YSL Master Class with Val Garland

Val Garland, the Artistic Adviser for YSL Makeup, only comes to Saks NYC once a year so I was ecstatic about the opportunity to meet her and attend her Master Class (even at 8:30am!). Garland introduced a host of YSL’s signature products along with the new summer looks. While Garland demonstrated how to apply all the products on a model (on the left), Johnny Burnais — the Business Manager for YSL at Saks – helped show me what products worked best for my skin tone and how to apply them. Ladies, if you are ever, ever, EVER at Saks NYC you must stop by the YSL counter and ask for Burnais he is absolutely wonderful — friendly, funny, but most of all honest and he knows the YSL line in and out (plus Bravo junkies, you’ll recognize him from Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style!). He showed me a bunch of products and two major stand-outs were YSL’s Top Secret ($52) and their Touche Eclat ($40, this is YSL’s biggest seller — one is sold every 10 seconds!). Top Secret is great for an instant remedy for tired skin (think early mornings, when you get off a plane…) or for when, for example, you’re going to the gym and don’t feel like wearing makeup. It works instantly — you’ll immediately see that your skin has a radiance to it and feels baby soft. Top Secret is moisturizing, but it works best layered over a moisturizer. Jump for more on Touche Eclat and the YSL 2009 Summer Collection!

Touche Eclat is great for the around the eye area. Apply it like it is pictured above (basically follow the orbital so that you’re applying it where the light hits), and then blot. This isn’t a cover-up as much as it’s a brightener (literally no one will be able to tell that you’re wearing it, you’ll just have a healthy glow look). It’s super easy/quick to apply and especially great for those days you want a nude/natural look.

Of course the most exciting items to check-out are always the new colors and Garland — who works with YSL to develop all the new colors and formulations — told us that metallics and brights are going to be big this summer — “Color,” she said “is the new nude.” If you’re not comfortable with blue eyes and crimson lips quite yet, Garland suggests going with a camel color to ease yourself into brights. Of all the new YSL products for Summer 2009 there were three definite stand-outs. First the Tresor D’Afrique Collector Sun Powder ($72) –WOW talk about a stunning wooden packaging (looks just like a something Elsa Peretti could have designed for Tiffany). It’s a XXL sun powder and the YSL engraving on it looks as if it has been written in sand! It contains SPF 10 and the shade and formula is identical to Sun Powder #2 Golden Sun. I was also able to check-out Tresor D’Afrique 5 Colour Harmony for Eyes and for Lips (each $62). First off have to say I love that YSL includes two applicators in their palettes (I don’t understand why so many brands are skimping on these). The eye shades tie-into Garland’s point about opting for camels and/or brights — purple, indigo, turquoise, ocher, and yellow are all included and can be used separately or layered. The lip palette includes three lip shades fuchsia, pink and orange along with two glosses — pink ivory and garnet. Burnais’ suggestion? You can’t go wrong layering pink and orange!

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Deb says:
April 28, 2009 at 8:20 am
Johnny is amazing and he will show everyone wonderful things from the YSL line no matter what skin tone they are. He’s also a really nice person. Confident in himself so you won’t be the victim of overselling when you stop at his counter. I’m glad that you highlighted him