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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Chanel Mouche de Beauté Illuminating Powder from the Versailles de Chanel Cruise 2012-2013 Makeup Collection

When I imagined how Chanel's Mouche de Beauté Illuminating Powder ($80) from Versailles de Chanel Cruise 2012/13 Makeup Collection would look, I never imagined that it would be rose gold. I didn't see rose gold in Chanel's photo above. Imagine my excitement when I pulled it out of its FedEx box! It had the appearance in the compact of rose gold, and, sure enough, it's rose gold - at least on my skin.

The limited-edition Versailles Compact, called Mouche de Beauté Illuminating Powder, is the superstar of the collection. The embossed relief of an architectural detail from the famous Château de Versailles is worth the price of admission. Incidentally, the collection consists of two new pieces. All of the other pieces, such as Rouge Coco Shine in Boy, are re-promotes.

Here is a photo of the powder as it appears to my eye - and my camera's eye. It arrived with that odd "discoloration" on the right side of the design, but that "uneven overlay"  had no effect on the powder itself.

Isn't it gorgeous? Granted, that design will not stay with it forever, but it's certainly pretty to look at when new!

I took swatch photos in full, mid-afternoon sun. I swatched heavily at the top of my arm using a sponge-tipped applicator. Then I used a kabuki brush to apply a light touch below. Interestingly, the compact comes in a lovely velveteen pouch with its own applicator - a large flat sponge like the one that comes with Estée Lauder's Pure Color llluminating Powder Gelée Blush in Tease. The sponge is a fabulously effective applicator. The powder is not powdery. It seems to be a new formula from Chanel.

The color of this gold illuminating powder is nothing short of divine. The more you apply, the more rose gold the color appears. You can see that the light application on my arm shows the rose hue, but it's not as dramatic as the darker swatch above.

Mouche de Beauté Illuminating Powder is a limited edition that, reportedly, will only be available at Chanel boutiques. I purchased mine from Chanel on 57th Street in New York. You can call any Chanel boutique in the United States (or Paris) to order it.

There is one other new piece in the collection: a vibrant pink eye shadow. If I can get photos, I will show it to you tomorrow.

Photo at top courtesy of Chanel; other photos by Best Things in Beauty
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31 comments:

  1. SuselewJanuary 22, 2013 at 4:28 PM

    That sure looks like Rose Rendezvous from Laura Mercier or Modern Mercury by Estee Lauder. Have you been able to compare the three?

    ReplyDelete
  2. VancouverChicJanuary 22, 2013 at 5:03 PM

    Hi C-Girl,
    Could this be used as an eye shadow???? The color is gorgeous, but with rosacea skin anytime I put on a sheen finish I look like a glowing lobster lol lol
    But if it had good staying power as an eye shadow that would be cool. Thanks for the awesome pics!!!
    Warm Regards,
    Joanne

    ReplyDelete
  3. CharlestongirlJanuary 22, 2013 at 5:03 PM

    Hi Suselaw, I haven't had time to compare it to anything I already have.

    ReplyDelete
  4. CharlestongirlJanuary 22, 2013 at 5:52 PM

    Hi Joanne,

    I don't see why not. I will try it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. lovethescentsJanuary 22, 2013 at 6:11 PM

    So very beautiful, Charlestongirl. Thank you for the review and the swatch.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2013 at 6:11 PM

    Hello,

    Glad to see this is out in the US now - hopefully this means it'll come out in the UK soon ! Looking forward to seeing the pink shadow :)

    Anne

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnahitaJanuary 22, 2013 at 6:37 PM

    It's so funny that you got your package the same day I did. I was taken aback at how rose gold the powder was. I was not expecting that. I thought it would be more gold

    ReplyDelete
  8. CharlestongirlJanuary 22, 2013 at 8:14 PM

    Hi Lovethescents,

    For this one, you might want to consider breaking your no-buy vow.

    ReplyDelete
  9. CharlestongirlJanuary 22, 2013 at 8:15 PM

    Hi Anne,

    I hope so too. I know it's available in Paris. Someone just bought it for me there. Was covering all my bases and ended up with two.

    ReplyDelete
  10. CharlestongirlJanuary 22, 2013 at 8:15 PM

    Hi Anahita,

    So, do you like it?

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2013 at 8:17 PM

    I really like some of the new illuminating powders, but have a dumb question. I like to use a loose powder over my foundation, can I still use one of these over top without looking too "powdery"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EileenJanuary 22, 2013 at 10:32 PM

      Hi Anonymous,

      I'm a bonafide loose finishing powder addict. I just love the way it pulls everything together. I don't have this particular luminator--yet--but I do have Modern Mercury which I've read is a similar type of formulation. I apply the luminator directly over my foundation and then lightly apply my loose finishing powder as usual but I avoid the area where I've applied the luminator so I retain its full effect. I think these bold luminators have their own very special look and I don't want to dilute the impact by powdering over them. These luminators do not feel like traditional powders. They are powders, but they apply creamy smooth and have a silken sheen. You won't look powdery.

      Delete
  12. CharlestongirlJanuary 22, 2013 at 8:21 PM

    Hi Anonymous,

    I would not recommend this particular powder as an allover finishing powder. It's too jazzy. If you want a finishing powder, why not the new Guerlain Météorites in Perles du Paradis? Even they are a bit of a highlighting powder. Consider (strongly) Chantecaille's HD powder for a finishing powder, and use this one for highlights.

    ReplyDelete
  13. MeredithJanuary 22, 2013 at 8:41 PM

    I just called one of the Chanel boutiques in Las Vegas (they have 3) and they said you already have to be their customer or they won't sell one to you! Can you imagine? I am on the waiting list at the Seattle Nordstrom, however. This looks gorgeous, can't wait to receive it. The SA said it shipped to them on the 14th so it'll take a week or two before I can have it but it looks like it's worth the wait.

    ReplyDelete
  14. CharlestongirlJanuary 22, 2013 at 8:49 PM

    Meredith, I have heard that. Call 57th Street in New York. They did not ask me if I was a customer. Also try the Chanel store in SoHo.

    ReplyDelete
  15. UnknownJanuary 22, 2013 at 11:24 PM

    I saw the eyeshadow and it's gorgeous, maybe i'll just pop on over the Chanel and pick up both items.

    ReplyDelete
  16. lovethescentsJanuary 23, 2013 at 4:45 PM

    STOP tempting me, Charlestongirl!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. CharlestongirlJanuary 23, 2013 at 6:05 PM

    Everyone,

    I confirmed today with SoHo that if they do not already have you in the Chanel computer system, they won't sell you these items over the phone.

    I really don't understand that reasoning.

    ReplyDelete
  18. CharlestongirlJanuary 23, 2013 at 6:06 PM

    Hi Goddesslily Seymour,

    Hope you got them on your trip.

    ReplyDelete
  19. CharlestongirlJanuary 23, 2013 at 6:06 PM

    Hi Lovethescents,

    Just doing my job. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. CharlestongirlJanuary 23, 2013 at 6:18 PM

    Meredith,

    If you see this, please e-mail me at bestthingsinbeauty@gmail.com.

    ReplyDelete
  21. AvaJanuary 23, 2013 at 7:39 PM

    The Chanel illuminating powder arrived at Nordstrom Seattle today (mine is on it's way!). Call Ondrea in the Chanel Studio at 206-628-2111.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lost Little NinjaJanuary 23, 2013 at 9:29 PM

    This powder is beautiful to look at! I agree with Suselaw -- it reminds me of Laura Mercier Rose Rendezvous.
    Thanks, CG, for the quick preview.

    ReplyDelete
  23. CharlestongirlJanuary 24, 2013 at 8:01 AM

    Thanks, Ava!

    ReplyDelete
  24. CharlestongirlJanuary 24, 2013 at 8:02 AM

    Hi BusterBoo,

    I had all my bases covered. One should arrive today from France. The U.S. got it here faster. I guess I'll be selling the extra.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Cat loverJanuary 24, 2013 at 9:13 PM

    Can you please do comparision swatches with Rose Rendezvous, Cruel Gardenia & Chanel's current illumuinating powder. Can you give me an idea of what your skintone is? Thank you! Love your blog!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EileenJanuary 25, 2013 at 1:02 PM

      Hi Cat Lover,

      I don't know that Charlestongirl has time for comparison swatches, but you can search her blog and find the items you're interested in seeing because she has reviewed and swatched all of them :-). Quick rundown in case you don't actually own any of these: Rose Rendezvous is a rosey bronze and Cruel Gardenia is a pale pink. Signée de Chanel is a very light gold with a hint of pink and you can see for yourself the color of Mouche de Beauté.

      Delete
  26. ChristinaJanuary 25, 2013 at 6:24 AM

    Hi, I saw this last Tuesday and tried it on. I liked it, but did not like the sparkle. I was afraid I would not get a lot of use out of it since I thought it is too sparkly for work.

    ReplyDelete
  27. CharlestongirlJanuary 25, 2013 at 3:16 PM

    Hi Cat Lover,

    I have very pale skin. I'm a #2 in Armani foundations and Warm Ivory in Bobbi Brown, if that helps.

    As Eileen said, I just don't have time between the new things and my real job to do a lot of comparison photos. I never have the older products at hand. They have to get filed away (and out of my way) so that I don't trip over them. Now if my filing system were better...

    Even that takes time. You can compare swatches by looking at all of the posts here. Just use the search button on the right.

    ReplyDelete
  28. CharlestongirlJanuary 25, 2013 at 3:16 PM

    Interesting, Christina, because it's a sheen, not sparkly, on my skin. How did you apply it?

    ReplyDelete
  29. CatherineJanuary 27, 2013 at 11:02 PM

    Hi! I am planning to get the Poudre Signee de Chanel, but I'm still not sure how well it will go with my golden skin. Should I hold out for the Mouche de Beaute instead? It seems "warmer" toned, which is what I need. I can't buy both, unfortunately. My skin is 4.25 (natural tan) or 4.5 (warm natural) in Bobbi Brown.

    ReplyDelete

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