YSL Holiday Look 2012 Northern Lights Collection: Get The Look (Tutorial)

YSL Holiday Look 2012 Northern Lights Collection: Get The Look (Tutorial)

Every year Yves Saint Laurent launches a themed ‘Holiday Look’ Collection, just in time for the festive Christmas period. In 2010, the Metallic Colorama collection favoured golden shades to go with a glamorous and provocative look; 2011 brought the black and white Tuxedo collection, paying a tribute to iconic garment launched by YSL in 1966.

This year, the Northern Lights Collection captures the spirit the Aurora Borealis, a magical display of intense green, blue and pink-violet shades. The collection focuses on shades of violet, midnight blue and pearly silvers, which YSL’s Creative Makeup Director, Lloyd Simmonds, describes as ‘a celebratory sky on a winter night’.

The campaign look for the Northern Lights Collection features a gorgeous woman wearing a black dress and the most striking violet eye makeup look. I generally wear pretty ‘safe’ makeup shades of browns and golds, but the part of me that is already excited for Christmas, told me to have a go at recreating this look. I got in touch with YSL to ask what products were used to create the campaign look, and this is the step-by-step, inspired by the YSL Holiday Look 2012 Collection.

YSL Holiday Look 2012 Northern Lights Collection: Get The Look (Tutorial)

1. Complexion

  • On the campaign look, the model wears YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat BD40 (HERE), YSL Touche Éclat No. 2 (HERE) and YSL Blush Radiance No. 7 (HERE).
  • I started with my usual skincare, followed by YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat BD50 (HERE) all over my face, then I highlighted my face with YSL Touche Éclat No. 1* (HERE) and added some colour and a bit of shimmer to my cheeks with the YSL Blush Radiance No. 7* (HERE). To see step-by-step how I did my complexion, read my Naturally Flawless Complexion blog post HERE.

YSL Holiday Look 2012 Northern Lights Collection: Get The Look (Tutorial)

2. Eyes

  • On the campaign look, the model wears the burgundy and deep blue shades of the YSL Boreal Palette Arctic Night* (HERE) blended together to create the violet shade, and the YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking No. 7* (HERE).
  • I used the same products and the same technique to try to recreate the violet shade from the campaign look, although mine turned out a little bit more blue than violet. I used a flat eyeshadow brush to drag the colour out and upwards towards the brows, and blended the harsh edges with a fluffy blending brush.

YSL Holiday Look 2012 Northern Lights Collection: Get The Look (Tutorial)

3. Lips

  • On the campaign look, the model wears YSL Rouge Volupté No. 3 (HERE) and YSL Golden Gloss No. 56 (HERE).
  • Unfortunately, I didn’t have these shades, so I used the Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick No. 3 (HERE) and the Bourjois Smile Enhancing Gloss No. 7 (HERE) to create this warm nude shade with a sheer glossy finish.

YSL Holiday Look 2012 Northern Lights Collection: Get The Look (Tutorial)

4. Nails

  • On the campaign look, the model wears YSL La Laque Couture No. 15 (HERE).
  • I didn’t have this nail varnish, so I wore Rituals Nail Varnish in Winter Blue* (HERE).

How did I do? I really like the finished product of my ‘inspired campaign look’; I never had the intention to copy the look because there are lots of visible differences between me and the campaign model, albeit our skin and hair colours. I’m perfectly aware this is a bit more editorial than my usual makeup tutorials, but maybe you can take some inspiration from the colours I used and create something more wearable for everyday – it would be like an inspired look of my inspired campaign look! :)

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