YSL Avant Garde (8) Couture Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
YSL Avant Garde (8) Couture Palette
YSL Avant Garde (8) Couture Palette ($60.00 for 0.18 oz.) is an earthy, green-themed set of five eyeshadows with mostly shimmery finishes. The texture of the eyeshadows is soft and feels almost like a cream product, but a couple of shades can be a little powdery, so the color payoff isn’t always as intense or as true-to-pan as marketed. The wear is also short of the 12-hour wear time claimed; I find this formula wears a bit shorter on me than many other powder eyeshadows, though not significantly shorter–wear time varies between seven and eight hours, but I get noticeable fading and occasional creasing (this depends on the shade). The texture is really compelling, but I would recommend wearing an eyeshadow base/primer if this is something you’ve been considering; if you’re a no primer kind of person, I would skip.
Avant Garde #1 is a medium-dark, muted olive green with subtle, warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had good color payoff that applied smoothly and evenly, as the texture was very blendable and soft to the touch. Applied, the color stayed on well for eight hours before starting to fade. theBalm #42 (P, $6.50) is darker, more matte. Sephora Collection Planet Earth (99) (P, $13.00) is warmer. theBalm D4 (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery. NARS Delphes #3 (LE, $24.00) is cooler-toned, lighter. NARS Taiga #2 (P, $24.00) is a touch darker. MAC Greensmoke (DC, $15.00) is brighter. MAC Fiction (DC, $15.00) is warmer. Dior Khaki Design #3 (P) is warmer. Make Up For Ever #84 (P, $20.00) is cooler-toned. Inglot #419 (P, $6.00) is slightly warmer. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Avant Garde #2 is a light, warm-toned beige with a hint of peach and yellow with a pearly sheen. It had semi-opaque color coverage but was noticeably under-pigmented. The texture was soft, though on the powdery side, which might have contributed to the color not adhering well to the skin. This shade wore well for seven hours before fading on me. YSL Saharienne #1 (P) is less shimmery, a touch darker. Too Faced All American Girl (P, $16.00) is lighter. Too Faced Riviera (P, $16.00) is darker. Chanel Quadrille #2 (LE) is similar. bareMinerals Celebrate (LE) is less shimmery. Urban Decay Broken (LE, $18.00) is lighter. MAC Dew (LE, $15.00) is similar. MAC Sweet Eyes (LE, $15.00) is less yellow. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Avant Garde #3 is a dark, neutral-to-cool-toned gray with a soft, satin finish. it had fairly good color payoff, while the texture was soft and smooth without being powdery. This shade stayed on well for eight hours before starting to fade. Kat Von D Graphic Nature (P) is warmer, lighter. MAC A Waft of Grey #3 (P, $21.00) is lighter. bareMinerals Panorama (LE) is less shimmery. Dior Golden Snow #5 (LE) is cooler-toned, lighter. Urban Decay Poison (LE, $18.00) is less shimmery. Kat Von D Siouxsie-sioux (P) is darker, less shimmery. Urban Decay Desperation (P, $18.00) is less shimmery. MAC Nighttrain (LE, $15.00) is more shimmery. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Avant Garde #4 is a muted, medium-dark yellow gold with hints of brown and a frosted finish. It had nice pigmentation, and the texture was quite soft but was just a little bit powdery, though easy to blend. On the eye, it wore well for eight hours before slightly creasing. bareMinerals Stay Golden (LE, $14.00) is darker. Too Faced Twinkle (LE, $16.00) is brighter. Urban Decay Strike (LE, $18.00) is similar. Too Faced Instigator (LE, $16.00) is brighter, yellower. Marc Jacobs Beauty The Starlet #5 (P) is lighter. Urban Decay Blitz (LE, $18.00) is similar. NARS Paramaribo #1 (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery. NARS Etrusque (LE, $24.00) is warmer. Maybelline Bold Gold (P, $6.99) is more frosted. L’Oreal Gold Imperial (LE, $7.99) is lighter. Illamasqua Ore (P, $25.50) is darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Avant Garde #5 is a light-medium, muted green with subtle, warm yellow undertones and a pearly sheen. It had semi-opaque color payoff, and the texture was soft and smooth, but it could have been more pigmented. This shade had signs of fading after seven hours of wear. MAC Silver Sun (LE, $19.50) is more shimmery, darker, cooler-toned. Sephora Collection Planet Earth (99) (P, $13.00) is warmer, darker. Sleek MakeUP Fauna (P, $9.99) is darker. Sleek MakeUP Evergreen (P, $9.99) is brighter. Ulta Sage (P, $10.00) is slightly darker. MAC In the Meadow #3 (LE, $21.00) is lighter. Tarina Tarantino Wonderful #4 (P) is lighter. Fyrinnae Electric Stardust (P, $6.80) is lighter, brighter. NARS Delphes #3 (LE, $24.00) is similar. Guerlain Coup de Foudre #3 (LE) is cooler-toned. See comparison swatches / view dupes.
Avant Garde (8)
PPermanent. $60.00.
Avant Garde #1
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Avant Garde #2
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Avant Garde #3
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Avant Garde #4
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Avant Garde #5
PiPPermanent in Palette.
YSL Avant Garde (8) Couture Palette
YSL Avant Garde (8) Couture Palette
YSL Avant Garde (8) Couture Palette
YSL Avant Garde (8) Couture Palette
YSL Avant Garde #1 Couture Eyeshadow
YSL Avant Garde #1 Couture Eyeshadow
YSL Avant Garde #2 Couture Eyeshadow
YSL Avant Garde #2 Couture Eyeshadow
YSL Avant Garde #3 Couture Eyeshadow
YSL Avant Garde #3 Couture Eyeshadow
YSL Avant Garde #4 Couture Eyeshadow
YSL Avant Garde #4 Couture Eyeshadow
YSL Avant Garde #5 Couture Eyeshadow
YSL Avant Garde #5 Couture Eyeshadow
YSL Avant Garde: #5 (inner lid), #4 (middle of lid), #1 (outer lid), #3 (outer lid), #2 (brow bone)
YSL Avant Garde: #5 (inner lid), #4 (middle of lid), #1 (outer lid), #3 (outer lid), #2 (brow bone)
I like most of the shades separately, but as a palette, it’s not wowing me for some reason.
It should wow you at that price!
I want to love one of these pallets! #2 down 🙁
Aww!
I usually love anything olive, but I do not care for this palette at all. There is not enough contrast between the finishes so it all ends up looking rather shimmery murky IMO. As individual shadows, they seem just okay, but as a cohesive palette, I’m not attracted whatsoever.
They did run together once applied!
Love these colors!
Yay!
Ooh loving all these shimmery greens
They are pretty!
do review new KissKiss Guerlain please
Thanks for the suggestion!
/there are no-primer kinds of people out there??!/ 😮
I will almost certainly be skipping this line, but I love the way the shades are laid out! So chic 🙂
Me now! I almost never use primer!
I’m just the opposite – I won’t even chance it without primer! When they first came out years ago, they were sort of life changing for me and I’ve just never even tried going without. Mind you, in my line of work there’s lots of heat and humidity and general being too warm and flushed – like at graduation today! – so it just gives me peace of mind; maybe I should try “primer-less” on weekends to see how it goes.
Nowadays, I only bother with it if I really need it to go 12+ hours or I’ll be outdoors a lot with a lot of heat/humidity! But saying that, most products last 7-8 hours for me, so for me, that is usually fine (even if I’m not testing).
I love the colours here (even though khaki isn’t my perfect shade, exactly, and I wish they stayed a bit more distinct when you blend them together), but I’m really loving whatever you’ve got on your lower lash line! Is it a UD liner? Honey or Scorch or El Dorado or something?
Stila Gilded!
Aha! 😀 Thanks!
Say, i know you did a big comparison on gold eyeliners back in Jan 2013, but do you think there’s been enough change/new stuff for an update? Or, how about one of those top 5’s, where you show your favourite gold eyeliners, factoring in performance? Or like one of each type (pale gold, rose gold, yellow gold, etc).
in case it wasn’t obvious, I may be in the market for a gold liner 😉
Any new gold eyeliners since then are in the Swatch Gallery, actually! I’ll definitely keep in mind a top five for gold eyeliners… not sure there are enough to make a top five, lol!
I love these colors together! This is a beautiful palette!
Glad ya liked it, Fancie!
I really like several of the shades, but not the palette as a whole. I have a weak spot for these particular shades of green and I’m sure I’d be all over a couple of them if they were singles. Good thing the palette is permanent because I’ll need some time to decide whether it’s worth getting.
I wish there was more contrast and one more shade without shimmer!
This is the palette I was hoping you would review. Now I know I’m going to have to get over it. I don’t think I could make these colors work. But, like usual, you did give me plenty of dupes to ponder!
Aww, sorry to hear that you don’t think this one will work for you 🙁
I was hoping you’d review this because I’m still up in the air about it. There aren’t enough greenish-based palettes out there along the lines of this, which is unfortunate because they’re hands-down the most flattering on my complexion. I always wear MAC Bare Study under all shadow (I’ve never had a primer work as well as that…it’s one of my few actual-every-day products), so I don’t think I’m concerned about the wear time, but I’m still a little hesitant. It may be one I have to see in person!
If you’re using such an opaque primer, you’ll probably be okay!
It looks absolutely beautiful. I think this is a palette that both warm and cool toned complexions can wear. It is not an “in your face” palette, where are all the colours are loud and bold, but a subtle palette.
This a big plus and I am going to get it.
Please let me know how it works out for you, Genevieve!
I think I’ll pass on this one, it’s kind of disappointing.
Totally understand!
Quite an eye-catching little palette, but though I like the look you created, I was surprised at the lack of color payoff, as you noted in your review. I don’t wear that much shimmer so I would’ve passed anyway.
The palettes are surprisingly shimmery, IMO!
I really like the grey!
It’s a cool color!
From your swatches, the colors don’t look too bad, though! I’m still very tempted haha! I really love shade #1, 3 and 4 in this palette. 🙂
I like it, but it should be better for the price, you know? So that holds me back a lot!
Wow.. this is an amaizing palette, all the shades are so beautifully organized !
Glad ya liked it, Shailja!
I do think a brand like YSL would make palettes that would get A – A+ on all the shades, and that the shades in them would really work well together. I can’t help finding their palettes disappointing.
I do hope there will be some really good palettes in the new range.
This one is not for me, but I will check Sephora Planet Earth, I really like that one, I must say.
Sometimes you make me spend, but more often I save a lot by reading the reviews here. Job well done, Christine!
I’m always happy to help you spend… or save! I’m probably happier with the latter! I get nervous when someone buys something from my reviews, lol! I worry they’ll hate it!
I love these colours but this palette as a whole is, for me, a bit of an overlap of 2 palettes I already have (Clarins Forest and Guerlain Les Fumes) with a gold shadow thrown in so as much as it is tempting, at this price point and with the less than terrific performance, it’s an easy pass. I do like it, though, and like the look you’ve made with it.
I’m so torn on these – I like them for their textures, but I wish they were just a bit better.
Hmmmm..everything looks pretty on you Christine so I need to take that out of the equation:) The colours themselves don’t scream unique/wow. I’ll pass:) Thanks for the review and share !
My pleasure, Dee!
Am I the only one who thinks this palette looks a bit cheap for YSL? I mean that the shape and placement of these different eyeshadows remind me of L’Oreal palettes. The result is also way too shear on the lid to justify the price.
It didn’t give me a particularly cheap vibe personally, though the palette is very lightweight plastic, so in that respect, it didn’t feel as luxurious as some palettes (like Guerlain, but most of the designer high-end like Chanel, Dior, etc. are light plastic as well).
Will you be testing out the entire couture palette collection or just a select few? I swatched a few in-store and the selection was just so overwhelming that I went home without one. I have to think about what I already have in my current stash so I’m not buying a dupe. I like variety.
Sorry, I only bought a few. At $60 each, I just don’t have that kind of budget to be buying all of them! Sorry again!
Hi
Will you be reviewing any more of these?
I’m not sure!
Ok, thanks!