Yves Saint Laurent Ombre Solo & Rouge Pur Couture lipstick

I happened to walked past the YSL counter and then stopped. There was a sign saying “gift with purchase”, one of the most deadly sentences ever. The gift was a pink celebration palette which was part of the 2011 spring collection. All I needed was to buy two items. Simple, I picked up a Ombre Solo Eyeshadow and a Rouge Pur Couture lipstick.
My original glee that I had this pretty pink highlighter in my possession was cut short after I applied it. Its chocked full of micro glitter and for me this makes it unwearable on any part of my face other than the eyes.The texture is quite smooth and not too powdery, the colour is a sheer whitened pink and it does work well as an under brow highlighter, albeit a very sparkly one.
Ingredients:

I’d previously bought a few of the older shadow singles and was disappointed with their performance, so was pleased to hear that they had been reformulated. I'd heard great reviews of how pigmented they now were, with a really smooth application and great blendability.
Now unless the shade I got, #2 Cashmere Brown (£20), is the exception, I am not seeing the majority of these improvements. The good things about the shadow is that it is pigmented and lasts extremely well and the cool toned brown/taupe with sliver micro glitter works well with my blue eyes.
Now onto the bad, due to the micro glitter I do not find it smooth, it feels powdery, a bit rough and drying. I find it difficult to blend and it applies a bit patchy, I also get glitter fall out. I am disappointed with this and do not think the quality represents the brands image or pricing.
Picture below: #2 Cashmere Brown on lid, pink celebration palette as highlighter.

So far and its not going to well, but luckily the Rouge Pur Couture lipstick stopped this from being a total disaster. This is only my second Rouge Pur Couture and I hadn’t planned to buy anymore, but Gift with purchases do make you forget all that you know. However on this occasion I am really glad I bought this.
Although they are not my favourite formula, as I do not find them moisturising enough, they have good pigment, feel smooth and last really well. The shade I bought is newly released and part of the summer collection, #25 Taupe Raphael (£22.50).
This could pretty much be my signature colour, its a satin finish natural pinky brown with a touch of mauve.
Swatches:

I bought the shadow and lipstick from John Lewis, the pink celebration palette was the gift with purchase, the promotion is still running although I am not sure of the end date.