Spring Preview: Chanel Les Impressions de Chanel Collection for Spring 2010

This Spring season, Chanel is going sandy browns, subtle golds, and very neutral. We’ll see severa limited edition products such as a highlighting powder, alongside will be a plummy-brown eyeshadow palette, new shades of Rouge Allure Lip Colour, additional Glossimers, plus three new lacquers. More information as it becomes available!

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Chanel Aqualumiere Gloss: Canari, Colibri, Hirondelle

Chanel Aqualumiere Gloss ($27.00) will see an addition of three new, limited edition shades as part of Chanel’s Holiday Collection. The shades include Canari, which is a peachy-melon with golden-peach shimmer; Colibri, which is a shimmery champagne with iridescent shimmer; and Hirondelle, which is a medium pink with pink and gold shimmer.

All three Aqualumiere Glosses appearing with the holiday collection are very sheer shades. They pack pretty shimmer, but they don’t add much in the way of color. Canari goes on as a golden shimmer, which is pretty and definitely holiday-esque–I’d probably layer it over a red for a little extra glitz. Colibri makes my lips appear cooler and paler with iridescent silvery white shimmer. It actually reminds me a bit of MAC’s She-Zam Dazzleglass, but with a little more of a pinkish tone to it. Surprisingly, Hirondelle adds the most color to lips, and it appears as a soft, slightly milky pink with pink shimmer.

Aqualumiere Glosses are sheer, ultra glossy, and non-sticky. It comes with a brush-tipped applicator which makes for fairly easy application. I’m easygoing when it comes to gloss applicators – doe foot or brush, it’s all good! They’re not the most long-lasting lipgloss (I certainly wouldn’t dub them long-wearing) – I get about three hours of wear when I layer one on by itself. Over a lipstick, I do get better results (four to five hours overall for the average pairing). I still prefer some of the earlier released shades of Aqualumiere Glosses–I remember being really jazzed over them initially–but these new shades for holiday are a little too sheer for my liking. I’d suggest checking out permanent shades like Candy Glow and Ginger Shimmer instead.

Bottom Line: Aqualumiere Glosses are, by their nature, sheer, so I’m not going to knock a bunch of points off on that account.  These shades just aren’t to my particular taste, but if you like non-sticky, ultra glossy lipgloss, then Aqualumiere Glosses are always a good bet–just as long as you’re in the market for something on the sheerer side.

• Product: 24/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: If you’re a fan of the feel and texture of Chanel’s Aqualumiere Glosses, you might want to peep the new shades. They’re very much on the sheer side, though!

Availability: October 2009 at CHANEL counters

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Les Tissages Lames de Chanel / Shimmering Tweed Highlighter

Chanel Shimmering Tweed Highlighter ($60.00 for 0.45 oz.) is the next level of limited edition, luxurious highlighters from Chanel’s Holiday Collection. If you’ve enjoyed Chanel’s Tweed Blushes, I can only imagine you’re particularly curious about this new item.

Chanel describes this highlighter as, “Holiday beauty furthers the fantasy with three delicately ‘woven’ shades of shimmering colour for cheeks and décolleté. Gold, bronze and copper tones cast a natural luminous glow on skin to highlight and heighten a festive effect. Unmistakably CHANEL: the powder’s imprinted surface, inspired by the iconic tweed.”

It’s a woven mix of metallic, paled down silver-gold (seriously, silver-gold), subtly shimmered fleshy-peach, and coppery-brown, while gold flecks permeate throughout the product. The entire effect is a shimmery golden-bronze color. For lighter skin tones, this can be worn as a light bronzer/blush, but for most, it’s just an excellent highlighter. It feels smooth, soft, and looks like holiday if it were a highlighter. It twinkles, shimmers, and glitters (but not in a disco ball way!).

Value wise, the price tag is steep no matter how you look at it. Even though you get a fair amount of product for your buck, it’s still more than a lot of us want to spend on a highlighter. In the end, it’s slightly pricier than Dior’s SkinShimmers, but not by much. This highlighter is $133.33/oz. whilst Dior’s is $122.86/oz. If you compare it against blush shades, Chanel comes in as less expensive than NARS ($156.25/oz.) and Smashbox ($184.62/oz.)–and significantly less expensive than even Chanel blushes ($300.00/oz).

Bottom line: I consider this a splurge item, but I wouldn’t wait too long, because it is limited edition, and it’s a product that’s easy to fall in love with. I still prefer my Dior SkinShimmers for everyday highlighting, because the shimmer is finer and subtler, but this is definitely going to be a go-to for special occasions! (Besides, Dior doesn’t have a SkinShimmer in quite this tone — Amber Diamond is a bit darker/more copper than golden as this is.)

• Product: 28/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 5/5

Recommendation: For a beautiful holiday highlighter, consider Chanel’s limited edition Tweed Highlighter.

Availability: Chanel in October/November 2009

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Chanel Bird of Paradise Eyeshadow Quad

Chanel Bird of Paradise Eyeshadow Quad ($56.00) is a new, limited edition, colorful palette that’s part of Chanel’s Holiday Collection. It includes four pops of color, which is a surprising twist on what we typically expect from holiday launches. Genius, perhaps? We’ll see…

The shades included in the palette are:

A paled down blue-teal with green-teal shimmer. I love the mix of a blue-teal colored base with green-teal shimmer. The color is muted without being boring; it still packs a punch of color, but it’s not over the top. It’s kind of what I’d expect from a teal by Chanel. It’s pigmented, silky soft, and blends easily.

A warm pop of goldenrod yellow-gold. This is an interesting color, because I think on cooler tones, the yellow is going to come out to play more, whilst on warmer tones, you’re going to get more of a warmer, golden shade. Also, I noticed that it seemed to warm up and cool done depending on the lighting situation (less light = more yellow; brighter light = more golden). This one wasn’t quite as pigmented or smooth as the other three shades, but it was still soft and the shimmer wasn’t too gritty. I really love the shade itself, though, because it’s not a true gold, yet it’s not orange or yellow.

A muted coppery-orange with golden shimmer and sheen. Orange can be a tough color to pull off, particularly for those who naturally have cooler complexions (because many oranges run very warm), so I know some just skip this color altogether. This is a great shade of orange that runs neutral-warm, which means it has some warmth, but it’s not overly so. It’s also not a straight copper. I love how the golden sheen catches light.

A soft olive green with golden olive shimmer. A lovely shade that actually reminds me more of fall than it does winter, but nevertheless, still nice. Pigmentation is true and the shade itself feels smooth to the touch and goes on like butter.

I’m really digging Chanel’s take on holiday this year. The colors are fun and playful, but they’re not hard to wear or even pair together (I was a little weary at first – so much color, could they work together? but alas, they can!). The only shade it’s really missing is a highlight shade, so you will have to tap into your stash to get that, but at least you get four rockin’ colors in it. Each has a metallic shimmer sheen, and I think that’s exactly what the holiday season is about–lots of glitz and glam!

This eyeshadow quad is eons better than Chanel’s Les Folie Noirs Eyeshadow Quad — so I am quite pleased. I was a bit hesitant that this one might not do it for me, but it worked out, thankfully!

As far as value goes, I do believe Chanel quads are around 0.24 oz. (I have some that say 0.24 oz., others that don’t say, and the recent Noirs Obscurs quad was 0.21 oz.), so they’re not a bad deal by the ounce (less than MAC eyeshadows). With colors like these, you may find yourself slower to get through each shade as well, so I think you’ll get plenty of usage out of the palette.

Bottom line: This is a nice palette with quality eyeshadows that give you color to play around with, but it’s not intimidating. It’s inviting, and I think it’s a good mix of colors that can also work together, not just by themselves. It’s also not overly warm or cool on the whole, so it’s more universal. I really like it, overall, but I’m not head-over-heels for it like I am over their Rouge Allure Laques.

• Product: 27/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: For a downplayed approach to color, Chanel’s Bird of Paradise eyeshadow quad is stop that might be worth your while.

Availability: Chanel in October/November 2009

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Chanel Mandarin Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00) is the last shade in our seven days of Chanel Rouge Allure Laque feature.

Mandarin is a deep, reddish coral. It’s very, very deep — it’s not exactly the summer coral that comes to mind when I’m thinking about coral lip color. It’s an orange-red base with lighter, coppery orange shimmer. It’s incredibly opaque and goes on full coverage in one layer. It has the same glossy sheen as the other shades, and it has the amazing staying power of intense shades like Dragon. It lasts through hours of talking, eating, and drinking, with only the glossy sheen fading, but the color staying true. Even though these are long-wearing, they don’t dry out lips, but actually keep them fairly hydrated. Mandarin is a deeper, more intense and redder version of Dynastie.

Since I don’t want to just re-write what I say about the formula (since it is the same–if there are any variations, you can be sure I’ll call them out), here’s a quick bullet-point summary.

Pros

• Satiny, creamy lip color that hydrates
• Opaque color in one layer–very pigmented
• Lasts for hours and even through eating/drinking
• Glossy sheen
• Looks like a lipstick AND a gloss
• Easy to travel with
• Sleek packaging

Cons

• Pricey at $32 each

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: If you like a pop of bright pink on your lips, mandarin has you covered!

Availability: Nordstrom

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Chanel Phoenix Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00) is the sixth shade to lust after in our seven days of Chanel Rouge Allure Laque feature.

Phoenix is a medium bright pink. It’s not really cool-toned, but it’s not warm, either (although, I’ve rarely met a pink I’d really classify as warm, but I digress!). I’d call it neutral-cool if pressed. Easy to apply, opaque color in one quick layer, and stunning color that lasts for hours and through eating/drinking? I’m totally on board with that! Phoenix is just as amazing as the other shades, and it doesn’t disappoint in the least bit. It’s a great shade that’s noticeable, bright without being neon, and still wearable. If the lightness of Ming wasn’t your style, maybe the brightness of Phoenix is a better fit for you. It has a light glossy sheen with subtle pinkish/white shimmer.

Since I don’t want to just re-write what I say about the formula (since it is the same–if there are any variations, you can be sure I’ll call them out), here’s a quick bullet-point summary.

Pros

• Satiny, creamy lip color that hydrates
• Opaque color in one layer–very pigmented
• Lasts for hours and even through eating/drinking
• Glossy sheen
• Looks like a lipstick AND a gloss
• Easy to travel with
• Sleek packaging

Cons

• Pricey at $32 each

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: If you like a pop of bright pink on your lips, Phoenix has you covered!

Availability: Nordstrom

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Chanel Santal Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00) is the fifth entry to drool over in our seven days of Chanel Rouge Allure Laque feature.

Santal is a subdued peachy-coral. It has just a little bit of a coral-tone to it, but otherwise it is quite peachy. There’s almost a hint of pink, but yet there’s definitely some golden-orange shimmer. This is exactly what I love about the Chanel Rouge Allure Laques: the colors have so much going on, it’s hard to classify them. It’s lightly glossy (but not quite as glossy as some of the other shades, like Dragon), packs plenty of color, and subtle shimmer that’s there but not glittery.

I find one layer of color provides me plenty of full color coverage. I think the natural pink of my lips does add some of the pink tones I see in Santal, so if your lips are less pink, it may appear more peachy. Like Ming, this is a shade you can wear anywhere and anytime; it’s perfect for everyday or paired with a dramatic smoky eye.

Since I don’t want to just re-write what I say about the formula (since it is the same–if there are any variations, you can be sure I’ll call them out), here’s a quick bullet-point summary.

Pros

• Satiny, creamy lip color that hydrates
• Opaque color in one layer–very pigmented
• Lasts for hours and even through eating/drinking
• Glossy sheen
• Looks like a lipstick AND a gloss
• Easy to travel with
• Sleek packaging

Cons

• Pricey at $32 each

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: For easy, wearable color, Santal offers exactly that!

Availability: Nordstrom

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Chanel Ming Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00) is the fourth to drool over in our seven days of Chanel Rouge Allure Laque feature.

Ming is a soft, medium pink that runs just a little warm, but overall, I’d consider neutral. It’s just this perfect girly pink that’s feminine, soft, and very, very wearable. This is a shade you could wear anywhere, anytime, and for any occasion. I could easily see this being a go-to for a quick slip of everyday color that looks gorgeous and lasts for hours. I found Ming has the least staying power, but I still was able to get through a light meal with minimal fading (mostly just the glossiness fades). It’s not as opaque as deeper shades like Coromandel and Dragon, but it’s still quite pigmented on my lips and covers up most of my natural lip color. What I like is that even though it’s very light, my natural lip color doesn’t seem to drag the color down at all–it looks very much as it does in the tube as it does on my lips.

Since I don’t want to just re-write what I say about the formula (since it is the same–if there are any variations, you can be sure I’ll call them out), here’s a quick bullet-point summary.

Pros

• Satiny, creamy lip color that hydrates
• Opaque color in one layer–very pigmented
• Lasts for hours and even through eating/drinking
• Glossy sheen
• Looks like a lipstick AND a gloss
• Easy to travel with
• Sleek packaging

Cons

• Pricey at $32 each

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: If you’re all about the pink lip, check this one out!

Availability: Nordstrom

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Chanel Dynastie Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00) is the third to be featured in our seven days of Chanel Rouge Allure Laque feature.

Dynastie is a beautiful shade of fiery coral. It’s not too red or orange–it’s a good mix of bold and bright without being over the top. It has an orange-coral base with a softer peachy-coral shimmer and glossy sheen. It feels like silk on the lips; weightless and just a smidgen creamy when you apply it, and then just long-lasting color for hours.

It’s opaque in just one layer (I only need to use whatever is on the applicator; no double-dipping required!) and easy to apply with precision. Being able to apply it with ease and not having to worry about it bleeding or dragging on my lips is such a relief. It just makes this a no-brainer for me. This shade is deep enough for the fall/winter, but it’s still appropriate for a lovely summer coral, too!

Since I don’t want to just re-write what I say about the formula (since it is the same–if there are any variations, you can be sure I’ll call them out), here’s a quick bullet-point summary.

Pros

• Satiny, creamy lip color that hydrates
• Opaque color in one layer–very pigmented
• Lasts for hours and even through eating/drinking
• Glossy sheen
• Looks like a lipstick AND a gloss
• Easy to travel with
• Sleek packaging

Cons

• Pricey at $32 each

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: If you love coral lips and want color that lasts for hours and looks gorgeous, try Dynastie!

Availability: Nordstrom

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Chanel Les Folie Noirs Eyeshadow Quad ($60.00) is from Chanel Noirs Obscurs Collection.  ( Be sure to check out reviews on the limited edition nail polishes and lipsticks, too!)  It’s a limited edition eyeshadow quad with each shade being embellished with the brand’s signature logo in black.

While I was impressed by the new Rouge Allure lipsticks and Le Vernis shades, the eyeshadow quad was a disappointment.  In fact, I had to let my disappointment simmer a bit in case I was too harsh/expected too much.  I do not recommend this eyeshadow quad unless you’re a Chanel collector–then you’re not really looking to use it so much as own it as a collector.

If you actually want to use it, the shades are poorly pigmented, go on unevenly, and just overall, look mediocre–even with a sponge applicator.  (Swatching with a brush always gives the least amount of pigmentation, whereas swatching with a sponge applicator usually yields the most.)   The swatches included in this post are with a sponge applicator, for your reference.

The dark brown shade (top left) goes on extremely sheerly and almost looks chalky on my skin.  The color itself is a cool-toned dark brown.  Next to it is a dark forest green with a slight bit of shimmer.  This one swatched better and had so-so pigmentation (just not quite as intense as I’d like).  On the bottom right, there’s a muted, dark navy blue with subtle navy shimmer.  This also swatched decently, though not quite as well as the green.  The last shade is a slightly warmed-up medium chocolate brown that isn’t as sheer as the other brown in the quad, but it’s still quite faded when swatched.

Ultimately, if you use a sponge applicator (or even use this product wet) and layer on the color–and I do mean layer–you may find this works well for a range of smoky eyes.  For me, at the price tag, I expect well-pigmented eyeshadows that feel soft, silky, and require minimal effort to work into my eyeshadow wardrobe.

Chanel, I love you, but this one is a miss for me!

• Product: 16/30
• Value: 6/10
• Ease of Use: 3/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation:  Skip this — opt for a permanent Chanel eyeshadow quad if you’re in the market for eyeshadow or else sneak a peek at the limited edition Rouge Allure Lipsticks!

Availability:  October/November 2009

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