YSL Love Collection Compact Powder and Blush – Is it love?

Before I go on, do note that this limited edition compact powder from YSL Love Collection is a previous release and no longer available in stores. I got mine from StrawberryNET.com and this review is as a result of requests from readers who might want to get it from there too.

The YSL Love Collection Powder is gorgeous to look at. As I said before, its hard to defile something that looks so pretty but at the end of the day, we should use what we purchase (unless you’re a collector) so I grit my teeth, took a picture for posterity and defiled it.

The compact is not very big but the pink heart is quite big so the powder areas around the sides of the pink heart can be a bit of a bother to get to if you just want to use the powder unless you have a small powder brush – and how many of us have that?

The pink heart is very sweet. I love the colour as a blush because its pigmented enough to use as one. I use a regular blush brush and tap off some excess before applying as blush. It does take about 2 layers for the colour to show up nicely but when it does its beautiful – it lights your cheeks with a glow from within.

I have also used it as an all over face powder but you have to be quite careful when using it this way. I’ve shown you some swatches below.

To use as an all over powder, I use a large fluffy brush. For my purposes, I use the Sonia Kashuk powder brush which is super soft and large and fluffy. I brush the brush head over the whole compact and with a light hand. Then, I tap off the excess on the back of my hand until all I have is a light layer of powder on the brush head. The picture below shows how much of colour is left on the brush after tapping off.

Only then do I brush it over my face. What you get when you do this is a very light glow on your skin. The powder is light to the touch and does not look white or ashy on the skin and the pink with a little shimmer adds a nice glow.

The compact does come with a thin sponge but I won’t use it because I don’t think it serves much purpose. On an overall basis, I’d say that the YSL Love Collection Compact Powder is great for adding glow (if you are careful) and makes a lovely blush. Its also pretty to look at which is of course a bonus ;)

Once you use it the pink heart does start to crumble quite quickly around the edges so if what you really want is something pretty to look at, don’t use it. In fact, I can see this one being used up quite quickly because the texture is rather soft.  If however, you want a pink blush that isn’t easy to overdo, and you can bear to break into a pretty compact, then get this. Its not bad.

The compact is shiny metal which attracts fingerprints like a crime scene so that is a bit of a gripe. There is also a large red heart on the cover which reflects the pink heart within.

You can’t get this in stores anymore since it was limited edition from a couple of years back.  I’m happy with it because I like the colour and because I’d wanted it before when it was first released and hey! I own it now! :D

Can you bear to defile such pretty compacts? I’m afraid I have to all the time. Sigh…

Paris B