Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush from the Collection États Poétiques for Fall 2014

A poetic Fall palette. A colorful game of opposites. Innocent and stormy shadows express passion and emotion. A redesigned eyeliner pen defines a tone of mystery with a sleek felt tip for ultimate precision. 

After looking over the entire collection at Chanel.com, I ordered the blush in Innocence and the four Rouge Coco Shines. They have been here for 10 days! It was hot (or raining), I was going to physical therapy after work, and I had no time to get photos - until today. I'll admit I took a very conservative approach to the collection. I know there is more coming, and I want to see round 2 before I spend too much money.

There was no way I could pass by Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Innocence (#160, $45). I like to in person even more than I liked it online. It has more of an autumn look.

The soft, muted mauve pink, which some will call rosewood, is matte on my skin. It is sheer, giving us an opportunity to wear a literal blush of color or to layer the shade for more oomph. It is not as powdery as some Chanel blushes. Each time I've tried it, I've finished with a clean compact.

I swatched Innocence heavily at the top of my arm. I used a sponge-tipped applicator and ran it across the powder four or five times to show you an even representation of the color. Then I used a kabuki brush and applied it very lightly in a larger swatch below. Any shine you see is from the sun's reflection.

My arm looks like it had a battle. I'm wondering if those little red spots are spider bites. I saw a spider near my bed this weekend. I think I'll move him to another home if I see him again.

The color is a beautiful shade for fall. I'm going to enjoy it. I love the tinge of plum or mauve overlaid on rose. It may look lighter on darker skin tones, but it is definitely a heather rose on my fair skin.

These are the same swatches. The background color and angle to the sun make them look slightly different. I can see that my efforts to apply Innocence with a kabuki brush yielded an uneven application. I'll remember that and use a softer blush brush when I start to wear this beautiful blush for fall.

I purchased my Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Innocence at Chanel's Web site. I know the counters have the Collection États Poétiques for Fall 2014 because I received an e-mail notification.

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