YSL Fusion Ink Foundation

At long last I have sat down, ready to share my thoughts on the current must have foundation that is 
YSL Fusion Ink Foundation. After a full month of trial I do feel that I am now equipped to share my views - heck I've worn it in the blazing sun (slight exaggeration), on oily skin, on drier skin days, in the rain and all that is in-between. 

YSL Fusion Ink Foundation
YSL Fusion Ink Foundation
YSL Fusion Ink Foundation

Have you seen the rather cute YSL Kiss and Blush Lip and Cheek Tints? Well the new YSL Fusion Ink Foundation bottle is rather similar only it is of course larger. Now don't let looks fool you this is not a plastic bottle (I thought as much too) but rather it is a frosted glass container. Less than ideal for travel and wouldn't recommend dropping it but pretty none the less. Once you lift the golden lid off you are greeted with a small, almost nail polish like cap that once twisted off features an almost heart shaped wand/spatula. The idea is that you use this tool to either gently swipe the foundation onto your face before blending our or on the back of your hand ready for use. I'll level and say that I wasn't all that convinced by the spatula tool of sorts but when a foundation doesn't come with a pump you'll happily take all the help you can get! This nifty little gadget allows you not only to minimise waste (have you ever poured half a bottle of foundation out by accident? Yeah me too!) but means you can also scrape product off of the sides and bottom of the bottle too. Very clever!

YSL Fusion Ink Foundation

To the best of my knowledge there is 16 shades of Yves Saint Laurent Fusion Ink Foundation to choose from, as well as existing shades that correlate to the other YSL foundation ranges which takes the hassle out of shopping to an extent. The good news is there is also new shades to choose from, admittedly the colour selection is still going to be a little to be a light for some complexions. I was colour matched to the shade B50 which is a good match for NC25-30 skin tones, it is fairly neutral and leans neither too pink or yellow based. 
  
YSL Fusion Ink Foundation

"Yves Saint Laurent Fusion Ink Foundation is a ground-breaking response to a modern beauty demand; the call for trustworthy, perfect coverage and long-wear, but without compromising with a heavy or cakey texture. Yves Saint Laurent has transformed the cosmetic landscape with a cutting-edge (it features NASA technology), high-efficacy formula, which combines patented advances in texture, colour and active ingredients. Yves Saint Laurent Fusion Ink Foundation contains a combination of sensory and volatile oils which, upon contact with the skin, evaporate away - leaving only a veil of perfect pigment behind."

YSL Fusion Ink Foundation
YSL Fusion Ink Foundation
YSL Fusion Ink Foundation

I won't pretend for one moment that I have read into or paid all that much attention to the new technology that has went into developing the YSL Fusion Ink Foundation. I'd much rather focus my attention on what it does and doesn't do for my skin. First things first (I'm a realist...no?) this is not your typical full coverage foundation, the texture is so, so lightweight that even those who slot into the anti-foundation camp may enjoy this. It glides on to the skin feeling slightly oily and dare I say it watery yet quickly settles to an almost matte powder finish. It really is something else and can only really be compared to Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Make-Up in that sense but even then I would say the YSL version is more lightweight. Forget sponges you either want to apply using your fingertips (I find that natural body heat really helps this adhere to the skin) or a flat top brush for a flawless finish. So yes back to the coverage, one layer will give a natural finish - it will be enough to coverage redness and general discolouration but for full coverage you will need a second application. The good news is that this foundation builds easily, doesn't cake or appear heavy on the skin. Now for the bad news if you have dry skin this may not be for you, I have a few areas of rough skin around my nose and mouth thanks to the flu and this foundation settles and clings to said patches. On the plus side the staying power is nothing short of wonderful - my typically oily skin can achieve 8 hours of shine free wear without a primer. Not too shabby huh? 

In a nutshell? A great natural looking, long wearing semi matte foundation that is a dream come true for oily, combination and normal complexions. 

YSL Fusion Ink Foundation £30.50 via Debenhams - link.

This post contains a press sample.