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Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush
Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush

Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush ($43.00 for 0.21 oz.) is described as “peach pink.” It’s a subtly yellow-toned medium pink with subtle peach shimmer that translates into more of a sheen. Tom Ford Frantic is much lighter and warmer–less pink. Bobbi Brown Nude Pink is much more blue-based. MAC Subtle Breeze is a smidgen darker, no shimmer. Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel is lighter and looks a bit warmer on cheeks. MAC Stunner is much lighter. MAC Mighty Aphrodite is less pink. Chanel Pink Explosion is a little lighter and blue-based.

New and not listed as limited edition (!), Rose Initiale will be a lovely go-to, everyday kind of color on light to medium-dark skin tones, regardless of undertone. It’s not too warm or too cool-toned. On deeper complexions, it may disappear somewhat, but I think it’s going to be a color that’s right on the edge, so if it really appeals to you, still check it out. The pigmentation is true-to-pan, and it’s buildable but blendable, so you can achieve the intensity you desire up to the color in the pan. Because the shimmer is very subtle, it looks and acts as more of a sheen; it doesn’t emphasize pores.

The texture of Chanel’s Joue Contraste formula (including this shade) is soft, silky-smooth, and a wee bit powdery because of just how finely-milled it is. Thankfully, it doesn’t look powdery at all on the skin. It has a very natural consistency and texture once applied. When I wore Rose Initiale, it managed to look good for a solid eight hours. It was starting to fade after nine hours.

Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush
Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush

Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush
Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush

Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush
Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush

Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush
Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush

Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush
Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush

Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush
Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush (Diffused Flash)

Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush
Chanel Rose Initiale Joues Contraste / Blush (Studio Lighting)

47 Comments

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Dominique33 Avatar

I’ll purchase it, a very pretty blush indeed. Rose Ecrin is classey, this one too as all Chanel blushes in fact.
Thank you for the beautiful swatch !

P_riya Avatar

This SO does not look true to pan on me. On my NC37 complexion this looks like a deeep rose. It’s still a beautiful color but nothing like what I would expect by looking at the pan and definitely nowhere close to how it looks on you. I guess I am a little disappointed because of that.. and also because my Chanel counter told me this was limited edition! Pffft. I think I’ll keep it because it still looks great but I would have loved it even more if it showed up more like the pan color. 

18thCenturyFox Avatar

Considering the number of blushes I have, at this price point I need an original color. It’s lovely but I’ve too many like it.

annedreshfield Avatar

Gorgeous! Way too much to spend for me on a blush though, especially when considering the recent post about budgets and how much we spend per item. 😉 Oh, how I wish I could afford everything Chanel! 

JaiMelancholia Avatar

This looks lovely and is just my kind of pink. Might be my first Chanel blusher. Is it pressed? If it releases in the UK will it be baked like the eyeshadows? Thank you! I wish they could release the pressed versions here 🙁

Kafka Avatar

 @JaiMelancholia  My Euro version Chanel blushes are all baked and the quality is very different from the US ones I have. SO dry and impossible to get much off, short of scraping.  Not much pigmentation either. But I thought Bourjois was also baked, no? It’s owned by Chanel and I would be surprised if their Euro versions didn’t go through the same process. I have some Bourjois blushes that I bought when I lived in Paris and there is virtually no difference (except in price) from the Euro-version Chanel ones. In contrast, a Bourjois blush I bought in NYC is much softer and more pigmented.

JaiMelancholia Avatar

 @Kafka Bourjois are but I find them a bit softer that baked blushers usually are and they seem to have a couple of new shades. One looks a bit like this so I’ll have to check! I’d owe Chanel so much money if they didn’t give me affordable Bourjois copies!

JaiMelancholia Avatar

 @Kafka Bourjois are but I find them a bit softer than baked blushers usually are and they seem to have a couple of new shades. One looks a bit like this so I’ll have to check! I’d owe Chanel so much money if they didn’t give me affordable Bourjois copies!

Kafka Avatar

 @JaiMelancholia  LOL! Thank God for affordable copies put out by the exact same company! 😉  I hope you find one that is exactly like this, if not even prettier. 

afcanoe Avatar

I LOVE this blush.  I was hesitant to fork over the high price (although it was $43 when I bought it Nordstrom in June), but I really feel like it’s worth it.  Even though it’s not listed as limited edition, I am seriously almost tempted to go buy another just in case!  Prior to trying Rose Initiale, I wore NARS Orgasm for years (and NARS Outlaw before that – the bad review you gave it a few days ago is very accurate).  I have pale skin, light brown hair, and hazel eyes, and Rose Initiale give me the perfect pink glow.  I absolutely love it and couldn’t agree with your review more.

Becca @The Beauty Sample Avatar

I love this blush–it’s so subtle yet  gives a noticeable pop of brightness to the skin! It’s also my first Joues Contraste blush and I really do like the formula for the most part (though I have tried better). I am going for Fleur de Lotus next!

wwendalynne Avatar

I really love this blush and I’ve noticed you wearing it on a couple of other posts, Christine!  I do not see peach at all though.  Not that it is a problem as it is so impossibly soft and pretty and feminine.  I must say I am really drawn to many items in the Chanel fall collection this year.

blueraccoon Avatar

My package with this in it should arrive today 😀 I can’t wait to try it on. It’s such a lovely color, and I’m not usually a big blush person but I couldn’t resist this. I’m so glad it got a good rating!

LOLARIS Avatar

*groan* This is just too pretty I want to swear off cream blush completely! Isn’t there any cream blush counterpart for this color, Christine?

nawi Avatar

I do not understand the blushes are made in France just like the Europeaon ones the eyeshadows I knew were different the Europeon ones are round. But I think the blushes are the same if both produced in France or not?

P_riya Avatar

I would love it if Christine or any of you NC37-NC40 ladies can help me out a bit here. How does the color translate on your cheeks? Is it true to pan or more of a deep rose? I am wondering if its just the one I have and if I should exchange it.

Sharon Lynn M Avatar

Oh my goodness, that’s pretty! I especially love the other makeup you have paired with it. Too bad Chanel is so expensive (and also so difficult to find for me locally)…

Araseli Avatar

This may be a dumb question BUT.. Does anyone know if this blush can only be purchased at Nordstrom or should Macy’s Chanel counters have it as well? Thanks in advance 🙂

anna Avatar

I just saw this in the store and I want it so bad 🙁 I love the shade & texture, and I don’t really need another pink blush… But still, I MUST have it. Awww!

Bengisu Avatar

Christine, do you think if I buy Tom Ford Frantic Pink, this will still be worth the investment? I don’t know but the swatches look similar to me. I hope you find the time to answer this.

Paula Avatar

I have this This is gorgeous both in natural & artificial light. It gives you a blushing shade without being too rosy. While it is described as pink peach, there is only one word to describe it “gorgeous”.

Sometimes, to use it many ways, I apply it lightly at daytime and then apply MAC Springsheen lightly as well which contains a darker sheen over it at daytime to change its huge from pink to a peach orange 🙂 Just a trick…it makes my officemates wonder whats the brand I’m wearing and theyve copied it too ! 🙂

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