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?