Let's be real. Most "long-wear" concealers are just a polite way of saying "this will look like cracked desert earth by noon." We’ve all been there, standing in the harsh lighting of a bathroom at work, wondering when exactly our under-eyes decided to age fifteen years in four hours. But then there’s the YSL concealer All Hours. It’s one of those rare products that actually does what the marketing copy promises, which, in the beauty world, is basically a miracle.
It's expensive. I know. Spending forty-some dollars on a tiny tube of pigment feels like a personal attack on your savings account. But after testing dozens of formulas ranging from drugstore steals to "wealthy-divorcée" price points, the YSL All Hours Precise Angles Concealer stands out because it manages a weird contradiction: it is incredibly high-coverage but feels like absolutely nothing on the skin.
The Texture Shift You Didn't See Coming
The old version of this concealer was fine. Just fine. But the 2023/2024 reformulation changed the game by leaning into skincare ingredients. We’re talking about an 85% skincare base. It’s got caffeine and jasmine flower extract. Does caffeine in a concealer actually depuff your eyes? Maybe a little. Mostly, it just makes the formula feel "thinner" and more elastic. It doesn't sit on the skin; it sort of melts into it.
I’ve noticed that most people fail with high-end concealers because they apply too much. With YSL concealer All Hours, you need a literal dot. The pigment load is so dense that if you swipe it on like a YouTuber from 2016, you’re going to have a bad time. It’ll look heavy. Instead, you use the tip of that weirdly shaped, oversized applicator—which YSL calls the "Precise Angles" applicator—to hit the inner corner and the outer lift.
Why Your Current Concealer is Probably Creasing
Creasing isn't always the product's fault. It’s usually physics. If you put a thick, dry cream over a moving part (like an eyelid or the skin under your eye), it’s going to move. What makes the All Hours formula different is the "Bio-mimetic" mineral pigments. Basically, they’re coated to mimic the texture of skin.
When you blend it out, it sets to a "luminous matte" finish. That sounds like an oxymoron, right? How can something be matte and luminous? Think of it like the difference between a flat wall paint and a silk fabric. It doesn't reflect light like a greasy gloss, but it doesn't look like flour either. It has a soft-focus effect that blurs the texture.
Honestly, I’ve found it works best when you skip the setting powder. Or, if you absolutely must powder because you have oily skin, use a tiny amount of something like the Huda Beauty Easy Bake or Givenchy Prisme Libre. If you go too heavy with powder on top of a 24-hour wear formula, you’re just creating a recipe for "cake face."
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The Shade Range and the Undertone Trap
YSL did something smart with the expansion of this line. They broke it down into Cool, Neutral, and Warm, but the jumps between shades are actually logical. However, here is the catch: it oxidizes. Just a hair.
When you first swipe YSL concealer All Hours on your hand, it might look a bit light. Wait three minutes. It settles into its true color. If you’re between shades, I almost always recommend going for the more neutral option. The "Warm" shades in the YSL range can lean a bit peachy-orange, which is great for correcting dark circles but can look a bit "off" if you're using it to highlight the bridge of your nose or your forehead.
Real Talk on the 24-Hour Claim
Does it actually last 24 hours? I don’t know. Who is wearing concealer for 24 hours? If you are, please get some sleep. But I have worn it through a 14-hour travel day involving three flights and a very humid terminal in Dallas. It stayed. It didn't migrate into my crow's feet, and it didn't disappear.
Most concealers "eat" themselves. Your skin absorbs the moisture in the product, leaving behind the dry powder, which then flakes off. Because this has such a high percentage of skincare actives (hyaluronic acid is the heavy hitter here), it stays flexible. It moves with your face. You can laugh, you can squint at your laptop, and the product doesn't break its seal.
Mastering the Application (Don't Mess This Up)
If you want the "Google Discover" skin look—that filtered but real-life texture—you have to change how you apply this.
- Hydrate first. No concealer can fix dehydrated skin. Use a lightweight eye cream like the Kiehl's Avocado or even just a drop of your facial moisturizer. Let it sink in for at least two minutes. If the skin is wet, the concealer will slip.
- The Dot Method. Place one small dot in the inner corner (where the darkness is deepest) and one tiny swipe at the outer corner of the eye, angled upward toward the temple.
- Wait. This is the secret. Let the YSL concealer All Hours sit on your skin for about 30 seconds before blending. This allows the formula to "grip" and increases the coverage so you don't blend it all away into your sponge.
- Use your fingers. The warmth of your ring finger is better than any brush for this specific formula. It melts the waxes and oils together.
- The Final Press. Take a clean, damp beauty sponge and just press once. Don't drag. Just press. This removes any excess that might settle into fine lines later.
Comparisons: All Hours vs. The Competition
People always ask how this compares to the Tarte Shape Tape or the Dior Forever Skin Correct.
Shape Tape is the heavy-duty truck of concealers. It’s thick, it’s dry, and it covers everything, but it feels like a mask. Dior Forever is much more creamy and emollient; it’s beautiful, but it can be a bit too shiny for people with oily skin. The YSL sits right in the middle. It has the coverage of Tarte but the skin-like finish of Dior.
It’s also much more concentrated than the YSL Touche Éclat. Do not confuse the two. The Touche Éclat (the famous gold pen) is a high-lighter/brightener. It has almost zero coverage. If you try to cover a blemish with a Touche Éclat pen, you’re just going to have a very shiny, very visible blemish. The All Hours is the one you want for actual camouflage.
Is It Worth the $40+ Price Tag?
Price is subjective, but cost-per-use is a real thing. Because you use such a tiny amount of YSL concealer All Hours, a single tube can easily last you six to eight months of daily use.
If you struggle with:
- Dark circles that look purple or blue.
- Redness around the nose.
- Concealer that always turns "crepy" by lunchtime.
- A busy schedule where you can't touch up your makeup.
Then yes, it's worth it. It’s a "set it and forget it" product. There is a certain mental peace that comes with knowing your face isn't melting while you're in a meeting or out to dinner.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Purchase
If you're ready to pull the trigger, don't just guess your shade online. Sephora and Nordstrom have different lighting, so if you can, swatch it and then walk outside. See it in the sun.
- Check the batch code. If you’re buying from a discounter, make sure it’s the new "Precise Angles" version with the black cap and the silver YSL logo wrapped around it. The old version is fine, but the new one is superior.
- Prep your canvas. Use a chemical exfoliant (like a gentle PHA or Lactic Acid) the night before. Smooth skin equals smooth concealer.
- Multi-use it. You can actually use a slightly darker shade of this as a liquid bronzer/contour. Because it’s so long-wearing, it won't budge, which is a common problem with cream bronzers.
- Fixing mistakes. If you find it looks too heavy, mist a bit of rosewater or a setting spray like Urban Decay All Nighter onto a brush and buff over the area. It re-emulsifies the product without stripping it.
Stop treating concealer as an afterthought. It’s the one product that can make you look like you’ve had eight hours of sleep when you’ve actually had four. The YSL All Hours isn't just makeup; it’s basically high-performance gear for your face.