This Holiday season, let your festive finery be bedecked with Les Ornaments de Chanel

I’d been looking forward to Chanel’s 2019 Holiday makeup collection for a while. Ever since I saw teaser images of the collection a few months ago, I’d been enamoured.

Happily, I was not disappointed with the actual product! 😀

The key item that had me eagerly awaiting the Les Ornaments de Chanel collection was the eyeshadow quad. There was something about the intricate embossing of the pattern that reminded me of the buttons on Chanel’s iconic tweed jackets.

I was generously gifted a selection of products from the Les Ornaments de Chanel collection so I’ll tell you what I think is worth the splurge (and what you could skip over 😉 )

Les Ornaments de Chanel – Limited Edition Holiday 2019 makeup collection

Unlike last year’s Chanel Holiday collection (with the lions) that seems a little less festive than usual, the Chanel 2019 Holiday Collection is anything but!

It just quite literally screams “Get ready for the Holidays!”

There are generous lashings of gold and shine, deep and bright reds, and lush, bold tones. Yet, all captured in an elegant package that isn’t crass or gaudy.

The slight nod to the festive season lies in the little touches – the gold CC logo on the cover of the compacts; and the gold edges on the cover of the Rouge Allure lipsticks.

It is festive. Yet, subtle in its elegance. Quintessentially Chanel 🙂

Snap these up!

These 2 items in the Les Ornaments de Chanel are, I think, the stars of the collection. It would be a pity to miss them, not only because they are beautiful to look at, they are a joy to use, as all makeup should be!

Les 4 Ombres – Lumiere et Opulence 342 – US$65

The Lumiere et Opulence eyeshadow quad is a wonderfully put together quad. While it is suitably shiny, as befits the festive season, it isn’t gaudy. The colours are easy to wear, which is so important.

I tire of festive collections that feature bold, jewelled eye colours that are largely impractical for daily wear. The Lumiere et Opulence palette will bring you quite easily from the office to a Christmas party with little effort. And more importantly, will stay with you long after the confetti and euphoria of the new year is gone.

The earthy colours are well-combined, with light and dark shades, and with a subtle illuminating shine on your lids. Nothing garish. Nothing metallic or loud. Just a gentle elegance.

The texture of the eyeshadow is also impressive. Once you’ve steeled your heart and deigned to dip in and sully the beautiful embossing, you will find a rich pigmented powder shadow, that applies and blends beautifully on lids.

Each colour swatches beautifully, and is easy to pick up with a brush.

I can see the Lumiere et Opulence eyeshadow palette fast being a staple everyday eyeshadow palette for me, and for many. It is versatile, and wearable, and that is what makes this a winner for me.

If you can get hold of it, or if you want to treat yourself this year end, or if you want an eyeshadow palette that you can use everyday without having to worry about how it looks, this is the one you want. This is the only item in any Holiday makeup collection that I’d say is a “Must Buy!” – you know I don’t say that lightly! 😉

Rouge Allure Lipstick – Rouge Noble 857, Rouge Spectaculaire 837 – US$45

A Holiday (Christmas) collection is never complete without a red lipstick, and Chanel never disappoints.

In the Les Ornaments de Chanel collection, they’ve released 6 new limited edition shades of red, in their iconic Rouge Allure formula. Rouge Allure also happens to be one of my favourite Chanel lipstick formula, so naturally, that’s why you see it here! 😀

The lipsticks are smooth and pigmented, creamy and opaque. Colours are bright and bold, and deliver an impact. Yet, and importantly for me, they have a luminous shine, defining the lip and making it look plumped and luscious. As lips should be – not like dried out prunes *coughMatteLipstickcough* 😛

The 2 shades I have here are Rouge Noble 857 (a berry) and Rouge Spectaculaire 837 (a bright cherry red). You will see the swatches below, and they are both stunning.

Granted, if you already own multiple choices of red lipsticks, then you could quite easily pass on these. You might not want to pass on the beautiful black and gold packaging, but you could easily consider skipping these over.

If you’re practical 😉

Think about these a little more

The other items in the Les Ornaments de Chanel collection are, for me, nice to have, but not necessarily standouts. One of them was quite a surprise, because I expected more of it.

Eclat Magnetic de Chanel – Metal Peach Illuminating Powder – US$70

Chanel releases an illuminating powder each year with their Holiday collection, and this year is no different. For me, unless you are a collector of these limited edition pieces, one is usually quite enough.

This year, the design is beautiful. It is a larger representation of the embossing that we see on the Lumiere et Opulence eyeshadow quad, reminiscent of a vintage Chanel button.

The powder is a peach tone with a metallic shine. Perfect for highlighting the face and decolletage for parties and events.

Yet, I felt that the quality was less impressive than normal. The shine was a touch more metallic than I prefer, and the powder did not feel as fine to the touch.

Granted, when you use it with a brush, it disperses the powder better, giving a less harsh appearance.

But it is still a bit of a challenge. Unless you are a collector of pretty makeup, or love using highlighting powders, I think you can safely pass on this one, without too much regrets.

Ombre Premiere – Pourpre Brun US$36

Chanel’s Ombre Premiere single eyeshadows have a beautiful creamy quality and intense pigment that is beautiful. But I found something lacking in the Pourpre Brun Ombre Premiere.

I found the texture of the Pourpre Brun eyeshadow a little harder than usual. It is also a matte burgundy shade that I personally find challenging to wear on my colouring.

It might be this that has prejudiced me a little against this product, I admit. However, if you wear such colours well, then it might be one you could be interested in.

Le Vernis – Deepness and Richness – US$28

I must admit my eye was caught by Deepness, a deep, dark green that looks almost black. Richness is a red that is bright, yet with a depth so it doesn’t look garish or cheap.

But for someone who barely wears nail polish, this was an easy pass for me. I can imagine however, that those who enjoy wearing nail polish would appreciate one or the other of these beautiful festive colours.

Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner – Khaki Intense US$33

I am a fan of the Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliners, so you’d think I’d put this up as a must buy.

But I’m not, for the simple reason that this isn’t so unique as to be a must buy. If you ask me however, if the Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliners are worth buying, I’d say yes. Chanel does coloured eyeliners well, and these are easy to use, and fairly smudgeproof.

Khaki Intense is a deep, blackened khaki and makes for a nice alternative to a harsh black. There is a very slight pearlescent shimmer, but it isn’t glittery when worn.

I like it, but if I had to pick one item from the collection, this wouldn’t be it, because the eyeshadow is far more outstanding in terms of colour, wearability and value for money 🙂

Swatches!

Here are the swatches of all the items I have featured above.

The eyeshadows were swatched with just one pass, which is testament to their quality and pigment. I barely even touched the surface of the shadow, so if you like it more intense, you can pack on more colour.

I personally like that this is a festive, yet elegant and wearable makeup collection. None of them scream “I’m just for the Holidays!” They are all wearable at all times of the year in varying degrees.

And that, for me, is what makes for a successful makeup collection. One that works at any time, but works especially when, for the season it is meant for 🙂

Did you pick up anything from the Les Ornaments de Chanel collection?

I do realize that these have been out for a little while, and as is wont to happen, might be gone by now. But it also means that most of you would have seen/tried/bought something from the collection already – so which did you pick? 😀

Paris B

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