YSL The Shock

Launching 1st of February is The Shock from YSL – an eye range that includes a Volume Mascara, a new (and gorgeous) palette, an Eye Gloss Smudger and a Couture Brow Marker. YSL as a brand loves the concept of being ‘shocking’ – there isn’t really anything new or ‘shocking’ about this collection but it IS very stylish and covetable – and I am totally a pushover for a coloured mascara. I guess in this instance they’re trying to convey that you get very, very big lashes with The Shock mascara!

So here are the three shades I have here (there might be more, nobody has said) in Asphalt Black, Underground Blue and Rough Burgundy (obviously my favourite!). There’s a clue in the name with Rough Burgundy, because the YSL spin on this formula is that it offers a ‘rough, sophisticated, dark intensity’. Translated, it’s a very creamy formula so if you love spider leg spikes that’s just not going to happen here. It does look a thick if I’m honest, but it says impressively soft so your lashes don’t look crispy. I think it’s more of an unfinished, careless chic attitude the brand is going for but tell that to someone staring at your messy lashes on the morning commute. I’m not sure it translates to real life. I’m wearing Rough Burgundy now – the product fanned out with my lashes and has definitely added length and volume, but at the same time, it looks like I’ve piled it on and really, it’s only one coat. If you love huge, exaggerated lashes I think you will be in seventh heaven with The Shock!

I am 100% a fan of the new palette – Couture Variation No.4 ‘Underground’. It’s the perfect rock chick smoky, with two creamy version at either end: a smudge black and a cream that will double as an eye primer.

There’s not a single colour I wouldn’t wear in one way or another and I’m not afraid of a black shadow so the far end is delicious. The other shades are black ‘balancers’ so each one is a good fit however you want to wear the black shades. There’s a lovely attention to detail on the shimmery dark grey shade with the YSL logo.

Right, so I mentioned an Eye Gloss – the Eye Gloss Smudger. I’d really have to suggest no for this. I’ve tried it – it’s not sticky but you very much know it’s there in a sort of oily wet kind of way and it’s to give a ‘messy on purpose’ look. Bottom line is that it just looks strange (it’s not bold like MAC Eye Glosses, it’s clear) and er, messy by accident. You are going to look at the beginning of your evening how some people look by the end; a bit dishevelled and – okay I’m going to say it – drunk. Unless you’re absolutely an embracer of the Corrine Roitfeld ‘tired all the time’ look, it’s really a no. However, it’s better and more exciting over the lighter shades – the black with eye gloss is really a danger zone.

I don’t know if the slant edge, fibre tip brow liner comes in other colours – it’s okay – good on the flat edge for broad strokes and on the fine edge for lighter strokes in a medium brown (swatched above with the mascaras), and there’s also a felt point eye liner in black which is a no for me but did lay down an impressively black mark on my arm. There’s no mention of it in my information pack so it might be new, or it might exist already.

Despite the fact I’m finding fault with things here and there, I really do like the YSL The Shock range – it’s kind of exciting and coming at us with a concept and a look that is both interesting and challenging, but adaptable if you’re prepared to experiment a bit. For every single new black mascara I see in a black tube with a black lid I’m grateful for anything doing things a little differently. The Mascara is £23 and the Palette £49, the Brow Liner is £21.