A while back, I had blithely declared this to be the year of “the bronzer”, and when I saw my first glimpses of CHANEL’s upcoming summer 2012 collection with its 2 multi-hued sunny compacts, I was mesmerized — there may or may not have been some fainting involved! Last year’s versions, ‘Bronze Corail’ & ‘Bronze Rosé’ totally wowed me, but this year’s ‘Sable Beige’ & ‘Sable Rose’, literally took my breath away … witness the proof of why below!
Sable Beige (left), Sable Rose (right)
CHANEL has become justifiably reknown for producing not only exceptionally finely-milled face powders, but aesthetically beautiful and yet totally wearable bronzers as well. ‘Sable Beige’ and ‘Sable Rose’, the two limited edition bronzers which form part of this year’s summer 2012 collection, not only perfectly embody this well-deserved reputation, but also happen to be two of the best bronzers I’ve tried thus far. The finish is actually quite unique as well; I experienced absolutely no powder kick-back, but instead noticed a gorgeous luminous glow that was imparted once the bronzers were applied, similar to the finish of CHANEL’s ‘Blush Horizon’ from the spring 2012 collection (previously reviewed here).
The brush that comes with each compact is of excellent quality, with a large enough size that it can be used quite effectively, and while I was able to achieve good results with it alone, I prefer using several of my other brushes instead, depending on the look I wish to achieve. For the lightest application, a natural-bristle fan brush works well, as that will not only pick up just the barest amount of colour, but will give the most delicate dispersal across the face. A larger domed brush deposits stronger amounts of product, effective for a more contoured look, while a large fluffy brush can cover a wider area for a more even-looking, natural “tanned” finish.
NOTE: all of the following swatches are on un-primed, bare skin.
in sunlight: Sable Beige (left), Sable Rose (right)
with flash: Sable Beige (left), Sable Rose (right)
Sable Beige (macro)
Sable Beige (back label)
#907 Sable Beige, the lighter of the two bronzers, bears 7 stripes of colour, varying from camel, tan, and apricot, along with a pale golden hue that is embossed with the CHANEL name. While the stripes are each of a decent enough size, you would be hard pressed to apply them individually, nor are they meant to be worn that way – although I imagine you could always use a narrow brush to apply the gold strategically as a highlighter, if so desired. I prefer to swirl them all together; what you get by this method, is a bronzer hue that has many levels of colour for a truly believable effect, never flat or one-dimensional.
From the two, I would say that ‘Sable Beige’ is THE perfect option for anyone with quite fair to medium-light skin tones, as well as anyone wishing to have just the merest whisper of colour swept along the planes of the face. For darker skin tones, this shade may come off more as a “luminizer” than a bronzer, which may take away from its intended use, but can still work well in that capacity.
TIP: I’ve found that, without exception, all bronzers take a few minutes to “develop”; I suggest that you alway begin with a few light swipes of product, then wait about 5 minutes to judge the effect. The bronzer needs some time to interact with your skin’s natural heat & oils, and it’s only after this that you can tell how much you really applied, or if you need/wish to add more. This way, you won’t over-do it and wind up looking “leathered”!
Sable Beige, in sunlight
Sable Beige, with flash
Bronze Corail (left, Sable Beige (right)
Bronze Rosé (left), Sable Beige (right)
fig. 1 – in sunlight: Bronze Corail (left, Sable Beige (centre), Bronze Rosé (right)
fig. 2 – with flash: Bronze Corail (left), Sable Beige (centre), Bronze Rosé (right)
How ‘Bronze Corail’ and ‘Bronze Rosé’ (figs. 1 & 2), compared to ‘Sable Beige’:
- less variation in colour among the bronzer stripes
- both appear more rose hued, likely due to the larger blush strip in the palette
- a touch more powdery, but still finely milled
- no “glowy” finish
Sable Rose (macro)
Sable Rose (back label)
#917 Sable Rose, the darker of the two bronzers, also bears 7 stripes of colour, but this time in shades of russet, bronze, and deep rose, along with the same golden hue embossed with the CHANEL name. Better suited for medium to darker skin tones, this bronzer can also serve double duty as a blush, especially if you have a light tan going on. Giving a slightly ruddier appearance, you need to apply ‘Sable Rose’ with a touch more care to ensure a more uniform look, but I love how the paler stripes of colour not only keep this from coming across as too muddy, but actually serves to add a nice warmth to your look.
Sable Rose, in sunlight
Sable Rose, with flash
Bronze Corail (left, Sable Rose (right)
Bronze Rosé (left), Sable Rose (right)
fig. 3 – in sunlight: Bronze Corail (left), Sable Rose (centre), Bronze Rosé (right)
fig. 4 – with flash: Bronze Corail (left), Sable Rose (centre), Bronze Rosé (right)
While both ‘Bronze Corail’ and ‘Bronze Rosé’ have the qualities I listed above, in comparison to ‘Sable Rose’, they now appear to lose some of their rosiness and take on a more tanned look (figs. 3 & 4).
Final thoughts: When I first tried ‘Sable Beige’ to complete my look, an interesting thing happened; I couldn’t really see what I had applied. Taking my own advice, I waited – and was rewarded! Once the powder had reacted with my own skin’s body heat & oils, what I was left with, was a gentle café au lait kind of glow. This bronzer works beautifully, especially for during the day, as it’s subtle enough to not stand out, but adds a nice golden touch. ‘Sable Rose’, on the other hand was a lot more visible, and yet did not overpower or come off as “sunburnt” – it managed to give the look of a slightly deeper tan. Both bronzers are easy to wear and without any orange tones, making them suitable for even the fairest of skin tones, although darker skin will probably have a harder time making these work. Overall, I don’t regret picking up either of these beauties, as I find that even among my ever-expanding bronzer collection, they offer something new, and impart a completely unique yet totally believable glow. The two masterpieces in CHANEL’s summer 2012 collection, ‘Sable Beige’ and ‘Sable Rose’ are each a gorgeous tan held in the palm of your hand … and limited edition, so you know what that means: act fast!
20 Responses to CHANEL Summer 2012: Soleil Tan de Chanel in ‘Sable Beige’ and ‘Sable Rose’ (swatches, comparisons & review)