Lately, makeup companies seem to be harboring bipolar tendencies when it comes to their lipstick offerings, unveiling either ultra-bright shades of robust orange and electric pink or releasing sheer colors that yield a light, veil-like, glazed effect. MAC Cosmetics, for example, recently released its Sheen Supreme collection, a range of high gloss lipsticks with a sheer finish, while Clinique and Tarte have both scored major coups with their moisturizing lip crayons, which deposit just a smidgen of color. Now, Yves Saint Laurent is diving into the sheer spectrum with an array of moisturizing lipsticks that smell like juicy, fruity, sweet and tangy candy bits.
The Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Sheer Candy Collection ($30 each at Sephora.com) incorporates six saccharine shades, each bearing a scent to match its pigmentation: No. 1 Lush Coconut, for example, is a golden tawny shade; No. 2 Dewy Papaya delivers an orange-tinged pink with a tropical feel; No. 3 Juicy Grapefruit is a soft peachy pink with a hint of sparkle; No. 4 Succulent Pomegranate ventures into brighter territory, yielding a light coat of electric magenta pink; No. 5 Mouthwatering Berry infuses your pout with a pale, plum-like, Merlot wine color; and No. 6 Luscious Cherry is a sticky, lollipop-like red.
Unlike other sheer lipsticks, however, these are designed to moisturize your pout, so that they feel more like tinted lip balms than anything else. In fact, 35% of the ingredients in the YSL Volupte Sheer Candy formulas focus on lip care: antioxidant-rich pomegranate and rosemary extracts offer free radical protection, while hyaluronic acid spheres penetrate the top layers of the epidermis and absorb water to keep lips moisturized all day, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, and counteracting any visible aging signs. Unlike most lipsticks, which can have a drying effect on lips, then, the Volupte Sheer Candy lipsticks glide effortlessly onto lips and instantly provide a soothing effect. The moisturizing properties are similar to those of the famed Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment but the sheer tints they deliver are more sophisticated than those of the Sugar Rosé, Sugar Plum, or Sugar Honey Lip Treatments.
It's best to regard the YSL Volupte Sheer Candy lipsticks as upscale tinted lip balms since the color payoff here is beyond limited. That being said, on the sticky, humid, steamy summer days when you want to keep your makeup light and natural, these hit all the right notes.
And, of course, the fact that they smell like a Dylan's Candy Bar empire stocked with Jolly Ranchers, lollipops, chewy Starbursts, and tins of jelly beans, literally sweetens the deal.
Below, you'll find images of the six shades in the YSL Volupte Sheer Candy collection:
YSL Volupte Sheer Candy No. 1 — Lush Coconut
YSL Volupte Sheer Candy No. 2 — Dewy Papaya
YSL Volupte Sheer Candy No. 3 — Juicy Grapefruit
YSL Volupte Sheer Candy No. 4 — Succulent Pomegranate
YSL Volupte Sheer Candy No. 5 —Mouthwatering Berry
YSL Volupte Sheer Candy No. 6 — Luscious Cherry
I had the chance to try out the No. 3 shade, Juicy Grapefruit, so keep reading for swatches of this color and more details!
Check out what the shade looks like on skin:
The YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in No. 3 smells like Dots Pink Grapefruit Sour Slices, but do know that the lipstick doesn't taste like it smells, so do resist the urge to lick your lips (besides, running your tongue over your lips incessantly will only dry them out).
The No. 3 Juicy Grapefruit shade just amps up your natural lip color since it's so light and sheer, but it does make lips appear plumper and smoother. Check out what it looks like on my lips:
Here's a close-up of the YSL Volupte Sheer Candy No. 3 on my lips:
