I think by now you’d realise that I’m a bit of a Lucia Pica fan-girl. Lucia Pica has been the Creative Director of Chanel beauty since 2016 when she kicked off the Le Rouge collection for Fall 2016.
Since then, I anticipate each beauty collection released from Chanel, knowing each time, that I will face a little surprise. Often pleasant. Thus far, I have yet to be disappointed.
For Spring-Summer 2019 Vision d’Asie: L’Art du Detail, Lucia Pica drew inspiration from light, colour and texture in Japan. Eyes are kept bright in the Les 9 Ombres eye palette (I don’t have it, and haven’t yet had the chance to see it but it’s similar in layout to this one from last year)
Lip are bright and lush in matte velvet textures. But it was one new item in the collection that had me going “What on earth is that? How do I use it? Will I even use it?!”
Before I delve into that one, confusing item, let me quickly run through the lip colours available to us in the Chanel Spring-Summer 2019 Vision d’Asie: L’Art du Detail collection.
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet – No. 71 Nuance and No. 73 Imperial
I am a big fan of the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet, which I have reviewed in detail here, and will not dwell too much on it. This was and remains one of the few matte lipsticks I can comfortably wear and happily recommend.
The texture is lightweight, colour is pigmented, it sits comfortably on my lips, do not settle in my lines, do not dry my lips out, and do not look too matte. Instead, as the name implies, it leaves lips with a velvety finish that is flattering yet modern.
There are 3 shades, of which 2 are featured here.
- No. 71 Nuance – This is a peach-beige based nude lipstick that in all honesty, I’d run screaming away from. I do not generally wear nude shades like this one. However, I swatched it for purposes of this post, and I must say that the colour grew on me. I do need to wear it with a more defined eye, or maybe brighter cheeks. But it did had enough colour to prevent me from looking ill, so it was a surprise hit.
- No. 73 Imperial – This one’s something more like what I’d usually wear. Imperial is a blue-based red that looks brighter on lips than it does in the tube. I’d say it’s a red that is easy for most to wear, as it isn’t too bright, and the velvet texture mutes it a little. It isn’t vampy, but sophisticated. Very nice!
Chanel Rouge Allure Liquid Powder – 962 Electric Blossom & 964 Bittersweet
The Rouge Allure Liquid Powder was launched last year to pretty much mixed reviews. I’d say that on average, it scores about a 3/5 because there are those who enjoy using it, and those who do not.
I happen to be one of those who rather enjoyed them, which is a surprise for me. I don’t usually go for these sorts of textures nor applicators.
The Rouge Allure Liquid Powder lip colours are gel-based lip colours that come in a squeeze tube, and have a sponge applicator. The product squeezes out opaque, but goes on semi-opaque and matte. I’d even go so far as to say sheer.
Personally, I find it most comfortable when worn as a sheer hint of colour on lips. I find it less drying this way, and it will fade more evenly. However, as much as I do enjoy using them, I also think that I’d own or wear one at most. My preference lies with normal lipstick bullets, or if a liquid lipstick, with a doe-foot applicator like the Rouge Allure Ink.
There are 2 new shades in this collection:
- 962 Electric Blossom – A bright, almost neon orange when swatched on my hand. But on lips and sheered out, it was a bright coral that was quite pleasant. It does remind me of 954 Radical, just brighter.
- 964 Bittersweet – This one’s a deeper plum that similarly, looks deeper on the back of my hand than it did on my lips. I do find that this one applies more patchily, and because of the deeper colour, also fades more unevenly. For this formula, I prefer the lighter shades.
I have some swatches on my hand further down, but here is how they look when I wear them.
I like how Nuance, the neutral lip colour, looks quite natural on me. I’ve been wearing lighter lip colours recently, instead of the usual brighter reds, and it has been quite refreshing!
But I wanted to tell you about the one item in the collection that had me scratching my head a little.
Chanel Baume Essential Multi-use Glow Stick – Transparent and Sculpting
These Baume Essential Multi-Use Glow Sticks are about the size of the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Cheek colours, which I love! But here’s where it gets a little odd – there is no colour to these sticks.
What they are, is a balm in stick form, that Chanel says you can use on your face, eyelids, lips, anywhere you want a subtle glow and shine. It isn’t a lip balm, but it feels like one. Like a lip balm, it does not dry down, and feels tacky on the skin.
The texture is very emollient, and there is discernible shine when you apply it to skin. But I’m afraid this is the one product that I couldn’t understand when I first saw it, and still cannot understand now.
There are 2 versions – Transparent, which is, as the name implies, transparent; and Sculpting – which has fine shimmer and imparts more shine.
I will say this. If you like playing and experimenting with makeup and you like a high shine look on the highlights of your face, then you might find this an interesting product. If you are a makeup artist, I think you will find lots of uses for this product especially for editorial looks.
For the lay person or makeup enthusiast, who can just about manage to put on equal amounts of eyeliner, I do think that this is a little too advanced for us. I personally cannot think of an occasion when I would use these at all.
It does not dry down, so it looks tacky and makes skin look greasy. If you have oily skin at all, you come with an in-built glow stick, so avoid this 😛 If you have dry skin and the air is dry where you live, and you spend a lot of time indoors under candlelight, then perhaps you might appreciate this.
The rest of us may get the same use out of a stick of lipbalm or vaseline.
For once, Lucia Pica has me stumped LOL!
These are the swatches on my hand for the products I have featured here. You may notice that the Baume Essential Multi-Use Glow Stick shows up as a wet shine on my hand.
I think this is the wet shine that Chanel is going for. Something different. Something backstage worthy. Unless this is a look you go for, ultimately, it is not user-friendly and more importantly, leaves you looking like a grease-ball in our heat and weather.
I can achieve this sweaty shine all by myself, thanks Chanel! 😛
Chanel Retractable Highlighter Brush
I do have one thing from this collection that I’m happy about – the new Retractable Highlighter Brush.
Chanel intends for this brush to be used with their Multi-Use Glow Sticks. Swirl the brush over the sticks, and brush over your skin, for a less intense glow (I still don’t like the sticks though!). To be honest, I don’t like using it for this purpose, because it will gunk up the brush head.
I prefer using this little brush for applying regular powder highlighter and blush! 😀 You can even use it to blend out foundation or with cream blush or highlighter.
This is a dinky little brush that is scarcely larger than a tube of lipstick. The construction is sturdy, and I believe the hair is white goat hair (it feels like natural goat hair). The hairs are quite long, and the brush head is quite flexible, so you have enough flex to blend out highlighter and blush, but also enough density to pick up colour.
Because it is fairly small, it allows for precise placement of product, which is handy when working with highlighters. But if you use this for blending or applying powder, it can easily get into the crevices of your facial contours too.
The body slides up to protect the brush so it makes it easy to cover without damaging the bristles, and it is so small, you can take it everywhere you go for quick touch-ups. I find it works very well with most products and for quick blending.
So if there’s one good thing that came out of the Multi-Use Glow Sticks, it is this dinky little brush! Such a handy little tool 😀
Did anything in this Chanel collection stand out to you? How would you use those Glow Sticks?
I do think the colours are pretty and I’m happy that we have left behind the pastel Spring colours of yore. I never looked forward to Spring makeup because it was always pale and insipid. But as I always say, Lucia Pica has been good for Chanel – I just can’t figure out when or why I’d want to use those Glow Sticks 😛
Paris B
Paris, I agree with you about the new multi use glow sticks. All I could think of is my hair sticking on my face and it’s a crazy price for a lip balm. Obviously I passed. I did see the Lucia Pica eyeshadow palette. It is very pretty but it didn’t speak to me enough to make me want to own it. But, the new lipstick, No. 73, Imperial completely won me over. The funny thing is, I usually am drawn to nude shades. But, when I tried it I was won over. As you pointed out, being matte makes it more wearable. Thank you another wonderful review.
I saw the eyeshadow palette in person too! Like you, it didn’t speak to me. But perhaps it might be because I have the one from last year, and barely use it so cannot quite justify getting another just to add to clutter! Happy that you found a lipstick that you enjoyed! It looks like this collection spoke to us in different ways – helped me find a neutral lipstick, and helped you find a red! 😀 Oh and the MUA in store helped me put on some of the Multi-use Glow Stick balm as well, which looked quite natural, with that glossy skin effect now so popular for photos, but ultimately, not something I’d wear out in real life
Nuance looks lovely on you! I am tempted to check it out.
That brush sounds super convenient – I could use a brush that I can tote around. Maybe I can ask for it as a birthday present 🙂
Yes! The brush is adorable and practical – the best item in this collection! 😀
The neutral gives you a youthful look. 🙂 It’s refreshing for a change…??
Thank you! I thought so too! Usually a neutral lip makes me look sickly or half dead but this one worked although it looks bland in the tube. Can never tell till we try 🙂
The glow sticks remind me of Glossier’s Haloscope, which I actually quite like. It’s a natural looking highlight, for a no-make up look.
Nowadays, when one can see some highlights from outer space, that’s quite a classy statement. 😉
I haven’t come across Haloscope, but I looked it up. It looks like an amalgamation of both these Chanel Glow Sticks 🙂 They are both fairly natural, but I think definitely one for those who enjoy using highlighter. The best part is the lack of obvious sparkle but there’s definitely a learning curve to it that was quite beyond me LOL!
You are tempting me more and more to up my lipstick stash! Beautiful shades. I think I’ll need to try a bold red someday!
Time to up your repertoire! 😉 But that said, you’re probably the only person I know who can finish a lipstick right now haha
I like the look of the glow stick, but does it FEEL takey on? I had not heard that….
No, it doesn’t feel tacky on the skin the way that say, gel or vaseline feels 🙂 That said, don’t put on too much. It is quite shiny once it goes on skin.
Finally a review in the highlighting brush just ordered it and was looking for reviews on it. I totally agree what a fantastic brush for highlighting was looking for a smaller, dense but soft highlighting brush and I think I found it. Will be ordering another one to tack with me and the other for use at home. Haha. I did not get the sticks did not care for them at all. So was very to read your honest review and happy that you include the brush ????
Hi Nawi, happy that you’re enjoying the brush too! I think the smaller size, which is quite unusual in brush sizes, is great for highlighting, precise placement of cheek colour, and for travel 😀
I love the Glow Sticks, I have both shades. The shade Sculpting has a slight shimmer effect and the Translucent is more sheer. I am in mid 50s and live in a dry climate now. These are beautiful to dab a bit cheekbones and above eyebrows. I use fingertips and rub on stick then pat onto face. Just use a tiny bit. I use Guerlain Meteorites pressed powders to set the glow stick.
I also have Chanel soft pressed powders in 30 Rosee and 40 Lilas that I use to set, if you’re fortunate enough to have purchased them years ago.
I absolutely agree that these Glow Sticks are best for mature and/or drier skin and definitely drier weather. Originally from a very humid city, doubt I would use back home. The look you end up with is a beautiful, soft, shiny glow. Does dry down to a powdery finish when set and no tacky or sticky feeling plus zero glitter effect, just a glassy shine.