Fixing broken YSL quads & questioning the idea of "luxury" (+ repair tutorial)

[@courtlandtmartin6649]

I love the versatility of the final compacts!! You could use them for the original shadows or to take other singles to go. And I love that you can move the YSL quads in and out of a larger palette. Gorgeous and better than the original! I’d keep all of the YSL compacts-they are even more useful now! And enjoy every minute of mixing and matching and using these items *your way!*

[@TheStyleStumbler]

I feel like luxury brands could actually make a whole lot of sales if they just sold beautiful magnetized palettes. Because these are so much fun! I can't wait to experiment with these and my newly curated single eyeshadows... Thanks for taking a moment to say hello! It's lovely to hear from you.

[@KD-dc2fd]

I don’t like paying extra for a name when the quality doesn’t match. I pick and choose the luxury items I want to indulge. For example, I love the Gucci bronzer as much as I enjoy the L’Oréal voluminous mascara. For me it’s a combo of experience as well as functionality and efficaciousness. Love your tone of voice and I appreciate your makeup ramblings.

[@TheStyleStumbler]

You summed it up perfectly! Form, function AND added value have to come together to make luxury worth it. I too, will be sticking to my drugstore mascaras for that very reason. Thanks so much for tuning in and taking a moment to say hello! It was lovely to hear your response.

[@innak9797]

Agree! I also do thorough research before buying any expensive makeup (I think about the cost vs value very much along the lines of what Stephanie described). Of course, research does not guarantee the result, but it increases the chance of it. As for Indie brands: I only buy them if I can return them.

[@lisapetrison-beautyreviews]

Interesting video. What I have personally found is that with few exceptions, drugstore makeup is not an option for me because it ends up irritating my skin. I think that the main issue is that the product is designed to sit in the distribution channel for basically infinite amounts of time, meaning that it includes large amounts of potent preservatives that my skin does not tolerate. While not all higher-end makeup is tolerable by my skin, a much higher percentage is (especially if I stick to certain brands - not necessarily those labeled as "clean beauty"), and if it does irritate my skin, it is easier to get a refund from those companies than from drugstore companies. Being able to test brands in stores before purchasing is very important too, in terms of making better product and shade decisions. And now that drugstore makeup is so much more expensive than it used to be, I actually am finding it to be much more economical to basically just ignore all of it entirely. With regard to the YSL quads: those are my favorite powder shadows of all, due solely to how the formula performs and how they look on my eyes. I dislike the packaging not because of the defect, but because they are about twice the size that they need to be and because the imitation leather and the plastic all feels cheap and fake to me. I fixed mine by taking a piece of electricians tape and making it into a loop with the sticky part outside, and then putting it in the container and pressing the shadow part on top of it. I didn't intend that to be a permanent solution, but it actually has worked out fine. Your way is much more elegant especially with the ability to put it in a magnetic case though. Thanks for the thoughtful video!

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Those are some great points, Lisa. Being able to test the products in store has been a significant factor for me, too. The better return policy is also a boon for me when it comes to more expensive products. But the fact that drugstore items are made to sit on shelves for potentially a very long time is something I hadn't thought of. That would explain a LOT. And the fact that drugstore prices are skyrocketing makes those items even less appealing to me now. I agree with you! The YSL powders really do feel like some of the best on the market. Luckily this defect was easy to fix with normal household items. Had I not already had the magnetic adhesive sheet, I probably would have done something similar to you, or just used glue. As I was "fixing" these quads, I had the same thought - that the palette was too big for what's inside. Thanks for leaving such a thoughtful comment! It was lovely to hear from you.

[@Cicelyize]

Drug store eyeshadow also irritates my eyes almost without fail so I can’t use it. I almost never read anyone having the same issue. It took me diving into fanciness yo enjoy this make up product (and now I love it).

[@brittchristensen5284]

I don’t care for packaging (and I really don’t like the look of these YSL quads), I’d rather be able to make my own palette and rearrange it whenever I like. This is where Natasha Denona and ColourPop come in handy for the way I play with makeup. For me the allure of a luxury makeup is the hope for a better formula (which isn’t always the case).

[@brittchristensen5284]

And I feel the same way about applying makeup, it’s a little me time and not for anyone else.

[@TheStyleStumbler]

That is so true - the title of "luxury" doesn't necessarily guarantee better quality. And I enjoy Natasha Denona palettes for the same reason. The ability to customize them and build my own palettes is a huge plus.

[@imaginarycosmetics]

I enjoyed hearing your musings on luxury items, but I'm kind of the opposite when it comes to packaging😂 In most cases I would love to be able to buy products just in a pan without any compact, there are definitely a few brands that offer refill pans but I usually can't swatch those in-store or they're quite pricey (or both!). I know a lot of luxury brands are starting to offer refillable packaging (but it takes a while for them to actually release the refills if they ever do). Usually, the refills still contain a lot of plastic and only fit into the compact for that specific product, which is off-putting to me. I would prefer to mix and match products from different brands (or even different products from the same brand) without depotting/repanning them. In fact, I'm willing to "spend more" on customizability. I know a lot of people who own eyeshadow palettes consider single eyeshadows to be too expensive, but I'd rather spend more money per shade and build a small versatile collection of shades that suit my tastes. Palettes may have a better price per shade but I would end up with so many shades that I either wouldn't use or that are too similar for my taste. There are some brands with packaging that entices me, the overall aesthetic of luxury items doesn't appeal to me, tho'. I'm more drawn to witchy or nature-inspired packaging like Rituel de Fille or some products in Tarte's Rainforest Of The Sea line. I also prefer handling sleek light-weight (preferably cardboard) packaging over something chunky & heavy. I don't care about custom components either, especially if they don't reflect the color of the product on the inside. I can appreciate the beautiful design of some intricately designed compacts, but for the same money, I could probably find a purely decorative item in nicer materials. I don't need my makeup to double as decor. I would base the amount of compacts you keep on the magnetic palettes you own. If you own any magnetic palettes that perfectly fit 2-3 of these quads, I think one compact would be enough. Otherwise, keeping 2-3 compacts could be a good option.

[@TheStyleStumbler]

You know what they say… it takes all kinds to make the world go 'round. It's funny how much taste can differ! 😂 Although I also feel drawn towards Rituel de Fille's branding, so we're not from completely different worlds. You're right - there are far too few brands offering refill pans. And those that have refillable packaging don't reliably offer the refills. Wouldn't it be heavenly if the entire beauty industry could agree on standard sizing, limiting plastics and making refillable packaging? Then we could simply focus on the dirt and only pick up the compacts when needed. I also think you're onto something when you say that many people buy palettes because the price per shadow is usually lower. But I think some people really also enjoy having a pre-curated set of shadows. I know I often do (especially when I'm in a rush). But to be honest, what you're doing is also really appealing: building a small, versatile collection of shades that perfectly suit your taste. I'm working on curating down towards that point. Perhaps I'll even achieve it some day. 😉 Your point about makeup not doubling as decor really made me think. Part of me was wholeheartedly with you and I thought "now that I think about it, using makeup as decor feels a little absurd." Then I took a look around me and realized that my whole place is decorated mainly with things I use. Living in a tiny city apartment has taught me to maximize the utility of everything. So instead of a painting on the wall, I hang guitars. Instead of vases or candles, I display my tiny but treasured fragrance collection. I've even been known to hang dresses on the wall as "art". So maybe makeup as decor isn't as absurd as I thought. If I ever move to the countryside and have more space, perhaps I'll think differently. But although I see your point (I could probably find GORGEOUS hand-made art from any of the talented artists I follow on IG) for now, decor for the sake of decor isn't realistic. Thanks for making me aware of that! It was lovely to hear from you, Pia! Thanks for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful response. Hearing your perspective really made me think.

[@LisaF_]

I love this video! The way I’ve used makeup has changed as I’ve gone through different phases of life. At one point it was non existent, at one point very utilitarian, but now I see it very much as “me” time I really enjoy. I’m fine with my non made up face. In fact, I’d rather not wear makeup at all on a specific day than rush through the process. I just enjoy everything about the ritual of applying makeup. (And I feel good with a little sparkle on my eyes-probably because I never could wear makeup like that when I was still practicing medicine. It wasn’t “appropriate “. It feels good now to do whatever I want just for me) Why do I feel like I’m having a therapy session right now? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 But this doesn’t apply to all material things by a long shot. If I can reliably get from point A to Point B safely and have music to listen to and air conditioning, I honestly don’t care about anything else car wise. My 14 year old minivan still serves my needs just fine. I plan to drive it until it collapses. And when that day comes and I’m stuck on the side of the road somewhere, I’ll be wearing my Prada foundation, Hermes bronzer, YSL eyeshadow, and Gucci lipstick as I lament I have to spend money on a car again.😂😂

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Hahahaha!😂😂 I am the SAME! I drove my itsy bitsy teeny weeny rusty French baguette of a car until it turned 25 and literally started leaving a trail of parts behind it. And the day my mechanic let me know there was no hope, I was wearing these YSL eyeshadows, Gucci lipstick, and Tom Ford bronzer. 😂 Makeup does feel a little bit like therapy… doesn't it? It's fun to just apply it for the fun of it without having to worry about what's "appropriate"! I definitely feel like I use that time as "self-care". It's always lovely to hear from you, Lisa! We can do our online makeup therapy together! 😂

[@blendofdays]

I would use the YSL packaging to see what kinds of color stories I could create with my singles. My brain immediately wondered how many clionadh singles would fit in those! 👀

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Hehehehehe! THAT is exactly what I'm going to do right now! *scurries over to my Clionadh shadows* Thanks for the inspiration!

[@sugaCat363]

Seeing all the quads together in one palette is so satisfying! I would hold onto 2 or 3 of the og packaging, so you can use them for travel or make a little palette with your other singles. Love listening to your musings on luxury. I love the idea of fewer nicer things, but how much of our idea of "nicer" is actually just slick marketing? I still fall for it all the time though. One thing I've thought about with luxury makeup is that drugstore prices are starting to creep up and overall I'm trying to buy less. So if the gap between drugstore, high end, and luxury is narrowing, I might as well spend a little more on the item that feels fancier and is ostensibly better formulated.

[@TheStyleStumbler]

It felt really satisfying to have them all in one place, too! Another commenter suggested using them as mini magnetic travel palettes for some of my single shadows, and I can't wait to try that, too. You're right! With the drugstore prices creeping up, as they are, it becomes less of a "jump" to higher end options. I agree with you that our idea of "nicer" things is probably often planted in our minds by slick marketing. (And it works so well on me, too!) But I'm also aware that most makeup companies are owned by the same parent company (for example, L'Oreal owns Lancome and Armani Beauty). And when that's the case, I have a feeling that a lot of the research done in the higher-end companies eventually trickles down into the drugstore products of their related brands. Although I have yet to try a foundation from the drugstore that has the wear time of my favorite higher end options.

[@zachbecvar]

Alas I have a lack of leather elbow patches and a pipe when they are most called for... Luxury is an interesting thing to think about. The word itself conjures up certain images and feelings that lean into ideas higher standards and quality above and beyond utilitarian functionality. But I wonder now what came first, the definition or the expectation? And to invoke the bard, what's in a name? You make a good point that with most consumer products, the luxury brands have a logo, a design, or something about them that is easily visible and can be used as a flex. But how does that work with makeup unless you're going to style the product into the shape of the brand's logo or word mark on your face? I have to admit, the idea of a flex is not something that's ever wowed me as an observer or been something I've tried to do consciously. Even before it was called a flex, I just always thought of it as needless, and sometimes assholish, showing off. Why should I care what label someone else has on their shoes or their coat or a bag? Also the fickle nature of what gets elevated to luxury status. But I also understand that in certain arenas of society those things can be seen markers signaling worthiness to gain admittance to an in-group. The cost of a thing, especially when the word luxury is applied, has so much built into it. Not only the cost of research, development, manufacture and marketing, but the psychology that goes into it as well. I grew up in a household with a bohemian mindset where cost always had to come first and getting the most effective deal was paramount, and whatever was purchased had to last to squeeze every last cent of experience and use out of. Some of this was necessity, some was just family tradition from previous generations. It's taken me along time to realize why and when it's important to spend the money to get the quality I want. Sometimes that limits my options, but I'm okay with that because then I don't have to be frozen by indecision for being spoiled for choice. I'd also rather be limited to a range of what I actually want than by a dollar amount hat forces me to decided what's closest to "good enough." The how often I spend money also has changed over time, I think for my benefit as I try to create my own rationale for what I consider smart shopping. All that being said, I don't think I've ever stepped over the threshold into the realm of luxury. When I know I've come into contact with it, there's always been something that's been a turn off. Usually it's the people who use luxury whatever and try to flex all the time in place of having an actual personality that might make them tolerable humans. A lot of what makes "luxury" is perception built on group psychology, marketing, and generally playing to people's desires built over the centuries since the dawn of the consumer economy selling more than just necessities that says you should want stuff in your life and that made "keeping up with the Joneses" a turn of phrase. The forever chase to have more and better then the next guy. Luxury should be defined by how we appreciate the things we buy and use and the satisfaction we get from them. As to your tutorial, I have to laugh because I have bought that exact same sheet magnet material myself so that I can turn some of the stickers I've collected over the years in to magnets that make them easier to display. The trick I've learned regarding any sort of contact paper temporarily covering adhesive is there's always the magic corner. You just have to find which one it is. I would suggest keeping the YSL quads together in the larger palette for general storage ( it seems to make sense with maximizing space as part of your container strategy) and keeping 2 or 3 of the YSL compacts for travel purposes.

[@TheStyleStumbler]

You may have lacked physical access to the leather elbow patches and pipe, but the attitude certainly came through! 😂 That's an excellent question. I believe the expectation of higher quality standards and quality came later based on the etymology of the word (it looks like middle English was inspired by the French word "luxurie", denoting lechery), and it originally referred to excess. But language changes over time, and the meaning of the word now has different yet related associations. I have a feeling that all humans "flex" to some degree, because we're all trying to signal in some way. I see it as a form of communication that attempts to signal that we deserve to belong to a certain desired peer group. Some people do it with things, some with words, some with actions. And that "flex" will look different, depending on what kind of peer group we want to be associated with. I think it may also often be associated with insecurity. If I'm worried that I don't look successful, then maybe I'll try to prove it by owning things that only rich & successful people can afford to own. If I'm worried that I seem unintelligent, I might surround myself with a library of intellectual books or use big words. The act of owning or doing these things doesn't automatically mean we're trying to signal something or that we're insecure - but if we're afraid we might be rejected by our desired peer group and start using those things/actions to prove otherwise, I think maybe that's when it becomes a flex? For the majority of my adult life I've also been pretty bohemian. All of my clothing was thrifted or hand-me-down, most of my makeup as well. Now that I'm no longer a starving artist, I've been trying to find a more balanced approach to things. Discovering luxurious-feeling items in my price range has been a fun activity - but the thrifty side of me still will only purchase those things if 1) the potential for true added value is there and 2) I can find it on a significant discount. 😉 The flip side of that has been learning to let things go. Hanging onto every little thing used to be a helpful survival tactic. But now it's a habit I need to learn to let go of. I like your definition of luxury - appreciating the things we buy and the satisfaction we get from them. That magic corner is truly elusive. I think that was the most difficult part of the whole process! 😂 As always, it was lovely to hear from you, Zach! Thanks for taking the time for such a thoughtful response!

[@zachbecvar]

@TheStyleStumbler thanks for sharing the etymology of luxury. I wasn't able to pause my train of thought when writing my initial response to look it up. Its origins do make sense with the current definition. I like what you said about flexes. It does make sense in a way to understand it as a vestigal process held over from the long span of human and societal evolution and development. It also makes me wonder what it then means for the people who do it all the time. But then thoughts of trends and how people follow those come in and muddy the waters a bit. There definitely are benefits to having a bohemian mindset and trying to get good value for money and longevity out of things. But the part of that mindset that says hang on to every little thing for a someday or somewhen when it might come in handy is not something that needs to be followed so strictly because at some point it becomes mindless accumulation and there's no way to appreciate anything.

[@avital0]

I agree with you. Keep it all together, but keep aside 1-2 of YSL's stunning packaging. It also depends on how many travel palettes you have and how soft and fragile the formula is. Helpful talk, I'm a minimalist (just not in makeup) and I'll take your great advice.

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Yes, I'll definitely have to keep some of that original packaging for sure. But storing them all together is so convenient! Another commenter brought up a good point: that I will probably use the shadows differently when they're all together as opposed to in their individual quads. So I'll have to think about how permanent the solution will be. It was nice to hear from you! Thanks for taking a moment to say hello.

[@avital0]

Sure, that's the point. You can mix eyeshadows to your heart's content without opening another palette to complete a color. As a fair person who does not use dark colors, it is difficult for me to use one small palette and I prefer to mix them. Thank you

[@innak9797]

Thank you for another enjoyable video! I usually do thorough research before buying any expensive makeup (I think about the cost vs value very much along the lines of what you described). Of course, research does not guarantee the result, but it increases the chance of it. As for indie brands: I only buy them if I can return them.

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Thanks for taking a moment to say hello! That is very true… research never guarantees results. But it at least it increases the chances of a successful purchase. That's a good point with indie brands. I am someone who likes to swatch things in person, and that's just not possible with most indie products.

[@teacherlovesbeauty]

I loved hearing all of your thoughts!❤

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Thanks for listening to me babble, Kim! ❤

[@HelloSun567]

As a Bridal Makeup Artist, I checked out the YSL eyeshadows at Sephora. The matte and satin eyeshadows look absolutely promising - I'd rate them 10 out of 10! However, I wasn't a big fan of the glitter topper eyeshadows, so I wouldn't use them on anyone. The topper was disappointing. I don't think I'd buy the palette just for the three matte eyeshadows. I'm crossing my fingers that YSL releases an all-matte eyeshadow palette because I would definitely buy that! I tried finding comparable matte eyeshadows at my Sephora to the YSL mattes, and the only thing I could find similar was the Patrick Ta palette. If the YSL palettes go on sale, I'll definitely consider buying them, just for those mattes.

[@TheStyleStumbler]

I can see why you wouldn't be a big fan of the glitter toppers. If I were doing bridal makeup, I wouldn't want to use them either. The matte shadows are my favorite parts of those quads by far - I also wish they would release some all-matte versions! Let's cross our fingers that our wish comes true at some point. Thanks so much for taking a moment to share your thoughts, Megan! It was lovely to hear from you.

[@meganweber3125]

I went straight into singing "So This is Love" from Cinderella when I saw the thumbnail for this video. :) Happy Monday!

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Now I have that song in my head - how lovely! Happy Monday, Megan! It's lovely to hear from you.

[@Cicelyize]

Nice palette! I thought of doing the same with mine, and I have done this with my Suqqu eyeshadow quads that already have magnetic detachable shadows with a pin sized opening in the back. I love my custom palettes but sometimes I want to rearrange them back into their original quads as I like the portability and original arrangements. The advantage of the big palette for me is realising which shadows you love the most and stopping me from buying repeat colour stores. The downside is, I always go for the same, which didnt happen when they existed in their individual little quads. By the way, have you tried Suqqu? Knowing your textural pickiness it think you may love them. The shadows are silky and cloud like, cousin formulas of the YSL. Quad 03 from the permanent Suqqu collection is the only shadow I’ve ever hit pan on.

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Suqqu is smart to have magnetic detachable eyeshadows. I feel like that should be standard, especially for luxury makeup. I haven't tried Suqqu yet, but they are on my wishlist because I've heard such wonderful things about them. I **almost** purchased their limited edition spring 2024 quad but managed to resist that temptation. But I'm hoping to pick up a quad in the near future. You're so right! The moment I put them all together in one palette, I tend to use them differently. It's a fun way to really hone in on my preferences. But I think it would be good to separate them again at some point so that I get use out of all the shadows in their original formation. It's lovely to hear from you, Cicely! Thank you for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful response.

[@JourneyInBeauty]

What an interesting video and topic! I really enjoyed your crafty solution to a luxury problem! 😉 Thanks for sharing Stephanie! 🫶🏻

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Thanks for watching, Kyra! This certainly is a "luxurious" problem to have. ;-)

[@nancyforryan2152]

Thanks for a very helpful video!

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Thanks for watching and taking a moment to say hello!

[@MsAlyssaJM]

I'm too cheap to play name the price, haha!

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Haha! 😂 I can see how it's not for everyone. But for me, it stops me from buying most things. But when I wayyy over shoot the price (being willing to pay a lot more than what's on the price tag) it's a good feeling. Like I got a secret deal on something that truly adds value to my life. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it feels like I won the lottery. 😂

[@tostoday]

Well I strained my quad the other day but repaired it with some red wine.😊

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Sounds like the repairs were fun!

[@blendofdays]

I absolutely love this! The fact that you turned them into magnetic packaging!? 🤌

[@TheStyleStumbler]

Thank you! I figured, if I had to repair them, I might as well give them an easy upgrade.

[@caliinthevalley24681]

I pay for luxury for packaging, quality and experience. I don’t care if others know I’m wearing expensive makeup. With the exception of Sephora Collection, Kiko Milani drugstore make up is not made in Germany, Italy, and France. I buy drug store, and luxury for different reasons. Putting my makeup on is my creative therapy.

[@TheStyleStumbler]

That's the perfect way to put it "creative therapy". Kiko makes some beautiful things!

[@exomake_mehorololo]

Actually eye pencils and eye brow pencils are very frequently made in Germany even w drugstore brands