Hot–No, Lukewarm–Springs with Empreinte de Chanel
Chanel Empreinte de Chanel ($65.00 for 0.49 oz.) is the signature product (and limited edition, of course) from Chanel’s Les Impressions de Chanel Collection for the spring.
Chanel describes the product as a “radiant glow highlighting powder” designed to brighten cheeks and brow bone with shades of rosewood, beige, and brown. It also includes an angled brush (the size you’d typically find in a compact, not a full-size brush), which is surprisingly soft and usable–though I’ll still use my full size brushes myself.
The compact has these lopsided circles in creamy white-gold, bronze, and peach outlined in the bronze. Then there are, of course, the two signature interlocking Cs in a shimmering, gilded gold (not quite a true gold). I was trying to furiously swatch away anything that would be an overlay, and though it seems like the circles seem to fade away, the color remains the same regardless. The Cs seem to be shimmery (as far as I could tell without destroying the compact) to stay shimmery as well.
Empreinte de Chanel is a warmed-up, peachy gold. It’s surprisingly pigmented, and it’s definitely something that would lovely as an eyeshadow as well as on top of cheeks. It reminded me of a more pigmented, way more shimmery version of Lancome’s Sparkling Cherub; Empreinte is also warmer and less brown (more gold).
Bottom Line: It’s soft, silky, and certainly looks beautiful on, but it is definitely a shimmery highlighter; so if you prefer a more subtle highlighter, you may want to test this in person first! The price is steep, and Chanel fans won’t be surprised, but if you’ve never considered Chanel, this probably isn’t the best product I’d take the plunge on (they have better; including Kaska Beige Eyeshadow Quad, if you are jonesin’ for spring). The only thing that compensates for the price is you do get 0.49 oz. of product, which is quite a bit for a blush/highlighter product (typically 0.20 oz. or so).
P.S. – The entire Chanel Spring collection is now available at Nordstrom and Saks. You’ll probably have to search by name or click through the Chanel categories, but they’re up there. I just purchased Particuliere through Saks ’cause Saks has FREE EXPRESS SHIPPING (!) right now.
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! :)
- Product: 26/30
- Value: 7/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: Chanel fans will likely enjoy this piece, but the price tag is a little steep for a product that’s good, but not great.
Availability: Nordstrom and Saks
See more photos and swatches!
First swatch: with any overlay; second swatch: attempting to brush away overlay; third swatch: what remained
Melinda
Monday, December 21, 2009
It looks Gorgeous But Pricey :O(
AnGeLwInGz
Monday, December 21, 2009
I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it but no powder is worth $65. Back when I worked for CHANEL those things were never more than $40. Guess there’s a market for it somewhere.
Christine
Monday, December 21, 2009
It seems like that’s about the price of these type of products in the past few seasons, but I could be remembering it wrong. Even for Chanel, $65 is steep. It’s pretty, though! At least it’s not like some of Dior’s star products, which I think were retailing for $80+!
AnGeLwInGz
Monday, December 21, 2009
Yeah, I wait for other people to buy me the Dior star products for my birthday or Christmas. They’re ridiculously overpriced!
Sarah M
Monday, December 21, 2009
Ooh… pretty! :-D
Anitacska
Monday, December 21, 2009
I like the look of this. :) How does it compare to the tweed highlighter that was released earlier this autumn/winter? Thanks Christine!
Christine
Monday, December 21, 2009
Much, much shimmery-er. It’s got a lot of sparkle, and I think it has a chunkier glitter/shimmer than the Tweed Highlighter.
Alexandra
Monday, December 21, 2009
This overlay looks like Rice Crispies….makes me hungry. Now I want some cereals !
Bridgette
Monday, December 21, 2009
Pretty but wayyy too pricey.
Nicci
Monday, December 21, 2009
I saw this over the weekend and it was very silky but I don’t think I would buy it since I don’t use a highlighter in the first place and cause of the price, and oh…I wouldn’t want to destroy the interlocking Cs!
shontay
Monday, December 21, 2009
Christine, I had no problem with the price b/c it looked so lovely, but I must return it. I have a problem with highlighters. It seems it mixes too well with my skin to the point where it doesn’t even make a difference. I’m around Beyonce’s complexion, perhaps a bit lighter and I’ve tried Nars and Chanel highlighters and they just don’t show up at all.
I bought thebalm’s mary lou-manizer and it’s the best thing I’ve tried. It was nice enough for me to actually keep. This Chanel one has to go back, though. I have to get all up in the mirror to see the tiniest bit of shimmer. :( Still love Chanel, though.
Christine
Monday, December 21, 2009
Really! I’m so surprised, just because it’s really, really… gold, doesn’t seem like it’d blend into skin. It’s really too bad you have to return it, but I’m happy theBalm’s Mary Lou-manizer is working out for you! :)
Nancy
Monday, December 21, 2009
I purchased this as I am a die hard Chanel Fan. Sadly it looks awful on me, it made my skin which is really nice look patchy and scaley. I have to take it back in the next day or two. I do think the Holiday Tweed Highlighter which I have is so beautiful.
Christine
Monday, December 21, 2009
Oh no :(
I found I have to use a light hand with it, or else it can look like too much! I do like it on decolletage though, as well – and since there’s so much product, I feel OK using it to highlight on the body, too, lol.
Lorna
Monday, December 21, 2009
it looks like smallpox
amy
Monday, December 21, 2009
Pretty but too expensive for me :(.
Michelle
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The overlay on this looks like a petri dish full of agar after it has been incubated, or maybe like an abnormal cell wall under a microscope… Pretty, but I couldn’t justify spending the price :(
K
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
You do the BEST in-depth reviews, Christine. So helpful for us all! Thank you!
Christine
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
My pleasure :)
Euphoria
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
So lovely for a hilighter,
I’m now considering to get one with the eyeshadow quad as well.
Thank you for the swatching!!
coupons
Friday, February 12, 2010
Wow. I like it. but it’s sold out. when It’s come. I will but it.