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A Mid-Week Date Night Look with Chanel, MAC and NARS

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When it started to look like cereal for dinner, El Hub and I decided at the last minute to go on a mid-week date last night (fish and chips, and beer… romantic, I know!). I went with this quick, sparkly look using a mix of new pieces from NARS, Chanel and MAC (and very little blending) and sprinkled it with some permanent products from Jouer, Hourglass, Buxom and Urban Decay.

Here’s a product breakdown of the look…

EYES
CHEEKS
LIPS


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It’s No Illusion; This Sparkle Is Real: Illusions D’Ombres De Chanel Collection for Fall

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Chanel Fall 2011 swatches

Metallics rule the new 21-piece Illusions D’Ombres De Chanel collection for fall flaunting eye-catching, shimmery finishes, but a solitary matte blush threatens to steal the crown!

Ooh! It’s like Game of Thrones up in here. 🙂

Well met, lords and ladies. Heya! How’s your hump day been? Mine got epically better this afternoon when I ran into the new Chanel Fall 2011 collection at Nordies after lunch. The limited edition release for eyes, lips and cheeks is available now at Chanel counters and also online, and if you like your makeup with major bling, feast your eyes upon this…

Swatches on NC42 skin

chanel fall 2011 swatches
From the left: Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadows in Emerveillé, Fantasme, Ebloui, Illusoire, Epatant and Mirifique ($36 each); Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Khaki Platine ($29, far right)

chanel fall 2011 swatches
From the left: Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Rose Ecrin ($43, first swatch); Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Prelude ($57, second through fifth swatches)

chanel fall 2011 swatches
From the left: Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in Braise and Pampille ($28.50 each); Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Colour in Rose Morganite ($34); Rouge Coco in Plumetis and Etole ($32 each); Le Crayon Levres Precision Lip Definer in Coralline and Rose Cuivre ($29 each); Lip products swatches from fall 2011 not pictured: Glossimer in Giggle ($28.50) and Rouge Double Intensite in Rose Quartz ($34)
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NARS Fall 2011: I’m Anything But Neutral on These Latest Lip Colors from François Nars

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We’re taking a page from Vanessa Williams today by saving the best for last. 🙂 The new nine-piece NARS Fall 2011 collection is getting all dolled up backstage, preparing for its big debut (on counters “soon,” which usually means any day now, and online July 15). Lips feature prominently in the release, making up more than half of the collection, with five different pieces in varieties of pink, red, rose and violet.

When I think of fall makeup, visions of dark, opaque matte lips cross my mental runway. There are a couple of those kinds of colors here, but NARS spiced things up by varying the finishes and levels of coverage, which range from the sheer Pago Pago to the full-coverage Train Bleu, Montego Bay and Mascate.

While overall I think the lip colors, like the other pieces in the collection, lean cool, making these colors potential paramours for gals with cooler skin tones, a few of them approach neutral, which also gives ladies with warmer skin tones (like moi) reason to smile.

It’s like there’s a little something for everyone this time around.

nars pago pago
Pago Pago Lipstick

Pago Pago Lipstick ($24) If you’re looking for a neutral pink lip, Pago Pago is a South Pacific kick in the pants! The silver sparkles in this sheer petal pink, which is named after the capital of American Samoa, make it something special to behold. A single layer produces a light wash of shiny color; two deliver about the same coverage as a MAC Lustre. But one layer or two, I think it looks like destiny opposite the bright blue NARS Outremer Eyeshadow Single. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+

nars oasis
Oasis Lip Gloss

Oasis Lip Gloss ($24) NARS describes it beautifully as a sparkling pink champagne, and, sure, I’ll take a glass of that. 🙂 On me, I characterize it as a pinkish berry sprinkled with flecks of golden glitter. I think François totally nailed the pigmentation here, giving Oasis just enough color to make a statement without taking over the entire show. Sure, it comes with that notorious trademark plasticky NARS gloss scent, but it’s super easy to wear, and I bet it looks fabulous on a wide range of skin tones. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

nars train bleu
Train Bleu Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

Train Bleu Velvet matte Lip Pencil ($24) Okay, now doesn’t this deep, dark purple remind you of an eggplant? Dramatic and goth, I think it looks amazing in pictures. I never expected to like this pencil as much as I do, and I almost didn’t give it a chance. For a modern look, try it with soft, shimmery eyeshadows like the shades in the NARS Delphes Trio. MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

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NARS Fall 2011: There’s Something Sketchy about Galion Nail Polish

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nars galion nail polish swatch

There’s something sketchy about the new NARS Galion Nail Polish ($17), and by that I mean that it reminds me of the graphite pencils I used to draw with in art class. 🙂

Two coats of this creamy dark gray, the sole polish in the upcoming nine-piece fall collection from NARS, deliver fully opaque nail color with a high-shine finish.

nars galion nail polish swatch

nars fall 2011 galion nail polish
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NARS Fall 2011: With the Grand Palais Duo Eyeshadow, NARS Does Neutral Eyes with a Twist

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nars grand palais

When NARS does neutral eyes, he gives ’em a little twist. The new Grand Palais Duo Eyeshadow from the upcoming Fall 2011 collection pairs a silvery taupe with a dusty rose in a partnership designed to flatter most skin tones. The combination takes the idea of the neutral eye well beyond simple brown, gray and beige.

nars fall 2011 grand palais duo eyeshadow

Both shadows feel smooth to me, and they’re quite easy to apply. They pack a real wallop, too, when it comes to pigment, yet neither one leaves behind very much fallout at all.

While they’re intended to be worn separately or together, I have a tough time working these colors by themselves. On my NC42 skin, I feel like the taupe makes me look a little tired in the eyes, and the rose makes me look like I’ve been crying. But mixing both shades together? That’s a whole different story. Teamed up, they’re like the Wonder Twins! — an interesting duochrome of reddish, purplish taupe. 🙂

I prefer the way they look paired together on me, but I bet gals with cooler skin tones will be able to rock them together or alone.

nars grand palais swatches
Swatches (applied on top of NARS Smudge-Proof Eye Primer) from the left: taupe side, rose side and mixed together

nars grand palais eye
Taupe and rose mixed together on lids
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