Chanel Holiday 2011 Les Scintillances de Chanel Review, Photos, Swatches

This is a general review of the entire collection. Recommendations can be found at the end of the post!

Let's start with the star of the show, shall we?
The Lumiere Sculptee de Chanel Highlighting Powder ($72) is a beauty. According to the Chanel press release, the highlighter is inspired by one of Coco Chanel's most treasured belt buckles. It must have been a lovely buckle, as this illuminating powder has the most intricate embossment I've ever laid eyes on. When swatched on the back of my hand, the product is disappointingly chalky and fades easily [hence, no swatch photo]. It is also very pale and the mother-of-pearls pink tones are not apparent. Only once applied to the face does the pink pearlescence appear. The effect is subtle and elegant but like Sabrina of the Beauty Look Book, I also prefer my Chanel Pearl Glow highlighter. I'll be writing a full review soon but I must admit I don't believe many will find that this product is worth $72. I urge you to try it on in store before deciding. A collector's item? Positively.

The Rouge Allure Laque Luminous Satin Lip Colours ($32) are the most coveted full coverage liquid lipsticks on the market. I own two, Ming and Dragon. Dragon was re-promoted with the collection but the limited edition this holiday is Empire, a shimmering pink rose. The gold shimmers are very pronounced in this Laque and the base color is a much more pigmented pink than Ming. If you find Ming too cool for your coloring, Empire will suit your taste. I was watching a few make-over sessions while waiting for my SA and I personally found that it brightened up the complexion of those with fairer skins best. Some bloggers think this rosy pink is back-up worthy. I passed because it didn't have the same "wow" factor against my coloring but keep in mind that's just my opinion.

The Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colours ($32) from this holiday are full of shimmer. Usually, RAs are creams but Enviree and Famous have taken it up a notch. Note: If you have very dry lips that are prone to peeling, you may want to stick to the glosses from this collection instead. The shimmers seemed to emphasize the dryness of my lips. Enviree, however, is more pigmented than reported. This is why I discourage basing your judgment solely off swatches that were placed on the back of your hand. Enviree is very similar to the way Empire looks on my medium-pigmented mauve lips, albeit less glossy and a touch less pigmented. Also, Enviree is a slightly cooler pink than Empire and the shimmers are silver and pink as opposed to Empire's gold. I would purchase Enviree over Empire. Now for Famous, which I did not try on but it is lust-worthy. The base of the lipstick is a bright pink-toned red with fuchsia and red shimmers. I passed because I fell in love with Triomphal, a richly pigmented gloss version of Famous.

Nordstrom Lighting, With Flash

Famous

The Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss Pure Shine Intense Colour Long Wear Lip Glosses ($32) have the most luxurious black glass packaging. I own Genie and Imaginaire and purchased Triomphal yesterday. I wanted to resist but the color was so beautiful, I couldn't. And as most of you know, I won't buy a red unless it's phenomenal. Just like Famous, it is a pink-toned red with fuchsia and red shimmers. It applies smoothly and evenly. Totally worth the $32, even though I wouldn't wear it regularly. I couldn't swatch Discretion [a luminous beige] because it was being used in a make-over, my apologies. Full review coming soon!

Chanel Vanity Mirror Lighting

The Levres Scintillantes Glossimers ($28.50) are my favorite glosses. They aren't sticky in the slightest and there is no scent or taste. Sparkle d'Or has a clear base but is chock-full of gold shimmer. I prefer YSL's Golden Glosses for the gold factor, though. If you want a more subdued effect of a Golden Gloss, Sparkle d'Or may be for you! I was hesitant about purchasing Sweet Beige but the pigmentation is better [4/5] than the usual Glossimer, which is sheer [1/5]. It coats my medium pigmented mauve lips evenly and provides a shimmery nude effect without 'erasing' my lips. Sweet Beige not a must-have but it is a very flattering pink beige, and in my opinion, the best Glossimer Chanel has released this year.

Full Sunlight. Sparkle D'Or smeared so please refer the store lighting swatch.

The Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow ($28.50) are both limited editions this season. Gold lovers will appreciate Blazing Gold, a very warm eyeshadow. I passed because I just purchased the D&G Gold Eyeshadow Duo so I couldn't justify it. Beige Lame, on the other hand, came home with me as a consolation prize for resisting Burberry's Midnight Brown. The shimmer of Beige Lame is lovely and my camera can't quite capture it. The shimmers aren't your usual gold fare. Chanel decided to mix it up with pearlescent shimmers, which is much appreciated. I will be more in-depth in my full review, which I will post soon. I generally avoid warm browns but I can't wait to pair this with my Burberry Almond shadow!

Sneak Peek

The Les Tissages de Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect ($45) in Brun Rose did not appeal to me initially. I think it could be duped but I love the texture of the Tissages blushes so I purchased it. They are not as shimmery as the Joues Contrastes and though I don't find the quality is as consistent as compared to the JCs, the limited edition Tissages offerings always appeal to me. I've tried on the permanent pink Tissages and it pulls far too red, automatic pass. I do love the one Tissages I purchased previously to Brun Rose, the Fuchsia, which I hope they make permanent one day. It's one of my favorite Chanel blushes. I will review Brun Rose in depth but this is definitely one cheek product you should try on before you buy. On me, it appears to be a peach-tinged, rose-based brown. Complex, I know, but you'll understand once I film the tutorial for it :)

Last but not least - The Le Vernis Nail Colour ($25) in Rouge Carat. The only other shimmery red nail polish I own is Chanel Coromandel, which has been discontinued. Coromandel is a warm red, however, whilst Rouge Carat is far more neutral. Some say it pulls warmer depending on the lighting but from what I have seen, it looks neutral. I'll try it on tomorrow and post a picture on my Twitter and Facebook accounts.

ETC: The Ligne Extreme Liquid Eye Liner ($32) was lovely but I don't need another. The Poudre Universelle Libre Natural Finish Loose Powder ($52) was an automatic pass because I chose the illuminating powder, which can also be used all over the face. The Ombres Contraste Duo Eyeshadow Duo ($42) was very tempting and anyone without a classic, wearable smoky eye duo would definitely get plenty of mileage from it but I passed because for me, it would be an indulgence.

Must-have: Triomphal, Rouge Carat
Nice-to-have: Lumiere Sculptee, Sweet Beige, Brun Rose
*Beige Lame falls somewhere in the middle for me. I couldn't decide!

Happy shopping!!

Photos: Chanel PR & Rae of TheRAEviewer.com

YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils 'Shocking' Mascara Review, Swatches, Photos

My daily cosmetic staple is mascara. Even if I don't wear any other make-up that day, sometimes I'll curl my lashes and throw on a coat for a polished, wide-eyed effect. My Holy Grail mascara is Lancome Hypnose Drama Waterproof but I've been experimenting with new mascaras recently because many of my YouTube subscribers have been requesting recommendations for a non-waterproof mascara that performs as well as my HDWP. I figured YSL's newest mascara release, Shocking Faux Cils, would be a great candidate so I rushed out to pick it up as soon as it hit my local YSL counter.

I've always loved the YSL Faux Cils mascara line-up. The original is my favorite non-waterproof mascara and the Noir Radical Faux Cils adds even more volume without clumping but unfortunately, it smudges something major. The Shocking Faux Cils does not smudge but the formula is a fail, at least for my lashes, and you'll see why soon.

The brush has the standard FC head w/ultra soft bristles.

My lashes are thin but long. They curl easily but are very resistant to staying curled. Shocking is a wet mascara, heavier by nature, so it drags down the curl of my lashes. I expected that as soon as I pulled the wand out of the tube but what I did not expect were the clumps during application of the second coat [4 full brushstrokes]. I can apply at least 2 coasts of the original Faux Cils and at least 3 coats of the Noir Radical FC without encountering a single clump! What Shocking does well, however, is lengthen my lashes. And like the Noir Radical, Shocking is lovely in that it is a true black that does not fade after drying.

The problem is that I expect a $30 mascara to look ultra black, hold my lash curl, and add length and volume. The Armani ETK WP does that. My HG Lancome HDWP does it even better for $25!

One Coat

Two Coats [Clump City!]

Full Look

So is Shocking worth the high price tag? No. Stick to the original Faux Cils if you are interested in purchasing a YSL mascara! All Shocking did was shock my wallet, considering the poor performance, so I exchanged it for a Chanel Holiday glossimer :)

Luminess Airbrush System Review, Swatches, Photos

I'm an old-fashioned girl, if you haven't noticed. It has a little to do with my conservative stance and a lot to do with my grandparents. So when I was first introduced to airbrush make-up systems, I waved them off. I opted for more accessible consumer airbrush finish products like the Dior Airflash foundation, which does not require a complete system [aka one that must be plugged in] and a lot of counter space. When I encountered the Luminess Airbrush system, I was surprised to see how travel friendly it was. I would definitely use the system on a client if he or she specifically requested airbrushing. I also love the included [not built-in] stand. Would I use it on myself? On a daily basis, most positively not. It will, however, be a nice treat on special occasions when I have the desire and more importantly, the time, to pamper myself.

I can apply liquid foundation with my fingers and set with powder in one minute. My morning routine is truly that quick :) Luminess, however, does take some patience. If you don't have a very steady hand, you may want to avoid these specialized systems and try the Dior Airflash which comes with a simple nozzle that you would find on a standard hairspray bottle. I got the hang of it on my second try, though, and the best tip I can give you is: Watch the DVD! It really does give you helpful tips. Also, the machine - considering how small the system is - has a rather loud motor. It's normal but I figured I should mention it for those who have never seen an airbrush system in action before. Furthermore, this system needs regular cleaning. And when I say regular, I mean with each use. Granted, it's not too high maintenance but you want to avoid clogging, which will result in a patchy, uneven mess. Using too much product will also result in a nightmare so make sure you thoroughly experiment and play with the product. Practice makes perfect!

The blush is my favorite color piece. You only need one drop for full coverage color on both cheeks! It reminds me of the MUFE HD blushes in terms of pigmentation but I find that the Luminess blush looks smoother on the skin. The blue eyeshadow is surprisingly wearable, albeit very shimmery, but I would reserve the chocolate shade for night use only, as it is darker than I generally wear during the day. The bronzer is much too shimmery to wear all over my face but it did look lovely as a wash of color on my lids. The complexion enhancer, Boost It!, can be used on the face or the body. Personally, I prefer wearing it on the decollate. The foundations are lovely but I prefer the matte foundation by far. The Ultra [labeled 'L' for luminous] foundation colors were all too pink for my skin, other than Shade 3. Matte in Shade 5 wasn't perfect either, a little too red, but it was the best fit of the bunch. For those of you who want MAC comparisons, I believe I am closest to NC35 at the moment.

Without a doubt, this is a luxurious investment but if you're interested, you can find it at Neiman Marcus or online.

*This review contains a sample product sent for consideration by PR. I am not compensated in any way for this review and the link provided is not affiliated, meaning I do not make commission off the link if you purchase from the site.

D&G Make-up for D&G Glasses Tutorial Details

Glasses: Currently sold out :( Here's the link if you still want to take note of the measurements!
http://www.coastalcontacts.com/glasses/frames/dolce-&-gabbana-3098-778/prod28169.html?rsView=1

Make-up Used in the Tutorial:
Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Finish Creamy Foundation in Natural Glow 100
Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Finish Powder Foundation in Warm 100
YSL Touche Eclat Highlighter in 8
Shiseido Natural Brow Pencil in Natural Black
NARS Pro-Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Primer
Dolce & Gabbana Eyeshadow Duo in Gold [both shades - upper lid]
Dolce & Gabbana Eyeshadow Duo in Blossom [fuchsia shade only - lower lash line]
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliners in Perversion [tightline], Asphyxia [lower rim], Ransom [lower lash line]
MAC Pearlglide Pencil Eyeliner in Designer Purple [upper lash line]
Lancome Hypnose Drama WP Mascara in Black
Dolce & Gabbana Blush in Tan [contour]
Dolce & Gabbana Blush in Peach
Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo Gloss/Lipstick Hybrid in Sensation
Lioele Blooming Gloss in Vanilla Pink 05

I will be reviewing each D&G make-up product individually here on the blog!


Nails:
YSL #44 Fall Nail Lacquer