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YSL Prune Minimale No. 7 La Laque Couture

July 28, 2013
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I’ve had YSL Prune Minimale No. 7 La Laque Couture ($25 for 0.34 fl oz/10ml at Nordstrom) for over a year but have never had a chance to review it. Some of the YSL nail lacquers can be hard to find since most stores don’t carry the entire color range. Certain stores have exclusive shades. I’m not sure if Prune Minimale is one of those colors but I’ve only been able to find it at Nordstrom in the US. Prune Minimale No. 7 is a dark vampy plum-brown. In the bottle it appears to a wine color with shimmer. On the nails the shimmer is invisible and it applies significantly darker than what you see in the bottle. It gives full coverage with two coats. Lasting power was quite good – I took it off on day five to swatch comparisons and there was minimal tip wear. From arms length this looks very similar to a number of other vampy shades. I pulled a few to compare (scroll down). YSL Prune Minimale proved to be one of the darker vamps that I own.

The bottles show some shimmers:

Here it is swatched with two coats and one coat of Chanel Laque Brilliance Extrême top coat.

Comparisons below to Chanel Rouge Noir, Vamp, Accessoire and Strong:

I think YSL Prune Minimale No. 7 is a lovely but fairly standard vamp. It’s a sharp classic color that is something you can wear year round. However I was surprised about the attention it received for something I found to be very basic. YSL Prune Minimale received a significant amount of attention over the last week though from co-workers as well as from both of my favorite Chanel and Dior reps at Nordstrom – they all wanted to know what color it was.
Overall I’m impressed with the quality and wear. If you look closely you can tell that it is different from Chanel classics like Rouge Noir and Vamp. It’s about 1-2 shades darker, cooler and more brown than Rouge Noir. So far I’ve only seen it at Nordstrom but if you’ve spotted it elsewhere please share in the comments. (I searched about 10 other retailers online that carry YSL and couldn’t find it listed anywhere.)
YSL Prune Minimale No. 7 retails for $25. You can find it now instores and online at Nordstrom.

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Dior Mystic Metallics Vernis: Destin 382 and Galaxie 992

July 11, 2013
Dior Mystic Metallics brings us three new nail polishes, one in a magnetic-wave formula, two in the regular Dior formula. I purchased the two regular Dior Vernis shades in Destin 382 and Galaxie 992 ($24 each for 10 ml/0.33 fl oz, made in France). Both are stunning shades for fall. Destin 382 is a beautiful neutral mauve-grey shimmer with slight pinkish tones. Galaxie 992 is a beautiful plum metallic. Both are very smooth in finish with full coverage. Each shade has the perfect amount of shimmer – enough to be visible on the nail, but not too frosted or metallic. You may find similar colors in your collection however each shade is just so stunning – they are like updated classics, I think they are definitely must-haves for fall.

Swatches and comparisons for each shade, first up Destin 382. It’s a mauve but the complex shimmers make it look pinkish on the nails depending on the light. I love the color, it’s natural but not nude.

Galaxie 992 is a stunning berry vamp. I was hoping it would be a dupe for the limited-edition Love 928 shade from years past, but it’s not quite the same. Still, Galaxie is beautiful.

More comparisons on the full nail wheel in different light: Deborah Lippmann Good Girl Gone Bad, Dior Shadow, Dior Love, Dior Galaxie, Dior Icone, Chanel Gondola, Chanel Taboo, Chanel Vamp, Chanel Malice, Le Metier de Beaute Faraday, Deborah Lippmann Glamorous Life, Deborah Lippmann Modern Love, YSL Beige Leger, Dior Destin, Chanel Violette, Rescue Beauty Lounge Grunge, Guerlain Petite Robe Noire and Chanel Quartz.

I wore Destin over the weekend and I have Galaxie on my nails now. I can’t stop looking at my nails. Definitely must-haves. Demure enough for conservative offices, but enough oomph to not be completely boring. The formula is beautiful and the brush makes the shades extremely easy to apply. I didn’t test either for more than 5 days since I usually like to change nail colors frequently. I didn’t experience any tip-wear with Destin after 3 days of wear (using Deborah Lippmann’s Rehydrating Base Coat and Chanel’s Top Coat).
I found the colors in store at Nordstrom. They are both limited-edition.

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YSL Fall Look 2013: Gris Underground 38 and Beige Gallery 39 La Laque Couture

July 6, 2013
For fall I spotted two new shades of YSL La Laque Couture ($25 each, for 0.34 oz/10ml) at Nordstrom in store: Gris Underground 38 a beautiful blue-grey with a hint of lavendar and Beige Gallery 39 a nude tan cream. Both are non-shimmers with full coverage. The quality and wear is quite amazing. The wide brush makes these easy to apply flawlessly. You get full coverage with two thin coats. Dry time is faster than most. I am in love with both new shades.

Before I go on to the individual swatches, I wanted to post a nail wheel comparison. In my mind before I pulled any other colors, I expected Gris Underground and Beige Gallery to be quite similar to other greys and nudes. They proved to be very different from what I expected. Gris Underground is more blue. Beige Gallery pulls more brown.
Here are some colors compared: NARS Storm Bird, JinSoon Auspicious, Dior Gris Montaigne, Chanel Frenzy, Dior Gris Trianon, Butter London Lady Muck, Dolce & Gabbana Anise, OPI Don’t Pretzel My Buttons, OPI My Very First Knockwurst, YSL Beige Leger 22, Dior Trench, Dior Grege, Chanel Beige, Dior Incognito and Chanel Particuliere.

Gris Underground No. 38 is a shade I’ve been searching for for years. It has just the right mix of blue, grey and purple to be that perfect dove-grey nail color. Most others I’ve seen are either too purple or just a straight grey. This one pulls blue-ish on me against my olive skintone. All swatches two coats without any top coat.

Closeup of the comparisons:

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Beige Gallery No. 39 is a beautiful tan nude. I expected it to go on the nails paler than it does, but it is true to what you see in the bottle. It gives a fresh clean nude look without being too nude or brown. Two coats without any topcoat (although these work well with Chanel).

Comparison closeup:

YSL is slowly but surely making it’s dent in my beauty collection. I’ve
fallen in love with their La Laque Couture nail formula for the
smooth application, long wear, beautiful rich colors, easy to use brush
and sleek packaging. The quality is really amazing. My collection pre-fall additions:

Bottom line: both Gris Underground 38 and Beige Gallery 39 are must-haves. I love the neutral but not boring look these colors give. In stores and online at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus.

Did you check out YSL fall yet? Thoughts? Will you be picking up the nail colors?

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Chanel Mysterious 601 Le Vernis – Fall 2013

June 19, 2013
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Chanel Mysterious 601 Le Vernis ($27, Nordstrom.com) is a deep khaki military green. It’s a full coverage cream. Although this is a very deep shade, there’s a muted quality that prevents it from looking black on the fingers. I never thought I could love a khaki-green colored shade for the nails, but this one is quite polished and distinct looking on my fingers. Below shown with two coats.

Comparisons below to some Chanel and Dior:

My heart still belongs to Elixir from the fall collection, but Mysterious is a nice alternative to black, grey or vamps. I can’t say that Mysterious is a must-have for me, mainly because I’m usually drawn to non-green/khaki shades for nail polish. I found Alchemie unique, but for some reason, I can’t get excited about Mysterious. If you’re on the fence and trying to decide between a few select items from fall, I would say skip Mysterious and go for one of the cream blushes or lipsticks in the collection. Those are the winners in my mind.

Right now, Chanel Fall 2013 has been spotted in stores early. I found mine at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. For now, the only place I can find it online is at Nordstrom.com.

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Chanel Élixir 589 Le Vernis – Fall 2013

June 17, 2013
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Chanel Élixir 589 ($27 for 13 ml/0.4 fl oz, Nordstrom.com) is a beautiful milky warm red pink. This color is hands down my favorite shade out of the three released for fall. It looked stunning on the runway at the Fall-Winter 2013/14 Show. The color has a beautiful mix of pink and red with just the right amount of warmth to make it different from other pinks from Chanel. It’s a classic color that I hope will become part of the permanent line. It applied smoothly with full coverage with a single coat. Swatches below are all with two coats. It’s a color that isn’t quite as dramatic or sharp as red, not quite as soft as baby pinks, and not quite as attention-grabbing as bright fuschias. It’s somewhere in between. The pink/red is noticeable, but Élixir has a soft gentle-looking feel. It looked striking against black on the runway. I suspect it will be a shade that will be easy to incorporate into any wardrobe color combination. (Photo below via Vogue and Chanel.com.)

Some close up shots:

Swatches with two coats of color and a layer of Poshe Top Coat:

Many have asked how this compares to other Chanel pinks, in particular May and April. I pulled out some to compare: May, Rose Insolent, Fracas, April, Infidele, Cinema and Suspicious. Most of the shades have been previously featured before (links provided for reference).

Nail swatches of a few for extra detail:

Definitely a must although some may find it too similar to other rose pinks to justify purchasing. The fall collection has started to trickle instores now. Some counters are still waiting for pieces of the collection to arrive in their next shipment. Chanel Le Vernis in Élixir 589 is available now online at Nordstrom.com with free ship and currently has a nice selection of 3 Free Samples from Chanel to choose from (while supplies last, online only). 
Did you pick up Élixir?
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Chanel Alchimie 591 Le Vernis – Fall 2013

June 16, 2013
Chanel Alchimie 591 ($27 for 13 ml/0.4 fl oz, Nordstrom.com) is new for fall. It’s a mossy olive shimmer with a hint of gold and khaki. The color has a very smooth streak-free shimmer and applies beautifully with two coats. I’m usually not a fan of greens on the nails or olive colors since they tend to clash with my yellow/olive-toned skin, but Chanel always does greens beautifully. I’ve worn this for almost 4 days now and I’ve had no chips or tip wear. I love that it’s a work-appropriate neutral with a bit of edge.

Swatched:

Many have asked how it compares to Peridot from several years ago. Here are some swatches and photos. Peridot has a more visible shimmer/iridescent quality. It’s also brighter and more yellow/gold. It literally glows on the skin. Alchimie is a more subtle and conservative version with more olive and green. I think they are different enough to justify owning both.

Alchimie is definitely a must-have. The Chanel fall collection is starting to trickle in stores now. I spotted the items at my local Neimans and Nordstrom. It should be arriving at all Chanel counters and online soon. For now you can find it online at Nordstrom.com.
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Chanel Le Vernis Shades in Peaches & Corals: Miami Peach, Starlet, Distraction, Lilis and Holiday

June 8, 2013
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By request, a comparison of some the newer Chanel peaches and corals to last year’s releases (see my coral obsession from last year here). Left to right with descriptions:

  • Miami Peach 203 is the closest to a tangerine shade, it has a jelly finish requiring 3 coats for more coverage and has gold sparkles suspended (was a limited release to Neiman Marcus back in 2011, reviewed here)
  • Starlet 575 is the more pink than Miami Peach, Starlet has rich coverage with visible shimmer, still peachy/coral but has enough pink to prevent it from looking orange (swatched here)
  • Distraction 549 flashes the most pink because it has a fuchsia iridescent quality, glows with a sheen rather than full on shimmer, semi-jelly-like finish as well but more coverage than Miami Peach (swatched here and here)
  • Lilis 647 is several shades brighter, deeper and richer than the others, has a pinkish undertone (swatched here and here)
  • Holiday 617 matches Lilis in brightness, Holiday is more orange without any blue/pink tones (swatched here and here)

Swatched below, I hope the different angles will show the shimmer/iridescent quality a bit better:

All the shades are similar in undertone and color. Right now the only shade you can’t find easily is Miami Peach since it was limited from a few years ago. All the others are still available at Chanel counters and online at Chanel.com, Nordstrom.com, Neimanmarcus.com and other Chanel retailers. If you have a substantial wishlist and are ready to make a larger purchase I’d recommend you check your local Chanel counters for gift with purchases. Many are having beauty events so you may want to take advantage of the GWPs while they are going on.
Hope this helped show the differences!

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