Yves Saint Laurent The Slim Sheer Matte

My experience with Glossier Generation G Sheer Matte Lipstick gave me more confidence to try other sheer mattes, and the one I heard a lot about at the time was the Yves Saint Laurent The Slim Sheer Matte. So when Saks put these on discount, I jumped at the chance and picked up 101 Rouge Libre, 105 Red Uncovered, 107 Bare Burgundy, 108 Rouge Devetu, and 111 Corail Explicite. 

All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

These Slim Sheer Mattes come in long and square tubes with black plastic caps and silver-colored aluminum body (versus the full coverage Slim Mattes in gold-colored aluminum body). As a whole, the tubes are weighty enough to not feel cheap, and each contains 2g/0.07oz of product. There was definitely a learning curve with the squarish-rectangular lipstick bullet though. Even now, after a few years of using them off and on, application still feels awkward to me even though I've learned that holding and applying them in diamond shape works best.  

 

The formula is pretty decent. The bullet feels dry initially, then upon application it softens up with my body heat and becomes moist and creamy. The finish is translucent and softly matte with a very slight balmy sheen. Pigmentation is sheer-to-medium buildable--note I didn't say coverage, because the finish is translucent. I'm most impressed with how long the formula and color last. I usually apply after lunch and despite sipping tea and snacking all afternoon, the color was going strong five hours later going into dinner. You bet I went back for more colors! I've only tried a few YSL items and so far I haven't been impressed. But these Slim Sheer Mattes? I likey.  

 

- 101 Rouge Libre: a very red bullet, swatches a translucent and shimmer-free pinky red with perhaps more pink but goes on my lips with more red.

 

 

- 105 Red Uncovered: a very coral bullet, swatches a translucent and shimmer-free blue-based red with perhaps more pink, goes on my lips with even more pink and sets to a warm medium pink.  

 

- 107 Bare Burgundy: bullet looks very brown but it applies on my lips a gorgeous burgundy. Love it!

 

 

- 108 Rouge Devetu: bullet looks a warm red, and swatches and goes on my lips the same, if even warmer in natural light. Love this one too.

 

 

- 111 Corail Explicite: neon coral bullet and apply a pretty coral, though thankfully without the neon, surprisingly flattering ^.^ 

 

From left to right: 101 Rouge Libre, 105 Red Uncovered, 107 Bare Burgundy, 108 Rouge Devetu, and 111 Corail Explicite.