Flashback Beauty Friday 68: YSL Palette Mauresque

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Last week I shared the limited edition Julie Verhoeven illustrated Juicy Tubes gloss by Lancôme and today I'm going back to the same year with these LE palettes from Yves Saint Laurent.

I have loads of these palettes from limited edition launches that I really need to start working my way through for Flashback Beauty Friday. Part of their 2007 Summer release were the YSL Palette Mauresque, which I have for the eyes and face.

The Palette Mauresque For The Eyes was inspired by Moroccan tiles and includes 4 rich shades to be used individually, in duos or together.

The centre contains a bold and bright, matte blue. I know some people find this one hard to use due to the other shades surrounding it, so you need a very small brush or applicator to pick up only that colour. Above and below it, you have a really beautiful turquoise with what looks to be lilac or silver fine shimmer throughout. Both of these colours are stunning on their own, but together they definitely give off that Summer in the sun vibe. On the right and left, you have this really interesting bronzed brown shade, which also has a very fine shimmer-sheen to it. Surrounding the edge of the palette is a copper shimmer, however this is an overspray and will disappear quickly. The base shade is a yellow, golden-white, which would obviously work well as a highlight under the brow and in the inner corner.

The palette comes in a dinky little square compact in a brown and bronze (smooth) glitter finish with the YSL logo in gold down one side. Inside there's a mirror and the compact comes in a brown velvet pouch with double ended, sponge applicator.

The Palette Mauresque For The Complexion comes in an identical bronzed compact with mirror inside. The velvet pouch this time contains a flat, curved face brush.

Similar to the eye palette, the face powder comes in a tile inspired design with 4 central, bronzing powder squares. I keep battling with myself over whether all 4 are the same colour or not, each time I tilt the palette it changes my opinion!  In the middle of that is a light, brightening pink, which looks even harder to separate than the blue in the eye palette. The base shade is a lighter bronzer, more of a tan with pinky sheen. Surrounding this again is an overspray glitter design, this time in pink. The three main colours do look to have a little sparkle, but this is mainly glitter migrating from the edges. However, upon shining a torch on this, all three main colours have the most beautiful fine shimmer throughout.  Not chunky glitter, but something that will give that illuminating sheen to the skin.  This palette would be near impossible to use the colours separately, but I think the intention is to swirl your brush in them all, for an illuminating, bronzed glow. Apparently the pattern will remain (obviously not the glitter part) throughout use.

Both are really stunning palettes. I love the Moroccan inspired tile design as it immediately evokes feelings of sunshine, holidays and Summer. Both appeal to me in terms of colours, but I haven't been able to bring myself to use either over the years. My YSL palettes were definitely destined for the "Too Pretty To Swatch" posts years ago! Do you remember these ones?