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Rant & Rave: Chanel

Share: Tell us what you love and hate about Chanel!

my answer: I used to love a lot of their lip products, but their more recent releases have left me wanting more. I like their newer eyeshadow quads and Illusion d’Ombres, but despite more unique eyeliner shades, their eyeliner formula is painful to use. I love their highlighters, more often than not!

38 Comments

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Veronica Avatar

I haven’t bought a Chanel product in years! Usedto love their lipsticks, but they would go rancid really fast, average lipstick lifespan was around 6 months!

I also hate the texture of their eye shadows.

xamyx Avatar

I bought a lip quad several years ago, and it went bad after about 6 months, as well! I take very good care of my makeup, and store it in a cool, dry environment, so I know it wasn’t because I did something wrong, and reading your comment verifies that.

Sarah Avatar

That’s so strange! I bought a Chanel lipstick about 4 years ago that I still use. The formula/color has stayed consistent and everything.

Eileen Avatar

In general I like Chanel but I’ve grown weary of all the mini-releases that pop up continuously. One of the sharpest criticisms of MAC is the excessive number of releases but it works for MAC because they’re basically an inexpensive line geared towards the ever changing tastes and trends that are the hallmark of teens and twenty somethings. Does Chanel, a luxury brand that targets a more mature woman, really want to use that as its business model? 😛

Lisa Avatar

I bought a quad once and didn’t find that it was worth the price. I had a Revlon quad in almost exactly the same shades and it performed just as well. It wasn’t bad, it was good but not spectacular. I’ve never bought a full size foundations but anytime I’m at a counter (which isn’t often) I always get a generous sample! I go so infrequently they don’t remember me. :p

Eliz Avatar

When Chanel gets it right, it’s spectacular and everything a luxury product should be. Their Harmonie du Soir eyeshadow quad is my favorite of all-time and several of their Joues Contrase Blushes are just perfect. Rouge Coco Shine in Boy is also one of my favorites.

But, they tend to discontinue products (even best-loved products) more than I’d like. And, oddly, they rarely have pale enough foundations for truly porcelain skin.

Erin Avatar

Chanel and I have a confusing relationship. I try to buy cruelty-free brands. Chanel is currently in the grey zone on that front. They are making strides to stop using fur and they are trying to eliminate animal testing. Their perfumes, as I understand it are no longer tested on animals but the cosmetics can be. That and heavily fragranced products are my only beef.

What I love:

1. The new reformulated quads
2. Most of their lips products are nice
3. Chanel Le Volume is a good high-end mascara
4. Their LE perfume line
5. Blushes and highlighters are always great
6. The eyeshadow singles are almost always good
7. Their nail formulas and colors are nice
8. Their click pen concealer
9. Les Beige
10. Their lightest rose shade is perfect for my summer skin

Overall, I love their collections as a whole. They always walk the line between classic and bold.

Nikki Avatar

Their nail polishes wear really, really poorly on me. Like, I wouldn’t pay drugstore prices for them even though Chanel does some beautiful colors. They often peel off my fingers in giant sheets when I take a shower, it’s the oddest thing.

I did like their Illusion d’Ombre mousse shadow/liner thingies. I didn’t find them to be longwearing or competitive in terms of shelf life but they are beautiful and I love very high shimmer suspended in a creamy base. Mirifique was what MAC Black Tied should be.

I’m a little curious about their blushes, but never enough to actually pull the trigger on one. IN general, their aesthetic doesn’t resonate with me.

Gail Avatar

I love Chanel’s Joues contraste blushes and their lip products, especially the glossimers and new Rouge Coco lipsticks which I find very moisturizing. I also love the Stylo Yeux eyeliners; I have almost all of them and have only ever gotten one “painful” one. I’m sorry you always seem to get bad ones. 🙁 I know I’m in the minority but I prefer their original powder eyes shadows to the new baked quads. My biggest gripe is that their products are too highly scented, especially their skincare, and I wish they would leave out both the fragrance and the alcohol in their foundations.

Andrea K Avatar

For whatever reason.. Almost nothimg of this brand appeals to me. I love the mascara Le Volume. Really enjoy some lipsticks, but that’s it to me. Oh…male perfumes are great. Female perfumes are just too sweet and also Karl Lagerfeld leaves me quite indifferent. Not a fan at all.

Kuávsui Avatar

I’ve been wanting something from Chanel from the start of my beauty obsession, but having read reviews I can never find anything that would seem outstanding enough to justify the outrageous spending, not even at the duty-free. I have since directed my attention to other higher-end and luxury brands that seem (at least on the surface) to put a lot more effort in their product development. I would really like to know if they do have something life-changing in their selection because I am not averse to splurging once or twice a year, I just want that money to go towards something that will actually work and make me happy.

Rebecca Avatar

To be honest you should try their highlighters, they are definitely worth it and the hefty price tag <3 I love Chanel's nail polishes and highlighters, when I want to treat myself once in a blue moon!

fancie Avatar

I like their lipsticks, brushes, eyeliners and cream blushes. I just wish they were a little more versatile with the color range. There isn’t a lot of options for WOC. Especially when it comes to base products. I’d love to some more foundation and concealer shades

Kate Avatar

I only started collecting Chanel four or five years ago, but my impression of their brand has generally deteriorated since then. I don’t find that they’ve come close to competing with the innovations of other high end brands (including companies like Nars and Hourglass, whose products are generally less expensive) and they’ve culled a lot of original, standout colours from their cosmetic line.

I really like their cream blushes and their mascaras (both Inimitable Intense and Le Volume) and have heard nothing but good things about their new, permanent shadow palettes, but a lot of other launches have left me wanting. I don’t think that the relaunched Rouge Allure formula is significantly better than the old one (which I didn’t really care for, tbh). The new Rouge Allure Glosses are not as distinctive as the older, full-coverage glosses. I haven’t tried the new Rouge Coco shades, but already I’d say that what I’ve seen doesn’t strike me as an improvement on what they had before. I’ve had allergic reactions to the sparkly Illusion d’Ombre eye shadows, but the few that I’ve been able to handle have been very nice. On the other hand, they lose volume and turn into these weird little loose hickey pucks after a few months. They’re still usable, but I’d expect better performance from a prestige brand.

Leah Avatar

I have several things from Chanel that I love, but, and I can’t believe I’m saying this about such an iconic luxury brand, I find their packaging to be…cheap. Other luxury brands’ packaging has weight to it and Chanel’s is sort of light and not designed as well. For what the products cost, I expect *gorgeous* cases and packaging.

Mariella Avatar

I have more than a few colour cosmetics from Chanel (though no skin care, so far as I can recall) and as much as I really like some the products I have, I really do think I’m paying more for the name and the cachet than I am for actual quality.

Meghan Avatar

Rave: I absolutely love everything I own from Chanel; the foundations & Les Beiges powder, eye shadows, blushes (both powder & cream), the highlighter I own. I actually don’t have anything to rant about for Chanel! Maybe I’ve lucked out!

Nicole Avatar

I had some bad experiences with Chanel foundations when I was younger. Looking back, it was probably my skin not liking the foundation. I have always had pretty sensitive skin. Then it was sensitive,acne -prone…now sensitive, mild-rosacea prone. So, I pretty much have stayed away until I have seen good products on here mostly.What i hate. The hit and miss quality! It is a Luxury Line! I feel like I should walk up to that counter(or website) ,buy whatever,and it perform at an A+ rating. But, I love a lot of their blushes and lipsticks. But, I won’t buy a single thing without a review. I have been wanting to try some of their foundation as I have heard good things about them. But, my past experiences scare me. If I ever get to a counter and remember, I may ask for a sample.

Deborah Avatar

Rave: I absolutely love Chanel’s packaging! The iconic black with the gold CC logo is so pretty and so classy – and instantly recognizable. Love their blushes so much – I love the hint of the smell of roses too! No rants.

Lulle Avatar

I haven’t bought a product from Chanel in almost 10 years, with the exception of Inimitable mascara a few years ago. This is typically a brand that I think is generally not worth the splurge. I don’t like their image too much, it seems very “mature” and not in a good way. I’ve also been steadily disappointed by their makeup, which is why I completely stopped buying.

When it comes to beauty products, I’d rather turn to Dior, YSL or even Lancôme if I want a French luxury brand.

El Avatar

I’ve tried very little Chanel, due to the heavy fragrancing of their products, which tends not to agree with my allergies or my sensitive skin. The one lipgloss I have (Savage Grace) is very pretty but applies a tad unevenly. So that would be my rant.

My rave is the Vitalumiere Powder foundation. I tried it last fall during a beauty event when it was so brand new, the SA hadn’t actually tried it herself yet, lol. She put it on me and looked surprised because yeah, it was that brightening. It really gives a fantastic luminous satin finish. And while it is scented, it’s not too strong and it’s only noticeable whilst the powder is being applied – once it sets on the face, there is no smell. I absolutely love it. I usually use it layered over a BB cream, so it sets the BB and also provides extra coverage and that lovely glow.

Also? Vamp. The original, from the 1990s. I was a university student when that came out and ruffled the whole fashion world, and I think it was the first beauty product that I really properly coveted.

xamyx Avatar

I’m just hoping they’ll bring back Notorious, especially with the current contour trend… I just hate brands that do staple products as LE; I know other brands do it, but they at least bring in something comparable.

Mariella Avatar

Agree with this. Same with that recent highlighter – Les Plumes, I think it was called. Why not make it permanent and available at all Chanel counters (I didn’t look for it but had the sense it was only available in some locations). This is something that bugs me with a lot of brands, though – this “exclusivity” mishegoss and making us jump through hoops to purchase certain products.

Dez13 Avatar

I rant about Chanel for the same reason I rant about Philosophy skincare: as soon as I love a product they discontinue it! I’ve had it happen with five or six Chanel supposedly Non limited edition items over the years. If they’re going to discontinue a product within the year it is released, why don’t they just say it’s LE or at least a one season product? I tend to avoid most LE products unless it’s something I really, really want, and I’ve been avoiding Chanel the past year because I feel like I can no longer trust what the counter people say about whether an item is limited edition or not. And I really used to love their products. 🙁

Rachel R. Avatar

I’ve never used Chanel, so I can’t say much.

Rant: Too expensive. Reviews I read about there products are really mixed.

Rave: The colors look pretty in the pictures.

Veronica Avatar

It’s actually my favorite high end brand. Their lip products work well on me, as do the shadows, and it has some of my favorite packaging. So chic and minimalist!

Rants? Well, I agree that a brand with their level prestige shouldn’t be dropping duds. I also refuse to forgive them for discontinuing Rouge Noir and refusing to replace it with a comparable shade.

Ade Avatar

I prefer my skincare and makeup to be fragrance-free and Chanel’s products’ scent REALLY overpowering. I get headache whenever I use Chanel’s foundations/CC Cream.
Guerlain’s soft violet signature scent is the only bearable scented makeup/skincare for me.
Funny thing is, I like their perfumes but hate, hate, hate their makeup & skincare scent.

Dawn Avatar

I love Chanel foundations and all of their blush products. I really appreciate the fact that the eye and lip colors are more subtle and not intensely packed with pigment compared to some brands. I can do a really quick makeup without worrying that I’ll have to start over because color ends up in places it’s not supposed to be or looking over done.

I do wish that they would be more clear with how the product is intended to perform. If it’s meant to be sheer…say it….don’t say packed with pigment.

Anet Avatar

I like their packaging and design, the clasic glamour of it. My favourite Chanel product is the lipliner.

I do not like that everything is so heavily scented, which si the main reason why I neither try much Chanel on my sensitive skin.

Catherine Avatar

No other brand speaks to me like Chanel does; it is the only brand whose releases I research and plan ahead for. It’s just my thing. I have never been disappointed in terms of quality or service, maybe a lipstick here and there didn’t suit my skin tone, but that doesn’t bespeak a problem with quality. I already know what I’m expected to pay for high end products so price is really a moot point for me.

Cathy Avatar

I love Chanel blushes and Rouge Coco Shines, but really, not much else. I feel their eyeshadows are average quality at best, and the regular lipsticks (Rouge Allure?) are drying. The mascaras are decent but very expensive for a product that will last only 2-3 months. Chanel is a prestige brand and the cosmetics line, in general, doesn’t reflect that.

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