NOTD - Chanel Morning Rose

How long has it been since a NOTD? Too long I think.

It's not that I've not been wearing polish, but strangely, I've been reverting to ones I've worn (and photographed) before and so it's not very interesting to re-post the same shades is it?

I bought Morning Rose last year along with the much coveted Mimosa, but strangely enough, I never photographed her. So here she is.

A strange one, this. In the bottle she screams to be loved, worshipped and never forgotten. In a way she captured my heart more than Mimosa in the bottle.

Chanel Morning Rose

But her salmon-pink loveliness seems to fade into 'just pretty' on the fingers. The formula doesn't help. It goes on a bit unevenly and even with two coats it seems patchy. The golden micro glitter doesn't come through as strongly most of the time, only in sunlight. In fact, Morning Rose was born to be in the sun. Normal daylight just doesn't do her any justice, in fact, she's could be considered a little boring. But let her shimmer in the sun and you realise why she was created, to evoke the dew glistening on a perfect rose first thing in the morning light. Poetic, huh?

Chanel Morning Rose, glistening gold flecks in the bottle

Also, I think that one carefully applied coat looks more refined than two. And it's very rare that that happens. Ms R was the first to point it out to me, being unashamedly a one-coat girl anyway. But she's right in this case. I wish I'd stopped, and photographed, one coat. It's an almost nude look with a salmon pink blush. Very, very elegant.

All the photos show two coats with Essie Good to Go topcoat. And they were taken on my iPod, which oddly enough picks up the colour a bit more accurately than my Fujicam.

Does Morning Rose charm you or bore you?

Chanel Long Lasting Eyeliner in Grenat (85)

So far I've resisted the Spring collections. I would wander about the counters dreamily swatching shadows, blushers, polishes and then dreamily wander away giving myself an imaginary pat on the back for resisting their pastel charms. 

Until, one day last week, I saw Lisa Eldridge use some of the new products on the Chanel website and when I saw how utterly gorgeous the eyeshadow palette (Eclosion) looked when applied with the new Grenat eyeliner I knew that my resolve would crumble. 

Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof - Grenat (85)

Then I reasoned.... the main colour Lisa (we're on first name terms and all that... ;p) used was actually provided by the liner which was smudged into the shadow of a similar colour. I would resist the palette but the liner was a necessity.

(Yes Mr P, it was NECESSARY. I fell down the stairs, remember?)

Actually, on a side note, I did fall down the stairs, and very nasty it was too. So, hello Chanel, I think I might deserve you a bit. 

Grenat is one of the long-lasting waterproof formulas, a little drier and firmer than regular kohl pencils but with a lasting power which knocks spots off them. This needs quick blending as it sets quite fast due to it's waterproof nature.

 The colour is hard to describe but definitely not hard to wear as I had first thought it would be. I commented to Ms R that it looked like it would give you that 'eye infection' look, due to the slight red tone.

Ok I was wrong. But also a little bit right. This is a gorgeous, soft sexy colour to wear smudged round the eyes. I wouldn't,  however, recommend it on the waterline. In a moment of over-enthusiasm I also whacked it on the waterline top and bottom, et voila'..... I looked like I'd got a nasty case of pink eye....

Chanel Grenat

Chanel Grenat eyeliner (smudged - top, applied neat - bottom)

True to form my camera likes to play colour tricks so these photos don't quite capture the more plummy, burgundy nature of Grenat to it's full beauty, but it does portray the more brownish tones which I think is what makes this so wearable.

Chanel Grenat eyeliner (top, smudged, bottom, neat) - daylight

I'm in love with this little pencil. It makes such a refreshing change from brown or black and for me it makes the perfect spring eye look. All you need is a neutral base shadow and this smudged on the lashline. It's not your typical pastel spring colour but that's why I like it, it's that bit different. I see this working beautifully all year round and I know this will be one of my staples.

I don't know if this is limited edition but not being an obvious show-stopper, like the eye quad for instance I'm sure it's not likely to be a sell-out instantly even if it is.

I paid about €20 for this here in Brussels (Mr P, if you're reading this, I FELL DOWN THE GODDAMN STAIRS, REMEMBER?), in the UK it retails for £18.

Would you wear it?

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre Review

Hmmmm, now where do I begin with this one?


First of all, if I told you all when I actually bought this then you would chastise me for being a bad blogger and not telling you all about it sooner, but on the other hand I wanted to give it a good enough trial before unleashing my (probably controversial) opinion on it.

So, here goes....


I bought this back around the beginning of November and it was one of the most highly anticipated purchases for a very long time. As soon as I'd heard about these spongy, light-as-air cream shadows from Chanel I knew that I wanted all of them. I would skulk around Ici Paris and Planet Parfum stroking all the colours and return home with the backs of my hands full or glitter, shimmer and promises of stupendous eye make-up to come....


I chose Illusoire, a cool metallic purple-silver shade but I was torn between this and Mirifique, a majestic black with silver microfine glitter.

The little glass pot is very alluring and it comes with a tiny slanted brush which you can use as a liner brush or use to apply the colour to the lid. 

When you open the pot you are met with a strangely bouncy, almost whipped looking shadow, a bit like a mousse. In fact it's just like memory foam, if you touch the shadow the imprint remains. (See photo above and below)

The colour transfers beautifully onto the fingers ....

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre (Illusoire)

and onto the back of my hand..... 

....but sadly that's where the joy ends.  Unfortunately I can't seem to get this quality of colour onto my eyelids. I've tried using my fingers, using the brush it comes with (a bit pants to be honest), my MAC 217, a synthetic eyeshadow brush, you name it, the colour doesn't quite 'make it'. 


The point of these shadows is that they provide smooth, even, long-lasting colour to the lids and that they are easily blendable. This is my problem, I find that this colour applies patchily and that it takes a lot of working in and blending to achieve an even finish. Once it's on the lids it looks pretty enough but doesn't have that depth of colour that you see on my finger or on the back of my hand in these photos. 


Also, it does crease. For me it works better over a primer, but it still creases. The overall effect on the lids is almost shiny, like my lids are 'wet'. This can be pretty and edgy or a complete disaster, depending on the look you're going for. 

I've used this quite a few times, as you can see from the photos as I've been determined to find a way of making it work for me.  I've found that it's best to apply with the fingertips and complete the blending with a eyeshadow blending brush so that it blends seamlessly into the skin. I then like to line the waterline in black and apply mascara. It makes for a pretty look, but it's not 'wow', and I expected more 'bang' for my buck. 


Perhaps the other colours are better, and I've seen that other girls have loved these, but I remain a little unconvinced. Perhaps if it had been a drugstore/highstreet product I wouldn't have minded so much, but this is Chanel, baby, and that don't come cheap. 


So far the ultimate cream shadow for me is Benefit's Creaseless Cream shadow liner. I've also had far better results from Kiko's Cream Shadow Stick and, most recently, the new Metallic Cream Shadows from Collection 2000. 

I can't wait to try the Maybelline Colour Tattoo shadows when they finally land in Europe! 


Have you tried any of the Illusion d'Ombre shadows?


Score 6/10

June in Bengal - A Chanel comparison

So, Chanel have released their Spring collection and one of the nail polishes, June, has been much hyped as is usually the case with Chanel limited editions. The other shades, April and May will be part of the permanent collection so there is less fuss over those, but this year June is definitely busting out all over...

Last year,  it was instant love for me with Mimosa. The colour was so unique and summery and I really couldn't get it out of my head, even though the formula was total pants.

This year I'm feeling a bit 'meh' about these colours, but I went the other day to swatch June on my pinky and I realised that there was something about it that didn't look new to me. Something familiar.

The colour is a pale juicy cream apricot. It's pretty, and I like it, but in certain lights it looks like I tried to go 'nude' and got the colour a bit wrong, if you know what I mean.

Anyway I got home and found an old Chanel polish in my collection gifted to me by GG some years back. It's called Bengal and on swatching it next to June it's remarkably similar.

Chanel Bengal (ring finger), Chanel June (little finger)

 There is a difference of course, and Bengal has more pink in it to make it more of a peach rather than an apricot colour, but no one can deny they are very similar. Too similar for me to have both at any rate.

 Bengal has some shimmer and a touch of microglitter and requires 3 coats to achieve opacity. June is a cream with no shimmer and needs two coats. It's a good formula, way better than Mimosa was. But Mimosa still has my heart, despite it's formula flaws.

Bengal (left), June (right)

Looking back on my photos I realise that I do like June quite a lot, but with Bengal already in my collection I'm not sure I can justify buying it.

The Dior spring collection however has two absolute beauties which I'm drooling after and have nothing like in my stash:

What colours are you itching to wear on your nails this Spring?

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Review

I'm so totally late onto the Vitalumiere Aqua bandwagon, but I'm going to post this anyway.

I picked up Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation from Boots last month.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

I was matched to B30 - Beige Sable which is generally a good match for my skintone. Although  the Beige range is supposed to be for skin with yellow undertones (as opposed to the Beige Rose, or BR numbers) it does still lean slightly pinkish on my incredibly yellow complexion. However that is probably a good thing as I don't really want to look so sallow, so this perks up my colour a bit without making me look odd.

I won't beat about the bush. I love this foundation. The texture is very light and creamy after you've given the bottle a good shake. This is the key, you MUST shake it really well to mix the components together. It's a water based foundation so it separates easily each time you put back in your make-up bag. Remember the shake and you're all set.

The bottle is compact and plastic, light and easy to carry which I love. It's still the standard Chanel foundation size of 30ml, but minus the heavy glass bottle which I find impractical and bulky. I'm all about convenience, me.

I like to use this with a standard flat foundation brush, but it works fine with fingers too. It blends into my skin beautifully leaving a gorgeous natural matte finish. It's not a glowy foundation like the original Vitalumiere, which I used to use a good few years ago, but it doesn't make the skin look completely flat either. As it settles and 'warms up' the skin takes on a very natural 'glow' without going shiny.

Coverage is good and there is obviously a decent amount of pigment in such a light feeling product. I would say that it gives light coverage which is buildable to medium. It evens out the skin so beautifully and makes concealing those darker blemishes and scars much easier as it minimises them significantly with just one thin layer.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (B30): Straight out the bottle (left), blended in slightly (centre) and blended out to almost nothing (right)

I find I don't need to powder at all when I use this. I rarely powder anyway, but sometimes with the Vitalumiere original and with the Prolumiere too I needed to add a dusting of powder. For your reference my skin type is combination-dry but I reckon that oiler skin types could use this happily with just a small amount of powder if necessary.

It has a fresh, slightly floral scent which I really like. I generally don't like face make-up to be scented but this is a really pleasant, non-headache-inducing smell. 

Staying power is between 6-8 hours of perfection without a primer. To be honest I haven't tried this with a primer yet, partly because I've been lazy and haven't been using one. For special occasions I will prime, promise!

This has been such a great everyday foundation for me when I don't wear my BB cream. It's natural, makes me look 'fresh', and feels so light on the skin. When I look in the mirror and forget that I've put foundation on I think that's the best sign of all.

Knocks spots off Pro Lumiere and Vitalumiere (original). My sampling of the new Perfection Lumiere tells me that I still prefer Vitalumiere Aqua. Perfection Lumiere is geared towards medium- heavy coverage and is more matte. What you would prefer pretty much depends on what you're looking for in a foundation but in my case Vitalumiere Aqua wins hands down. 

£31.00 in the UK from department stores and Boots

€39.50 (prices vary) in Belgium and the Netherlands

Have you tried this?

Angel Face

MAC MSF in Soft & Gentle, MAC Creamy Bisque and Boots No7 blush in Honey

 I like to call this my 'daily Angel' makeover. What it is essentially is a beautifully fresh 'nude' look which focuses on radiant skin and sparkling eyes (note, I say eyes and not eyeshadow.... ). This is not about colour or drama, it's about letting your natural ethereal quality shine through even when you're feeling less than heavenly :)

What you'll need for your Angel face!

The key to this look is fresh looking skin. I like to mix a little Armani Fluid Sheer No2 (a light highlighting liquid) into my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (review coming soon!) or use my Erborian BB cream with some Fluid Sheer applied on cheekbones. Don't pick anything too heavy on coverage or on shimmer. You want a light veil of cover just to even out the skintone. If you have a foundation which has a 'glowy' effect,  you may want to skip mixing in a liquid highlighter, adding only afterwards if needed.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and Armani Fluid Sheer No 2

Add your powder/liquid highlighter on cheekbones, browbone, down the centre of the nose, just above the cupid's bow, and a little on the forehead (skip this if you are oily skinned).

Add a neutral, pale terracotta blush. Something not too pink. I use Boots No7 powder blush in Honey. Build up gradually, you don't want much colour but just enough to give warmth.

No7 Blush (Honey)

 Conceal under the eyes and do the rest of your blemish concealing (if necessary).

For Angel eyes

For the eyes, apply your primer. I've been using Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin which is a champagne shimmer, but any primer will do. Then take a champagne/flesh-toned powder highlighter and sweep this over the eyelid. Add a pale cream/white shimmer eyeshadow (I'm using MAC Creamy Bisque) to the inner corners to brighten even more.
Add a bronze/gold brown shimmer pencil to the waterline (I use MAC Teddy but MAC Powersurge would be even better), top and bottom and very softly smudge a little into the bottom lashline.

Keep brows natural, brush them through or fill them in a little if want.

Curl lashes and apply a lengthening mascara for clean, long fluttery lashes. I've been using Hypnose Doll Eyes.

For the lips just massage in a little lip balm and then, using your finger again, massage in a little rose shimmer lip colour so that it becomes the most natural of angelic lip stains. A more nude colour also works beautifully, like Collection 2000 Cream Puff lip cream in Angel Delight (very appropriate). I've also been using Laura Mercier 'Courtesane'.

Courtesane (top) & Angel Delight swatches

 So, so easy. So, so pretty. So, so flattering and youthful. This will make your eyes sparkle and will knock years off.

As a bonus it looks great in the harsh autumn/winter daylight because there is no colour as such yet the eyes are defined enough for daytime.

My favourite 'je ne sais quoi' look for cold, gloomy days.

What's your favourite winter face?

Shadow Wardrobe - Nudes and Neutrals

Seasons come, seasons go, but some colours stay all year round. Like most people my go-to day looks are based on more neutral tones on the eyes, that is, on the days I wear shadow. Most days it's just liner and mascara. The thing is, daylight is harsh and unforgiving, even more so in autumn/winter, so I've been reaching for my old fail-safes more than I have been in the last few months.

My number one eye colour, Benefit Creaseless Cream shadow in Birthday Suit (a lovely pewter -champagne hybrid) has unfortunately gone missing otherwise it would be here and I would probably have hit the bottom of the pot by now. The fact that I mourn it's loss every time I need to swipe something quick and pretty on my lids is testament to its performance and versatility. Nothing has quite replaced it and I will be buying this again as soon as I can find it

From top, clockwise: Sleek Storm palette, Chanel Nymphea quad, Jemma Kidd Eye Wardrobe (Brown), MAC Creamy Bisque, Body Shop 09 (now discontinued)

Anyhow, here are my other neutral beauties which by some miracle I haven't managed to lose.... yet.

Sleek Storm Palette

This is my desert island palette. Every colour is uber pigmented, smooth and just beautiful. The quality far outshines it's modest price tag (I think these palettes are about £5.99 / €8.50) and every woman should have one. My most used shades are the matte browns (3rd top row, 5th bottom row) and the golds. The black is also matte and can be used as a liner too.
The dark blue (4th bottom row) has suffered as a result of me dropping this on the floor on numerous occasions. Oops.

Nymphea (love that name) is my first and only Chanel quad. It's probably pushing about 8 years old now and it's still going strong. The beige shade is almost at the pan. These are very easy to use as they are not that pigmented. Anyone, no matter how cackhanded can put a wash of these colours on the lid and look more than fine. These are very flattering shades and the green and peach just give the other colours a bit of 'lift', plus they are so sheer that they can be considered almost nude. Pigment isn't everything though, and I do believe there is a place for sheerer eyeshadows as not everyone can cope with pigment-rich products. These are the European baked version whilst the Chanel quads in the US are pressed shadows and I've heard these are smoother with more pigment. If I go to the US again then I'll pick up another quad there for comparison. Sacrifices, huh?

This unassuming little quad is Jemma Kidd Eye Wardrobe in Brown. It was sent to me when I was a tester for the Beauty Bible a few years ago and I fell in love with it. It would be the perfect bridal make-up palette. The colours are satin and matte and there is a unique 'dirty' gold shade which gives this palette a lovely twist on the usual brown-nude combo. These shadows can be a little dusty in texture, especially the white one, but as you can see that hasn't stopped me from using it. I've always had compliments when I wear this. I really like the colour combinations of the other quads so they are definitely worth checking out. Available at lookfantastic.com . £24

Jemma Kidd Eye Wardrobe in Brown

MAC Creamy Bisque

This was a recent purchase on a quick visit to MAC a few weeks back and it's my favourite MAC shadow so far. This is so versatile and can be used all over the lid or as an inner-corner highlight. It makes my eyes look so fresh. Just this and a slick of brown liner has been my most worn look this month and definitely Mr P's favourite. It's basically a warm, pale cream-beige with a touch of shimmer. During the day it brightens the eye, and at night the shimmer comes to life and sparkles very subtly. Beautiful....

Very old Body Shop shadow ( 09)

Not very exciting, I know. But this old dull looking shadow has garnered more compliments than any other shadow I have! Everyone asks me what I have on my eyes when I wear this. It's a warm taupe with a subtle duochrome effect which leans lilac. Wierd I know, and I should probably have swatched it for you, but my camera is being pants and just to photograph this lot took me 15 minutes and wrangled my nerves completely so just believe me when I says it's really, really purrrrty. :)

What are your favourite neutrals? Has anyone got the Storm palette and the Urban Decay Naked palette..... how do they compare?

Fragrant offerings

aka.... my perfume collection.

Pandora's perfumes

Recently I've really loved reading about perfume, especially other girls' perfume collections.
Perfume is one of those incredibly subjective things, but the market is so swamped that I always find it useful to find out what others like too, so that I can organise my 'sniffing' trips accordingly! 

My journey with fragrance began when I was about 12. I bought a tiny bottle of Joy by Jean Patou on a school trip to Boulogne. I barely spoke French but I somehow managed to walk into this very posh department store and come away with an exquisitely gift-wrapped bottle of what was once heralded 'the most expensive perfume in the world'. I made that bottle last for years and I still have that gift wrapping, treasured in the back of an old diary as if it were made of gold leaf.

Precocious... moi???

So on to the here and now and my current collection is, I think at least, quite modest. Most of my scents of choice are quite light, fresh and floral. Boring? Maybe. I'd like to be one of those people with eclectic taste in perfume, the kind of perfume that costs about £150 a bottle and contains essence of leather, tobacco, rare Amazonian wood, extract of burnt power cables, and antelope flea musk. But thou must be true to thyself and I would be lying to myself if I said that I actually would wear most of the fragrances sold in an 'haute parfumerie', although Mr P is quite partial to a bit of antelope flea musk.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle - Moisture Mist

Some fragrances I like to wear in other incarnations. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle is a prime example. I find the perfume too strong sometimes, it hits my nasal passages like a bullet as an eau de parfum, but as a body spray, like this moisture mist here, it's just gorgeous. It smells instantly like the perfume dry-down which is much, much nicer than the somewhat abrasive top notes you get at first spritz of the perfume itself. I love wearing this. It makes me feel sensual and polished all at once. 

Bulgari Omnia Crystalline

 If I had one signature scent then this would probably be it. Bulgari Omnia Crystalline. This also happens to be Mr P's favourite. In fact he bought me my first bottle of this for my birthday many years ago. I loved it instantly. I ask myself how on earth he managed to find such an amazing perfume, amongst the myriad of scents out there. But he did, bless him. This I would describe as an 'aquatic floral. There is a fresh crispness to the smell with a slight woodiness which is prevented from being too masculine by the presence of a floral note, which according to the description must be the lotus flower. It was apparently designed for the Japanese market where fresh, light fragrances are extremely popular and at one time it was the best-selling perfume there (my source for this info is here). On me this dries down to what I can only describe as smelling like me but better! Like I'm always shower fresh. I know I will always buy this.

Elie Saab Le Parfum

 This was a birthday gift and the newest perfume I own. It's actually very different from any of the other scents I have. It's much, much stronger than I'm used to but it's perhaps the most interesting and complex perfume I have. There are so many different elements to this. To me it's a leathery sophisticated floral with hints of tea. Yes, I smell tea in it. I'm weird though, so you will probably not smell tea. This is sex in a bottle. It's very heady and must be used with a light hand. I would put this on the nape of the neck and behind my knees and in the crease of my elbow. This is for special evenings, to be worn with jewellery and heels.... and possibly nothing else ;)

Jo Malone - Nutmeg & Ginger and White Jasmine & Mint

Ah, Jo, how I love you. I don't think there is a fragrance of yours I don't love. Except Pomegranate Noir, that one just gave me a headache. Here we have Nutmeg and Ginger, and White Jasmine and Mint. This is my 3rd bottle of White Jasmine and Mint. I wore it on my wedding day layered with Nectarine Blossom and Honey. Nutmeg and Ginger is perfect for cooler weather days, it's spiciness and warmth being a great comfort to me. White Jasmine and Mint I'm currently on a break from but will embrace once more with open arms in the spring. 

Zara White

Here we have one beauty rule broken: Don't buy cheap perfume.
Zara White is cheap, but it doesn' t smell cheap. Honestly. It's very fresh and crisp, citrus and ozonic at the same time, but it dries down to a more floral base. The packaging is very meh... but for freshening up quickly without offending anyone then this is more than fine. It fades over a couple of hours but at €4.99 who cares. NB, most of the Zara perfumes are lovely! White Jasmine in particular, that will probably be my next cheapo fragrance fix.

The Sanctuary Body Spray - patchouli bliss

So it's not strictly a perfume, but The Sanctuary's classic body line has that signature smell which they have developed into a fragrance line in itself. You either love it or hate it. I used to hate it with a passion, but something happened to me in the last year or so and now I can't get enough of the soft powdery patchouli smell. The body butter is divine and I top it off with this lovely body spray which is much lovelier than the actual perfume that they also have in the range.

Baby bottle of Viva La Juicy

Look at this! Innit dinky??? Juicy Couture 'Viva la Juicy' is my wild-card. I didn't commit to buying even a 30ml size, but I do really like this fun, floral gourmand. The balance of sweet to floral is just right. A little goes a long way so this 5ml bottle of cuteness will serve me well. I'm not likely to want a bigger size of this after it's gone but for now it's my night-out scent of choice.

So those are my simple offerings to the temple of scent.

What scents do you all like? Are you more Duty Free or Haute Parfumerie?