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Chanel Les Tissages de Chanel in Tweed Pink – Cyber Monday Launch

November 30, 2015

On the nails: Chanel Le Vernis in Beige Rose

Today for Cyber Monday, Chanel launches their Les Tissages de Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect Blush in Tweed Pink #10 ($48, 5.5 g/0.19 oz, limited-edition, Chanel.com exclusive). This is a blush inspired by the iconic Chanel tweed fabric. The blush has a sparking overspray of gold and silver sparkles and once removed, a mix of two colors of pink blush is revealed underneath. Today I’m thrilled to be able to share the Cyber Monday launch of Tweed Pink #10.

Long time Chanel fans like myself will remember these Tweed Effect blushes from many years ago. There were a number of shades and limited-edition colors and then much to my dismay they were discontinued. These were among my favorites because they give the cheeks the perfect natural glow. Tweed Pink #10 was a classic used on me on almost every Chanel makeover I had. As soon as I saw the news that it Tweed Pink would launch for Cyber Monday I was extremely curious to see if it was a new one or a repromote. They share the same name and same product number. I pulled out the one from my stash and after testing, I do think the newly launched Tweed Pink does seem to me almost identical to the original. Those who missed out might want to explore this one now that’s it’s back. I have a full review + swatches of the 2015 release and if you scroll down you will see comparisons from the original to the new version.

Tweed Pink #10 is a light soft pink mix of two shades. All the Les Tissages de Chanel had an overspray and this year’s version also has a light dusting of gold and silver sparkle. Underneath you see a mix of two colors intertwined in a tweed-like effect. Tweed Pink has a mix of a deeper pink and a pale pink, both on the neutral-cool side. The color is glowy with super fine shimmers mixed in. On me I’ve found these to be a blush-highlighter mix in one. The colors are very natural and impossible to overdo which is nice for those who want a natural-looking blush. On the skin Tweed Pink is a light silvery cool pink but after it sits and warms up on the skin it does darken very slightly to give a natural baby pink flush.

With overspray removed:

Swatches below, I removed the overspray first and swatched the true color underneath. This is on bare skin without any base:

At an angle with flash, the flash captures the sparkle/dimension, on the skin it’s more of a subtle shimmer, not frosty at all:

Now for a few shots featuring the original versus new. The effect is almost identical, the difference is in the light pink color. The original Tweed Pink has a warmer light pink color, almost beige while the newer one has more of a cool pink undertone. The effect on the face/cheeks is still almost the same. You will be able to see them swatched side by side below as well to judge for yourself how similar or different they are. I do believe the newer version is slightly cooler-toned with a more visible glow. Comparing the labels, the product weight/amount from original to new is the same.

Close ups of the pans:

Swatch comparisons to a few other baby pink blushes:

Burberry Light Glow Natural Blush in Peony and Misty (reviewed here)
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick No. 21 (reviewed here)
Chanel Joues Contraste Lumière Coups de Minuit (reviewed here)

I’m really happy that Chanel had decided to bring this back. I hope this means that they will be launching more colors in this formula as I really like the natural glow these provide (although at this time I don’t have any more information). In my blush testing experience the Tweed Blushes are easy to use, impossible to overdo and effortless to apply. For those who like a classic natural blush look to compliment the rest of your beauty look, I think you will really like Tweed Pink.

If you’re a long-time Chanel fan, do you still own any of the tweed blushes? If not, what’s your current favorite baby pink blush? The Les Tissages de Chanel in Tweed Pink ($48) is available in limited quantities, currently exclusively at Chanel.com.

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=MeQoh28EORo&subid=&offerid=407615.1&type=10&tmpid=17022&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chanel.com%2Fen_US%2Ffragrance-beauty%2FMakeup-Blush-LES-TISSAGES-DE-CHANEL-88711%2Fsku%2F88712

Many thanks to the Chanel team for sending Tweed Pink for review.

22 Comments
Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty #Blacquerfriday Black Friday Deals

November 26, 2015
For Black Friday, Marc Jacobs Beauty has two sets that are one-day exclusives. Both are limited-edition value sets and I highly recommend you put this on your shopping list so you don’t miss out. The first is a three piece brush set called Contour and Glow Brush Collection $105. I already own several of the Marc Jacobs Beauty brushes and they exceeded my expectations. Two foundation brushes that I’ve tested give flawless streak-free foundation coverage.

The brushes priced individually total $151, so the Black Friday set does offer some savings. It includes:
  • The Shape Contour Brush is a flat-tipped super dense brush with a synthetic blend of white and black bristles. It’s incredibly soft and perfect for contouring powders or creams. It also doubles as a foundation brush for a flawless finish.
  • The Blush Angled Blush Brush is an angled brush that is soft, but not quite as soft as the duo-fiber brushes from Marc Jacobs. This is perfectly angled for precise blush application but soft enough to blend color nicely. It picks up color really well and applies blush smoothly.
  • The Bronze Bronzer Brush

    Bronze is the bronzer brush of all bronzer brushes. It’s huge! Super soft and tapered to give a diffused look. I like that it’s dense so it’s not floppy but at the same time it’s plush and will lightly dust bronzer across the face.

The second set has three color items. It’s called the Paint it Blacquer Collection, retails for $50 and includes the following:
  • O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara is one of my most favorite mascaras ever. It volumizes, holds the curl and doesn’t smudge or flake. I like that it’s a true black.
  • Magic Marc’er Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is another cult classic. I’ve gifted several to a few friends who are liquid liner fanatics and it’s passed their test of approval as one they like and are willing to repurchase. It offers a precise stay-put line and dries to a semi-glossy black.
  • Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer in Blacquer is a new color that’s a pure glossy black cream. I’m a fan of the polishes in general and this one, although super dark, does look rather pretty and edgy on the hands. The polishes offer full coverage with two coats, apply super smooth and last at least 5 days without tip wear.
Swatches of the Marc Jacobs Blacquer, two coats:

In case you’re new to Marc Jacobs beauty, I’ve linked a few other previous features for reference. I’ve been a fan since they launched at Sephora. I have liked everything I’ve tried so far which is huge.

Wine Not Nail Lacquer (swatched here)
Enamored H-Shine Lip Lacquers (all shades reviewed here)
Instamarc Contour Duos (swatched here)

Style Eye Con No. 7 in The Dreamer (swatches here)
(P)Outliner Lip Liners (reviewed here)
Le Marc Lip Cremes (all colors swatched here)

To recap:

The Contour and Glow Trio retails for $105
Paint it Blacquer retails for $50

You can find both #Blacquerfriday sets exclusively
online at Marc Jacobs Beauty starting tomorrow. The brush trio is a bit
of a splurge but I think it’s worth it as the brushes are very good in
quality and made extremely well.

Do you have any Marc Jacobs Beauty favorites? 
Many thanks to Marc Jacobs Beauty for sending me an early preview of the Black Friday Sets.
2 Comments
Charlotte Tilbury Eye Makeup

Charlotte Tilbury Nocturnal Cat Eyes to Hypnotise Duos

November 23, 2015

I picked up two of the Charlotte Tilbury Nocturnal Cat Eyes to Hypnotise Eyeshadow and Eye Pencil Duos ($39) from Nordstrom as soon as they arrived. It’s taken me a while to get the swatches and comparisons edited but this gave me a few weeks to put these to the test. There are four shades in total, all limited edition. When I saw these at the counter they didn’t have testers yet, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw The Huntress/Amber Moon (bronze) and On the Prowl/Supernova (plums).

The Nocturnal Eyeshadows are shimmering luminous eyeshadows that have a multi-dimensional effect. A brush or finger will pick up a lot of pigment, but they apply medium-sheer in pigment on first swipe. What’s nice about these is that they are easy to build for a smokey eye. Over a base or applied wet the color intensifies. Dry, you get a softer shimmering effect on the lids. The shadows come in a small mirrored compact that is pretty sturdy for the size. The mirror is so so tiny though, it’s hard to see anything with it.
  • The Huntress is a bronzey taupe with a slight khaki sheen on my skin, there’s a bit of silver and gold flecks mixed in so you can see it’s pretty complex
  • Amber Moon is a deep metallic bronze eyeliner, but the shimmer is very fine and the color is deep
  • On The Prowl looks similar to The Huntress in the compact, but if the light hits it at the right angle you can see more of a plum base, below you can see the shimmer particles are different in color
  • Supernova is a bright but deep sparkling plum, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite as pretty

Each duo comes with a mini Rock ‘n’ Kohl Eye Pencil, both of which have a subtle luminosity and have seriously impressive lasting power. I really like the formula and plan on checking out the other shades that come in full sizes. Right now the colors in the duos are only available in the duos. I hope that changes and that Charlotte Tilbury will add them to the permanent lineup.

The two colors I picked with close ups, swatches and comparisons:
On the Prowl + Supernova: an antique Byzantium aubergine flecked with pearl and partnered with a smoky plum liner.

Swatches of the shadow three ways, first is dry (no base), second is over Edward Bess Illuminating Eye Base in Suede (this is my holy grail eye base), third is applied wet. Because there is so much shimmer in these it’s a bit hard to tell in photos, but the intensity does increase dramatically when applied over a base or with a damp brush. Supernova Eyeliner is just stunning. It’s bright but deep at the same time.

Comparisons below to:
Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Fatal (discontinued, swatched)
Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Rouge Noir (swatched here)
Armani Eyes to Kill 27 (discontinued)
Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Rockstar (also swatched here)
Aerin Cool Gel Eyeliner in Effortless Brown

 

The Huntress + Amber Moon: a smoky golden bronze partnered with a rich brown amber kohl.

Swatch comparisons below: 
Armani Eyes to Kill #15 and #24 (discontinued)
NARS Eye Paint in Baalbek
By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Brown Perfection
Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Underground

I’m thrilled with both. I love dark smokey shimmers that aren’t the traditional black or grey color for a smokey eye look. If I had to pick a favorite, I would say I have a very slight preference towards the plum colors which surprises me. The combination is just so so pretty. If you are the kind to try before you buy, definitely visit your closest Charlotte Tilbury counter soon. These are both perfect to add a bit of glow and dimension to your beauty look for the upcoming holiday events but still neutral enough to wear for everyday.

The Charlotte Tilbury Nocturnal Cat Eyes to Hypnotise Duos are limited-edition. I bought mine at Nordstrom. You can also find them at Bergdorf Goodman, Beautylish, Net-a-Porter, Selfridges and Charlotte Tilbury.
11 Comments
By Terry

By Terry Gold Jewel Lip Kiss Palette – Holiday 2015

November 20, 2015

Above: Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb (mini) and Truffle Privacy Clutch in Rose Gold

The most stunning lip palette I’ve ever seen arrived from Beautylish earlier this week and of course in the blink of an eye it sold out on their website. The By Terry Gold Jewel Lip Kiss Palette ($118) is quite the splurge but has all the right colors of red, coral and pink to give the perfect glam look this holiday season. It is a limited-edition piece, so once it’s sold out, it’s gone for good. At the time of this post, it’s sold out on Beautylish, but you can still find it Barneys New York, Net-A-Porter and Space NK. If this is something you’ve been eyeing I suggest you act fast. Because it’s too good to not share, I have swatches and photos of the palette. It is a pricey investment but incredibly stunning with high quality long-wearing lipstick colors and the glosses are ultra smooth and hydrating on the lips.

Before I get into the review, a quick note on other By Terry launches this season. She has released several gorgeous luxury pieces for holiday including the Gold Elixir Glacé ($225) an illuminating skin-enhancing and smoothing face product, Gold Baume de Rose Trio ($339) 3 shimmering light special-edition Baume de Rose pots of white, yellow, and rose gold shimmer and a Baume de Rose Parure ($31) shimmering Baume de Dose ornament. Do note they are all limited-edition. I have been really intrigued by the Gold Elixir Glacé but haven’t been to a counter to test in person yet. I hope to check it out this weekend, fingers crossed that it is still in stock somewhere by then.

The Gold Jewel Lip Kiss Palette comes in a plum-brown pouch and a large rectangular mirrored compact. There is a double-sided lip brush in the compact which is actually usable and decent quality. Most lip palettes I’ve tried have brushes that are pretty much useless, so it was nice to see a good on in this kit. There are five high-pigment lipsticks and five lip lacquers that have a balmy feel. The lipsticks are creams while the lacquers have some shimmer.

The top row has lipsticks which are semi-matte in finish. They are super rich in pigment and have a bit of shine when you apply them, but they dry to a velvety finish. Still once dry they don’t look like they are dry, they give the lips a nice healthy glow of color. Being super pigmented they do require precise application. I’m not the best at applying bright or dark lipsticks evenly, if you’re like me you probably want to line and blend lipliner around the edge of your lips first. The colors do have a soft vanilla scent about the same strength as MAC and Tom Ford Lipsticks. It’s noticeable but not strong and after a little bit the scent did fade.

The colors in the top row are lipsticks, shade descriptions from left to right:

Red with a blue-pink undertone
Bright blue-based pink
Bright red with a blue-base
Orange red that pulls very bright
Deep red with neutral-cool undertones

The glosses in the second row are sheer to medium in coverage. They feel ultra plush on the lips. The shimmery ones are smooth in finish. Colors from left to right:
Sheer light beige (goes on my lips clear)
Sheer jelly fushcia (goes on pretty much clear on my lips)
Bright coral red shimmer
Cool-toned pink with silver shimmer
Shimmering neutral beige-tan

Swatches on my Chanel Beige 30/40 skin, you may want to check out the swatches on Beauty Professor as well, she and I are almost identical in skintone, right now she’s a bit more tan than I am, but we usually are around the same shades in foundations:

Two more views of the palette to try and show the difference in undertone for each of the reds, here is the palette without flash and in indoor light:

Palette in outdoor direct sun with flash:

Top row of lipsticks swatched on me:

Bottom row of glosses swatched:

One more shot below:

My overall assessment is that this is indeed a stunning palette, especially for the holiday season. I’m not usually a red-lip wearer but I have been incorporating more color into my daily makeup wear. The best thing about this palette is that it has a diverse range of reds with different undertones. Each lipstick color is distinct enough that you can see the difference between each shade. Having a palette allows you to mix the colors and layer them together to get different depths or shine with the gloss. Lasting power of the lipsticks is quite impressive. They do leave a stain on the lips so when I was swatching these, I was particularity happy to have some of the Bite Beauty Lip Wipes from the Discovery Set on hand.

Another pro is the reds go on exactly the same color you see in the compact. So many reds turn color on me which makes it so hard for me to find good reds (a lot turn fuchsia and look completely different on my lips compared to what I see in the tubes). The lipsticks in the By Terry Gold Jewel Lip Kit are true-to-pan.

I will say that my holy grail perfect red is still the Rouge Louboutin Silky Satin lipstick. There is something magical in that color that makes it perfect and I haven’t found anything close in any other lipstick I’ve tried. A close second is the Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme in Miss Scarlet for a bold but true red.

All that being said, I will be getting a lot of use out of this palette with the events of the upcoming holiday season. The colors can be toned down if you blot lightly rather than apply with a brush or fingers. The gloss helps sheer out color as well. If you’re a nude-neutral lip lover, check out my post on Rosy and Red Tinted Lip Balms that are more forgiving and have a more natural finish. One of my favorite red balms is from By Terry which is her Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur in Bloom Berry.

Bottom line stunning. 

The By Terry Gold Jewel Lip Kiss Palette retails for $118. Currently available at Barneys New York, Net-A-Porter and Space NK. You may want to keep checking in at Beautylish too in case they restock it. Since it’s limited-edition, I do suggest you track one down sooner than later so you don’t miss out.

The By Terry lip palette was provided as a press sample for review consideration. 
All opinions my own.

17 Comments
Chanel

Chanel Vamp, Rose Fusion Le Vernis and Le Top Coat Lamé Rouge Noir – Holiday 2015 Vamp Attitude

November 15, 2015

There are two new nail colors in this year’s Chanel Vamp Attitude Collection for holiday in Rose Fusion Le Vernis and the Le Top Coat Lamé in Rouge Noir ($27 each). In the US Vamp 18 is the one of the re-promoted colors in the collection while other countries received a special-edition Rouge Noir 18. I have swatches of Vamp, Rose Fusion and the Rouge Noir Top Coat along with comparisons below. Both of the new shades are limited-edition.

Rose Fusion #757 is a sparkling duo-chrome purple, silver, taupe shimmer. It has tiny flecks of blue and silver shimmer and has a beautiful iridescent glow to it. There is a lot of shimmer and frost in the color but it applies smoothly on the nails and the brush strokes smooth out nicely. At first glance I thought it would be a duplicate of Sweet Star (reviewed here). Swatch comparions show that Rose Fusion is warmer while Sweet Star looks more cool-toned and silvery.

Shown below with two coats and a top coat. It’s a color that shifts depending on how the light hits it. If you google swatches of this it will look different in every photo – I love how unique it is. The shimmer is perfect for this time of year.

Swatch comparisons below to:
Chanel Sweet Star (discontinued, review here)
Chanel Graphite (discontinued)
Bobbi Brown Scotch (discontinued, swatched here)
Chanel Illusion D’Or (discontinued)
Chanel Le Top Coat Lamé in Rouge Noir over Rose Fusion and Vamp

I’ve reswatched Vamp for reference even though it’s not a new color. Also as promised in my Rouge Allure Picks post, I’ve added more comparisons for Troublante and Singuliere. (Troublante is definitely still a must-have on my list.)

Swatch comparisons below:
Chanel Terrana (reviewed here)
Rescue Beauty Lounge Elvis in the Cloud (swatches here)
Louboutin Scarabeé I (swatched here)
Chanel Cosmic Violine (discontinued)
Chanel Rouge Noir 18 (not available in the US, but often repromoted)
Chanel Accessoire (review here)
Chanel Fantastic (discontinued)
The Le Top Coat Lamé Rouge Noir is stunning. It has a clear jelly transparent plum base with gold flecks that settle to the bottom of the bottle. You need to give it a good shake to mix up the shimmers. One coat will cover the nail with gold flecks. I prefer to use two coats. Suspended glitter polishes can sometimes be a pain to apply – often times you have to pack it on to get the glitter to show up evenly. This one is perfection. Over Rose Fusion the top coat adds more warmth and subtle sparkle. On a contrasting color the gold flecks are really pretty.

The Le Top Coat Lamé Rouge Noir over Rose Fusion. I was really sad to take this off the nails to swatch it over Vamp. Two coats of the Rose Fusion and one coat of the Top Coat.

Two coats of Vamp and two coats of the Lame Top Coat:

One last shot below, if you compare this one to the ones above you can see how Rose Fusion shifts in color with different light:

Bottom line both of the new colors are winners. Rose Fusion is a pretty metallic that’s edgy and unique but still conservative enough for everyday wear. The Le Top Coat Lamé Rouge Noir is simply stunning (I’m backing it up). Also in case you haven’t checked out Troublante from the Rouge Allure collection, I highly recommend you do. Rose Fusion and Le Top Coat Lamé Rouge Noir are both limited-edition. I recommend buying sooner than later as we all know Chanel regret is heartbreaking once the color is gone from counters.

You can find these both at Chanel counters and stores now. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Chanel.com and all other Chanel retailers.

15 Comments
Chanel

Chanel Étincelle, Rose de Lune and Coups de Minuit – Holiday 2015 Vamp Attitude Collection

November 13, 2015
For lips and cheeks I picked up three things from the Chanel Holiday 2015 Vamp Attitude Collection. There are two new limited-edition Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimers in Rose de Lune and Ètincelle ($30 each) and one limited-edition Joues Contraste Lumière Highlighting Blush called Coups de Minuit ($45). The color theme of the items I picked out are light, shimmery and glowy for holiday – the lips and cheeks have a soft luminous finish perfect for a polished understated look. If you want more color or oomph, there are lipsticks and lip liners that can give you a bold look which you might want to look into.

My picks:

Up first is the Joues Contraste Lumière Highlighting Blush, Coups de Minuit. I think this is the first time I’ve seen this particular formula even though Chanel has launched a number of beautiful pressed highlighters in the past. Coups de Minuit is a light soft luminous champagne with a pinkish tinge. It’s very smooth in texture and the shimmer is ultra fine and glowy (not frosty). On my medium-toned olive skin it’s subtle but does show up. I like it as a highlighter on the cheekbones or on top of blush. I think it’s a winner which is huge considering it’s the baked format (and I’m usually not a fan of the baked formula).

Swatched comparisons below to:
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light (reviewed here)
Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Duo in Moodlight (review/swatches here)
Chanel Winter Shimmer Blush (discontinued)
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle

The two Limited-Edition Glossimers in Rose de Lune and Ètincelle are both very sheer colors loaded with lots of sparkle. They are almost like micro-glitters in the tube but on the lips the shimmer is very subtle (at least on me). Since they are sheer they will give your lips a very subtle tint with lots of shine if you wear these alone. I have played with Rose de Lune on top of lipsticks and it’s a very pretty layering color. I suspect Ètincelle will look stunning layered over plums and mauves but I haven’t had a chance to layer it yet. So far I’ve worn it alone and even though it’s sheer it gives my lips a healthy soft berry tint – perfect for my neutral-makeup-loving self.

Swatch comparisons below:
YSL Gloss Volupte in #10 Or Rose
MAC Lipglass in Purpurine (discontinued)
Chanel Glossimer in Seashell
MAC Cremesheen Glass in Softly Lit
Buxom Lip Polish Mini in Starr (swatches here)
Chanel Glossimer in Equinoxe (discontinued)
Chanel Glossimer in Braise (discontinued)
Chanel Glossimer in Spark 04

Overall huge thumbs up for the two glossimers and highlighting blush. I was seriously tempted by the Rouge Allure Lipsticks in Rouge Noir and Vaporeuse but I already own Rouge Noir (although it’s an older formula) and the pink looked a bit pale when I swatched it on my hand at the counter. If you tried it let me know your thoughts. Stay tuned for the review on the holiday nail polishes – I’m going to be working on editing swatches and comparisons this weekend. I hope to publish the post by Sunday (fingers crossed).

All three items featured above are limited-edition. You can find them now at Chanel counters and stores. Also online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Chanel.com along with all other Chanel retailers.

21 Comments
Chanel Eye Makeup

Chanel Les 4 Ombres Signe Particulier, Illusion D’Ombre Rouge Noir and Le Volume de Chanel – Holiday 2015 Vamp Attitude Collection

November 12, 2015

I picked up four eye makeup items from the Chanel Vamp Attitude Collection. All are listed as limited-edition with the exception of the Illusion D’Ombre. I’ve been such a huge fan of Chanel for years and the holiday collections usually are absolutely stunning so I had high hopes for this release.

What I picked up, below from left to right:
Illusion D’Ombre ($36) in Rouge Noir
Les 4 Ombres ($65) in Signe Particulier
Le Volume de Chanel ($32) in Rouge Noir
Le Volume Ultra-Noir de Chanel ($32) in Noir Khôl

I am a lover of the Chanel Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadows. I own almost all of the colors and wear them on a regular basis. They offer the prettiest amount of sparkle to the eyes without being over the top and they layer nicely together. I know they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea (some feel they are too sheer or too sparkly). I’m a huge huge fan. When I found out there would be a Rouge Noir color launched I knew I would either love or hate it since I rarely like reddish colors for the eyes. I absolutely love this color. It’s dark enough that it doesn’t look red, but at the same time it’s red and plum enough that the color shows up on the eyes. This one does take some layering, it’s not a one-swipe wonder, but I think it’s gorgeous. That being said, after pulling some other deep wine eyeshadows, I do think it’s very similar to Armani Eyes to Kill #2 and NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Subra reviewed here. Both the Armani and NARS have deeper richer pigment with one to two swipes while the Chanel requires some building. The nice thing about the Chanel is you can swipe it over the lids for a softer wash.

I had very high hopes for the Les 4 Ombres in Signe Particulier. The eyeshadow quad releases from past seasons have been phenomenal with beautiful designs, excellent pigment and stunning unique colors. This year’s was one of the first disappointments from Chanel for me. I did swatch in store and saw that the pigment was very sheer and patchy. I thought it was just an over-handled tester that caused such poor application. I tested the brand new one I bought at home multiple times with several different brushes and applicators. The texture is very smooth and silky to touch but application is so sheer I could barely see any color payoff on the skin. I regret buying this. The colors are a soft sheer pale pink, a medium taupe shimmer, a deep plum-red, and a yellow gold shimmer. The packaging and embossed design is so so gorgeous. I wish the color payoff and pigment was better. If you love this – let me know what brushes you use, would love to figure out how to make this work.

Swatched below with a heavy hand, and the colors still are very sheer:

Finally there are two new mascaras in the holiday collection. I’m a fan of the Le Volume de Chanel Mascaras so I knew I had to try the Rouge Noir version. I’m thrilled with it – it thickens, volumizes, defines and doesn’t smudge or flake. I might need a back up of this. In addition to the Rouge Noir, there is a new deep dark black called Le Volume Ultra-Noir de Chanel in Noir Khôl (also limited-edition). I had high hopes for this and a few swipes applied an ultra dark color. It looks amazing and it’s super dark. The formula thickens the lashes evenly for a volumized look. The downside is it smudged terribly on my eyes. I tested it on several occasions (5 different days to be exact) before deciding it was a flop for me. I thought on the first occasion that I might have not powdered my concealer properly, so the next few times I tried the Noir Khôl on one eye and a regular Black Le Volume on the other eye. Each time, I had one side that smudged (the new one) and the other side did not (one with the classic formula/color).

I’m desperate to make the Ultra-Noir mascara work, if you tried it and love it, can you please share what makeup or skincare you use under the eyes?

I did consider purchasing the eyeliners in Rouge Noir and Or Safran, but decided against buying since I tend to wear black, brown or bronze colors. If you picked those up or tested them let me know what you think! Overall the eye makeup products were either hit or miss for me. The Le Volume de Chanel in Rouge Noir was an absolute hit for me. I love the Rouge Noir Illusion D’Ombre but it’s not an absolute must since it’s so close in color to other shades I own. Misses were the Les 4 Ombres and Noir Khôl Mascara.

You can find the Chanel Vamp Attitude Collection items at all Chanel counters now. Also online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Chanel.com along with all other Chanel retailers.

Did you pick up anything or try the colors from this collection? What did you think?
20 Comments