The product: Yves Saint Laurent Crème de Blush Cream Blush in No. 7 Rose Quartz & No. 8 Red Agate
There are a few YSL products that you hear a lot about: their iconic Touche Éclat, of course, or their brilliant Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stains. I’ve been poking around in more of the line with their Spring 2013 Arty Stone collection recently, though, and I have to say — YSL? Not a one-trick pony.
The Crème de Blush formula
YSL’s cream blush formula is whipped and velvety, more a mousse than a heavy cream or gel. The lightweight texture applies smoothly (“like silk,” as promised!) with fingertips or a foundation brush, and dries down to a radiant powder finish.
These blushes aren’t super-pigmented when swatched, but they have more than enough colour to them. I find the pigmentation works in perfect harmony with the texture, delivering a sheer or intense cheek with very little fuss.
These blushes are lightly perfumed, and gorgeously so — easily one of my favourite-smelling blush formulas! (What’s yours?)
YSL Crème de Blush swatches: Rose Quartz, Red Agate
No. 7 Rose Quartz
Rose Quartz is a lively, bright pink with cool undertones and just the slightest hint of yellow in the base. I have a makeup look coming up soon for you featuring this blush, and I have to say — it is the perfect pink for the season.
The velvety finish has a hint of radiance (the super-tiny microshimmer is at times so hard discern that I’m almost convinced it’s fairy dust), and it does a wonderful job of giving the cheek a glowing, “lifted” effect.
YSL Crème de Blush swatches in 07 Rose Quartz & 08 Red Agate, heavily/lightly
No. 8 Red Agate
Surprisingly enough, the brick-red warm undertones of Red Agate are wearable on more than just warm complexions — despite my very pale, cool-toned skin, I had no problem adding this to my everyday makeup routine. While Rose Quartz has a strong blue undertone, Red Agate delivers a much more natural-looking flush, which may appeal to the more subdued makeup-wearer.
I love the gorgeous, shimmer-free (but somehow still startlingly radiant) finish (it must be fairy dust), but be careful with this one! The same pigments that create this lovely warm red turn into a “fevered” cheek if you overdo it, though the colour is well worth the caution if you ask me.
The verdict?
As much as I enjoy these blushes, I find it hard to recommend them at the $52 CAN price tag — even at $38 USD, they’re pretty expensive. That said, if you love a cream-to-powder blush, these are a great product: the packaging makes me think of super-chic ice cubes, and the colours are beautiful!
The ingredients
A few last photos
YSL Crème de Blush boxes
YSL Crème de Blush in Red Agate (new permanent shade with Arty Stone, Spring 2013)
YSL Spring 2013 cream blush swatches: Rose Quartz, Red Agate
