To quote ’90s rap duo Kris Kross (aka the kids who pioneered the backwards clothing thing), “Warm it up, Kris! (I’m about to.) Warm it up, Kris! (’cause that’s what I was born to do.)”
Keeping with the theme, Chanel’s Plein Soleil ($56) eyeshadow quad from the 2009 Cote D’Azur collection is all about warmer shades.
It packs four warm, shimmery shades — a peachy bronze, light coral, dark orange-brown and a light peachy coral — that I dig using individually in light washes of color over the lid, particularly for understated and elegant glows in summertime looks, but beyond their use in simple washes, the colors in this quad aren’t setting my world on fire.
Why?
They aren’t the most flexible colors in town.
When I tried to turn up their intensify by layering them above MAC’s Paint Pots or by wetting my brush before application, the colors looked overly orange and weren’t the most flattering products I’ve used on my skin.
And the difference between the two lighter shades is subtle — almost too subtle for me. If you’re lighter than I am, I’m guessing you’ll have an easier time distinguishing the nuances between them, but on my tan skin the two lighter shades look very much the same.
Even though this quad isn’t as flexible as I’d hoped it would be, its saving grace is how well it works for light washes, either when I’m pressed for time or when it’s warm outside. When it’s warm out I don’t always want to wear a complicated eye look that may smear as I perspire.
Knowing what it does do well, I know I’ll get some use out of Plein Soleil. 🙂
Chanel Plein Soleil eyeshadow quad
Price: $56
Use: For simple washes of shimmery bronze and coral
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B
For simple washes of warm, summery color, die-hard Chanel fans may really like Plein Soleil.
You might also like the Chanel Plein Soleil eyeshadow quad if…
- You like wearing very warm orange and brown shades.
- You collect limited edition Chanel eyeshadow quads.
- You like wearing single washes of color on your eyes.
Pass the Kleenex to the left-hand side
I actually did make it out the door for an early morning run today (even surprised myself!).
I rocked out to the ’80s mix I made yesterday that featured Musical Youth, Madness and Wham, but too bad I forgot to take a Zyrtec before heading outside… Hello, allergies! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
YadiQ says
April 13th, 2009 at 2:51 pmhi k
here’s some zyrtec for you i have been so super allergic these days too – i keep a bottle on my desk and one in my purse at all times
i have another chanel quad at home that gives me this feeling no matter how much i apply mix up or wet it just looks muted on my skin ( i will have to get the name tonight and let you know which it is )
boo chanel for boring summer colors while i am a hit or miss kind of gal with smashbox they seem to have some nice trios for summer check them out!
Karen says
April 13th, 2009 at 8:46 pmHi Yadi,
Thank you for the Zyrtec. I’ll have mine on the rocks, LOL! What are you allergic to? The trees make my allergies go CRAZY!
I popped on over to the Smashbox website and that collection looks hot! I love the packaging — so jungly yet urban at the same time.
Stacie says
April 13th, 2009 at 2:59 pmFor that price, and the lack of wow factor, I think I’ll give this one a miss. The shades are pretty, but for just a simple wash of color I could use something way cheaper!
Karen says
April 13th, 2009 at 8:47 pmHi Stacie,
Yeah, I figure it’s gonna be for the reeeeally hard core Chanel-o-philes.
Glosslizard says
April 13th, 2009 at 5:34 pmI tried this one on, and yes, they are very orange-y! I hope Chanel comes out with a cooler/pinker/whatever version of this, because I loved the finish, but could do without the jaundiced look I get when I don yellow-based shades! 😛
Karen says
April 13th, 2009 at 8:49 pmHi Glosslizard,
I liked the finish, too. The shimmer was handled nicely. But yah, if they did a cooler version I’d be all over it! While I’m at it I’d also like a green quad with some golden browns… ya here that, Karl?
TUPRNUT says
April 13th, 2009 at 6:18 pmYeah – I passed this quad up on my last trip to the Chanel counter… way too much orange for me!!!!
Zyrtec… oh, how I love thee. I’m on so many allergy meds, it’s crazy. Hope this sniffles stay at bay for you, dear!
Karen says
April 13th, 2009 at 9:11 pmHi Tuprnut,
Oh, you feel my pain! Remember back in the day when all we had was Benedryl? Those were some rough years.
lexi says
April 13th, 2009 at 6:47 pmHappy Monday Karen,
I love working out to 80’s music – the best still was when i took my first spin class and the instructor played Tina Turner’s version of Let’s Stay Together – it did put me in a great mood!
yeah, i think i’m a shade darker than you – i’ll be passing on this quad…
Karen says
April 13th, 2009 at 9:12 pmHi Lexi,
I love working out and dancing to ’80s. So much fun!
Where do you take spinning classes? Aren’t they so fab for burning calories?
Luv J says
April 13th, 2009 at 7:00 pmYes unfortunately it’s a hit or miss with the Chanel quads.. not loving any of them lately 🙁
Karen says
April 13th, 2009 at 9:13 pmHi Luv J,
Yeah, I hear ya. I did like Mystic Eyes and Beiges was off the hook. This one is nice, but not stop in your tracks like other quads I’ve seen in the past.
Miss QQ says
April 13th, 2009 at 7:02 pmHi Karen. I will be passing this quad. Honestly, I didn’t like it when I first saw the pic. Chanel’s summer collection will be launching here for me this week or next. 🙂
Karen says
April 13th, 2009 at 9:13 pmHi Miss QQ,
That’s exciting! What’s your list?
tania says
April 13th, 2009 at 7:19 pmKaren,
Nice Kris Kros Reference!! Those shadows look purty! OMG I’m watching The Hills right now and Spencer’s creepy flesh colored beard is back!! Eeek! Why do I watch this show? Probably the same reason why I try on various shades of red lipstick hoping they look good and yet they never do!
Karen says
April 13th, 2009 at 9:14 pmHi Tania,
Ha! I knew people who actually wore their clothes backwards just like Kris Kross (and they were totally serious about it).
Ugh, I hate to admit this but I looked at Heidi’s myspace page and it says that they got married. GROSS!
Kate & Zena says
April 13th, 2009 at 8:39 pmKaren, I’m so sorry your allergies have been bothering you! :passes over the e-Kleenex: Mine haven’t bugged me since my doctor refilled my Singulair months ago. That stuff is GOD for my allergies and my asthma. I used to have the worst allergies and now I just one pill, once-a-day and POOF! the allergies are gone so no asthma attacks! Yay!
I hate shades that are overly orange. I have a brown duo from L’Oreal Hip that I’m in love with. I love it, I love it, I love it. Makes AMAZING smoky eyes. I would not pay $56 for orangey brown shades, nu uh. I’d rather use that money to buy a Zena new dental chews from the veterinarian. Those chews are expensive but they keep her pearly whites clean and free of tartar!
Karen says
April 13th, 2009 at 9:16 pmHi Kate & Zena,
Funny you should mention pet dental hygiene. I just read an article last night on how to brush your cat’s teeth. 🙂
I wonder if I can get Tabs something similar to Zena’s chew. I’d probably have to cover it in gravy, ha!
That’s great to hear that your allergies are under control. It makes walking the dog a lot easier, I bet.
Catherine says
April 13th, 2009 at 9:00 pmHmm, this one sounds like a pass for me. It’s a pretty quad, but I’m pretty sure that the right 4 shadows in my Kat von D Ludwig could pretty easily pass for any look I could do with this palette.
& you know, I’ve tried using simple washes of shadow on my eyes, but I always feel like that makes my eyes look too flat… for some reason I just have to have an outer corner color at least… am I just weird? Lol…
Catherine´s last blog post..Yesterday’s Mermaid Eyes FOTD
Stef says
April 13th, 2009 at 9:13 pmOne thing I need to know, did you type this post with your clothes on backwards?
Stef´s last blog post..we heart this guide to books that rock
Karen says
April 14th, 2009 at 8:00 amHi Stef,
LOL! Yup — and I listened to Jump a few times…
Kate & Zena says
April 13th, 2009 at 10:04 pmNo allergies does make walking Zena a lot easier as I’m not dying for a Kleenex when I get home. I can’t say the same for my skin somehow being a magnet for mosquitoes though.
Actually, the company that makes Zena’s chews do make kitty dental chews (link at bottom). However, I will warn you now–they REEK. I call them Darth Vader Chews (DVCs for short) as I want nothing more than one of his masks so I can breathe clean air. I can never stand to be in the same room as Zena when she’s chewing them. The squeaky clean teeth and fresh breath without ripping apart Zena’s digestive system outweighs the ooky smell.
They’re pretty pricey chews–a bag of 30 medium dog chews costs about $13 without tax. They last Zena about a month as we give her one once-a-day as too many tend to cause diarrhea.
Here’s the link for the chews-> http://search.healthypets.com/?formSubmitted=true&vwcatalog=HEALTHYPETSCOM&keywords=CET+chews+for+cats&I1.x=0&I1.y=0
P.S. I hope Tabs like either poultry or fish flavor as that’s all they got.
Karen says
April 14th, 2009 at 7:56 amHi Kate & Zena,
Oh, thank you!! Tabs’ chompers really thank you, ha ha! He’s going to have the nicest kitty teeth on the block. 🙂
cloudburst says
April 14th, 2009 at 9:46 amYeah I saw this & was so-so on it, there isn’t enough distinction between the colours for me so I skipped.
Anastasia says
April 14th, 2009 at 12:03 pmLOL at the Kris Kross reference. Now I will have that song in my head for days.
I may have to try these – I do love me some Chanel quads and I am a pale face, so perhaps the lighter colours may be more perceptible on me. Mind you, I think cool colours are better on me. We shall see!
Karen says
April 14th, 2009 at 1:35 pmHi Anastasia,
I am ashamed to admit that I actually have the Kris Kross TAPE! 🙂
I hope this quad works for you. Lemme know if it shows up super orange — I’m very curious!
Kate & Zena says
April 14th, 2009 at 12:19 pmYou’re very welcome! It’s always great to share good pet products.
Karen says
April 14th, 2009 at 1:33 pmHi Kate & Zena,
I agree. Here’s one for you: I just got Tabs this new grooming mitt called the “Love Glove.” It grooms his coat and gives him a little bit of a kitty massage at the same time. They have one for pups that gets very high ratings on Petco.
Kate & Zena says
April 14th, 2009 at 3:39 pmI may have to check that one out. I have a Bamboo Fur Buster,a rubber brush and a double-headed brush but the glove may be better for day-to-day use. She isn’t that fond of gloves as she keeps thinking, “Where did sissy’s hand go?” but I’ll have to check it out and see what Z thinks at the pet store when I manage to weed her out of all the shoppers fawning over her. I swear, she has a fan club.
Allow me to illustrate the fan club reaction to my dog: I got my hair cut yesterday and I showed my stylist her photo from my camera phone. She couldn’t stop fawning over her photo! She asked a million questions like if her ears were fixed or if they naturally stick up (they naturally stick up, by the way) and what food we give her for her shiny coat. I think she’s going to outshine the First Dog here in suburban Illinois.
I was, however, complimented by my stylist on my hair shampoo commercial shiny hair and how my dark hair color suites my skintone. She never has actually seen a hair color in bottle form that matches my natural hair. All those years of hating my brown hair have gone out the window! :hums the “I Feel Pretty” song from West Side Story despite hating the movie:
Glosslizard says
April 14th, 2009 at 5:32 pmLOL! He’s listening if he knows what’s good for him!
Anastasia says
April 14th, 2009 at 7:23 pmKaren,
How much do I love that you have the Kris Kross tape LOL I was looking through my vinyl the other day and found The Go-go’s first album. Man, I loved my hair then! LOL
I’ll try and swatch some Chanel on my pasty hand for you this weekend here in the ATL (Reader’s Hands as a new theme?!). I have plans with a friend to throw some serious cash into the mall-conomy (just doing my part! he heh)
Ana.
Michele says
October 4th, 2009 at 3:59 pmEconomy has told me go with l’oreal or Maybelline.
I can get two for one ! I am worth it!
Michele
Beauty Addict,
Happy Sunday