Chantecaille Iridescent Eye Shade in Sel - the perfect taupe.

Chantecaille Iridescent Eye Shade in Sel is one of those legendary must-have taupes in the beauty world, a colour that is not talked about as often as it deserves, but only causes praises and worship everytime it's mentioned.
so of course wandering around in the beauty blogs of some great cosmetic connaisseurs like The Non-Blonde (see her review here) or The Beauty Look Book (Sel was featured here), i couldn't escape it eventually ;)
Chantecaille was once sold at hqhair.com when they were not part of the Hut Group (i did buy my Future Skin Foundation there - review), but now you can't seem to order it online anymore (at least from germany). i found out though, that Quartier 206 in Berlin would stock on Chantecaille. if you live there you're lucky but if you don't, i think you can give them a call and they would send you.
i of course have my Maureen, my "rare brands dealer" from overseas ;D

i think the fact that the company was founded by Sylvie Chantecaille, a french woman based in NYC (who first worked with Diane von Fürstenberg and later launched Prescriptives) and now ran with the help of her Daughters Olivia (who also is the "face" of the brand) and Alexandra makes the brand very likeable for me.

the eyeshadow comes in a chic container with metallic looking bottom part and milky/semitranslucent lid of rubberized plastic. it contains 2.5g of eyeshadow and costs 30$ each, they also come in refill pans for 22$.

Sel is a taupe eyeshadow, very basic, very wearable. flattering for every skin tone to create a natural shadow to your lids and give it some dimension. it's not an average taupe, though. Sel is a sand coloured light to medium shade with silver sheen and gold shimmer and pink. thanks to multicolour shimmer it looks very dimensional and complex. sometimes it's a pewter, sometimes a sand shade, in some lights it's a plummy taupe, sometimes it's rather gold, sometimes it has rosy hues.
it has a very fine and extremely silky texture with good colour pay off. it applies evenly and sheer but builds up well. it blends beautifully and lasts on my oily lids without creasing.
it's a staple for a super simple daytime sweep over the lid and to add a colourful eyeliner to avoid the boring routine, but it's also great to combine with darker shades for a smokey eye.
i love how it glistens in sunlight.

Chantecaille Sel swatched in natural light + flashlight (far right)

tihilw

here i'm wearing it on its own over the whole lid & lower lashline. i added a deep purple gel liner to break up the very neutral look.

comparison

1 - Hourglass Visionary Duo in Suede (taupe side) - review
2 - Chantecaille Sel
3 - Chanel Safari - review
4 - Artdeco #12 - review
5 - Laura Mercier Topaz
6 - NARS Ashes To Ashes - review
7 - Dior 5 Couleurs Iridescent in Earth Reflection (taupe shade) - review

Sel is most similar to Chanel Safari but is more cool toned than Safari and has more complex shimmers.

NOTD Essie Playa Del Platinum vs. OPI Skull & Glossbones.

 

Essie's Playa Del Platinum (from Resort collection) got its hype last spring/summer but is a colour i never considered wearing/buying. however some time later i got hooked on Deborah Lippmann's Waking Up In Vegas and was curious about a colour like that: a creamy pale warm grey. since i found out that Deb Lippmann's isn't for me but even more OPI's Skull & Glossbones from the Pirates of the Caribbean collection, i thought about trying this one.
i found it on ebay at 6-7€ with shipping included. the bottle contains 15ml.

Playa Del Platinum is a greyish beige/white sand colour with cream finish.
i only had not so great experiences with Essie until now, i didn't like their very thin round brush, the very liquidy consistency and that they didn't last well on my nails. fortunately, this one is different. well, i still don't like the brush at all, but the consistency is fine. liquidy but not very thin, and easy to apply evenly and streak free. drying time was average. it was almost opaque with 2 coats and i really liked how it looks with my skintone. it's not like a nude that has too much grey in it, making you looke corpse-handed, but rather more of an interesting greige colour that lightens up the appearance of your hands and elongate your fingers.
it lasted over 5-6 days of wear without visible tip wear or chipping.
compared to OPI Skull & Glossbones (review), it is darker and more beige. the warmer tone makes it blend better into my skin, i tend to like this over S&G. compared to Deborah Lippmann Waking Up In Vegas (review), this is lighter and much less grey.

NOTD

comparison

OPI Skull & Glossbones - Essie Playa Del Platinum

OPI Skull & Glossbones - Essie Playa Del Platinum

MAC Blushes revisited: Hang Loose.

next part of my MAC Blushes revisited series (overview page here) is the Mineralize Blush in Hang Loose. unlike the other blushes i've shown you until now, this one was limited edition and released last summer with the In The Groove collection.
it comes in the regular simple compact but contains only 3.2g of product compared to the permanent baked blushes with 3.5g. the Mineralize Blushes contain 3.5g and cost 23€ (in germany) /22$/19£.

Hang Loose it a duo blush with two colour sides. it contains a cool toned cotton candy pink with satin finish and a sheer pale shimmery lavender. each side is large enough so that you can pick it up individually to use the pink colour as a blusher and the lavender as a highlighter, or you could swirl both sides together and get a pale blueish pink with white shimmer.
the pink side has a nice pigmentation and i like that it's rather matte. however, this blusher is too light for me overall and can appear a bit chalky. the cool lavender isn't too flattering with my complexion (makes me look SO out of fashion!). plus, i think it looks very similar to some of my other MAC Blushes like Pink Swoon or Well Dressed. that's why it's not in my personal collection anymore but in my blog sale (link).

Hang Loose: heavy swatches of pink side - purple side - mixed - blended swatches of pink side - purple side - mixed

Hang Loose: heavy swatches of pink side - purple side - mixed - blended swatches of pink side - purple side - mixed

tihilw
please excuse the clashing blush+eyeshadow look, it was a "play around" to try different products ;)

no blush at all - with pink side of Hang Loose added

purple side of Hang Loose added as highlight - both sides mixed and applied as blusher.

comparison

MAC Well Dressed - MAC Hang Loose - MAC Pink Swoon - MAC Pinch O'Peach

MAC Well Dressed - MAC Hang Loose (pink side) - MAC Pink Swoon - MAC Pinch O'Peach

the pink side of Hang Loose is more pigmented and a bit richer than Well Dressed, it's not as cool toned as Pink Swoon but also isn't as finely textured like Pink Swoon. Pinch O'Peach appears quite dark next to the other 3.

FOTD with L'Oreal Electrified.

 

i wanted to show you what kind of make up look(s) i liked to wear the last weak. it was mostly a stronger eye make up paired with slightly nuded out lips. i used the L'Oreal HIP duo in Electrified relatively often, i love the metallic taupe in it. it also looks great with any other dark colour like blue, brown or black in the outer corner.


what i used for the face:

foundation: Lancôme Teint Miracle in 01 Beige Albâtre (1 - review) applied with the BeautyBlender (2 - review)

concealer: Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in 010 Ivory (3 - review) patted on the under eye area with the fingers

powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium (4 - review) applied with Lunasol Powder Brush N (5 - review)

contour: Burberry Beauty Light Glow in #07 Earthy Blush (6 - review) applied with Rouge Bunny Rouge's Blush Brush (7 - review)

blush: Cargo Blush in Polynesia (8) applied with Hakuhodo G5519BkSL Blush Brush (9)



what i used on the eyes:

brows: MAC Eyeshadow in Copperplate (1) applied with Laura Mercier LY30 Brow Brush (2)

eye make up:

for the softer look i used the metallic taupe of L'Oreal HIP duo in Electrified (3 - review) on the inner 2/3 of the lid and the lower lashline and applied the dark purple on the outer parts and into the crease area. everything applied with MAC 242 brush (4) and blended out with Edward Bess Luxury Eye Brush (5 - review).
i also used the purple as a liner shade for the upper lashline. then added a true purple eyeliner (P2 Perfect Look Kajal in 080 Lilac - 7 - review) on the waterline to give it some more colour.

with flash:

for the smokier version i applied the dark shade of L'Oreal Electrified (3 - review) all over the lid and on the lower lashline and added highlights on the center of the dark colour and on the inner corner with the metallic shade. everything applied with MAC 242 brush (4) and blended out with Edward Bess Luxury Eye Brush (5 - review).
a bit of MAC Vex (not on pic, sorry) in the inner corners, too, and lastly black liner for the waterline (P2 Perfect Look Kajal in 010 Black - 6 - review).

with flash:

i used the usual stuff for mascara (Shu Uemura curlers (8), Maybelline False Lashes Waterproof (9) as bottom layer and Shiseido The Perfect Mascara (10 - sample) as top coat).

lips: Manhattan Water Flash Lipgloss in a nude colour (11)

what i loved in september.

this month went by so fast! it's autumn already and i'm totally in the mood for the golden light, the indian summer colours, the cardigans and boots you start to pull out, i love it! my favourite time of the year! my short one loves it to collect acorns and chestnuts, strolling around between the red and golden leaves and coming home to a hot chocolate...

skin care

september has been a good skin month for me like i haven't have in a long long time. of course a part of this is thanks to skin care products, but the most important factor was a consequent change of my diet. i would have a large bowl of fresh vegetable soup or stew every day. nothing has changed my skin so much until now. not giving up smoking (about 7 years ago), not any vitamins or fish oils or any other dietary supplements like biotin, MSM etc.
my skin is now clear, i only have a blemish from time to time, my pores are refined and i'm almost at a point now where i only need a little to no coverage! looking at some before and after photos i'm impressed myself (but they are too embarassing and i can't show them to you at this time :P).
i always knew that no 1000€ cream will ever beat a healthy diet and life style, but i was always too lazy. now that i'm "hooked" i definitely will keep this as a "beauty routine"!

1 - Vichy Purété Thermale Micellar Lotion i've gone through 3-4 bottles of this now and i'm still totally in love with it. i use it as a mild last-step-cleanse instead of any aggressive toner to remove the last residues of make up and dirt and to prep the skin leaving it moist and fresh for the next step, which would normally be the Paula's Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Serum (3)

2 - Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream i have several of these 30ml mini sizes by purchasing their test kits (here). this is a nice medium grain scrub that i only use once a week since i'm using acid peels regularly. it does its job nicely to remove flaky skin and to help the acid peels fading dark marks from healing blemishes quicker.

3 - Paula's Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA i use everyday as a first step after cleansing, day and night. over the last 2 months it has visibly refined and smoothed my skin, helped it breaking out less often and getting rid of blackheads on my cheek area. on my nose and chin i still have impurities, but they are much smaller and less visible than before. my skin feels softer and more even, it's less "thick" than before but feels firmer. after this i still need a moisturiser or a hydrating serum, though, and so for the hot days it's too much for my oily skin.

4 - La Roche Posay Cicaplast Pro-Recovery Skincare is a great soothing balm that i like to apply on the sensitive area around my nose and my mouth after i've done a face scrub or a chemical peel with higher percentage of acids. it helps to calm the redness within one night.

5 - REN Rose Synergy O12 Moisture Defence Serum i am using this oil again after i've gone through the Weleda Wild Rose Smoothing Pearls (which i really liked). this is my last step of night care routine and makes my skin soft and glowing overnight. since i've started using oils, i really notice that my skin produces less oils and looks healthier than before. even lighter and moisturising foundations last well on me throughout the day.

6 - Shiseido Benefiance Concentrated Anti Wrinkle Eye Cream very very impressed by this eye cream. i had a week or 10 days in the last month when i tried another eye cream (it was a product by GoodSkin Labs) - this was a fault. my under eye area was dry and looked old and wrinkly and it made my concealer look worse. after i switched back to my Shiseido eye cream, within two days i noticed a difference like day and night - the dryness-wrinkles fade and my under eyes and lids were moisturised again over the whole day. my concealer glided on smoother and didn't crease as much.

7 - RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum i've used up one tube of this last winter and had nice results, my lashes were visibly longer and denser. after i finished the tube i went on and tried some other lash products, mostly drugstore lash care products, but after a few months (i finished the old tube around march/april) i saw a big difference especially in my photos when i wear mascara. i had less lashes, they were overall shorter and very uneven. now i have bought a tube of this again and used it the last 3 weeks. i can see a slight improvement, less fall out and some thin lashes growing on the upper lashline.
last period using it i haven't noticed problems like increased darkness of the lids or changed pigmentation of the iris like it is known from lash serums based on prostaglandin-derivates but i had a thin fuzz of hair which is a bit darker than normal face hair growing on the outer parts of my under eye area. it did darken the appearance of my eyes, making me look slightly tired. i carefully removed it with a brow shaver every now an then.

brushes/tools

this was a "good brush month", too ;) i have a few new Hakuhodo lovelies that i tested and enjoyed over the last weeks, and of course there are a few old loves.

1 - BeautyBlender (review) still my favourite to apply (most) liquid foundations. it's just the best of the sponges and creates a flawless finish the most easy and quickest way. of course there are some foundations that will look better when applied with a brush or the fingers, like MAC Face and Body Foundation (review), MUFE Face & Body, Burberry Sheer Foundation (review), Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation (review) and some BB Creams, but most times it's this thingy i grab for.

2 - Le Métier de Beauté Powder Brush (review) has replaced my Artdeco duo fibre brush for the use with Guerlain's Meteorites Pearls (review) and does the job just as perfect, only with the plus that it looks and feels more luxe ;) it has the perfect shape and size to fit into the Meteorites container and to apply evenly on my skin. not the softest, but it's the structure and stiffness of the goat hair that helps it picking up the ideal amount of product.

3 - Lunasol Powder Brush N (review) is my go-to brush for every other powder. it's big, it's fluffy and it's unbelievably soft. legit.

4 - Hakuhodo G5519BkSL Blush Brush since it was launched some months ago i was always curious about how good this brush has to be when it's so pricey - but now i have the answer! at 132$ this is my biggest brush-splurge yet and will be reviewed soon in the next installment of my "brush weekends".

5 - Hakuhodo G5538BkSL (review) is my favourite brush for my Chanel Ombres Tissées in Beiges but also for a sheer veil of blusher on a smaller area.

6 - Hakuhodo G5557 2mm Powder&Liquid Brush round/angled very interesting brush. will be reviewed soon. i use it for foundation, but everything else is secret yet ;)

7 - Hakuhodo G5552 4mm Powder&Liquid Brush round/angled this is just as interesting as it's big brother. i use it for cream blush. look forward to the reviews!

8 - Hakuhodo 212 Highlight Brush round (review) my fave for under eye concealer. seriously forever.

9 - IPSA Brush Squirrel M (review) didn't get too much love yet, but is really great for a soft wash of colour and light blending work. since it is so soft it doesn't press on the eyeshadow, leaving it beautifully glimmering without becoming frosty by pressing on. i like to use this with my Le Métier de Beauté eyeshadows (Spicy, Corinthian) for the layering technique.

10 - Edward Bess Luxury Eye Brush (review) what more to say? you know me and my EB eye brush, we are bonded from going through ups and downs but EB still stayed a reliable work horse all the time. there is no shadow that this couldn't blend beautifully. if i can only keep a hand full of my brushes, this would absolutely be one of the few!i can't praise it enough, if there'd be a song about this, i would learn and sing it every time i do my eye make up ;)

11 - MAC 242 MAC does a lot of overpriced, under-qualified brushes, but this one is worth every single cent. it's not too pricey and works so well. doesn't absorb too much product, applies everything intensely, has the perfect size for my lids and the right shape to be a real multi-tasker. i use it for application, pre-blending, lower lashline, inner corner, smudgy liner, almost everything. might need a second one.

foundation/powder

1 - Chanel White Essentiel Brightening & Smoothing Loose Powder (review) has become my favourite powder. it's super fine and really does smooth out my skin beautifully giving it an amazing soft glow.

2 - Guerlain Météorites Perles in #1 Teint Rosé (review) i'm glad that i pulled it out last month and fell in love with it back again. it's glowy and mattifying at the same time, and is just so pretty that it's a pleasure to use. i also have the #3 Teint Doré, but i prefer this variation at the moment. have also ordered the #2 Teint Beige and will review/compare for you soon. i apply this powder with the Le Métier de Beauté Powder Brush.

3 - Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation in 01 Beige Albâtre (review) i still enjoy this foundation a lot. it has a nice coverage and a great dewy finish, feels light and fresh on the skin.

4 + 5 - Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation in 02 Beige Clair + Shiseido Sun Protection Foundation in SP40 (review) i have already dug out my favourite foundation mix for the colder seasons, and again this is a "fallen back in love" thing. the finish is just flawless perfection.

6 - Edward Bess Platinum Concealer in Soft Beige (review) has been my most used concealer last month. with the richer eye cream, this concealer lasts better on me than my other favourite, the creamier Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer.

cheek products

thanks to my MAC Blushes revisited series and a bunch of new Cargo blushes i have pretty much used a different blush every day, so for this category there are not so much definite favourites, but those that i liked most on me.

1 - Illamasqua Cream Blush in Rude (review) is a creamy coral peach, very blendable and nice for a fresh peach flush.

2 - YSL Crème de Blush in #2 Powdery Rose (review) is a soft pink, the siliconey texture refines the skin nicely.

3 - Cargo Blush in Mendocino (review) one of the berry tones i have already brought out for autumn and am totally enjoying these colours. the rich warm flush looks great with my skintone and dark hairs and eyes.

4 - MAC Mineralize Blush in Gentle (review) is also a fantastic autumnal blusher, more cool toned than Mendocino but i like it even better.

5 - Chanel Ombres Tissées in Beiges (review) is another recent cosmetic treasure/splurge. i am surprised how much i like the fine white shimmer when it appeared as almost too much for me in different online swatches.

eyeshadows

i'm very happy about having done the NARS Palettes-Looks series as i came to bring these little gems
back to life and had so much fun with them. totally in love again.

1 - NARS Pleasures of Paris Palette (review)

2 - NARS Essential Eye Palette (review)

3 - NARS Modern Love Palette (review)

for the single/duo eyeshadows:

1 - Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Silk Eyeshadow #6 (review) this intensive bronze is my favourite of the line. very wearable but still a highlight in every eye make up look. plus, an amazing staying power.

2 - Chantecaille Iridescent Eye Shade in Sel meh, a boring taupey? you might think, but this is THE taupey for me. review coming soon.

3 - L'Oreal HIP Metallic Shadow Duo in Electrified (review) i really like the metallic taupe eyeshadow in this duo. am really impressed by these HIPs, they make for fantastic eye make ups.

4 - L'Oreal HIP Metallic Shadow Duo in Gilded (review) two gorgeous colours in a duo. although the quality is rather medium, this is a perfect combination for a evening/statement smokey eye. love it for that anyway since the smokey eye is the epitome of autumn/winter make up for me.

5 - Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in #83 Illusoire (review) has become my favourite cream shadow. very shimmery, quite settled but still exciting. i just adore the sparkling, almost glossy effect on my lids.

lips

i rarely wear lip products, but if i did, this month i kept it rather neutral/nude to accompany the smokey eyes. when it's getting colder and more monochrome outside i will surely choose some bolder colours to go with the dark eye make up, but since it's still quite summery outside, i go for the less striking version :) still, i'm really looking forward for a bright berry lip with a bold smokey eye.

1 - MAC Lipglass in 2N (review) totally dislike MAC's Lipglass formula, but the colour is quite nice for my skintone. not a pale-nude but a neutral, chary colour that's not too dull because of the gloss-finish.

2 - Dior Rouge Dior in #298 Beige Indécise (review) almost same colour as 2N gloss, but with a satin finish. only wear this with exremely dark eye make ups otherwise it washes me out.

3 - Manhattan Water Flash Lipgloss a even more greyish colour than the other two, but rather sheer and very high shine finish so it's easy to wear. feels nice and fresh but has a minimal lasting power.

nails

with my nail colours, i also have completely switched to the "autumn" mode - cream finishes, mostly subtle colours and berry tones.

1 - P2 Elegant (new version) a good mannequin-nude. not too pink and not too grey. of my opaque nude polishes this one matches my skin tone the best. nice staying power, too.

2 - Essie Playa Del Platinum is slightly warmer than OPI Skull & Glossbones (review). will review this soon.

3 - Essence Walk Of Fame is a typical grurple. one of my favourite colours for A/W season, i choose such shades by their undertones and my mood and this is just a random place marker for any grurple in my drawer ;)

4 - Essence Plum Perfect (swatch) is THE perfect berry colour for me. it's bold and bright and makes my skin look so even and pale in a noble way. i love it both as mani & pedi, it looks soo good on my skin tone! sadly the quality is crap, it seems to shrink when it dries, causing me to have this white line of pseudo-tip wear right after few hours. but the colour is perfect. do you have any recommendations of OPI polishes with this colour (OPI lasts the best on me)?



that was a lot! i'm happy though that i've rediscovered so many great things in my stash this month.