LES PINCEAUX DE CHANEL: NEW CHANEL MAKEUP BRUSHES

Introducing LES PINCEAUX DE CHANEL - a range of new brushes designed by the Paris Makeup Studio to make professional application an everyday luxury.

NEW CHANEL MAKEUP BRUSHES - Now available on the following websites Chanel, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and also available at Chanel Boutiques. About two weeks ago Saks had already started selling some of the new Chanel makeup brushes on their website, while Neiman Marcus started this past weekend, and it wasn't until this afternoon that Chanel.com had them posted on their website. There are a total of 17 brushes to choose from: 7 face brushes, 8 eye brushes, and 2 lip brushes.

I've heard that only Chanel.com and the Chanel Boutiques will be selling the complete line of makeup brushes that are available for purchase. So if you find that a brush isn't available at Saks, Neiman Marcus, etc., then be sure to check the Chanel website for it. 

Due to the price tag for some of the brushes I plan on purchasing several of the cheaper brushes to start and then I will make a weekly purchase of the more expensive brushes, just one at a time, until I can collect them all. Now, If some of the brushes look familiar, the #6 foundation brush for example, it is because it was released late last year. So if you purchased it then, that's one less brush you have to buy now.

I've heard great things about the Chanel brushes and every time I've gone to a Chanel counter or a Chanel boutique for a makeover, the brushes felt so silky and smooth against my skin. It is always so relaxing! Once I've had a chance to try them myself then I will definitely post a follow up review.       

CHANEL FACE BRUSHES 

CHANEL POWDER BRUSH #1 - $65.00 USD

Designed as a professional artistry tool to be used with Chanel products, this powder brush perfectly adapts to the shape of the face for flawless powder application and blending. The natural brush hair is formed without using scissors or razors to deliver precise makeup results.

CHANEL ANGLED POWDER BRUSH #2 - $60.00 USD

A beveled shape ideal for setting powder foundation and sculpting cheeks and facial contours. Available only on Chanel.com and in Chanel Makeup Studios.

CHANEL BLUSH BRUSH #4 - $54.00 USD

Designed as a professional artistry tool to be used with Chanel products, this blush brush is tapered to highlight cheekbones and accentuate the contours of the face.

CHANEL FOUNDATION BRUSH #6 - $45.00 USD

Designed as a professional artistry tool to be used with Chanel products, this foundation brush is crafted with the meticulous attention to detail that is an integral part of Chanel heritage. The compact handle is made out of lightweight wood and lacquered three times to create a matte black finish. The brush hair was shaped without using scissors or razors to deliver precise makeup results. It is the perfect tool for applying fluid or cream foundation to ensure flawless, even coverage.

CHANEL BLENDING FOUNDATION BRUSH #7 - $54.00 USD

Designed as a professional artistry tool to be used with Chanel products, this blending foundation brush ensures flawless, even application of all foundation types, from fluid to cream to powder. The natural and synthetic brush hair is formed without using scissors or razors to deliver precise makeup results.

CHANEL CONCEALER BRUSH #10 - $32.00 USD

Precisely applies and blends all concealer formulas. The ideal professional tool to correct imperfections and hide dark circles.

CHANEL TOUCH-UP BRUSH - $45.00 USD

Easily portable, this is the ideal travel accessory for applying all types of powder and blush.

CHANEL EYE BRUSHES

CHANEL ANGLED BROW BRUSH #12 - $30.00 USD

Applies and blends eyebrow pencil and powder. Use to define eyes or fill in eyebrows.

CHANEL ULTRA FINE EYELINER BRUSH #13 - $28.00 USD

Designed as a professional artistry tool to be used with Chanel products, this brush has a precise pointed shape that is ideal for defining and outlining the eyes. The natural and synthetic fiber brush hair is formed without using scissors or razors to deliver precise results.

CHANEL CONTOUR SHADOW BRUSH #14 - $28.00 USD

Designed as a professional artistry tool to be used with Chanel products, this brush has a rounded shape that is perfect for the expert application of shadow and liner along the contours of the eye. The natural and synthetic fiber brush hair is formed without using scissors or razors to deliver precise results.

CHANEL SMALL EYESHADOW BRUSH #15 - $34.00 USD

For precise application of eyeshadow on lids for different effects. Available only on Chanel.com and in Chanel Makeup Studios.

CHANEL LARGE TAPERED BLENDING BRUSH #19 - $38.00 USD

Designed as a professional artistry tool to be used with Chanel products, this brush has a wide rounded shape that is ideal for the expert application of shadow, bronzer or powder on the eyes. The natural and synthetic fiber brush hair is formed without using scissors or razors to deliver precise results.

CHANEL LARGE EYESHADOW BRUSH #25 - $38.00 USD

To gently apply and blend eyeshadow on the entire eyelid

CHANEL SMALL CONTOUR AND SHADOW BRUSH #26 - $30.00 USD

Designed as a professional artistry tool to be used with Chanel products, this contour and shadow brush has a thin, rounded shape that is perfect for the expert application of shadow along the contours of the eye. The natural and synthetic fiber brush hair is formed without using scissors or razors to deliver precise makeup results.

CHANEL ANGLED EYESHADOW BRUSH #27 - $32.00 USD

Designed as a professional artistry tool to be used with Chanel products, this contour and shadow brush has a thin, rounded shape that is perfect for the expert application of shadow along the contours of the eye. The natural and synthetic fiber brush hair is formed without using scissors or razors to deliver precise makeup results.

CHANEL LIP BRUSHES

CHANEL ANGLED LIP BRUSH #33 - $32.00 USD

A slanted shape allows for precise and controlled application of lip colour for an even and professional finish. Available only on Chanel.com and in Chanel Makeup Studios.

CHANEL RETRACTABLE LIP BRUSH - $35.00 USD

Designed as a professional artistry tool to be used with Chanel products, this retractable lip brush has a thin, slanted shape and a compact size that is ideal for the expert application of lipstick, gloss, and liner. The natural and synthetic fiber brush hair is formed without using scissors or razors to deliver precise results.

34 ECLOSION CHANEL LES 4 OMBRES QUADRA EYESHADOW PALETTE - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

CHANEL Eclosion is part of the Chanel 2012 Spring collection; also known as Chanel 2012 Spring Harmonie de Printemps Collection. You can read more about the whole collection here.

From the moment I saw this quad I knew I wanted it. Everything about this quad screams buy me! LOL. From the beautiful colors, to the creamy texture of the shadows, this is the "Must Have" quad of the Spring season. The pigmentation of the shadows is stellar and when worn, they last all day. In my opinion this quad leans more warm than cool but even for a pale-y like myself with pink undertones, this quad will still work beautifully.

The top left color when swatched was a peachy pink, the top right was a light vanilla with flecks of gold shimmer, the bottom left was a warm vanilla and the bottom right is a gorgeous reddish plum with a slight shimmer. To be honest, each of the shadows contained some level of shimmer but not in a harsh way and you can always blend them out if you find them too overpowering. Overall this quad is a good investment.

LAS VEGAS DE CHANEL Collection - NOW available online

Welcome to Vegas, where stardust dreams shine bright. Inspired by the city's gilded glamour and electric excitement, Peter Philips, Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, developed the LAS VEGAS DE CHANEL Collection exclusively for the re-opening of the Chanel boutique at the Bellagio. Shimmery golden accents for face, lips and nails create a winning look.

This collection is now available and here is a link to the collection: LAS VEGAS DE CHANEL.

Lucky Stripes iridescent powder compact - $98 USD

Designed to highlight cheeks and eyes, this Exclusive Creation is embossed with the stars of the legendary “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas!” sign. Subtle variations of gold, peach and bronze can be applied on their own to sculpt the face or blended together to achieve an overall warmth and radiance. A beveled sculpting brush offers precise application.

LE VERNIS Gold Fingers nailpolish - $28 USD

A stroke of luck for the fingertips, this dazzling new semi-sheer, gilded lacquer glides over nails to create a playful finish

ROUGE COCO SHINE Brilliant - $32.50 USD

The iconic Chanel lipshine debuts in an exclusive new shade — a brilliant, sheer gold inspired by the opulence of a gilded city in the desert.

LE CRAYON LEVRES Vegas Gold lipliner -  $29 USD

Create the show-stopping effect of fuller lips by applying a golden line to the center of the upper lip and adding a touch of light

CHANEL LE VERNIS NAIL COLOUR: 533 APRIL NAIL POLISH

CHANEL LE VERNIS nail colour in April is one of three nail polishes that was released with the Chanel 2012 Spring collection also known as Chanel 2012 Spring Harmonie de Printemps Collection. You can read more about the collection here. Out of the three polishes I really liked April the best, as it seemed to be the most unique color of the three. Although I may still purchase May, which is a bubble gum pink nail polish color.

The April polish is described as a Garnet color (like the stone) which is a slightly brick red almost a deep red rose color. In my opinion it looks almost like a deep cranberry color. Although, in the bottle and in certain lighting the polish looks to have hints of purple. The April polish is a solid color nail polish that contains no sparkle or shimmer and it does go on with a high glossy shine. A one coat application will work beautifully but I wouldn't apply no more than two at the most.

CHANEL: BLUSH HORIZON DE CHANEL SPRING 2012

CHANEL BLUSH HORIZON DE CHANEL in soft glow was released with the Chanel Spring 2012 collection. You can read more about the collection here. It is such a pretty mixture of pinks with a hint of coral that gives a nice peach-y pink glow to the cheeks. Unfortunately, this blush is no longer available on the Chanel website but I have found it at several high-end department stores so there is still hope of purchasing it and it currently retails for $58.

I have used this blush several times already and while it has some pigmentation, it doesn't deposit a lot of color onto the cheeks. It is one of those blushes that will need several applications. It will need to be layered on the cheeks, for it to give a nice pop of color. One other thing to note about this blush is that for darker skin tones this may be more useful as a highlight powder than a blush.

Now don't get me wrong, I really love this blush because it is so unique and a very beautiful pink color. However, I just think that unless you are a die-hard collector of Chanel blushes, then this would fall more under the splurge category than a "Must Have". In the meantime, there are several other pieces from this collection that I have purchased and I will be posting reviews and pics of those items in a few days.

• To create freshness, use all of the blush shades as a harmony and sculpt your face using the beveled brush.
• For a healthy look, apply only the pink shade to the upper cheekbones and temples.
• For a glowing complexion, use the sun-kissed effect of a cloud of peach.

SEPHORA: NARS VIB GIFT - HAUL / SHOP SPREE

Starting yesterday at Sephora stores and on the Sephora website, Nars is offering Sephora VIB's a special Valentine's Day set of minis. The mini set consists of a bronzing powder in Laguna (.08 oz), smudge proof eyeshadow base (.09 oz), and a liquid illuminator in Orgasm or Copacabana (0.29 oz). Be sure to specify which illuminator that you want otherwise you may not get the one that you were expecting. If ordering online use code: VIBNARS and in store use the e-mailed coupon similar to the one pictured below. Additionally, the only requirement is $35 purchase of products, which considering all the amazing stuff that is at Sephora shouldn't be too hard.

Anyway, I went last night to get my Nars gift bag because the Sephora that I shop at always runs out of these types of promotional items rather quickly. Also, I knew that spending the required $35 wasn't going to be that difficult either seeing as how I had several items that I wanted to get. The only difficult thing about this whole shopping trip was trying to decide on what to purchase. LOL

As I was debating on what to purchase I remembered that I had run out of my YSL Touche Éclat Radiant Touch highlighter so I decided to repurchase it. I've heard about and I've tried, the Milani HD advanced concealer. It is the perfect dupe and a cheaper alternative to the YSL product. The Milani product currently retails for approx. $7 at drugstores whereas, the YSL Touche Eclat retails for $40 at Sephora and most major department stores.

For me, I have extremely dry skin underneath the eyes and the Milani HD concealer is definitely no substitute for the YSL product. When I wore the Milani brand I experienced flakes and scale-y patches around the eye area. It also didn't sink into the skin as well as the YSL. The YSL Touche Eclat leaves my skin with a nice healthy and radiant glow that seems to revitalize my appearance. It is truly a miracle worker in a skinny metal tube. I just LOVE it!

This cute little Nars bag pictured above contained the Nars mini set and then right next to it is the YSL Touche Eclat that I purchased.

The above are pictures of the Nars mini products that I received in the Nars bag after I made my $35 or more purchase at Sephora. I have the Nars Laguna bronzer in a bigger compact and think it is a wonderful bronzer for the upcoming Summer months. It really adds definition to my face. Now, I haven't ever used the Copacabana illuminator so I'm excited to give it a try. The Nars eyeshadow base I use everyday as my Go-To eye primer and it is wonderful. I am willing to go so far as to say it is my "HG" - Holy Grail eye primer because its that good, no its that GREAT! This little tube of eye base I will probably keep for when I have to travel as its the perfect size for such an occasion.