CHANEL is continuing to expand their Les Beiges range, and I personally couldn’t be happier since it ranks as one of my faves from the brand. The latest launches, the Water-Fresh Complexion Touch and the Water-Fresh Blushes, recently came in and I literally dove into them right away. As in, IMMEDIATELY … that’s how excited I was.
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Gorgeous, glowing skin: all models wearing these new CHANEL Les Beiges products
Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Touch (CAN $85.00/each) | In 2019, CHANEL basically revolutionized the ‘barely-there’ foundation industry with the release of the Water-Fresh Tint (all shades reviewed here), and not only did this product sell out faster than you could blink, but counters had a hard time even keeping it stocked — and still do to this day. For me personally, this continues to be my go-to complexion product, as I prefer a sheer-light finish for daily makeup (I only reach for something with more coverage for special event makeup, ie: weddings). So when the Water-Fresh Complexion Touch was launched, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a 2.0 version of the Tint, or even if CHANEL was planning on discontinuing the Tint entirely (to my knowledge, they’re not). Touted as a concealer, the Water-Fresh Complexion Touch sports the same water-based formula that contains micro-droplet pigments first developed for the Water-Fresh Tint, but as the pigmentation level here has been upped, this product is almost a hybrid foundation/concealer and can be used either all over the face, or strategically placed — basically eliminating the need for using two separate products, great for people like me who can be lazy like that and the fact that I basically never use concealer and have always relied on foundation for the job.
This microfluidic technology has opened the door for a new generation of cosmetics, and all in a lightweight formula that is incredibly comfortable to wear, while also delivering skincare-like benefits to the skin, thanks to the aqueous phase the pigment droplets are suspended in. To use, it’s best to pump it out onto the back of the hand, blend it out and then apply to the face. Each bottle of Water-Fresh Complexion Touch comes with its own small tapered dome-shaped brush with dense yet very smooth/soft bristles (the original Water-Fresh Tint comes with a brush as well, a chiselled mini dense foundation brush), so naturally I wanted to test it out with that. The brush may be small, but I was actually surprised to see that it not only works great as a concealer brush (the tapered end does an excellent job of getting into tight areas, such as around the nose and inner eye corner) but is also able to be used for the entire face, although it will take a bit longer than a brush with a larger head. Still, it’s good to know that you only need to pack this one brush for both jobs. Personally, I will continue to use my regular CHANEL bevelled foundation brush for application and ease of use. The finish is somewhat dewy, but not greasy-looking, and gives your skin a gorgeous healthy-looking glow while also serving to even out the tone at the same time. The coverage is definitely a bit more than the Water-Fresh Tint — but not by much initially, although you can layer the Water-Fresh Complexion Touch for more opacity if needed. My first test of both this and the Water-Fresh Blush was on an incredibly hot & humid day where I went to play tennis and I was actually really surprised to see that both products held up; I was totally not expecting something so lightweight to hold its own against conditions like that, but I’m definitely impressed. Both shades that I received are excellent matches for my skin tone, with B40 the one I will wear for when I have a light tan like now, and B30 better suited for when my complexion is paler.
Available in 8 shades
- B30 – light medium, neutral undertone
- B40 – medium, neutral undertone
Top photo: 1 pump of each shade, bottom photo: lightly blended out
Apart from the nature of the formula, the other commonalities between the Water-Fresh Tint and Water-Fresh Complexion Touch are that both are lightweight, even out skin tone, and come with a brush. The differences are subtle but still notable: the Water-Fresh Complexion Touch definitely shows more pigmentation (again, not by much but still noticeable) and appears to last a bit longer as well — probably due to said pigmentation. I chose the Medium Light shade of the Tint to use as comparison thinking that it would bridge the gap between both B30 and B40, and as the swatch below shows, it’s close.
Les Beiges Water-Fresh Blush (CAN $70.00/each) | Housed in the same rectangular bottle as the original Water-Fresh Tint, these blushes are created with the same micro-droplet technology. The gel formula is enriched with tamarind seed extract, a “naturally derived active ingredient that helps regulate the skin’s moisture balance for a healthy glow” — all true, as my testing proved. For application, it’s best to first pump product out on the back of the hand where you can mix it using either your fingers or a brush, before applying it to the skin — to ensure the components are all properly combined (the swatches below show how different the product appears when first dispensed and thoroughly combined). I began by testing the shades out using my fingers for application and while that definitely works, the finish wasn’t as seamless as I can get it by using a brush. That said, a brush can also absorb too much of the product so I found a happy medium: I first mix the blush and apply it using my fingers, then smooth out any edges with a brush. BOOM.
What I wasn’t expecting is how saturated this product is, so a little — and I mean tiny — amount really goes a long way, so technically each bottle should last a long time. Another interesting feature was that while the product doesn’t fully dry down, neither is it tacky, yet somehow manages to last beautifully without significant fading. More of that CHANEL sorcery in action, I guess. As with the Water-Fresh Complexion Touch, both Water-Fresh Blush shades I received are bang-on perfect for my skin tone and definitely the shades I would have selected myself. That said, I’m also going to head to my nearest counter to try out the rest, because after playing around with these, I now want them all.
Available in 6 shades
- Warm Pink – soft rose, warm undertone
- Intense Coral – coral/pink, warm undertone
If you’re a fan of that coveted natural look the French like to call ‘bonne mine‘, then you will 100% have to check out both of these products. I have always wondered how my skin manages to look so even and naturally glowy (but never oily) with CHANEL’s original Water-Fresh Tint, and that amazement continues with both the Water-Fresh Complexion Touch and Water-Fresh Blush. The edge that these new launches have, is that they both offer slightly more pigmentation and staying power, while still maintaining their lightness. In my honest opinion, both are bonafide wins and I cannot wait to see what else the brands creates with this technology (because I’m definitely already sold).
Available at CHANEL counters & online
Kindly provided by CHANEL for my unbiased consideration
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