Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’re probably more than familiar with the three-letter acronym YSL. This iconic brand made a name for itself decades ago in the fashion world, yet nowadays they’re also known for cosmetics and skincare products.

In this article, we’ll be taking a journey through the history of Yves Saint Laurent, the categories of products they offer, and how you can use their luxury cosmetics for your beauty routine.

What is YSL Cosmetics?

Yves Saint Laurent was born in 1962 as a creative outlet for Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint Laurent, who was an Algerian designer. 

Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint Laurent became well-known in the fashion world after he moved to Paris and caught the attention of Vogue after winning a design contest. He proceeded to work for Christian Dior, and in 1957 when Dior sadly passed away, Yves was appointed to the creative director position for the popular fashion brand.

There are a couple of reasons why the brand became so highly regarded in the fashion industry. But the main ones being the fact that Yves refused to abide by conventional gender roles, for example, his tuxedo attire for women in 1966 was groundbreaking. He also rode the wave of the feminist movement and in the late 1960s was one of the first fashion brands to “free the nipple”. 

Nowadays, YSL is remembered for being the first couture fashion house out of Paris to create a ready-to-wear high-end fashion line. Breaking preconceived barriers in the fashion world was what the brand was famous for and the spearheading of affordable luxury garments that we see today can be attributed to Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint Laurent and his passion for risk-taking. 

Over the years, the brand has adapted to the times and is always reshaping the way they conduct business. In 1978 the brand launched its beauty category by bringing an amazing makeup collection to market, one which is still revered to this day, yet this wasn’t the first time YSL has veered from fashion. The year before their iconic makeup launch YSL brought their signature fragrance to market – Opium.

Nowadays, the brand continues to innovate and has launched a multitude of successful skincare products.

What Kinds of Products Does YSL Offer?

Now, I’m sure we’re all more than familiar with Yves Saint Laurent’s clothing lines. But, for the sake of this article, we’re going to focus on their beauty categories.  

YSL offers a variety of different beauty products that can be split into three different categories. 

• Makeup: Known for their state-of-the-art lux golden cases and bold colors YSL makeup collections push the boundaries offering unforgettable color palettes, vibrant lipstick hues, and extremely functional and effective concealers, foundations, and highlighters. The luxury brand has positioned its makeup product in the middle-range luxury price point, making accessibility one of the reasons why they see such success. One of their most famous products in this category is YSL touche eclat, an illuminating eye pen concealer that stands the test of time. 

• Fragrance: The next category of products offered by Yves Saint Laurent is fragrances. Their signature scents such as Opium, Y, and Rive Gauche stand the test of time and continue to be a staple in many people’s routines with their avant-garde and unique aromas. 

• Skincare: At the time of writing this article, I was unable to find any information regarding when YSL launched its first skincare products. Nevertheless, nowadays the brand offers everything from eye care and UV protection, to luxury serums and moisturizers. The brand delivers accessible and functional luxury skincare products for a multitude of different skin types and needs, such as targeted products for dryness or wrinkles. Two of their best sellers in the skincare category include their Pure Shots Night Reboot Serum and their Rouge le Créme Essentielle.

How Can You Use YSL Products for Your Beauty Routine?

Creating a skincare routine using YSL products is easy. The brand offers a wide range of products to suit customers’ needs, so whether you’re looking to minimize the appearance of wrinkles or combat winter dryness you’ll have no issues finding the perfect product. 

When you’re starting a skincare routine there are some foundational pillars that you can set in place to then build on. Basics such as cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and protecting are what experts deem the most important facets of any functional routine. 

In this section, we’re going to outline a morning skincare routine, and it’s important to note that this can slightly vary from what your night-time routine should include, but it’s a good place to start. You can always add deep moisturizers and overnight eye serums at a later date once you’ve mastered the art form of a basic skincare routine. 

Cleansing and Toning: 

Dermatologists worldwide swear by cleansing and toning! In fact, if you ask an expert what the most important step to any successful skincare routine is they will all say cleaning, paired with good moisturizing. 

This step helps to remove any dirt, makeup, and oil that’s accumulated overnight or throughout the day. 

Yves Saint Laurents Pure Shots Hydra Bounce Essence-in-Lotion contains Orange Blossom extract, Vitamin B3, and E which will help to create a great base for the rest of your skincare routine. 

This product is suitable for all skin types. 

YSL recommends using their Pure Shots Hydra Bounce Essense as both a cleanser and a toner. A two-in-one product! This is great if you’re someone who finds it hard to stick to a skincare routine – the fewer products the better!

Moisturizing:

Moisturizing helps to keep your skin hydrated and looking its best. Glow up? Again, it’s an important to step to any skincare routine because our skin comes in contact with a variety of pollutants, weather conditions, and products daily which can dry out and irritate your top layer of skin. Moisturizing after cleansing and toning can help to lock in new hydration while at the same time serving to nourish the protective barrier thanks to active ingredients such as antioxidants and vitamins that most products nowadays contain. 

You can lock in hydration by either using a serum or a moisturizer. Or both! 

If you’re wanting to use both of them the serum of your choice would be applied first, before the moisturizer. 

Yves Saint Laurent recommends their Pure Shots Perfect Plumper Cream. This star product needs to be warmed in your hands before application, and then you can use your fingertips to massage the cream into your temples, cheeks, and the rest of your face. Don’t forget your neck and chest areas!

If you’re interested in adding a serum, then YSL suggests opting for their Pure Shots Light Up Serum, which is suitable for most skin types. The key ingredient in this popular product is Vitamin C, which helps to boost your skin’s natural glow and target free radical damage. 

Protect:

If you’re not already using SPF protection daily then 2023 is the year to start. No matter where you live you need to be taking steps to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. 

And sure, it may seem stupid. But trust me, you’ll thank yourself later in life because sun exposure leads to a long list of issues, one of them being wrinkles. 

Yves Saint Laurent recommends their Airthin UV Defender which contains niacinamide as a key ingredient, allowing for optimal skin breathability at the same time as protection.  

Conclusion

Yves Saint Laurent is a force to be reckoned with! The brand continues to stand the test of time and adapt to market forces, most recently launching a makeup collection for Gen Z that’s gaining momentum and popularity due to its genderless campaign. 

Creating a beauty routine out of YSL cosmetics is easy, you just need to research what products would be best for your unique skin type or needs and then follow the steps outlined in this article. Cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and protecting are the foundational pillars of any skincare routine, make sure to focus on those first and then you can add weekly face masks, deep cleanses, and even targeted eye creams to your weekly skincare routine also.

Why not make creating a beauty routine with YSL cosmetics one of your self-care goals for 2023? You won’t regret it!