Chanel Vendetta Le Vernis: Swatches and a comparison to Butter London HRH

Chanel Vendetta is a deep, vampy purple with red and blue shimmers.  It looks purple in the bottle, but once it's on the nails, it is nearly black.  Indoors, the shimmers basically disappear, leaving it looking more creme-like, but outdoors, Vendetta takes on a more glow-y quality, with the shimmers sparkling in the sunlight.

Vendetta is part of the permanent collection and is available for $25 at all Chanel counters and on chanel.com.


A reader asked how Vendetta compared to Butter London HRH.  Both have the same red and blue sparkles, but that is where the similarities end.  Vendetta is a very dark, blue-based purple, nearly black.  HRH is brighter and more red-based.  See here for my original swatches of HRH.  

If you love purples as much as I do, these both have a place in your collection.

I'm baaaack!! Chanel Illusore Look

No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth.  I've been working on balancing work, life along with some personal issues, and blogging had to take a backseat.  I do plan on continuing blogging, and I thank everyone that has stuck with me.  Muchos kudos to you bloggers out there who maintain life, work and regularly blog - it's hard work!


I haven't really been purchasing all that much makeup lately, which isn't really a bad thing.  My bank account is sure thankful, and I certainly have more than enough in my stash to last an eternity.  Buttttt, Chanel's Fall Collection caught my eye...and how could it not?  Right now I don't have swatches, mostly because I'm still debating a few items.  I do, however, have a look for you featuring Illusore Illusion D'Ombre from the Fall Collection.


Basically, I wanted to do something simple and work appropriate.  I'm lucky that I have a little freedom to wear fun stuff, but I find myself gravitating to more polished and professional looks.  This is just a wash of Illusore over the lid with a highlighter, and a little liner underneath the lower lash line, topped off with a few coats of mascara.  Super simple and  a quick to do in the morning.


Natural Light

Indoor

And a new swatchcat feature...my face!

Products used:

Lorac Eye Primer

MAC Swiss Chocolate e/s (in brows)

MAC Smut e/s (in brows)

MAC Dazzlelight e/s

Chanel Illusore Illusion D'Ombre

Chanel Khaki Platine Precision Eye Definer

Yves St. Laurent Faux Cils Mascara Black

Benefit Bad Gal Mascara Plum

Smashbox Camera Ready Concealer Shade 2.0

MAC Cute Blush

Bobbi Brown Pale Mauve Creamy Lip Color

Collection Les Perles De Chanel

In an effort to get all my seasonal relevant posts out of the way, I've got a few items from Collection Les Perles De Chanel from Spring 2011 that I swatched.  I know winter juuuuust got under way, and spring seems like a long way off, but perhaps these goodies will get in you the mood.  I'm also not one to limit colors to a specific season, and these Chanel spring colors are very versatile.  From the collection, I picked up all three Le Vernis, Black Pearl, Pearl Drop, and Peach Nacree, and the Ombres Perlees quint.

Click the jump for the swatches!

Chanel Riva Le Vernis

Chanel just keeps pumping them out.  This time it is Riva, part of the Chanel Côte d' Azur Cruise Collection.  It's a pretty pale blue cream with hidden shimmer.  I do really like the color, which, from me, is saying a lot, since I don't really do blues.  Butttt, as pretty as Riva is, I think it's passable, and if you're really itching for a pale blue, dupeable.


Still, I took pretty pictures...

More pictures after the jump!

Chanel Rouge Allure - Naive

I recently picked up Naive, which is in the Rouge Allure formula.  If you haven't tried the Rouge Allure formula, it is very moisturizing and the colors go on opaque with just a couple of swipes.  Naive is a natural, baby mauve-pink with a bit of golden shimmer.  On me, Naive is just a bit lighter than my natural lip color, making it perfect to wear with most makeup, and especially for an easy-going, natural look.

I couldn't find Naive anywhere but on Chanel.com, so it may not be a permanent color.  If you're looking for a light, natural pink, then you'd better get Naive while you can.  Rouge Allures retail for $30, and through November 1st, you can get free shipping from Chanel online with code 0910GLOSS.

Chanel Soho Collection - Stunning Rouge Coco & Stupendous Quad

After seeing all the swatches of Stunning Rouge Coco and the Stupendous Quad I was smitten.  Uh, too bad they both were sold out when I order Star Glossimer.  I was willing to wait until Soho launched at department store counters, but luckily, I didn't have to.  Chanel online restocked!  (yeah, yeah, it was the highlight of my day, what of it?)  You want pretty swatches?  Of course you do.


Stunning Rouge Coco is a gorgeous neutral pink with golden shimmer.  It's a my lips, but better color...just a bit deeper, and I love it.  It's so much prettier than I imagined.  It is pigmented and the color just melts into my lips.

Check out Stupendous after the jump.

Rosy Brown and Khaki Brown Comparisons

An exclusive release by Chanel means many people are looking for duplicates to avoid having to track down limited items.  This last release of Les Khakis is no exception.  Pretty, muted polishes just begging to be purchased.  But, can you get the same look for cheaper?  Ahh, yes, the $100,000 question.  Let's see, shall we?


Up first, Khaki Brun.  I dug out my two other deep taupey brown polishes, Barielle Cowl of the Wild and OPI You Don't Know Jacques, to see if they were a match.

Nope, not even close.  You can really see the green undertones of Khaki Brun, and the purple undertones of You Don't Know Jacques also stand out.  Cowl of the Wild stands out as a true neutral taupe, no warm or cool undertones whatsoever.


Next, Khaki Rose.  I pulled out Barielle Cashmere or Loose Me and Zoya Dea since they are both warm, medium browns.

I thought Cashmere or Loose Me might be close, especially since the shimmer is pretty subtle.  However it much more rosy than Khaki Rose.  Same for Dea, which I had pegged as being a latte color.  Sandwiched between Cashmere or Loose Me and Dea, Khaki Rose comes off a quite brown and well, khaki.  Those rosy undertones just disappear.


That leaves Khaki Vert for last...and I've got nothin' for  ya.  Sorry!

Charcoal and Plum Shimmer Comparisons

With the Chanel Soho polishes being a limited release, and therefore, a little difficult to come by, many are wondering whether there are any dupes out there, especially at more reasonable prices.  I have good news and I have bad news.  I was able to find a dupe for Chanel Steel, but with a discontinued OPI.  I found no duplicates in my stash for Chanel Strong.

Thumb to Pinkie:  OPI Black Satin, OPI Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous, Chanel Steel, China Glaze Jitterbug, Zoya Freja


As you can see, Both OPI LLM and CG Jitterbug are far too silvery and have those large, flaky shimmer particles, and each are adequate substitutes for the other (i.e. unless you're a polish fiend, you don't need both).  Zoya Freja is a little deeper, but still far too light.  OPI Black Satin is right on the money.

Thumb, pointer and ring finger, OPI Black Satin; Third and pinkie, Chanel Steel.  As you can see, Black Satin is just a teeny bit lighter than Chanel Steel.  In the bottle, they're nearly the exact same color (look above the Chanel label, as it places a blue cast on the polish).  So, if you're lucky enough to own Black Satin (or run across it at a reasonable price) it is a suitable dupe for Chanel Steel.  If not, the crazy evilBay prices for OPI Black Satin place it nearly at the same price as Chanel Steel, and given that the Chanel is opaque in two coats, while it takes the OPI at least three, the Chanel winds up being the better buy.  Who'd've thunk it?!


As I stated, I didn't find anything that would serve as an actual dupe for Chanel Strong.  There is one that is close, but as the saying goes, "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades".  Well, at least if your a nail polish fanatic like I am.  If not, close might be good enough for you.

Thumb to Pinkie:  OPI Lincoln Park at Midnight, OPI Eiffel for this Color, Chanel Strong, China Glaze Bogie, Zoya Mikka


As you can see, OPI LPaM is much too purple, as is China Glaze Bogie (as well as being too light).  Zoya Mikka is too plummy and also too light.  OPI EftC is the one that is closest.  It has that blackened base, but not quite as many shimmers as Chanel Strong.  Also, the shimmers are more of a deep fuchsia and red-violet rather than red.  Still, if you're looking to save cash and aren't too fussy about having the exact color, OPI Eiffel for this Color is a good substitute.  Plus, it is still available for retail price (or cheaper at transdesign.com).

Chanel Les Khakis Le Vernis - Swatches

As promised!  Not that any of you need any more nudging, but these are beautiful, subdued creams.

Khaki Rose is a browned rose.  Perfect for anyone who's not into straight-up pink.  It's still pink, but very subdued and muted.  The strong brown undertones really keep this polish from veering into "grandma pink" territory.

Khaki Vert is a minted army green.  Army-lite, if you will.  Very unique color, and for a green, surprisingly wearable.  Yes, it's green, but the grey undertones keep it from screaming, "GREEEEEN NAILSSSS".

Khaki Brun is a olive-tinged brown.  You can definitely see the olive green undertones in this polish.  I really like that it's not straight-up brown.  I will caution, this is one of those colors that not all people will be able to wear because of the olive green undertones.  If you know certain colors are unwearable because of your skintone, you may want to test this one out before you buy.


Are these polishes must haves?  No, not really.  They are beautiful creams, with the superior Chanel formula.  If I had to choose just one, I'd pick Khaki Vert.  Those of you wanting an all-around wearable color might want to stick with Khaki Rose.  These are currently available online for $25 each, and are rumored to be released to luxury department stores later this fall.

Chanel Les Khakis Le Vernis

Oh my!  They're so much prettier in person!

Expect swatches tomorrow!

Chanel Soho Collection - Star Glossimer

Here's another pretty from Chanel's Soho Collection, Star Glossimer.  Star is a sheer pink loaded with silver microglitter.  I know, I know...glitter doesn't exactly say, "Grown-up", but the glitter in this gloss is ultra-fine and really acts more as a shine enhancer.  Unless someone is standing an inch from your lips, they're not going to notice the glitter.  Given the sheerness of the color, it's great for those who just want to add shine to the lips, or for adding shine to any lipstick.





Once I got a good look at Star, it reminded me of Futile (from the Spring 2010 Collection), so I pulled it out for comparison.  Turns out, Futile is more of a champagne pink with gold microglitter in much less quantities than in Star.  However, given that both have that super sheer base, if you have Futile, you can easily skip Star, which is sold out in the U.S. online, anyway.

Now, I'm not posting this to torture anyone who missed out on Futile, and therefore, might want Star.  Soho was released in Canada and at selected locations around the world.  Furthermore, there are rumors on various discussion boards that the Soho Collection will filter down to the luxury department stores (Saks, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman) in the October/November timeframe.  Fingers crossed, because there are a couple of items that, after seeing the swatches, I now want.


OK, enough chit-chat, there are more pretty pictures after the jump!

Chanel Soho Collection - Steel & Strong Le Vernis

They're here!!  I jumped on these two hot polishes the minute they hit the site, and they're finally here!  I won't say much else other than these two polishes are GORGEOUS!  Steel is a deep, metallic anthracite with silvery-aqua shimmer that appears to have a multi-color sparkle in the sunlight, and gives the polish an almost navy appearance in some light.  Strong is a deep, blackened maroon with subtle fuchsia shimmer.  A great vampy, fall color.  Coverage on both Steel and Strong is great, two coats for each, and the formula for both is pretty consistent and standard Chanel.  I did find Strong to be just a bit thicker than Steel, though.  I really do love Chanel polishes.  They really do nail polish very well.  Now, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

See more pictures of Steel and Strong after the jump!

Neutral Smokey Eyes

I did this look for an evening out to celebrate my bestie, Meggie-poo's birthday.  I always seem to do just straight smokey eyes, so I thought I'd mix it up a bit and do something a little softer.  I paired the eyes with a more rosy pink lip, rather than the standard nude that I always seem to do with smokey eyes.  I quite like how this turned out.  I'll probably do a tutorial when I get the chance because it is such an easy look to do, and much more wearable for those who just aren't used to wearing a lot of makeup.

More pictures and what I used to create this look after the jump!

Chanel Paradoxal Le Vernis Nail Colour

I know, I know.  I'm late to the game.  But, ya know, when it's 98° outside and the heat index is like 114°, it's really hard to get into the fall mindset.  Nevertheless, I promised pictures, and so I shall deliver.


Paradoxal is really quite a descriptive name for this color.  In some lighting it's taupe, others it's dirty grey, and still, others it's a deep, dusty, vintage violet (my favorite color in the whole wide world).  On the nails, it appears to be a cream finish, but in the sunlight, the subtle shimmer shows through.  Definitely not the color that is in the bottle, but still utterly gorgeous.

More pictures after the jump.

Chanel Joues Contraste Swatches

I only have a few Joues Contrastes, so I swatched them while I swatched the fall collection.  Take a gander.

L to R:  Narcisse, Pink Explosion, Rose Temptation, Rose Petale

I really love the soft feel and pigmentation of Chanel's Joues Contrastes.  It's really hard to choose a favorite!  If you're sensitive to scents, these to have a rather pronounced rose scent (as do most Chanel products), but the scent does dissipate once the blush is put on, and if you leave the compact open for a little while, it will also dissapear.


I have a few more on my wishlist that I plan to add to my collection slowly.  How many Chanel Joues Contrastes do you own?