Merde! Why is it when you love something, they always discontinue it? Sigh, you're looking at a relic, a creation of genius in the beauty world that now is just a memory. But I will not let it go down without its story being told--and maybe it will come back someday (brands have been known to re-stock items if enough desire is out there for them...). And when it does, you'll know all about its "magic."

Dear Ether,

Because I wrote such a damning report on YSL Touche Éclat (http://www.oneof365.com/category/ysl-touch-eclat/ysl-touche-eclat/), I wanted to give you guys a product that would be its foil.  An item I KNEW was fail-safe and amazing for your eyes.  BUT, as if the YSL gods had damned me, the product that I loved most (seriously, it was like my beauty secret weapon) HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.  Yes, it’s true.  Sniffle.

It is…….

L’OCCITANE Magic Eye Balm.

So now this post has become an obituary rather than a plug for one of my favorite beauty products.  But MAYBE, just MAYBE,  if I write a wonderful review about it and you guys get excited and e-mail L’OCCITANE, they’ll revive it from the dead.  It deserves resurrection really.  It did so for me many mornings!

So, I look online to write about my piece and can’t find Magic Eye Balm on the L’OCCITANE website.  I call the store and the woman tells me that the product has been DISCONTNUED in the United States for 3 years!  IMPOSSIBLE!  She tries calming me (I’m sure if I was in the shop it would have been through a lavender bottle of smelling salts) and tells me that it was hugely successful and has NO idea why they pulled the plug.  I tell her I’m still using the one from the UK I got 4 years ago (yep, that’s how long this 15ml $20 puppy lasts)—and yes, of all people I know I shouldn’t be using make-up that is older than a kitten.  However, Magic Eye Balm has no expiry date and after asking the lovely manager at L’OCCITANE if this was kosher (a pro member of the team for 4 years) she said because of the nature of the packaging, you could continue use until the product emits a strong odor or becomes lumpy.

So, here is my little spiel about my French “ami”.  This little metal tube contained the elixir of perfection.  L’OCCITANE is famous for its heavenly shea butter.  Magic Eye Balm contained a 5% dollop, just enough to soften skin and gently moisturize the delicate under-eye area. And even though the product used silicones to help with the appearance of smoothing fine lines, there was never greasy residue.  The balm meshed beautifully with skin and sat gently under a delicate dusting of powder.  Illuminating those lovely eyes came from a mixture of titanium dioxide (a whitening enhancer) and mica, but there was never any glimmering or frosting that was caught shimmering in any light (natural or faux).  Being L’OCCITANE, it also had lovely natural ingredients like calendula, ruscus and centella asiatica to help increase microcirculation (and naturally help in combating dark circles).  It also contained sunflower and ivy extracts to fight pollutants.

Its downfalls: it only came in one shade—which was a natural neutral (truthfully it was only created for Caucasian skin) and it didn’t come with a brush built in (though that never mattered to me because I used my own concealer brush which I could clean deeper—also better to let friends borrow—more hygienic).  Magic Eye Balm did everything YSL Touche Éclat promised it would, but never could provide.

What’s my next step?  I’ll go through my beauty cupboard, make some phone calls and chat with some PR’s.  I’ll sample some new product (I, too, am going to have to eventually make the change) but will have to really trust the product before I can give it my “wink” and a glowing review.  I wish I could give you an alternative, but I refuse to just tell you to go out and buy the newest thing a PR sent me or that I read about without really trying it myself.

For now…………

Au Revoir Baume Regard Magique!  R.I.P.

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

The "Minus" Touch. Don't let this PR phenomenon fool you. It's not all it's cracked up to be---well, actually it is, if you like skin that looks like you have scabies. Are you shocked. Read on, I have a good explanation...don't get angry with me yet

Dear Ether,

So, you know by now that I’m a magazine writer.  But I don’t know if I’ve made it absolutely clear that my forte is beauty.  I can write a tear-jerking features piece, a cracking fashion story, but when it comes to all things beauty, I shine (never my nose of course, that I always powder). 

Today I’m going to share with you the deadliest beauty weapon on the planet.  I’m sure that I’m going to receive hate mail, be banned from France and all YSL beauty counters (actually, I’m an anonymous blogger, phew, so I’m still in the good books with Sarkozy, PR’s and Barney’s). No, but seriously, I’m lucky I can finally speak out against this product because people need to be aware of how dangerous it can be. 

Are you ready for the shocker of your life? 

It’s……….YSL Touche Éclat.  

What!! Gasps!  I know, it’s appalling since it’s a worldwide best seller and put YSL on the map for being numero uno in the world of highlighters and concealers.  

I remember the day I obtained my golden wand in the post years ago and was so keen to try this marvel everyone had been raving about.  I received #2 “Luminous Ivory” (the most universal for the majority of skin colors—the product comes in four shades—#1 Luminous Radiance for very pale skin, #2 as mentioned above, #3 “Light Peach” for medium skin and #4 “Luminous Toffee” for darker skin tones) and took out my glistening pen, ready to start clicking.  I stared at the white brush as the nude colored pigment filled its bristles.  I was eager and geared up to apply.  

Now, as a girl in her twenties who has terrible insomnia (which causes serious panda eyes) this product was tremendously appealing. In fact, after reading the reviews and hearing the PR spiel, it sounded like the answer to my prayers.  Gleefully, I took my magnified mirror (whoa, those are scary—have you ever really looked at yourself in one of those—you can actually count your pores—let’s not get into that in this entry—too depressing) and painted the magical fluid on my face expecting to look like a “revived” me.  At first I looked like a ghost.  Nothing to fear yet. I’ve worked with worse before.  If I add powder on top and then a bit of bronzer, a touch of eye-makeup—it usually all blends beautifully.  But my usually flawless formula didn’t work.   Touche Éclat made my very warm brown eyes look tres vacant.  I looked expressionless.  Not a good sign. 

I could have put Touche Éclat aside and said, “meh” and never thought about it again.  But….what happened next, well, THIS is why I’m writing this warning entry.  THIS is why Touche Éclat is a weapon of mass destruction.  

3 hrs later I started feeling hideous burning under my eyes.  I looked in the mirror and saw that my skin had started to flake and peel and my peepers were bloodshot.  Holy shit!  This stuff of “dreams” had become my nightmare.  Using the most gentle make-up remover I could find (we’re talking calendula infused with aloe and chamomile), I applied the liquid to my face but it had the effect of battery acid.  The searing of my sockets when the remover touched my skin was so hideous I actually started to cry. 

Flash forward 4 days.  I can’t wear any cover-up, I look like I have hideous eczema, and I’m going to PR parties looking like a monster.  I’m donning eyeglasses so big Ray Charles would be shocked (if he could see).  When I tell my story to everyone I know because I’m forced to explain that I don’t have contagious conjunctivitis, they say they TOO have had this happen.  Huh!?  We’re all shocked at this revelation.  This best-selling product that people swear-by has wreaked havoc on so many of us Beauty Editor’s….why has no one written about it?  Why have we let this happen to our fellow woman!?

I launch into a full-fledged research project about this product, and little by little I start seeing reviews about Touche Éclat and how others have had the same horrible reaction that mimicked mine.  There are tons of us—this magic wand can be a witch’s stick!

So, my word of advice.  Before you lay down 40 bucks (before tax) and put the goop on with confidence before a hot date, and then 3 hrs later end up looking like you have pink eye, get a patch test done at the YSL counter.  Have the woman give you a sample of the product or have her apply it to your eye area and wait 24 hours.  If you like it, and you don’t have a breakout, then you’re one of the many lucky ones who can use this product.  But, if you’re like one of the underground Touche Éclat lepers like myself, don’t risk something like your wedding day to try out this product and end up with photos where you look like a wildebeest whose been crying all day.  Radiant Touch…humph….more like Touch of Evil. 

Leave me a comment if you have suffered from a Touche Éclat moment. Or, if you think I’m totally bonkers and you love the stuff (I have a feeling I’ll be hearing a lot more from you guys….we lepers tend to stay closeted). 

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

PS: Don’t forget!  Tomorrow is “Fashion Friday!”  This is installment number two.  Last week was a vintage vibe.  This week is something totally different—well, the type of clothing is, but maybe not the actual items.  Cryptic?  Stay tuned to find out and check in tomorrow.  This time please VOTE!