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Chanel Coromandel Rouge Allure Laque Review, Photos, Swatches, Lip Swatches


Chanel Coromandel Rouge Allure Laque

Chanel Coromandel Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00) is the first up in our seven days of Chanel Rouge Allure Laque feature. After last week’s experience with Chanel’s Dragon Rouge Allure Laque, I knew I had to have them all. There are eight shades in total, and I’ll introduce to each shade over the next week.

Coromandel is a fiery orange-based red with just a flicker of orange shimmer that’s very, very subtle. It applies evenly with ease (which is a huge OMG-YES! factor from this product, period), and it feels like a satiny, lightly creamy lip color that hugs lips without drying them out (in fact, hydrating). It has a glossy sheen that lasts for hours, which does fade when you eat/drink through a whole meal, but the color itself hangs on like a trooper–see the evidence here. Coromandel goes on opaque in one layer; there’s no real need to layer here. I usually just slip out the applicator and apply with whatever is on it and I’m good to go.

The only downsides of Rouge Allure Laques are that they’re pricey at $32 a pop. The packaging is solid black with a slight glossy appearance–it’s subtle and sleek. To rationalize the price a bit (at least for myself), I consider this pretty much a wear-and-go lip color–that means it’s a gloss and a lipstick in one. There’s absolutely no need to layer on additional lip products with these, because the color is so intense and pigmented and the product itself has the look of a lipstick with a gloss over it… there’s literally no need. This makes it a two-for kind of deal, but it’s also superb for traveling or touch-ups. Get fancy lip color with no fuss!

I personally do prefer Dragon over Coromandel for a red, but I find myself drawn to more neutral reds–“true reds”–over orange-y reds. They’re both beautiful shades, and I’m sure there are some who prefer Coromandel over Dragon and vice versa!

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

Recommendation: If you love orange-based reds with lots of sizzle and pop, check out Coromandel!

Availability: Nordstrom

See photos and swatches


Coromandel (#72), Imperial (#73), Dynastie (#74), Dragon (#75)

69 Comments

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claudia Avatar

Thanks Christine ! After your post about Dragon I tried to find swatches on the web and thought Coromandel was a bit darker than Dragon but it isn’t! I think Dragon is prettier!! Glad you’ll swatch them all for us 🙂

Alexis Avatar

Good to know – I’m a NC45, myself! And yes, I’m a big fan of the Dragon. I really need to muster the courage to just try that shade on without wincing…

Alexis Avatar

hahhaha – okay you got me! And you did look like the HOTNESS for your pre-birthday dinner look. I love the neutral eye/red lip combo – it’s a very clean and sophisticated look!

Carrie Avatar

Gorgeous and easy to apply? I may have to have them all now! Do you think they would all work for an NW15 skintone? I have Dragon on the way to me right now 🙂

Christine Avatar

They have some bolder shades, but if you’re cool with Dragon, probably 😉 It’s really a matter of taste, but I like them all – definitely some shades (like Coromandel) that I won’t wear often, but the formula is amazing that I am eager to wear them all! I need more lips!

Nicole Avatar

wow what a pop of color, I’m scared to wear red lips I have fair skin with red under tones, not to sure where to start for a good red lip color please help

Shelly Avatar

I’m dyiiing for one of these! Do you have an opinion over whether Coromandel or Dragon would look better on a brown-eyed, black-haired, light-medium yellow-golden Asian skintoned gal? Dragon looks so gorgeous and I always hear differing opinions on whether or not orange-red or blue/berry-red looks better on us. Also, I’m also color shy, but I’m dying to take a stab at these gorgeous colors.

Melissa Avatar

Do you know which one would look the best out of the new ones for a NW20 blue eyed dark brown hair girl? 🙂 Would be awesome to have one that’s work friendly too!! For a department store 😉

amanda h. Avatar

I bought the coromandel over the dragon because I felt the dragon was pretty similar to ysl rouge volupte in red taboo… however the texture is sooo different im contemplating picking up dragon anyway! I still love coromandel for its sex appeal… makes me feel empowered when I wear it 😉

Andrea Avatar

I’m glad you’ve finally swatched the lip laques! There aren’t much around on the internet. I have coromandel and I love it. I was planning to get more for ages but I always shied away from Dragon, fearing that it’d look too cool on my Asian skin. Is that a valid concern though?

Kim Avatar

Hmm I think Dragon is prettier than this one. I swatched all of them today and i really like it and the peach/pink one as well. But I forgot the name LOL.

This saturday I get 25% off (AND my 15% staff discount) on all cosmetics in the department store where I work, a good reason to pick up Dragon.

rashmi Avatar

hey christine
this is just to tell u how much i loveeeeeeeeeeee watching ur videos
u know its so funny whenever m surfing net i keep one window open with ur videos i really like ur must have series…
and u know whenever u say “subscribe” i laugh on those people who would not subscribe after watching ur videos or website ( now u also smile and then laugh hahahaha)
love temptalia
u know i cant remember when i got to know abt ur site but it is recent that its my daily routine to check ur site 2 – 3 times a day and u know i use to tell my hubby “hey this is the site where all MAC information is posted first ” actually i didnt knew much abt blogging and all so thats why 🙂

nkauj Avatar

Aw man, I totally want this lipgloss/lipstick/whatever it is. LOL I can’t wait to see the other swatches. Coromandel is too orange for me. Dragon would probably be the perfect red for me! But I’m really looking forward to seeing the other colors before I fork over $$$ for one. 😀 Thanks for all your swatches and reviews!

Ashley Avatar

I second that!
Any good (and cheap of course) balms or exfoliating methods to keep lips fresh and hydrated? Most balms lately have been breaking me out around the lip line when used too often 🙁

This is such a lovely lip colour. Probably not for my skin tone though. Seems pricey. How many ounces/grams/mL are in this? If there is a good amount, I’d possibly consider putting one of these on my Christmas list haha.

Oh and, have you used any similar products that are cheaper but give similar results?

Christine Avatar

I just put on Vaseline at night! I do exfoliate 2-3x per week. I usually exfoliate shortly before doing lip swatches, actually. I’ll either use my Peter Thomas Roth lip kit, Sara Happ’s Lip Scrub, or recently, Korres’ Lip Scrub. You can always just use a warm wash cloth or sugar and oil.

Imelda Avatar

Hi Christine!
Can you think of any dupes for Coromandel in another brand? I love the color but I’m not sure I will use it enough to validate spending that kind of cash on it. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Christine Avatar

I was thinking Giorgio Armani’s #401, but you also want cheaper, so that doesn’t work. Lady Danger by MAC is kind of in the same family, though it *may* be a little more orange. Urban Decay’s Revolution is also a bit similar but not as orange as Coromandel!

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