This summer, Yves Saint Laurent launched an exclusive new skincare line. Named “Or Rouge”, the collection comes in little golden jars containing potent elixirs designed to revitalize skin and protect it from a slew of signs of aging.
One of the things I love about what I do is that I get to experience things that I otherwise wouldn’t necessarily have. Like driving from Vancouver all the way to Tofino and back on one tank of gas. Or getting to hang out with some of our Canadian athletes’ families at the London 2012 Olympic Games. And then of course, there are all the products I get to try.
To be honest, there have been several product samples that have landed on my desk over the years, which I would have never been able to afford simply to try them out. And for those samples, I’m extremely grateful. Right now, the one sitting on my dresser is none other than Or Rouge Face Cream by Yves Saint Laurent.
The cream & formula
Firmer, more elastic skin with an even tone, and fewer wrinkles is just part of what this gem of a cream promises. Also on the menu: a glowing complexion, less sagging, reduced redness and smaller pores. What’s in the formula? Its star ingredient is saffron, which is obtained by harvesting crocus flowers by hand in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains. 150 flowers are needed to produce just 1 gram of saffron, which gives you an idea of just how precious the ingredient is.
Aside from a regal-looking jar of cream, inside the golden box is a tiny spatula, which I know from my days working in the cosmetics aisle at the pharmacy to be useful in order to avoid contaminating the cream with bacteria that might be on your fingers. Before even twisting the top of the jar open, you feel that you’re in for an ultra luxe experience.
Once it’s open, your nose is exposed to a subtle fragrance: chic, and feminine. You really only need a pea-sized amount to cover your entire face: it spreads like silk, enveloping and quickly disappearing into your skin. Entirely. It really gorges your skin with moisture, making it sublimely soft to the touch. I don’t think I’ve ever tried a cream with a texture quite like it. It feels rich, and I’d imagine that using it in winter would be an extra special treat… although I’m not sure my jar will last until then!
Yves Saint Laurent Or Rouge Face Cream, $425. Available exclusively at Holt Renfrew.