The use of Vanilla in Chanel Sublimage l’Extrait de Creme goes to show that vanilla is not boring at all

Vanilla conjures up for me, the vision of food. Desserts in particular. Creme brulee comes instantly to mind as does ice-cream, for that’s the only flavour I’d pick, given a choice. Yet, despite its gourmand luxury, Vanilla is also equated as being bland, boring and dull. Yet, is it? Chanel doesn’t think so, for the luxurious, top of the range Chanel Sublimage l’Extrait de Creme is chock-full of vanilla, in all forms.

Is it a coincidence that most top of the range products come housed in black, heavy, luxe packaging? We saw this in Shiseido Future LX and also in many other brands. In the Chanel Sublimage line, it has been that way for a while.

Unlike the more accessible Hydra beauty or le Blanc ranges of skincare, Chanel Sublimage is spoken of in slightly more hushed, revered tones. I spoke to a beauty editor once, whose face took on the look of rapture, when talking about Chanel Sublimage. “It is sooo good for my skin!” she whispered to me, like a secret to be shared just between ourselves.

And one day, the doors were opened to introduce me to the hallowed secrets of the Chanel Sublimage l’Extrait de Creme, the jewel in the crown of Chanel Sublimage line.

The Chanel Sublimage l’Extrait de Creme is the latest product in Chanel’s Sublimage line, and is almost an all-in-one product targeted at anti-aging. What this means therefore, is that it really is targeted at people of at least 35 and above. You will understand why when you feel the texture.

The cream is very dense and very thick and creamy. This is definitely not one for someone with oily or combination skin types. It will only benefit those who have drier skin, or skin that need this sort of texture.

I have drier skin, and I can only use very very little each time. This is a cream that benefits from just very little, warmed up and then pressed into your skin. Read more about this technique here. If you apply it this way, it will sink right into your skin, leaving it feeling velvety smooth, and incredibly soft. If you use too much, it will feel heavy and greasy and uncomfortable.

What Chanel has done is to harvest every part of the Vanilla Planifolia plant, from the leaves, flowers and fruit, at different times of the year when they are at their peak potency, to extract the ingredients they need to include into the cream.

These ingredients are then blended with Camellia, Jojoba and Canola oils, which creates the lush texture in the pot. And if you’re wondering, yes it is heavily fragranced with the heady, rich scent of vanilla and flowers. Naturally, I don’t take well to this scent. I don’t take well to fragranced skincare products, nor to gourmand scents in general, so this was a bit of a double whammy for me.

But still, I persevered, in the name of beauty, for the Chanel Sublimage l’Extrait de Creme is supposed to boost hydration, enhance radiance, even out skin tone, firm up skin and reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Basically, a do-it-all cream! With this cream, you won’t even need anything else. Chanel even calls the Chanel Sublimage l’Extrait de Creme the Ultimate Regeneration and Restoring Cream!

For me, after months of use (because I could not quite make up my mind), I can safely say that the Chanel Sublimage l’Extrait de Creme is quite a treat for the skin. I do like how it sinks right into my skin and leaves it feeling oh so soft! I’d leave the velvety texture aside, for that has much to do with the occlusive ingredients. But the almost cottony soft texture of the skin the next morning is something that has to be felt to be believed.

I do experience better hydration and texture. On nights when I use this Chanel Sublimage l’Extrait de Creme, I scale back on the rest of my serums and lotions. I just go straight from cleanser and a hydrating toner to this cream. It seals everything in, and makes it feel comfortable, almost like an oil-blend cream.

However, I soon realised that I could not use this too regularly. The rich texture did not sit well with me for daily use, as I found myself experiencing the odd spot. So, I scaled it back to just 1-2 times a week, and that was fine. For this reason, I will probably take months, if not a whole year to go through this tub!

For me, this Chanel Sublimage l’Extrait de Creme feels absolutely lovely, and I am incredibly blessed to have been given the opportunity to try it. My skin loves me on nights when I treat it with this, even if I do find it far too fragranced. Chanel is first and foremost a perfume house, and while they make lovely perfumes, I don’t think perfume this strong belongs in a jar of cream. I can even smell it faintly the next morning. But if you love scent, and have deep pockets, and are of the right age group, then this might sit well with you 🙂

IN A NUTSHELL

The Chanel Sublimage l’Extrait de Creme is a luxurious, high-end cream infused with active ingredients harvested from all parts of the Vanilla Panifolia plant. It is a very rich oil-blend cream that works best on drier skin types, and is highly fragranced with a gourmand, floral scent. I suggest only using a little each time, warmed up in your hands and then pressed into your skin. It helps skin be more hydrated and more radiant, and leaves it feeling soft and smooth. I use it 2-3 times a week only at night, because it is so rich. The price tag is hefty, but then the Sublimage range is the crown jewel of the Chanel line, and the prices reflect that.

PROS: Only very little needed each time, One jar can last a very long time, Very rich texture makes dry skin feel nourished, Skin feels very soft after use, Skin is nourished and hydrated after use

CONS: Pricey, Highly fragranced, Packaging is a fingerprint magnet, Aside from the Vanilla Planifolia extracts there aren’t many other known active ingredients in the cream

WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who wants an all-in-one cream, Anyone who has deep pockets and able to tolerate a very rich, highly fragranced cream

PRICE: RM1,880 | US$685 for 50ml

WHERE TO BUY: Chanel beauty boutiques and counters, Nordstrom, Barney’s, Chanel website, Saks Fifth Avenue

Here is the ingredient list for the Chanel Sublimage l’Extrait de Creme.

To be honest, there aren’t many known active ingredients in this cream, aside from many moisturising/hydrating ingredients. There isn’t much we know about the Vanilla Planifolia extracts aside from what Chanel tells us. As a formula, it does feel very nice, and nourishing. But I would personally not depend too much on just this one cream for an anti-aging routine.

Is this Chanel Sublimage l’Extrait de Creme something that you may consider?

To be fair, the price is off-putting for most of us, even if it isn’t the most expensive skincare cream in the market. Yet, the Sublimage range is one of Chanel’s best selling ranges. I guess we all have different perceptions of worth. Go figure eh? 🙂

Paris B