Everyone and their Mom knows that the summer collections from all over include the Pantone Color of the year, tangerine tango. Trends for this summer also include bright neons, and pastels. While I’m a fan of wearing those bright colors as clothing, I’m not the biggest fan of them on my face.
Thankfully Yves Saint Laurent took a different road and branched out into neutrals with a pop of color this summer.
Not too long ago, my friends over at Yves Saint Laurent sent me over a few pieces from their Summer 2012 collection. Let me tell you one thing before I get started, holy moses. YSL definitely knows what they’re doing. Whenever I think of Yves Saint Laurent, I think luxurious. Everything about it. Look at all the gorgeous gold packaging.
Check out some of the items from their summer collection:
The YSL bronzer comes in a luxe velvet sleeve for the brown case. This is Terre Saharienne Collector in # 2 Sunkissed. ($60 CDN / $50 USD)
Terre Saharienne Collector in # 2 Sunkissed. Swatch all three separately or swirl them with a brush to give your skin a nice bronzed glow. It’s quite light but very natural. I’ve been wearing it to work the past few days. I also love the python print in the Bronzer.
Terre Saharienne Collector in # 2 Sunkissed up close.
Terre Saharienne Collector in # 2 Sunkissed watched on my finger. I was shocked to feel how silky smooth and what a buttery consistency that the bronzer had. I didn’t want to stop swatching it. It picks up great on my MAC brush and applies beautifully onto my skin for a warm glowy type of look. I personally think it looks great with my skin tone. I don’t know how it would look on fairer or darker skin tones.
As I stated above, it gives a nice natural golden bronze look to my cheeks. It’s nice and luminescent, as in a natural looking glow. You may notice the product itself does not have any shimmer in it at all.
The next item is such a stunnah!
Golden Gloss in # 54 Golden Sand ($34 CDN / $30 USD) The gloss has a really great shine on your lips without it being sticky. The Golden Glosses actually have sparkling 24K gold flecks (0.2%) that create a mirror like effect and they’re slightly scented with a hint of mango. You can notice the mango scent in it for sure, it’s so different!
(click to enlarge)
This gloss was difficult to photograph on my lips. Here I am wearing the Golden Gloss in #54 Golden Sand. It’s a really great sparkling peach. But not overly sparkly. Just the right amount.
Next is the Mascara Volume Effects Faux Cils Waterproof in the color Majorelle Blue. I actually own the black version of this mascara, I picked it up at Holt Renfrew a few months ago, and really do love it. It’s in my rotation of Make Up For Ever smoky lash, and Buxom lash. Three mascaras running all at once, I’m a juggler! I’m not the biggest fan of colored mascaras, and this one is quite an intense blue. Perhaps this would be great for someone a little more bolder to play with color than I am. However, I will wear it this summer as it is a unique (and I keep going back to this term): pop of color on the eyes.
Mascara Volume Effects Faux Cils Waterproof in the color Majorelle Blue. ($36 CDN / $28 USD)Mascara Volume Effects Faux Cils Waterproof in the color Majorelle Blue. This mascara is a bold blue color and it goes on quite intense directly onto the lashes.
Mascara Volume Effects Faux Cils Waterproof on my lashes.
Super up close of the Mascara Volume Effects Faux Cils Waterproof on my lashes.
Lastly are the Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow palette ($74 CDN / $52 USD). There are six palettes to choose from and I received # 1.
Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow palette.
Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow.
The blue color may look a little intense, or scary if you’re not used to it. But not to fret, they don’t have to be used all over the lid. Put a dash of color right underneath the bottom of your lower lashes and it’ll transform your look from “meh” to ow ow lady!
Closeup of Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow palette.
All four Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow palette swatched on my inner arm in the day light.
Great quality, as you would expect for a $74 eyeshadow quad from the wonderful Yves Saint Laurent.
Yves Saint Laurent, as I’ve stated above, you do not disappoint!
Love the color palette of the Summer 2012 collection. It’s a natural golden goddess type of look, which is so very much my style.
Summary
Bronzer: Terre Saharienne Collector. $60 CDN / $50 USD
Gloss: Golden Gloss. $34 CDN / $30 USD
Mascara: Mascara Volume Effects Faux Cils Waterproof. $36 CDN / $28 USD
Eyeshadow: Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow palette ($74 CDN / $52 USD)
The entire  Yves Saint Laurent Summer 2012 collection:
(Click to enlarge. Photo provided by  Yves Saint Laurent)
  Yves Saint Laurent Summer 2012 collection available at Holt Renfrew, selected Bay, Murales & Sephora boutiques.