chanel

For the life of me, I could not take a good picture with Chanel Extrait de Gloss in Emoi ($32) this morning, gah! I don’t know what happened… Maybe it was just the Friday crazies, but whatever it was, I looked either shocked or constipated in every single shot.

But I did learn a valuable lesson about Chanel Emoi during this exercise in photographic futility: no matter what else might be happening, when you wear this shimmery berry gloss, at least your lips will look dignified.

Emoi’s one of nine permanent members of the Extrait de Gloss line, a recently released line of non-sticky, unscented and unflavored lipglosses designed for high shine and long wear (about four hours). It’s the third one of the colors I’ve tried, and just like the other two, Insolence and Imaginaire, its pigmentation is off the frickin’ chain!

While Tyra and Tabs may have been disappointed in my inability to WERK IT this morning, I gotta say — it’s so nice to find a berry gloss that looks great no matter what.

[Continue reading…]

Chanel Les Perles de Chanel Collection for spring 2011

Don your best tweed jacket and pearls, ma chérie (and dab No. 5 on your pulse points), because it’s time to say bonsoir to the new Chanel Les Perles de Chanel makeup collection.

There’s plenty of photographic evidence that proves our girl Coco wore a lot of pearls. In point of fact, she practically dripped in them because she believed their delicate glow enhanced a woman’s natural beauty.

Her heirs apparent at Chateau Chanel must agree. Remembering how much Coco loved pearls, they created the Les Perles collection for spring 2011, with its preponderance of pearly finishes destined to impart natural-looking luminosity to cheeks, eyes, lips and nails.

Since he joined the team — nay, the movement! — Chanel Global Creative Director Peter Philips has done a fantastic job (in my opinion) keeping Gabby’s spirit and her iconic style alive, and, with Les Perles de Chanel (just look at those shades of black, gray and white!), he’s done it again.

Les Perles is coming next month to Chanel counters but is available now on chanel.com.

Chanel Les Perles de Chanel Spring 2011

Here’s a brief look at a few items from the collection, with more to follow over the coming days. 🙂

Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Espiegle ($42) — A warm peachy pink blush with a subtle golden sheen. It reminds me a little of NARS Orgasm in the pan but applies lighter, with a less frosty finish, and it gives my cheeks a soft, candlelit glow.

Rouge Coco Lipstick in Jersey Rose ($30) — Is it wrong to refer to this lipstick as The Jersey Shore? Yes…Yes, I think it is. Terribly wrong. Jersey Rose is a long-lasting, moisturizing peachy pink with a sultry satin finish, and it lends a lovely hint of shine to the lips.

Rouge Allure Lipstick in Flamboyante ($32) — As soon as I slipped into Flamboyante I said, “Wow! That’s a straight-up red!” Chanel describes it as an intense pink, but it looks more reddish pink on me.

Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in Aragonite ($27) — What it lacks in pigment, Aragonite makes up for in sparkle. This glittery gloss, with a name Jason (of the Argonauts) would love, looks like crushed pearls in a tube! Look closely, and you may see flecks of purple, pink, blue and gold.

Le Crayon Yeux in Gris Scintillant ($28): A gunmetal gray with silver glitter. I think of it as a naughty alternative to a basic black liner.

Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Espiegle ($42)
[Continue reading…]

Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in Insolence

Form doesn’t exactly follow function in the Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss line. Half the time I can’t tell the colors apart by looking at the tubes. But I really don’t care, because even the tubes look great. 🙂

Coco (or rather Karl) did sneak in a practical touch (the least they could do for $32 a pop). The paddle-like applicator, which Chanel refers to as flocked, takes precision to the next level. I feel like it provides more control than good ol’ doe-foot applicators.

Launched last fall, the relatively new line of glosses comes in nine shiny shades that, according to the Chanel makeup artist I spoke with, are replacing the Aqualumieres [INSERT SINGLE TEAR ROLLING DOWN CHEEK], which are being — you might want to sit down for this — phased out.

I’ll probably lose sleep over losing the Aqualumieres, especially Candy Glow, but these new kids have game, including a four-hour wear time, and a thick, non-sticky texture (unscented and unflavored). I’ll always love the Aqualumiers, but I think they’re thinner, sheerer, slicker, and don’t last quite as long as these.
[Continue reading…]

Before my hair appointment yesterday (I’ll post pics soon. 🙂 But here’s a hint: Vanessa Hudgens!), I swung by the Chanel counter to check out the Chanel Collection Essentielle De Chanel Paris-L.A. Palette ($85) in person.

I saw it the other day on The Non-Blonde and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.

With the limited edition holiday palette for eyes, cheeks and lips, Chanel says they were shooting for something hip like LA yet elegant like Paris. It comes with two lip glosses, one a shimmery plum and the other a shimmery reddish plum; one shimmery plum lipstick; three powder eyeshadows in matte beige, matte taupe and matte plum; a shimmery, peachy pink cream blush with a hint of gold; and two creamy yellow-based concealers. That’s nine bits ‘o Chanel for $85…which is just about as close to a fire sale on Chanel as we’re ever likely to see.
[Continue reading…]

Rouge Coco lipsticks from left: Perle, Chintz and Taffetas Rose

I know it’s wrong and crazy, but it’s taking all of my willpower to resist painting Tabs’ claws with Chanel Riva Nail Colour.

And it’s a good thing cats don’t have lips…because if they did Tabs would already be wearing one of the four Rouge Coco Hydrating Lip Colours from the new Cote D’Azur Collection. 🙂

Despite the season, the small five-piece release (four lipsticks and the one polish) is actually a resort collection for Chanel, which explains why it feels so beachy and tropical.

Here are swatches of three of the four shades (I’m missing coral Sari Doré), Taffetas Rose (a shimmery magenta), Perle (a shimmery pinkish golden beige) and Chintz (a shimmery pinkish coral). All of them have the same smooth, moisturizing texture and plush pigments that define the Rouge Coco lipstick line.

Have we met before?

You might remember Perle. She was also one of the original Rouge Coco launch lipsticks early this year, and Chintz debuted with the stunning Chanel Les Contrastes de Chanel Collection in fall.

[Continue reading…]