My Makeup Journal: The Devil Wears Prada 2

I Didn’t Wear Any Valentino, for Crying Out Loud!

The Devil Wears Prada 2 Trailer

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure whether a movie review of TDWP2 would resonate with my readers. And the more I sat with it, the more I realized that what stayed with me was not just the film itself, but everything that came before watching it. And that is, the process of getting ready. The makeup and clothes I reached for. The colors that felt right in the moment. Even the fragrance I chose to wear. I must admit to all of you, I’m emotionally invested in The Devil Wears Prada, as silly as that may sound. I won’t bore you with the details behind my emotional attachment to the original cinematic piece, but know that it is quite rare for me to connect with fictional characters in the way I do with Andrea Sachs, and even Miranda, the devil herself.

So instead, I found myself wanting to share the beauty choices I wore to the first showing I attended, something far more personal, and far more introspective of how I experience beauty. Perfect for My Makeup Journal series, right? #NotYSLSponsored

Now, I have to drop a bombshell on all of you. If you follow me over on Instagram, you will know about a certain beauty brand that I have a major dislike for. Not really for the brand itself, but specifically, their eyeshadow formula. In recent months though, I have been completely taken by one of the most infamously frustrating eyeshadow formulas I have ever worked with: YSL Beauty. I have been entirely consumed by their limited-release Couture Eyeshadow Palette, Nude Hours. My fellow beauty fiends, please understand, the moment I saw that neutral color story, I was smitten. It was over for me before it was even released. Love at first sight.

And truly, I understand why this palette is so highly coveted. Nine shades moving through mattes, satins, metallics, and shimmers. So many soft cool and warm toned nudes that blur into the eyelids, rich browns that add depth without heaviness, and a smoldering black that anchors the entire palette. Visually, the plain color story is understated, yet it gives us a seriously high impact on the lids. In many ways, it felt almost perfect for me. Almost.

For the first time, nearly every shade in a YSL palette works beautifully on my skin. And yet, there was still that stubborn shade that refused to cooperate. Ironically, it was my favorite shade of the entire palette, the third to the right on the top row. I inadvertently discarded the palette’s box, so I am unable to reference the individual shade names. My apologies, as I won’t be able to provide shade names moving forward.

Regarding the shade description, there is something about its tone that feels deeply familiar. A slight reddish-brown that immediately brings to mind the Maui Red Sand Beach at Kaihalulu Bay, that same wet, slightly terracotta warmth, with mineral-rich intensity. It carries a sun-kissed, earth-toned richness that can feel like summer, but will also carry you into pumpkin spice season, autumn. I suppose the entire palette feels this way. It’s gorgeous, and I always appreciate a palette that can work year-round.

Despite how visually compelling this shade is, this is where the formula begins to fall short. It gives me that same typical patchiness that I experience with most YSL Beauty eyeshadows. The texture feels good to the touch, but how it looks on me, not so much. It takes a lot of effort to work with this specific shade. Regardless, I can’t help but feel bewitched by it, and the rest of the eyeshadows are practically foolproof. They’re long-lasting and elegant.

The main eyeshadow brushes I’ve been using with this palette are Bisyodo’s B-ES-11, Wayne Goss’ #4, Sonia G’s T8, and Koyudo’s frosty, sparkly pink handled Eyeshadow Brush from the Christmas Story 2024 limited edition set. One key insight I’ve gained from using the YSL Beauty eyeshadows is that the choice of brush significantly impacts the result. You can shop some of them HERE. #Affiliate

Did I mention the mascara I’m fully prepared to call my favorite of the year? The one I absolutely refuse to part with. This mascara is so good, it replaced my Kulfi Badi Lash Tubing Mascara. I say this next part with my nose up in the air: why latex became the chosen reference point rather than PVC is something I still cannot quite understand. The way this mascara grips, hugs, adheres, and adds a slightly sleek shine to each lash is phenomenal. It’s like bondage for your eyes. PVC is known for being durable, water-resistant, and structurally resilient as a thermoplastic polymer. Latex, on the other hand, behaves more like a natural (when taken from Hevea brasiliensis) or synthetic rubber. It tends to be more vulnerable to tearing and puncture damage. So in my opinion, this mascara performs far more like PVC than latex, but perhaps I’m reading too deeply into the name. Shrug.

YSL’s Lash Latex Mascara is marketed with promises of length, longevity, sweat resistance, and smudge-proof wear, and for once, the marketing department was not being theatrical. From the moment it grips the lashes, there is an immediate sense of structure and lift that holds throughout the day without smearing or losing intensity. Even after hours of wear, the mascara maintains that deep, PVC-like grip that gives the lashes a dramatic, high-impact finish without feeling heavy or brittle. It doesn’t flake on me, nor does it run. This mascara is incredibly buildable, to the point that I can create a voluminous falsies-like effect with it! Best of all, it stays put!

On the lips, I reached for Guerlain. I have heard the ongoing conversation around their velvet lipsticks, often described as overly matte or appearing too flat. While I understand where those critiques come from, I do not entirely agree. I have been wearing shade 360, Le Beige Nu, a delicate nude that reads exactly as described. It sits perfectly in a neutral-nude range that complements my complexion, making it an easy choice for a wide range of looks.

It’s true, Guerlain’s Velvets lean distinctly matte, but they are also impressively long-wearing. On my lips, they do not settle into fine lines or feather, which makes the finish look far more put together than just dull or flat. If I were to give any of you some advice, it would be to lightly use a lip mask prior to applying this lipstick. I use Gisou’s Honey Glaze Therapy. The velvet formula isn’t drying, so that isn’t a concern, but the added hydration enhances its glide across the lips. I personally love the formulation of this lipstick. I have shade 360 nestled within the limited-edition Red Rose case from the Blooming Denim collection, a collection I am still very much enjoying, might I add.

Have any of you used the new YSL Lovenude Kiss Shaper Sculpting Lip Liner? I outlined my lips in shade 102, Tan Line. This liner is the perfect match for the Le Beige Nu lipstick and it’s exceptional! It’s damn near waterproof. This liner can make the weakest lipstick last for hours. Another YSL win.

This lip liner paired with Guerlain’s Velvet lipsticks creates one of the best long-lasting combinations I’ve worn in quite some time.

Some other products I used were the YSL Golden Oasis Face Palette (shades Berry Bang and Hypnotic Honey), Guerlain’s Blooming Glow Météorites, Isamaya’s 5 Point Lift Illuminator, Westman Atelier’s Sun Tone Bronzer, Dior’s Diorshow On Set Brow, Esum’s Signature Brow Defining Pencil, Prada Reveal Foundation and Micro-Correcting Concealer, YSL’s All Hours Hyper Blur Loose Powder, and Guerlain’s Absolus Allegoria fragrance in Tabac Sahara.

It is safe to say the day unfolded as a study in beauty and fashion, considering I spent the hours following the film browsing and shopping makeup counters and beautifully constructed handbags.

Out of curiosity, did any of you watch the movie? What did you think about it? Was a sequel really necessary? Let me know in the comments! Also, which products are your personal favorites?

𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥:

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