Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and the products featured were provided for review.
Before trying the Armani Maestro Liquid Summer liquid to powder bronzers (reviewed here), I honestly thought that bronzers only came in powder form. In fact, not only can bronzers be liquid, they can also be creams- as is with the new YSL Les Sahariennes Sun-Kissed Blur Perfector Healthy Glow Balm-Powder ($60 CAD). Made of a lightweight balm-to-powder formulation, these new Healthy Glow Balm-Powders not only give the complexion a natural glow, they also provide a smooth, blurred effect. To see some swatches and read my thoughts on the formulation, click.......
Packaging:
The Healthy Glow Balm-Powders come in a sleek golden compact. The front is fitted with a piece of glossy, translucent plastic overlay. The effect it gives is very luxurious, but I noticed that the surface of the overlay is a bit tacky, not with skin, but with other shiny surfaces. So when the compact is stacked on top of each other or with other palettes, they will actually get stuck together. I guess that's why these came with dust bags, but the dust bags themselves cause a whole other problem.
Even before my first use, I noticed that the velvety dust bags shed a lot of little black hairs. A whole bunch of them actually got stuck onto the balm itself (click on the image enlarge), which was kind of a headache because I always try to keep my makeup in pristine condition whenever possible.
The balms come with a duo ended applicator. One side has a fabric-sponge applicator and the other has a brush applicator. I found the application to be best with just the fingertips, but I appreciate that they included an applicator.
Formulation:
The Healthy Glow Balm-Powders indeed have a very creamy balm formulation. It blends effortlessly on the skin and quickly transforms to a matte texture. There is a tiny bit of golden iridescence in the formulation but it does not appear shimmery at all. "3 Epice" is a light bronzey beige, perfect for paler skin tones. "6 Sienne" looks quite dark in the pan, but it also applies surprisingly soft. I like how the balm is virtually weightless, but the wear was just ok on me. I have fairly oily skin and by mid-day I noticed some fading.
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| YSL Les Sahariennes Healthy Glow Balm-Powder |
The Healthy Glow Balm-Powders come in a sleek golden compact. The front is fitted with a piece of glossy, translucent plastic overlay. The effect it gives is very luxurious, but I noticed that the surface of the overlay is a bit tacky, not with skin, but with other shiny surfaces. So when the compact is stacked on top of each other or with other palettes, they will actually get stuck together. I guess that's why these came with dust bags, but the dust bags themselves cause a whole other problem.
 |
| YSL Les Sahariennes Healthy Glow Balm-Powder |
The balms come with a duo ended applicator. One side has a fabric-sponge applicator and the other has a brush applicator. I found the application to be best with just the fingertips, but I appreciate that they included an applicator.
 |
| YSL Les Sahariennes Healthy Glow Balm-Powder Left: 3 Epice; Right: 6 Sienne |
The Healthy Glow Balm-Powders indeed have a very creamy balm formulation. It blends effortlessly on the skin and quickly transforms to a matte texture. There is a tiny bit of golden iridescence in the formulation but it does not appear shimmery at all. "3 Epice" is a light bronzey beige, perfect for paler skin tones. "6 Sienne" looks quite dark in the pan, but it also applies surprisingly soft. I like how the balm is virtually weightless, but the wear was just ok on me. I have fairly oily skin and by mid-day I noticed some fading.
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| YSL Les Sahariennes Healthy Glow Balm-Powder |
Overall:
This is a unique product! I like how easy it is to apply and blend the balmy texture. The shimmer-free matte finish is also a huge plus as it looks very natural. The product blurs pores and fine lines, I only wish it wore a bit longer on my oily skin.
Availability:
YSL is available online and in stores at Sephora, The Bay, and Holt Renfrew.
