Chanel Fall 2011:  Quartz Le Vernis

Chanel Quartz Le Vernis ($25.00 for 0.4 fl. oz.) is described as a “silver beige.” This is shade that is difficult to describe. In natural light, it tends to look like a champagne beige with threads of silver shimmer. In brighter and more direct light, it looks like a beige-taupe with multi-colored shimmer and a metallic, silver, shimmer. This is a more office-friendly shade as comapred to the other two shades in the fall collection.

I used two coats, and it seemed a touch sheer but manageable. For me, the formula didn’t apply quite as evenly as I would have liked, but it wasn’t particularly troublesome. In the past, Chanel polishes have tended to last about a week on my nails with some minor tip wear (with a base/top coat).

It reminded me of Illamasqua Bacterium, which is a yellower brown.

The Glossover

LE	Quartz B-
	For something that's work-safe but still has some oomph, Quartz is a nice shade. It is that mix of beige, taupe, champagne, and then all that multi-colored shimmer, which makes it more interesting than a beige cream.
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 7.5/10 Texture 8/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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Chanel Quartz Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Quartz Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Quartz Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Quartz Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Quartz Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Quartz Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Quartz Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Quartz Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Fall 2011:  Graphite Le Vernis

Chanel Graphite Le Vernis ($25.00 for 0.4 fl. oz.) is described as a “metallic silver,” and I imagine the inspiration came from graphite itself. A quick Google image search will turn up several results and this certainly resembles graphite–even in the finish. It truly gleams in the sunlight.

Against my warmer skin tone (with yellower undertones), the gold flecks of glitter seem to stand out and the result is the polish looking warmer rather than cool, which is actually is. I can see this leaning more on the silver side against cooler complexions. It’s a silvery-pewter with multi-colored glitter and shimmer that gives it a really gritty appearance, even though it doesn’t feel gritty (it’s not perfectly smooth, like a cream polish either). It has a very foil-like finish with a metallic sheen.

I used two coats, but when I started cropping the photographs, I could tell I didn’t wait long enough for each coat to dry–there is a little pulling of the glitter, which resulted in slight unevenness. Graphite is mostly opaque in two coats, and the formula was easy to work with as it flowed evenly.  In the past, Chanel polishes have tended to last about a week on my nails with some minor tip wear (with a base/top coat).

This is a limited edition shade, and I couldn’t find a dupe from past reviews–there are pure silver foils but nothing as multi-faceted as Graphite.

Anyone find a dupe?

The Glossover

LE	Graphite B+
	Sometimes you wonder how brands can even come up with a shade that is remotely unique, but Chanel manages to whip up something that just might be that.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Fall 2011:  Peridot Le Vernis

Chanel Peridot Le Vernis ($25.00 for 0.4 fl. oz.) is easily one of the most buzzed about items from Chanel’s fall collection. I just received mine last night (all polish has to be shipped ground when ordered via Chanel, aka takes ten days to get to me here on the west coast!), and it looked absolutely stunning in the bottle. Depending on the angle, the bottle read more of a murky greenish-gold flanked by edges of indigo and teal to an almost spring green with an edge of antique gold and indigo ribboning.

Peridot is opaque in two coats, and on my nails, it’s greenish-gold with a real murky quality to it. I keep using the word “murky,” but it’s the only one that keeps coming to mind. Along the edges of my nails, I can see a slight darkening of green and almost teal. As amazing as the bottle looks, I don’t think the duochrome ends up translating as strongly on the nail. It is there, and it’s subtle–and still more noticeable in person as you move your hands around in the light. As far as Chanel polishes go, it is certainly what one would expect from high-end polish–different, nuanced, and not-quite-dupeable.

I don’t have anything that’s exactly like Peridot. The subtle duochrome makes it difficult to dupe, but there are similar shades–they just tend to be the dominant shade of that murky green-gold. China Glaze Peace on Earth is deeper and greener. In a trio of duochromes, ORLY It’s Not Rocket Science, SpaRitual Optical Illusion, and China Glaze Zombie Zest all have a murky green quality mixed with gold along with a duochrome effect–but they are quite different from Peridot.  You can compare all of them by dragging them side-by-side in the Swatch Gallery.

This shade is limited edition. The nice thing about Chanel limited editions is they are often available for a couple weeks before they do eventually sell out–but at least you don’t have to stalk the website during the wee hours of the nights. It has been my experience that counters do often sell out much quicker, once they get their stock in.

The formula is nice on Peridot; it’s thin without being watery or sheer–two coats is enough for an opaque result–and even though there is a metallic finish, it was easy to control brush strokes.  Given that I’ve had this shade for less than twenty-four hours, I couldn’t tell you how this particular shade wears. In my experience with Chanel polishes, I get around a week’s worth of wear with minor tip wear, when used with a top and base coat (I usually use Zoya’s Armor and Anchor)–it’s around average for me, so it wears well but I do get a little more wear out of a few other brands.  To be fair, I can’t think of a brand that does chip on me, though.

Is Peridot worth it? Have you found a dupe?

The Glossover

LE	Peridot A-
	If you only splurge on polish when you find unique colors, Peridot might be one that's worth the splurge. It applies well, color payoff is excellent, and the overall effect of the duochrome gives it a different look from many other shades I thought might be similar.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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Chanel Peridot Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Peridot Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Peridot Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Peridot Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Peridot Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Peridot Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Peridot Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Peridot Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Peridot Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Fall 2011: Plumetis Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Plumetis Rouge Coco Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a soft pinked apricot that applies semi-sheer. It ends up looking rather peach on my lips, and it tends to mute my natural lip color and add warmth. It’s a softer version of Chanel Liberte. Rouge Cocos are described as hydrating, though I find them only somewhat moisturizing overall.

Plumetis only lasted two and half hours on me before fading, and it is a little drying, as compared to the creamier Rouge Cocos (like Etole).  I felt like the texture of this wasn’t as smooth as it should be–there was this unevenness that ended up translating onto my lips.  When applied, it seemed to accentuate every imperfection and gather in places.  For me, this was a real miss.

The Glossover

P	Plumetis C
	The uneven application alone makes this a less-than-impressive offering from Chanel. It wears far below average (2.5 hours vs. 4 hours), and it's not moisturizing (when it should be).
	Product 6.5/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 6.5/10 Longevity 6.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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Chanel Plumetis Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Plumetis Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Plumetis Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Plumetis Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Fall 2011: Rose Ecrin Joues Contraste

Chanel Rose Ecrin Joues Contraste ($43.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a neutral pink with a satin sheen. It’s neither warm nor cool, but if I had to say it leaned one way or the other, I would say it leans slightly yellow. Rose Ecrin is a subtle blusher as the color blends out to a semi-sheer dusting of rosy pink with a hint of beige once applied. It is a buildable color, but the color itself is muted so it will never be too much.

Joues Contraste contains a very finely milled powder that feels like silk to the touch and blends easily on the skin. It never looks powdery or heavy, and it always looks natural once applied. My only complaint is that it tends to fade after six to eight hours, rather than lasting a full eight to ten hours.

It reminded me of Burberry Cameo which leans a little plum.

The Glossover

	Chanel Rose Ecrin Joues Contraste Review, Photos, Swatches A-
	This will be best on light to medium skin tones, because of its softness, the color may be lost on deeper skin tones. It makes a great everyday blush and works well with the darker eyes and lips of fall.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 4.5/5
	Where to Buy
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Chanel Rose Ecrin Joues Contraste

Chanel Rose Ecrin Joues Contraste

Chanel Rose Ecrin Joues Contraste

Chanel Rose Ecrin Joues Contraste

Chanel Rose Ecrin Joues Contraste

Chanel Rose Ecrin Joues Contraste

Chanel Fall 2011: Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadow

Chanel Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadow ($36.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a new product for fall, and it comes in six different shades. Chanel describes these as: “This intensely shimmering long-wear eyeshadow offers true versatility. An innovative gel texture that is both soft and cushiony allows it to be worn as eyeshadow or eyeliner. Includes a specially designed shadow/liner brush, developed specifically for this unique formula.”

I think the most common question I got asked regarding these was, “How do these compare to Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense?” The easy answer: they don’t. They’re in glass pots with black lids, and they’re really quite differennt otherwise. The formulas are not the same at all. There is such a drastic difference in the texture alone that they do not invite comparison. In terms of color, there may be similarities, but that is no different than comparing any eyeshadow to either of these products. It’s like comparing a the formula of a cream eyeshadow to that of a powder eyeshadow. The texture of these is most like Buxom’s Stay There eyeshadows but these are springier.

• Fantasme is a bright white with silvery-white shimmer. Of the six, this was the only one that I would categorize as sheer. This is more like white and silver shimmer spread through a clear base. It adds sparkle rather than color. MAC’s Pearl Reflects Glitter is most comparable, but it is a chunkier glitter and will need an adhesive base or modifier to get it to stay (and last I heard, MAC’s Glitters were not eye safe).
• Emerveille is a soft peach with a hint of brown and a champagne shimmer-sheen. theBalm’s Luscious Lani is very similar in color, perhaps a touch less peach. It seems like it would also be comparable to Benefit’s RSVP.
• Illusoire is a smoky, purple-mauve over a grayish-brown base with a silvery sheen. This has a frostier finish, compared to the subtly metallic finish of Emerveille. It is similar to MAC Hint of Sapphire, but it doesn’t have the multi-colored shimmer (however, it applies infinitely better). It’s a little taupe, but it does lean purple, so it’s not a true taupe. It ends up looking rather similar to the grayish-purple shade from the same collection’s Prelude Eyeshadow Quad, just with a more shimmery finish.
• Epatant is a smoky, muted taupe with a hint of green with an antique gold shimmer-sheen. MAC Greensmoke is much darker and greener, while Make Up For Ever #84 is closer in overall color/feel, it is more intense.
• Mirifique is a dark black with multi-colored shimmer and larger silver sparkle. I can’t think of a dupe for this particular shade, because the way the glitter sits on the black base makes it different. Perhaps MAC Black Tied, but Black Tied is a weaker formula with less color payoff.
• Ebloui is a burgundy brown with warm, red undertones and multi-colored shimmer that is dominated by gold and cranberry. On me, my yellower undertones pull out the brown tones, while I would expect pinker undertones to pull out the burgundy tones. I couldn’t find a dupe for this one; it’s brown yet burgundy. It might be duped with a mix of Urban Decay Gash and MAC Cranberry.

The texture of these is bizarre–they’re spongy but they bounce back. I imagine this is the texture most expected out of MAC Big Bounce Eyeshadows, actually. They are a gel-based formula, but they have the thickness of a cream, creaminess of a mousse, and springiness of a sponge. It spreads really nicely and evenly on the lid without being sheer (unless you deliberately apply a minute amount).

I found five of the six to be nicely pigmented with no concerns for lack of color payoff–Fantasme was the only one I found lacking in that department. The colors themselves are soft and subtle, with an edge of smokiness, and they tend to be more than just one flat color, so they will easily take on different tones depending on how they’re worn, what they’re paired with, and the undertones in the skin.

On me, these wear twelve hours (worn alone, no primer) without creasing, fading, migrating, or smudging. They apply evenly over the lid, and they’re blendable for long enough to give you time to soften any edges but are never fully wet, so they don’t gather into the creases and lines of the eye before it fully sets. Once it sets, it really doesn’t budge.

The brush included with each shade is actually useful, though in all honesty, it’ll be thrown into a drawer (along with all of those velvety pouches that I don’t use but can’t bear to toss). It works, and it does work well with these–it’s a nice touch, because it’s a quality brush with a thin, angled edge to allow for lining but with enough area to also apply all-over the lid. I prefer brushes with longer handles, but this is one of the better brushes I’ve seen included with a product.

Fantasme, again, was the only shade that was less-than-stellar, and of course, it would not earn the same marks as these do overall or as the other shades.  It is one of six, and it is the only one with any reason for a reduction in rating.  I would give it a 7 on pigmentation and 8.5 on texture.  Again, this is why I prefer reviewing individual shades rather than groups of shades in one post!

The Glossover

	Chanel Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows Swatches, Photos, Reviews A
	With the exception of Fantasme, these are really standout products with an excellent, truly long-wearing formula, gorgeous color selection with nuanced shades, and a product that applies easily.
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 9.5/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 5/5
	Where to Buy
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Chanel Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Fantasme Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Fantasme Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Fantasme Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Fantasme Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Fantasme Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Fantasme Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Emerveille Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Emerveille Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Emerveille Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Emerveille Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Emerveille Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Emerveille Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Illusoire Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Illusoire Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Illusoire Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Illusoire Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Illusoire Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Illusoire Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Epatant Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Epatant Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Epatant Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Epatant Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Epatant Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Epatant Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Mirifique Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Mirifique Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Mirifique Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Mirifique Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Mirifique Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Mirifique Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Ebloui Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Ebloui Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Ebloui Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Ebloui Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows

Chanel Ebloui Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows