Delevingne is an English fashion model, actress, and granddaughter of former English Heritage Chairman Sir Jocelyn Stevens. She is also the face of YSL Beauté's Fall Winter 2013 Collection. In the ad for the collection, she wears a sexy black dress and sports one of the two new Palette City Drive 4 Wet & Dry Eye Shadows ($55), wearing a bright green eye shadow from the Artsy palette. Her lips are dark red, and she is pictured against an urban night sky. The collection has arrived at Neiman Marcus counters. It is scheduled for an August launch, so counter arrivals may be spotty this month.

There are two limited-edition Palette City Drive 4 Wet & Dry Eye Shadow quads in the collection, the one on the left above that Delevingne is wearing, Artsy (which is well-named), and the more neutral one - Classy - shown at right above. As you might imagine, I purchased Classy. I don't have the face for bright green and blue. If you take Delevingne out of the scene above and imagine her in a workplace, she would stand out, probably not in a professional way.

Classy is a very pretty palette, inside and out, on the display. When I removed it from the box, I found bold lettering meant to remind me of its namesake, Yves Saint Laurent. I had no trouble selecting it. However, I tested only one shade in the store.

I took swatch photos in full mid-day sun. I used a sponge-tipped applicator to apply all four shades to my arm, starting with the brown in the top left of the compact and moving clockwise around the shades. I swatched all of the shades heavily and dry. Use a damp brush, and you'll achieve a more dramatic look.

The brown at the top of my arm is a great brown. It is cool enough that there is no mud in the shade, and it offers a nice gleam. The very light beige base shade in the palette is perfectly neutral. You'll be able to do a lot with it.

The sparkly grey is beautiful, but I think it's jarring with the other shades. I like it, but I don't plan to wear it with its Classy cousins. Maybe I'll pair it with the base shade, but I don't love grey and brown together on the eyelid. That's odd because I have a gorgeous Armani jacket that's grey and brown. Maybe it's a personal hang-up I need to get over.

I didn't need the warm brown, terracotta shade. I should have swatched it at the store. I assumed it would be the color I saw in the compact. It's not, so make sure to try it on your skin before you commit to it.

All in all? I should have skipped this palette. I will selectively use three of the four shades in the palette, but they are not unique. While that's not a problem for me (having duplicates), none of the shades are distinctive enough to have warranted the expense. Had I had the time when I was at Neiman Marcus, I should have swatched only, spending my money instead on a beautiful brown Rouge Pur lipstick I left behind.

See what you think. The collection has arrived at Neiman Marcus. I have not seen it available at other retailers, but I'm sure it will be available soon. I looked on the YSL Web site, but didn't find it.

Photos at top courtesy of YSL Beauté; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

YSL Effect Faux Cils Crème d'Eyeliner Giveaway Contest (Jade Black)

This little pot of heaven found an instant fan base when it was introduced. YSL's Effect Faux Cils Crème d'Eyeliner ($28) intensifies the eye with a spectacular, long-lasting line. The soft and silky texture applies smoothly without skipping and lasts on the lid all day without flaking or creasing. It's smudgeproof, waterproof, and provides 24-hour wear.

There were two colors in this collection that made everyone's must-have list: Jade Black (No. 6) and Cherry Black (No. 5). I have one Jade Black to give away - one of the prettiest green eyeliners I've ever seen. I purchased it for a giveaway and then forgot about it. Maybe I subconsciously wanted to keep it, but I've still got plenty left in my own jar. I featured it at this link, with photos taken at Neiman Marcus. You might also want to check out The Non-Blonde's love note to her favorite green eyeliner.

How can you enter to win this giveaway contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn. I can't believe the number of winners I haven't been able to find in the past.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest early this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

You can earn a fourth entry if you have posted a comment here in the last two weeks. Don't worry about telling me. I'll know.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, May 25, 2013, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I may not be able to replace it with another prize just like it. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

The winner must be able to provide me with a "mailable address," meaning the U.S. Post Office recognizes it or its street, province, and other "elements" the way the winner provides them. I've had some trouble with both U.S. and international addresses.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photo courtesy of YSL Beauté - I had to enlarge it, which accounts for the fuzzy appearance

YSL Beauté's Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy Glossy Lip Balm from the Spring 2013 Makeup Collection

There are two new YSL Beauté Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy Glossy Lip Balms ($30) for Spring 2013: Framboise Craquante (#12) and Moka Griotte (#13). When they arrived at Saks, without the rest of the collection, I grilled the YSL rep to make sure they really were brand new shades. I have purchased every other Sheer Candy Glossy Lip Balm, and I wanted to make sure I didn't have these shades.

It seems a little odd to be featuring spring today. It's cold and grey outside. So far this morning, we had sleet, rain, freezing rain, and snow. Hopefully, it will switch over to all rain very soon. It's a good thing I got photos a few days ago.

I fell in love with YSL's Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy Glossy Balm when it was introduced. The glossy, tinted balm dresses the lips in a sheer veil of brilliant transparent color boosted with vitamin-laden and antioxidant-rich fruit extracts. Its ultra-light texture leaves my lips feeling soft and hydrated and looking shiny - just the way I like them. The juicy, sheer color is perfect for any time of year; its soothing, moisturizing texture feels sublime.

Framboise Craquante (#12) is the pink shown at left above; Moka Griotte (#13) is on the right. I swatched with  #12 at the top of my arm and #13 below.

You can see they are very sheer. These tinted lip balms provide just enough color, while making my lips feel spoiled. I can wear every shade because they are sheer - even the corals!

Moka Griotte looks particularly stunning when combined with the rose pigment in my lips. I wore it yesterday. I love these tinted balms so much, I'm wondering if I should start to hoard them. You know how companies discontinue your favorite everythings? My bras, for example.

What's totally unfair to U.S. shoppers is that there is a third, surprising shade that is exclusive to Selfridges. Selfridges is not anywhere near my shopping haunts. It's called Frosted Mint (#11), and it's light turquoise blue. You can see it at MakeUp4All. I really want it.

I found my Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy Glossy Lip Balm from the Spring 2013 Makeup Collection at Saks Fifth Avenue at Chevy Chase. I see that Nordstrom has them too, so I suspect they are arriving at counters everywhere.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

YSL Beauté Rouge Volupté Shine Pure Color Lipstick SPF 15 for Spring 2013 - Part 1

I had been waiting for YSL Beauté's Rouge Volupté Shine ($34), so when the collection arrived at YSL's Web site, I ordered almost all of them. Yep, sounds crazy, but I knew I would love Rouge Volupté Shine, so I considered it my Christmas present to myself.

I'll admit to being a devoted Rouge Volupté fan. I wear YSL's gorgeous, hydrating, flattering lipsticks more often than any other line. The original Rouge Volupté, Perle, and Sheer Candy are all a mainstays in my bathroom and makeup bag. Now I can add Shine. YSL's Rouge Volupté lipsticks all look great and feel great. I recommend them to anyone who wants lipstick advice because there's a formula and look for every need. I'm thrilled to add the Shines to my "best of" lipstick list.

In this feature, I'll show you three of the new Rouge Volupté Shines. Kind of a teaser, I know, but I will have to write about Rouge Volupté Shine in multiple posts. I would overwhelm you with all of the shades in one endless feature. This is a lipstick to savor. Let's do a few at a time.

Introducing Rouge Volupté Shine. Give in to the temptation of dazzling color. Succumb to a unique sensorial experience with extreme comfort and luminous shine. Hyaluronic acid microspheres help seal in moisture for eight hours of hydration. Antioxidants and emollients help condition and soften lips.

That's it for the promotional text online. I'm sure YSL Beauté knows these sheer, shiny lipsticks will sell themselves. My photo above shows three shades that I pulled randomly out of the shipping box. The shade on the left is #06, Pink in Devotion; the shade in the middle is #08, Pink in Confidence; the shade at right is #09, Nude in Private. I have many of the darker shades and will show you a few of them in Part 2.

I took my swatch photos in full, morning sun. I applied all three shades directly from the tubes. I swatched top to bottom on my arm in the order shown directly above from left to right.

I see stunning, shiny, and sheer colors I will live in. The Shines have the familiar, comfortable, very light YSL fragrance I don't notice when I apply YSL's Rouge Voluptés. The taste/fragrance dissipates quickly.

Pink in Devotion, shown at the top of my arm, is a gorgeous rose. I think it's pure - not too cool, not too warm - a shade everyone will love. Pink in Confidence, shown in the middle is a warm pink, the kind of color I can swipe and go no matter what I'm wearing.

Nude in Private may be one of the prettiest nude shades in my lipstick wardrobe. It looks peach on my arm. On my lips, I can call it a peach-leaning nude. It's a fabulous shade - another one I think anyone can wear.

I'm excited about showing you the rest of the shades. Parts 2 and 3 will have to wait for another day. I'm hoping for sunshine. We were supposed to have a sunny day today, but the skies are now grey.

I understand that these amazingly gorgeous new lipsticks will not arrive at YSL counters until February, so if you want one or more, head over to YSL's Web site now.

Photo at top courtesy of Chic Profile; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

YSL Beauté Dare to Glow Illuminateur Silky Highlighting Veil for Autumn/Winter 2012/2013

YSL Beauté is showing a dramatic look for Fall/Winter 2012/2012. The focus is on the lips or eyes, but the moment I saw the display, I focused on the three shades of Dare to Glow Illuminateur Silky Highlighting Veil ($28)! Before you could flash an eyelash, I had selected Tempting Gold and Naughty Pink.

Here they are at my house, safely procured - without much pain at the reasonable price of $28/shade. How could I choose between two of my favorite colors, pink and gold? Had the third shade, the darker Fatal Red, been lighter, it might have come home with me too.

A silky complexion illuminator, between a highlighter and an enhancer, Dare to Glow is an essential for women seeking that gorgeous glow. The melting, ultra-fresh gel texture leaves skin soft and comfortable. Enriched with optical mother-of-pearl particles, Dare to Glow forms an impalpable veil for a natural-looking shimmer on the skin.

These little tubes pack gleaming shades, and a tiny dab will do you. I swatched them both, applying a teeny tiny amount and blending it onto my arm a little bit with my fingertip. I took these photos in full, late-afternoon sun. There was a lot of sun, making my photos light, but the colors and glow are fairly accurate. Look at the high-voltage shimmer!

Tempting Gold is pure gold, and Naughty Pink is anything but naughty. It's a pastel baby pink. Both of these shades provide a shimmering, gleaming highlight to the face, cheekbones, or eyes, any place you want to highlight. I'm glad I purchased both shades.

Why do I love them? The gleam they provide is flattering. There's shimmer, but it's not over the top. The formula is like silk. They blend like a dream. The colors are sheer. They feel weightless on the skin, but the color lasts for a long time. The tubes are small, but it takes so little product to achieve a glow, they will last a long time - and the price is reasonable. Oh my, as I write, I'm tempted to go back for Fatal Red.

Did I need more highlighters? Nope! I've bought enough for life. Even so, I can't imagine leaving these behind. They are exquisite - the kind of makeup that makes you feel special.

YSL's Autumn/Winter Collection 2012/2013 has arrived at Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.com, even though it was scheduled for an August arrival. Check your favorite counter. If it's not there, it should be soon. I checked YSL's Web site, but it still features the summer collection. I'm sure that will change soon.

Photo at top courtesy of YSL Beauté; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

YSL Pure Chromatics 4 Ombres à Paupières Wet & Dry Eye Shadows in Harmony #10 for Autumn/Winter 2012/1013

YSL's Beauté's Autumn/Winter colors have arrived. From my perspective, several items are standouts, starting with Pure Chromatics 4 Ombres à Paupières Wet & Dry Eye Shadows in Harmony #10 ($52). Greens always grab me, and my eye went straight to these four colors - two sophisticated greens with silver and golden accents.

YSL's Autumn/Winter Look 2012/2013 showcases a desire to get back to basics, a desire for a "luminous matteness" (which seems contradictory) that is both natural and sophisticated, with effects that can be tailored to a personalized look. "Khaki, black, and gold are the classics of the contemporary Rive Gauche woman who has a daring approach to color and a free spirit combined with true Parisian chic." Or just a gal anywhere who loves makeup.

The sun was hopping bright yesterday when I took my photos. It was also 100 degrees outdoors - perhaps hotter in the sun - so I didn't linger. I hope you will see the true gorgeousness of the shades in my swatches. I applied all four shades fairly heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator. I swatched clockwise, starting with the top left shade.

Three of these shades apply evenly and with ease. The silver (second down on my arm) is sheer, sparkling, and difficult. It reminds me of Bobbi Brown's sparkling shades that are intended to top another shadow, not be used on their own. I'm sure you can see in my photos that it appears uneven. I applied the shade very heavily, and this was the best I could do.

The other three applied with ease. The gorgeous khaki green-brown at the top of my arm has a gorgeous gleam. I'd purchase it as a single in a heartbeat. It's not too green, so green phobes will love it right along with us green lovers. The third shade down is a slightly shimmering grey-green when applied, even though it has an emerald look in the palette. The antique gold on the bottom left in the palette complements the other shades perfectly with its hint of green.

I love this palette! I also came home with Dare to Glow in two shades. Wait 'till you see these stunning highlighters! I hope to get photos late today.

YSL's Autumn/Winter Collection 2012/2013 has arrived at Neiman Marcus, even though it was scheduled for an August arrival. Check your favorite counter. If it's not there, it should be soon. I did check YSL's Web site, but it still features summer. I'm sure that will change soon.

Photo at top courtesy of YSL Beauté; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

YSL Beauté Terre Saharienne Collector Poudre de Soleil Bronzing Powder for Summer 2012

The newest bronzer from YSL Beauté, Terre Saharienne Collector Poudre de Soleil Bronzing Powder ($50), is a stunner. Powered by "sun radiance pigments" and SPF 12, it will make you look good while protecting your cheeks from the sun's evil rays.

This bronzing powder provides an instant healthy glow thanks to the incorporation of YSL's new sun radiance pigments. These special effect pigments are said to capture the light and diffuse a golden reflection in all directions (Up, down, and sideways? That confuses me.). I do understand that the complexion is left looking smooth, golden, and radiant. I've seen it myself.

There are two shades, #1, Harmonie Tanned, and #2, Harmonie Sunkissed. I was sure I'd be a #1. I'm so glad I didn't order online. It turns out #1 is too yellow for my skin. It's gorgeous, but just not the best shade for me. It's very golden, and anyone looking for a bronzer that leans gold or yellow will have a eureka moment on first application. The pink shade mixed into #2 (see it at the top of the design?) suits me better. Both colors are light and transparent and offer a subtle, wearable glimmer. YSL can do drama, but the company can also do wearable. They did wearable with this new bronzer.

I took some photos in very late afternoon sun - not the best. The sun has been elusive today, so I took what I could get. I swatched Harmonie Sunkissed with a sponge-tipped applicator at the top of my arm and a dense blush brush below. The sun was partially obscured by clouds when I took my swatch photos - one in front of a miniature rose plant that's blooming.

I find it very interesting that the pink I can see clearly in the dimmer indoor light kind of disappears outside. These pigments are clearly affected by lighting. I really love the shade of Harmonie Sunkissed on my skin. It looks sheer and natural, no matter how much I apply. It's hard to overdo this bronzer.

I am so glad I purchased it at Neiman Marcus. The color and texture are gorgeous. I'll even wear it as a light summer blush. This one belongs at Best Things in Beauty. YSL has a summer hit on its hands. Ask for it. It didn't appear to have a display. The gals pulled out the testers to show me.

I featured the exquisite lip glosses from YSL Beauté's Summer 2012 Collection here. Add this gorgeous bronzer, and YSL has a hit collection on its hands - despite that silly photo of the model in a swimming pool, looking up adoringly at what appears to be a fully clothed guy. Just proves you have to go shop now and then! Even those of us who consider ourselves online shoppers need to go see and test on occasion. I am hoping beauty companies can lay off the bronzers for a year and give me a break. I don't even want to know how many I've purchased in the last year - each enticing, each fulfilling its promises. I can't be the only one out there snapping them up in an effort to look alive and healthy!

Stop by your favorite YSL Beauté counter to take a look. The summer collection has arrived in full. It's also available at YSL's Web site, where shipping is currently free (and items arrive quickly).

Photo at top courtesy of YSL Beauté; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

YSL Beauté Pure Chromatics Wet & Dry Eyeshadow Palette for Summer 2012 - in No. 9

YSL Beauté's new Summer 2012 Look offers three new Pure Chromatics Wet & Dry Eyeshadow Palettes ($52): #7, Shell, #8, Sand (featured here), and #9, Stone. I had planned to purchase one and selected #8 quickly. Neutrals and I get along. Then I started swatching and selected #9 too. It was much more neutral on my skin than I anticipated by looking at the compact.

Through the magic of water and a revolutionary new process, Yves Saint Laurent has pushed the limits of color with Pure Chromatics, a new generation of eye shadows. Real makeup artist magic is made easy with emblematic harmonies that captivate the eyes.

A new water-process technology, exclusive to YSL, is the latest discovery in color for pigments that can be more intense and dramatic than ever before - or can be applied for everyday wear (more me). You can use these shadows wet or dry to vary your eye look from office-appropriate to party-ready.
 
Water enhances the color pigments in Pure Chromatics. When used wet, the water activates the pigments and gives full intensity to their color. The effect is the satiny powder transforms into a luxurious cream while pearls shine with a metallic finish.

Pure Chromatics #9's three neutrals appealed to me the first time I saw them. I had a lukewarm reaction to the charcoal navy shade - a misleading impression. Once I swatched it, I saw beautiful possibilities.

My swatch photos were taken in strong outdoor light, but the sun was pulling a disappearing act the day I snapped them, so they are not as bright as I'd like. I've had no opportunities for a re-do since then. What I hope you see is that these shadows are not at all outrageously shimmery when applied dry. They are beautiful neutrals - three brown-based and one navy grey thrown in for contrast.

I swatched clockwise, starting at the top left in the palette, and I applied the shadows with a sponge-tipped applicator. My favorite shades? Second down and bottom swatches on my arm. The light shimmer brightens my eyes and adds a little star power to taupe.

As reader Eileen pointed out, it looks like the model for the collection is wearing the copper from #8 and the charcoal blue from #9. Even if she's not, they would be a pretty combination.

You can purchase YSL's new Summer 2012 Look at YSL's Web site or any YSL counter. There are plenty of other goodies to tempt you if you aren't in the market for a new eye shadow palette.

Photo by Best Things in Beauty

YSL Beauté Pure Chromatics Wet & Dry Eyeshadow Palette for Summer 2012

YSL Beauté's new Summer 2012 Look display had two new Pure Chromatics Wet & Dry Eyeshadow Palettes: #8, Sand, and #9, Stone. There's supposed to be a third, #7, Shell, but I didn't see it. You can see all three at Chic Profile. I wanted to purchase one. I hesitated for maybe 10 seconds and selected #8. Neutrals and I get along. Then I started swatching and selected #9 too. I couldn't leave one behind, even though they are slightly pricey at $52.

Today's spotlight is on #8, Sand, with its clear inspiration on the sands of a summer beach. A palette of easy-to-wear shades, Sand should delight anyone.

I always use (and swatch) my eye shadows dry. I like a subtle look, and my pale face doesn't need the intensity a damp application offers. For my swatch photos, I used a sponge-tipped applicator and swatched clockwise, starting with the top left gold shade at the top left in the palette. My photos were taken in almost full sun. There were high clouds that "dampened" the shimmer in the swatches.

The gold shade, like most that attract me, is shimmering and gorgeous. This one has a touch of peach in it, adding warmth and separating it from other golds I've purchased this spring. The neutral ivory also has a slight peachy-pink cast, making it a lovely base shade for the rest of the colors in the palette.

They grey is grey. On first glance, I thought it might have a touch of green in it, but that doesn't show on my skin. It's a nice grey - not too dark, one that you could use for a smoky eye during the summer when you don't want to look "overdone."

At the bottom of my arm, the copper shows exactly what I expected, a deep sand, touched by the sun - a color that will make your eyes pop. Variations of this shade have, in my opinion, become an emblem of this year's eye looks.

While I wouldn't call this palette unique or to-die-for, I bought it (and I have enough makeup for life: proof that it's got a lot of curbside appeal. I think it's lovely.The left side makes one nice warm duo, and the right side offers a cool one. I'm not at all sure that was intentional, but I like that feature.

I purchased my new Pure Chromatics palettes at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie. With Mom still in the hospital, I haven't had time to put together more than one feature per day here, so I'll show you #9 tomorrow. Sorry about that!

I've checked for availability, and it looks like all the online and in-store sources have the new YSL Beauté Summer 2012 Collection, so hop over to your favorite store to see it!

Photo at top courtesy of Nordstrom; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

YSL Beauté Golden Gloss for Summer 2012

YSL has introduced a stellar collection for Summer 2012.The promotional photo shows a woman with full makeup hanging on the edge of a swimming pool looking up at what I assume is a fully clothed man. Perhaps he just returned from work to find his trophy wife doing leg kicks? While the photo is unique, it didn't do it for me. The makeup did. Isn't that what matters?

All four Golden Glosses ($30) reached out and grabbed me when I saw them at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie. I've always been a fan of YSL's Golden Gloss. One can never have too many of them.

Worth its weight in gold, this gorgeous gloss dresses the lips in a sophisticated, high-shine shimmer that’s truly precious. Sparkling 24K gold flecks (0.2%) create a mirror-like effect for guaranteed glamour, while a complex of nourishing oils protect and hydrate for optimal comfort. Scented with a subtle hint of Mango that’s utterly irresistible.

Here's my own photo of the fab four. I placed them in numeric order, left to right.

• #51, Golden Shell
• #52, Golden Pebble
• #53, Golden Pearl
• #54, Golden Sand

All four are exquisite - in the tube, on the lips, with or without lipstick. I took my swatch photos in full sun. I swatched in the same order shown above, with Golden Shell (#51) at the top of my arm (you won't find these names on the tubes, but they are on the boxes). Look at the glorious shine!

Golden Shell is golden, but it's also a complex mixture of warm mauve and metallic rose. Seriously stunning and my favorite of the four. It's hard to select favorites among gorgeous glosses.

Golden Pebble, the next swatch down, looks raisin on my arm, and I guess that's a good way to describe the shade, but somehow it doesn't do justice to the sophisticated mix of brown and rose.

Golden Pearl is not your everyday, ordinary pink. It's suffused with shimmering, weightless gold and pearly particles, giving it a radiance that will turn your ho-hum lip colors (the ones that have been stuffed everywhere because you seldom wear them) into favorites. The golden and perfectly named Golden Sand at the bottom of my arm takes us back to the beach, the inspirational scene of many new summer collections.

I'm smitten with my new lip glosses and suggest you stop by your favorite YSL Beauté counter to take a look. The collection recently arrived here. It's also available at YSL's Web site, where you may have a hard time figuring out what's new and what's not.

Photo at top courtesy of YSL Beauté; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

YSL Beauté Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain, the newest lip wear collection from YSL, is a lipstick, lip gloss, and lip stain all in one. After a preview at Sephora, Glossy Stain has gained legions of fans.

YSL is pleased to share a magical (and fun) short animated film with you. The modern fairytale tells of the quest for a magic product that will do everything a lipstick, a gloss, and stain can do, all at the same time. The result? A narrative format and an enchanting story honed as finely as the technology used in Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stain.

Check out the darling film at this link. Like the technology of film? You can see a short video showing how the animated film was created - almost as interesting as the film itself.

How to create three products in one led the way to a unique, revolutionary product. The Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres formula is based on an all-new system called “Lifeproof Color Emulsion.” For the very first time, ethylcellulose, an ultra-resistant polymer, used in the agri-food sector to coat food and give it a tempting shine, has been blended with a perfectly matched emollient oil and a silicone oil and emulsified in an aqueous base.

On application, there’s an incomparable feeling of softness and comfort on the lips. Then, the water evaporates to make way for a few drops of the silicones to rise to the surface and form a glossy film of shine without any oily or sticky feeling. The lips radiate a new kind of shine. The evaporation process continues and gathers the drops of oil together like a beehive, ensuring a truly resilient structure that is absolutely unique. It creates a long-lasting film that provides genuine suppleness, comfort, and hold. Thanks to the subtle dose of pigments and coloring agents, the formula provides rich intensity with no overload. The result? The sophistication of radiant color that truly fuses the lips with a new shine - the feeling of a new glossy stain.

There's a shade for everyone. I've been wearing the shades I purchased at Sephora, and I've softened my original view. I do wear a balm under mine, but with that, I'm good to go. Maybe my lips won't be so dry come summer. I'm not sure my own need for ultra-hydration should influence you because I love the long-lasting color. The variety of colors is phenomenal.

Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain will be available at all YSL counters by April 2012. No. 13, Rose Tempera, is exclusive to Nordstrom, and No. 20, Rouge Enamel, is exclusive to Sephora.

Photos courtesy of YSL Beauté