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Chanel Collection Dans La Lumière de L’Été Le Vernis in Espadrilles, Turban and Cavalière for Summer 2016

June 13, 2016

Last month I reviewed one of the Chanel Summer 2016 Le Vernis Nail Colors in Espadrilles and today I have a review on two more shades in Turban and Cavalière. These are in the new and improved formula and retail at $28 each for 13 ml/0.4 fl oz, made in France. In case you missed the post I’ll repost photos below but if you want to read the full review on Espadrilles here.

The three shades I have include:
  • Espadrilles which is a bright orange red cream
  • Turban is a medium bright pink-orange cream
  • Cavaliere (c/o) is a deep chocolate brown with very subtle gold shimmer mixed in

All three are full coverage and opaque with two coats. As mentioned in my previous reviews of the new Le Vernis formula here and here, the new formula is an improvement from the original in terms of coverage, pigment and lasting power. I have always had good experiences with Chanel polishes, but the new formula offers more opaque coverage.

If you’ve been a long-time Chanel or Dior nail polish collector, I do think the three colors in this post are similar to previous releases. I’ll add a few notes below on the swatches, this round I did not have time to photograph comparisons in good light.

Up first is Espadrilles reposted, it’s a bright orange red that screams summer to me. I’ve been wearing it a lot on the toes – it goes with a lot of the shoe colors I have in my closet right now.

Turban is one of those pink-orange mixed colors that I reach for frequently. It looked like a medium bright warm pink next to Espadrilles. I pulled a few others I thought might be dupes. Chanel Fracas (discontinued) is similar in terms of pigment and brightness but it’s more pink. Chanel Tutti Frutti (discontinued) is more blue in undertone. Dior Wonderland is more pink and lighter in undertone. Louboutin Miss Loubi is close but deeper and richer in color (this is my favorite out of the bunch).

Cavaliere is an interesting color. Based on the promotional photos and on the model on Chanel.com it looks like a shimmering bronze with visible gold frost. On my nails it’s more of a chocolate bronze with the shimmer barely detectable on the nails unless light hits it directly. It’s still a lovely color – just not quite what I expected. It will be a good summer to fall kind of transition color that I will feel comfortable wearing as the seasons shift.

Three quick looks taken over the past few weeks for fun:

Shoes – Steve Madden
Purse – Prada
Sunnies – Marc Jacobs 
Skirt – J.Crew (old style)
Sandals – Madewell
Chanel Turban snapshot:
Pouch – Truffle
Candies – Sugarfina
iPhone Case – Gray Malin

Out of all three colors, my favorite is Espadrilles. There are a couple other colors that were launched in the collection but when I saw them I didn’t feel like I would really wear them. Canotier is a pale gold frost and Emeraude is a stunning shimmering green but I’m not really a green polish wearer. I’ll do aqua or blues but I rarely feel emerald shades call my name. If you’ve tried it let me know your thoughts! For the other two, I think Cavaliere is unique compared to the other colors that I own. I tried it on the toes and was surprised that it actually worked for a polished edgy look. Turban is gorgeous – but I already own many colors similar to it. That being said it has a lot more coral and orange compared to other medium summery pinks which makes it different but still similar.

Have you checked out the summer collection yet? Stay tuned for a review on the two Les Beiges duos soon. In case you missed the post, Aqua Glossimers reviewed here.

You can find all three colors at Chanel counters & retailers now, also online at Chanel.com. I bought Espadrille and Turban from Nordstrom. Cavaliere was sent courtesy of Chanel for review.
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Chanel

Chanel Aqua Glossimer for Summer 2016

June 3, 2016

The Chanel Collection Dans La Lumière de L’Été features six colors for lips in a new gloss formula called Aqua Glossimer ($30 each for 5.5g/0.19 oz, all limited-edition). These are similar to the regular Glossimers which I’ve been a long time fan of for natural color and shine. The new Aqua Glossimer is a lighter kind of gloss with a lightweight almost watery cushion feel and sheer color. The colors in the tubes are absolutely gorgeous. Once I applied them on my lips I was undecided how I felt about them. They have a very sheer finish and almost feel jelly like. At first they felt so emollient I thought they would slide off my lips. I did put these to the test though and am happy to report that they do not slide around but stay put, however if you don’t like that thinner emollient feel for a gloss you may want to add a neutral lipliner first to help it feel like it won’t slide.

The colors have a mix of jelly non-shimmers and a couple shimmers. The 3 deeper colors have better color payoff. The lighter shades give the lips a barely there tint. If you like color to show up I would say pass on these – they will simply be too sheer for you. Curiosity got the best of me and being a Chanel fan I just had to try them. I am happy with the formula and colors – I think they are fun for an effortless kind of wash, however if I will say that if you want a nice wash of color I would recommend the YSL Rouge Volupte Shines I reviewed in April instead even though the formula is completely different. The color payoff is much better but will still give you that beautiful sheen. If you still want a gloss but with more color stick with the regular Chanel Glossimer formula or try the YSL Pop Water Glossy Stains – I reach for these frequently and I repurchased Wet Nude and Pink Rain.

Onto the colors for the Aqua Glossimers. They also come with a slightly different applicator which has a pointy tip instead of the regular rounded tips:
  • Tanami is a sheer coral with a hint of pink
  • Sirocco is a bright orange red with gold shimmer 
  • Rouge Desert is a sheer brick red but on me it brightens a bit because it’s sheer
  • Dzhari is a gorgeous plum red with shimmer, unfortunately most plums turn red on me, this may look more true to the tube on your lips
  • Sahara is a sheer your lips but better shimmer, it’s a pale peach gold in the tube but is almost transparent on my lips
  • Ademium is a soft rose pink without any shimmer

Swatches:

All swatched on bare lips, for skintone reference I’m wearing NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in Groenland + St. Moritz mixed (review here) with NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation in Punjab (review in this post here) on top to set.

One last look:

I give them a thumbs up for the formula and natural shine. They have a very nice hydrating emollient feel and do not slide around. Lasting power is about average for a gloss – they stay put like most other glosses will but color transfer will happen if your lips touch anything or you snack. If you’re looking for an effortless kind of wash of color you’ll like these. However I don’t think they will appeal to everyone because they are on the sheer side. You can build the color by layering it and it won’t feel too goopy. If you’re a natural lip lover like me but want a bit more color try the YSL Rouge Volupte Shines I mentioned above – there will be similar colors but they have more pigment and color payoff.

All that being said I do recommend these. Given that they are sheer and if I were to do it over again, I don’t think I would have purchased all six. I almost never try glosses at the counter on my lips because they aren’t sanitary so with these you don’t know until you try them on your lips. My top three picks would be Adenium, Tanami and Sirocco.

You can find the Aqua Glossimers at counters now. All the shades are limited-edition. They retail for $30 each. Available online at Nordstrom (where I bought mine), Neiman Marcus, Chanel.com and all other Chanel retailers.

For those curious about what other bits of Chanel Summer I will be reviewing, I have both of the Les Beiges duos and the Le Vernis in Turban that I will be reviewing soon (preview here). Espadrilles has already been reviewed in this post here.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?
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Chanel

Chanel Espadrilles 534 Le Vernis for Summer 2016

May 20, 2016

The Chanel Collection Dans La Lumière de L’Été for summer has launched online and I spotted it in stores a few days ago. I only picked up a few items as I was in a rush, my favorite sales associate was not there and decided to pick up a couple things for now and think about the rest. The first item I have to review is one of the new Le Vernis Nail Colours called Espadrilles 534 ($28 each). It’s a vibrant orange red cream that has perfectly smooth application. It is very similar to a lot of other orangey summer shades but it’s too pretty to pass. Compared to other shades, Espadrilles is clearly orange but it has some red to it. The two closest ones I have are Tom Ford Ginger Fire (the Tom Ford is a bit deeper) and Chanel Holiday (now discontinued and Holiday is a bit lighter and has more orange).

Shown with two coats swatched:

Comparisons:
It was hard to get swatches in sunlight because the orange and brightness flashed back making them all look the same. Note most of the Chanel shades have been discontinued (the ones with the names printed on the front are no longer made). All the shades below indeed look very similar, my thoughts on the difference between others to Espadrilles (previous reviews linked where applicable):

One last look:

I think it’s perfect for summer. It’s perfect for right now even though it’s still not yet summer. That being said you may want to shop your stash if you already own a lot of similar colors. It didn’t stop me from picking it up. That being said I don’t carry nail wheels or nail polishes with me to compare so I really didn’t know even though at a quick glance I knew there would be a decent chance I had something similar. The formula has improved over the older now-discontinued polishes. You can read two reviews on the new launches:
  • Camélia, Gitane and Roubachka here 
  • Ballerina, Monochrome, Gargonne, Organdi, Vamp and Rouge Noir here

Bottom line I love it, but if you want to avoid dupes, I recommend you shop your stash.

You can find the Chanel Summer Collection at counters now. Online at Chanel.com, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus along with all other Chanel retailers.

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Chanel

New Chanel Stylo Fresh Effect Eyeshadows and La Palette Sourcils de Chanel Brow Powder Duos

April 20, 2016

Chanel launched some new shades of their Stylo Eyeshadows ($34 each) and two new brow palettes called La Palette Sourcils de Chanel ($50 each) both part of the Eyes Speak Volumes Collection which focuses on adding some color and definition to the eyes in an almost minimal way. I ordered three of the five Stylo Eyeshadow Fresh Effect Shadow Sticks in Brun Châtain, Beige Doré, Rose Pétale (all limited-edition, all shimmery) and Chanel sent the two Brow Powder Duos in Naturel and Brun for me to try out.

Up first are the two new La Palette Sourcils de Chanel.
I’ve never tried the brow compacts from Chanel before or actually any
brow compact in general. I’m more of a pencil or tinted brow gel kind of
girl and when it comes to grooming or technique my brow game is super
weak. I usually brush them with the By Terry Brow Mascara or use the Diorshow Brow Styler
because even a brow novice like myself can’t mess them up. I have
tested a number of brow powders, pencils, waxes – so many artists have
shown me how to use them and even though I try at home, I keep going
back to my two basics. I have dark hair which is almost black but does
have quite a bit of natural red undertone. My brows are a lot lighter in
color so powders often either look too grey, too red or too black.

When
the new Brow Powder Duos arrived for me to play with I did not know
what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. There are two options
Naturel 40 is the lighter version and Brun 50 is the deeper duo. Each
one comes cased in the lacquered black mirrored compact with the most
adorable tools I have ever seen. They are miniature and very tiny but
not so tiny they slip out of the hands. 

Both duos come
with a lighter color and one slightly deeper to customize the color.
The texture of the powders is very hard and stiff so you need a stiff
dense brush for application. The tiny one that comes in the compact is
one of the stiffest brushes I have ever tried and it worked quite well
to pick up product and apply to the brows. I tested both duos – Naturel
40 is better for me for everyday but lighter brow colors often don’t
show up well on camera. Brun 50 is the deeper option and matches my hair
more closely but I found it a bit too deep. I think I could have gone
with either one – it’s just a matter of preference that I prefer more
natural brows.

The powder adhered really well to the
brows and stayed put all day. The whole compact is perfect for quick and
easy application for a natural look to add noticeable but soft
definition. The tools are tiny and while they aren’t the same as a full-sized angled brush or regular set of tweezers, perform well enough for quick fixes and grooming.

Up next are three Stylo Eyeshadows in Brun Châtain, Beige Doré, Rose Pétale. I ordered these sight unseen and picked out the shades I thought I would reach for the most. I’ve been a fan of the Fresh Effect Eyeshadow Sticks in other colors. They offer a really pretty shimmer and have a unique smooth cooling effect when you apply them to the lids. I also find they stay on for a long time.

Brun Châtain is a shimmering neutral-cool brown. Beige Doré is a pale shimmering yellow gold. When I saw this one I thought it would be too yellow but it’s actually my favorite of the three. It’s pale enough to add a bit of highlight on the lids with the perfect mix of yellow/gold/white shimmers to give the eyes a natural glow. Rose Pétale is such a pretty pale pink in the tube, unfortunately, like many Chanel pinks, it gives me the pink-eye kind of look when worn alone. It is workable if mixed with other colors, but had I seen or tested it first I probably would have skipped.

Quick eye swatches, these were taken with a flash to show the sheen/shimmer. As a result the colors are a bit washed out and I don’t know if you can even tell there is brow product, but hopefully this will give you an idea of what they look like.

The Brow Duos exceeded my expecations. As one who is really timid when it comes to applying product on my brows both duos are great for the person who wants definition in a natural soft kind of way. The colors are easy to apply and also easy to build and impossible to overdo. If you like a strong brow you may find these are too soft for you, but I give them a thumbs up. For the Stylo Eyeshadows I think Beige Dore is the best color out of the ones I tried. Brun Chatain is a nice neutral that I thought I would really love – I do think it’s a great everyday kind of color but feel previously launched colors like Caroube were a bit more special.

The Stylo Eyeshadows and La Palette Sourcils de Chanel are both available at Chanel.com and all Chanel retailers. As of right now the eyeshadow sticks are all listed as limited-edition shades.

Have you tried anything from this collection yet? If not what’s your favorite brow product?

Brow Duos sent courtesy of Chanel for review consideration. Eyeshadows purchased by me from Nordstrom.

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Chanel

Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colours in Ballerina, Organdi, Monochrome, Garçonne, Vamp and Rouge Noir – New Formula

March 21, 2016

As most of you now know, Chanel reformulated their Le Vernis Nail Colour ($28 each) earlier this year into a new and improved formula with longer wear. Most of the shades have been discontinued and pulled from counters and most places online (at the time of this post old colors are still showing up online at Saks.com). The new formula has been launched in 15 shades, 5 of which are re-promoted shades of classic colors (just in the new formula). After reviewing three shades Camélia 506, Gitane 510 and Roubachka 514 (review, swatches, old vs. new bottle and brush shots all posted here) I received an overwhelming amount of requests to review additional shades and the Chanel team kindly sent some of the most requested shades for me to review and swatch for you.

There are six that I’ve swatched and tested. Formulas of all shades offer smooth streak-free coverage and were easy to apply. Pigment in general of the new formula does seem to be on the more opaque side (think along the lines of the old Dragon formula) with a few exceptions of colors that have a sheer or jelly finish. As far as I can tell from a quick peek most of the shades are non shimmers with the exception of Vamp and Chaine Or (the gold seems to be only available at Saks). Some readers asked if I had any bubbling issues with the new formula. I personally did not see any bubbles. In terms of lasting power – I tested Ballerina (on the fingers) and Vamp (on the toes) for a full week each and both lasted 7 days without any signs of tip wear or chipping with the Le Top Coat.

Shown above from left to right:

  • Ballerina is a super sheer baby pink, the original version was almost impossible to see on the nail with two coats, the new version is an improved version in terms of pigment but I still find it extremely sheer and it was the only one that I needed 3 coats (and it’s still sheer)
  • Monochrome is a cool light grey, formula covers the nail entirely with two coats
  • Garçonne is a medium grey shade, it has a bit of warmth to it, coverage is rich and opaque
  • Organdi is a nude pink that falls in the neutral-cool category, it’s a full coverage color
  • Vamp is a deep wine color with a bit of red and purple shimmer mixed in, I’ve found the color is identical to the original, but the formula has improved with better pigment and shine
  • Rouge Noir appears to be exclusive to Chanel.com and the color is identical to what I have in the old formula, this is a jelly finish color but still covers the nail entirely with two coats, it’s a deep blackened red shade
Swatches, all have 2 coats with the exception of Ballerina which has 3 coats shown, also all swatches have the Le Top Coat applied on top:

Some swatch comparisons to some shades in the old formula, I thought I had the old Ballerina, but in searching my collection I found that I no longer have it:

Out of all the shades I’ve tested, I’m personally drawn to the brighter shades Camelia and Gitane that I reviewed back in February. I’ve used both on several pedicures since the initial post and find the colors are bright and cheerful. This second review batch has a mix of light and dark shades. I like Organdi as an everyday conservative neutral – the formula and coverage is excellent and I think on deeper more tan skintones it will look like a stunning lighter nude pink while on me it almost matches my skin undertone. I’m happy that Vamp and Rouge Noir have joined the new formula color family, if I had to pick between the two I would say Vamp has a special touch because of the subtle shimmer it has in it. For the grey shades I prefer Monochrome over Garçonne – both perform really well in terms of smooth streak-free coverage with very good pigment. On my skintone darker greys can make the skin look a little lack-luster. 

Overall I give the formula a thumbs up. The polish perform well and there is a wide range of colors to choose from in the non-shimmer finish that offer a nicely polished classic look. All shades are listed as permanent, available for $28 each at Chanel.com and all other Chanel retailers. As of right now it appears that Rouge Noir is the only shade exclusive to Chanel.com (at least in the US) but if you’ve spotted it in stores please share in the comments.
Have you tried any of the new shades/formula yet? What did you think?

Polishes provided courtesy of Chanel for review consideration.

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Chanel

Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo Complete Care Lipshine

February 18, 2016

There’s a new lipstick formula from Chanel called the Rouge Coco Stylo ($37 each for 2 g/0.07 oz) which comes in a slim twist-up tube that’s described as having “the intensity of a lipstick, the shine of a lipgloss and comfort of a lip balm.” It truly is a three-in-one kind of lipstick. These have medium to full pigment – coverage is a lot better than the Rouge Coco Shines and just as much pigment as the Rouge Coco Lipsticks. Out of all the Chanel lipstick formulas I’ve tried the new Rouge Coco Stylos are definitely the most creamy in texture and most hydrating in feel. There is a soft floral scent to these similar to the Rouge Coco lipsticks. The formula is quite amazing and all the colors are knock out beautiful. There’s a tiny bit of shimmer in the tubes, but on the lips it’s very subtle. You mostly see color and shine.

There are neutral and bright colors in the mix, there are eight shades total:
  • Conte 202 is a baby pink with golden shimmer
  • Article 204 is a bright warm tangerine with a vibrant finish
  • Histoire 206 is a bright coral shade, on me it pulls red
  • Roman 208 is bright fuchsia pink
  • Recit 212 is a plum shade with gold flecks
  • Message 214 is a warm watermelon pink
  • Lettre 216 is a medium soft rose pink
  • Script 218 is a beige nude pink-brown

Lip swatches with the Rouge Coco Stylos alone on bare lips (no liner or other added colors, I have naturally pigmented lips so sometimes the lip shows through around the edges):

In terms of lasting power I found they lasted a lot longer than the Rouge Coco Shines, about the same amount of time as Rouge Allures or Rouge Cocos. They stay put on the lips and adhere well for a glossy finish lip product. Colors will fade or transfer with snacks or drinks, but as long as you don’t touch the lips to any food, straws or cups they stay on long. I give the formula an overwhelmingly positive thumbs up. The only downside I see is the price seems high given the amount of product in each tube, but the formula performs well, looks good, makes the lips look and feel well hydrated and healthy. Bottom line is you need at least one.
You can find the Rouge Coco Stylos for $37 each now at Chanel.com. I also spotted them in store and online at Nordstrom but they should be arriving at all Chanel counters now.

Three shades provided courtesy of Chanel, the remaining five purchased by me.

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Chanel

Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color and Le Gel Coat Longwear Top Coat – New Formulas

February 16, 2016

Chanel has reformulated all of their nail colors into a newer longer lasting formula called Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour ($28 each for 13 ml/0.4 fl oz, made in France). There are 15 shades in this new launch, there are a few from the original line that have been re-launched in Particuliere, Ballerina, Pirate, Vamp, and Rouge Noir. I haven’t yet had the chance to check out the new ones in person yet to compare the original to new shades, so I’m not sure if the new vs old colors are identical (if you have let me know!). The Chanel team sent 3 colors for me to try out along with the new Le Gel Coat Longwear Top Coat ($28 for 13 ml/0.4 fl oz), I’ve been putting these to the test for almost two weeks now. The formula is definitely a huge improvement in terms of lasting power.

The three shades I have to share are Camélia 506, Gitane 510 and Roubachka 514. These are all creams with insanely rich pigment. Camélia and Gitane are one-coat wonders, one coat offers full coverage, although I still prefer two for an ultra rich, ultra glossy, slightly cushiony look. These seem to be similar in texture compared to the more pigmented Chanel creams like Dragon. They glide on smoothly and easily. Camélia is a rich deep peony pink kind of color, it’s got a cool-toned base but has a bright undertone which adds warmth. Gitane is an electric warm red. Roubachka is definitely a two-coater, the formula in this one is almost like a pigmented jelly. It’s a deep purple color but looks almost black on the nails. It’s what I wanted Tom Ford Viper to be (which I’ve tested in store many times but found the formula just too sheer and streaky).

Above left to right is Gitane, Camelia, Roubachka and the Le Gel Coat. They’ve changed the packaging a bit this launch. The names are no longer printed on the front of the bottles. Names are now on the back for the colors. The formula remains 5-free.

Another change they’ve made is to the brush. I was a huge huge fan of the original brush. It was thin and dense which allowed for precise application. The newer brush is a bit thicker and fans out the slightest bit at the edges. Length of brush is about the same. Initially the fanning out worried me because I thought it would be harder to control and paint the nails evenly along the cuticles. I found no issue with application. At this time I still prefer the original brush – but when you have something that you fall in love with, getting used to something different can just take time. Here’s a look at the brushes for the new formula.

For comparison, here’s a look at Gitane vs Coquelicot, packaging size is identical in product amount and bottle size. Brushes are the same length, there’s just a slight difference in the shape:

Onto the swatches, all of these have 2 coats of the Le Vernis applied with one coat of the Le Gel Coat on top:

A few quick thoughts on the Le Gel Coat is that it’s amazing. When Chanel discontinued the Laque Brilliance Extreme I was heartbroken. I found the new Le Top Coat Quick Dry top coat to be decent, but nowhere near as good as the original top coat. The Le Top Coat was very thin and runny and I found I had to load up the brush to get enough product on it to apply to the nail, but often loaded up either too little or too much.

The new Le Gel Coat is a thicker glossy kind of top coat. It has a wider brush compared to the other top coats. I tested this over Essie Barefoot and Topless because no matter what kind of top coat I use on Essie, I get tipwear the very same day I apply it. I know many others like the formula, I think it’s one of the worst that I’ve tried in terms of lasting power. I figured if the new Chanel Top Coat could make Essie polish last, then it gets my approval. The Chanel Le Gel Coat made the manicure last until Day 5 with no signs of tip wear or chipping. I only took it off so I could test other colors.
The Le Gel Coat is described as, “Specially created to enhance the new nail colour, LE GEL COAT Longwear Top Coat extends the wear for up to seven days. Activated by natural light, the innovative, clear top coat bonds to LE VERNIS for flexibility, strength and unprecedented wear. The result: an ultra-glossy, gel-like look without the UV lamp.”

It did indeed make one of the manicures last very long. In addition to the Essie, I tested Chanel Camelia with the new Le Gel Coat Top Coat and saw no signs of chipping or tip wear by Day 8. It has a cushiony glossy look. The formula is on the thicker side, but still fluid enough compared to other gel top coats so it feels like it won’t dry out or thicken like other brands. I give this a thumbs up.

A look at the original, vs Le Top vs Le Gel:

First impressions are very good from my end. The new reformulation has definitely improved the lasting power of the polish although I’ve always had good experiences with the formula in general since I’ve started collecting Chanel nail polishes. The reformulation reminds me somewhat of when Dior reformulated and relaunched their polish – they changed the packaging, changed the brush, improved the formula and pigment and also launched colors primarily in the classic/safe zone to start with a couple of more edgy shades.
I haven’t had a chance to pull comparisons or look at the other shades in the new formula, with the exception of the one above with Gitane vs Coquelicot – they look identical to me with Gitane being the slightest bit warmer. Camélia is a classic deep but bright cool pink shade, it’s deeper than colors like Fracas, Rose Exhuberant or Pulsion. It has a similar vibe to April, but Camelia is a lot brighter and not muted like April. It’s bright but deep. If I were to compare the effect of Roubachka to another shade I would say it’s similar to Tom Ford Black Cherry. I am sad to see the other shades go, but to date I’ve only used up a couple polish colors and the shades I do have last a very long time (some I have are 5+ years old and the formula is still good).

You can find the new Chanel Le Vernis formula online at Chanel.com. I’ve spotted the colors online and in store at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus although neither of them have Rouge Noir (at least not yet).

Have you checked out the new formula yet? What do you think?
Le Vernis polishes featured above provided courtesy of Chanel for review.

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