YSL Matt Touch

Not all that glitters is gold. But all sparkly stuff still draw me. YSL's opulent gold packaging notwithstanding. I've been searching for the perfect bases -- primers included. High praises for Yves' Matt Touch yet again sent me bartering my monies for results.

It was hard to take a proper picture because the packaging is made of ultra-reflective golden cardboard. Excuse the dark angle. 

It used to come in a range of shades; now it comes in a single transparent shade, hence the opaque packaging whence before it was see-through. The 30ml tube is the epitome of elegant discretion. 

It promises what I'm looking for -- smoothes, mattifies, prolongs foundation. 

Open me. 

Read above. 

The opening came sealed in foil; now removed. The design is quite helpful in managing the amount of product to be dispensed.

Out comes a waxy substance, the shade almost like the first extracts of boiled rice. It really just spreads as a colorless primer. 

True it feels soft on skin when applied. But I guess that's the quick happy ending for me. It seems to just sit on top of my skin, much like Smashbox's famous primer. I was looking forward to its oil-controlling abilities, but sadly paired with my RMK Stick Foundation, or even Nars Loose Powder, it didn't take two hours before the natural oils surfaced. It somehow blurred pores, but it was definitely not the soft-focus type of concealment. At the end of the day, my pores are clogged and my foundation seems to be gone and everywhere at the same time (is that even possible?).

This is one of those products that works for most but for some twist of fate does not for me.

Ingredients list. 

The back of it. 

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Collector Radiant Touch 8

In the world of beauty, who hasn't heard of YSL's Touche Eclat? This gold pen has been clicking on women's fingers since 1992. 

On a CX flight back home with some change in my pocketbook, I found this collector's edition in shade 8 (similar to 1.5) on the in-flight magazine. It must be the best time to try it, I surmised. Here is an introduction from the website:

"The beauty secret of the world's top makeup artists and models, Touche Éclat is the original must-have for a radiant, flawless face. 

Capture 8 hours of sleep with the click of a pen. With a few strategic strokes of this award-winning complexion highlighter—dark circles, fine lines and signs of fatigue virtually disappear. Powered by the radiance-boosting Luminocaptide Complex, skin is instantly illuminated, so you look rested and refreshed—even if you’ve been up for hours. Sleek and sophisticated, it discretely slips into a makeup bag for quick touch-ups anytime. It’s the one beauty essential no woman should ever be without."

YSL's trademark gold packaging is sheer opulence. 

It takes 30 pushes of the black button at the bottom of the pen for the product to ooze out. 

Shade 8. 

Engraving.

The product is a creamy consistency that can be layered under or over makeup, with no creasing. It covers light undereye circles and managed to conceal slight redness around the mouth and cheek area. The finish is natural and I didn't experience any breakouts. 

Profile.

Another.

The pamphlet.

It's true that it "revives the complexion's natural glow." The effect is an overall finished look with a slight luminosity that is very becoming. 

Application and storage tips. 

Ingredients list. 

A closer look. 

Labels. 

I'm not sure how long the 2.5 ml pen will last me, but as of date it's been going strong for a couple of months. It's one of the friendliest base products I've used on my skin and in a very convenient and sanitary packaging at that. It comes in a dozen shades and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a reliable, effective concealer and highlighter rolled into one.