Poèsie - Chanel Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow

Another nice neutral palette from Chanel. Very nice actually.  I love it.  You've probably read lots about Chanel's new formulas by now. Chanel describes Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Chanel describes as

  "an expanded shade wardrobe of vibrant, versatile palettes for elegant eyes. Each easy-to-wear compact offers endless possibilities, with two medium tones to colour and contour, a deep shadow to intensify and a light shade to highlight."

Poèsie, however, has two pinkish light shades - one warm, the other cool - a medium taupe, and deep maroon/plum shade. Nothing here that would work as a contour shade, at least not on me. Perhaps this difference is why it's limited edition. Still, it is a beautiful quad. The new formula's texture is similar to Topkapi and Harmonie du Soir, only slightly less creamy. The shadows are deeply pigmented. They apply true to the pan even on my NC43-45 skin tone. They are more durable than the old quads, lasting 12 hours without a primer and showing only the slightest bit of fading. And no creasing.

 If you swipe these on with a brush you'll get quite a bit of fall out, so try patting them instead. Better still, use the velour applicators that come with. They pick up quite a bit of product and distribute evenly with no fall out. (!) I picked up Poèsie at Dillard's in El Paso during my family reunion. They had just gotten it in - it wasn't even on display yet. I fell in love immediately and bought it on the spot. If you're even remotely interested go check it out at your Chanel counter immediately. Some stores have already sold out and it's not sold online.

 

Chanel Charming Eyeshadow Palette

Is it December already?  Late December?  The last few months have flown by - it all started with my organization's busy season in early fall, and escalated when we began rescheduling projects in anticipation of the government  shut down.  Luckily we weren't furloughed; instead, our work schedule intensified.  Some of us are recovering.  For a while I didn't have the time to blog (or read blogs), then I lost my momentum.  Ugh!

Anyway. I still managed to pick up some makeup, including Chanel's Charming palette.  I ordered mine from Nordstrom's Chanel studio in Seattle. As you probably know, it is one of the Limited Edition Ombres Matelassées de Chanel, and part of the Holiday 2013 Collection.  Chanel described the colors as soft beige to rich purple...offering "endless opportunities for custom-blending."

Well, no.  I was disappointed when I opened it because it is so plain looking, and particularly because the dark brown/gray shadow on the end doesn't look purple in the pan as  Chanel said it would, and it doesn't pull purple on me either.  The colors look pigmented enough when switched on my arm, but imminently dupable.  How could this be the centerpiece of the Holiday Collection?

Turns out that for my complexion, these colors are just pigmented enough to define my eyes without looking made up.  Like my eyes but better.  

The lightest color on the far left is a peachy pink, with the barest hint of shimmer.  The effect is a subtle, pearlized finish.

The matte taupe second from the left goes on a shade or two darker than than my skin tone, but I'm so accustomed to shimmer or colors that pop on my skin that this just looks blah to me.  I'll keep playing with it.

The center color is the most interesting one.  It's a medium brown infused with just enough golden shimmer to make the shadow glow a bit without adding that ashy, flashy,  sparkling look. Golden shimmer looks really good on warm skin tones - why is it used less frequently than silver?  I use this color on my entire lid and the lower to create a daytime smoky eye.

The brown second from the right is matte, though the shimmer from the medium brown almost always sprays over it, so it's hard to tell.  I use it most frequently on the outer corners, including on the bottom, blended well with the medium brown to complete that daytime smoky eye.

The darkest color on the far right is just an unremarkable brown/black. I use it sometimes instead of the dark brown on the outer corners.  Even when applied wet, it's still not really black, in keeping with the subtlety of the palette. 

Charming comes with two applicators, one double-ended sponge applicator, and the another with a sponge on one end and a brush on the other.  The sponge applicators pick up and apply lot of product without a much fallout.  The small brush was also handy for getting shadow into the corners. 

So why did I keep this palette despite my ambivalence you read here?  It's the only palette I have that gives a finished yet unmade up look that's perfect for meetings in a conservative organization or anytime you may just want to define your eyes.  I grumble when I put it on every morning ("$80 for brown eye shadow? You fool!"), yet I'm so pleased with the final polished look, which I haven't achieved with other palettes.  There are dupes, but they haven't created as subtle and sophisticated look as Charming.  Most of the time I can wear as much flash at work as I want but sometimes a look this subtle is perfect.  Was this Peter's last creation?  

Chanel Healthy Glow Sheer Color (Les Beiges) in #40

I've been waiting for Healthy Glow Sheer Color SPF 15, aka Les Beiges, to come out since seeing them on the Canadian blogs.  I wasn't disappointed. 

Using the small half-moon brush that comes in the compact, a Nordstrom Pentagon City SA dusted #40 lightly over the powder foundation I was wearing that day.  I immediately loved the look - that natural radiance that Chanel claims Les Beiges is supposed to impart. Lit from within. I got the same result over liquid foundations and when worn on bare skin.  The bristles of the half-moon brush aren't very dense and only seem to pick up only a small amount of product, though enough to cover your blush if you're not careful. 

I also tried Les Beiges as  a  powder foundation using a traditional powder brush and Lisa Eldridge's buffing technique using a kabuki brush.  I didn't see much difference between them though I suspect that the kabuki technique uses more product and leaves more in the brush.  Les Beiges is not buildable so I needed to use a concealer for some areas.  The foundation brush and kabuki techniques covered these concealed areas nicely.  Here's how it looks as a powder foundation, applied with a kabuki brush.

The other products used included: Chanel Kaska Beige Eyeshadow Quad; Chanel Eyebrow Pencil #30 Brun Naturel; Chanel le Volume Mascara, Black; Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons #08 Ebony; Claudio Riaz Eye & Face Conceal 9; Chanel Lip Pencil, Nude; Chanel Glossimer #149 (discontinued).  Note to self:  CR concealer shows up in photos.

The effect of Les Beiges reminds me of T. le Clerc's loose powder, which I've been using for years, and reviewed here.  They never look powdery, even when first applied, and both give a "lit from within" look.

I don't understand the rationale for the color range that Chanel produced, though I would really like to know.  The SA chose #40 for me, which is slightly darker than my complexion, appears warm on my skin and gives me that healthy glow.  As a reference, I wear Chanel Perfection Lumiere #60. MAC NC45, Burberry Shear Luminous Foundation Trench 8, and LMdB Classic Flawless Finish #10.  I've read many contradictory reviews and color assessments of this collection.  I think it may be important to test it in store before purchasing.  I'm looking forward to experimenting with the other colors in the Les Beiges collection, especially for contouring. 

About the packaging:  I love the beige cover.  I wish though that Chanel would find a way to put the brush on the bottom of the compact.  It's really a PITA to deal with the loose protective cover that sits under the brush.

Have you tried Les Beiges?  What do you think of it?

Chanel Mystere Quadra Eye Shadow and Khaki Precieux Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eye Liner

I wish Mystere, the quad in Chanel's fall collection wasn't limited edition as it fills an niche n my eyeshadow collection.  It's a brilliant neutral on my medium skin tone that pulls a subtle khaki  and clearly and subtly creates a different color tone than the grays and browns in my collection.

Rather than use all of the colors together for one look, I created two - one cooler and conservative, the other warmer and more sparkly.  I used the two bottom colors for the conservative look, applying the lighter, silver-infused satin taupe to the entire lid, and the darker matte khaki on the bottom right in the outer corners.

The two top colors are infused with a beautiful golden shimmer. The darker color is greener than the bottom color and the lighter color is a pale yellow.  Unlike the palest colors in other quads, this one has enough pigment so that it's actually yellow on medium-toned eyelids - I think the golden shimmer helps too.  It was hard to pick up the shimmer in the swatch photo below.

There was significant fall out when applied with a brush.  There was none when I used the sponge applicators that come with the quad.  I especially liked the narrow one that allows me to get into the narrow space in the outer corners of my eyes.

The Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eye Liner in Khaki Precieux is swatched on the far right.  It has a more obviously khaki hue than the quad and intensifies the quad's look.  I find that it glides more easily than Rose Or and Rose Plantine.  I love it.

Though these are fall releases, this beautiful quad and liner harmonize well with summer coral and orange lip colors I've been wearing (and my new yellow sweater set!).

I bought these at Nordstrom Pentagon City.

March Favorites

1.  Josie Maran Daily Moisturizer SPF40 and 100% Pure Argan Oil:  My skin is lot less oily since I've been using these daily and nightly.  It wasn't a surprise to the makeover artists and sales assistants to whom I've mentioned this.  Why hasn't anyone told us?  The daily moisturizer claims to defend against premature aging and reverse sun damage.  Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide provide full spectrum sun protection again UVA and UVB rays.  They blend into the skin quickly and do not look ashy after application. The moisturizer also contains argan oil and other ingredients that you can review here.  I use the 100% Pure Argan Oil on my face and neck at night.  Neither contain
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

I bought my traved-sized products at Sephora.

2.  Dolce and Gabbana Femme Fatale Eye Shadow Quad:  I've used this versatile quad almost everyday since I bought it.  It goes with everything in my wardrobe and I can change my look with different blush and lipstick or gloss.  See my full review here.

3.  Dior Nail Polishes  Dune 715 and Gris Trianon 306:  I'm a little late to the "greige" scene.  The these gray polishes look less stark with the inclusion of brown and cream undertones.  And they "went" with everything in this month's wardrobe.   The wear is fantastic:  minimum tip wear after seven days.  I used Dior's fast-drying topcoat.

4.  Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick:  I love this one for the day-long meetings and conferences I attend.  Quite a lot of product comes out when you remove the wand and tends to collect on the edges of the lip, so I apply to the center first then work out.  It dries down to a matte finish and feels a little tacky if you press your lips together.  It lasted through the morning and most was still on after lunch.  The colors shown on the Sephora and SpaceNK aren't as bright as they actually are, so I encourage you go see them for yourself.  The pink and orange are quite bright and will be perfect for spring and summer.  The color here is Icon.

5.  Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Longlasting Eyeliner Or Rose:  I almost returned this one.  I found that it drags when I try to apply it as a traditional eyeliner.  But I love the way its golden rose color brightens my eyes when applied on the lower inner lid and on the waterline. 

6.  T. LeClerc Eyeliner Pen:  Until I bought another brand of felt tip pen, I didn't appreciate how the length of the tip - about 3/4" - makes application so much easier especially along the upper waterline and when using the point to apply between the lashes.  It's waterproof so it stays put, only showing signs of wear by the end of my working day. 

What were your faves this month?

Chanel Mouche de Beaute Illuminating Powder

"This exclusive creation, a precious powder in an elegant gold shade enhanced with pink highlights, delicately illuminates the angles of the face with an exquisite effect."

After several seasons of illuminators that didn't work for me, I really looked forward to testing this one, expecting that that its rose gold undertones would suit my complexion. While it is a beautiful product, I found it too sparkly for day or office.  It doesn't illuminate, but highlights instead; "illuminate" suggests a more subtle effect than Mouche de Beaute gives.  The product adds the slightest bit of pink coloration; the gold cast disappears on my skin completely, adding only a colorless sheen.  The aforementioned sparkles leave a beautiful finish atop the cheekbones and under the brow bones, but it's not subtle enough to use in other areas typically highlighted, such as down the center of the nose, chin, or atop the inner brow.  

Mouche de Beaute comes in pouch with a large sponge applicator.  Those of you interested in a sheerer effect might want to try using a dense brush. 

I bought Mouche de Beaute ($80) from Ondrea Watson, Chanel Studio Counter Manager at the Seattle Nordstrom Flagship store, 206-628-2111. It's also available at Chanel.com.  

Sneak Peek: CHANEL Hong Kong Collection

 

For the opening of the new CHANEL fashion boutique in Hysan Place in Hong Kong, Peter Philips has created three exclusive products:  an eye shadow palette 'Ombres Matelassées' and two nail polishes.

This is a new interpretation of the 5 Ombres palette launched for the opening of Montaigne in 2012.  Its name is "Pearl River," recalling the reflections of the Chinese sea surrounding the city.  I'm loving these warm colors. 

The two contrasting nail polishes are named "Eastern Light" and "Western Light," to represent Chanel's vision of Hong Kong as representative of the perfect meeting point between eastern and western cultures.

 

Eastern Light, "an opaque white."

 

Western Light, "deep chocolate with a heart of pearly red." 

Having missed Chanel's chocolate nail polish years ago, I'm eager to see this one.

This exclusive collection will be available in February at Chanel Studios, including the Nordstrom Flagship Store in Seattle.  Call Ondrea Watson, Chanel Studio Counter Manager at 206-628-2111 for pricing and to preorder.

Photos and product descriptions from CHANEL.



(Edited for spelling.)

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet La Raffinee and Glossimer Paillettes

I use Chanel D'Ombre Emerveille as a base and highlighter with the new Chanel Raffinement eye shadow quad, which warms up the look a bit.  The few pinks in my lipstick and gloss collections are on the cool side so I needed new colors to go with my new eyeshadow look. One of my favorite Chanel makeup artists, Mikhal, coaxed me into trying two products in colors outside of my comfort range, Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet La Raffinee and Glossimer Paillettes.

La Raffinee, like the Raffinement quad, is rather unremarkable just too look at it. It's a kind dirty candy pink, with no hint of mauve.  It's no wonder I never bought it.  But it looks great applied. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Glossimer Paillettes is also a warm pink and pretty when worn alone.  La Raffiinee becomes brighter with Paillettes applied over it.   

 

 

 

La Raffinee, Paillettes glossed over La Raffine, Paillettes

 

Mikhal lined my lips with a medium brown pencil first, applied La Raffinee, then dotted Paillettes in the center and spread toward the edges fading just before reaching the lined edges.  The darker liner just prevents me from looking like my lips are walking in the room first.  I use Rock and Republic blush Bedroom, also a muted pink, to finish the look.  (Don't you wish they'd bring Rock and Republic back?)

Chanel Les 4 Ombres "Raffinement," #39, Spring 2013

The pink/mauve/brown tones in Raffinement fill a gap in my makeup wardrobe, which I discovered when I added new cobalt blue and magenta clothes to my wardrobe last spring. While I don't match my clothing and makeup, it was evident that I needed something cooler than the shades I already owned.  The texture is creamy, silky, easily blended, and a dream to apply.  The wearing time is excellent - eight hours without fading - even without a primer.  I lined with Chanel's reddish brown Grenat waterproof pencil and tightlined with a black liner.  Le Metier de Beaute's Tamarak liner also looks good, particularly if it's tightlined on the bottom lid.  My only issue with the quad is the lightest color which doesn't look as pink as it does in the pan when applied.  It looks OK when applied to the inner corners of the eye, but it's a bit much as an under-the-brow highlighter. A very light hand helps.  Emerveille Illusion D'Ombre looks much better.  Emerveille also makes an excellent base for a slightly different look.

 Raffinement is allegedly the replacement for the discontinued Kaska Beige, and though both are lovely, they are quite different as you can see in the photos below.

 

 

 

 

Sorry that I can't enlarge the swatch photos - Blogger is at it again. 

Kaska Beige works well with the other warm-hued products (and clothes) I use regularly, and the palest color, a warm yellow, is richly pigmented enough to look yellow.  While all the shadows in Raffinement are shimmery, Kaska Beige had one matte shade that I find useful if my lids are puffy.  The quality of the shadows were just as silky and smooth as Raffinement, in my opinion,  and just a tad deeper in hue. I will miss Kaska Beige. I'm on my second quad, having gone to pan on all four colors in the first. Needless to say, I bought backups. I hope Chanel will reconsider discontinuing this versatile quad. 

I bought my Chanel quad at Nordstom Pentagon City.

Chanel Ombre Contraste "Notorius" Sculpting Veil for Eyes and Cheeks

 

As odd as it looks, this is a brilliant product.  I love to contour my face when I have time.  Ombre Contraste Notorius Sculpting Veil for Eyes and Cheeks takes some practice to apply but looks beautiful when done right.  I brushed the sculpting powder from the hairline toward the center of face, beneath the cheek bone.  Then I applied blush on to the cheekbone, overlapping Notorious just a bit, which helps to blend.  Viola!  Sculpted cheekbones. 

Ooops, a little scratch...

Chanel describes Notorious' color as mauve-taupe, but I seen a hint of red in it too. 

There's room from this cool-toned contour product in my makeup collection as well as a warm one. My other favorite contour product is Tom Ford's Shade and Illuminate Sculptor. I use Number 2, a warm dark brown. It looks great with the warmer toned blushes I use, but Notorious pairs perfectly with the cooler-toned products such as Chanel's true-red Rouge blush from the Byzance collection.

It doesn't look as good as an eye shadow on my NC45 skin tone, but per Charlestongirl, it makes a great eyebrow product. 

For other Notorious reviews see Messy Wands and Glossed in Translation.

I bought Notorious from Georgia at Saks, Chevy Chase, Maryland, (240) 497-5363.  It's also available on Chanel.com.






 

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Eye Shadows: Apparition and Destination

I couldn't resist buying the two new Illusion D'Ombre eye shadows, Apparition and Destination, from the Blue Illusion de Chanel Limited Edition Color Collection.  I love the gel-like texture of the Illusion D'Ombre eye shadows, the smooth application, and their staying power. 

 

Apparition has pulled away from the side of the jar a bit, but this has not affected the shadow's performance.

 

 

Enough gray was added to both shades to keep them from becoming that bright electric blue of the '70s.  Nothing wrong with electric blue, it's just that some of us aren't comfortable wearing eyeshadow that bright anymore!  These have less shimmer than the previous editions, and not only silver, but a bit of purple and pink as well.  These changes help maintain the integrity of the color,I think. 

I used the lighter shade, Destination, as a base, applying all over the lid, and most sparingly under the brow.  Then I applied the darker Apparition from the lash line half way up the lid, blending well so that there was no sharp line of demarcation.  These lovelies each came with one of those wonderful little brushes that are perfect for eye lining, but I found my fingers were best for application and blending.  I bought the Crayon Khol eyeliner in "Marine" to match.

I love the look, but I won't be wearing it to work even though Chanel toned down the sheen.  Chanel.com has sold out of the shadows.  I bought mine from Tressa at the Downtown Seattle Nordstrom, 206-628-2111.

 

July Favorites

This summer has been far busier than I ever imagined it could be so I've relied on some old favorites with a couple of new additions.

Le Metier de Beaute "Echo" blush:  This is my second compact.  I've hardly used any other since I got the first last year (or year before last).  It's a lovely pink color with a golden shimmer that looks beautiful on a wide range of complexions. 

Le Metier de Beaute "Tamarack" Eye Pencil:  lining my eyes is faster than applying eyeshadow.  Tamarack is great for my NC 45 skin tone as it blends easily and just keeps my eyes from looking bare.

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint:  As I've said before it's perfect for humid summers in Washington.  It’s oil-free, fragrance-free, buildable, and water resistant.  Reviewed here.

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Stretch Mascara:  I love the way this mascara adds natural looking length.  It doesn't add the volume that I need so I use it as a second coat over the regular Eyes to Kill.

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet "La Sensuelle:"  What an incredibly under-rated lipstick.  Though widely described as a matte lipstick, it has a bit of shine, giving the lips a moist look.  This color in particular has become a staple in my makeup collection.

Claudio Riaz Eye and Face Conceal 9:  This a pricey concealer at $58 for .01oz., but since finding a good color match in general, and a concealer that doesn't go on ashy in particular, are critical, I caved on this one.  This is perfect color for me this summer.  There's one shade darker.  It's a bit thick and opaque so a little bit completely covers.  I got mine at Barneys in San Francisco. 

Claudio Riaz Complexion Highlighter 2:  The Barneys SA applied this over the Eye and Face Conceal.  It looks glittery in the container, but it just brightened the area under my eyes.  It's a nice look!

What were your summer faves?

Edited for grammar.

Laura Mercier Nail Lacquer "Twilight"

Twilight is part of Laura Mercier's Limited Edition Moonlight Collection.  It is a reddish purple, with purple sparkles and an occasional red flash.  It's a beautiful polish.  That said, it is very much like Chanel Paradoxal as you can see from the comparison swatches.  Paradoxal is much more sophisticated; when applied, a smoky gray veil subdues even the further its subtle purple shimmer. 

Paradoxal only requires one coat to fully cover the nail bed, while Twilight is thin and requires two coats for even coverage.  Actually, three coats are better. 
Most critically, Twilight doesn't wear well.  I wore it for a week with my usual Lippmann Rehydrating Base Coat and Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.  I re-applied with CND Stickey Base Coat and Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.  This is how the tips look after two days.

Chanel doesn't look this worn after a week.  Paradoxal is still available on Chanel.com and at Nordstrom.  Twilight is limited edition and available at Nordstrom and LauraMercier.com.  Let me now if you've had better luck with it.

Favorite Things

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint, SPF 20 in Deep Bronze.  The last impossibly humid weeks of September gave me a new appreciation for what workhorse this tinted moisturizer is!  It’s oil-free, fragrance-free, buildable, and water resistant.  It never budged, lasting at least 15 hours with no fading.

Rock and Republic Kabuki Brush.  Not only do I love the airbrushed look of foundation applied with a kabuki brush, I love the speed with which I can apply it, a real boon most mornings.  This brush came with a R&R bronzer and unfortunately is no longer available, but there are many good kabuki brushes out there. 

Chanel Kaska Beige is the shadow quad I automatically reach for when I have a rushed morning. The quad pictured here is my second. The shades in this warm colored quad are perfect neutrals for me.  Most days I apply them over powdered lids, and they last all day with little fading.

The reformulated version of Chanel’s eyebrow pencil applies much more smoothly than the old one.  And it’s waterproof, so didn’t dribble down my temples before I got to the office!  I use "Brun Naturel."

Lip products go on last and by that time I need to run at the door!  I throw on Chanel Chocolate lip pencil, and this month Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core Lipstick “Sydney” and “Peche Crème” spent the entire month in my handbag, ready for application on the bus.  They produce three beautiful looks, depending upon my wardrobe.  Sometimes I used Sydney alone for an up-to-date burnt orange look; Peche Crème layers beautifully over Sydney, lightening the color a bit, or sometimes I used Peche Crème alone.  If applied first, Sydney lasts through lunch with some color left after eating.    

Finally, I wore Chanel “Graphite” on my nails all month.  It’s a perfect neutral for me!

What are your favorite things?

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Long-Wear Flawless Fluid Makeup

Image from Chanel.com

Chanel has introduced a new foundation formula, and at the same time, finally expanded its color range!  It has been a long time coming.  According to the website this is foundation is

"effortless to apply, with seamless blendability for a naturally flawless effect, this breakthrough foundation is the ideal all-day, everyday formula – suitable for all skin types in a diverse range of 20 shades."

The product insert adds,

"A perfect complexion requires controlled light.  This is why the CHANEL Laboratories have developed the patented CHANEL Perfect Light Control complex.  This combination of  two hemispherical powders (one transparent and one coated with mineral ceramic pigments), perfectly corrects all imperfections while bringing gorgeous radiance to the face.  The skin is smooth and luminous and the complexion even."

I was pleased with the color, finish and performance.  The coverage is good, it evened out my complexion as promised, and dried to a natural, slightly dewy look.  It did not break me out (though I don't tend to break out anyway).  I forgot to wear it for 15 hours (oops!), but it lasted for 11 without any sign of fading. Choosing a color was a little difficult:   There were two colors that blended in well where applied on my jaw, but looked quite different when applied to my entire face.  While both looked good, one color lived up the promise of luminosity better than the other.  So if you can, test a few colors on your entire face.

Samples, full-size bottle in the background.

Pump bottle.

Here a few swatches of the darker colors.  My local Nordstrom had all of them except #54 and 114).

The Perfection Lumiere line also includes a range of pressed powders and correctors, which weren't available at my Nordies yet, but are on the Chanel website.  I'm eager to try those.

Perfection Lumiere Long-Wear Flawless Fluid Makeup probably won't replace my favorite Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint in the summer time when I need a water-resistant product, but will become my second favorite along with Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless-Finish Liquid Foundation.

Nordstrom National Makeup Artist Event: Chanel Prelude Makeover

I skipped yet another annual Nordstrom Trend Show this morning.  Eight o'clock is just way too early for a Saturday morning.  I scheduled my Chanel makeover for noon instead.  (And even so, I woke up at 11am - eep!) 

The promise of the trying out the new Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation made me haul a__ to get dressed and out the door.  Though many companies make foundations in colors for women of color these days, it can still be hard to find the right one, depending upon your skin's undertones.  To be fair, I already have a couple that work well for me - by Jouer and Le Metier de Beaute - but since high school, when there was virtually nothing for "us,"  I've been driven to look at new products designed for women of color.

The beauty lines at Nordstrom bring in a number of makeup artists (MAs) including national makeup artists for this annual event.   Each customer was assigned to a makeup artist, while one of Chanel's star national artists, John Fussell, oversaw each application, made recommendations, and gave useful new tips.  I asked that they use Perfection Lumiere as the foundation, but gave them free reign over everything else.  I'll save the foundation review for later after I've had a chance to see if it lives up to its long-wear promise.

In addition to applying Perfection Lumiere to my face, Mr. Fussell directed the MA use it also as an eye shadow base, and to apply it to my lips, which allows the true shades of the lip color to show and evens out any color variances that may exist around the edges of the lip.  She used Fandango on my cheeks, an excellent color for me and one one I already have.  Next, she applied colors from the "Prelude" quad on my eyes, which I also already own, so I was intrigued to see what she might do differently. 

Wash of color #1 over the entire lid below the crease.
A dot of color #2 in the center of the lid, just above the lash line.
Color #3 in the crease, and lining under the eye from corner to corner.
Color #4 under the brow.

Though using liner on the waterline is common, it's new for me.  The MA encircled the entire waterline, top and bottom, with Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof eyeliner in black.  It gave me an entire new look. 

My brows were filled in with the Crayon Sourcils Eyebrow Pencil in Brun Naturel.  What an improvement over the old one!  It's much softer and applies far more easily.  And it's waterproof, a real bennie in this humid Washington environment.

Mr. Fussell finished my brows by lightly dipping a very thin, flat eyeliner brush into color #4 of the Prelude quad, then followed the line of the underside of my brows, giving the eye a much more finished look. I added a little more for the photo when I got home - you will blend better than I did, of course! I am really pleased with this intense smokey eye look.  Just as if he knew I had some doubts about the cool tones of Prelude on my warm complexion, Mr. Fussell said that using cool-toned eye shadow colors brings out the hazel colors in brown eyes such as mine.  I didn't see any green in my eyes, but they did appear to be a richer brown.  Finally, the MA lined my lips with Aqua Crayon "Chocolate," and filled in with Rouge Coco Shine "Deauville," a neutral pink, then topped it with "Meteore" Glossimer.  The fall looks feature both a strong eye and lip this season, but I may keep these anyway. 

My makeover was completed with a complimentary nail polish application.  It was a nice service, but I was surprised that the nail technician didn't have base or top coat to apply.  Fortunately, the color I chose, Graphite, dried quickly and shows no nicks.

While I was pleased with my makeover, I was disappointed that Nordstrom didn't coordinate the timing of the Trend Show and National Artist Event with the release of the Holiday Collections.  The Chanel Holiday collection is due out next month.  It would have been nice to have gotten a makeover and nail application with the new products.  It was a great event nevertheless.  I always enjoy learning new things from the pros.

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eye Shadow, "Epatant"

It dawned on me that I could apply the opaque Chanel eye shadow primer under the Epatant, the grayish green Illusion D'Ombre, so that I have light-colored canvas for the faint green color.  It worked!  It's a technique I'll try with other colors that appear ashy on my eyelid or are too pale for my skin tone.

The Chanel eye shadow primer is not my favorite because doesn't apply evenly.  Rather than apply it on directly my lids with the built-in brush, I dotted and spread it carefully with my fingers.  After it was sufficiently dried, I applied Epatant with the brush that came with it , smudging and spreading also with my fingers.  I lined my eyes with the dark teal shadow in the Chanel Regard Perle quad.

Chanel Epatant on the lid
Dark green/teal from Chanel Regard Perle Quad lining the eye
Edward Bess Afterglow All Over Seduction used as a highlighter under the brow
YSL Noir Radical Mascara.

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow

Chanel describes the Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eye Shadows as shimmering long-wear shadows with a soft and cushiony, gel texture that can also be worn as eyeliner. I bought three:  Epatant, a grayish green; Illusoire, light maroon; and Mirifique, black.

I would describe the texture as  very, very, dense foam - a little bit goes a very long way, justifying the $36 price tag for .14 ounces.  They come with a small, expandable brush that applies the shadow well enough.  I used the brush to pick up the product from the jar, but found that it blends best with my finger.  The brush is best for eye lining.

I looked forward to buying Epatant because I had seen many sneak peeks on blogs, and by the promise that it was the closest color to the famous Lancome Erica F.  I was a little disappointed that Epatant doesn't look as green on my eyelid as it does in the swatches below, and is almost overpowered by silvery shimmer, especially in bright daylight.  So I used the dark green in the Regard Perle Chanel quad as a liner to bring out the green in Epatant.   They are good match.  I couldn't take good pictures of it applied on my eye, but I'll try again.

I was pleased with the grayish purple Illusoire, which looks maroon on my eyelid.  It's wearable during the day though it has a significant amount of shimmer.  One could wear it to a casual office. 

The black Mirifique was the big surprise.  I don't usually wear black eye shadow, but it is a stunning eye liner.  It goes on effortlessly with the little expandable brush.  I've never applied eyeliner as easily.  It has a curve on the lower end that makes it slide with ease, particularly as you approach the outer end of the end of the eye and lift off.   I'm going to try it with other liners.  Chanel should seriously consider developing an eyeliner of the same texture without the shimmer.  You can see the shimmer in the closeup picture below, but it's not so obvious if you're standing at normal conversational distance.   They should also consider adding a larger eyeliner brush with the curved brush shape to their brush collection.  These shadows lasted the entire day without primer, with just a touch of fading.

Illusoire on the entire lid.
Mirifique lining the eye.
Edward Bess' Afterglow All Over Seduction used as a highlighter under the brow.
YSL Noir Radical Mascara.

What has your experience been with these shadows?