Product Reviews

Damn ye, makeup gods.

Why did you have to make me fall in love with the Chanel Garden Party quad?

I mean, despite the fact that it’s got:
– Sexy sleek black packaging
– Finely milled shadows
– Sophisticated shimmer that creates a soft-focus lens effect
– Buildable color that’s highly pigmented and incredibly user friendly
– Two gorgeous green shadows that are to die for

…it still frickin’ costs an arm and a leg! That’s fifty-five big ones, sans tax. Holy effin’ crap, Batman!

I’ve been dying to get the Garden Party shadow quad for a few weeks now, so yesterday’s national artist event at my local Macy’s was the perfect excuse to go.

The makeover included:

Skincare

Le Lait Cleanser, Nourishing cleansing milk for face and eyes
Activateur Hydration, Gentle Hydrating Lotion
Beaute Initiale, Energizing Multi-Protection Concentrate (this is a serum)
Beaute Initiale, Energizing Multi-Protection Eye Cream SPF 15
Beaute Initiale, Energizing Multi-Protection Fluid Healthy Glow SPF

Makeup

Face —
Medium Deep Pro Lumiere Concealer ($38.00)
Soft Honey Teint Innocence Foundation ($42.50)

Eyes –
Garden Party Quad ($55.00)
Soft Brown Precision Brow Definer ($28.00)

Cheeks —
Orchid Rose Jouse Contraste Powder Blush ($40.00)

Lips —
Nude Le Cray Levres Precision Lip Definer ($28.00)
Equinox Glossimer Gloss ($25.00)

Standout Products that I Might Come Back to Purchase

As far as I can tell all of the skincare used in the session was very gentle, non-perfumey, and didn’t break me out. I may someday purchase the cleansing milk and the serum, which were the stand-out products because they felt very moisturizing.

In addition to the Garden Party quad, I liked the Teint Innocence foundation, which is a light, liquid foundation that has a soft glow to it. I usually don’t like glowy foundations, but this one was very understated and natural. I ended up getting a few samples because I didn’t want to drop the $42.50 for it without seeing the results in natural light.

I also liked the Equinox Glossimer lip gloss, however not enough to spend $25.00 on it. I will put this on my Christmas wish list. Dear Santa, I’ve been a *very good blogger* this year!

The Final Eye Look

The “doe in the headlights” face was because I was doing makeup math equations in my head, which roughly sounded a lil something like, “if x = hours worked times one chanel palette aww hell I WANT WANT WANT WANT IT ALL! BUT SHOULD I BUY BUY BUY IT ALL?”

What I Liked About Garden Party Quad

I’m crazy about the colors and the textures of the shadows. This is definitely very sophisticated and grown-up shimmer. I’m naturally not a bright color, over-the-top shadow kinda girl, and the Chanel shadows offer a level of color that fits my comfort level to a tee. The final look is something that I’d wear out to several situations, including parties, business meetings, or even for a nice dinner out with the parents and El Hub.

Things I Didn’t Like About Garden Party Quad

Obvs there was the price, because fifty-five bones can buy me a shizzload of Prestige Pencils at Walgreens. Another thing is that like most shadows I’ve tried, I can’t wear the dark green color on my waterline. You’ll see in the final look that my lower waterline is rimmed with it; less than an hour later I had to take it all off because my eyes were watery. I don’t think that it’s exlusive to the Chanel line though, because most shadows have that effect on me.

Chanel Garden Party Quad — Is it for You?

New to makeup? Then seriously, don’t buy this. It’ll just set the bar and you’ll forever be disappointed by everything else. Plus, it ain’t cheap. If you’re going to be experimenting and really playing with the colors then you don’t want to have feel like you’ve got to ration your shadow usage.

If I was a makeup newbie then I’d start with mid-to-lower priced stuff and move onto Chanel after I 1.) paid off my 4Runner or 2.) got a sugar daddy or 3.) had an adequate arsenal of brushes and decent blending skills.

I’ve used three colors in the palette so far: both lighter and darker green and the peach on the upper right hand side. When I swatched the greens on the back of my hand a few weeks ago I wasn’t sure if the colors were going to work, but after one of the lovely Chanel makeup artists, Laurie, started blending them on the lid I knew it was going to be heavenly.

She started by using Pro Lumiere Medium Deep Concealer as the lid primer, which is concealer “pen” with a brush tip applicator. She added one layer of the peach shadow all over the lid, and then worked the darker green from the lash line to the crease, feathering the color upward.

Chanel National Media Artist John Fussell jumped in, adding and blending colors. He finished the look by adding the lighter green in the center of the eye. To make the color really pop, he used his fingertip apply a concentrated spot of light green shadow close to the lash line. He then tapped a brush to gently blend the light green into the rest of the eye.

The Final Word

It’s official. I’m in love with Chanel shadows. And this is now my makeup cross to bear.


Rad New Makeup Tricks, Courtesy John Fussell

John was a lot of fun to work with. He works red carpet events in Hollywood and gave me the dish on some of his celeb clientele. Apparently, he Rene Zellweger is his homegirl and he recently talked her out of wearing mink lashes on the red carpet. SMART MAN!

He also gave me a few new makeup tricks to add to my arsenal:

1. To create dimension in blush, use two different brushes. John used one large, fluffy brush to place the color on apple of cheek, but instead of brushing the color from the apple upward into the hairline, he used downward brush strokes. He then used the same brush to apply blush on top of forehead and on chin and around the nose — places where you’d naturally get color when you’re feverish or have a cold.

He then had me smile and used a thin, tapered brush (similar to MAC’s 224 crease brush) to add a concentrated pop of color on bottom of the apple of the cheek. Using two brushes to create different concentrations of color adds contrast and contour.

2. When using pencil to define lips, think of your lips in terms of four points and really work the color into the corners of the lips to give them definition. You can make your lips a “blank canvas” by applying a layer of foundation. He then used a lip brush to apply Soft Honey Teint Innocence Foundation on the lips. He finished by using a lip brush to apply Nude Equinox gloss in a downward, not side to side, motion. Go with the grain of your lip, not against!

3. Your finger is your strongest brush. He demonstrated this when he dipped his finger into the light green to place concentrated color onto the center of the lid. He then blended it in by tapping, not rubbing the color into place. Adding a pop of color to the center is an easy way to take your eye makeup from day into night.

What’s in Store for Chanel Spring 2008 — You Heard First on Makeup and Beauty Blog!

John gave me the inside scoop on what colors to expect for spring. Sapphire blue is going to be the it color, especially for the eyes. Remember the denim shades that Chanel did a few years ago? Apparently these shappire tones will be completely different. Also expect to see touches of bronze. HOT!

Makeup Event Etiquette

I love going to makeover events because it gives me an excuse to try and learn about new lines. Plus, I always learn a makeup trick or two while I’m there.

If you’re new to attending makeup events the general rule is that if you get a makeover you should buy at least one product. Know that when you sit down in that chair it will be very tempting to purchase everything the makeup artist uses to get the look. This feeling happens to me every time I go to one of these things.

What helps me is to have one specific product in mind when I get there because otherwise I end up spending more than I expect to. I have to set a budget for myself. I have fun being a makeup junkie but I also have fun watching the money pile up. (Sorry, I just got the new Kanye West CD and couldn’t help but quote from his song, The Good Life.) If I really want something that’s beyond my list then I get a sample or I tell myself that if I’m still thinking about it in two weeks I can come back and buy it.

Girl Gone Wild: Obscene, Unrated and Uncensored Moments of CHANEL LUST

Oh how I want this bag!

But unfortch this is more my price range. Quilted black patent makeup bags from Murval, $24.00.

It’s winter and I needed a new black, casual jacket that covered my bum. The Chanel-esque quilting on this Guess coat won me over. Plus, it’s warm and was on sale!

Rabid Chanel lust takes over Makeup and Beauty Blog. Will she be able to stop the obsession before it’s too late?

Stay tuned…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen