Chanel eyes: new formulations and retractable brushes
Isn’t perception a fascinating thing? I perceive Chanel beauty as a classic brand, so when I’m presented with anything slightly off-piste it’s not too scary as it’s always done with such finesse and elegance I don’t feel like I’m being tipped out of my comfort zone.
I’m never going to be an experimental Illamasqua girl, or a #flawless Huda contour artist. That’s way too much effort! But when Chanel suggests a little bit of a creative shift, that’s totally doable. So here’s what’s new for eyes…
The single Chanel powder shadows (top) have been reformulated and now come in these fab little Ombre Premiere Longwear Powder Eyeshadow compacts with gold lettering (£25). I love the gently metallic finish of Desert Rouge, a beautiful berry red that looks lovely as a sheer wash and also good under a layer of gold (I tried it with a fingertip of Scintillance pale gold cream shadow, mentioned below, in the middle of the lid). I just added a sheer berry-ish lip gloss to balance it. The other two shades are Noir Satin (limited edition) and Talpa.
If you prefer a cream shadow (which I do), there are nine new Chanel Ombre Premiere cream eyeshadows (£25, below) in glass pots that come with their own little brush. Chanel’s Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer, Lucia Pica actually wants you to use the creams and powders layered together with the oil-infused cream underneath, then the powder on top for more depth. But you can improvise. I used them the other way round and it was fine. These come in an overall palette of moody greys, prunes and maroons, so think wearable drama (apologies for the fingerprints)…
These waxy cream shadows are very densely pigmented and dry quickly. I have quite oily lids so these blend fairly easily but on dry lids it could drag. Noir Petrole is a bewitching tarry brown-black that will please smoky eye lovers. It’s the same shade as the eyeliner version from the Spring Coco Codes collection, which I love and mentioned here. I also love Pourpre Profond, a versatile kind of copper-bronze that’s great for evening, but could equally be applied with a lighter touch for day.
I’m a brow obsessive, so I love a brow gel. The Longwear Eyebrow Gel (£26) is also new for Chanel, in Transparent (pictured below), Blond and Brun. The brush is tiny so it gives quite a precise shape. I don’t like super-precise brows, so I use this to brush upwards, and then I use a finger to create a gentler shape. It’s a nice-to-have but not much different to any other brow gel, although the good thing is it doesn’t set to a crisp.
Finally… how cool are the retractable brushes? They’re double-ended with caps; so you twist the brush to withdraw it into its recess, then pop the cap on. I find they’re best for blending powder shadows (I prefer my fingers for creams) and will ensure you’re the envy of your daily commute.
BELOW: Top to bottom: Chanel definer/smudger retractable dual-tip eye contouring brush (£38); Prune Noir Precision Eye Definer; blender/shader eyeshadow retractable dual-tip eye contouring brush (£38); Longwear Eyebrow Gel (£26)
Chanel eyes is available from Debenhams, Chanel, Feel Unique, Boots, Harvey Nichols, Harrods, Selfridges
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WORDS AND IMAGES: Disneyrollergirl/Navaz Batliwalla
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28 July, 2017 @ 3:54 pm
Have to check these products out! They look beautiful. Thanks for the share, love checking out your blog.
7 August, 2017 @ 8:54 pm
Thanks Lola, glad you like it!
28 July, 2017 @ 4:47 pm
Ooh I like the cream shadows – lovely colours and good for my droopy lids!