The All-Things Chanel Makeup, Skincare & Fragrance Thread

[tigerrouge]

A review of two items from the Byzance collection, first the eyeshadow set (temptalia.com

Chanel Topkapi Eyeshadow Quad ($65.00 for 0.14 oz.) is one of the highest quality eyeshadow palettes I’ve seen the brand put out in the time that I’ve been reviewing their products (about four years). There have been standout palettes released, but Topkapi is no gimmick–it delivers. These are smooth, buttery shades with absolutely zero powderiness that apply like silk and deliver rich color payoff in a single pass. The texture is different from normal Chanel eyeshadow quads–much richer.

The quad contains a medium-dark brown with copper shimmer (think the tone of MAC Swiss Chocolate with the richness of NARS Galapagos); taupe-brown with a frosted finish (a better, more pigmented version of MAC Caviar Dreams, very similar to Inglot #402 and theBalm Insane Jane); deep-dark brown-black with a hint of burgundy (MAC Beauty Marked seems similar, but definitely more burgundy and a pain to work with); and a bright, metallic yellow gold (similar to Urban Decay Eldorado but better quality, also Inglot #403 and MUFE #10).

As lovely as the colors are and how they coordinate with each other, the shades themselves are not particularly unique. Depending on what your personal stash looks like, it may or may not be worth the splurge. What impressed me most here was the texture of the eyeshadows themselves. The texture is soft without being powdery, smooth and rich in color, and all of these characteristics enable the shades to blend together effortlessly.

I wish they put more product in the palette, though–it’s less than the usual (U.S.) quad, which contains 0.24 oz. compared to the 0.14 oz. weight of this quad. Of course, it’s all in your use, whether it is realistic that you’d even use the 0.14 oz. here or not. It’s $8 more and 0.10 oz. less than their typical eyeshadow quads. (Keep in mind, non-U.S. locations have a different formula, and I believe the weight is much, much less, because they are baked eyeshadows.)

I found the color palette here suited my skin tone quite well–so much so that for a few seconds, I had the urge to get a second one. If I wasn’t a beauty blogger, I could easily see this as being a go-to palette for me. Great eyeshadows exists in a variety of textures, finishes, and shades; my personal favorites are more buttery–the smoothness of a cream eyeshadow but in powder form–like the kind found here (often found in brands like theBalm, Hourglass, Le Metier de Beaute, Urban Decay, and so on).

 

[tigerrouge]

And the very red blusher (same source

Chanel Rouge Joues Contraste / Blush ($43.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a darkened scarlet red with a satin sheen. It’s very, very intense. You’ll need a light hand with this particular blush, because it is easy to go overboard. When you use a light hand, though, it does tone down to more of a medium-dark pink–it doesn’t look red–which looks like a soft flush.

For such a pigmented blush, though, I had hoped for more blendability, but I felt like I had to do quite a bit of buffing and blending to get it to look even on me. Buffing was absolutely essential here, because without it, my cheeks looked splotchy and feverish. The texture is soft and smooth, just like other Joues Contrastes, but I did not find it as blendable as the others. I normally find Chanel’s blushes extremely easy to blend out and apply, but the color seemed to “stick” once it was applied. Joues Contrastes tend to fade after six to eight hours on me, rather than lasting a full eight to ten.

MAC Bite of an Apple is a little brighter, pinker. NARS Exhibit A is much more orange. It’s a brighter, more vibrant version of MAC Love Thing. It compares best with MAC Frankly, Scarlet but perhaps a little darker.

Rouge will be excellent on deeper skin tones, because of its rich color payoff, and it will also be good for anyone who reaches for dramatic blushes overall. If you are looking for more of a wear-and-go color, and ultimately, think you’d end up using this very lightly, you’d be better off picking up a product that takes less time to apply correctly.

 

[tigerrouge]

That odd gold blusher/highlighter from the Byzance collection (same source

Chanel Or Joues Contraste / Blush ($43.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a yellowed gold with a subtle, satin sheen. Chanel describes it as a “sheer, lightly shimmering shade of gold to bring a subtle new luminosity to the face.” It looks more shimmery in the pot than it does on–it’s not glittery or heavy. On my skin tone, I don’t find that it really adds much–it’s a touch of warmth, at best, accompanied by a glowy reflection. As a highlighting product, it’s good but not the best on the market. It’s a blush that would work well for layering over other shades to add golden shimmer. I liked that it delivered a sheen without an abundance of shimmer, and as far as golds go, it’s surprisingly demure.

Joues Contrastes don’t wear superbly on my skin–they last six to eight hours but rarely past that–but they tend to easy to blend and look natural applied. I might have had some blending issues with Rouge, but Or was a cinch to apply to high planes of the face and cheeks.

Chanel Shimmering Tweed is similar but a little more bronzed, and it has a chunkier glitter/shimmer in its finish. MAC Sun Rush is more of an orange-gold, but on, I think they’re very similar. Chanel’s Or is going to be subtler, because it has less of a sheen.

I like it more as a layering product, particularly over the accompanying Rouge blush from Byzance. I wish it had more of a glowy look when worn on its lonesome.

 

[The_Ida]

They put out so many collections these days, it's hard to keep track

 

[tigerrouge]

I certainly feel like that about MAC, it's a constant onslaught of fresh collections, or the same products repromoted and bundled under a new concept. It doesn't make me feel excited about the brand, but rather overwhelmed - maybe it's a sign that I'm not a true beauty addict, because I don't need to see something new that often!

 

[The_Ida]

I used to think I was addicted...but I've ignored MAC releases this year. It's impossible to keep up, and I think the quality has gone down hill. Hope the same doesn't happen to Chanel.

 

[Label Basher]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation?

My BFF just did another beauty course and now she swears by this and think it's the best thing since sliced bread. I need to start wearing foundation but because I have sensitive skin I have to be careful.

 

[The_Ida]

^That depends on your skin type. It's quite matte, I don't like it at all. If you have oily skin then I'm sure it's great, it's just not for me.

 

[Diedejan]

Try a time the Chanel Teint Innocence Fluide, that is the most natural make-up has in collection and it's got a moist complex.

 

[The_Ida]

Well, if they have it in 10 then maybe I think Vitalumiere is the best formula for me, unfortunately I'm not even a 20 in the summer.

 

[99 Apples]

Hey, does anyone know if the Pink Explosion joues contraste is still limited edition?

Someone at a duty free in Europe told me that it was made permanent, but an SA in the US told me it was discontinued.

Oh, fun fact: the last letter I in "topkapi" is actually undotted, like this: Topkapı. This makes it pronounced like "topkap-uh" instead of "topkap-ee" if you REALLY want to impress the counter girls.

 

[roisin]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation?

My BFF just did another beauty course and now she swears by this and think it's the best thing since sliced bread. I need to start wearing foundation but because I have sensitive skin I have to be careful.

I absolutely love it!! The finish of it is so gorgeous, like the perfect medium between dewy and matte...I would try to get a sample though. It is a pretty heavily fragranced foundation, so if your skin is sensitive to that, you could have a reaction.

I'm so intrigued by the new foundation perfection lumiere...lisa eldridge talked about it recently and said it's great and that it comes in a much wider variety of shades which is great bc chanel have always fallen short in terms of color selection.

 

[peacelover142002]

Hey, does anyone know if the Pink Explosion joues contraste is still limited edition?

Someone at a duty free in Europe told me that it was made permanent, but an SA in the US told me it was discontinued.

They're both right. Pink Explosion was limited edition in the US, but it's permanent in Europe.

 

[Label Basher]

I tried the Vitalumiere Aqua and I really liked it. It made my face feel all soft. I was picking up the new Fall makeup and when I said I was going out to dinner they were all "lets put it on your properly'' and then ended up doing my eyes, cheeks and lips. It was nice.

Out of the new eyeshadows I only got 2 for now - Fantasme and Mirifique. The makeup artist put the Epatant on my eyes which went well with the green silk shirt I had on but I don't think I would wear it enough.For nails I only got Graphite. Peridot did not suit me at all.

 

[moirla]

Prelude is mine!
Plus the Plumetis lipstick...and everything else...

 

[sylvie]

I tried the Vitalumiere Aqua and I really liked it. It made my face feel all soft. I was picking up the new Fall makeup and when I said I was going out to dinner they were all "lets put it on your properly'' and then ended up doing my eyes, cheeks and lips. It was nice.

Out of the new eyeshadows I only got 2 for now - Fantasme and Mirifique. The makeup artist put the Epatant on my eyes which went well with the green silk shirt I had on but I don't think I would wear it enough.For nails I only got Graphite. Peridot did not suit me at all.

I am a fan of Vitalumiere Aqua too. Very natural finish.
Peridot is a very hard colour to wear...

Prelude is mine!
Plus the Plumetis lipstick...and everything else...

I love the Prelude quad too. And Mirifique. And Rose Ecrin Joues Contraste. And Quartz polish. I didn't even look at the lipsticks because my credit card was already feeling sorry for itself

 

[moirla]

I am a fan of Vitalumiere Aqua too. Very natural finish.
Peridot is a very hard colour to wear...



I love the Prelude quad too. And Mirifique. And Rose Ecrin Joues Contraste. And Quartz polish. I didn't even look at the lipsticks because my credit card was already feeling sorry for itself

The fall collection is not available in my country yet, but as soon as it is I'll be heading to the shops!

 

[The_Ida]

I'm itching to get that quad.

 

[oh me]

^ yeah me too. I wonder when it is going to be available here.

 

[The_Ida]

When I find out I'll camp in front of the store