Wearing Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in 36 La Caline
I’ve only been snowboarding once, and it was a very long time ago. I don’t remember much about that day anymore, but I do recall the cold. I remember that much — the part about freezing my @ass off — and I also remember flying down the mountain and feeling lighter than air, with the wind whipping through my ponytail and my heart pounding in my chest.
I’d do it again if it wasn’t so cold, but what can I say? I was made in the tropics. 🙂
Snow wasn’t part of my original programming, but I think I was configured to appreciate featherweight lip products like the new Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colours ($32 each, available in eight shades).
They feel so light on my lips that I’d swear I wasn’t wearing anything at all. Light, just like I felt flying down that mountain all those years ago.
Chanel describes the finish of these Luminous Matte Lip Colours as “velvet matte,” which does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? I think they’re mostly matte, with a slight shine to keep lips from looking flat and fake, like the lips on a mannequin.
From the left: 41 L’Exquise, 39 La Somptueuse, 36 La Caline (with a smooshed tip!) and another tube of 36 La Caline (with an unsmooshed tip)
Swatches from the left: 36 La Caline, 39 La Somptueuse and 41 L’Exquise
Wearing 36 La Caline
Wearing 39 La Somptueuse
Unscented, unflavored and non-sticky, too, these airy, creamy lippies are simply a pleasure to wear. And they even last a good amount of time. Wear time appears to vary by color, with the darker shades (about four hours) lasting a little longer than the lighter ones do.
Coco, you’ve done it again. Ladies looking for matte lips with a whisper of shine, try not to miss these Velvet Luminous Mattes.
PRICE: $32
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Chanel counters and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A (an A+ if they weren’t so spendy)
The Velveteen Charmie
Yesterday, when were talking about tattoos and the Velveteen Rabbit, I forgot to mention one of the reasons I love that story so much!
Allow me to introduce you to Charmie. 🙂
Say hi, Charmie (she says hi). As you can see by her chipped nose and frayed cheeks, Charmie has been loved for many, many years (decades, in fact).
Do you have any stuffed animals that you’ve kept from childhood? If you do, please tell me about them. What are they like?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hyzenthlay says
November 15th, 2011 at 9:21 pmI have Uni – a unicorn that got wrapped into one of my baby blankets so long ago no one remembers why. I *think* it may have been when I had a cold, so we wrapped him up like I was. Now, I use three of my diaper pins to hold his wrappings (original baby blanket of mine) closed. When my boyfriend isn’t here, Uni still sleeps with me (yes, I’m 32 . . . but I’ve slept with him far longer than anyone or anything else in my life!).
Karen says
November 15th, 2011 at 9:29 pmHon, did I miss something? When did you get a new boyfriend? I know you’ve had a rough couple of years so I’m happy to hear you’re seeing someone!
Hyzenthlay says
November 15th, 2011 at 9:43 pmUgh, please tell me my reply posted and didn’t get lost in the ether!
Karen says
November 15th, 2011 at 9:47 pmOh no… I think I missed it. Let me do some digging.
Karen says
November 15th, 2011 at 9:48 pmOkay, found it! You guys met at a wedding and were set up by the bridge and groom. One word: YAY!!!!! 😀
Hyzenthlay says
November 15th, 2011 at 9:52 pmHaha, yes 🙂 and because I thought the message was lost, I wrote another! Which also seems to not be showing up . . .
Hyzenthlay says
November 15th, 2011 at 9:54 pmI wonder if it has anything to do with the fact I’m posting from my iPhone. Has that caused problems with longer posts in the past?
Karen says
November 15th, 2011 at 10:02 pmThere was a period in time where the mobile site was glitchy but it seems to have worked itself out. Your comments are coming through! 🙂
So what’s the new guy like? Is he a teacher, too?
Hyzenthlay says
November 15th, 2011 at 10:21 pmNo, he’s not. He has his degree in engineering, and ultimately wants to teach high school physics, but right now he’s working at Home Depot. When we met he was within weeks of enlisting in the Navy, and had been spending his time working for his large family, helping them take care of their houses. Within a week and a half of meeting, the Navy was out the window and he’d put in an application at Home Depot, where he’d worked through college 🙂
Hyzenthlay says
November 15th, 2011 at 10:22 pmHe’s also got applications in at the two engineering firms in town, so we’re hoping one of those will come through early next year, so he can get back to using his degree 🙂
Karen says
November 15th, 2011 at 10:28 pmWell this is great news. I’m very, very happy for you! 🙂 I’m going to keep my fingers crossed for more good things for you. Hopefully he’ll get one of those gigs in town.
Hyzenthlay says
November 15th, 2011 at 10:31 pmThank you, Karen 😀 We’re both very happy 😀 All twitterpated!
Amy says
November 15th, 2011 at 10:15 pmI have a bunny, too! Her name is Bunny (because I was a very creative child), and I got her in 2nd grade at a school raffle. She came pre-loved, and she’s been my favorite stuffed animal ever since (though there was one time when she got stuck next to a space heater and her stomach got burned, which made me throw her in a fit before I was overcome by guilt and promised I would never betray her like that again). I’m 22 now, and in a long distance relationship, so when we’re apart, I cuddle with Bunny––she’s just as comforting now as when I was 7!
Karen says
November 15th, 2011 at 10:25 pmBunny sounds like she’s been a wonderful companion. 🙂 Does she have parts of her fur worn off too?
Kate & Zena says
November 15th, 2011 at 10:23 pmOh, I have a few, but the oldest is Mama Gund (it’s from the Snuffles line.) I have a pair of Gund pink bears. The big pink bear (Mama Gund) I got when I was born and the baby (Baby Gund) I got after my surgery when I was four. I woke up to seeing the baby one next to me. I could probably donate the other stuffed toys I have (well, I couldn’t get rid of the white rabbit. That’s another I’m super protective of), but heaven forbid you try to get rid of the Gunds! My big Snuffles isn’t produced in pink anymore, so it’s actually pretty rare. It isn’t worth much to the market as my mom ran over it and left a giant grey mark down the middle of Mama Gund when I was 5, but she’s worth a lot to me. They’ve been there for all the bad stuff. I used to have security detail around those two (consisting of many Barbie and Ken dolls.)
Zena did try to run off with Baby Gund and she got in big trouble. I manage to save her with no scars. Mama and Baby now live safely on top of my bookcase…FAR out of Zena’s reach.
Chris25 says
November 15th, 2011 at 10:31 pmLa Somptueuse is magnificent looking!
I have a bunny named Mr. Floppy Ears. My friend Christine gave him to me in the 9th grade. 11 years later, he’s still with me. 🙂
Poornima says
November 15th, 2011 at 10:52 pmLoved La Caline on you Karen…and my personal choice would be L’Exquise :-))
gio says
November 15th, 2011 at 11:05 pmLa Caline is gorgeous!
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MJ says
November 15th, 2011 at 11:32 pmLa Somptueuse looks gorgeous! 😀
I have bunny named Flower. 😀 She was a gift from my grandma (unsure if she made it herself, although the fabric choice looks like her style though), and I’ve had her since I was 5 or 6. I used to carry her around by her arm so much, that all of the stuffing has migrated from her arm into her chest area. 😛 At some point, I thought she was too chubby and put a hair tie around her stomach, so now she has a figure with a tiny waist and a huge butt. I also used to make hair for her out of yarn and pieces of cloth which I would keep in place by tying them around her ears with something. XD
She also ended up being my little companion that I could express my feelings through, though. When we were kids, my now-boyfriend and I, used to pretend that are favorite toys (mine being Flower, and his , a T-Rex named “Rex” from the Jurassic Park franchise) were in a relationship together. We even did voices lol XD We were around 8 or 9 and had huge puppy love crushes on each other at the time. 😛
artemis says
November 16th, 2011 at 4:52 amso cute 😀
MJ says
November 16th, 2011 at 8:24 amTy! X3
Karen says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:15 amMJ, this story just made my morning. How sweet! 🙂
MJ says
November 16th, 2011 at 8:30 amHehe thanks! 😀 Unfortunately, i have no idea where Rex is though. I think he’s lost somewhere in the hurricane that is my boyfriend’s room. I dug Flower up from the bowels of my closet right after I watched Toy Story 3 and had her sleep in my bed with me that night. XD
It’s pretty amazing though. 🙂 My boyfriend and I met when we were about 8 or 9, so I’ve known him for about 17 years now! (I’m 25) I hadn’t really though about our old stuffed animals in awhile, and reading your post made me remember that we used to do that. ^^
Lars says
November 16th, 2011 at 1:11 amAwww, that bunny looks beloved!
And I like that you take modeling shots of yourself for your reviews! Happy almost-Thanksgiving!
Karen says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:14 amHappy almost-Thanksgiving to you too, Lars. How are you celebrating this year? Are you cooking? 🙂
Lip Stalker says
November 16th, 2011 at 1:52 amMy stuffed toy is a Hello Kitty plushie tissue box holder – so it’s like a two-in-one 😀
BTW, I love those Chanel lipsticks!! I am about to buy my first ever Chanel cosmetic product…for my BFF’s 30th – it’s a good one – it’s DRAGON!!!!!!!!!!
Karen says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:13 amOh, that’s a good color! Is she a red lip kinda of girl?
Lip Stalker says
December 1st, 2011 at 1:18 amActually she’s a red lippy virgin so I think I’m going to ease her in nicely with a more subtle colour…
Vonvon says
November 16th, 2011 at 2:52 amNo. 39 is so beautiful!
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Karen says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:13 amYup, it is!
Amritha says
November 16th, 2011 at 4:06 amhi karen, I loved these lippies pics and I want one. I have written to Chanel requesting them information as to the Gluten status of these lippies with no response what so ever. Could you help me with that Karen cause I wanna buy one if these are gluten free….and i loved the swatches so much.
Karen says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:12 amHi Amritha,
You may want to send them a follow up e-mail or call their customer service line for an answer. In the meantime, I typed out the list of ingredients for you. Hope this helps:
Isononyl Isononnanoate, Dicapryl Carbonate, Diisostearl Malate, Synthetic Wax, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Jojoba Esters, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Ethylhexl Palmitate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Tribehenin, Tocopheryl Acetate, PropyleneCarbonate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Parfum (Fragrance), Alumina, Silica, Tocophrol, Palmitoyl Oligopepitde, BHT, Citric Acid [+/- (May Contain) CI 12085 (Red 36), CI 15850 (Red 6), CL 15850 (Red 7 Lake)CL 15985 (Yellow 6 Lake)CL 17200 (Red 33 Lake), CL 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CL 45380 (Red 22 Lake), CL 45410 (Red 28 Lake), CL73360 (Red 30 Lake), CL 75470 (Carmine), CL 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride) CL 77742 (Manganese Violet), CL 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Mica]
Amritha says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:18 amThank u so much Karen for the ingredient list. I wish though that it could be traced that way. The trouble with gluten in make up is cross contamination so the problem. Even the ingredient list will not be enough. I have sent them many mails Karen but no response what so ever. I really am thankful to you for the effort you have put in for me. Love, Amritha
Karen says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:23 amIf you’ve sent several emails then your best bet will probably be to call. If you don’t get the answer from the first representative, keep calling back until you do. Sometimes it just takes a few tries.
Here’s their customer service number:
PHONE: Please call 1.800.550.0005 to speak with a
Customer Service Representative.
Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST
Saturday – Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST
Good luck!
artemis says
November 16th, 2011 at 5:02 amwell…..I kept i tiny orange bunny i had since i was younger than 5, named Danutz(danny) 😀 a lil cute plastic dog…a baby dinosaur named Rica, a lil husky dog named Oliver…and other toys like a monkey, cangaroo tho first are the cutest.
Karen says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:04 amThat’s wonderful that you still have all those toys. They must all have so many lovely memories attached to them. 🙂
Chelsea says
November 16th, 2011 at 5:10 amThese look amazing! So pricey though… maybe I’ll put it on my Christmas wish list!
I have a cotton blue and white polka dotted teddy bear named Cricket. One of my mom’s friends made him before I was born. He’s been put together a couple times, his feet are pinned together, and his nose needs to be redone, but he’s a good friend.
Karen says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:03 amThe lippies are a real treat. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find one in your stocking. 🙂
It sounds like you and Cricket have had a lot of adventures together. I bet he’s very comforting!
PinkGlitter says
November 16th, 2011 at 5:41 amIf I can make myself spend the $32 for a lipstick, I would so pick one of these up. I’m loving the #36. Charmie is so cute! I have a stuffed animal rabbit that I kept from when I was little. He even had cute bunny slippers that you could put on him.
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Karen says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:00 am$32 is expensive for one lip product, I know. If you get a color you can wear every day it takes the edge of the price. Maybe something that could work for casual, business and dressy events? How about a nice neutral?
Nina says
November 16th, 2011 at 6:22 amomg. why must you tempt me so? i am a sucker for matte lip colors. i think im going to have to pay a visit to my closest Chanel counter STAT.
not from my childhood but my bestie gave me several stuffed toys from when she used to work at Disney. i gave Pooh to my goddaughter, Tigger has since retired bec he is bedraggled, and my current cuddle mate is Eeyore. 🙂 Eeyor would like to say hi to Charmie and tell her she is beyond adorable!
i wasnt a huge stuffed animal fan when i was a kid. must be bec of my allergies. my current stuffies are not the hairy kind.
Karen says
November 16th, 2011 at 6:58 amI think you’re going to like these a lot! They’re like the more elevated versions of the NYX Matte Lip Creams, but in a tube. Definitely put one on your Christmas list. 🙂
I kind of love that your gang of stuffed pals all hail from WInnie the Pooh (one of my favorite when I was a kid). 🙂 I love all the characters, but I have a soft spot for Eeyore and even keep a tiny figurine of him near my desk.
Since you couldn’t hug any stuffed animals, what did you cuddle with at night when you were a kid?
Nina says
November 16th, 2011 at 10:49 ammy sister and i are going to the mall on Friday to go check them out. im so excited im about to bust!
ive always loved the pooh stories. my all time fave is tigger bec he is just so happy and bouncy. but when i used to sleep w/ him, he was just so so skinny! i subbed eeyore and fell in love. there’s so much more to hug.
when i was a kid, i had a small pillow that went with me everywhere. i couldnt sleep without that pillow and hugged it in place of stuffed animals. i still have that pillow but its in my memory box now. 🙂
Marian says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:19 amI don’t have any toys from my childhood. I really can’t remember any special stuffed animals. I always went for real animals. As a kid, I was always bringing some stray home to love. Some things never change. Those lipsticks look fabulous! The regular rouge allures are my favorite lipsticks because of their lighter than air feel.
Shiny says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:27 amOmg karen, these may be the most artistic self -portraits you’ve done! Good job- they’re stunning. I like how you experimented with the angles and exposure – at least, thats how it looks from my phone.
Kim says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:34 amOh, Charmie looks very sweet and I love the bald patch on her cheek. I have a stuffed dog (Cream Puff) that I’ve had since I was 5. He has several bald spots, a missing (felt) eye, a surgically repaired ear (read: mom with needle and thread) and has been squashed flat from years of being slept with. I’ll never forget my dad saying he didn’t want to buy him for my b’day because, even though he was only $5 in 1976, my father felt I’d toss him aside after a few minutes. 35 years later, we laugh about that good investment. 🙂
The Blossom Shed Beauty Blog says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:50 amI have a worn out toy that’s so loved it’s actually packed away in a box in several pieces. “Lady” is a alpaca fur cocker spaniel from the 1950s that I dragged to about 10 different countries as a child, til she fell to pieces!
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Kimberly says
November 16th, 2011 at 9:20 amI have a grumpy-looking bear named Buddy! I got him in about the 4th or 5th grade while I was at summer camp. I had an unfortunate incident with a horse (I fell off, landed on my head, and had to be rushed to the hospital!) and one of the nurses saw how scared I was, so she handed me a fluffy brown bear and said “This is your buddy.” That became his name, and he’s still a comforting presence when I’m alone or I need a good cry. He’s just a bear, but that fellow has been through more of my life with me than any man has!
Marmar says
November 16th, 2011 at 9:56 amI am in LOVE with “La Ravissante.” It’s moved up to my fav lipstick of probably.. ever :O The colour is gorgeous and it literally lasts all day for me even with my wicked dry lips.
Larie says
November 16th, 2011 at 10:09 amI need one of these! They look so beautiful!
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JoJo says
November 16th, 2011 at 1:22 pmAll are fab colors..Love it!
Lisa Marie says
November 16th, 2011 at 2:52 pmI have a 32 year old Thumper doll that is about 16 inches tall that is missing a few stitches and has some matted terry fur. He still rests on my bed when I make it. I loved that bunny to pieces and took him everywhere when I was little.
Ruby says
November 16th, 2011 at 7:38 pmKaren, 39 la somptueuse is such a great christmas-y color on you! Looks very sophisticated! 🙂 and your new foundation trick is working wonders! So glowy like you just cam from the derma, LOL. 😀
Looking great for Christmas, Karen! Loving your hoodie look!
Alison says
December 1st, 2011 at 1:56 amLa Caline looks great on you!
victoria says
April 27th, 2013 at 1:34 pmstarted mid-life lipstick binge in dec. your reviews help tons. your site is fun. the people that comment seem like positive individuals. need more of that as a society. nice to see someone with darker skin-tone testing the products. i am greek and just can’t picture pale actresses’ and models’ lipcolors on me. you are awesome Karen. the pictures and posts are beautiful and witty. have a great day.
Aelyn says
July 23rd, 2014 at 4:52 amDid you try any more Rouge Allure Velvet shades? Would love to see swatches 🙂