Chanel Red Camellia No. 1 Lip & Cheek Balm Review & Swatches
Red Camellia (1)
Chanel Red Camellia (1) No. 1 de Chanel Lip & Cheek Balm ($45.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a light-medium, pink-red with subtle, cool undertones and a soft sheen. It was dewier on my lips for longer than my cheeks, as it seemed to dry down slightly to a more satin-like sheen–not fully set though.
It had semi-sheer, buildable pigmentation that applied well with fingertips or a fluffy, synthetic brush for cheeks, and despite having a slightly thicker, lightly tacky texture, it actually applied beautifully over foundation as well as on top of bare skin. It started to migrate more noticeably after seven and a half hours of wear.
As a lip product, it applied more precisely with a lip brush, and it was very easy to build up and spread out the product for an even layer of coverage. The texture seemed to “melt” on my lips, which helped it from clinging to lip texture. It lasted for three and a half hours as a lip balm and was moisturizing over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
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Formula Overview
$45.00/0.23 oz. - $195.65 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "nourishing, buttery formula" that "melts into skin" and add a "touch of colour." The brand recommended dabbing it on lips and/or cheeks, though it could be used with precise brushes if desired. I found fingertips worked well for both methods, though as a lip product, I could see a standalone lip brush being more ideal (I feel like I needed more product on my lips than for my cheeks).
The texture was like a thicker gel with noticeable tackiness, so I was very surprised that the product applied well on top of foundation and wasn't prone to lifting it up. On my cheeks, it dried down noticeably, though not fully, so it had a satiny sheen but did not appear as dewy as initially applied. On my lips, it retained more shine for longer, but it wasn't particularly long-wearing as a lip product.
It had sheer to semi-sheer, buildable pigmentation, which was most readily achieved on my lips. The light tackiness and thickness of the product seemed to help it work well on my lips as a lot of tinted lip balms are often so thin that they are prone to settling into my lip lines or catching on texture imperfections.
They lasted seven to eight hours as a cheek product before migrating a bit, and they lasted two to four hours as a lip product and were hydrating to wear.
Browse all of our Chanel No. 1 de Chanel Lip & Cheek Balm swatches.
Ingredients
CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE | OLEIC/LINOLEIC/LINOLENIC POLYGLYCERIDES | POLYGLYCERYL-2 ISOSTEARATE/DIMER DILINOLEATE COPOLYMER | DIISOSTEARYL MALATE | CASTOR OIL/IPDI COPOLYMER | DEXTRIN ISOSTEARATE | C8-12 ACID TRIGLYCERIDE | CANDELILLA CERA (EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX) | CAMELLIA OLEIFERA SEED OIL | GLYCERYL BEHENATE/EICOSADIOATE | SILICA | CAMELLIA JAPONICA SEED OIL | ISOSTEARIC ACID | TOCOPHEROL | PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) | [+ / - (MAY CONTAIN) | CI 12085 (RED 36) | CI 15850 (RED 6) | CI 15850 (RED 7 LAKE) | CI 15985 (YELLOW 6 LAKE) | CI 17200 (RED 33 LAKE) | CI 19140 (YELLOW 5 LAKE) | CI 42090 (BLUE 1 LAKE) | CI 45380 (RED 22 LAKE) | CI 45410 (RED 28 LAKE) | CI 73360 (RED 30 LAKE) | CI 77163 (BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE) | CI 77491, | CI 77492, | CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES) | CI 77742 (MANGANESE VIOLET) | CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) | MICA] | IL58A-III
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
It’s such a letdown that this product isn’t RED red, imo. 🙁 It looks so striking in the packaging! I wish it had more oomph when applied.
What’s the difference between this and Rituel de Fille’s color nectar balms for half the price? Explain it like I’m five. Bloodflower is like exactly this.
Sorry, I haven’t tried those!
Well, the most obvious difference is that the Chanel has twice the product: .23 oz vs Rituel de Fille’s .11 oz.
Thanks, guys! I saw this release at Ulta and just…..it’s such an obvious luxury “greenwashing” collection. To be fair, I have become really harsh on judging new releases and brands.
Bloodflower is thicker, less slip and movement of the product, and has far more pigment. I would always wash my hands after applying the CNP Balms, with this product, I’d be okay wiping it in the back of my hand and going.
This is soft and lovely! If only I were going anywhere to justify the purchase…
Beautiful color! Especiallly nice on the lips. But, since this would be the primary way I’d be using it, $45 for a pot of lip balm seems a bit much. On the other hand, it sure would be a wonderful product to have on hand during recovery.
This is one of the very, very few lip and cheek balms that actually works on both your lips and cheeks. A subtle finish on both. Quite nice and worth the price.