Chanel Camelia de Chanel Illuminating Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Camelia de Chanel
Chanel Camelia de Chanel Illuminating Powder ($70.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a light, golden beige with warm undertones and a soft, sparkling sheen. There was both finer, more luminous shimmer and slightly larger, more noticeable sparkles in this product.
Chanel says the formula is supposed to be a “sheer highlighting powder.” The texture was fairly smooth, not at all dusty or powdery, and denser but not stiff or difficult to get product onto a brush. The included brush certainly worked for applying to the face, though I still preferred a myriad of other highlighting and blush brushes in my arsenal. It had more medium coverage than sheer, though with a lighter touch, sheer coverage was certainly possible. The coverage was also buildable to full with two to three layers, which I think made it a more versatile product. The highlighter didn’t emphasize my skin’s natural texture unless worn at more semi-opaque to opaque coverage, and then there was slight emphasis. On my normal-to-dry skin, it wore well for eight hours before fading noticeably.
Top Dupes
- Cover FX Celestial (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Glam Light (Star Glow) (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Bobbi Brown 24 Karat (P, $46.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Burberry No. 02 Nude Gold (LE, $68.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Exposed (P, $28.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Chisme (LE, $7.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Guerlain Liu (LE, $88.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Tarte Authentic (LE, $28.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Hu$tla Baby (PiP, $36.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop A Smile and a Song (LE, $10.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
I’m breathing a sigh of relief there are decent dupes for this, though the camellia embossing is so pretty
Me too, Katherine! It’s nice when there are lots of options when something is this pricey!
This seems pretty, but not $70 worth of special to me, lol! That seems to be how I react to a lot of Chanel cosmetic products. Those new lip crayons, though, look like they might be something special.
That’s how I felt, Fran! It was pretty, done nicely enough, but light gold highlighters are plentiful these days!
Funny enough I didn’t find this highlighter to resemble the Filmstar once applied on me! Camélia appears really beige while Filmstar is more golden. I think my pink undertone must be the reason behind it! ?
I believe I noted that it was warmer in the post!
Indeed!
That’s wild that Becca Moonstone is LESS shimmery because it’s one that I find quite shimmery. I was hoping this one from Chanel would suck. Still, I’m not sure that it’s $70 worth of wonderful but I might give it a try and a buy if I find it at my local Chanel counter.
Okay, I just looked at this side by side with your swatch of Moonstone and Moonstone actually looks nicer. It’s smoother and when you see the side-by-side swatches in the Dupe List, it’s easy to see the larger glitter particles in the Chanel vs the smoother all-over texture of the Becca.
Becca has finer shimmer but more of it in a way – like it has stronger finish on the cheeks!
Less sparkly is probably more accurate!
Oh, the one listed in the top list in the review is for the Poured version, which is the cream compact and definitely is less shimmery! Regular Moonstone (pressed powder) is listed as more shimmery and lighter (85%).
It sure looks lovely…especially the beautiful embossed flower pattern! But I’m not as convinced that it’s $70 worth of lovely or beautiful, however. Unless I never used it so it would be more of a keepsake item, and that’s just not something I would be into doing.
I think you could definitely replicate the effect with lots of other products (including ones I bet you have) for sure 🙂
The design is gorgeous as one would expect from a brand like CHANEL! I got an LE blush (Sunrise) from a collection collections ago but honestly, these LE designs felt more like something to keep and display than use 😛
You should use the one you have! 🙂
Do you know if this will be available in Canada? We can’t purchase this from the site.
No idea 🙁
I got the Chanel highlighting powder (idk exactly how to spell it “Infiliment Chanel” it is camelia’s plain Jane diminutive little sister; it’s also not much cheaper than camelia; unfortunately it didn’t show up on me.) & Kyoto (I didn’t like this as a blush nor bronzer it was too Roségold) & returned both (blind bought both of them i got talked into on the phone into the infilliment & Kyoto as consolation prizes by phone operator & gave me gratis overnight shipping to sweeten the pot since I missed the first Camelia). I stayed up til midnight stalking Chanel.com the 2nd time they released more of these 1st time release sold out quick early in the morn, I highly rec’d the camelia Chanel it’s sublime w the Soleil tan de Chanel (I’m speaking of the moussey whipped product) for highlight & contour, be still my beating heart! Tan isn’t too dark, camelia isn’t too disco ball. I’m LLL NC20. They complement each other seamlessly well both warm beigy golden (not Roségold). If you want a moderate highlight (don’t think becca!!) this is awesome. The brush provided is great! I wish I could afford a back up lol & I hate marring the intricate design but ahhh it must be done. I don’t buy MU to collect pretty things–it has to be practical too! Who doesn’t adore pretty AND practical things?! The packaging is 100%!! the intricate embossing, red racy colored compact, the useful niche for a brush & nice mirror. Best $70 I’ve spent in a very long time. I feel so lux & glamorous using this & it’s not too OTT for everyday luxury Glam. But it can be built up for a gilt evening look. I’m going against the grain I kno when I’m saying this isn’t that easily dupeable. I got Coco Code, 2 lipsticks, 2 e/s quads. **winning!! (I can’t keep up w all of this new stuff!) sorry to see this big B+, I would have personally given it an A+ 🙂
The draw for me was the red compact and the embossed beauty inside but I was reminded this week that I have plenty of gold highlighers. Having recently splurged on the Lumieres de Koyoto and the Coco Codes harmony blushes, I decided to relieve my pocketbook on this one. I am curious about the highlighter in the next collection.
I think that’s a good call – it’s lovely but so many similar options on the market already!
I have the Mary Lou. But I have finished half of it. I would KILL for this!!! It’s so beautiful and stunning oh my gosh.
Decisions, Decisions!! My birthday IS coming up on the 11th. ahah
It is a pretty one!
It’s very pretty but not unique enough to justify the price for me. I have theBalm MaryLou Manizer already!
I agree – it’s not at all unique! Pretty, yes, but unique, not so much!
So pretty and the embossing is gorgeous, but so expensive.
OMG – a perfect dupe is good old Mary Lou!
It is a gorgeous shade!
I went to my local counter to pick up Code Subtils and noticed they had the Plisse Lumiere de Chanel but not this one. I’m in Canada so I’m not sure if we are getting the Camelia one too? Or perhaps the Plisse highlighter is what we get instead? Or maybe Chanel is doing two LE highlighters simultaneously!
You never know with Chanel!
J, Canada just released the *next* Chanel collection called ‘Energies et Puretes de Chanel Spring 2017″ and the Plisse Lumiere highlighter is part of that collection. It’s hasn’t been released in the US just yet.
HBC released Coco Codes and Energies within 2-3 weeks of each other. Will ask how Cdns are getting Chanel Camelia and perhaps those on Temptalia can provide some guidance.
I had been told that this is a boutique exclusive like a few other recent beauty items. Perhaps that was why you didn’t see it at your local C counter?
All I can say is hooray for dupes! I like the look of this highlighter, but $70 is a bit steep for me right now.
Phew! 🙂
Thank you Christine for such a thorough review, I have been eyeing this highlighter but I don’t think it is worth the price at a B+.
No problem, Maria!
My wallet is relieved. This is definitely too dark for me to use as a highlighter, and the swatches don’t wow me.
Pretty but I’d have to swatch on my crater cheeks 🙁
I ordered this from CHANEL, since I’m not sure if Canada will have it. I can’t wait for it to arrive, I loved the bronzer version from two years ago and I’m sure this one will be a go to in the next few months.
It is so pretty!
I won’t be buying it though, I already have four of the dupes. I think right now I am more concerned that I have four products that are so similar to each other! Why have I not caught that?!? 😉 Definitely a wake-up call…no more beige highlighters!
What a jewel of a product 🙂
If they hadn’t put in the larger sparkly particles I would be tempted, but now.. No. I have nice highlighters and Tarte’s Exposed is also still on my list!
I think that I will stick to my Moonstone and Mary-Lou. At this price I can get both, and I already have them in my collection. Once again, thank you for saving my money.
My pleasure, Debbie!
I purchased for keepsake reasons, and when I swatched it I’m glad that I didn’t intend on using it because it was way to glittery. Even though its has a champagne color, the beige undertones ended up looking ashy on my skin. Chanel doesn’t make products that flatter my skin tone so I wasnt surprised that this product didn’t work out. This will probably be my only Chanel purchase so I was okay taking a spurge. But if you’re looking to use this, I’d say skip it, as mentioned there are better options available.
Thank you for your review! I had been waiting for it for some time bc I have been on the fence about purchasing this…whew! So pretty but I agree with many of your readers that it’s not necessarily worth the $70. That said, still stoked I have the Camelia de Plumes highlighter from a few years ago – lol! 🙂
Thank you, Christine!
Thank the makeup gods I have dupes! It’s lovely and the embossing is just beautiful, but I’m leaving it to the collectors 🙂
I wish they re-promoted Camelia des Plumes, that one was very unique and sophisticated. This one is very dupable, I don’t think it’s worth the splurge
I hope it won’t be that expensive in France,probably 50 euros(55$) but I’m not sure.it’s not available yet.
will this be available anywhere else or is it sold out for good? ? thank you Christine ?
I believe it is sold out!