Chanel's Got The Blues

Here are the new Chanel nail shades for Spring. A feast of blues designed by Peter Phillips as an homage to denim. In essence he is celebrating our eternal love affair with our jeans be they indigo skinnies, faded boyfriend baggies or turquoise crops. I'll be wearing Blue Boy, what do you think? Are they potential wait-list shades? Are you feeling the love?

(they launch in March)

Highlight at Chanel

This pretty compact is part of Chanel's Christmas lineup. Yes, that is the first mention of the C word on Ellie Loves but I can't hold back any longer - there are so many lovely things arriving in my letter box to try, so I have to share with you!( I'm going to tag the really lovely things in a 'gift guide' link so perhaps as the time draws nearer you can direct your significant others to that section on the blog and tell them to take their pick!)
Anyway, back to this sublime powder. It is a highlighting powder - you've seen many before now but this really stands out firstly for it's sheer gorgeousness; I almost didn't want to touch it for fear of ruining the design. But touch it I did. And was I glad! It imparts a very subtle highlight to the skin. The shade is perfectly judged - not too sheeny, not at all glittery, just right. The accompanying brush is fine to use; it has real hair so therefore picks up the powder properly and distributes it evenly and lightly over the skin.
In the day, just add a small bit to the top of the cheekbones for a subtle glow but at night, you can go hell for leather; add it to the bridge of the nose, the cupids bow, under the eyebrows. You can even dust it lightly all over the entire face for luminous loveliness.

Sea Shells & Pearls At Chanel SS 12

Feast your eyes on this beautiful collection from Chanel for Spring Summer 2012. I love the  main trio of colours - blush pink, white and black.

Classic Chanel...

Beautiful Blush...

So elegant...

I like the high collar...

What a pretty idea...

 Let's talk about the beauty look that Peter Phillips created for the show. He used the new Vitalumiere Hydra Compact on the skin (out in Spring), he adorned the eyes with the excellent Illusion D'ombre shadows in Fantasme and Emerveille and lined them on the top lid only with black kohl.

I like this version of a frou frou skirt with jacket...

 Pearly shell bag! So sweet!

Love this look...

A nod to the everlasting Chanel nautical theme...

On the cheeks, Phillips used a soft peachy pink, Blush Horizon De Chanel (out in Spring) and on the lips, he used the Rouge Coco Baume and soft lip shade, Plaisir, also due out in Spring. I really like the natural effect..it's so pretty.

A line of pearls down the spine...

More pearlised shell bags!

 I adore this dress...

Blush pink layering with shorts. Yes Please!

(pics from Style.com )

Chanel Pro Lumiere - Tried & Tested

Like most ladies I am a sucker for the intertwined C's, but I must admit to only getting into their makeup line relatively recently. My gateway products were the nail polishes and lipsticks and when I tried the superb Vitalumiere Aqua earlier this year I was pretty much hooked on this classic brand's beauty offerings. Having makeup artist Peter Phillips at the helm got me really interested too as I love his style of makeup.
So of late I have been using the rather marvellous Pro Lumiere on lots of my clients and it is a really lovely foundation. I have been using the Luminous Silk foundation by Armani since it launched for occasions such as weddings for it's great staying power and soft finish but it never really sits that well on a more dehydrated skin and that's where Pro Lumiere comes in. It has a wonderful texture that feels almost nourishing but not too oily/greasy. Not at all. It glides on to the skin when applied with a foundation brush and has a medium coverage that lasts for the entire day. The key is to use less of it than you may think as a little goes a very long way. If you overload this product on to the skin, you won't like it. Pump out a blob the size of your little finger nail (provided your nail is regular length!) and that should be enough. It sits very well over primers and with a slight dusting of a sheer powder (not full coverage) it looks beautiful. Bear in mind that as with a lot of the French brands their pale shades are not as pale as some Celtic Skins so try the colour on your skin and leave it to settle before you buy it.

Chanel Nail It

Feast your eyes my friends...here are the Autumn/Winter '11 nail colours from Chanel. From left to right they are Graphite, Peridot and Quartz. I haven't tried them yet but judging by swatches I've seen they look like a little bit of metallic heaven. Peridot in particular seems very interesting, with it's greeny, gold shimmer. My nails are beside themselves with excitement!

Luscious Lashes

I am not normally one for primers and the like, I feel that they are an extra step that is slightly unnecessary. Now don't get me wrong; I'm not writing off the entire primer section of the makeup world - I just think they have to be extremely good to make it into my makeup kit, both personal and professional. So you can imagine my views on lash primers, yes, sceptical to say the least!
So I was sent the DiorShow Maximiser Lash serum to try and I thought I'd better give it  a go in the name of fairness. I was quite surprised, I really do think it's making a difference. My lashes appear fuller and they are definitely more glossy. I suppose they are more conditioned and I'm not sure if it is just because they are in their 'good' phase before they naturally thin a little and shed as part of their natural cycle of growth, but they look good whatever is going on.
I'm applying the serum and allowing it to dry for a few seconds before I use mascara. I'm currently trialling the new Chanel Sublime mascara and they are good bedfellows...my lashes look damn good if I may say so myself!

My New Base

A while back I told you that I was beginning to trial Chanel's latest foundation, Vitalumiere Aqua. Well it's time to update you... I am sold. Hook, line and sinker!
Originally I had shade 02 which was not right for me so I abandoned my testing and carried on with another brand. However this week I got my proper shade (01) and it's a whole different situation on my face. The colour is perfect, it's texture smooth and silky, the light to medium coverage lasts all day and retains it's glow without becoming oily as the hours pass.
It is a fantastic foundation for (hopefully) warmer days that are on the way and my favourite new base. I will be buying every shade for my makeup kit and applying it to brides a-plenty this season!

On the topic of things Chanel, have a look at the new section on their site  Beauty Confidential for some fantastic makeup tips from one of my personal makeup gurus, Lisa Eldridge and other fab things.

Enjoy!

Chanel Lightens Up

There's a new kid on the foundation block and it's name is Vitalumiere Aqua by Chanel. I've been quite excited to try it as I like everything it claims to do. Claims. There's a word that is important to take note of whilst considering products. They promise the sun, moon and stars for sure, but how do they fare on the face? Chanel say it's 'a new generation texture, an unprecedented sensory experience' Doesn't that sound nice!

Only time will tell.... So I have started testing this latest offering from Chanel's makeup maestro, Peter Philips. So far, I like it. The coverage it provides is fairly light, it claims to be like a second skin but in all honesty, we've heard this before from lot's of other companies, with some failing and some succeeding in bringing us this mythical glowy, baby-like complexion we all crave. Or are told we crave by the cosmetic houses. But the truth is, sometimes we crave decent pigment and good coverage for our not-so hot days when we want to hide. My initial sense is that Vitalumiere Aqua may be best on combination skins which mine isn't, so as I'm not fully sure that this foundation should join the ranks of my uber second-skin product, MAC Face & Body quite yet, I will wear it for a while longer and see how I get on.

I will report back to you like the willing makeup guinea pig that I am and in the meantime, this product is being widely sampled in all the glossy mags at the moment too, so why not try it for yourself and tell me how you get on...

A Darker Shade of Pearl

Black Pearl. It sounds so opulent and luxurious....and indeed it is. This is Chanel's latest nail polish that will hit counters on the 28th of January. It is a glossy, glamorous pewter tone with just the right amount of shimmer that will take you in to the Spring months with ease. Not too dark, not too light; it is a transitional beauty. Run, don't walk to counters, this will sell out!