Chanel Spring 2011: Les Perles de Chanel

Last night I attended a Spring Makeup and Fashion Trend Seminar at CHANEL. It was a wonderful evening with lovely hors d'oeuvres, live demonstrations, trend reviews, and gorgeous products. We were all sent away with swag bags full of amazing product samples (will be reviewing each of those separately). I brought my mom with me (we were long overdue for a Girl's Night Out), and we each bought products with the intention of sharing our goodies instead of buying duplicates; so we amassed a good representation of what this collection has to offer. SIDENOTE: I will write my Spring Trends post separately and link it here.

In creating Les Perles de Chanel, Peter Philips,Global Creative Director of CHANEL Makeup, was inspired by Coco Chanel's belief that the light-reflecting property of pearls enhanced a woman’s natural beauty by bringing a delicate luminosity to her skin. Peter drew his colour palette from Tahitian pearls. There isn't a single product in this collection that isn't breathtaking   and superior in texture, colour, application and ingenuity. 

1. Ombres Perlées de CHANEL (Limited Edition)

If you were to indulge in any product from this collection, this would be the one. In some locations, this highly anticipated product sold out in a matter of minutes. What makes this quint so special? These are oil-free dry cream shadows. Sounds like a contradiction doesn't it? They are comprised of multi-dimensional pigments that    reflect different hues in varying light, just like pearls. I was forewarned not to use my fingers on this product (no matter how tempting the texture is) because they are quite delicate and the oils from your hands will compromise the integrity of the product over time. These shadows are crease-proof, smudge-proof, and smear-proof...in other words, they are fool-proof.  **Note how in the pictures, the colours pick up different tones depending on the lighting**

2. Les 4 Ombres: Regardes Perles (Permanent)

This is a lovely quad that is perfect for any occasion. These shadows are a step up from some of my other CHANEL quads, which can sometimes be powdery. They have medium pigmentation, but can also be used wet if you want higher impact. My favourite shade is the blackened forest green, which will be perfect for a monochromatic smokey eye. 

3. Joues Contraste Espiegle

I am in blush heaven. This blush is so finely milled that it feels like silk. It applies seamlessly against the skin and adds a perfectly luminous and natural flush to the complexion. In my opinion, this wears best on light-medium skintones; darker skintones will require a heavier hand to achieve the same affect. Because it is a neutral peach colour, it can be worn with most lipstick or eyeshadow shades. 

4. Rouge Coco Jersey Rose

The same luxurious Rouge Coco formula that hooked me on the first swipe months ago. 

5. Nakkar and Aragonite Glossimers

This is my first foray into the land of CHANEL Glossimers. They are renowned for their buttery, non-sticky texture and kalediscope of micro-shimmer. I feel like Glossimers are the adult approach to lipgloss because they are subtle, yet still incredibly radiant. Aragonite is a perfect top coat for any lipstick. It adds vibrancy and mystery to any shade, so do not be fooled by the apparently bland white veneer. Glossimers are one of those unique products that can not be done justice in a photo.