Thursday, June 23, 2011

Chanel Fall 2011 Joues Contraste Fards à Joues Poudre Rose Écrin

The Chanel Fall 2011 Collection we've eagerly awaited has arrived - at Chanel.com and Chanel counters. It's everything I expected and more. While Chanel fall is "all about the eyes," the windows to our souls, there's a lot to love for lips and cheeks.

I had planned to start my Chanel series with Khaki Platine, a gorgeous eyeliner (one I'm sure Chanel made for me), but the weather didn't cooperate. Clouds have "graced" my attempts to get good photos of Khaki Platine, although I think I'll throw one in at the end of this feature.

Instead, I'm starting with Joues Contraste Fards à Joues Poudre in Rose Écrin ($43). Everyone needs a pretty cheek to complete a look, and Rose Écrin will delight anyone who loves a warm pink blush.

Chanel's Joues Contraste Powder Blush has been in my makeup wardrobe as long as I can remember. There have always been pretty shades that worked for me, and I just added Rose Écrin (#68) to my list of favorites. The moment I saw the photo in the promotional materials at Neiman Marcus, I knew it was going to be perfect.

What can I tell you about Chanel Joues Constraste that you don't already know? It's a unique powder blusher that offers buildable coverage, from natural with a light application to dramatic (if you choose), and it always imparts a flattering radiance to the cheeks. The blush has a lovely silky texture, which ensures easy application. It comes with a little brush that one would only use in a pinch. You need to use a fine blush brush with Chanel's iconic powder blush.

I was able to get a few indoor photos of Rose Écrin - the compact and swatches. Rose Écrin is not as peachy in the pan as Chanel's photo makes it appear, and it's not quite as cool a pink as my own photo shows. Split the difference, and you'll have good idea of the appearance in the compact.

On my arm - my pale skin - the color is all pink. Not too cool, not too warm, it's a pretty pink that is a year-round shade to my eye. Beautifully flattering! How much more could a gal want?

I used a sponge-tipped applicator to apply it to my arm, and I applied it heavily to get these swatch photos. I hope you can see that the pink shade of Rose Écrin is not too cool, but not too warm. Applied lightly, it imparts a very natural blush. Apply it heavily, and you will look pretty in pink (or like Raggedy Ann).

From the Chanel photos I've seen, the cheeks are not the focal point of the collection for fall. I'd recommend a light touch, especially if you intend to glam your look with the beautiful new eye shadows (I'll be showing them to you when the weather cooperates). For now, have fun with one little swatch photo of Khaki Platine. I've already purchased two of them! That's why you have to rush out to get this collection. We crazies are buying multiples!

I bought the fall collection from Chanel and Neiman Marcus. I have many lovely new things to show you over the coming days. I hope you'll come back to see.

Photos at top courtesy of Chanel; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

33 comments:

The Ultimate Makeup said...

The blush is absolute perfection. It looks like a perfect everyday blush as well as being amazing with a dramatic eye.

Thank you so much for the pics! Can't wait to get my hands on it!

Unknown said...

Perfect post! The blush and liner are two of only a few things I think I'll end up picking up from this collection!

Hlopushka said...

Really good collection! I'm waiting for my nail polishes, lipstick and eyeshadows to come!!! Your post made me even more excited:)

Khaki eyeliner is gorgeous!

Hopelessly Devoted To Makeup said...

What are you thoughts on the liner? I know they changed the formula from rose platine. Do you like it just as much?

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Ultimate Makeup!

The blush surprised me. It's that gorgeous. I'm extremely happy with it. Trying to resist the urge to hoard that too.

Charlestongirl said...

Hi PerilouslyPale,

The quad is really pretty - perhaps not novel, but lovely. I also really like the two cream shadows I bought. Will try to feature them really soon. They are flashy, but I purchased the super-wearable ones (I think).

Picture taking today was a challenge. It has alternated between cloudy and sprinkles. I did get some quad and liner photos, fortunately. :)

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Hlopushka!

Oh those nail polishes - I had to buy all three, and I don't even wear polish all the time. I need to start.

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Hopelessly Devoted,

If they changed the formula, it was a minor change. They are both soft, apply with ease, and have just the right amount of shimmer. The color of Khaki Platine is drop-dead gorgeous. I think it's a must-have.

Soni said...

These pics are killing me!! I want the blush, the glossimers, the lipsticks the eyeliner & maybe the quad & a polish or two. They haven't hit my counters yet and I am trying to be patient...but it's not working. =(
I wish they would ship everything at the same time to all the stores.

Ok, I'm done whining.
Charlestongirl, I'm so glad you threw us a bone with that last pic. The liner is at the top of my list now. (It pushed the lippies out of the way.)

Can't wait to see the rest of your reviews!

Style de Nude said...

Chanel really did it to me with this collection. I love this blush, and the khaki platine is gorgeous!!! These 2 items and the polishes are what I want most from the collection.

Charlestongirl said...

Soni, the liner is PERFECT for your coloring. It's Rose Platine made even more special. I'm still searching for the right words. Very special item.

Charlestongirl said...

Hey there, ProductDoctor!

Once you see the collection in person (assuming you haven't yet), you will find you need even more. This is one of the best Chanel collections I have seen in many seasons. That, coming from a Chanel fan (but not groupie), is high praise.

Sleepless in NY said...

I just saw the new collection on the Chanel website and I'm in love! I can't wait to pick up that blush. The eyeliner is very tempting too :)

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Sleepless,

Everyone - you too - should own Khaki Platine. Just like Rose Platine, it's going to go fast. I even showed it to a competitor @neimanmarcus, and she loved it!

lovethescents said...

That blush must look amaaaayzing on you! I think it might be a tad too light for me, though. Perfect for you fair beauties :-)

I'm not too sure about the liner. I tried the Rose Platine and it looked so awful on me. Can't tell you how disappointing that was. It made my deep-set eyes look even more deep set, even with a heavy dose of concealer.

Thank you for the swatches and the amusing post :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Charlestongirl,

I am dying to read your reviews on fall cream eyeshadows? Did you get Epatant? If I remember correctly, you have reviewed Shine mystique Khaki silver by Shu uemura in their 2011 spring collection and I wonder how different or similar Epatant is compared to that. Thanks your reviews, as always.
Daisy

pinkribbons said...

I can't decide whether I should get this blush. It seems like a rather ordinary colour and that there might be similar shades in the market. Or am I awfully wrong and will kick myself if I didn't add it to my order?

Charlestongirl said...

Hi PinkRibbons!

With your lovely skin tone, is there somewhere you can see it before you buy? It may be too pink for you. Not sure from your photo, but I think you should try before you buy. If there are only a few items from the collection you want to purchase, maybe this one's a skip?

Some of us get swept away by Chanel and other brands we like. I don't worry that a shade may be similar to others I have. I enjoy it "during its time." :)

Lisa said...

Love the swatches! The blush and liner were the two most interesting items from the fall collection and your watches really sealed it for me. Thank you so much. I feel completely comfortable buying on line for these two thanks to your post!

Eileen said...

Hi Hopelessly Devoted,

Apropos a change in formula: It's not that the formula was changed, rather the two eyeliners were manufactured as different types of eyeliners. Rose Platine was formulated as a Stylo Yeux Waterproof eyeliner in the automatic pencil format. For some reason, Khaki Platine was formulated as a Le Crayon Yeux eyeliner which is the regular pencil with the smudge tip. I don't know why Chanel did that, but the two eyeliner types are definitely different in texture and longevity.

When Chanel came out with Blanc and Clair not too long ago, they were manufactured as Le Crayon Khôl. That made sense because they're used to brighten the inner corner of the eye or line the lower waterline so the softer texture is highly desirable. But why are the two platines different? If Chanel has a reason, they're keeping mum. Anyone want to speculate?

Eileen said...

Hi Charlestongirl,

My Chanel package came today and I just can't stop admiring Rose Écrin (pink jewel). It is such a beautiful, neutral, soft pink. I couldn't agree with you more that the cheek is meant to be subtle this autumn. And, Chanel created the perfect shade of blush. The whisper of beige in the undertone insures that Rose Écrin, when lightly swept on the cheeks, will blend into the skin tone without any demarcation lines or "doll cheeks". It's just gorgeous.

I also got Khaki Platine and pronounce it to die for :-) Sabrina described it as a light, silvery sage green and she was spot on. It just seems to bring a bit of sparkle to my eyes with a hint of subtle color. Knowing that you're a green aficionado, I can hardly wait to hear what you think of it.

From the lip products, I only selected Pampille because I wanted a sheer wash of warmth to layer over some of my Shine colors. It's going to be perfect for my needs, but it is, indeed, very sheer.

Chanel released a fall collection of staggering beauty this year. From the classic, understated elegance of Prélude to the edgy and dramatic sweep of Illusion D'Ombre, Chanel really set the bar at an all-time high.

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Eileen!

We bought the same items, but I went a little overboard, purchasing the three nail colors (LMdB has prompted me to get more interested my nails). I may use one for a giveaway - not sure.

Of the two Rouge Coco shades, I only purchased the lighter one. I also bought a few more things (cream shadows, gloss, quad, etc.). I just couldn't resist. Need to get cracking on photos!

I purchased two Illusion D'Ombre shades. Like the Armani Eyes to Kill shades, they will have limited usefulness. I'm unlikely to wear them to work, and my social life is boring. I do have a short fundraising party to attend tonight. Maybe I'll wear one. :)

I usually edit Chanel collections more carefully. For fall, it was too hard. The shades are so pretty, and fall collections often excite me. Remember the days when fall collections didn't appear until August? I remember haunting the stores (so many years ago) waiting eagerly for them.

Thanks for answering the liner question. I hadn't paid much attention, and yesterday, when I started looking for Rose Platine, I couldn't find it where I expected to see it. Horrors! I think I know where I put it - have to pull it out today (and wear it).

I'm not sure how yesterday flew by so quickly. I wasted a lot of time trying to get photos. I would see the sun peep through the clouds, get everything together, run outside, set up quickly, and find the sun had disappeared again. I should have given up on photos and weeded.

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Lisa!

Glad to hear that. Hope you like them as much as I do. :)

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Daisy,

I do have the Shu shade (so gorgeous). Finding it right now may be difficult because my pre-knee replacement items were all thrown in a box and packed away. I STILL haven't unpacked them! Maybe that will be this weekend's project.

I attempted it a few weeks ago, realized I needed some plastic storage containers, and set off for the dollar store. Got them, but by that time, I had lost interest in sorting. :)

Hlopushka said...

Charlestongirl,

hahaha...welcome to the club:) Polishes are amazing. I hope I will receive my parcel today:).

The whole collection is surprisingly unique and wearable at the same time.
Can't wait for your eyeshadow swatches;) How many did you buy?

Daly Beauty said...

Dying. Must. Have. This is gorgeous!

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Hlopushka!

If you mean of the Illusion d'Ombre shadows, I bought two. I just finished taking photos for tonight or tomorrow morning. :)

Hey there Jane!

I take it you'll be buying it?

Evelyn said...

The blush is very pretty, I'm thinking of buying it. I think Chanel liners hate me. I got rose platine and it barely writes on my lid. The new one doesn't leave much color on my skin when I tested it. Really odd! But the new shadows are amazing!

michelle said...

I purchased the blush, one of the glosses and two of the three nail colors from Chanel.com and they are beautiful!!! So glad I got them early. I'm not really an eye liner person, but, I think I will be buying the eyeliner today as well, as your swatches really make me want to have it!

DivaDebbi said...

Absolutely gorgeous! I finally caved and bought by Terry's Apple Glow velvet cream blush, which works well for my skin tone. The Rose Ecrin looks lovely. Just when you think you have found your Holy Grail, the next great thing rolls along...!

Charlestongirl said...

Hey Debbi,

You mean we can't have two holy grails? I'm in trouble. :)

Charlestongirl said...

Evelyn,

What is your skin tone? Interesting!

Charlestongirl said...

Michelle,

I hope you like the liner as much as the KP fanatics among us!