chanel rose initiale joues contraste

Top 10 of 2012: Blushes & Highlighters

Asking me to choose my favorite highlighter, by the way, is akin to making me choose favorites between (fur) children (if I had more than one). There were some seriously ga-ga-glowing highlighters launched this year, too! On the blush front, there were some great shades and formulas I tried and tested, but it was easier to narrow those down.

• bareMinerals Luminizer — two shades of shimmery bliss
• Burberry Earthy — beautiful brown
• NARS Gina — soft orange
• Tom Ford Lovelust — go-to coral blush
• Guerlain Wulong — glowy goodness
• Chanel Rose Initiale — easy pink
• Illamasqua Naked Rose — neutral pink
• Estee Lauder Sensuous Rose — pink-beige
• MAC Pro Longwear Bronzing Powders — beautiful texture
• Chantecaille Les Petales de Rose — lit-from-within glow

What was your favorite blush/highlighter from 2012?

Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush

Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush ($43.00 for 0.21 oz.) is described as “peach pink.” It’s a subtly yellow-toned medium pink with subtle peach shimmer that translates into more of a sheen. Tom Ford Frantic is much lighter and warmer–less pink. Bobbi Brown Nude Pink is much more blue-based. MAC Subtle Breeze is a smidgen darker, no shimmer. Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel is lighter and looks a bit warmer on cheeks. MAC Stunner is much lighter. MAC Mighty Aphrodite is less pink. Chanel Pink Explosion is a little lighter and blue-based.

New and not listed as limited edition (!), Rose Initiale will be a lovely go-to, everyday kind of color on light to medium-dark skin tones, regardless of undertone. It’s not too warm or too cool-toned. On deeper complexions, it may disappear somewhat, but I think it’s going to be a color that’s right on the edge, so if it really appeals to you, still check it out. The pigmentation is true-to-pan, and it’s buildable but blendable, so you can achieve the intensity you desire up to the color in the pan. Because the shimmer is very subtle, it looks and acts as more of a sheen; it doesn’t emphasize pores.

The texture of Chanel’s Joue Contraste formula (including this shade) is soft, silky-smooth, and a wee bit powdery because of just how finely-milled it is. Thankfully, it doesn’t look powdery at all on the skin. It has a very natural consistency and texture once applied. When I wore Rose Initiale, it managed to look good for a solid eight hours. It was starting to fade after nine hours.

The Glossover

P	Rose Initiale A
	It's a surprise blush color for fall, but I think it's incredibly wearable by a variety of skin tones. It wears well, blends beautifully, and has buildable color.
	Product 9.5/10 Pigmentation 9.5/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 5/5
	Where to Buy
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