Chanel Rouge Fatal Le Vernis Review, Photos, Swatches
Chanel Rouge Fatal Le Vernis (Natural Light)
The Femme Fatale of Red
Chanel Rouge Fatal Le Vernis ($25.00 for 0.4 fl. oz.) is one of those OMGSEXY reds, and of course, limited edition. I’m actually very rarely tempted by red creams; they’re never bad and certainly aren’t disliked by me, but I never crave a creamy red. (I do, however, have a total love for shimmered/glittered reds, though.) Rouge Fatal (which I actually want to call Rouge Fatale!) is a deepened scarlet red with such richness. It’s darkened slightly by brown, which makes this a nice red on both cooler and warmer skin tones.
It’s still a bit glossy without a top coat, though I topped all of these with Zoya’s top coat (and used Zoya’s base coat underneath). This is incredibly pigmented, and I really debated just using one coat, but I went with two just in case. Now knowing that one coat is almost enough, I might try doing just one thicker coat and calling it a day; but if you’re short on time, two thinner coats would work, too, and I always find thinner coats dry faster.
Application is smooth and even; not a single issue when I applied this shade at all. It actually felt like the perfect consistency–not too thick, not too thin–as Chanel polishes sometimes feel rather thick (and though not problematic overall, may be harder to control, especially for those with smaller nail beds).
I’m contemplating doing a full manicure of this shade, just so I can hear my Dad crack, “Why are your nails bleeding?” Gotta love him — ironically, he reads Temptalia almost every day! My Mom heard my voice (coming from my dad’s office) at midnight the other week, and she raced out of bed figuring I was in a crisis, only to find him watching one of my YouTube videos, LOL.
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- Product: 30/30
- Value: 6/10
- Ease of Use: 5/5
- Packaging: 4/5
RECOMMENDATION: If you like high-end polishes and don’t mind the price, this is an excellent shade of red for fall.
AVAILABILITY: Chanel
Chanel Rouge Fatal Le Vernis
Chanel Rouge Fatal Le Vernis (Natural Light)
Chanel Rouge Fatal Le Vernis (Natural Light)
Chanel Rouge Fatal Le Vernis (Natural Light)
Chanel Rouge Fatal Le Vernis (Natural Light)
Chanel Rouge Fatal Le Vernis (Flash)
LoL your Dad sounds adorable!
He is!
Such a sexy color! <3
Pretty! Amazing to me how many shades of red there actually exist! And LOL, your parents are so precious 🙂
I know, right? Haha. So many!
wow it does look like blood perfect if your into Vampires perfect for halloween. Do you think this is a dupe for essie’s Limited addicted? Aww… that is a really sweet story about your dad…
Limited Addicted seems more blue-based, not quite as dark and doesn’t have that brown touch that this one does. They ARE similar, but they’re not 100% the same. It’s also a bit jelly-ish while this is definitely creamy.
That’s adorable, your dad sounds like a total sweetheart! haha
He definitely is! 😀
SOOO CUTE about your parents!! 🙂 🙂 I like that shade but I’d wear it on my toes.
LOL! Then my Dad would say your toes are bleeding!!
Wow, what a gorgeous red! It does look like blood lol. How awesome of your parents to be so supportive of Temptalia 😀
I am forever in their debt for all of their support!
how does it compare to the essie one far fall? thanks
Hey Eva,
Here’s Essie’s: http://www.temptalia.com/essie-fall-2010-collection-review-photos-swatches
It’s more blue-based, a little lighter/brighter. They’re similar, but Rouge Fatal definitely has brown to it.
I am curious why did this get an A- but the Les Khakis collection a B+? You mentioned it was because of the price but both are the same price.
Formula here was perfect – 30/30 – and application was flawless so it was easy to use 5/5. That’s 4% higher 😉
oh I see, thanks for the great explaination! 🙂
Love it, have it. A very wearable red fpr office.
Beautiful color-very classy!
this is a nice red! I’m not a “creamy red” person either. and your Dad is cute!
Thanks 😉
I very lovely blood red. 🙂
Im not reallying a red person but this is beautiful… this is off topic but i wanted to ask where you do you live? I think i remember somthing about san fransisco or somthing. just woundering. Thanks!
Yep, SF Bay Area!
I am not really into reds,
but this one I can really apreciate and love 🙂
And how sweet of your dad to watch your videos at midnight !!
I wonder what he thinks, LOL! I’m like, “Does he even understand what I’m talking about?!”
I prefer my reds more blue based than brown but the chanel names make them seem so sexy and covetable! Go chanel marketing
Wow what a red. I’d be tempted but I only paint my toenails, I think it’d be a waste for the price for me since so few people would get to see it! Could you recommend any close dupes that are more moderately priced?
I can’t think of any great dupes 🙁
Wow!
I’m contemplating doing a full manicure of this shade, just so I can hear my Dad crack, “Why are your nails bleeding?” <—HAHAHA gotta love those Dad jokes.
Pretty nail polish, I'm always on the hunt for the perfect red.
I know, right? Ahh, they remind me of when I was a kid 😀
Absolutely gorgeous! Christine, you paint nails impeccably.
Thanks, Caroline!
Love the color but wouldn’t spend the $$ for it.
OMG I just drooled
this is SUCH a sexy color! I must have it, and I want a lip color that matches it exactly!
I love that colour! (:
Also, your dad reminds me of my dad. That makes me happy.
Aw 😀
I own ZERO chanel varnishes, but this one is beautiful. Maybe this will be my splurge for this paycheck. Thanks you Christine!!!
Yes!!! I will DEFINITELY be buying this. Reminds me of Sephora by OPI’s Personal Shopper(: but I might have to have this one too…(:
OMG Christine! When I skimmed the title I read Rouge FatalE (in my head) and it wasn’t until I read that you wanted to call it Rouge Fatale that I realized that I read it wrong ! LOL
Haha!! Glad I wasn’t alone!
This is an amazing color, and I’m telling myself I can wait until next week to buy it. I don’t think it will work. LOL
Love that your dad reads your blog all the time. That’s awesome!
looks awesome! are there two chanel LE collections out at the same time? (ie this and the khakis?)
your p’s sound so cute!
Yep, there are! Both are very… celebratory, I suppose. Not quite the normal seasonal collection!
How does this compare to Essie Limited Addiction? Could you do some comparison swatches? Thanks!
They’re totally different – Limited Edition is a lot browner.
I love it – it’s a proper 80’s power red. On short nails it looks really modern though. I bet it would also look smashing as a pedi.
I haven’t used red nail polish in years, but this is a pretty color.
Its a good colour. But I don’t love it enough to pay $26. Paradoxal was another story.
I LOVE this. Can you think of any dupes though? I just shouldn’t spend that much on one freaking nail polish. I saw an OPI shade called Prune Danish that looked similar but I don’t think it’s available any more. Also, what lipsticks would you say are this similar shade of browned red?
Any ideas on this yet?
I looked around but couldn’t really find anything that seemed quite right. If any brand had a dupe, it’d probably be OPI, though – with as many reds as they put out!
I can’t think of a dupe. Another reader suggested Limited Addiction by Essie, which is in the same vein, but it’s darker and not as red!
Sally Hansen complete manicure in Red Zin is nearly identical! Just needs an extra coat to be as opaque. Much closer than limited addicted, I compared the three on my toes this weekend 🙂
That’s totally something my dad would say…and my bf’s dad…LOL. Just dad jokes all around. I love this red! I don’t buy a lot of Chanel polishes–I think I own three–but I might cave on this one. 🙂
Haha!!
I love this colour! I’m wearing it on my toes right now heh… It looks almost like a brownish deep red on me which I LOVE.
Ooh I’ve never owned a red nail polish, but now, this one is going to be a member of my nail polish family.
This looks exactly like NARS M.Butterfly Nail Polish!
I’ve never looked at a bottle of nail polish and gone “OH.MY.GOD” before. This feels so classy and quintessentially Chanel. I have to have it. Throwing away my budget for VV for this.
The story about your Dad is the cutest thing ever! My Dad would never do that, but only because he doesn’t even know how to turn on a computer, haha!
LOL! Both my parents were originally computer programmers, so it helps!
gorgeous colour! lol your dad is funny!
I really like this one! I have Lotus Rouge but this is a totally different shade of red!
Christine-
I freaked for a second when you mentioned how it seems like it should be “fatale” and then I remembered rouge is masculine. Yes, I am a language nerd.
Let’s blame it on the gorgeousness of this color, d’accord?
Agreed 🙂
WOW you have instantly made me want this color! Absolutely stunning.
that’s a beautiful color – but I LOVE that your dad watches your videos. that is SO cute!
I know! I can only imagine what goes through his head, though!
SUCH a gorgeous red. I neeeed this collection!
OMG I LOVE THIS COLOR!!!!!!
That is a beautiful red, I always love to crack out the scarlet colours come fall. I am wearing MAC Concubine right now and love love love it.
That is SO cute about your Dad Christine 🙂
Lovin’ this nail color – may even part with the $25 to get it – hmmm
🙂
I generally hate Chanel’s polishes: The shades are fantastic but the brush and the texture of the polish are way off: Would you say that this one is very different to the others?
Hmm, I have not had any experiences with the brush/texture that were bad, to be honest!
Wow this colour is gorgeous. I want to get it but before I do (if available in Canada) I would like your opinion on whether this is the same shade as ‘Dragon’ and ‘Gondola’? What are your thoughts?
I don’t have either of those shades to compare 🙁 I googled a bit, and Gondola seems berry while Dragon doesn’t seem very brown.
Hello Christine, the shade is beautiful – hands down. I’ve bought it as soon as I saw it, and I’m very happy I did. You just can’t go wrong with a Chanel red.
Question – what Chanel lipstick (especially from the COCO line) would you pair with it? I know they used Rivoli for the show, but it seemed blue-based when I swatched it myself. Any hints/ideas?
I would really appreciate it.
Thank you in advance!
Maybe Passion!
Just purchased Rouge Fatal from my Macys… I am in love. It is so stunning.
Thanks for doing a review on it.
Love your website btw.
Thank you, Carolyn! So glad you love it!
Do you know of a good dupe for this color?
Essie’s Limited Addiction is the closest I know of but it’s darker.