Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

Sometimes it can be fun just to experiment with your makeup, and you know when is a really good time to do it? Before you’re going to go to bed! After I finished photographing Urban Decay’s Naked Palette, I really wanted to do something using Gunmetal, but I wanted it to be different than just a regular ol’ smoky eye… so I thought, “Let’s try Half-Baked and Gunmetal!”

Then it started to give me this “night sky” feeling… and then I thought, “Maybe this would be really cool with silver eyeliner… I think I will try… just for fun!” Oh man, I was paying for that fun, though. My upper lash line was itching and watering so bad! I just wanted to get photos taken as soon as possible that I didn’t even realize the damage all that watering had done (removed the inner corner!). So, I ask that you excuse the missing piece of the puzzle and the bloodshot eyes! 

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), Urban Decay Creep Eyeshadow (deep blue-black), Urban Decay Gunmetal Eyeshadow (blue-gray), Urban Decay Half-Baked Eyeshadow (copper), Urban Decay Virgin Eyeshadow (soft beige), Urban Decay Deviant 24/7 Liner (medium blue), MAC Silverstroke Fluidline (silver), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: Chanel Rose Temptation Blush (reddish plum)
• Lips: Chanel Rose Dentelle Rouge Coco Lipstick (soft pink), Chanel Rose Dilemma Glossimer (pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush), 208 (thin, angled brush)

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Creep eyeshadow on the lowest third of the lid and pat across in a horizontal line (almost as if you were lining the upper lash line). Lightly blend Gunmetal eyeshadow above Creep eyeshadow to the crease with the 239. Next, apply Half Baked eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending.  Blend Virgin eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Deviant liner on the lower lash line, and then smudge Gunmetal eyeshadow on the outer third of the lower lash line with the 219.  Apply Silverstroke fluidline on the upper lash line with the 208 brush.  Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Rose Temptation blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Rose Dentelle lipstick first, and then layer Rose Dilemma glossimer for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Rouge Coco is Sweet on Summer, Still

With Chanel’s fall collection, we’ll see an introduction of three new and permanent additions to the Rouge Coco ($30.00) line-up: Chintz (peach rose), Rose Dentelle (rose pink), and Chalys (luminous coral). These three shades pair well with the darker, smokier Enigma eyeshadow quad, but they’re also ridiculously perfect for summer. Considering these launch in July (officially! word on the counter is it’s already popping up at some locations), that’s a very, very good thing.

• Chintz is a peach nude with a subtle hint of rose. It has a barely there shimmer-frost finish with semi-opaque color. I can see this being a great shade to pair with dark smoky eyes or a stronger cheek.
• Rose Dentelle is a soft neutral rose with a part glossy, part frosty finish. It has light shimmer of iridescent lilac and pink that flash when the light hits your lips just right. Like Chintz, it gives nearly opaque coverage but not quite. Chintz and Rose Dentelle look very, very similar when swatched on skin, but they look more distinct on lips.
• Chalys is a darkened coral with a stronger orange tone. It has the same half-glossy, half-shimmery finish that most Rouge Cocos have. I found Chalys to be more opaque than the other two, which was nice.

Admittedly, I am a huge fan of summery shades–I’m always drawn to them.  These shades feel very summer to me, though they’ll certainly pair well with fall’s more dramatic eyes and cheeks and be a nice reprieve from the darker, vampier lip trend we always see pop up in the season.

I like the Rouge Coco formula a lot–it feels incredibly lightweight on lips without being drying.  They’re not the most moisturizing lipsticks, but they’ve never deprived my lips of their natural moisture, either.  Each shade applied smoothly, evenly, and didn’t require a lot of product to get a good amount of color coverage.  I also find these shades to be practical and wearable, but they’re not boring either.

Which of the new Rouge Cocos is your favorite?

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

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

RECOMMENDATION: For a lightweight lipstick that still packs a good punch of color, Rouge Coco makes a good choice. If you’re jonesing for new-for-fall products but still want summer wearability, these shades are right on the money. You could probably opt for Chintz or Rose Dentelle rather than both, but if you’re a fan of lighter lip shades, you may find it hard to resist getting both!

AVAILABILITY: July 2010

See more photos & swatches!

Chanel Rouge Cocos: Chintz, Rose Dentelle, Chalys

Chanel Rouge Cocos: Chintz, Rose Dentelle, Chalys

Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Rouge Cocos: Chintz, Rose Dentelle, Chalys

Chanel Chintz Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Chintz Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Rose Dentelle Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Rose Dentelle Rouge Coco Lipstick