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CHANEL – Les Essentiels de CHANEL Fall 2012 Le Vernis #559 Frenzy, #561 Suspicious and #563 Vertigo & Comparisons
Before I even began swatching the new trio of nail varnishes from CHANEL’s fall 2012 ‘Les Essentiels de CHANEL’ collection (reviewed in my previous post here), I had already started thinking of possible look-a-like contenders; naturally, I wanted the duplicates to be as identical as I could find them and since these particular shades aren’t too outrageous, I figured it would be relatively easy to find a few döppelgangers. Uh, not so much. But some interestingly close relatives were found just the same.
Finding a #561 Frenzy clone wasn’t as hard as I originally thought, but even so, most of the bottles I culled from my stash were either too pale, too grey, or too pink. I finally opted for Essie’s ‘Miss Fancy Pants’ from the brand’s fall 2012 collection (previously reviewed here). The following swatches are all with Seche Clear Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat. Coats applied – 2 (for each) and how it compared:
- middle & ring fingers: CHANEL #559 Frenzy
- index & pinkie fingers: Essie ‘Miss Fancy Pants’ – a definitely thicker formula, more grey tinged and a few degrees deeper in tone, bearing similarities in opacity, self-levelling application and high gloss shine at the finish
in sunlight
in shade
with flash
I immediately knew which shade I wished to compare #561 Suspicious to, and that was none other than CHANEL’s #541 ‘Tentation’ from one of the brand’s spring 2012 releases (previously reviewed here), although I was concerned about the differing finishes but I felt that the base colour was identical enough to warrant a comparison. Once more, all swatches were done using Seche Clear Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat, using 2 coats of lacquer for both. Here’s how it compared:
- middle & ring fingers: CHANEL #561 Suspicious
- index & pinkie fingers: CHANEL #541 Tentation – a hybrid jelly/crème formula, which seems to give this shade more elasticity on application, several degrees more vibrant and pink-leaning when viewed live – most probably due to the multitude of fuchsia and blue tinged ultra-fine shimmer it’s filled with, same opacity and ease of application but not as glossy at the finish.
in sunlight
in shade
with flash
The final shade, #563 Vertigo proved to be more of a challenge and I was pretty sure that I had absolutely nothing like it in my collection. On the one hand I was right, but still found myself surprised to pull out at least 2 possibilities – both found amongst my Diors – ‘Ebony’ from the Mitzah Collection (previously reviewed here) and ‘Underground’ from the ‘Rock Your Nails Collection’ (previously reviewed here), and then decided to add CHANEL’s #509 ‘Paradoxal’ (previously reviewed here) to the equation, primarily because it offers the same mysterious shimmer as that of ‘Vertigo’, although the intensity of ‘Paradoxal’s’ hue is visibly way off. All swatches are with Seche Clear Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat. Coats applied – 2 for each. Here’s how they compared:
- index finger: Dior ‘Ebony’ – the thinnest formula of them all, more brown based and bearing sparse silvery flecks that are almost invisible to the naked eye
- middle finger: CHANEL #563 Vertigo
- ring finger: Dior ‘Underground’ – the thickest formula of the group, although with a similar flow to that of ‘Vertigo’, more prune based and bearing scant silvery flecks that add depth, but are not visible unless seen in direct sunlight/flash
- pinkie finger: CHANEL ‘#509 Paradoxal’ – identical formula to that of ‘Vertigo’ and similar concept of a “muddied tone filled with complex shimmer”, obviously more deep mauve/purple leaning but with that same enigmatic look to it
in sunlight
in shade
with flash
Final thoughts: From the three lacquers of the ‘Les Essentiels de CHANEL’ Collection, the 2 that I would have to say are the most easily duplicated, are without a doubt #559 Frenzy and #561 Suspicious, although even at that, you would be hard pressed to find an exact match or come close to CHANEL’s stellar formula and application. Looking at the comparisons to #563 Vertigo, it is clear that there really is NOTHING like it out there, although if you theoretically combined Dior’s ‘Ebony’ and ‘Underground’, you’d probably come very, very close. Theoretically. My final verdict? I’m pleased to say that all three CHANELs can definitely hold their own in anyone’s collection, but if it’s something unique, off-the-wall, and one-of-a-kind that grabs your fancy, then you should definitely snag #563 Vertigo — while you still can!
*Disclaimer: Some products provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration
CHANEL – Les Essentiels de CHANEL Fall 2012 Le Vernis #559 Frenzy, #561 Suspicious and #563 Vertigo (swatches & review)
If there’s one vice I unashamedly cling to, it’s my love of all things CHANEL … and have been indulging in said vice for over 25 years now. Every new collection makes my blood rush – sometimes scary fast, at others not so much – but while not every cosmetic item will grab my eye (and my wallet), the nail lacquers are something I absolutely cannot resist. My first thoughts on viewing the newest trio, part of ‘Les Essentiels de CHANEL’ collection, was a mixed bag of emotions; but even that wasn’t enough to keep me from snagging all three. Told you: total addiction!
The three nail varnishes of ‘Les Essentiels de CHANEL’ collection are comprised of #559 Frenzy – a lavender tinged pale taupe crème, #561 Suspicious – a vibrant fuchsia crème, and #563 Vertigo – a mind-boggling mix of grey and eggplant, filled with an inner fiery shimmer. Application of all three hues was effortless, as they each flowed with ease along the nails, requiring only the lightest of pressure of the mid-sized flexible brush to achieve a beautiful finish. All swatches are with Seche Clear Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat.
#559 Frenzy – is what is meant by a true “palate-cleansing” colour; a diffused putty crème hue that is dusted with hints of lavender, the first coat provided surprisingly good opacity for such a light colour. The thin-leaning yet easy flowing formula bears an excellent viscosity, laying down in a self-levelling way and leaving behind an ultra high-gloss shine at the finish. Coats applied: 2
in sunlight
in shade
with flash
#561 Suspicious – is about as perfect as a nail lacquer can get; beginning with a formula that flows like silk across the nails, to its incredibly high pigmentation of colour that make this a true 1-coater if so desired, this luxurious deeply brilliant cerise hue bears magenta undertones in its base that make it paradoxically warm and cool toned, depending on the angle and lighting. Exceptionally self-levelling and with a mirror-glass shine at the finish, the one word to describe this is: INSANE! Coats applied: 2
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in sunlight
in shade
with flash
#563 Vertigo – bears the thickest formula of the three, although that does not detract from its stellar application just the same. With a wonderful flow and viscosity, not to mention the high saturation of colour, this is another shade that can easily pass as a 1-coater (although I recommend 2 coats to enhance its unique depths). A highly complex mix of slate grey, mink brown and the deepest plum, its ultra-fine bronze and reddish shimmer only really becomes apparent when viewed in direct sunlight or under flash, although I suspect it goes a long way in adding to its allure. A truly unique shade worthy of “vamp” status. Coats applied: 2
in sunlight
macro
in shade
with flash
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Final thoughts: When I came across the ‘Les Essentiels de CHANEL’ collection, I was initially hesitant – a rare occurrence for me; last year’s fall offering found me in awe of the entire collection, but this year I limited myself to the 3 varnishes, and just a few more items (to be reviewed soon). That doesn’t mean I still don’t have time to be convinced about the rest, however. Having amassed a rather large collection of CHANEL lacquers over the years, I never fail to be amazed at how the brand continues to produce colours that are fresh & spot-on trend, but then again, it is CHANEL, after all! I absolutely love all 3 shown here, as they each offer something different and I refuse to pick a favourite … sorry! Stay tuned for my comparison post coming up in my next review!
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Essie – Stylenomics Collection Fall 2012 (swatches & review)
School is definitely back in session with Essie’s ‘Stylenomics’ Fall 2012 Collection, make no mistake about it! Keeping the lines pure, clean and simple with a group of 6 delectable crème hues, the brand intends to help your nails look like a million bucks – all without blowing the budget!
Essie Stylenomics Fall 2012 Collection
This is what Essie does best: pure colour at its creamy finest. These 6 single-hued shades range from whispering neutrals with a dash of urban freshness, deep wine-rich reds to provide a flash of intensity, to a brooding dark lacquer anchoring them all. The formulas ranged in viscosity from über-pigmentation that barely required more than a coat for full opacity, to slightly thinner flowing – although no less colour saturated, with all leaving behind a mirror like gloss that is almost dazzling in its brilliance. All swatches are with base and top coat.
‘Miss Fancy Pants’ is a tan-leaning nude shade with subtle mauve undertones to lend it warmth. The excellent formula helped it flow effortlessly along the brush, leaving an almost vinyl-like gloss in its wake, while its ultra-creamy hue seems to impart a somewhat lavender after-effect. Two coats are more than sufficient for full coverage, although 3 were applied here for photographic purposes and to capture its true nature. Coats applied: 3
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
‘Don’t Sweater It’ is a decadent milk-chocolate hue with sly hints of both grey and mauve in its base. Ridiculously glossy and super creamy (you’ll soon get sick of hearing me use that word!), the flow of this formula was absolutely stellar, seeming to literally glide across the nails without any pooling or dragging whatsoever. An absolutely gorgeous taupe, but with a definite modern bite. Coats applied: 2
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
‘Recessionista’ is a cross between a deep plum & maroon, bearing the look of plush burgundy-wine velvet. The formula was a little on the thin side, making the first coat fall slightly patchy – all resolved by the second coat to give a deeply saturated tone. Exceptionally high glassy shine which brought out its prune/raisin undertones, there are no brush strokes left behind at the finish and zero staining upon removal. Coats applied: 3
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
‘Head Mistress’ (insert titillating snickers here!) is a paradox; an absolutely drop-dead stunning cherry red crème shade that applies with the consistency of a jelly. The thinner formula showed its blueish undertones with the first coat, revealing a more fuchsia-like hue, although the second coat not only provided perfect opacity and coverage, but deepened the colour significantly as well. Ultra self-levelling and with that same high gloss as the rest, the bonus was in no bleeding upon application or staining left behind at the finish – always a plus when dealing with red colours. Coats applied: 2
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
‘Skirting the Issue’ is yet another luscious and buttery claret port-wine shade with definitive burgundy undertones in its base. The somewhat thin but easy-flowing formula provided excellent coverage by the second coat, although I did apply 3 here to clearly capture its rich depth for the photos. An incredibly vibrant dark berry hue, it’s a sophisticated yet totally wearable vampy shade, perfect for the workplace and beyond. Bonus: no staining upon removal. Coats applied: 3 (thin)
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
‘Stylenomics’ the namesake colour of this collection, is a beautiful enigma; at first glance it may appear like a blackened teal, however upon closer inspection, you begin to notice its other facets: glistening emerald, deepened viridian, and finally old-forest pine green. The formula was beyond superb, flowing with an unparalleled ease across the nails, self-levelling and brush-stroke free, with a reflective mirror-like finish. I absolutely LOVE the brooding smokey tone of this hue and the fact that it left no staining behind upon removal, was the icing on this particularly glorious colour. Coats applied: 2
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
Final thoughts: Yes, Essie has done it again … producing 6 shades of such surpassing creamy (there’s that word again – I did warn you!) goodness, and all with such incredible pigmentation that it’s hard to choose between them. Thankfully, there’s a colour here for all occasions and to suit all tastes, and while these hues are nothing extravagant or exotic in nature (how many neons and glitters/shimmers can one wear?) the sheer wearability of each shade makes this a standout little collection in my humble opinion. Choosing my favourites here is beyond difficult, although if forced to state, I would have to say ‘Don’t Sweater It’ for its understated elegance, and ‘Stylenomics’ for its sensuously menacing appeal – but then again, you know me and my love of mysteriously dark colours! Available as of September, trust me when I say that this is a collection you will definitely want to drool over!
Kindly provided by Essie for my unbiased consideration
Bourjois ‘Paris Flowers’ Collection – summer 2012 (swatches & review)
Bourjois Paris is a brand that I first stumbled upon in Paris, France, while on my honeymoon back in 1990, but I hadn’t paid much attention to the brand at the time; this line caught my eye again when I stumbled upon a display at my local Pharmaprix store a couple of years back, and where I was pleasantly surprised to note how well thought out the products appeared. For Summer 2012, Bourjois has released a limited edition ‘Paris Flowers’ collection, with shades as hot & vibrant as the season itself – a riotous, yet sensual feast of “hothouse” colours!
How cute is this Bourjois case & the fab Jackie O. glasses?
Bleu Canard
Bleu Canard (back label)
Bleu Canard
Bleu Canard (inner leaflet & sponge-tip brush)
Bourjois ‘Little Round Pot Eyeshadow’ #02 Bleu Canard (CDN $17.00 for 1.5 g/0.05 oz) is a stunning teal coloured mineral eye shadow, that can be worn either dry for a light wash of colour, or applied with a wet brush for maximum impact. Buttery soft and with no powdery kick-back upon application, there’s a gentle glimmer to this shade that adds a nice depth of tone without any over-the-top sparkle. Staying power was quite good as well, easily lasting a full 8 hours (over primer) before any wear, creasing or fading began to show. Made in France.
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look created using Bleu Canard shadow and Bleu Néon eye liner
Orange Apprêté
Orange Apprêté (label)
Orange Apprêté (view of click-open mechanism)
Orange Apprêté with click mechanism deployed
Orange Apprêté
Orange Apprêté – macro
Bourjois ‘Sweet Kiss Lipstick’ #45 Orange Apprêté (CDN $18.00 for 3g/0.1 oz) is a luscious coral-hued lipstick in a smoothly gliding formula, that also includes argan oil for an added 8 hours of moisture, ensuring your lips stay hydrated long after the colour has faded, while adding a slight lip-plumping effect due to its glistening appearance. I thought the click-open mechanism looked somewhat gimmicky at first, but soon realized that it added a touch of security to the closure – always handy to have for anyone who has ever experienced a lipstick cap fall off in their makeup bag/purse (can you say disgusting mess?!).
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The lipstick itself bears a very light scent that fades rather quickly, and I was completely amazed by how effortlessly it glided across my lips, with just the barest hint of a shimmer to add some depth. A fairly translucent shade, I like how it takes the “it” colour of the season (Tangerine Tango) and makes it so perfectly wearable. Made in Italy.
PS: This shade looks phenomenal with lightly tanned skin as well – just perfect for summer!
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
Glossy Grenadine Tonic
Bourjois ‘1 Seconde Nail Enamel’ in #15 Glossy Grenadine Tonic (CDN $8.99) is one of the most unique formulas in nail polish that has come my way in quite some time; this coral-red (blood orange? Fiesta-ware orange?) shade comes in an über-glossy and translucent formula, yet still manages to look incredibly vibrant despite its sheer nature. With silicon in the base (which adds flexibility, strength and a super shine), dry time was also quite impressive and it’s the perfect product to apply for a vivid splash of colour without expending much effort at all. The following swatches are over base coat – no top coat, and I decided to show the effect at both 2 and 3 coats. It’s a little hard to tell from the photos, but my impressions were that while 2 coats looked good, 3 coats gave a more cushiony appearance. My findings:
- the wide fan brush shape may be ideal for a quick application, but could be an issue for anyone with narrow nail beds
- the texture was gel-like and on the thick side, although showed incredibly high gloss even with the first coat
- the translucent finish gives a beautiful “beach glass” or “stained glass” effect – do not expect it to become opaque
- you definitely need more than one coat, as the first rather pink-hued layer, can appear somewhat patchy
- a 2nd coat smooths & perfects the finish; avoid loading too much polish on the brush as the silicon gives the formula plenty of slip and it could flood into your cuticles/sides of nails, as a result
- 3 coats gave the most pillowy effect – almost synthetic looking!
- made in France
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in sunlight, 2 coats
in sunlight, 3 coats
indoors, 2 coats
indoors, 3 coats
with flash, 2 coats
with flash, 3 coats
Along with the lip and eye shades for summer 2012, Bourjois has also launched ‘Paris Showtime’, a collection of 5 new Limited Edition nail varnishes (CDN $9.99 each), in the ‘So Laque Ultra Shine Nail Enamel’ formula – enriched with vinyl for an impossibly brilliant shine, along with a fixing agent which helps to keep the nails supple and highly chip-resistant for up to 7 days – in the vibrant colour-blocked shades of the season. The following two shades, Jaune Trendy & Lime Catwalk are reviewed in detail below. Please note that no top coat was added to any of the following swatches … none needed! Made in France.
Jaune Trendy
Bourjois ‘So Laque’ #39 Jaune Trendy is a true mustard yellow hue, which manages to be paradoxically both vivid and bearing an aged/dusty look. The medium thick formula was so highly pigmented that it can almost be a 1-coater, although the slight streakiness of the first coat, become 100% opaque by the second. Exceptionally self-levelling upon application, the superior gloss at the finish made adding a top coat basically redundant – a step I rarely skip … this lacquer is THAT glossy! Coats applied: 2
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
Lime Catwalk
Bourjois ‘So Laque’ #38 Lime Catwalk is more of a pistachio/chartreuse shade of green, bearing a medium-thick viscosity, and a slightly sheer formula that nonetheless gave good & solid coverage. The first layer displayed the yellowish undertones in the base, while any evident translucency (more apparent on longer nails) became much more opaque by the second coat. Like ‘Jaune Trendy’, the smooth application and ultra-glossy finish required no extra boosting whatsoever. Coats applied: 2
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
Bleu Néon
Bourjois ‘Contour Clubbing Waterproof Eyeliner’ #46 Bleu Néon (CDN $17.00) an intense cobalt shade bearing a complex shimmer, is part of the permanent range and not part of this limited edition collection, but nonetheless a great counterpoint to these breezier sorbet hues. This eyeliner glides on incredibly smoothly without any pulling of the skin at all, and the highly pigmented colour along with its waterproof formula, makes this a good candidate for use on the waterline. In the look above, I used this pencil to line both the upper lash line (for added depth) and the waterline as well (for more drama), where I noted that it had decent staying power. No issues with removal, considering its waterproof nature. Made in Germany.
in sunlight
indoors
with flash
Final thoughts: Prior to this, the only other items I had tried from Bourjois were a couple of ‘So Laque’ nail lacquers that I found quite amazing, although the selection of products from this ‘Paris Flowers’ collection that I tested here, impressed me even more. The available colours and the excellent pigmentation/application, elevates the quality of these products to that more in line with several department store brands; the lightweight plastic packaging definitely places the range firmly among drugstore brands – although the price point falls somewhere between the two. A fresh and lovely collection just in time to compliment summer’s heat … and well worth discovering its multi-hued bouquet!
The Bourjois ‘Paris Flowers’ collection can be found at Pharmaprix/Shopper’s DrugMart stores across Canada, or feel free to visit the company’s website for more information on their full range of products and/or follow them on twitter/facebook for all their latest news.
*Disclaimer: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration
Dior Vernis #908 Tuxedo (swatches & review)
For Fall 2011, Dior is leading us into a deeper mode, but as only this venerable house can do it: with a kick. Part of their Fall lineup, ‘Tuxedo’ is a rich blue with an almost iridescent shimmer to it, or as Dior describes it “bleu smoking”. Rich, mysterious and intense, this is deep blue done at its most sensual best. All swatches are with Sèche Clear base coat, two coats of lacquer and Dior’s glossy top coat from the Electric Tropics Catwalk Duo (reviewed here).
Sunlight is the perfect medium with which to fully appreciate the beauty of this shade; a cross between royal and navy blue, I love how the shimmer seems to almost jump out at you in the middle, drawing your eye inwards to fully appreciate all the nuances of this hue.
In this closeup photo, it’s even more apparent how the shimmer adds a beautiful depth to the shade, without taking away any of its tonal richness.
Seen in shaded light, ‘Tuxedo’ takes on a new maturity and sophistication, becoming more of an inky blue yet still showing some of its inner fire.
Final thoughts: Something tells me that we are headed towards a deep blue phase and to that end, Dior is definitely leading the pack with ‘Tuxedo’. It has a modern edge to it, but done with an elegant vibe. I found the formula to be slightly on the thick side which made it more challenging to apply, but it still levelled out beautifully on its own. I also noticed that unlike Dior’s crème lacquers, ‘Tuxedo’ seemed to dry to a more satin finish, most probably due to the shimmer, and so it definitely needs a top coat to show its true awesomeness. No matter which way you view this shade, it most definitely is….smoking!
