Chanel Carte Blanche & Penombre Ombre Premiere Top Coats Reviews & Swatches
Carte Blanche (317)
Chanel Carte Blanche (317) Ombre Premiere Top Coat ($36.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a pale white with neutral-to-warm undertones and a sparkling finish. It had semi-sheer pigmentation, as expected, that worked well for layering on top of other eyeshadows to add sparkle or applied all over the lid for a sparkly wash of product.
The texture felt lightly emollient but was flakier–like I could sense a bit of powder in the base but there was a moderate amount of flake-like sparkle that came off the surface. The product applied with minimal fallout, though it had the least fallout when applied with fingertips (one of the suggested methods of application per the brand). It wore well for eight hours with light fallout over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Like a Rockstar (PiP, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Cle de Peau Les Annees Folles #8 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #15 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Chanel Modern Glamour #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- LORAC Gluten Free (LE, $19.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Give Me Glow Icicle (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Plumluxe #1 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Fresh Innocence (LE, $17.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Burberry Optic White (000) (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Letty Lynton (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$36.00/0.08 oz. - $450.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "add a shimmering veil" over eyeshadow and can be used "alone onto eyelids for a wet effect" or on top of other eyeshadows using "fingertips or the included applicator" (which is a sponge-tipped applicator). They can definitely be patted on top of any eyeshadow to add a sparkling effect. I'd describe the actual product as semi-transparent, but there was finer shimmer and what seemed to be base pigment coming through.
The formula had semi-sheer coverage, but it could easily be built up or packed on, and if it was applied with a wet brush, it was more semi-opaque. They packed quite a bit of flatter, flecky sparkle, which tend to lay flatter and adhere better to skin than sparkly eyeshadows from a decade ago. The formula had light fallout when applied dry with a brush and more minimal fallout when applied with fingertips or the included applicator (the latter two methods being as suggested by the brand). They lasted for eight hours with light fallout over time.
Browse all of our Chanel Ombre Premiere Top Coat swatches.
Ingredients
Carte Blanche (317)
LELimited Edition. $36.00.
Penombre (327)
Chanel Penombre (327) Ombre Premiere Top Coat ($36.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a light-medium, green-leaning pewter with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling finish. This shade had a more noticeable base pigment to it as it noticeably added color wherever it was applied, but it was still more transparent and had sheer to semi-sheer coverage in a single layer, which worked well as a “top coat.”
The texture felt smooth to the touch, lightly emollient but not too firmly packed into the pan, so it picked up well a dry brush, wet brush, fingertip, or the included applicator (the latter two are the methods suggested by the brand). The product applied evenly and blended out easily on my skin, though some of the sparkles spread a bit further than I would have wanted, so I’d recommend using smaller, more precise brushes if placement is a concern. I had very minimal fallout during application, and there was only a smidgen more after eight hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- KVD Beauty Melancholia (DC, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Lisa Eldridge Mage (P, $16.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Dior Party in Colours #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Clarins Jade #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Seduce Glow (Enhance) (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel Modern Glamour #1 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Imperial Credit (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Constellation (864) #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Sydney Grace Heart-dog (P, $6.25) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- KVD Beauty Hairspray (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$36.00/0.08 oz. - $450.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to "add a shimmering veil" over eyeshadow and can be used "alone onto eyelids for a wet effect" or on top of other eyeshadows using "fingertips or the included applicator" (which is a sponge-tipped applicator). They can definitely be patted on top of any eyeshadow to add a sparkling effect. I'd describe the actual product as semi-transparent, but there was finer shimmer and what seemed to be base pigment coming through.
The formula had semi-sheer coverage, but it could easily be built up or packed on, and if it was applied with a wet brush, it was more semi-opaque. They packed quite a bit of flatter, flecky sparkle, which tend to lay flatter and adhere better to skin than sparkly eyeshadows from a decade ago. The formula had light fallout when applied dry with a brush and more minimal fallout when applied with fingertips or the included applicator (the latter two methods being as suggested by the brand). They lasted for eight hours with light fallout over time.
Browse all of our Chanel Ombre Premiere Top Coat swatches.
Ingredients
Wow, love the green look on you, just stunning.
I mean, they’re pretty, but I any number of top coat shades in palettes that I can use without having to spend $36 for a single. Sorry, Chanel.
Doesn’t the sponge applicator just crack you up?
LOL! Yes! There’s just no way to make those not look cheap. I’m uncouth and just use my fingertips for toppers.
Don’t knock Chanel’s “sponge tip” applicators – they are actually VERY good and I regret having tossed the first ones I ever got. They have a sponge “core” but are actually covered with a very fine layer of what seems like cotton flannel – if you take a good look, you’ll see what I mean. And they work amazingly well, at least with their regular shadows.
I’ll admit I’ve never tried Chanel’s. My eyes are too bad, even with my glasses, to tell they’re flannel-wrapped in the pictures. That would make a difference. I withdraw my judgment on them until I actually use them. (And while I use fingers for toppers, I do occasionally use run-of-the-mill sponge-tips for ColourPop SSS and a few other items. They’re cheap, but useful…sometimes!)
Rachel, if you ever see them in-store, take a look (usually the applicators are gone from the counter displays but a SA will surely help you, I would hope). They really are different even from other high end brands that include a sponge applicator because the actual surface that touches your skin is NOT sponge. I hope you get a chance to check them out, at least, so you can see I’m not lying to you (as if I would!!!) Like I said, I was really amazed and then regretted my automatic discarding of them from my first few Chanel shadows and quads.
I have to agree with Mariella. I like Chanel’s applicators that come with the eyeshadows and am thankful they still include them. While sometimes I prefer a brush, the quality is definitely good enough that I use them all the time, especially when traveling.
I’d never think you were lying to me! I don’t get to the mall much, but next time I do, I’ll try to remember to visit a Chanel counter. Now I’m intrigued!
$36 for a little white eyeshadow? Really?
I mean, Chanel isn’t going to charge you less because it’s of a particular color etc. Pricing is usually based on where the brand wants to position themselves, e.g. Chanel is a designer brand and so the pricing will reflect that, regardless of product type, color, finish, and so on!
I totally get that, I should have left out the word “white”…lol!!
I adore the Chanel products I own (lipsticks, blush, eyeliners). $36 just seems like an awful lot of money for just one eyeshadow color, especially if it doesn’t earn an A+ from Temptalia!
Penombre looks lovely in the pan but a bit disappointing in the swatch. I’ll content myself with the dupes I have. I guess I’d rather have an actual shadow than one of these “top coat” type products.
Penombre is lovely for what I’d use it for: in conjunction with the Empriente du Desert quad to amp up the sparkle!
Great description on the textures: that couldn’t have been easy. Gotta dig out old CGB and Melacholia, though neither has the green tinge. CGB has had a gold shimmer for ~1/2 year on me, which it did not have before. Love that color family.
Thank you, KJH!
Hi Christine, Appreciate you do the reviews as always!!! But the comment i want to make the most is “oh wow” on the eye looks you created with this Chanel collection!!! Both looks are simply stunning. Cant wait for your review on the 2 new quads.
I have Penombre. I love sheer washes of color when I’m on the go and want something on my eyes. Its worked well for me and my NC30/35 skin. I don’t like to use this as a topcoat since I like my shadow colors – but I love this as a sheer wash of green which is something I have lacking in my collection of brown eyeshadows.
I finally saw the movie “Mean Girls” the other day and in the final scene(s) Lindsey Lohan is wearing a beautiful wash of a light lilac on her lids. The effect was much like these Chanel “topcoats”. I looked through my collection and couldn’t find anything that had the same effect. If one of these had been in that lilac family I might have splurged.
If anyone knows of a shear shadow like these, but light purple, please let me know!
I love the looks you have created Christine, but like Rachel, I don’t think I need a $36 ‘topcoat’ to an eye shadow. Penombre looks much denser in the pan than it does in the swatch and I prefer ABH’s Cyborg in the Sultry palette for the same effect.
Feeling the itch to get these, but I think it’s because I like the looks you did with them rather than because I actually like the products. Absolutely gorgeous work, Christine!