This Spring 2017 decode how you view spring makeup in the Chanel Coco Codes collection

You know guys, sometimes I feel so bad that I’m not a better blogger, getting out the news and reviews and what-not as they land. Things move so fast these days, that it’s really hard to stay on the ball. This is more so in the digital world, which leads nicely into the world of Chanel Coco Code, the Spring 2017 makeup collection.

A friend told me I shouldn’t beat myself up about the fact it’s been out for a while (and for some products, it might even be sold out already!) because I have an international audience who may still appreciate reading about it. At least I hope so! LOL! *fingers crossed*

This is, I believe the 3rd (or maybe 4th?) collection from Chanel’s Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer, Lucia Pica, and I must say I’ve rather enjoyed her take on the seasonal collections thus far. Lucia Pica was the one who did the Le Rouge collection with the daring eyeshadow palette with the deep red shadow.

For Spring 2017, rather like their luxury rivals, Chanel has brushed aside the typical pale pastels or pinks and gone for a warmer toned, bolder coloured collection. This, they say, embodies Coco Chanel’s original use of colour. Lucia Pica says that these codes on how to wear the colours are for you to decide. Wear them bold or wear them light. Wear them together or wear them separately. Wear a deep purple lipstick in Spring – it’s your code! I love that sentiment – it’s just makeup – do what you want with it! 🙂

So, there are no hard and fast rules, and so I won’t write very much, just show you the pictures of the few items I have, for your consideration. You could tell me though, how you’d wear them 😉

Chanel Coco Code Blush Harmony (Limited Edition) – RM250 | US$70

I wasn’t crazy about this one, from the pictures. But in real life, it’s not only a beauty, when swiped on skin, it imparts lovely colour.

There are 2 shimmery shades (shimmer beige and gold) and 2 matte shades (red and brown). Each square is actually large enough for you to pick up colours individually, which I thought was pretty impressive. Most of the time, these things don’t work individually.

I found that the lightest touch of brush on the surface transfers colour. This picture shows the blush after I’d used it. You can barely tell, because you only need so little product! I just lightly dab the brush on the surface, all over, then apply to my cheeks. The resultant colour is a warmed peach (not as bright a red as you might imagine, unless you only pick up red) which blends out very easily and blends into skin naturally. If you can still find it, I’d say it’s worth a purchase because you potentially get a few shades in one compact. A brush head like that of the Wayne Goss Brush #2 or Make Up For Ever brush will get you individual colours.

There is also a Joues Contraste Blush in the collection, Elegance (RM170), in a warm, browned nude shade. I checked it out at the counter, but on my relatively light skintone, it tended to be a bit muddy. But on medium skintones, it’d make a lovely neutral blush if you don’t like looking too peachy or pink.

Chanel Les 4 Ombres Codes Élégants Eyeshadow Palette – RM230 | US$61

Rumour has it that this palette is permanent, and like all the Chanel Les 4 Ombres eyeshadow palettes post-2014, have a sublime buttery texture. It also has a lot of shine, which is one bone of contention I have with Codes Elegants.

I seem to feel like Codes Elegants is too shimmery. Sure, that deeper brown has a more satin texture, and it grounds the 2, more flighty golden hues, but you can’t dull their shimmer. I also felt like both the shades were quite similar, and the tone of the palette is quite warm overall. It’s great for someone who has a warmer skintone because it’d look pretty amazing on you. On me, I felt it to be a bit too warm, too yellow and too shiny.

I wore it all through the Chinese New Year festive season (that palette is used, but you can’t tell can you?!) and it was fine. It didn’t blow my mind and I don’t have the same attachment to it as I do with Poesie (which should have been made permanent because I’m making a dent in it!).

I was more interested in Codes Subtils which unfortunately was sold out in the 2 Chanel counters I visited earlier in January, and even more unfortunately, is limited edition. Sigh. That one has significantly cooler tones, in a deeper colour, and playing with the testers convinced me that I needed it in my life. It’s still available at the Chanel Boutique at Pavilion KL (if you’re also looking for it) and I’ll be picking mine up next week!! 😀

Chanel Rouge Allure Independante – RM120 | US$37

Independante is one of two Rouge Allure shades in the Spring 2017 collection, the other being Ardente. Rarely do we see such bright reds in Spring! I love it! But then, I love my red lipstick 🙂

I found Independante to be a very lovely BRIGHT red with very slightly warm tones. I felt the whole Coco Codes collection to be quite warm in general. I prefer cooler toned reds, but this shade is beautiful for brightening up your complexion. It is fairly opaque, glides on very smoothly and stays put for hours. The satin texture makes it very wearable without being too in your face.

Independante is permanent, so I would recommend you check it out if you’re in the market for a red lipstick. You really can’t go wrong with Chanel’s reds!

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Noir Moderne – RM120 | US$37

This deep plum shade would look more suited in a Fall makeup collection, but I love that Lucia Pica felt that if you wanted to wear a deep plum in Spring, you should! Who’s to say you can’t eh? While the colour looks very deep in the tube (almost black!) the Rouge Coco Shine formula makes it a sheer wash of plum on your lips (as you’ll see in the swatch below).

Again, the colour is permanent so it’s one of those you should look at if you stop by a Chanel counter one day. It’s surprising and shocking, but absolutely beautiful when worn, when you’re feeling a little bold.

Chanel Stylo Yeux Noir Petrole – RM100 | US$33

I like the Chanel Stylo Yeux retractable eyeliner pencils, which I now own in a few colours, but surprisingly not in a dark shade! I’m not even sure why this is so, but Noir Petrole (unfortunately limited edition, but absolutely worth hunting down!) is a lovely addition to my colourful collection.

As the name implies, its a deep colour, almost black, with a hint of golden khaki tone. Honestly, once you draw it on, you can’t tell what colour it is except black, but I love it! Stays put and I think I’m going to get me a back up because I carelessly broke the tip off mine (it’s quite soft, softer than my other colourful Stylo Yeux pencils) and I can foresee my getting A LOT of use out of it!

After all that yapping on (and I said I wasn’t going to write a lot?! Pish!) here are the swatches on my arm.

The swatch of the Coco Codes Blush Harmony is made by blending all 4 shades together. The resulting colour is a slightly warmed peach with slight shimmer and very easy to blend. The Codes Elegants eyeshadow palette is quite shimmery as you can see, and warm. Not great for my skintone, but fares much better on someone with a warmer skintone.

Noir Moderne lipstick is a surprising sheer plum, which is an excellent way to do something surprising, yet make it wearable.

I didn’t identify any duds based on the products I have, although some definitely stood out more than others. I merely felt that the collection was a little warmer than I prefer, so I’m not as enthusiastic about it as I should be otherwise.

And for completeness, here’s a look I did, wearing the Codes Elegants on eyes, Noir Petrole liner (which you can’t really see, damn hooded lids), Coco Codes Blush Harmony and Rouge Allure Independante.

RBF while I try to figure out that Coco Codes rubiks cube. Can I just say how absolutely stonking BRILLIANT a press gift that was?! I squealed so loudly when I saw it – the little 80’s kid in me had so much fun playing! 😀

And a huge grin once the puzzle was solved! Man, I love that toy. Had hours of fun with my 3×3 Rubiks cube as a kid. I wasn’t a whizz at it, but I loved the challenge of getting all 6 sides the same colour. Man, I was such a nerdy little kid LOL! 😀

Did you check out anything from Chanel’s Coco Codes Spring 2017 collection?

I know a lot of people were going gaga for the blush. Did you manage to take a look at it?

Paris B