I need all the help I can get when it comes to disguising under eye bags and dark circles. For many years YSL Touche Eclat has helped brighten my inner corners, add light along the line of my bags to make them appear to disappear and just help make me look more awake. A lot of people mistake YSL Touche Eclat for concealer which it isn't and is the main reason they don't get on with it. Obviously there's other factors as to why they think it's not worth the hype but I've read so many reviews on how bad it is as a concealer which is unfair as it's actually a complexion highlighter. If your dark circles are minimal then yes, of course you can get away with using only this but if you're like me and your dark circles would still make an appearance through a brick wall then you need to use concealer before applying this. I've tried a few of the many 'dupes' available from other brands but for me, YSL Touche Eclat can't be beaten. Or can it?
Swatched: YSL | Sephora
I asked Lina to send me Sephora's Smoothing & Brightening Concealer 'light 02' as I'd really enjoyed all the Sephora own brand products I've tried so far and thought that maybe Sephora could give YSL a run for their money. SS&BC is a lot thicker and more opaque than YSLTE and could be worn alone if your having a good under eye area day. It really brightens the eyes, diffusing the look of any sagging. It without a doubt helps make the whole eye area look more lifted and youthful. I always buy YSL Touche Eclat in 'The Original' as it's pink toned. You can see just how pink it is in the side by side swatches. It doesn't look pink in the slightest once gently blended in but the pink helps correct any shadows under the eyes.
Creasing: I never have any problems where creasing is concerned with YSLTE but SS&BC does crease slightly as the texture is thicker. It isn't major but anyone with dry patches or more than just a few fine lines may struggle with this.
Coverage: SS&BC win's when it comes to coverage but if you aren't plagued with very dark circles YSLTE could be enough for you.
Brightness: YSLTE is very subtle. It adds just the right amount of light and never looks obvious. SS&BC adds a lot of light to the face too but because the coverage is more opaque it can look stark if not blended well.
Longevity: Both wear for around the same amount of time and neither of them slide around the face even when not set with powder.
Price: There's a huge difference in price and the amount of product each pen contains - YSLTE £25 for 0.1 fl.oz / SS&BC $16 for 0.11 fl.oz
I use both pens in the same way - inner corners, along 'bag lines' and dark circles, between my brows, along my top lip to disguise any pigmentation and I find they both work really well at taking away any redness at the corners of the nose.
So which do I like best? I love them both! They both do their job really well, work in a similar way and I would have no problem recommending both but I'm a die hard YSL Touch Eclat fan, my loyalty lies with the golden pen.
Have you tried either of these products?
Are you a YSL Touche Eclat lover or hater?
