Today I have another palette to share with you which released by YSL as a part of their new 5 Couleurs Couture Palette range. I have reviewed #7 Parisienne a few days ago. If the shades in Parisienne were too cool for you, you may want to check #3 Afrique out.
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| Yves Saint Laurent Couture Palette 5 Couleurs #03 Afrique |
The colors of a sunset, bronze, rose gold and lila are combined in YSL Afrique together with two lighter shades for highlighting and blending. In fact I have just watched the sun setting over the mountains across our flat and the clouds were looking exactly like the center eye shadow in the palette among the shades of red and pink reflections on the sky.
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| Yves Saint Laurent Couture Palette 5 Couleurs #03 Afrique |
The textures are satin to light shimmery and are consistent throughout the palette. The shimmer is very fine, doesn't look frosty nor does it emphasize the fine lines. Eye shadows are all very smooth to touch and feel very creamy. These eye shadows are very easy to apply and blend.
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| Close-up: Yves Saint Laurent Couture Palette 5 Couleurs #03 Afrique |
The shades in YSL #03 Afrique (from left to right) is as follows:
Top left (base): Mid-toned warm golden rose with fine golden shimmer. This is a truly stunning shade and perfect especially for spring and summer.
Center: Deep plummy brown with subtle shimmer. It is dark enough to define the eye look and yet easy enough to blend.
Top right (highlight): Light ivory with shimmery finish. It is a nice warm shade for highlighting the inner corner or lightly dust under the brow bone.
Bottom right: Very light neutral pink to brighten up the inner corner or blend out the crease.
Bottom left: Mid-toned copper with golden shimmer. Another stunner, which is slightly darker than the rose gold shade so can be combined on the outer corner or can be applied as the base color and sheered out as needed.
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| Swatch with direct sunlight: Yves Saint Laurent Couture Palette 5 Couleurs #03 Afrique |
I really love the base color and the definition shade (center) in this palette as well as the copper shade. They are all stunning. The two lighter shades also can be combined nicely with these. I am much more in love with this one than I am with Parisienne, who would think that, because these are not my favorite shades (a bit too warm for my liking). I used the base shade all over, ivory on the inner corner, center shade to define the crease and copper to enhance the outer corner. The resulting is a lovely soft warm eye, which I like wearing especially during summer. As a liner I used UD 24/7 Glide on in Twice Baked and added Chanel Le Volume Mascara.
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| In-action: Yves Saint Laurent Couture Palette 5 Couleurs #03 Afrique |
Here is the FOTD using Afrique. On the cheeks I am wearing MAC Ocean City (special thanks to Linda, Chrissy and Maureen to send me two of those across the ocean). On the lips I am wearing Tom Ford Spring/Summer shade in Sweet Spot, which I think goes lovely with this apricot/corally look.
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| FOTD: Yves Saint Laurent Couture Palette 5 Couleurs #03 Afrique |
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| FOTD: Yves Saint Laurent Couture Palette 5 Couleurs #03 Afrique |
Final thoughts: I was not expecting that #03 Afrique would work all that good on me but I really enjoy wearing it. To me it is that effortless summer palette which literally blends itself. The center shade in this palette can be build up much deeper than some other palettes in the range. Important to note though is that this one did fade a bit on me after 5-6 hours once applied over Nars Pro-prime but it didn't crease. Afrique gets a thumbs up from me. Don't miss it especially if you like warm colors on your eyes.
Yves Saint Laurent Couture Palette 5 Couleurs #03 Afrique is permanent and is available at YSL counters across the world.
Do you like sunset shades on your eyes? To which time of the year would you like to wear such colors?
Hey Sara, this palette is lovely on you! I can pull off orange-y shades, but I never wear them often. I think the one slightly orange-y eyeshadow I actually reach for is Dior Pavillon!
ReplyDeleteHi Sunny,
DeleteI think Dior Pavillon is really stunning. It is a little more subtle than what Afrique delivers but gives a really polished look, I am loving mine.
Thanks so much for all of your great reviews & swatches of the YSL Couture Palettes...you make me want each and every one! I picked this palette a couple of weeks ago and I love it (I reviewed it and 09 Love here ). It looks gorgeous on you! I think the shades in this palette would work not only during the summer, but well into autumn with a gorgeous bold lip!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for leaving your link here, loved reading your review too. I also ordered Love, but it still haven't arrived after one month. I am having problems from my FeelUnique orders at the moment. You are right about autumn since these warm shades compliment the autumny lippies. I will try it out as you suggested,
Deletehi sara!! i just love this look!! this could very well be my new "fall" colors. i'm sorry that i didn't pick up tom ford's spring/summer lippies. i'm almost for certain sweet spot is sold out. what collection is ocean city from? i should know this, i must be tired. i think today is the last day for 20% on ysl's website. it doesn't matter, a visit to my local ysl counter is in order! not sure if you're familiar with the store nordstroms (in the u.s.). in a week or so, they are having their biggest sale of the year, their anniversary sale. they always offer exclusive items just for the sale. i know ysl and mac will have something very nice! xoxoxo.
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy,
DeleteOcean City is from Proenza Schouler Collection which was released some months ago. The only possibility to get these ombre blushes might now be evil bay. I have heard about the sales in US, you gals are spoiled, lol. I also got 20% off the palettes here but it took for them forever to come since I ordered outside of European Union. Tom Ford Sweet Spot might really be out of stock but don't worry, there are new releases, like Armani's 306 (sheer range) is also close. I found those TF lippies not lasting on me, so not a big loss on your side. I like the shade though ;-)
Hi Sara! This looks lovely on you. For some reason, this palette reminds me of the colors in Dior's Sundeck palette!
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn,
Deletespot on! It is close to Sundeck, but a little warmer I would say. I think I like my Sundeck more since with that one I can have a much more defined look. YSL Palettes are a bit too muted for me but I imagine a lot of people loving them because of this.
Ahh! Can't wait to get my palette in the mail! I didn't really give that palette a second thought, but the more reviews I read, the more I want it! Gorgeous! Especially that center shade!
ReplyDeletewww.lilting-grace.blogspot.com
Hi Miss Louise,
DeleteI am excited for you, the shades are gorgeous, you will have great time playing with these :-)
OooOOoohh!!! Afrique is simply beautiful on you, as is the blusher and lippie! So summery and fresh! These new palettes quietly launched in Taiwan last week, and I got Afrique over the weekend. LOVES and may need to go back and pick up one or 2 more! How do you think these new palettes compare to Chanel's reformulated quads?
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteI have written my thoughts about the comparison at Chanel post but maybe once more here, I prefer Chanel's new formula since it can be applied more dramatically and I think the shade combinations are more original. That being said YSL Palettes are lovely too, it is just my personal taste.
I love how the palette looks aesthetically but I was expecting the shades to be more contrast-y on the eyes. Nevertheless, your eyes made the palette look absolutely covetable. Ugh! As always, Sara!
ReplyDeleteHi Sharina,
Deleteyou are so right, I was also expecting a little more contrast. Thanks so much for your lovely compliment, huge hug! :-**
How pretty! These shades are so up my alley, as I love warm neutrals, especially for summertime! But luckily I have lots of dupes for these shades, so I'll be able to pass up on this beauty :)
ReplyDelete-Jen
www.vibrantbeautyblog.com
Hi Jen,
DeleteI think most of us have dupes for that one :-) It is still pretty, especially the design.
Hi Sara, thank you for your link love! Ocean City looks so gorgeous on you!! Gosh, i can't stop staring!!! Of course, Afrique... this was 1 of my faves in the whole bunch, and I'm not even a brown/neutral kind of gal! Thanks for painting that sunset scene in my head... now i just want to kick back and relax... oh Friday can't come sooner!!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda,
Deletelol, yes Ocean and Sunset. I am writing there on Monday, now I say, Friday please come sooner! ;-))
Oh Sara! I would probably get this one only for that plummy brown and light pink! The other ones not so much, I don't think they would suit me well but then I guess it would depend on what I'm wearing. Love the final look and how nice is Sweet Spot??? :)
ReplyDeleteHi Helene,
DeleteI like Sweet Spot too, an unexpected love since I didn't think those shades would look well on me either. I think you and I, we have close complexions and you can pull the warm neutrals as well, once combined with the right blush and lippie. As for Sweet Spot, I need a dupe of that which stays on my lips longer. If I find one, I will let you know :-)
Hi there! Thank you for your in-depth reviews of the YSL palettes. I'm tempted to get one, although I'm not sure why - high end eyeshadow has got to be the most disappointing product out there for me =p. Not only are they usually sheer, overly pearly and crease, but there's usually one shade I like in a palette, and three barely-there highlighty ones that you use the least and that all look the same on the eye anyway. Not sure what's come over me, but I feel like a treat. Anyway, the colours in Afrique seem like they would lend themselves to several versatile looks, unlike some that are a one trick pony that all blends into a single look. I was wondering if the dark plum in the centre is the same as in Parisienne? They look very close. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteyou are right about what you say, YSL palettes are good for very soft blended looks. They would't look distinct on the eye as they do in the pan. If you like these sort of looks, they are great. I wrote some cons pros in this post, which apply to most of the palettes (but the bright ones are different). http://www.colormeloud.com/2014/06/yves-saint-laurent-couture-palette-5_25.html
Anyway about the plum shade, you are right, they are almost the same. I am on holiday right now so it is hard for me to check out and swatch them side by side for you. If you remind me, I will do that in two weeks, in case you an wait.
Thanks for stopping by.
:-*
Thanks for the reply! Looking at the colours in the pan, I was drawn to Parisienne, but when swatched, I realised I have versions of every shade but the plum, which was my favourite. I don't have (many, lol) colours like the Afrique and the fact that it contains almost exactly the plum from Parisienne makes my heart beat a little faster still =). Thank you again and have a great vacation!
ReplyDelete