Chanel Le Vernis: Mistral (517), Riviera (537)

Chanel Les Pop-Up de Chanel:  Mistral & Riviera

Along with Nouvelle Vague, which I reviewed last week, Chanel launched two other shades of lacquer ($23) in their Les Pop-Up de Chanel Collection.

I bought these at my local Chanel counter (in Nordstrom) today, so if your Chanel counter hasn’t gotten stock in yet, I imagine it should be soon–I had done a pre-sale on these, so my favorite Chanel artist gave me a call when these were in (funny enough, her name is also Christine!). She said they only got fifteen Nouvelle Vagues in! Unfortunate for my pocketbook, along with my Chanel items, I also bought just as much in headbands… including one that matches Nouvelle Vague!! I couldn’t resist! Anyway…

• Mistral is a baby petal pink with champagne micro-glitter It goes opaque in three coats and looks kind of squishy on. I had no issues applying this shade–standard fair for Chanel in my experience.
• Riviera is a darkened bright pink cream. It’s opaque in two coats, though I swatched it with three. It was easy to apply and looked flawless on.

Neither Mistral nor Riviera is as eye-catching (or unique) as Nouvelle Vague, which I fully expect to sell out and see on eBay for triple digits at some point. I don’t have previous nail shades memorized, but I’m sure you could dupe Mistral or Riviera without too much trouble–hopefully our lovely nail fanatics can chime in with their dupe recommendations! That’s not to say that these aren’t fun, feminine shades, because they are, but typically when I shell out $23 for a Chanel polish, I do so for the uniqueness of the shade!

By the by, I actually asked both my parents (who are so not beauty mavens!) if they could tell the difference between the $3 and $23 polishes (China Glaze For Audrey vs. Chanel Nouvelle Vague), and they both immediately pointed out the Chanel-shaded fingers as the $23 one. My boyfriend, on the other hand, was boggled by it, because he couldn’t, even after scrutinizing!

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 6/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: Nouvelle Vague is the most unique shade of the bunch, even if it similar to China Glaze’s For Audrey. Mistral and Riviera are pretty and have no formulation issues, but they’re less “ooh!” shades.

Availability: May 2010

See more photos & swatches!

Chanel Le Vernis: Mistral (517), Riviera (537)

Chanel Le Vernis: Mistral (517), Riviera (537)

Chanel Mistral Nail Lacquer

Chanel Mistral Nail Lacquer

Chanel Mistral Nail Lacquer

Chanel Mistral Nail Lacquer

Chanel Mistral Nail Lacquer

Chanel Mistral Nail Lacquer

Chanel Riviera Nail Lacquer

Chanel Riviera Nail Lacquer

Chanel Riviera Nail Lacquer

Chanel Riviera Nail Lacquer

Chanel Riviera Nail Lacquer

Cara New York Headband ($38) from Nordstrom to match Nouvelle Vague!

I am in LURVE with the details! Noticeable, chunky, but they don’t take over my head.

I couldn’t find Nouvelle Vague when I went to snap photos of the headband,
so I just Photoshopped it in, LOL! (No worries, I later found Nouvelle Vague!)

Chanel Les Pop-Up de Chanel:  Nouvelle Vague

At $23 a pop, Chanel’s Le Vernis Nail Lacquer is a decadent indulgence for your hands. Some love ‘em, some hate ‘em. I’m in the camp of love the product, hate the price (but who loves to pay more? seriously!). I’ve personally haven’t had any issues with formula or wear on the Chanel shades I own. In Les Pop-Up de Chanel (Chanel’s summer collection), Chanel is releasing three new shades of Le Vernis: Mistral (soft pink), Nouvelle Vague (turquoise), and Riviera (intense pink).

I literally just received Nouvelle Vague this afternoon, and I was thinking about holding off to post until tomorrow, but I just can’t resist. Nouvelle Vague is a beautiful shade of aqua-blue. It’s turquoise, but it’s not a brightened turquoise. It’s pastel without being light and sheer. There is the finest dusting of icy, aqua-blue shimmer laced throughout the aqua-blue. It’s a very stunning shade of turquoise. It’s one of my favorite polishes by Chanel, ever.

For those who find Chanel out of their price range (or fear their bank account murdering them in their sleep if they purchased this…), don’t despair, because China Glaze For Audrey is so, so close. Chanel’s Nouvelle Vague is just the slightest bit lighter and it has shimmer, whereas China Glaze’s is a pure cream.  Check out the swatches to see just how similar they are.  Personally?  I would have bought Nouvelle Vague anyway.  In a heartbeat.  I wouldn’t even think twice (barely once!).

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

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

Recommendation: I think for those who love their polish, there may be the need to own both, but for those who are simply lusting after the shade, For Audrey might be a little lighter on the wallet.

Availability: May 2010

See more photos & swatches!

China Glaze For Audrey vs. Chanel Nouvelle Vague
Thumb & Pink are For Audrey; the rest are Nouvelle Vague

Chanel Nouvelle Vague

China Glaze For Audrey vs. Chanel Nouvelle Vague
Thumb & Pinky are For Audrey; the rest are Nouvelle Vague

(Natural Light) China Glaze For Audrey vs. Chanel Nouvelle Vague
Thumb & Pinky are For Audrey; the rest are Nouvelle Vague