YSL Jade Impérial La Laque Couture #34 review, photos, swatches | For nails so dysfunctionally gorgeous they look like they’ve been Photoshopped
Thursday, March 7, 2013
The product: YSL La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer in 34 Jade Impérial
An alternate title for this, I think, could well be “the perfect winter nail to take you into spring,” but then, that would depend on where you were in the world, wouldn’t it?
We’re starting to see warmer temperatures here, and it admittedly (unfortunately) makes me love Jade Impérial less. As a winter nail, though–and it can be, for the future; it’s a permanent shade in the La Lacque Couture line, new with the Arty Stone collection–it’s absolutely on.
The formula
In all honesty, what really gets me about this polish isn’t the (gorgeous) shade — it’s the phenomenal formula.
Smooth and very fluid, the La Laque Couture formula applies beautifully, settling in so easily that even the nails on my right hand looked hand-model-flawless (and I am terrible at applying polish with my non-dominant hand.)
While two coats was perfect for this formula, I think I could have gotten away with one if I really needed to — and on some of my (smaller) nails, a single brush stroke was all I needed.
The packaging
Just to note, the chic gold gap of the polish does come off (à la Chanel, etc.) with a firm “click” — it feels very sturdy and well-made, keeping in line with the luxe profile of the thick-walled glass bottle without sacrificing function.
The brush (medium-wide and thin/flat) works perfectly as well; it reminds me of the OPI Pro-Wide brush in the way that it fans out to make application a breeze. This one is less-wide, though, and the bristles less floppy and straight, giving more control over application on the whole.
The shade
While I didn’t get around to photographing Jade Impérial until just this past week, I’ve been fantasizing about the colour all winter — that gorgeous, smokey green-grey.
There are a lot of ways to describe it, but I like to do it as a feeling: it feels like an abstract representation of a mild winter, obscured; green, but with hints of blue and a marvellously heavy dose of grey.
I’ve never been a fan of teal, blue-green, or jade, for that matter, but YSL’s desaturated take on the idea absolutely hits the spot for me — it feels so wonderfully unique, so unexpected.
The verdict?
The price tag of the La Laque Couture line ($25 USD/$27 CAN) is a tough one to come to terms with, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love this polish.
From the colourful-but-melancholic shade to the flawless way that the formula applies, I can’t find fault in Jade Impérial — not even in the chunky glass packaging, which reads as wonderfully luxe instead of woefully cumbersome.
The shade isn’t exactly for everybody, but the formula — well, how can you not love a great formula?
Availability: Nordstrom; in Canada, Holt Renfrew & select Hudson’s Bay, Sephora, and Murale boutiques. This is a permanent shade.
The ingredients
YSL La Laque Couture ingredients
With butter LONDON Trustafarian
One of the things that I think really works for Jade Impérial is its flawless creme finish, but I had to test that theory with a few shimmery, faux-holo accent nails.
butter LONDON Trustafarian ($15.00 USD/$17.50 CAD) is technically marketed as a holo, but I think it’s a bit of a cop-out — the shimmer is too large and sparse to really give a holographic effect. That said, though, it definitely lets the green-grey of Jade Impérial shine through… so, what do you think?
(I like it shimmer-free, personally, but I can see the appeal!)
19 Responses to “YSL Jade Impérial La Laque Couture #34 review, photos, swatches | For nails so dysfunctionally gorgeous they look like they’ve been Photoshopped”
OOOO I've been eyeing this one, and I love how you layer Trustafarian over it! So darn pretty!
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This polish is gorgeous and looks flawless on your nails. I was trying to resist purchasing any new colors, but I am going to have to run out today to grab this one!
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ah-freaking-mazing!love love love murky colors.must.buy.nao!
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Oh this looks great! bronze pyrite looks promising, as well!! xx
This one is difinitely a beauty! But I don't like gold packaging so I never tried ysl…believe it or not! It just bothers me to look at it….I am weird lol. And this is such a unique color, I don't think I have anything like this… Knowing any dupes for this?
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Love the jade color of the polish. Looks so chic.
Love the jade color of the polish. Looks so chic.
Love the jade color of the polish. Looks so chic.
Oh I have to try that combo now! Love it!
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This is such an interesting shade, it's a great transistion colour to spring idd! You totally make me want to run to the store and try out the YSL nail polishes because they sound so gorgeous! I also really love how you layered the Butter London np over it, it's amazing! I love both though, for different reasons ^^
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It is really unique,sophisticated and chic.I have it on my nails now with nails inc electric lane holographic topcoat on the ring finger,but i prefer it alone.Sorry for my English ,big hugs from Greece!
It is really unique,sophisticated and chic.I have it on my nails now with nails inc electric lane holographic topcoat on the ring finger,but i prefer it alone.Sorry for my English ,big hugs from Greece!
The colour is amazing!
Your nails are PERFECT! I liked Jade Imperiale. I think it's a good transition winter -> spring shade. It sold out really fast here in the US, but I guess since it's permanent they restocked :)
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Your nails are PERFECT! I liked Jade Imperiale. I think it's a good transition winter -> spring shade. It sold out really fast here in the US, but I guess since it's permanent they restocked :)
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I LOVE this formula! I'll admit, I'm a little boring in the nail department, and tend to coordinate my nail colour with my clothes. I have a very utilitarian, classic sort of look so I usually go for vampy shades/oxbloods, plums, charcoals or sheers. My favourite sheer in the world is YSL's "Moonlight White" for the exact reasons you described – the formula is phenomenal. It practically smooths itself out ON your nails and applies absolutely effortlessly. You really can just swipe it on. Moonlight white is my favourite shade, but I'm thinking I should look into getting a red or a purple La Laque Couture because I love this formula so much. Blanc Lunaire isn't a shade many would write home about, but it gives your nails the most perfect cool-toned glow with the subtlest blue microshimmer, it really is like a moonlit white glow for your nails.
Such a beautiful color!
Jade Imperial is such a gorgeous jade color! And I think the butter London Trustafarian goes really well on top of it! Thank you for your beautiful pictures and flawless swatches!
I also love the dreamy 'desaturated' take on teal in this polish. And the formula sounds like it might be worth the $$
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