Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Colour Lipshine in 46 Liberté and 89 Satisfaction

A few months ago, I found myself at a Chanel counter in an attempt to look for a dupe for my beloved Rouge Coco Shine in 50 Rivage, which was sadly discontinued. I ended up finding 46 Liberté, which is a bit brighter than Rivage, but is the closest shade that they carry in their permanent range. And because I'm a lipstick hoarder, I also somehow ended up with a second shade, 89 Satisfaction, that perfect nude-but-not-too-nude shade that literally looks good with everything. The Rouge Coco Shine formula is described as "melt-away as a balm" with a "lip-embracing texture [that] becomes fluid on contact with the lips and provides a stunning wet effect with natural shine." They are meant to provide "incomparable comfort of continuous eight-hour-long hydration thanks to the Hydratender complex, the secret of softness of the Rouge Coco range." They are packaged in black square tubes with gold trim and the Chanel logo engraved on the caps. Each lipstick contains a total of 3 grams of product, and retails for $39.

46 Liberté and 89 Satisfaction
46 Liberté and 89 Satisfaction

46 Liberté is a medium warm muted coral-peach with a luminous sheen. This is a permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation with semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is less pink than Chanel 69 Flirt Rouge Coco Shine, darker and more coral than Chanel 78 Interlude Rouge Coco Shine, lighter and more peach than Chanel 63 Rebelle Rouge Coco Shine, more muted and less pink than MAC Coral Bliss, more peach than MAC Shy Shine, more coral than Clinique Mega Melon Chubby Stick, and lighter and less pink than Revlon Peach Parfait Lip Butter.

89 Satisfaction is a light-medium warm muted peachy pink nude with a luminous sheen. This is a permanent shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation with semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is lighter and more peach than Chanel 54 Boy Rouge Coco Shine, warmer than Chanel 85 Secret Rouge Coco Shine, more peach than Chanel 93 Intime Rouge Coco Shine, more beige than MAC Peach Blossom, slightly lighter than MAC Patisserie, lighter and more beige than Clinique Mega Melon Chubby Stick, and more beige than Revlon Juicy Papaya Lip Butter.

I've always really liked the Rouge Coco Shine formula — they're smooth, lightweight, and emollient, and leave lips with a soft flush of colour and a glossy finish — and have found that they're my go-to lipsticks for an easy, low-maintenance, casual look (no, really, I can apply these without a mirror). What I like about these more than other similar formulations on the market is that they don't actually feel thick and creamy or balmy and waxy; they're more gel-like, making them ultra-comfortable to wear. Chanel says these provide "continuous eight-hour-long hydration," though that's a hell of a stretch as these aren't long-wearing to begin with (I would say about two hours, max). I don't find these drying by any means, and they feel hydrating when they're actually on the lips, but I don't find them to have any lingering effects or long-term hydration results so I wouldn't use these to replace an actual lip balm. In terms of formula, they're a lot more hydrating than MAC's Lustre or Cremesheen finish lipsticks, glossier than MAC's Mineralize Rich Lipsticks, more pigmented than Clinique's Chubby Sticks, more lightweight than Revlon's Lip Butters, and not as greasy as Smith's Rosebud Lip Salve. They're quite similar to Dior's Dior Addict Lipsticks in terms of consistency and texture and pigmentation, so if you're a fan of those, you'll probably like these... though these seem to make lips look fuller and more hydrated and generally healthier. Maybe it's the Chanel-ness of them, but I tend to reach for these ones way more than anything else in my arsenal.

Chanel Superstition de Chanel: Le Vernis Nail Colour in Alchimie

As I had mentioned before, I wasn't originally interested in anything from Chanel's Fall 2013 collection and had written it off as boring, but when I saw the actual display in person, I fell in love with two products. Aside from Rendez-Vous, there was one nail polish that I ended up coveting. Superstition saw the release of three new and limited edition shades of Le Vernis Nail Colour, but Alchimie is the only one I had to have, especially given that one looks like baby poop and the other is so dupeable. Each Le Vernis Nail Colour comes in a clear square bottle with a black cap, contains 13 ml of product, and retails for $27.
Alchimie
Alchimie
Alchimie is a medium warm-toned khaki-olive with threads of golden shimmer in a metallic finish. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It is completely self-levelling. Due to the nature of the finish, brush strokes are visible, so applying with a steady hand is recommended. It has medium-high to high pigmentation; the first coat looks semi-sheer, but it is completely opaque with a second coat. I can't think of any good dupes for this — it's darker, more green, and obviously less duochrome than Chanel's Peridot; it's more gold and more muted than China Glaze's Peace on Earth; and it's much lighter than China Glaze's Agro. Alchimie surprised me at being a really wearable colour that goes with just about any skintone. It's green, but it's a tarnished, muted green, so it goes with pretty much anything you wear, too. Alchimie is somehow fresh and antiqued at the same time, like the colour of a leaf that you know is going to fall any moment now... but it's still hanging on for the time being.

Chanel Superstition de Chanel: Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Rendez-Vous

I was at Pacific Mall sometime last week with the boyfriend, and while perusing the usual Asian goodies (e.g. Japanese snack foods, cell phone cases, Korean skincare, etc.), I found myself looking at the Chanel Fall 2013 make-up collection at Le SaSa. I wasn't originally interested in anything from the collection and had written it off as boring, but when I saw the actual display in person, I fell in love with two products. The first one is the Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Rendez-Vous. I've always really liked the Rouge Coco Shine formula — they're smooth, creamy, and emollient, and leave lips with a soft flush of colour and a glossy finish — and have found that they're my go-to lipsticks for an easy, low-maintenance, casual look. Superstition saw the release of four new and limited edition shades of Rouge Coco Shine, but this is the only one I had to have. Each Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick comes in a black square tube, contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $39.
Rendez-VousRendez-Vous

Rendez-Vous is a medium slightly cool-toned petal pink with a luminous sheen. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is soft and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation with semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is slightly darker and brighter than MAC Lovelorn, brighter and warmer than MAC Speed Dial, and cooler than Urban Decay Fiend.

Such a lovely everyday pink. While I generally bust out deeper, richer shades this time of year, I do love a good soft rosy lip when I'm feeling more "natural." It's not too light or dark or bright, and totally fitting for the season given the whole "blooming pinks" trend this fall in make-up (though I do see myself wearing this in the spring and summer, too). I found this shade to be more pigmented than my other Rouge Coco Shines, too — the four other shades I have (Boy, Rivage, Fétiche, and Antigone) definitely fall into the semi-sheer camp, whereas this one is nearly opaque. So, is this worth $39? Probably not. But if you're at the Chanel counter, anyway, and looking for a nice, sweet pink that's incredibly wearable for all seasons, you might as well splurge...

Chanel L'Été Papillon de Chanel: Le Vernis Nail Colour in Bel-Argus

As I had mentioned previously, the only products I picked up from Chanel's Summer collection, L'Été Papillon de Chanel, were the two blue nail polishes. Since I had already worn Azuré, it was only time before I decided to bust out Bel-Argus. My neighbourhood recently experienced a black-out, and while most people probably didn't notice because it was 3:00 in the morning, I was wide awake (being nocturnal and all) and wondering what the hell to do. So, like any normal person would do, I decided to paint my nails... by computer light. Yes, it was all very romantic. That having been said, please excuse the (extremely visible) sloppy brush strokes. (And, of course, the lights came back on about ten minutes after I had finished painting my nails. Ridiculous.)

Bel-Argus is a medium-dark royal blue in a metallic finish. It will flash iridescent indigo, purple, and cobalt blue depending on the lighting and angle. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It is completely self-levelling. Due to the nature of the finish, brush strokes are visible, so applying with a steady hand is recommended. It has medium-high to high pigmentation; the first coat looks semi-sheer, but it is completely opaque with a second coat. It is less purple and has less of a duochrome effect than China Glaze's Want My Bawdy, and is more metallic and less shimmery than China Glaze's Blue Bells Ring. When I first saw this shade, I didn't immediately think of it as a must-have because I don't generally associate darker blues with this time of year. But I bought it, anyway, because we all know I'm a sucker for blue polishes. And the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. Whereas Azuré reminds me of beaches and the ocean, Bel-Argus makes me think of a clear lake shining under the moonlight at the cottage — and I suddenly understood why Chanel decided to release this for summer. 

Chanel L'Été Papillon de Chanel: Le Vernis Nail Colour in Azuré

When I first saw Chanel's Summer collection, L'Été Papillon de Chanel, at Bloomingdale's in New York earlier this month, I didn't care at all for the make-up collection (I have no interest in coloured mascara and eyeshadow crayons), but I knew I had to have the nail polishes. There are three in total, but I only picked up the blue shades and left the coral because it didn't look unique enough to justify $27. Plus, you know how I'm a sucker for blues. Azuré is undoubtedly the shade with the most hype from this collection — I mean, just look at how gorgeous it looks in the bottle.

Azuré is a medium-dark duochrome teal blue in a metallic finish. It will flash iridescent turquoise, green, royal blue, and indigo depending on the lighting and angle. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It is completely self-levelling. Due to the nature of the finish, brush strokes are visible, so applying with a steady hand is recommended. It has medium-high to high pigmentation; the first coat looks semi-sheer, but it is completely opaque with a second coat. It is lighter and less green than China Glaze's Deviantly Daring, and less sparkly, more metallic, and more muted than OPI's Catch Me in Your Net and Zoya's Charla. As duochrome polishes are becoming more popular, there are more and more shades like this coming out, so I wouldn't necessarily call this a must-have... but it sure is gorgeous, so if you don't have anything similar, then this is worth looking at (whether you can justify the $27 price tag is another story). Perfect time of year for this shade, though — it's exactly as I picture the ocean to look at the beach, getting the subtle nuances of the sun shimmering in the water and the colour shifts of rolling waves.

NYC — Spring 2013: Cosmetics Haul (Part II)

So, this is the second part of my cosmetics haul, which comprises mainly of all the colour products I bought. 
Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Hussy, Chased, and Tweak
Urban Decay Rebound Build Your Own Palette
Urban Decay Eyeshadows (clockwise from bottom left): Easy Baked, Psychedelic Sister, Gravity, and Loaded
Boscia Limited Edition Green Tea Blotting Linens (x2)
I was seriously debating between the NARS Pierre Hardy Boys Don't Cry Blush Palette, two Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes in Peaceful and Achiote, and the Illamasqua Powder Blushers. As you can see, I ended up deciding on the Illamasqua blushes, only because they're much less accessible in Toronto (as far as I know, Illamasqua's make-up collection is only available at the Eaton Centre location), they're way cheaper over there ($24 USD vs. $32 CAD!), and because I've wanted to get them for a much longer time. The NARS Pierre Hardy blush is gorgeous and was actually in my shopping basket, but in the end, I just couldn't justify $41 for a single blush when there were just so many other things I could buy. And even though I just got a customizable eyeshadow palette from Urban Decay last month, I couldn't resist getting another one because the prices in the US are quite a bit cheaper ($18 per eyeshadow instead of $22), so I ended up getting four shades that I'd been debating between last time plus an empty metal palette to put them. And, finally, I snatched up a couple of my favourite Boscia blotting sheets because I'm on my last pack now and they're $2 cheaper in the States. I gotta say, though, I totally didn't buy nearly as much make-up as I thought I would from Sephora. I'm just sayin'.
Chanel Summer 2013 L'Été Papillon de Chanel Collection Le Vernis Nail Colour in Azuré and Bel-Argus
MAC Fix+, Prep + Prep Natural Radiance, Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50, Mineralize Concealer in NW25, Studio Fix Powder+ Foundation (x2), and Blot Powder Pressed in Medium Dark
MAC Eyebrows in Brunette (x2) and Lingering (x2), Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara (x3), and Boot Black Liquid Eye Liner (x2)
While I was in Bloomingdale's, I was doing a really good job of avoiding most of the cosmetics counters until I hit Chanel and saw that the Summer 2013 collection finally came out. Nothing really interested me except for the nail polishes, and when I saw the two blue shades, I had to get them and nothing was going to get in the way of them being in my possession. I was having a nice chat with the guy at the counter, who was totally enabling me (as if I needed to be enabled) and was all, "Oh, my god, you totally need both. Think of how amazing they'll look in the sun! They're totally going to be my summer pedicure colours, I'm so excited!" And then we talked for like, ten minutes about nail polish. I was surprised to learn that the retail prices in the US are actually the same in Canada (and I found out it's the same with Dior), but at least I saved a bit on the tax. Finally, I went to the MAC Store, which was right next door to Bloomingdale's, and bought some of my staples (some of them in multiples!). Nothing too crazy or exciting, but MAC retails for quite a bit less in the US, and I thought I'd take advantage of that, plus my make-up artist discount, as well as the lower tax rate. And, yep, that's all the cosmetics I bought in New York! I didn't do too badly, now did I?

Sephora 130 W 34th StreetNew York, NY 10001(212) 629-9135
Bloomingdale's Soho504 Broadway New York, NY 10012(212) 720-5900
MAC Cosmetics506 BroadwayNew York, NY 10012(212) 334-4641

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Coco Blue

After reading Liz's tweet last month regarding the arrival of Chanel's Le Jeans de Chanel collection at The Bay, I knew I had to get in on it. The entire collection features three nail polish shades inspired by blue jeans, and is limited edition. After seeing the initial swatches of it last fall, I was completely in love with them because I am a total sucker for blue polishes. I was totally bummed that I couldn't get them because, for whatever reason, they weren't available here. So you can imagine my excitement at the announcement of Chanel finally bringing them to their Canadian customers. As they are $27 a pop, I knew I just couldn't justify spending that much on three nail polishes, so I decided to get only my favourite: Coco Blue. Since I don't live near a Bay location that carries Chanel, Liz offered to pick it up for me downtown, 'cause she knows I need new and coveted nail polishes "like, yesterday."

Coco Blue is a light-medium sky blue with very subtle white micro-shimmer that gives a pearlized effect (this is more apparent in sunlight). I absolutely love, love, love this colour and I think it's perfect for Spring and Summer — it's by far one of the sophisticated light blues I've encountered, which is really saying something, because baby blues often enter juvenile territory. But the formula? Let's just say Chanel really let me down with this one. I'm used to Chanel polishes being really pigmented with smooth and even application and fast drying time. They're usually not too thin or thick in consistency, and I'd never had a problem with wear time, bubbling, streaking, or pulling.

Coco Blue was definitely on the thinner side in terms of consistency, which resulted in unevenness and streaking. The pigmentation, however, was the most disappointing aspect of this polish. Many Chanel polishes are one-coaters for me, but this one needed a minimum of three coats, and that's only if you're quite generous with the thickness of each coat! Moreover, the drying time was significantly longer, which just prolonged the entire application since I had to put on three thick coats. The fact that it's $27 is just adding insult to injury (apparently, it was even more expensive when it initially launched in the US!). As I said, I adore the colour and I've received a ton of compliments on it just in the one day that I've worn it, so I don't regret buying it, but the formula is exceptionally disappointing given that it's Chanel. On that note, I couldn't find a good dupe for this shade. The closest I could find, at least in my stash, is OPI's What's With the Cattitude?, which is lighter and in a cream finish (and it was limited edition with the Shrek collection two years ago). So at least that makes me feel a bit better about this splurge.

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick: L'Exubérante, La Raffinée, and La Sensuelle

I have wanted to try Chanel's Rouge Allure Velvet lipsticks since they debuted this past fall, but I got sidetracked with tons of other fall collections (mostly because I don't live near a Chanel counter and they don't have a Canadian online boutique, so I always end up getting other brands instead). So when Murale had their Optimum points redemption event (redeem 50,000 points for $100 instead of $80!) last week, I took advantage of all of my points and redeemed them on three shades of Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet, and only ended up paying $20 (plus tax).

I have always been a fan of Chanel's packaging, because it's simple and streamlined, but still look and feel very luxe. The Rouge Allure Velvets have a click-style tube (very much like a click pen), so the lipsticks themselves are cased in weighty gold tubes (embossed with Chanel's double-C logo on the bottom) and "click" into black plastic square tubes (with Chanel's logo printed on the bottom in white). I love this packaging, though it can get annoying if you toss it in your purse, and something hits the tube and "clicks" the lipstick out of its casing. The formula itself is creamy, with high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. They go on smoothy and evenly, and wear incredibly well (at least six hours before needing to re-apply). The finish is, as the name implies, like velvet — not as flat or dry as a matte, but not shiny or glossy ("semi-matte" is also a good description). There is a very subtle floral scent, but it is undetectable once it's on the lips, and there is no taste at all. Each lipstick contains 3.5 grams of product, and retails for $40.

L'Exubérante, La Raffinée, and La Sensuelle

L'Exubérante, La Raffinée, and La Sensuelle

#37 L'Exubérante is a medium bright warm-toned hot pink. This is a fantastic bright pink for those with warmer skintones (many hot pinks are cool-toned). It is lighter and less red than YSL Rouge Volupté in #11 Rose Culte, brighter and warmer than MAC Love Forever! Pro Longwear Lipcreme, less fuchsia than MAC Show Orchid, and much more opaque than MAC Lustering.

#34 La Raffinée is a medium rose pink with brown undertones. Though rose pinks are usually cooler, the brown undertones in this shade make it universally flattering on everyone. It is warmer than Illamasqua Climax, darker than MAC Cosmo, and less peach than MAC Fanfare.

#40 La Sensuelle is a medium-dark blue-red with brown undertones. This is a beautiful darker red that should work on all skintones and undertones. It is more brown than YSL Rouge Volupté in #12 Forbidden Burgundy, lighter and less pink than YSL Rouge Volupté in #18 Red Taboo, and very slightly cooler than MAC Viva Glam I (though they are very similar).

The colour range of Rouge Allure Velvets is very limited at eight shades, though well edited so there is a colour to suit every skintone and undertone. I am extremely pleased with these three shades. The colours are rich and intense, and they glide on very smoothly without tugging or skipping. I didn't experience any bleeding or migrating, even after hours of wear. These are not moisturizing or hydrating (and they are not touted as such), though I don't find them particularly drying (you may need some lip balm after five or six hours of wear, though). They kind of remind me of Illamasqua's formula, or MAC's Mattenes. These are definitely more on the expensive side at $40 for 3.5 grams of product (making them more expensive than YSL and Dior), but if you're on the hunt for a good matte lipstick and these shades appeal to you, they're worth checking out. However, there are lots of dupes out there for less, so I would skip these if you have similar shades (unless you are a Chanel fiend, and there's no shame in that).

Chanel Les Tissages de Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect: Tweed Sienna

I decided to pick up this Chanel blush on a whim a couple weeks ago when I was in Christmas shopping mode (the malls had extended holiday hours and I had to take advantage!). This is my second Chanel tweed blush, the first one being Tweed Fuchsia, which was limited edition in 2010. Since Tweed Fuchsia is one of my favourite blushes, I decided to get another shade in the same formula: Tweed Sienna. The formula of these blushes is just gorgeous: Soft, finely-milled, silky, airy. And the tweed pattern is just too cute to resist! Each blush comes in a mirrored compact with a mini travel brush, contains 5.5 grams of product, and retails for $54.

Tweed Sienna

Tweed Sienna is a blend of peach and bronze with a gold shimmer overlay. When swirled together, it looks like a soft peachy tan with a pearly sheen. Even though the gold shimmer is an overlay, it does translate on to the skin to give off a gorgeous glow without being frosty or metallic — just perfect illumination. It has medium pigmentation and good colour pay-off. The colour does go on softly when applied, but it is very easily buildable. The powder is finely-milled and blends like a dream, goes on smooth and even, and feels very lightweight and silky. I didn't find this blush to feel or look powdery at all. It is more peach and less shimmery than MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush, lighter and less brown than MAC Sunbasque, and much less peach than MAC Melba.

Chanel's Blush Duo Tweed Effects are absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. I wore it today (and am still currently wearing it), and it has worn beautifully for about ten hours now. It has faded a touch since I applied it, but the colour is still very much visible. This shade is warm-toned, but it's a very flattering shade because the brown undertones makes it lean more neutral, so it should look lovely on both warm and cool undertones, and all skintones (though very dark skintones might find that the colour doesn't translate as true, it shouldn't look ashy). I had about five people ask me what I had on my cheeks today because my skin looked flawless — just perfectly smooth and glowy. For those who only use matte blushes and want to try something that doesn't look so powdery, these blushes are definitely worth checking out; the two "woven" base colours are matte, but there is gold micro-shimmer threaded throughout that leaves the most amazing luminosity without being full-on shimmery. If you have the money to burn, this blush is absolutely worth splurging on.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Graphite

I finally got my hands on a bottle of Chanel's Graphite. I can see why this shade sold out so fast during the initial launch: it looks and gleams like graphite. It's a metallic pewter grey with silver, gold, green, and red shimmer, and has a foil-like finish. With my complexion, the gold shimmer makes it look warmer on my nails than in the bottle. At first glance, it looks like it could be dupable, but nothing I've seen (or own) so far is quite as multi-faceted as Graphite. For such a gritty-looking polish, the formula was still in-line with the others from Chanel: smooth, even application, good pigmentation, and nearly opaque in one coat. Definitely worth owning if you like dark metallic shades; this one is definitely one of the more unique out there.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Péridot

I'm still on the lookout for Graphite from Chanel's Fall 2011 make-up collection, which seems to be sold out everywhere at the moment, but I did manage to snatch up a bottle of Péridot, which is, all in all, a more interesting and unique colour than the other two nail polish shades in the Fall 2011 collection. It's rather hard to describe, because it changes at different angles; it's more triple-chrome than duochrome (kind of like the nail lacquers from MAC's Venomous Villains collection last fall). At one angle, it looks like a light gold-green with a green-teal edge. At another angle, it looks like an antique gold with a spring green edge. And then at yet another angle, it looks like a darker olive green with a teal-indigo edge. It's what I imagine the scales of a mermaid's tail to look like. Needless to say, it is awesome. The formula is in-line with Chanel's other nail lacquers: smooth, even application, easy to control, not so thin that it's watery or streaky, and not so thick that it's goopy. It goes on nearly opaque in one coat. Chanel's nail polishes retail for a hefty $26, but they're always worth it for unique shades like this.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick: Antigone and Fétiche

Having tried two shades of Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks a couple months ago, I decided I liked them enough to buy another two, this time in Antigone and Fétiche. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine is a semi-sheer, high-shine, hydrating lipstick. There are currently 18 shades available, and you can find them at all Chanel counters as well as Murale in Canada. Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks feel very much like lip balms: smooth, soft, and emollient. Because of the semi-sheer coverage and the hydrating formula, they don't last longer than perhaps two or three hours, but they aren't meant to be long-wear lipsticks. They feel very comfortable on the lips, and while I wouldn't say they're the most moisturizing lipstick I've ever tried, they are fairly hydrating and are great for those who tend to have drier lips. This is also great for those who like the look of gloss but not the tackiness. Each tube contains approximately 3 grams of product, and retails for $39.

Antigone and Fétiche

Antigone is a raspberry pink with plum undertones and raspberry micro-shimmer. It's a gorgeous colour for that "just bitten" look. It runs very slightly cool, but this would work wonderfully on both warm and cool undertones, as well as fair to medium-dark skintones. Due to the sheerness of the product, this might not show up as well on dark skintones; perhaps a hint of deepened pink. I can see this shade being a staple for fall and winter. Fétiche is a light pink-mauve with gold micro-shimmer. The gold micro-shimmer makes it look almost peachy in the swatch above. It's very much like a mauve version of Boy, which leans more beige. They are, however, the same in lightness. Like Boy, it looks like a better version of your natural lip colour. It does add a tiny hint of pink/mauve, but it's still very natural. This shade will work on both warm and cool undertones, and fair to medium skintones. On medium-dark to dark skintones, this will look like a clear gloss/balm. Because of the neutrality of the shade, however, it will work all year round. All Rouge Coco Shines are scent- and taste-free.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick: Boy and Rivage

Chanel has released a new lipstick formula this month called Rouge Coco Shine, which is a semi-sheer, high-shine, hydrating lipstick. There are currently 18 shades available, and you can find them at all Chanel counters and Murale in Canada. Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks feel very much like lip balms: smooth, soft, and emollient. Because of the semi-sheer coverage and the hydrating formula, they don't last longer than perhaps two or three hours, but they aren't meant to be long-wear lipsticks. They feel very comfortable on the lips, and while I wouldn't say they're the most moisturizing lipstick I've ever tried, they are fairly hydrating and are great for those who tend to have drier lips. This is also great for those who like the look of gloss but not the tackiness. Each tube contains approximately 3 grams of product, and retails for $39.

Boy and Rivage

I picked up two shades of Rouge Coco Shine. The first one is Boy, which is a semi-sheer, light beige pink. I can see this being a very popular shade since it really will suit all skintones. It's very much a my-lips-but-better shade. It's very natural-looking and isn't very noticeable, but it's pretty and wearable. The second shade is Rivage, which is a semi-sheer, light peachy melon. As far as I know, this shade isn't available in the States. Rivage is a gorgeous shade for Spring and Summer, because it's very fresh and natural, but still gives a pop of colour. What I love about these is that they really feel like you have nothing on, and the shiny finish makes lips look juicy and plump without having to put lip gloss on top. Bonus: These are totally boy-approved shades. I know, because I tried on nearly every shade, and Shawn loved these ones.

Chanel Chance Eau Fraîche Sheer Moisture Mist

Chanel recently released a new product called Sheer Moisture Mist under their Chance fragrance family. There are currently two Mists available: one belongs to the Eau Tendre scent, and one belongs to Eau Fraîche. They both retail at $40 for 100 ml, and are available wherever Chanel fragrances are sold. I've been lead to believe that they will both be made permanent, but Chanel's website says that the Eau Fraîche version is limited edition, so if anyone has any information stating otherwise, let me know! Only wanting to buy one (for now), I eventually decided on the Eau Fraîche version of Sheer Moisture Mist, which comes in a mint green bottle (whereas the Eau Tendre comes in pink). For those who haven't smelled Eau Fraîche, it's a sparkling citrus fragrance with subtle floral (water hyacinth and jasmine absolute) and woodsy (amber of patchouli and fresh vetiver) notes. The Sheer Moisture Mist is a much more subtle version of the original Eau de Toilette; the Mists are meant to provide a hint of fragrance while imparting some moisture to the skin.

Chanel has meant for the Sheer Moisture Mists to be an after-bath or shower product. I didn't find this to be particularly moisturizing and you shouldn't expect it to replace your regular body cream or lotion, but it's great for those who want a very light scent (e.g. if your workplace is perfume-sensitive) as well as for those who want a more skin-friendly fragrance (e.g. less alcohol content). You can also layer it with other products in the line, like the Eau de Toilette or body cream for a more full-bodied version of the fragrance. The Mist by itself doesn't last long on skin, so if you want the same intensity of scent that it has freshly applied, you'll have to spray it on quite regularly. But I do find that hints of the scent linger on the skin without re-applying. Having tested this product on the inside of my wrist, I found that my skin doesn't turn red at all, which occurs with most fragrances I've tried (due to the alcohol content in perfumes). I've also found that it's safe for hair, since it won't dry out your strands like other perfumes. Moreover, it's a great option for warmer weather (which, hopefully, will be coming soon), and for $40, you won't be breaking the bank. I think I will be buying the fruiter Eau Tendre version as well.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Black Pearl

Chanel released three new shades of Le Vernis Nail Colour for their Spring collection. The only one that piqued my interest was Black Pearl. Not exactly a colour that screams "spring!" since we usually see lighter, pastel-y colours after winter. But I don't mind, 'cause I'm not personally a fan of pastel nails, anyway. So I'd been trying to find this nail polish for the last couple weeks, and my usual haunts were all sold out of it (to be fair, counters usually only get 3 - 6 bottles of limited edition shades). I had given up on the search, and just accepted that it wasn't meant to be. But I was working at Hillcrest yesterday and thought I'd check the Chanel counter, just in case. Lo and behold, they had one bottle left! I snatched that baby right up. And painted my nails the moment I got home (okay, so it was a couple of hours afterward).

Black Pearl is a gorgeous darkened teal-grey threaded with metallic silver-green, and blue and teal micro-shimmer mixed in. It really does look like a black pearl, in the colour and the way it shines in different lighting. A lot of metallic shades can look super trashy (e.g. Sally Hansen), but I find Black Pearl has a kind of creaminess to it that keeps it chic and classy. I usually think Chanel polishes are worth the $26 price tag, only because they come out with some unique shades that usually sets the trends for the season. And I personally love the formula and the brush of Le Vernis (probably tied with Illamasqua as my favourite - OPI has great shades and a good brush, but I often have to do three coats). Black Pearl is slightly thicker than Chanel's usual formula, but it's not hard to get even coats with a steady hand. It goes completely opaque in two coats. Overall, I really like this shade and it's definitely a nice change from the usual Spring colours.