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Monday, May 26, 2014

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Sunscreen in N° 01

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen is the face of Chanel for the Spring-Summer 2014 launch of Les Beiges Healthy Glow to hit the counters. The Les Beiges line includes Chanel's limited-edition Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Sunscreen ($65) and the All-in-One Healthy Glow Fluid. With their sunscreen, both are perfect for summertime.

I was lured to the Chanel counter by the new display. I immediately saw Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Broad Spectrum SPF 15 in N° 01, with its three pretty stripes. I knew the moment I saw it that N° 01 was the shade for me. If you would like to see N° 02, head over to The Beauty Look Book.

Chanel's photo of N° 01 is shown directly above. It is not that colorful. The lightweight, multi-stripe powder can offer a palette of effortless effects - depending on your skin tone. The powder can act as a highlighter, sculpting powder, bronzer, and blush - all with a sheer, natural finish and broad-spectrum sun protection.

A hybrid powder (depending on your skin tone and the shade selected), Les Beiges were inspired by Gabrielle Chanel’s passion for freedom - a new makeup approach for “simple, intuitive, and natural beauty.” Les Beiges represent a new, versatile concept for Chanel. We saw our first collection last year, and the latest has finally made it to the shores of the United States.

The ingredients include a purifying protective cream containing white roses and a cotton composite plant cell extract that protects the skin from environmental pollution while soothing and calming the skin. Shea butter offers softness, while the UVA and UVB factors help prevent fine lines and sun spots. The powders are very lightly scented with Chanel's iconic gardenia.

I seem to have purchased more than my share of face powders lately - especially the ones that are nearly impossible to swatch and photograph. This powder adds a pretty glow - or translucent sheen - to my face, something last year's powders did not do. I wasn't overwhelmed with my first purchase last year. With the new N° 01, I see the glow. Given its perfect match to my skin tone, the shade also provides totally transparent, light coverage along with its SPF 15. The active ingredients are octinoxate and titanium dioxide. I love it as a finishing powder.

These swatch photos may be the most difficult photos I've ever taken. I did everything I could to make N° 01 show up on my skin. It is such a perfect match that all you can see in my photos is a glow from the microfine powder. When you examine the powder, you will see that it has barely detectible micro-shimmer in it.

To swatch, I took a sponge-tipped applicator and swatched heavily in a row at the top of my arm. Then I used a kabuki brush to blend all three colors and add a larger swatch below. My photos were taken in full, afternoon sun. If you look extremely carefully, you can see that the powder "lights up" my skin in the sunlight. The shade I selected adds little color - just a slight warmth.

I can select the peachy stripe across the bottom of the compact and achieve a light peach glow that's kind of pretty. Blended, the shades melt into my skin as if they belong there. For me, there is no reason to select individual shades when applying the powder.

The compact comes with a brush inside. It will do in a pinch, but I wouldn't recommend you use it for any serious sculpting.

The new Les Beiges Collection is available at Chanel.com, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, and other Chanel counters. I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus.

Photo at top and one compact photo courtesy of Chanel; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

16 comments:

  1. I have been wearing this for the last 3 or 4 days and I love it. I have gone back and forth between swishing all the colors together and using the product that way and using them separately as Lisa Eldridge did on the two videos she did for the Chanel website and I love it either way. The peach shade as a blush is perfect for me. Such a summery look. I think I need to buy a backup of this as it is LE. It is my favorite purchase of the week.

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  2. I have been looking forward to trying these - finally they have arrived here. My favorite SA was let go and she was so most helpful. It really is a loss of sorts for me. I was even holding out for getting these at my counter instead of ordering them at chanel.com since she would be able to match my skin tone and give me application advice. I don't understand certain corporate decisions.
    Thanks for this great review.
    Tanja

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  3. Both 01 and 02 are great additions to the Les Beiges family of powders. I know some people just don't get the whole Les Beiges "bonne mine" thing and that's OK. There's no rule that says we have to embrace every new concept and product that is introduced. For those of us, though, who liked the all-over healthy glow that the original Les Beiges powders created, these tri-colored summer options are a must---a must! Like the original powders, the colors will suit a wide variety of skin tones and they can be used in different ways as Jo pointed out. I'm NC15 in winter and lean towards NC20 during the summer. Since I was in the market for a bronzer, 02 is the one I selected after trying both options. Had I not recently purchased a fresh powder in 10, I would have been tempted to get 01 for an all-over soft glow.

    Charlestongirl, I can easily imagine how beautiful 01 is on you. It's perfect for you and all the other lovely porcelain beauties reading this post. Definitely check out those Lisa Eldridge videos Jo referenced if you haven't seem them already. Worn for an all over glow or for a sculpt-highlight-blush effect, 01 and 02 are winners.

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  4. I just want to add that I do not know why this is being billed as a sunscreen. There is no way I would use this as my only sun protection. You definitely need to use a good SPF 30 sunscreen under it.

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  5. I'be been looking forward to trying this one and I'm so glad it has arrived. Posting photo of before and after applying the powder just made me say "awesome" since I think it just fits my skin making it glows. More to that, no worries of getting burned under the sun since it is SPF 15 sunscreen.

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  6. Jo, the SPF 15 is like icing on the cake - a sunscreen. It would never "do" in the sun all day. I hope everyone knows that we need a sun block for ultra-protection. I sure do. I like the La Roche Posay and Clarins ones because they are so lightweight.

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  7. I'm in serious need of a finishing powder so CG, you couldn't have found a better to share this with us. 01 looks like it would fit the bill for me. Since I picked up the Guerlain Crazy Terracotta a few months back, I doubt I would need the 02. A visit to the Chanel counter will be a must. Can't wait!

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  8. Oh dear...I think I need to order this in the 01. I just ordered a back-up of the original powder in 10 - since I hit pan on my first one, I panicked and ordered another to take on a trip, since I was afraid the first would crack into a million pieces when traveling! I love the original powder...I use it on good skin days (which I'm happy to say occurs a lot recently) over just concealer, which could be Bobbi Brown Eye Brightener or Tom Ford Traceless stick used as concealer. But you are right - there really is no glow - so I think I'm going right over to Chanel.com to order this one!

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  9. I so have my eye on this powder! The shades are very me. I promised myself I wouldn't cave though and that I would not buy it... Please lord give me strength ;-)

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  10. Kiss & Makeup, you had me in hysterics (at work). I so know temptation.

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  11. Bisbee, I just got the new Eve Lom concealer. Must get photos to share!

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  12. Hi CG, how does this powder compare to the YSL Souffle? I want to purchase one, but am not sure now which to choose.

    I'm about an NC15-20 and have normal-to-oily skin.

    Thanks!

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  13. I ordered the 01 - out of stock at Chanel.com...but Nordstrom had it. ;-}

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  14. Hi Angela,

    This new Les Beiges is nothing like the new YSL Soufflé D'Éclat. Les Beiges is all about a healthy outdoor glow whereas YSL is more about blurring imperfections via a soft matte finish. Les Beiges can be selectively used to highlight, contour, bronze, or blush. YSL excels as an elegant all over finishing powder. Because they do different things, one does not replace the other. Bottom line: Sporty glow or a bit of bronze? Les Beiges. Flawless and elegant? Soufflé D'Éclat. But, why not both? LOL

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  15. Your skin looks perfect with the Chanel powder. I find those ads so lovely and tempting. As if I need another powder, bronzer, etcetera...

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  16. I just picked up the # 1 and really like it
    Thanks for showcasing it

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