From The Straits Times    |

This foundation for oily skin claims 24hr coverage with no touch-ups! JESSICA JUNG YSL B.png

WHAT IT IS: This hugely hyped beast of a product is the iPhone equivalent of the beauty world – the 12,000-strong pre-sale waiting list at London’s Selfridges remains the stuff of legend. Worth it or no?

First off, major props to the clever copywriters cloistered at Yves Saint Laurent Beaute’s HQ. The tagline for Encre De Peau Fusion Ink Foundation – “Feels like a feather, wears like an ink” – is as compelling as they come, and just about nails all that’s fab about this formula.

To be sure, the Encre De Peau Fusion Ink Foundation promises everything and then some. YSL claims that special sweat- and sebum-sopping polymers provide a soft-matte, skin-friendly “stain” that’s virtually budge-proof – a full 24 hours of coverage that does away with the need for both reapplication and primers plus powders. If your face isn’t an approximation of the “:0” emoticon right now, you need to go back and reread this paragraph.

This foundation for oily skin claims 24hr coverage with no touch-ups! YSL Fusion Ink.png

WHY I LOVE IT: As far as contenders for finest feather-light foundation go, this is a real heavyweight. Texture-wise, the Encre De Peau Fusion Ink Foundation is of the my-skin-but-better school: Incredibly silky and sheer, with a delightfully satiny drydown that’s just dewy enough to read as “real” skin.

Quick note on packaging: You dispense this using a dropper that resembles a doe-foot applicator minus the fuzzy fibres, which can take some getting used to. Do as I do and dab a smidgen onto the back of your non-dominant hand for fuss-free application.

The volatile dry oils in the formula also vapourise pretty quickly, so it’s probably best to blend as soon as the tint touches your skin. (You might also want to lube up with a pre-makeup moisturiser if you’re prone to peeling; the mattifying powders can magnify flakiness.)

The above caveats aside, the foundie makes good on its long-wearing promise; I slapped this on before a sweaty sundown soiree and saw no need for mid-party touch-ups.

Top marks for a standard transfer test, too: Virtually no transfer of product when I used tissue to blot my T-zone. I experienced no creasing, crinkling or pooling into pores, either, although I’ll have to admit I wasn’t woman enough to take up the brand’s claim of 24-hour coverage. (No-one needs to be marinating in makeup for that long, anyway.)

No complaints on the colour front as well. I’m a vampiric NC15 on the M.A.C Studio Fix scale, so I can get away with pretty much any light-to-medium shade; if in doubt, ask your friendly Yves Saint Laurent Beaute cabin staff for advice on the eight Asian-friendly hues carried in Singapore. (FWIW, I’m wearing B10 Beige.)

Other bits and bobs you might find instructive: The perfectly decent  SPF 18/PA +++ rating means cubicle-dwelling folks can skip sunscreen if they like; and the bottle – oh my, the bottle! With sexy black ribbing that recalls the lapels of Saint Laurent’s signature tuxe, this is as close to cosmetics couture as it gets.

In short, this well nigh flawless foundation has secured a permanent spot on my monthly repurchase list. I’m a convert!

GET IT AT: Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Encre De Peau Fusion Ink Foundation, $89 each, is available at all YSL Beaute stores and counters.

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