Chanel Vital Beige No. 1 Lip & Cheek Balm Review & Swatches
Vital Beige (3)
Chanel Vital Beige (3) No. 1 de Chanel Lip & Cheek Balm ($45.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish-brown with warm undertones and a satiny sheen. The finish seemed balmier and dewier on my lips, where the product melted and spread out and lost its tackiness. When it was applied and blended out on my cheeks, it seemed to lose some its shine and tackiness but was never fully set.
The consistency was lightly tacky to the touch, which, surprisingly, wasn’t an impediment to application. I had no trouble applying the product on top of foundation or over bare skin and getting an even, diffused result. The color went on evenly and was forgiving of lip texture as a lip color. This shade stayed on well for seven and a half hours as a cheek product and three hours as a lip balm (and was moisturizing).
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.
Looks really good as a lip color, yet again. But, I seriously doubt that it would even show up on my own cheeks at all.
Lightly tacky to touch – hmm that doesn’t sound to great as a blush or lip product. I like this one much better as a blush shade though. Too pale and pink for my lips.
I really like the way this looks on you, but I’m not sure I’d spend $45 on it. The lack of dry down on cheeks, given that we’re still wearing masks, would seem to be messy IRL.