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Chanel Alchimie, Elixir, Mysterious Le Vernis Nail Colours Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour ($27.00 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “golden khaki.” It’s a warm-toned, golden-shimmered olive green with threads of metallic shimmer. It’s warmer, more yellow-toned, than a true olive green. I used two thicker coats to minimize streakiness (thin coats produced quite a bit of that), and while it self-leveled somewhat, there was still a good deal of visible brush strokes with this shade. OCC Ripley is much darker, more blackened and less green.  The consistency seemed a little watery. Cult Nails in a Trance has less shimmer, so it appears darker. China Glaze Peac eon Earth is more metallic, warmer. China Glasze Agro is much darker. See comparison swatches.

Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour ($27.00 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “milky pink.” Not sure where milky pink comes from, but it’s a warm-toned, strawberry pink with a cream finish. This shade was almost fully opaque in one coat, but I still applied two for consistency (and sometimes, it looks opaque in person but the macro version will show visible nail line). It applied well, too, with even, fluid color and no pooling or streaking. Rescue Beauty Lounge Smile has slight pearl and is a touch brighter/redder. MAC Vivid Effect is warmer. MAC Impassioned is slightly lighter. Chanel Fracas is pinker and lighter. Deborah Lippmann Girls Just Want to Have Fun is warmer, more orange. See comparison swatches.

Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour ($27.00 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “deep khaki.” It’s a deep, dark olive green with a cream finish. It applied evenly and easily with full color coverage in two coats. MAC Fatigues is lighter/ Dior Amazonia is very similar. Chanel Khaki Brun is greener, lighter. Deborah Lippmann Billionaire is cooler-toned, darker. See comparison swatches.

Both Elixir and Mysterious were quite nice and exactly what one would want from a high-end polish: richly pigmented, easy to apply, and a natural shine.  Alchimie was more troublesome and requires a very patient, steady hand to minimize streakiness and to keep the brush stroke from going wonky (I lack the steady hand, unfortunately!).  I typically get a week out of Chanel’s formula with minor tip wear but no chipping.

Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Alchimie (591) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Elixir (589) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour

Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour
Chanel Mysterious (601) Le Vernis Nail Colour

25 Comments

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Maya Avatar

Finally someone else who says, what??? Milky pink?? Where? Every other blogger is writing… Milky pink describes the color accurately. I thought I’m the only one going huh! I was really excited for a nice milky pink (thinking Essie Fiji .. Dior Tutu) in a streak free formula but alas… This is no milky pink for me. It’s like some dull, muted coral/pink.

Maya Avatar

Idk. I’ve always seen those opaque baby pinks described as milky pink so maybe that’s stuck in my head. Because milk looks white and opaque and pink mixed in makes it milky pink ..Made sense. The ballerina sort of colors seem like sheer, soft pinks to me 🙂

helen Avatar

Hi Christine,
I was waiting for your swatches of the Mysterious polish and your swatches did not disappoint (IMO).
What i can’t seem to see is what grade you gave this polish. By your description, i assume that it’s around an A (i hope…)? Maybe it’s just my computer.

Ceebee Avatar

Elixir is one of the most classic colors I think they’ve ever done. It’s timeless. I purchase a ridiculous amount of indie polish and those are great, but once in a while you want a real classic shade and this is it. I absolutely LOVE it.

Wwendalynne Avatar

Mysterious is really cool. A lot of these funky neutral/khaki greens can look a tad like baby poo kaka, but this one looks totally workable and wearable to me. I’m less enthused about Alchimie. Elixir is pretty, but not quite a unique.

VickyM Avatar

Alchimie looks great, but I´m not sure I need it, I already have Peridot and this is also green, maybe I should pick up Taboo, Quartz or Paradoxal instead…

Kristine Avatar

I’m glad I got Elixir instead of Alchimie. Elixir is not a unique color but it is quite lovely. I’ve wore it on my nails twice and it lasted about a week each time. Alchimie may be a rare color but it’s not something I would wear very often. I don’t regret not getting it, especially after reading this review.

beachgal Avatar

Nothing earth shattering here – I can live without all of em…esp for the price and they don’t last on me very well – I get a better manicure from OPI and a few other brands.

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