CHANEL | Eyes Speak Volumes Collection 2016

If the eyes are the window to the soul, then CHANEL is set to help you dress them up in ways that enhance every facet of your personality. As the face of the upcoming Eyes Speak Volume Collection 2016, Kristen Stewart and her captivating orbs could not embody this campaign any better – of course, it helps that it’s CHANEL.

Follow @ommorphia YouTube ♦ Instagram ♦ Facebook ♦ Twitter ♦ Pinterest ♦ Bloglovin’

Kristen Stewart photographed by Mario Testino

Le Stylo Eyeshadow, limited edition (CAN $38.00) | Colour-saturated eyeshadow in a portable retractible-style pencil format. There is an initial cooling effect felt upon application but which quickly dissipates, while the texture starts out as a creamy glide then dries down to a more powdery finish. Displaying excellent pigmentation, these pencils do set quickly; any blending needs to be done soon after application. The slanted end makes lining the lower lashes effortless, although pay attention to maintaining it slightly pointed so as to have this option, as these pencils do tend to round out with use. I’m not sure if the formula has been tweaked since its debut several years ago, but I find that this iteration is smoother, more pigmented, and seems to last longer without creasing – especially when worn over primer, staying true until removed.

N°197 Vert Grisé – an olive/khaki iridescent green
N°157 Beige Doré – a champagne/oyster beige, the strongest metallic finish of the three
N°207 Bleu Nuit – midnight indigo/blue with a smoky purple iridescence

Dimensions de CHANEL N°10 Noir (CAN $41.00) | First shown backstage at the recent runway collections, this new mascara from CHANEL aims to do it all: lengthen, curl, separate and add volume. Created not only with beeswax and paraffin wax but also with a blend of two film-forming agents to coat lashes and set the curl, the formula also contains ‘hydrophobic agents to resist humidity (guaranteeing maximum all-day hold), peptide-rich lupin extract, oligo-elements and vitamins to nourish lashes, as well as a hygroscopic emollient that captures ambient humidity to pamper and reinforce lash beauty‘.

Having been a long-time fan of CHANEL’s Le Volume mascara, I was curious to see how this new version would compare – and I’m happy to say that it has definitely met and exceeded all my expectations. My criteria for mascara are high: I prefer lush volume & length (separation and curl aren’t that high on my list, namely because I already have a pretty good natural curl and I can always separate my lashes if need be with a lash brush), I want my mascara to stay flake and smudge-free throughout the wearing, and it has to be effortless to remove at the end of the day. My shade preference is black – but a deep inky black, none of those weak blackish shades: straight up intense black.

Verdict: this mascara scores high on all counts, giving me exactly what I personally prefer. The formula has just enough ‘wetness’ to make it easy to apply while giving some play time before it sets (my biggest complaint about the Le Volume version is how quickly it dried out). The intuitive brush has row upon row of flexible fibres to not only grip each lash, but coats them all with ease – and I even love the size of the head; big enough to apply product quickly, but not so big you risk poking yourself in the eye. Bonus: no smudging, or flaking.

*Available in 3 shades: Noir, Brun & Cobalt

Brow Powder Duo N°40 Naturel (CAN $60.00) | Available in two versions, Naturel and Brun (which is the darker version, not shown), these are two long-lasting and complimentary brow shades in one compact, that come complete with three well-crafted tools: a mini spoolie to brush hairs into place, a mini tweezer to keep strays at bay, and a mini slanted brush for use with the powders to help fill in & shape brows for a natural-looking effect.

We’ve all seen than expertly executed arched ‘Instagram Brow’ that seems just too, well…perfect (at least for my liking). As they say, brows frame the face and this duo will help to keep brows groomed without looking artificial (can also be worn in conjunction with a brow pencil and/or brow gel, if desired).

There are many things to love about the pieces of the Eyes Speak Volumes Collection, but I think what attracts me the most is the utter wearability of everything, not to mention how useful everything is. The Dimensions mascara has been in constant rotation since its arrival, and I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun I’ve been having playing with & blending these three Stylo Eyeshadows (you can sheer them out for a wash of colour, or ramp up the intensity by layering them for a more metallic effect – so gorgeous!). For my brows, I tend to reach for a pencil over anything else (I can be lazy that way), but taking a couple of extra minutes to fill them in with this Brow Duo has made all the difference in the world – and how adorable are those 3 mini tools? All I need to do now is perfect that smouldering Kristen Stewart gaze (so not happening).