Clarins Ombre Matte

If you are not into nudes when it comes to eye make up, please look away now because these babies are the quintessential of nudes! 

It is unnecessary for me to make the complete introduction as it has been done many times over by now, so I'll just make a quick rush through of it. 6 smoothing, cream to powder formula nude eyeshadows that Clarins launched with the A/W 2014 "Ladylike" collection, but is going to keep around for their permanent line. WOHOOOOO if you ask me :D 4 of them are really truly matte, while 2 are matte based shimmers if that makes any sense :D

The 6 colors available are:

Nude Beige

Nude Pink

Taupe

Rosewood

Sparkle Grey (shimmer)

Earth (shimmer)

The formula is sort of a cream, soft but not "bouncy" or spongy wet to the touch, that applies to a matte dry finish, with perfect color payoff and zero chalkiness. The colors are amazing, the best of nudes, and Clarins even managed to single out the 6 shades that will suit and flatter all in some combination or another. Packaging is classy and flawless.

The idea here was fingertip application (which the formula does allow given how easy they are to blend with, yes, even a fingertip) and I love that in theory, but not so much in practice. My problem with fingertips in eye shadow pans, or pot in this case, is that no matter how I do it, a part of the eye shadow will start to "shine up" and create a sort of mirror like spot on top of the surface due to the oils naturally found in our skin. Any woman knowing and using cosmetics knows what that looks like and what it does to the product. It is pretty much a sure way to its destruction. Not to mention the possibility of bacteria infestation that can lead to eye infections and once again make sure your product will land in the trash can way sooner than you wanted it to.

So after a week of trying, I decided brushes are the best way to go after all, and have been all the happier for it. This eyeshadow applies like a dream also with a brush (I use a tapered blending brush or a pencil brush depending a bit of course on what I'm trying to achieve) and it never takes more than a few short minutes to complete my eye look. My favorite thing to do is a simple quick wash, including also the lower outer corner of my eyes, and line my eyes a bit, both upper and lower lash line with the same color so to make it deeper (L'Oreals Gelmatic liner in Grey Taupe is perfect with Rosewood but more about that in a different posting) and give a bit of a frame. A real simple way of emphasizing eyes, that becomes even easier and of effect with this awesome eye shadow. Most effect with the least effort :)

Is there any fallout (during application)? Yes there is, a little. But given to the nature (matte) and nude colors of these, it is super easy to simply swipe off and not even think twice about it. Are they really long lasting? On normal eyelids most definitely, on my oil slick hooded lids, well, almost! The good thing is that even when they start to give in, they do so with grace. It simply soaks through, perhaps creases a little but it really is not noticeable unless someone looks at my eyes from close up. It actually manages to somehow melt in with my skin, still giving me a soft nude eye look, this time around more matte closest to the lash line, and just stay like that until I remove my eye makeup in the evening. The color does not vanish and fade away, there is no caking or migrating. As mentioned perhaps a tad bit of creasing, depending on the amount of eye shadow I put, but nothing really ghastly. And the color is so forgiving. I find the performance really impressive! I guess the mattifying bamboo powder in it really does its job, even if my messy lids are too much of a challenge for it. Still, I feel there is nothing to complain about here as with a better canvas, this shadow would give perfect performance.

I am currently also experimenting with the eye shadow base Clarins launched with the Ladylike collection, so let me update you about that and the shadow's performance with it a bit later. In any case my favorite thing to do is to pretty much limit the eye make up I put to the mobile part of my eyelids, avoiding any "spillover" beyond my crease. This way I override the oily hooded lids caused problems, and keep things simple enough under my glasses. I believe eye make up should in no case compete with your frames for the sake of tastefulness.

So would I recommend these? Most definitely! I think the formula is superb, and the Rosewood I own (a brownish taupe with just the right amount of rosiness in it to make it THE color for green eyes) gives me a lot of satisfaction (not to mention awesome eye makeup!) for its money. At this moment there is nothing out there to beat these and it has become an instant favorite of mine (of course it all depends on personal taste and what you are looking for in your eye shadows). For about 18 Euros (which is what I paid), you get a big pot containing 7 grams of Clarins quality nude elegance! If you consider the amount and quality of product that price is excellent, and let's not forget what a nude it is. *_*

Yes, this is a definite winner by my standards, and I think you simply cannot go wrong with it, especially if you have green eyes, or even hazel with green flecks.

   

   

Why Chanel Le Vernis is My Favorite Range of Nail Polish

I have bought and used a lot, and I mean a lot of different kinds and brands of nail polish during the years. Low end and high, dark colors, pales and nudes, cream, shimmer, pearl and even slightly metallic. I have done them all.

Some where good or at least decent, others plain bad or just not what I was looking for. There is one however, that has not let me down, one that I think is the best nail polish in the world. Formulation, colors, packaging, brush and all. And that one, the one, is Chanel Le Vernis.

Yes, this is not a cheap bottle of polish, but I am by no means a collector (own only 2)  nor am I devoted to fancy pants brands exclusively. But this range has worked for me like nothing else and therefore I intend to stick to it, at least until my wallet lets me.

So what makes this particular nail polish so great? Well a number of things.

1. The formula. Super easy to apply, bordering on fool proof. The cream finishes are somewhat thicker and can create slight streaks on a first coat, but a second coat takes care of this without any effort. The shimmer/pearl finishes are thinner and apply flawlessly even with your eyes closed (slight exaggeration but you get it ;)). Depending on your taste you might apply a second coat when it comes to pearls for full opacity, but in case you like it slightly transparent like myself, one coat is more than sufficient. No streaks here. Creams do require a second coat I find, but I think that is pretty normal. I have never found the "one coat is all it takes" promise to be entirely truthful, no matter what brand we are talking about. It dries fully in an instant, especially the shimmer/pearl finishes, and is GLOSSY. Well actually the cream formula is glossy, whereas the shimmer/pearl formula becomes a sort of "satiny glow". I quite like this finish. It is not that WOW your nails are shiny! effect, but looks very elegant and natural. The creams really dry to a high gloss though. The formula is also 4 free (toulene, DBP, formaldehyde and camphor) and enriched with bioceramids which, as also Chanel claims on their website, makes them a care and color product.
2. The bottle and brush. Let us not even mention the oozing elegance of the entire packaging, starting with the black glossy paper box in true Chanel style. That one is a given. I mean this is the nail polish you put on display just because it looks like a luxury accessory (and it sort of is). But then there is the ergonomic top with easy grip sides, the bottle neck that helps flow control and the brush that is although unlike most of todays wide and flat pro-brushes, works like a charm.
3. The colors. Chanel sets the bar every single year with its limited edition seasonal collection for nail polishes, and boy do they set the bar high. Dupes on dupes appear shortly thereafter, but none are quite like the original. And then I have not even mentioned the core collection, with the "regular" colors. Luckily each year a few of the limited editions find their way into the permanent collection, and therefore fans do not need to covet every single bottle they can get their hands on for a limited time only. In worse case scenario there are always the core colors, which are not bad either. Not at all! Chanel does have the best color selection, and I think they can take on any challenge.
4. Durability. On me one week easy, after which it starts to chip off slightly, but one week is more than decent in my opinion. I keep my nails short, and prefer light to mid tone colors so I cannot say anything about dark vampy shades, but I do not even need a base coat under these. They go on perfectly, stay put and cause absolutely no damage to my nails. I just reapply weekly, usually with my weekly manicure session (cuticles, trimming, shaping and some manual "shining"... I think well kept nails are one of the most essential things an woman needs to have) and I am good for another week. Sure, I do not use my nails as tools, and I do the dishes strictly in gloves (mainly for my skin), so I cannot vouch for durability on you long nailed gals who use their nails "inappropriately" ;)

And that concludes it I think. Have I left out anything? I do not think so, but anyway, to me CHANEL LE VERNIS is unbeatable. I do not even look at other polishes anymore, I am that happy with what I have chosen. Although I do not use one on a regular basis, I am playing with the idea of getting their top coat. It is always good to have a top coat at hand for different nail emergencies, and I can only imagine what level of shine it must deliver... I just might give in to that temptation ;)

I leave you with the image of Atmosphère, a limited edition color from the A/W 2014 collection and my current favorite. I sure hope this one gets to be permanent!

Have you tested this range? What is your favorite nail polish?