Once in a while, there comes along a beauty product that shakes up the industry and completely changes the game when it comes to product formulation. One such shining beacon first launched way back in 1992 and came in the form of a now iconic golden pen. Inside, it held a first-of-its-kind formula—a skin illuminator and highlighter that was used to add light and radiance to skin at a time when matte complexions were all the rage.
Of course, the product that I’m talking about is the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Illuminating Pen (£27). A hybrid between a highlighter and concealer, this click-pen product boasts a multitude of uses. Apply it beneath eyes to brighten dark circles, on tops of cheekbones for a subtle highlight, around the nose to diffuse redness or wherever you want skin to generally look a little more radiant.
And you don’t have to take my word for it. With legions of devotees, a loyal celeb following and an incredible six pens sold every minute around the world, its popularity looks set to stick around for another 29 years at least.
“I use it where it is needed and when it is needed,” explained Tom Pecheux, Global Beauty Director for YSL Beauté. “It is not designed to answer every makeup need, but for when the skin is a little sad and grey or you need a good highlighter with a little camouflage, it is perfect. It is a very gentle way to highlight.”
It turns out, the A-list very much agree with Pecheux, with pretty much every celeb wholeheartedly declaring their allegiance to Touche Éclat at one point or another.
Ahead, keep scrolling for eight celebs that swear by this cult product and to shop the iconic Touche Eclat for yourself.
When asked about everyday beauty products in an interview with Elle,the cult highlighting concealer was top of Kravitz’s beauty list.”Touche Éclat to even my skin out,” Kravitz said. “I don’t really wear foundation on a daily basis because I wear so much for work, but it’s a great way to even the skin out, and brighten under the eyes.” In fact, Kravitz took to Instagram just last month to declare her love for the product again. Writing “bro. This Touche Eclat though.”
Rosie’s skin always looks amazing. In an interview with W,she revealed that primer is the one makeup product that she never leaves the house with. After that? “Then I’ll go in with a concealer,” Huntington-Whiteley explained. “One of my favorite concealers is the … YSL Touche Éclat, and I’ll go in and get in any of those areas where there’s blemishes or impurities or under the eye.”
I always have one eye on VB’s Instagram where she often shares insights into her favourite beauty products. However, it was in an interview with Elle that Beckham revealed her love of this iconic makeup product. “I also love Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat,” she declared when discussing the makeup that she swears by.
Before Meghan became the Duchess of Sussex, she shared a whole lot of her beauty secrets with Birchbox. “To open up your eyes, apply a highlighter like Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Éclat in the inner corner,” Markle said. “This trick is especially good when we are filming at 3 a.m. and I need to look bright eyed and bushy tailed.”
It was even revealed by Allure that the legendary Naomi Campbell swears by Touche Éclat—proof that it imparts skin with a supermodel glow if ever I’ve heard it.
She might be famous for her eyeliner, but Alexa has another secret weapon in her makeup bag for getting bright eyes—and there are no prizes for guessing what it is. “It gets rid of last night’s bags immediately,” Chung told Elle of the cult pen.
“I do use the Touche Éclat pens around my nose because I’m a big believer in concealer around your nose,” said actress Busy Philipps in an interview with Into the Gloss. “I don’t know, it just brightens and makes you look good.”
Another model seal of approval comes via Cindy Bruna. “Yves Saint Laurent Le Touche Éclat is really good, though it’s not about the concealer,” Bruna told Vogue. “It’s more about the light. I like the texture, how it looks, and it brings out the light on your face.”
Gone are the days of one shade suits all—the cult Touche Éclat is now available in 14 shades to brighten and highlight all skin tones.
Not only does this luminous formula do a great job of brightening dark circles but if also reduces the appearance of puffiness—great for bleary-eyed mornings.
While this definitely delivers more coverage than the Touche Éclat, it has the same skin-brightening properties that provide a dewy skin finish.
An anti-fatigue and illuminating formula that does a great job of diffusing dark circles and fine lines and boosting radiance.
Apply this liquid concealer beneath brow bones, to the inner corners of your eyes and down your nose to impart a subtle glow to your complexion.
This piece was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
