Chanel Ombres Tissées Iridescent Effects Eyes in Beiges from Aquarelles de Chanel Collection

After much anticipation, I got my hands on a couple of pieces from Chanel's Aquarelles de Chanel Collection, which arrived at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria today. Chanel Ombres Tissées Iridescent Effects Eyes in Beiges ($75) was on my wish list, so I took a few photos of the compact in the store and then started swatching.

The highlighting powder shades in the compact are very light. On top of that, it's very dark outside because it has rained on and off all day. I couldn't get decent swatch photos in the store, but I got "as good as it gets" when I got home.

To show you that you can use all three shades blended as a facial highlighter, I applied the powder with a sponge-tipped applicator and ran the applicator across all three shades in the compact, light beige, gold, and pink. You will see that this powder isn't much darker, when blended, than my fair skin tone.

The shades apply with a lot of sparkle. I am not sure yet whether that sparkle will disappear once the top layer of the compact is worn off. Early indications (from use) is that it is an overspray and that the sparkles may thin out or disappear over time. When I used the powder for the first time, swiping across it with a sponge and brush in the store, I had powder particles flying everywhere. It settled down a bit after I wore through part of the top layer.

Then I swatched the colors individually. They are all highlighting shades with very subtle color. I'm not sure that I could get great swatch photos on a sunny day. On my arm at right, the light beige shade is shown at the top, the gold in the middle, and the pink at the bottom. They will all light up your look, but without imparting a lot of color. I'm sorry for the grey tones of my photos that resulted from the heavy cloud cover. It was the best I could do today, and I knew you wanted to see the collection's centerpiece. I'll update this feature tomorrow if I can get better photos in sunshine.

How will Ombres Tissées Iridescent Effects Eyes in Beiges look on your skin and eyelids? If you have fair skin, as I do, the shade(s) will give you an iridescent glow. As skin tones darken (from mine), I believe Ombres Tissées in Beiges will offer a more obvious highlighting effect and possibly more color. No testers arrived, and the store does not expect to receive them with this collection, so you'll have to buy on faith.

Ombres Tissées in Beiges was billed as a pink-peach highlighter created for Chanel's Spring/Summer 2011 Haute Couture Show. Peter Philips created several new, limited-edition pieces and reached back into Chanel's beautiful line for others. The collection arrived at the store, with this compact named Iridescent Effects Eyes. I think it's a multipurpose product, although I do worry about little sparkles falling in my eyes if I use the shades as highlighting eye shadows.

In addition to this compact, the store received the two Joues Contraste blushes (Pink Cloud and Rose Pétale), Rouge Coco Shine in the Royallieu, and Ombre Essentielle in Gris Exquis. I can't tell you whether Les Vernis in Tendress arrived. We lost track of it in the excitement of the makeup!

Update 8/4: As I expected, my swatch photo in sun wasn't much better. This morning, the sun has flirted with us, making a few quick appearances. I applied each shade extremely heavily with a sponge-tipped applicator to try to show you the colors. This is the result.

Photos (such as they are) by Best Things in Beauty

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M·A·C Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer

I'm always game for trying a new eye primer, so when I saw recently that M·A·C had introduced Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer ($30), I wanted to try it. I'm glad I purchased it!

Called an instant eye prep, "this quick fix reduces the look of puffy eyes and under-eye shadows while imparting a bright natural radiance to the entire eye area." The company says it perfectly primes the eye for makeup. M·A·C says that if you use it regularly, you will see those instant benefits become more permanent. Sounds great, right?

I haven't used it long enough to tell you whether it reduces puffiness or permanently reduces shadows - that's a tall order. It does have caffeine in it, which is a diuretic and will help reduce puffiness, but the effects are transient. What I can tell you is that it has a host of great ingredients, and I love the effect it provides.

The pump dispenser is very convenient, and it's easy to use. Unlike other pumps, this one is fairly easy to control, so you can dispense only what you need, without wasting product. The texture is a lightweight cream that blends like a dream. It has a slight pink tint when you look at it in a tiny drop in your palm, but that blends into a neutral, almost transparent white shade in the palm (should you decide to blend it there, which you would do only out of curiosity). On my skin, it disappears - except for the beautiful radiance it leaves behind.

I've used it under my eyes, on my lids, and up to my brows. It is easy on the skin, meaning I don't feel it at all. It is a lovely base for my normal primer, corrector, concealer, or a shadow. It adheres to the skin well and prevents creasing of cream products applied over it. It also provides a great base for powder products. That's what we expect from great primers.

The ingredient list is a who's who of skin care, including dimethicone, shea butter, sodium hyaluronate, algae extract, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, chamomile, peptides, and many other beneficial ingredients. It is very moisturizing without leaving any kind of oil slick on the lids - which is impressive. It does have the humectant butylene glycol in it. Butylene glycol does irritate some skin, particularly around the eyes, but my sensitive skin has been unaffected.

The radiance it provides is the most exciting feature of Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer. It adds a glow, which is amazing since it disappears into the skin. I am excited about my new primer. I also purchased the new Prep + Prime Highligher. I'll tell you about it soon.

You can find Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer at M·A·C's Web site or M·A·C counters everywhere. Have you tried it?

Photo courtesy of M·A·C

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