Yves Saint Laurent is rolling out a new premium skin care line called Or Rouge , that features a key ingredient of the rare spice Saffron.
“Due to its color and hefty price tag, saffron is often called “red gold.” The rare spice is a key ingredient in Yves Saint Laurent’s new premium skin-care product, dubbed Or Rouge (“Red Gold” in French).
But it’s not just any saffron strain, explained Stephan Bezy, international general manager of Yves Saint Laurent Beauté at L’Oréal. It comes from high in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, a country with historic links to the founding couturier himself, since that’s where Saint Laurent gleaned inspiration. Saffron pistils from crocus flowers grown there contain a high concentration of a unique glycan known as crocin.
Glycans play a leading role in skin’s cell communication and metabolism, plus contribute to tissue structure and architecture. Their quantity diminishes as people age, causing skin to lose substance and the deterioration of its supporting architecture. The result is a premium line of skin care products that will work on fine lines, wrinkles, lack of firmness, dullness, and other signs of aging.
The YSL Or Rouge skin care line has a sleek, modern packaging created by Noé Duchaufour Lawrance. Or Rouge will have an exclusive introduction at Harrods in the U.K. starting in early February, followed by a mid-March prelaunch in the U.S. on yslbeautyus.com. The wider rollout will take place in April, although China is slated for September 2014.
In the U.S., Or Rouge’s pricing is to be $420 for the 50-ml. cream, $240 for the 15-ml. eye cream and $150 for the 200-ml. lotion.
