Makeup News: Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux-Cils Remastered Formula & Mono Couture Eye Shadow

The mascara Volume Effet Faux-Cils (MVEFC) is a cult classic makeup product. This is one of the best mascara on the market and probably one of YSL biggest makeup success. But this mascara had one problem: it dried too fast, making it difficult to use after a couple of weeks. I repurchased this mascara several times before discovering my beloved Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes so when I heard YSL was reformulating its best-seller, I was really curious to try it. I was invited to the official launching in Lebanon, which happened at ABC Dbayeh Mall. The event also featured the launching of their new mono eye shadows. I left with a goodie bag (including the mascara, of course) but I could not resist buying one eyeshadow that particularly caught my attention.

The Mascara

The packaging is unchanged: a beautiful, luxurious gold case (but the sample comes in a black packaging). The brush also remains the same and is quite typical (some would even say old-fashioned) but the secret of this mascara is in its formula which claims to be curling, lengthening and extremely volumizing. The MVEFC also contains vitamines and nourishing oils in order to protect and strengthen lashes.

Below you can see my bare eyes without any mascara. My lashes are black and quite numerous but they are not especially long and curled which is why lengthening and curling is more important to me than volumizing and thickening. Everybody has different lashes so this is why some mascaras are better on some people than other. It all depends on the effect you are looking for. 

Here is my eyes after two coats of mascara only (no shadow). As you can see, the result is really nice. The lashes are coated and multiplied but I did not notice any impressive lengthening effect while this is was I was expecting the most. Ok, you are going to tell "this is a volumizing mascara". Indeed, but the original MVEFC was incredibly lengthening too and I remembered being literally shocked by the result, which is why I was expecting more.

Conclusion: 
This is indeed a great mascara and would recommend it to people with thin lashes. 
However, if you are more concerned about length, skip it and get the MVEFC Babydoll, which is one of my new favorites (I purchased it recently after trying a sample and I am loving it).

The Couture Mono Eye Shadow

While I was discovering the new MVEFC, I also noticed YSL new eyeshadows. I always loved their lipsticks and mascara but I got disappointed in the past by their powder products, so I didn't have much hope. I was WRONG my friends. 
Not only the colors are gorgeous (I could buy all of them) but the texture is incredibly creamy and pigmented (although the matte perform less well).

They come in 15 gorgeous shades, most of them being shimmery but there are some matte as well. I love that their name are inspired by Morocco (my mother is Moroccan) and Paris, and if you don't understand why, it's because Yves Saint-Laurent fell in love with the city of Marrakech and bought a villa there (the Jardin Majorelle). He found so much inspiration there, he used to come twice a year in order to design his Haute Couture collections.

I was immediately attracted to Caftan, which is a beautiful and shimmery purple. This is not a typical color I would reach for, but I feel like it classy enough to be used in many different way without looking like an 80s drag-queen.

Note: If you have green or hazelnut eyes, this color will be particurlaly flattering.

The mono eye shadow comes into a very classy and sleek gold packaging, typical of YSL. The top is engraved with the initial of the brand. It honestly looks like a piece a jewelry. They also include a small blending brush and a sponge applicator. Usually, I am not a fan of these applicator and I prefer to use my own brushes, but I have to say I was very impressed by the quality of these. Especially the sponge applicator which is like no other I have seen before. It is velvety and provide an opaque application, while the other brush blends the shadow to diffuse the color. I used both of them for my test and I really liked it. I will still use my regular brush, but they will certainly come handy while traveling or weekends abroad. 

The MVEFC & Mono Couture Eye Shadow in #7 Caftan

Here I just wanted to show the shadow alone with the MVEFC. I applied the color with the sponge applicator, then I diffused it with the small brush. I did not pack the color to get an opaque finish though the quality of the pigment allows it (you can recheck the swatches above). I will not wear this alone but I can think of so many looks, whether it is combined with gold (#6 Argane would be absolutely divine with it), a deeper purple/aubergine for a colorful smokey or around a black smokey eyes to spice it up. I really recommend these eye shadows. Usually, luxury eye shadows do not perform as well s professional brands (like Make Up For Ever) so this is a really good surprise and discovery. They are excellent and the range will suit all personalities, from the most discreet and simple to the more sophisticated and daring women.