Oh, Chanel Zest Inimitable Mascara, you fabulous, adorable weirdo… Why on earth would anyone want to wear yellowish orange mascara, I mean, unless they had a coffee date with a handsome actor/spaceship captain at a comic book convention?
It’s just so…strange, and not at all what I imagine emerging from the sacred, hallowed halls of La Maison de Chanel, where I picture everyone wearing tweed jacket uniforms and strands of pearls, and stilettos click and clack down dystopian halls.
And yet here it is — Zest.
Waterproof, and designed for volume, length, curl and lash separation, Zest only looks like a blinking yellow streetlight. It’s actually one of four kooky, colorful limited edition Inimitable mascaras in the new L’Été Papillon de Chanel summer collection on counters now.
I look at Zest and think that someone in Chanel’s eye makeup department went bat sh*t cray! — but in the best possible way. Like, Karl locked up all the creatives in a room with some hella good vino and The Hunger Games looping on a big screen TV and wouldn’t let them out until they came up with something totally weird, crazy and cool that still captured the Chanel vibe.
See the lower lash line? That’s the most wearable (uh…) way I’ve found to rock these Inimitables.
But also, just for fun with Zest, and because I derive great pleasure from freaking out my neighbors, I like to apply a ton of it on both my upper and lower lashes, so that I look like some kind of forest creature/spirit bee with copious amounts of pollen on my fringe.
It’s an oddly enchanting look, and it’s growing on me the more that I wear it. Of course, I dressed up like a vampire for the last housing association meeting, sooooooo…
Zest probably wouldn’t be something I’d wear to an important meeting, and it’s pretty expensive for a product that would see limited use. In terms of practicality, it’s definitely no Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick, but it’s just so wonderfully weird!
If you’re into unusual, Zest and the other Inimitables could spice up your lash life. They might not be conventional (much like Illamasqua’s green lip gloss), but I think they still have their place.
I have a feeling L’Été Papillon de Chanel will be one of those collections Chanel fans talk about for years.
PRICE: $30
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Chanel counters and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Vampire Eric’s little bro
Good mornin’ and happy Tuesday. 🙂
So, werewolves and vampires. Have you seen Hemlock Grove on Netflix yet?
It’s one of their new original programs like House of Cards.
It about a Pennsylvania town called Hemlock Grove and a few of its teenage residents, at least one of which we know is a werewolf, and the other is an immature half-vampire (as in, he doesn’t yet know what he is), a mysterious scientific research facility, and a sudden killing spree.
I’m about halfway through the first season so far, and I like the premise, but it is a little slow…
I didn’t know this, though: the kid who plays the half-vampire, Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd, is Alexander SkarsgÃ¥rd’s brother, aka Vampire Eric from True Blood.
And both of those young men are Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd’s sons. Stellan played the MIT math professor in Good Will Hunting.
I know, right!? 🙂 That’s A LOT of SkarsgÃ¥rds. I feel so ready for Final Jeopardy now.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Denise S. says
I love the idea of colored mascara, especially purple but don’t like how it looks on me. For one thing it makes my kinda short lashes look even shorter and more sparse. I brought blue and green mascara before with high hopes only to be disappointed. Wouldn’t spent a lot on these type of mascaras not something you can wear much.
Karen says
Hi Denise,
Have you tried layering your mascaras on top of a black mascara? That way you can still get the length and thickness with the color.
Danielle says
This is pretty unique & I kind of like it. It makes me want to have lunch at a health food restaurant (in a good way haha).
Karen says
How funny, Danielle! 🙂
Eli says
It looks like your lashes have been sprinkled with flower powder – and like it!
Karen says
Yes! Pollen lashes FTW!
Monica P says
Well, yellow is certainly an interesting color for mascara ..think I’ll pass though 😛
Monica.
Karen says
It’s kind nuts, LOL!
Eleanor says
I loved Hemlock Grove. It was lots of fun. And the youngest SkarsgÃ¥rd is a cutie. He did a terrific job. Landon Liboiron did a good job too. It’s fun to watch these young guys come up through the ranks. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Eleanor,
Did you watch the entire series?
gio says
So fun and unusual! Love it!
Karen says
Yes!
Heidi says
Okay, when I saw the picture I assumed that was the color of the BRUSH, not the mascara!
I could only see this working if you pile on the thick black eyeliner so that mascara isn’t really the thing defining your eyes, and then pop this on as an accent….. maybe….
Karen says
Hi Heidi,
It’s crazy stuff!
So, has Missy discovered the new birdbath yet?
Heidi says
She’s definitely enjoying watching all the birds that gather there now. On Sunday I got home and she was so wrapped up in looking outside that she didn’t notice my arrival. I ended up startling her when she finally realized I was home!
Karen says
Yay for free cat entertainment. Does she cack-cack-cack when she sees them? Tabs goes CRAZY when he watches birds.
Heidi says
She usually mimics the sound of whatever bird she’s watching (yes, I know she’s weird). She does that sound for blue jays and other big birds, she chirps at little birds, and she coos at the doves. Very entertaining!
Karen says
How sweet! She’s like the Mariah Carey of kitty divas with her wide vocal range, LOL!
Tabs and I just came back in from a quick break on the deck. He loves eating his fresh catnip plant and basking in the sun.
Chelsea says
I love colored mascara, but not yellow…
I watched the first episode of Hemlock Grove, and thought it was a snoozefest. Hopefully it gets better?
Karen says
Hey Chelsea,
I’m about eight (?) episodes in, and it just keeps meandering slowly. I need resolution, dagnabbit!
How did your in-person interview last Thursday go?
Chelsea says
I didn’t get the job 🙁 Hopefully something else comes up!
Karen says
Yes! And hopefully you’ll find another internship that you love even more and that will open up many doors. Have you started looking for other opportunities?
Chelsea says
I’ve applied at several ad agencies, marketing agencies, market research companies, etc, in the area – in SE Michigan there are quite a few of these, since Detroit is home to the Big Three (IE, Chrysler, Ford, GM). I’ve applied to work at both Ford and GM, as well as at Google (they have an office a few blocks down from where my fiance works – I took a group there for a field trip once. I have friends who dislike(d) working there though, so I’m not sure.).
I also just found out that the office I work in at the Uni says they can hire me part-time as a student worker through the end of June, so that makes my search less desperate, yay!
Karen says
Hmm, when friends say that they don’t enjoy working at a place it’s usually a red flag. I had a gig once a long time ago where a friend of mine warned me beforehand, and maaaaan, she was right! I really should’ve listend. Hopefully you’ll hear some good news soon though! And that’s great that you’ll be able to work your office job if you need to. It’s nice to get that breathing room, I bet.
Tennyoceres says
I totally made grabby hands for this mascara. Chanel doing wacky colors? Yeah totally. My eyelashes looked like it was covered in pollen. Maybe not for an everyday look. This is tons of fun to walk around with, though.
Karen says
Yes! Pollen lashes!
Jay @ Wayfaring Beauty says
Zest is certainly unique! And I definitely wouldn’t have expected it out of Chanel. It’s a quirky cool look, but I don’t think I’d wear it.
Karen says
Hi Jay,
I know, right? It’s so unexpected. Leave it to Chanel to keep you on your toes!
Charisma says
I’m adamant to give yellow a try! I dunno if I can pull it off.
Karen says
You can do it, Charisma!
Sasha says
Haha, about halfway through the season of Hemlock Grove and I was just saying the other night that he looks like a younger version of Eric, turns out I was right >.>
I’m definitely not as big of a fan of his acting as his brother’s but perhaps that will come with age and experience.
Karen says
Hi Sasha,
Good eye! Apparently there’s another brother?! Who knew there were so many of ’em. 🙂
inaya says
hey karen! what are you using on your skin? looks GORGEOUS and natural
Karen says
Hi Inaya,
Thank you! I’m wearing Bobbi Brown’s Foundation Stick in Honey and MAC Careblends Pressed Powder.
Olivia says
Looks so cool!
Karen says
Hi Olive,
Very cool!
Katherine G says
Love this! Especially since yellow is my fave color (I have yellow shadow and liner from MUFE). I think when I look at makeup for my wedding as a treat for myself I will pick this up for something fun (for after the wedding or just to dress up jeans and a tee).
Karen says
Hi Katherine,
Ooh, when are you going wedding makeup shopping? I wish I could come!
Julia Alkaseltzer says
I love colored mascara! My sister’s favorite color is yellow so she would take that yellow mascara in a heartbeat. I also love that it is called Zest. The mascara kinda reminds me of lemon zest on your lashes. Weird, I know, but wonderfully so!
Karen says
Hi Julia,
Yes it does! Mmm, now I want to eat something lemony and zesty! 🙂
Is it just you and your sister, or do you have any other siblings? I have a younger brother (I’m the oldest). We also have a younger “sister” — aka, my dad’s dog, Shauna.
Petra says
Cray mascara – I have tried green and blue before but yellow? :/
There is yet another acting SkarsgÃ¥rd brother. Gustav – he is in the history channels “Vikings”
Karen says
Hi Petra,
Holy crap! Seriously, that’s a LOT of SkarsgÃ¥rds. I’ve seen previews of that show, but have yet to watch it. Is it any good?
Petra says
Yeah I know!!
I saw two episodes and it was a bit intresting, not awesome (at least not after 2 episodes) but interesting. I would see a few more but right now the time for watching tv is, let’s just call it, limited..
It’s worth a try 🙂
Tami says
Karen, I’m pretty sure you’ve gone bat sh*t cray! No way… Not wearing orange mascara. Not doing it I don’t care if there are double “C’s” on that wand! I cannot think of any setting that it would be appropriate besides a dark warehouse and involving a Rave… Do they even still have those?! And if they do no one attending could possibly have anything Chanel on. You of course could almost make me like anything and look great with orange lashes… in a hot space alien kinda way.
Carry on… 😉
Karen says
Hi Tami,
Hot space alien is always good (well, at least if you’re at Comic Con!).
Kim says
Karen, “…forest creature/spirit bee with copious amounts of pollen on my fringe.” is most likely the best line I will read this month. Totally captured the look and the mood! 🙂 I actually think this is pretty cool on you. Yeah, it’s a little out there but so is bright eyeliner and shadow, in my opinion. Why should bright mascara be shunned by the color lovers? I say rock it, sistah!
Lulle says
I’m all for inventive makeup but really, no. It looks like your lashes are covered in pollen and it makes me want to sneeze!