YSL’s cult Touche Éclat is, arguably, both the world’s most iconic and misunderstood beauty product.
If the ability to revolutionise an entire product genre is, as I’ve noted in previous Cult Product columns, a measure of a product’s cult status then Touche Éclat is as cult as it gets. Often imitated and never quite effectively duplicated, this 1992 launch from Yves Saint Laurent was the very first in a line of brightening correctors housed within a click-pen-and-brush dispensary. It’s not a coincidence that the closest product I’ve found, in both delivery and performance, is By Terry’s Touch Expert, given that By Terry founder Terry De Gunzburg physically created Touche Éclat after being recruited by Saint Laurent himself to build his eponymous beauty collection.
After years of mixing toner, moisturiser and foundation in equal parts to brighten the complexion on photoshoots, Gunzburg created the product (the first of its kind) to catch and diffuse the light in a way that wasn’t as obvious as the heavy, reflective particles that were en vouge at the time. Technically speaking, this was the beginning of highlighting products and “strobing” as we now know it. Initially only available in one “universal” shade dubbed ‘Radiant Touch,’ 2011 saw a shade expansion to include colours for women of every skin tone.
The root of misunderstanding, however, is its oft misrepresentation as a concealer. Touche Éclat is a brightening corrector, designed to brighten the under eye area and create the illusion of luminosity and well rest. The shades have been formulated to counteract the colours that appear beneath tired eyes, but it should not be used for the coverage of neither truly dark circles nor blemishes. Especially not blemishes- this is a brightener, a subtle highlight of sorts, so use as a spot concealer will only draw attention to the blemish. If you do have deep, perpetual, hereditary dark circles under the eyes, opt for a peach toned colour corrector then brush your Touche Éclat over the top for brightness (the texture is fluid and doesn’t offer a great deal of coverage, so it’s ideal for layering). Consider Touche Éclat your pocket retoucher, designed to lift and brighten the face as though you’ve been caught in your most flattering light.
I’ve had Touche Éclat in my personal collection for upwards of five years now and the art is in the application. Rather than brushing it in a line or semi circle over any darkness you want to cover, the trick is to draw on a small inverted triangle. This brightens the entire face and added depth and dimension, as opposed to simply covering the darkness- you’re directing the light up towards the eyes.
Still not convinced of its cult status? One tube of Touch Éclat is sold, somewhere in the world, every 10 seconds.
This article is not sponsored and all views are, as always, entirely my own.
