YSL’s Illicit Nudes Collection debuts.
French fashion and beauty house YSL is reimagining the nude lipstick for a new generation of beauty enthusiast with a unique texture: a glowing matte effect. The Slim Glow Matte incorporates the very latest technology from the research and development centre outside of Paris where scientists are constantly working to find innovative colours, textures and shades that flatter all skin tones.
The formula for this new new product contains a star skincare ingredient: Mallow Flower extract harvested from the YSL Beauté Ourika Gardens located in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains. This botanical nourishes and helps illuminate the lips.
It might seem like an oxymoron to call a lip colour glowing matte, but it illustrates how have technology has come in the last couple of years. Matte finish lipsticks can now be enriched with light reflecting micro fine pearls that creates a luminous effect. This is complemented with an ultra slim, square-cut bullet that gives you precision to push and accentuate lips’ curves. You’ll notice this version comes dressed in black and rose gold, with the iconic YSL Cassandre logo.
“There are a few things that make this collection of nudes different,” explains Tom Pecheaux, Creative Director of YSL Makeup. “Firstly, the technology. We have been able to create nudes with an undertone of colour, so that they are actually very colourful. Within the established colour families – red undertones, brown undertones and so on – we have found the perfect nude for every skin tone. Secondly, our textures give the lip colours an edge. These are nudes with an underlying glow, a radiance imparted by iridescent pearls in different tones, which further bring out your natural lip tone.”
He describes this lipstick as friendly. You can slide it straight from the tube for a powerful finish or dab it on if you’d like a little extra texture. You don’t need a brush or a pencil because the square shape of the bullet keeps the line in place: you don’t even need to blot it.
But how do you reinvent a concept that has been a staple for so long? “There is a nude for a woman in Senegal, and in Japan, and in Ireland, and in Sweden, and they’d all be different if you were to line up the makeup products. And therein lies the beauty of the nude, it’s about different parts of the world, different ethnicities, and embracing all the colours in between,” he continues. “So to create this in a collection you have to think of every woman, rather than specific girls. This is something you do anyway as a makeup artist, you’re creating with an open mind rather than thinking about what colour suits you personally. But above and beyond, it’s a wonderful time to be creating a nude collection based on all different kinds of skin tones just as the world is going through an important time of celebrating diversity. It’s fantastic.”
YSL The Slim Glowing Matte lip colour is available at yslbeauty.ca and sephora.ca
31 Comments
Pamela Chambers
December 26, 2021 at 8:13 amI’m loving this line of nude shades. These look awesome! They certainly stand out over other nude lines I’ve seen.
Maureen Tully
December 17, 2021 at 3:27 amWhat an interesting article. I love me a good nude lipstick! @chipit
Trisha Pedros
December 16, 2021 at 9:57 amWonderful read! I was already a nude not so nice girl! There just so many nude shades.
Christine Broughton
December 15, 2021 at 5:55 pmI really love wearing the Nude Shades especially in the daytime. YSL has so many pretty colors to choose from.
Jamie Johnson
December 13, 2021 at 11:55 amOh wow! What a fantastic story! I have never been a big fan of nude lipsticks. I’ve had people give me a million different brands of nudes, but none ever looked good on me. For some reason, they always just fell flat. These new YSL nudes, they’re different for many reasons. I love that they took into consideration all the other colors of nude there actually are. And I love that they have that magic technology to make these nudes more than just a nude. Like you said, it does sound wrong to call a nude “a glowing matte.” But these new YSL super slim, square-sized, new nudes are different than other nudes. I’d actually wear these! They just offer more than other nudes. I love that the reason for the expansion in colors is because there are so many women that are all different shades. There is no one size fits all for nudes. These new YSL beauties are a perfect example that nudes don’t have to be boring. Great piece, Dave!! Thank you!! xoxoJJ
@BaBy_J_55
Kerri Stewart
December 13, 2021 at 7:22 amThese shades are beautiful! Now I can finally find a Nude shade to compliment my complexion!
@Naya2000
Christine F
December 12, 2021 at 7:08 pmMatte Colours are SO nice!! I love a natural yet subtle look!
Siska
December 9, 2021 at 3:39 pmThese shades are so pretty! They’ll look good on my lips! Want try each of them
Kristen Visser
December 9, 2021 at 6:26 amI absolutely love the slim mattes! perfect for taking on the go and the colors and just my style
Catherine Badenhorst
December 9, 2021 at 4:18 amI love nudes lipsticks but never quite find the right shade. The YSL new nudes look amazing and their ”nudes with an undertone of colour” that suit all skin tones sounds amazing to try. Definitely one to look out for.
@cathybadcar
Bobbi Pentney
December 8, 2021 at 6:39 pmI have always used nudes when I wear lip colour because I am not a fan of my lips. Nudes makes me feel confident but not make my lips or teeth stand out.
Inés Díaz
December 8, 2021 at 10:14 amI used nudes many years. But now I prefer red lipstick.
@yiyines
April Richie
December 6, 2021 at 7:43 pmNude shades have always been my go to lipsticks. These shades are gorgeous!
@SilverAcidRain
bn100
December 6, 2021 at 2:17 pmlovely colors
Cristina A
December 6, 2021 at 1:57 pmThese lipsticks look so slick and elegant and I definitely appreciate the thoughtful process behind the design of these nude shades. I also like that the matte lipstick isn’t just matte (I always associate the word matte with dry and boring based on other matte lipsticks). So it would be great to try this YSL pearly matte finish lip colour.
Gabrielle
December 6, 2021 at 10:08 amI love that beauty companies are acknowledging and embracing diversity now. I still remember the days when my Latinx/Navajo best friend could never find makeup in shades to suit her skintone. It was awful back then.
Sheerie Franks
December 1, 2021 at 2:15 pmSo much information on a ‘nude’ lipstick, thank you for in-depth information as always Dave.
Debbie Auliffe
December 1, 2021 at 12:42 pmThese are gorgeous, I just never think I can pull off an orange or brown lip….but I may try again.
sheila ressel
December 1, 2021 at 9:36 amI love these colors! I would purchase every one of them.
Gretchen
November 30, 2021 at 10:45 pmBeautiful Nude lipsticks!
Aurela
November 30, 2021 at 9:17 pmMost beautiful colors of nude I’ve seen!
Hazel Hoffman
February 9, 2021 at 9:47 amSo many different shades of beautiful nude colors. I understand and appreciate the hard work that companies do for all of us. @_silverlily_
Dawn C Purcell-Musgrave
January 14, 2021 at 9:24 pmI am so much better informed on Nude shades. I always thought a nude was extremely light shades but after reading this article I understand what Nude shades are. My next purchase I will look into nude shades, now that I feel more educated on the subject. Thank you Dave your the greatest!!!!!!!
denise
January 2, 2021 at 11:42 pmBeautiful colors
Angela Citrigno
January 2, 2021 at 7:01 pmA Nude lipstick isn’t just a Nude after all. Your article has definitely got my interest. Finding the ultimate “nude shade” would be amazing. Next on line purchase will be from Sephora.ca . Thanks Dave for always keeping us in the loop when it comes to looking fabulous. I’ll let you know what my perfect nude shade is from YSL.