Baked Disappointment: Chanel Tentation Cuivree Quad Review and Photos

Baked products are all the rage still but I don't favor them - never did, never will. They look so pretty, especially so if they're sitting in even prettier Chanel packaging, but they never managed to win me over. Maybe it's because I'm a stout traditionalist.

But some of you notified me that you wanted a review for this Holiday piece because you didn't know whether you should purchase it or not. If you didn't, I'm glad you refrained! The baked Euro formula is complete crap for $56+tax. Jojoba of mymakeupreviews.com is a Chanel fan like me but she rarely purchases, and rarely ever recommends, the Euro quad releases.. I now see why!

Chanel will merge all production to France or France & Italy [it is unclear as of yet] next year so I am praying that they won't discontinue the US shadow formula. I am a die-hard Chanel fiend but I would definitely stop purchasing the quads if that happened. The Euro shadows look enticing in the pan but they are too prone to fall-out and the shimmers are chunky. The pigmentation is sheer to medium. That wouldn't be an issue if they were easy to build up, but alas, they are not. You MUST use a primer with these shadows or they won't last more than a couple hours on the lids. On the other hand, the US shadows I own are gorgeous - velvety smooth with very little to no fall-out. Apparently, it's the mineral oil but I do not care!

Now, for a breakdown of the colors: The ivory-beige shade is lovely as a highlighter. The shimmering pink and copper-brown contain iridescent glitter particles [primary culprit of the fall-out] and the burgundy brown has the best texture of the bunch. The ivory is a touch powdery, while the pink and copper-brown are quite sheer. The burgundy brown, on the other hand, is densely pigmented and can be used wet as a liner. It, however, does not hold a candle to the burgundy brown in my Kaska Beige [US] quad. I will be keeping this, as I have already planned to film a Chanel Holiday tutorial and because the shades are indeed wearable, but I will no longer purchase any Euro/baked quads. If this were a blue-themed quad, it would have gone back already!

For the price, the quality is underwhelming and the color way is not unique enough to merit purchase for most. [Edit: Unless used wet!]

My #1 Chanel Rouge Coco

This post is going to be short and sweet.

I own many pink and coral lipsticks but my favorite of the bunch is Chanel's Rouge Coco in Chintz. This particular Rouge Coco is creamy and slightly moisturizing, a perfect compromise between hydrating and semi-matte/matte lipsticks. Even though I have dry, sensitive and easily chapped lips, I am a semi-matte/matte lipstick fan so Chanel's RC formula does wonders for me! I love Rouge Allure lipsticks, as the formula is so long-wearing, but the Rouge Coco color range is much better suited to my pink and coral preferences.

Chintz was originally a limited edition piece but since the initial press release, it has been deemed a permanent addition to the RC line. I breathed a sigh of relief with the announcement, as I would have had to purchase at least two back-ups! It is the most flattering pink-coral I have ever worn on my lips. I find that it is difficult to find balanced pink-coral lipsticks, as they either run too pink or too coral. Chintz works with my skintone and brightens up my complexion without adding too much my daily make-up look.

The swatch pictured above is indeed true to color. For a more subdued lip look, I only use one swipe across the bottom lip and press my lips together to spread the color evenly. When I want opaque color, however, I use one swipe across the bottom lip and another across the top lip. The dense pigmentation makes this shade very convenient for daily use!

For those who like a slightly more blue-toned pink, try Rose Dentelle, which launched with Chintz and Chayls, a deep orange-coral. Rose Dentelle is also a touch more moisturizing! I love both but Chintz is the one I can't live without.

And because I always get asked where I purchase my products: I shop at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, or Sephora. If I can't find something at the aforementioned three, I visit Macy*s!


RAEview's Rating: A+

Dollywink Lashes :: Japanese Gyaru Eyes

Dollywink lashes are overpriced but the verdict is out: I LOVE THEM!

They are comfortable and lightweight. The band is sturdy but not heavy, which is my primary gripe with some Darkness lashes. [Darkness lashes, by the way, are Korean "drugstore" lashes and they can be purchased at most Korean beauty shops.]

I picked up my Dollywink lashes at Mitsuwa, a popular Japanese grocer here in Southern California, for $19, including tax. They did not have every single pair available so I chose #2, which has three sections to each lash. This compartmentalizing of the lash provides a very natural lash look! They are quite long, as they are meant to be worn past where your eyelid naturally ends. I chose to chop off one pair to my usual length and kept the other pair long to use for days when I want to sport the Japanese Gyaru look [see Dollwink packaging photos].

I will post an eyelash application video tutorial for this Japanese Gyaru look soon but keep in mind that you can wear just the Dollywink lashes on your upper lashlines! I have adorned them on several occasions already and I love the way they look compared to MAC, Ardell, and Illamasqua lashes. My favorites lashes, for those curious: Ardell Wispies, Darkness VX, and select Shu Uemura pairs - but the latter are ridiculously expensive.

And some may find it difficult to justify spending almost $10 on each pair of lashes but MAC lashes are about $15, including tax, for ONE pair. And quite frankly, MAC lashes aren't worth the money and I am speaking from experience! I'd rather purchase MUFE lashes at that price point :)

Note: I also purchased PA bottom lashes, as they were $3 with tax, to complete the Gyaru look. I might purchase the Dollywink bottom lashes next time around but I wasn't sure how much I would like them so I opted for the more affordable pair first.

My Favorite Holiday Piece: Dior Minaudiere

As quoted from Dior's Holiday 2010 Press Release:
"Paying tribute to the evening purse of the moment, the Dior Minaudiere features couture details like a vintage kiss clasp, a gold plaque engraved with the Dior logo and a black patent leather finish embossed in the iconic Dior houndstooth pattern. Available in two color harmonies: Grey or Pink tones." [Grey Golds is a Saks Exclusive, Pink Golds is available at all other retailers. I purchased my Pink Golds from Nordstrom.]

This limited edition Dior piece is not the best buy of the century but it certainly is lovely! The packaging is just as striking as my Guerlain Écrin 6 Couleurs, if not more so. If you are a collector, you definitely want to look into adding this to your collection. If you're not a collector, then you can skip it depending on how much room you have to splurge. This Minaudiere clutch is rather expensive at $80, so keep in mind that you can get a standard [and mighty pretty] Dior quint for just $58, comparatively.

The three shadows provided are basic smoky staples, of medium pigmentation, with the same classic Dior houndstooth print on the casing. Some reviews have claimed the shadows are sheer but I found that they were not sheer at all! I've only seen soft, sparkly results and I've applied the shadows on my lids with both an applicator and a brush. I used a MAC Paint Pot as a primer but I've always been able to wear Dior shadows without a primer. My lids are slightly oily but Dior shadows do not crease or fade for hours in my personal experience! The warm plum and cool taupe are very easy to build up and the white with pink glitter, while prone to fall-out, can be layered up as well. All three shadows and the two pink lip glosses provided are shimmery so if you do not like products with a bit of sparkle, you may want to stay away from this temptress.

This is my first set of Dior palette lip glosses and I have to admit, they did not change my opinion of palette glosses. Palette glosses are generally too sheer for my taste and these two are no exception. The brighter pink does give my lips a bit of life but the frosty, lighter pink is more or less a clear glitter gloss on my rather pigmented mauve lips. The redeeming factor, however, is the thin gold plate that separates the glosses from the shadows. Not only does the metal piece look gorgeous when I pop open the product, it keeps shadow fall-out out of the lip products! Furthermore, Dior was generous this holiday and included a lip and shadow applicator duo brush. If I were in a pinch, I would indeed use the lip glosses, so it is nice to know that I do not have to dip my finger into the glosses if I plan on using them. The shadow applicator end is not as dense as the applicators that are included with Dior's standard quints but it is great for touch-ups when you're on the go!

My favorite element of the product is the construction of the packaging. It is weighty and substantial. I despise flimsy, thin materials because I am always out and about and do not have the time to baby my products constantly, which means I need my products to be able to withstand some wear and tear! The forgiving hinge allow me to apply the products in the car without having to cramp my neck and I love how the large mirror doubles as a compact mirror when I'm on the town.

Note: The make-up, unfortunately, is not removable as with Dior's Red Cannage Deluxe Travel Palette.






RAEview's Rating: B