Love it: Yves St Laurent Le Teint Touche Éclat

To say I was ridiculously excited to be invited to a one-on-one new season collection brief by Yves St Laurent beauty would be something of an understatement, mainly because I’m such a fan of the brand – and have been for a very long time. I also knew that it would involve a chance to play with the much-anticipated Le Teint Touche Éclat foundation, which has finally hit counters. After years and years - 20 to be precise - of YSL Touche Éclat being a constant in my make-up bag, I couldn’t wait to see what the foundation was really like.

With one reportedly sold every 10 seconds, Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Éclat highlighter has been a beauty icon ever since its launch in 1991, and YSL's creative director of make-up, Lloyd Simmonds has said that he wanted to create a foundation that gives the entire face the same “lively, vibrant light”. "Natural, feather-light, but with a touch of very Parisian, very Saint Laurent sophistication that beautifies the skin and makes the complexion expressive. I like to call it a dewy luminosity, as fresh as dew on the complexion - and definitely not shiny."

 The wonder formula incorporates oils and moisturising agents so that it nourishes the skin as well as concealing imperfections - whilst illuminating the skin in the same way as the original Touche Éclat. And Simmonds says that the two products work together for even better results. “They are the perfect duo,” he told Vogue.  “The foundation unifies the entire face, whilst Touche Éclat reinforces the light effect, especially on dark under-eye circles, and to unify the area around the lips and to attract light on the temples and cheekbones."


Having had the opportunity to play with it over the past few days, I can say that it really leaves skin looking healthy, and with a glow that's visible, but not on the too-shiny side. It lasts well and contains a 'soft focus gel' to ensure it has a weightless finish and I believe also stops it settling into fine lines as the day goes on.

This really is a wonder, and could possibly go on to match the success of its glamorous originator! Check it out on counters now... let there be light!