Chanel Routes des Indes de Chanel Illuminating Powder ($80.00 for 0.53 oz.) is described as a “golden powder” that acts as a highlighter for cheekbones and eyelids. It’s a light-medium yellow gold with a frosted shimmer-sheen.
I couldn’t think of a cheek product that’s quite this yellow. Chanel Shimmering Tweed came the closest, but it is darker, more bronzy. Chanel Empreinte de Chanel is more orange. theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer is a softer, lighter gold with subtler yellow undertones (think more of a white gold). Now, there are several eyeshadows that come close! Chanel Blazing Gold is slightly darker. MAC Goldmine is more orange. Urban Decay Eldorado is perhaps a hint les yellow. Make Up For Ever #10 is a smidgen darker.
It’s a pretty highlighter with strong, yellow coloring, so it will be more flattering on warmer complexions, but it doesn’t run orange and there’s a little paleness to it that seems to neutralize some of the yellowy gold tones. The powder is surprisingly pigmented–you can really achieve true-to-pan color if you so desire. It does have a silver glitter overlay that gets swept away after the first use (and I’d advise removing it if you don’t want a few stray flecks of glitter on your cheeks).
Despite the high frost and shimmer in the highlighter’s finish, it didn’t emphasize pores or the natural texture of the skin, like many other frosted finishes do. The texture is soft, finely-milled, and allows for easy blending during application. I haven’t been so lucky with the wear on some of the recent powder releases by Chanel, but Routes des Indes de Chanel wore magnificently for eight hours; no fading, separating, or signs of going away.
If you love whoa! highlighters that are all about delivering a full-on glow, I think you might find Routes des Indes de Chanel worth checking out–if you’re able to sneak a peek at it in stores. I know that majority of distribution is online through Chanel’s website, which makes it a rather spendy item to buy sight unseen. It’s a bit of a collector’s piece, I’d say, with the price tag and design. You’re not going to see me ever comfortable with pushing something at this price point with a “must have! you will die without it!” (I don’t know if I’ve ever said that about any product!)
It’s a very nice powder, enjoyable, and performs exceptionally well. But it definitely comes with a grimace-worthy price tag for most.
But it got better, the footage towards the end with the crystals on the model's face was pretty striking. Certainly a memorable video. 
