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Chanel Pink Cloud

August 22, 2011

Chanel has released Pink Cloud 66 Joues Contraste in the US with their Aquarelles Collection. It comes in the European baked formula but is not a new color (only new to the US). It’s a pale pink shimmer with tiny microsparkles that makes the skin glow. On my cheeks it has a similar quality to Armani’s Blush #12 – it looks super pale in the compact but blends on the skin to give a lovely light pink glow. The shimmer is visible on the skin but it doesn’t apply quite as pale as appears in the compact. The shimmer is finely milled and not overly frosty like some pale pinks can be, for this shade the shimmer is clearly visible on the cheeks. I would rate the shimmer/frost factor as medium.

As Café Makeup reported, it’s a warmer pink (she has lovely comparisons). NaturalNChicMakeup also has reviews (it pulls a bit paler/lighter on her than it does for me). Also check out The Stash Archives – she has an amazing collection of Euro blushes to compare Pink Cloud to.
Here are my comparisons to: Chanel Winter Shimmer (from 2006 or 2007ish), Chanel Pink Cloud, Chanel Beiges, Chanel Silk Dream (from 2004), Armani Blush #12 (from Fall 2009)

This is the baked Euro formula which means the surface layer has a powdery texture/finish with bits of debris. After the top layer is brushed, the underneath powder is slightly harder in texture. I’m wearing this today alone and it shows up on my skin, but just barely. I wouldn’t call it a must-have although my skin does have a natural angelic pink glow now. It’s simply too sheer on my skin (olive tanned Chanel Vitalumiere B30/Teint Innocence Shell). Even as a highlighter I find it on the sheer side. Had this been the US formula I think the  pigment payoff would be better. If you have lighter skin than me then I think you will love this as a soft natural pink blush. For me it’s like but not love. After 2 hours of wear it has faded completely on me. I think this will be a great product to soften other blushes and bronzers without changing the color. By layering this on top of other shades or by blending on the outer edges of the face, I think this will be great to help soften harsh lines or tone down the cheeks if you’ve applied too much blush. Do check out the other reviews and swatches linked above in the middle of this post. I think your mileage may vary.
Aquarelles were initially released to Neiman Marcus stores only but I’ve seen it pop up at various Nordstrom locations. I know Nordstrom Seattle received the collection. I highly recommend you test before you buy.
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Chanel Ombres Tissées in Beiges – Thoughts & Swatches

August 10, 2011

This morning I applied Chanel Beiges as a highlighter on the cheeks over Chanel Rose Petale Blush. It lasted all day and well into the evening. The powder underneath has a unique texture that’s almost creamy, but not quite. After swatching all three shades, I found that they all look fairly similar on my skin. Blending them together doesn’t really change the effect. What I see is a pale pearly highlighter with a beautiful shimmer. On tanned/darker skins this may show up as a white frost – but only because of the contrast from the pale powder to a darker skin tone. I think if I get a few shades darker this might be too light for the face. For the eyes though, I think it would suit a number of skintones. It makes the eyes just glow with the most beautiful refined shimmer and sparkle. I adore it!

Here are the swatches of the product (what’s underneath the glitter).

The colors look remarkably similar on the skin to Dior’s Limited Edition Pink and Peach Lace Powders from Spring 2010 (here).

Overall love. I don’t believe the Beiges palette will be a must-have for most women as the effect on the skin is not all that original in terms of the finish. There are other highlighters out there that will get you a very similar effect. However, it’s a stunning piece to own simply because of the design. Even though the pattern will disappear with use, the quality and long-lasting power on the cheeks is a huge plus for me. I didn’t like the glitter on the skin but it did add a beautiful finish to the powder for aesthetics/design. I am glad it was easy to remove. Bottom line, for Chanel lovers, like me, the Beiges highlighter is a must. My camera simply cannot capture the beautiful sparkle this powder gives to the skin, but on the eyes, it’s magical with the subtle extra twinkle that makes the skin just glow.
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Chanel Ombres Tissées Beiges from Les Aquarelles de Chanel

August 9, 2011
We’ve all been waiting for Les Aquarelles de Chanel for ages ever since we saw previews from the Chanel Couture show in Paris earlier this year. Café Makeup gave us the sneak preview of the whole collection. It has finally been released to Neiman Marcus and Chanel.com – I am waiting for news of other stores and boutiques that also might be getting this (will update when I find out). The Beiges highlighter is something I’ve been waiting to receive for eons. It’s a multi-purpose powdery-cream highlighter for eyes and cheeks. The product is pricey at $75 but the product is a work of art and in my opinion worth every penny.

Per Chanel, Ombres Tissées Beiges – Iridescent Effects Eyes:

“This unique illuminating powder from LES AQUARELLES DE CHANEL Makeup Collection adds captivating shimmer and iridescence to eyes and cheeks with pale pink and ivory tones. The harmony is embellished with a luminous layer of shimmer and embossed with an iconic woven tweed effect. Limited Edition.”

The design of this palette is simply exquisite. The top layer is heavily oversprayed with chunky glitter. Those who detest glitter (like me) will be happy to know it’s only the top layer and can easily be removed without damaging the beautiful quilted pattern by brushing a skunk brush over the top to remove the overspray.

Underneath you see three layers of soft pink and peach, the three blend together for a pale wash of highlight. I haven’t had chance to swatch or apply these on the eyes. I’m scared of ruining the beautiful texture! I will update later with swatches and further thoughts. In the meantime check out Front Row Beauty and Joeys’pace for their lovely thoughts, photos and reviews.

Update with more swatches to come this evening.

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Dolce & Gabbana Autumn 2011: Cinnamon Eyeshadow Duo & Shimmer Illuminator Powder

July 31, 2011

Dolce & Gabbana has released soft angelic shades for eyes and cheeks in their Autumn/Winter 2011 collection called Sweet Temptations. Cinnamon # 80 Eyeshadow Duo has a shimmery combination of soft opal pink and soft beige-gold. Shimmer #6 Illuminator is a soft finely milled sheer glowy pink-beige. The shades are soft and neutral and make the skin glow with a subtle sheen. Each shade has this beautiful multi-color reflective quality which makes the product look either more beige or more pink depending on how the light hits the shimmer particles. Above is more pinkish, below in different lighting you see more warm beige tones. Both items are very neutral, nude and sheer. On my medium skintone, these blend in with my skin for a barely-there glow.

Cinnamon Eyeshadow duo has a soft opal pink and a soft champagne beige gold. Both are shimmery neutrals. On the fingers and arms you can clearly see the difference in color. On the eyes for me, they both look the same (whether they are layered or applied separately). These give just the slightest glimmer to the lids. Layering actually makes these look chalky but then I reminded myself other duos like this did the same. The best way for me to apply duos like Dolce & Gabbana Cinnamon is to put on a dewy eye base first, mix both shades by swirling a brush and then dusting lash to brow in a back-and-forth sweeping motion. Just add liner (like a bronze) and mascara. Cinnamon no doubt is a stunner when you see the compact. On my skin it doesn’t translate the same – it’s very similar to the colors you get with others like Stila Kitten, MAC Deckchair Pigment, Bobbi Brown Seashell, Chanel Island, just more subtle and not quite as frosty.

Swatch comparisons: Dolce & Gabbana Cinnamon, NARS New Delight, MAC Shimmertime Pigment, MAC Deckchair Pigment, Bobbi Brown Seashell Shimmerwash Eyeshadow

Shimmer Illuminator is a soft neutral nude pink. I’m not sure what to make of this one. I had anticipated a glowy highlighter because in the compact you can see a soft luminous glow. On the skin however it goes on darker and the shimmer is non-detectable. Fair skinned ladies who are looking for a good contour shade for your cheeks, Dolce & Gabbana Shimmer is the answer to your prayers. The grey undertones of most contour shades that make us look ashy are non-existent here. It does have some brownish qualities but they are soft-nude-browns meaning this will go well with your natural skintone. What I swatched on the fingers was very true-to-pan. What I applied on my arm and face was just completely different. Hence my confusion on the name “Shimmer” for this product. I can’t say whether or not it will show up on darker skins. This one is hard to tell for me.

Comparisons to MAC, NARS and YSL


Overall thoughts: I fell in love with these the moment I saw them at Beverly Hills. Upon finger-swiping my heart skipped a beat. However, after playing with these at home, I think while these are gorgeous, they are just not must-haves for me. I believe I that my skintone is at that point (slightly tanned) where these blend into my skin so well they barely show up. Granted, they are neutrals intended for a “natural look” I find them a bit too natural for me. They are beautiful and high quality products though. Lighter skin ladies, if you can get to a Dolce & Gabbana counter, you must try Shimmer on your cheeks. Given the fact that it’s less brown than NARS Douceur (for some reason this one turns brownish on me), I think many will love Dolce & Gabbana Shimmer and find it a wonderful natural contour. As for Cinnamon, it’s so pretty in the compact, nothing would have stopped me from owning this. However, most light pearly shades end up looking the same on me no matter what variation. The shimmer is subtle so those who have found other brands too frosty will like Dolce & Gabbana Cinnamon.

Have you been to Saks lately to see these or try these in person yet?

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Laura Mercier Cheek Mélange in Canyon Sunset

July 12, 2011

Laura Mercier Cheek Mélange in Canyon Sunset ($40) is “a cheek colour with sunset inspired hues perfect for adding warm glow to the face.” This is a new product for fall from Laura Mercier. It’s a beautiful embossed cheek powder that gives a beautiful luminous darkened pink. Canyon Sunset has three colors with a lovely overspray. From top to bottom: light powder pink, medium plum-brown-pink with silver sparkles, medium darker peachy pink. On me it goes on very warm-toned, not quite bronzer like, but with a heavy hand, it feels like a pink bronzer. The overspray disappears after a few swipes. The pigment is medium, soft, luminous and natural like Laura Mercier’s regular blushes. The shimmer is very soft and makes the skin glow.

Without flash in natural light, still with overspray on

I used a MAC duo fibre brush to apply for a soft sweep of color. Here’s what it looks like with the overspray removed. The powder underneath is still soft and luminous.

Swatched on arm, separately and then blended, on the arm it looks more pinkish, on my face it darkens slightly for a more browned peachy pink look (probably because of a heavier application on the face)

Overall love.

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Chanel Le Blanc: Rose Tourbillon, Pearl Glow and Liaison

July 10, 2011
My Chanel Le Blanc collection is now complete thanks to Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale offerings. I was lucky that Rouge Deluxe custom purchased some of the items from Singapore several months ago for me. (See the prior features linked here for Rose Envolée Quad, Désinvolte and Joyeuse Rouge Allures, Blossom Glossimer.) The remaining items from the Le Blanc collection include Rose Tourbillon Blush, Pearl Glow Highlighting Powder and Liaison Glossimer.

Rose Tourbillon is the Euro/Asia baked formula but it has a surprisingly lovely pigmented non-chalky finish. It’s a baby cool pink. Cooler than Narcisse but not as cool as Turbulent (both the US formulas). There are tiny micro sparkles in it, but the sparkles are sparse and not visible on the skin. The texture is powdery with a bit of excess debris that surfaces after dipping a brush, but I’m not complaining since the blendability is good and finish well pigmented (but natural). This item sold out super fast when it was released in Asia. After applying it, I can see why.

See other reviews of Rose Tourbillon on My Makeup Reviews, Glossed up via Karlasugar & The Stash Archives.

Poudre Lumière Perlée (Pearl Glow) is one of the most beautiful pressed glowy highlighters I’ve seen. It’s a finely milled luminous neutral shimmer. Don’t let the swatches fool you – this is something best applied on the skin with a brush. Swatched on the arm with fingers or a sponge just doesn’t allow you to get the full effect. I’m not a huge fan of sponge applicators (like the one that comes with this compact) so I’m not sure that I will be using it with this. I applied over Rose Tourbillon with a powder brush and my skin is so naturally glowy I can’t stop staring. It is sheer, but what I love about this is that it’s not super pale – the world is saturated with highlighters that are either super pale champagne or dark orangey bronze. This is a great in-between color. It’s definitely back-up worthy.

See other reviews of Pearl Glow on Orange2LA & Joey’space. (On the thumb, Chanel Graphite, also shown here.)

Liaison Glossimer is a milky-clearish color with a gorgeous shimmery sheen. Unfortunately on the lips, it’s entirely clear. You have to be within inches of the skin or lips to see the sparkle. I definitely could have passed on this but was enamored by the way it looked in the tube. If this were an eyeshadow I think I’d go nuts.

See lovely comparisons courtesy of The Purse Forum.

Overall: Le Blanc has a softer more feminine appeal to me compared to the other recent Chanel releases. For me, Fall Illusion d’Ombre is edgy and cutting edge, Byzance is rich, dramatic and ornamental, Le Blanc is soft and whimsical. My top Le Blanc must-haves include Joyeuse Rouge Allure, Rose Tourbillon Blush and the Pearl Glow Powder. See the whole collection swatched on Karla Sugar as well.

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MAC Peachy Love: Ripe Peach, Marine Life & My Paradise

May 29, 2011
I have a soft spot for peachy blushes and highlighters, especially for the limited edition creations by MAC like Ripe Peach and Marine Life. I haven’t craved anything from MAC for quite some time, but this all changed as soon as sneak previews popped up for the new My Paradise Surf, Baby! Cheek Powder. The packaging and embossed chunky gold flower design on the surface is to die for. I could not resist.

Here are all three limited-edition peachy blush and highlighter powders next together (note, the marine life with the gold overspray is an untouched back-up).

Left to right: Ripe Peach Blush Ombre (spring 2010)
Marine Life High-Light Powder (summer 2010)
My Paradise Surf, Baby! Cheek Powder (summer 2011)


Close up of Ripe Peach – the softest finish out of the 3 peaches. Rich ripe peach with a satiny shimmer. Gradient from light peach to coral. Super soft shimmer throughout.

Close up of my backup of Marine Life. The gold is overspray on the surface and disappears. This one is the most pigmented and most shimmery out of the three. Application must be with a super light hand for me to avoid clown-cheeks. This one is the most coral with hints of red/pink.

Close up of My Paradise. The gold is embossed and raised from the peach powder. I suspect it’s only on the surface. The shimmer in the gold is very chunky but rich in pigment. The peach is very similar to Ripe Peach, but more slightly more reddish.

Left to right: Ripe Peach, Marine Life, My Paradise



Unfortunately, Ripe Peach and Marine life are no longer for sale as they were both limited edition. I suspect My Paradise will be sold out soon as well, but the good thing about MAC is that chances are with the frequent releases they will come up with something similar in the near future. Right now my holy-grail peach blushes are Chanel Espiègle (see it here), MAC Fleur Power (see it here) and MAC Style (see it here) – all of which are still easy to find right now.
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