YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow + More

Recently I was lucky enough to win one of Dave Lackie's blog contests. For those of you who don't know who he is, you should! He is the editor of BEAUTY the guide and a beauty expert for Citytv's Cityline TV show. He also runs many amazing giveaways through social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and his own blog. I never in a million years thought I'd win since he has so many fans and followers!


With lightening fast shipping, Dave sent me a YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils, 2 Couture Eye Primers, and 3 Couture Mono Eyeshadows contained in a black YSL cosmetic bag along with an autographed face chart by the Creative Director for YSL makeup, Lloyd Simmonds.

He always takes the time to include a handwritten note in each of his prizes.

YSL is honoring the 15th anniversary of its famous Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara ($32) by introducing a new and improved formula. I have never tried the original mascara so I won't be able to make comparisons.

Achieve absolute dramatic lashes in a single stroke for eyes that instantly pop. Its secret is the Triple-Intensity Formula: intense volume, intense color and now intense care. The nylon fiber brush coats each lash in deep color and maximum volume from root to tip, while B5 Pro-Vitamin strengthens and protects lashes.

Available in 6 shades: 1 Density Black (this is the one I received), 2 Rich Brown, 3 Extreme Blue,
4 Fascinating Violet, 5 Burgundy, 6 Deep Night

YSL introduces the ultimate Couture Eye Primer ($30). Get 16 hours of vibrant color or wear it solo for a perfect nude eye look. This formula locks in color for crease-free wear that lasts all day.
The 2 shades available are 1 Fair (for reference, this is my shade) and 2 Medium.

The Couture Mono Eyeshadows ($30) are a permanent collection of 16 single eyeshadows with satin, matte, metallic, and shimmer finishes released for Spring 2015.
Yves Saint Laurent presents all day wear and the highest chromatic power. No crease, no migration, only intense color pay off that makes a statement. 
Available in 16 shades: 1 Paris, 2 Toile, 3 Marceau, 4 Facon, 5 Modele, 6 Argane, 7 Caftan,
8 Zellige, 9 Orient, 10 Kohl, 11 Exces, 12 Fastes, 13 Fougue, 14 Gala, 15 Frasque, 16 Dedale

Each shadow is packaged in a gorgeous gold compact with a sponge tip applicator and a brush which snap into the lid. I most likely will not be using them but they might come in handy for touch ups.

Dave sent me 3 shades in 5 Modele (cool silver lilac with a beautiful shimmery finish), 8 Zellige (cobalt blue with a soft shimmer), and 10 Kohl (an intense black).

These shadows are soft and easy to blend and apply very smoothly. The color payoff with all 3 shades is impressive and very pigmented. With the Couture Eye Primer I've worn the shadows without experiencing creasing or fading after 8 hours. I didn't mention this earlier but the consistency of the eye primer is like butter, incredibly creamy and velvety. Modele can be worn alone but I find it looks best over a matte lilac shadow. I've used Kohl as a liner but not much more than that. Zellige is not for me since I'm not the most adventurous when it comes to bright shadows. I'll play around with it some more but it will get the least use out of the 3 shadows.

Final Thoughts
A big thank you to Dave Lackie for sending me a collection I wouldn't ordinarily have tried on my own. Everything about the collection screams luxury, from the packaging to the quality of the products. I haven't tried the mascara yet since I don't use the product often enough. If it's amazing, you'll hear about it in future posts. I've been using the eye primer on a regular basis and I may actually think about purchasing it in the future. I'm curious to know how the matte eyeshadows perform since I noticed that the matte formulation consists of the more neutral shades like browns, beige, and creams. These shadows cost a pretty penny and there are most likely some dupes out there but the quality is worth the splurge on these.

What are your thoughts about this collection? 
As always, thanks for stopping by,
Jennifer