Chanel

Letters to Coco and Reflections on a Chanel Summer, Part 2: Packing Pearls, Pink Tonic Le Vernis Nail Colour and Happy Glossimer

April 11th, 2014 by Karen 13 Comments

Chanel Summer 2014 — Wearing the new Chanel Reflets D’Ete De Chanel Summer collection on my lips and tips

Letters to Coco

This is part two of a three-part series of posts titled “Letters to Coco,” a series of letters written in the summer of 2014 from me to my best friend (in my head), Coco Chanel. In this second letter, which features summer collection standouts Pink Tonic Nail Polish and Happy Glossimer, we’re just about to leave on our summer trip. 🙂

My dearest Coco,

Hey, babe! Can I just say that I’m excited!? OMG, Maldives! T-minus 24 hours and counting. Seriously, you do not even know how badly I need this trip. Tabs has been working me to the bone. I am literally — literally — counting down the seconds till I can unchain myself from my desk, LOL!

Oh, and excellent call on choosing the Maldives. I’ve never been before. So stoked!

I’m doing some last-minute packing tonight, so let me know if you need me to bring anything for you. I know that you’re very busy, and I actually have a little bit of room left in my carryon bag, haha!

Of course I’m bringing the essentials — sunscreen, hat (uh…I keep thinking that the only person who should be wearing a straw fedora is Justin Timberlake, but I can’t help myself), swimsuit, sunglasses, pearls and my trusty bottle of No. 19, aka “your best summery scent ever,” IMHO.

Oh! — I’m also bringing one of the five polishes in your Reflets D’Ete De Chanel Summer collection, the fuschia shade, Pink Tonic Le Vernis Nail Colour, ’cause, you know, I like to be prepared.

Chanel Happy Glossimer (a sheer coral jelly, $29.50) and Pink Tonic Le Vernis Nail Colour (a fuchsia, $27) — Happy Glossimer (a sheer coral jelly, $29.50) and Pink Tonic Le Vernis Nail Colour (a fuchsia, $27)

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Letters to Coco and Reflections on a Chanel Summer, Part 1: Orange You Glad We’re BFFs With Mirabella Le Vernis Nail Colour and Sunny Glossimer?

April 11th, 2014 by Karen 28 Comments

Chanel Collection Reflets D'Ete De Chanel Summer 2014 — Wearing the new Chanel Collection Reflets D’Ete De Chanel Summer 2014

Letters to Coco

Introducing part one of a three-part series of posts titled “Letters to Coco,” a series of letters written in the summer of 2014 from me to my best friend (in my head), Coco Chanel. In this first letter, which features summer collection standouts Mirabella Nail Polish and Sunny Glossimer, we’re planning our upcoming summer trip.

My dearest Coco,

Orange you glad we’re BFFs!? Because, seriously, how else would you get the inside scoop on happenings in the crazy cat lady community? You’d be lost without me, LOL!

I miss you so much! It’s been forever since we hung out. How has your summer been so far? Mine’s been nothing short of epic. EPIC!

I’ve been traveling a lot for work because of Tabs. He’s had a ton of modeling gigs lately and, lucky for me, most of them have been in tropical parts of the world.

I’m actually writing this to you from the Four Seasons in Bora Bora right meow.

Meow!

I was thinking about you because all of the fancy fashionistas here keep asking about Mirabella, that luscious orange nail polish from your summer collection.

Chanel Mirabella swatch — Two coats of creamy orange Mirabella

It hasn’t left my tips or toes once this trip, and everyplace I’ve been, at least one person has stopped to ask me about it. “OMG! What are you wearing on your nails!?” I raise my chin proudly and proclaim, “It’s from my BFF, Coco. It’s part of her summer Reflets D’Ete de Chanel summer 2014 collection.”

Then, while their brains are still frozen, I add, “It’s so pigmented that you only need one coat.” 🙂

Chanel Collection Reflets D'Ete de Chanel Summer 2014 All — Eight pieces from the 16-piece Reflets D’Ete de Chanel Summer 2014 collection

I’ve been wearing it with Sunny, the sheer jelly orange Glossimer also from your summer collection.

SUCH a good idea to mix and match the nail polishes and glosses in this collection, Coco! I love that if I want I can match my lips to my nails.

Chanel Mirabella Le Vernis Nail Colour and Sunny Glossimer — Mirabella Le Vernis Nail Colour ($27, limited edition) and Sunny Glossimer ($29.50, permanent)

Chanel Mirabella Le Vernis Nail Colour on my nails and Sunny Glossimer on my lipa — Mirabella Le Vernis Nail Colour on my nails and Sunny Glossimer on my lips

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Chanel Vert Khaki Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow

April 7th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

I am LOVIN’ this shimmery khaki green eyeshadow, desperately, though I should note that whenever I wear it on my lids, the urge to crank open a fire hydrant so that everyone in the neighborhood can frolic through the spray, perhaps to a choreographed dance routine, befalls me.

(SIDE NOTE: seriously, I have always wanted to do that…)

Now, I’ll wear khaki greens any time of year, but the warmer months — especially June through August — after I’ve normally darkened a shade or two and it’s like a coral partaaaaay 24/7 on my cheeks and lips, Vert Khaki becomes my BFF. I just love how well it works with juicy, summery corals…

And hot pinks…

And golds and bronzes, too.

I gotta hand it to Chanel. Their eyeshadow singles cost an arm and a leg, but at least they don’t hold anything back. This one, in particular, looks crazy good!

Even though green eyeshadow can be a huge leap for some, I think Vert Khaki is possibly the closest you can get to a natural-looking khaki green.

Yeah, with this on your lids, it definitely looks like you’re wearing colorful eyeshadow, but it’s not totally in your face.

It’s on your face… 🙂

LOL! Vert Khaki has some gold in it, along with a touch of warm grayish taupe (which really comes through when you buff it down), and I think those extra touches keep it from looking too out-there-cray, you know what I’m sayin’?

With this on your lids, you won’t feel like people are staring at your green eyeshadow. No, they’ll be admiring your sultry eyes, ooh-la-lah.

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See Subtle Signs of Lovely Light With $70 Chanel Jardin De Camelias Illuminating Powder

March 13th, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

If this were a PowerPoint slide about Chanel’s $70 Jardin De Camelias Illuminating Powder, the key bullet points would be…

Super pretty in the pan
Super subtle on the skin
Super expensive

Available now exclusively online as part of the new 11-piece Jardin de Camelias collection, Chanel Jardin de Camelias Illuminating Powder, it’s a sheer ivory highlighting powder with a dainty pinkish rose opalescence.

The super subtle shimmer and rosy pink tint are probably easier to see in real life, where they create a delicate halo of light that dances off the skin, illuminating it all day long.

Chanel Jardin De Camelias Illuminating Powder swatch — Chanel Jardin De Camelias Illuminating Powder Swatch

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It’s Zen and the Art of Camellia Blooming With Coco’s New Quad: The Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Jardin Zen

March 13th, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

Wearing the new Chanel Jardin Zen Quadra Eye Shadow on my eyes

Oh, OK! I get it. Jardin Zen. The name of this Chanel quad means “zen garden” in French, and that’s kind of what the pattern on the pans looks like — one of those Japanese gardens with the little stones that someone rakes cool patterns and design into. Neat.

Of course, Coco Chanel’s zen garden would have to have a design that looks a little like her favorite flower, the camellia. It’s only logical.

Just like mine, if I were ever to make one, would have cats and cupcakes on it. 🙂

A new limited edition online exclusive available now on chanel.com, the Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Jardin Zen is part of the 11-piece Jardin de Camelias collection.

A beautiful Monday through Friday eyeshadow palette of basics for the girl/guy who wants something other than a bunch o’ browns. I’s like a Chanel Flap bag, with its chain and quilt detailing, but in a color like greige, as opposed to basic black. Something you could wear all the time, and it goes everything, but it’s a little different, ya know? I like that.

You get a gorgeous violet gray, a golden beige, a pastel pink and a soft black — all colors that are easy to work into an everyday makeup routine. Practical, but not too boring or basic.

Being from Chanel, it’s expensive, though, but it’s also Chanel quality. Sure, you’re paying a premium for the name, but I also think the shadows perform extremely well.

Long-lasting, easy to blend with other shadows and each other, and they contain a perfect amount of pigment. Plus, they don’t crease, as long as I wear them with primer.

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The Two New Chanel Nuit Magique Le Vernis Nail Colours Will Cast Their Cosmic Magic Online Soon

November 25th, 2013 by Karen 18 Comments

Chanel Cosmic Le Vernis Nail Colour — Chanel’s Cosmic Le Vernis Nail Colour ($27), one of two new online exclusive shades in the Nuit Magique collection

My last magical night was the final night of my trip to Kauai with El Hub last August. After dinner, we walked down to the beach by our hotel on Kalapaki Bay and took a long, leisurely stroll on the sand under the moonlight.

The moon was so full and round that night. I felt like it was just above my head, like I could reach right out grab it. We walked and talked from one end of the beach to the other while listening to a band playing somewhere in the distance. The music mixed with the sound of the waves gently lapping at our feet.

We talked about all kinds of things as we walked and watched the moonlight reflect on the water — the fun things we did on our trip, the other places we still hoped to travel, and where we saw our little family in the next few years.

It was a magical night, and I wished it would never end. I remember looking down at my feet at one point and watching the water wash over my toes…

Incidentally, I was wearing Chanel Taboo! 🙂

I love Taboo… It’s one of my all-time Chanel faves (right up there with Jade), but if I’m ever lucky enough to have a another magical night like that one, I hope I’m wearing one of the two Chanel nail polishes in the Nuit Magique collection (magical night, en Français) — ya know, to go with the whole magical theme of the night.

The two-piece limited edition collection of dark and moody colors goes on sale December 2, exclusive to chanel.com.

Both of them seem like perfect colors for a big night out. Or a big day (if you’re into deeper shades like I am).

Chanel Magic Swatch — Two coats of Magic

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The Chanel Collection Nuit Infinie De Chanel Collection for Holiday 2013: Cheeks and Lips

October 3rd, 2013 by Karen 21 Comments

Chanel Collection Nuit Infinie De Chanel: Cheeks and Lips

Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Accent ($43): A sheer pinkish beige with a hint of plum and a sheen finish; I need 2-3 layers to see it on my cheeks
Poudre Universelle Libre Natural Finish Loose Powder in Moon Light ($52): A sheer peachy beige with glitter; I’d use this sparingly, otherwise skin can end up looking REALLY glittery
Rouge Allure Lipstick in Radieuse ($34): A blueish pink with a smooth and creamy texture and soft shine finish; surprisingly wearable
Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in La Precieuse ($43): A vivid red matte that leans slightly blue; similar to MAC Ruby Woo, but with a thinner texture and less severe matte finish
Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in La Desiree ($43): An extremely pigmented burgundy red matte with smooth texture; can’t skip the lip liner with this one

Chanel Accent Joues Contraste — Joues Contraste in Accent ($43)

Chanel Radieuse La Desiree La Precieuse 1 — Rouge Allure and Rouge Allure Velvet Lipsticks ($34 each)

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Chanel Goes for the Glitter on Lashes and Lids in the New Collection Nuit Infinie de Chanel for Holiday 2013

October 3rd, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

Chanel Collection Nuit Infine de Chanel Collection for Holiday 2013 — Wearing makeup from the new Chanel Collection Nuit Infinie de Chanel Collection, new for holiday 2013

Assuming Tabs the naughty ninja kitty doesn’t knock the tree over again, my Christmas is going to have some major competition — and not from the glittering, diamond-encrusted Beyonce-themed ornaments (I WISH). Chanel’s holiday collection is officially in the house, and it’s ready to glimmer and glisten, big time, on lids and lashes.

Chanel Collection Nuit Infinie De Chanelfor Holiday 2013 — 9 of the 14 pieces from the new Collection Nuit Infinie De Chanel

From what I’ve seen of the collection so far, it’s a full-on glitter parade, especially on eyes. I mean, it’s so glittery that I’m pretty sure that if holiday tinsel could talk, it would yell “BISH STOLE MY LOOK!” at the top of its lungs.

Hey, I’m not complaining! I love me some glitter. I just wish it showed up more readily in these pics. In all of the shots I took today, the glitter appears much more subdued than it does in real life.

I tried, le sigh.

It’s too bad that it’s so hard to get security clearance here at Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, because I would love to see your eyes twinkle when you saw how these eyeshadows, mascara and liner radiate in person.

I guess we’ll have to just settle for the next best thing, which is you and me hanging out on opposite ends of the keyboard. 🙂

Ready to get to it? Glitter in three, two, one…

Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Initiation ($36)

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Initiation — Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Initiation

A sheer, glittery platinum bronze
One of two Illusion D’Ombre cream eyeshadows in the collection
Can wear alone or as a base for other shadows
Soft, bouncy texture
Apply with fingers or a brush
I apply with a flat eyeshadow brush (easier for me to control the product).
Non-creasing, long wearing
This particular pot might be old since it seems to have dried up (the shadow should touch the edges of the jar)
Experienced some fallout because of the glitter, but it’s not crazy.
Camera has a hard time picking up the sparkle; appears much more glittery in real life
Prefer this one over the second shade, Fatal, because it’s easier to wear on warm skin
Love the color, love the sparkle, wish it didn’t exhibit fallout (shouldn’t for the price)

MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Initiation on my eyes — Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Initiation on my lids

Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Fatal ($36)

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Fatal — Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Fatal

A shimmery, silvery purple with red undertones
Second cream shadow from the collection
Reddish purples make me look like I’ve been crying, so I have a hard time pulling this off
Not as glittery as Initiation, but still very shimmery (borders on a frost)
Texture’s slightly smoother, more bouncy
Easier to apply and blend
No fallout
Loved the texture and application, not so crazy about the color
Better for cool-toned gals/guys who can carry purplish reds well

MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

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