CHANEL: Spring 2012 #85 ‘Grenat’ Stylo Yeux Waterproof (swatches & review)

‘Grenat’, the only eyeliner released with CHANEL’s Spring 2012 collection, is a nicely pigmented true garnet shade, made all the more intense by the addition of subtle shimmer. Perfectly in keeping with the tone of this collection, this is a stunning hue that will compliment all eye colours and its long-lasting formula will ensure it stays put long enough for all to admire!

love that it’s retractible

CHANEL long-lasting eyeliners have garnered quite the reputation for delivering on their promises, and ‘Grenat’ is absolutely no exception to that. Gliding smoothly across the skin, with one swipe you basically reach the desired intensity and I love how it is retractible, making it not only more hygienic, but less prone to accidental breaking (ever find your makeup bag smeared with multi-coloured pencil streaks? I thought so …). While its staying power is quite impressive, I also found it easy to remove at the end of an evening, without needing to resort to major scrubbing.  I personally prefer wearing this shade on either the upper or lower lash lines; for the waterline, you may need to build it up a bit (apply one layer, wait 30 seconds then reapply) in order to benefit from its full impact. This is such a unique shade, that all it really needs just an accompanying coat of mascara for a fresh, spring look.

in sunlight

indoors

with flash

Final thoughts: What I really love about ‘Grenat’, is that its shade is deep enough to apply for a nicely intense effect, yet the texture remains soft enough to smudge, without sacrificing any of its pigmentation. The colour itself is really original as well, straying far from conventional eyeliner shades yet still managing to work well with several colour groups, while the subtle shimmer in the formula, even though it may not be very overt, does seem to add an extra layer of depth to the overall hue. If you’ve been looking for an alternative to your traditional black eyeliner, this is a modern and urban take on that look, yet still in keeping with this lighthearted spring theme.