Weapon Of Mass Destruction: YSL Touche Eclat
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!
Step out of the Ether and send me an E-mail. I would be glad to have your thoughts, feelings and ideas.
July 18th, 2009 at 7:19 PM
TOTALLY had the same experience – redness, itchiness, flaking and swollen eyelids. Touche Eclat is dead to me.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:55 PM
I had this same experience with YSL touche eclat. Gave me a horrible rash under my eye:( I’m waiting for it to clear up 2 days later…
August 6th, 2009 at 4:21 PM
I visit various make up blogs and everyone raved about this high lighter so I bought it. And same exact same story as yours but I developed a rash around my lips..UGH! I typed “ysl touche eclat rash” in google which led me to this blog…Why am I seeing all these bad reviews about this product after I dished out my $55 Canadian…Grr
August 6th, 2009 at 4:44 PM
I am so sorry that this happened! I feel so bad that Touche Eclat gets written up all the time without anyone ever writing a warning about it. That’s why I felt I needed to write my post. I’m sorry you had such a bad breakout. I would take your “magic wand” back to the shop you bought it from (do you have the receipt?) and tell them exactly what happened. If they were decent, they would give you your money back. If not, ask the counter people for the number for head office. Having worked with PR’s I know that they want to please their customers. I am SURE if you take it as far as head office you will at least get a credit. I don’t know why this product keeps getting rave reviews. It sells like hot cakes and people buy it without a patch test thinking it will be okay because of the Editors thumbs-up. I feel guilty because I’ve been a part of that. I hope when people read my honest review that word will spread to get a patch test before buying and not waste their hard earned money—but more importantly not be in agony when they think they are buying something to actually improve their skin. I know most people are lucky with the product and can’t live without it–but for the unlucky ones—this product is actually dangerous! Good luck and really go for getting a refund.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:16 AM
doesnt have this effect on my touche eclat is AMAZING.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:30 AM
That’s so good. You are in the majority. Most people LOVE it. But I felt it was so important to write a piece about the negative effects of the product because a lot off women (as you can see from some of the comments) have had horrible reactions and if you look at other websites there have ben other complaints. It’s a very famous product, but it seems to be one of the few popular ones where people have severe side-effects. I really think a warning should be put out for a patch test before trying. Imagine if you had an allergy to it and had a make-up artist apply it to your eyes on your wedding day (b/c it’ll probably be in her kit). In less than 3 hours your eyes will be in agony, red and flaking and your day will be ruined as will your photos. This is a serious problem that needs to be exposed. I’m thrilled you wrote in to show that the product DOES work. But the ugly side of it has to be shown because NO magazines would dare risk angering YSL and writing a negative review. Thanks so much for your comment. xoxoxoxo
September 28th, 2009 at 11:17 AM
I bought Touche e’clat in 2 different shades 0/2 (one for the summer and one for winter)
I have tried it for the 1st time Saturday night. It went on lovely and I was really pleased with it, it did what it said on the tin. Saturday night here we come!
When I came home, I took my makeup off, moisturised, put my normal eye cream on and went to bed. I woke Sunday morning my eyes felt a little odd, bit sore and red but put it down to late night and wine, however through the day they became redder, swollen, the skin became almost sandpapery and very sore. By 8pm Sunday I could hardly open my eyes.
This morning (Monday) I look like a puffer fish, so I took myself off to the doctors (Well my husband bit as I couldn’t see) Doctor advised that I have had a severe allergic reaction to something and the only thing that I have used different is Touche e’clat !
I have written to head office as bought them from an airport, so i’ll let you now how i get on
September 28th, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Dearest Rachel! Welcome to the Touche Eclat leper club. As you can see from many other comments, we are all coming out of the woodwork. I am so curious to know what your doctor finds out. It is so important that people read these testimonials. I am so glad I wrote this piece because it has gotten very high-up on the Google search engine and people are reading about it and taking notice. It’s crazy how it is a secret beast. It goes on fine, and then about 3 hours later BOOM–it’s a killer. I am SO glad you wrote to YSL as they should know these things. I encourage EVERYONE to do the same thing as you. You should get your money back and let other people know. I just saw a beauty spread in a very famous glossy this month promoting it. It made me so angry. It never warns anyone about its negatives. I think some brave Editor needs to take charge and speak the truth. But YSL is such a heavy money maker for the mags that no one ever will. I say just stop plugging it. People know about it enough—let it be already. Please, please keep me updated and I will post it as an update blog. Look, some are lucky and it is magic for them. But this seems to be one of those weird phenomenon’s that is a world-famous product that people have an adverse reaction to. Patch tests are key and some sort of article has to be done. Or YSL should warn people. They should advise their sales girls to forewarn buyers that this is for sensitive skin. ANYTHING. I appreciate your writing in. Keep us all posted. xoxoxxooxo
November 8th, 2009 at 3:31 AM
I am one of those people who didn´t have a reaction- however even though I´ve been though a few tubes, I don´t think it´s as magical as it´s made out to be and am hesitant to plonk down more money. I would love to hear some more of your beauty and makeup tips though
January 24th, 2010 at 3:03 PM
Just looking at the sad stories above. Sadly they are much like my experience.
Tryed the product for the first time under my eyes on new years eve 2009 turning 2010. What a disaster.
My eyes swole up. It started itching. My skin became red as if I had a very bad infection sworeness, and it hurt. My eyes teared up. For a week after I Was compleatly swollen and red. Then the fleaking of my skin started.
Now – a month later – I cant use any product under my eyes. They are swore and still fleaking.
Wonder if i’ll ever go away..
I contacted YLS – telling them my story.
The answer was: Sorry, we cant help you with anything.
Emberrasing and rude responce from such a major company. They’ll gladly take your MONEY – but they won’t take RESPONSIBILITY.