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