I Bought Meghan Markle’s Favorite Beauty Product, and Honestly, It’s Not That Amazing

Let me get right to the point with a confession: I tried Meghan Markle’s ride-or-die beauty product, YSL Touche Éclat, and I don’t really get the hype. I know, I know. Cue the cringing faces. But hear me out before you slide into my DMs. 

I should probably preface this by saying that I tend to keep my beauty routine fairly minimal and anything extra just feels like a chore (unless I’m in a mood). But after years of seeing this product work wonders brightening the complexions and under-eyes of some of Hollywood’s elite (it’s kind of the OG highlighter), I added it to my daily routine. If it’s credited with the Markle Sparkle, I certainly could tack one more step onto my morning. Right?

Not to mention, tons of other people swear by it, too. So I pretty much ran to the store and grabbed YSL Touche Éclat in shade 2 Luminous Ivory. Would this knock Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-MD off the top spot and become my new desert island beauty product? Only time would tell. But what it ended up telling me was that I might have just spent an unnecessary $35.

Sure, it brightened my under-eyes a *touch,* and it sort of made my complexion a little glowier. But at the end of the day, I felt like it was almost just a watered-down version of concealer. Now, if the very reason you love the product is for its sheer brightening power without a ton of shimmer, I completely understand. But a true highlighter or concealer it is not. And if I have dark circles, you better believe I’m going after them with the most opaque concealer I can find.

While I may not have been super obsessed upon my first few uses, I’m willing to keep using it and give it the shot it deserves. (I’ll report back if I feel differently in a few months.) But if you feel the same way—even if you’re not willing to admit it yet—humor yourself with these highlighters and concealers that are basically Touche Éclat x 100.

Get the look: Maybelline highlighting concealer ($6); Tarte Shape Tape concealer ($27); MAC highlighter ($27); Face Stockholm concealer wand ($32); RMS Beauty concealer ($36); Burberry Beauty concealer ($37); Charlotte Tilbury highlighter ($38); Dior radiance-boosting pen ($40); By Terry highlighting concealer brush ($60)