Chanel Fresh Effect Eyeshadow in Moon River

I have resisted long enough! So despite the dozen or so eyeshadow sticks I have amassed over the last couple of years, off I went to purchase Chanel's take on the trend, the limited edition Fresh Effect Eyeshadow. I chose the shade Moon River as it seemed to be the only one that filled any gaps in my collection and it was a color that I felt I may actually use quite often.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in 575 Starlet

I was told that Starlet is the limited edition shade in the Chanel Avant-Première collection. I admit it was an impulse buy, along with an eyeshadow stick from the summer collection. While I don't regret either purchase, I have been lagging behind in the reviews.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Starlet

Starlet is a shimmering peach that comes off acceptably opaque in two coats. I like that it isn't a screaming coral and doesn't look frosty despite the shimmers. I imagine that it will be easy to replicate with less expensive brands but I have nothing exactly the same in my collection at the moment. I almost bought Paparazzi too but I wasn't feeling the brown at the time.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Saga, Suspense and Fiction (Collection Avant-Première de Chanel)

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine L-R: Saga, Suspense, Fiction

I'm staring down at the dozen swatches I have on my arm of the various Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks I have on hand and it makes me pleased about the selection I've made from the Avant-Première collection. The three I picked: Saga, Suspense and Fiction, are definitely different from my old ones. Swatched together, all my old Rouge Coco Shines suddenly look brown.

Guerlain Terracotta Make-Up Palette for Face and Eyes

When I purchase makeup, I try to get items that just came out. New things. It's not that I have anything against old things and I do have staples in my collection that I repurchase even when newer items come out. It's just that I'm afraid to fall in love with an item, attempt to repurchase, only to find out that it's been discontinued. It drives me crazy not to be able to find it! But over and above being the latest release, what makes a feature even more urgent is when it's an outstanding value. Case in point, the Guerlain Terracotta (La Sélection de L'Été) Makeup Palette for Face and Eyes. 

Guerlain makes top of the line bronzers but a compact can easily run you over $50. An eyeshadow quad, also in a compact, is now $60. When did this happen? I'm not so sure when prices went up again but that's the direction that they inevitably go. Never lower, just higher and higher. For $62, you can have your bronzer, in two shades, and four colors of eyeshadow. You get it in a mirrored compact with a bronzer applicator and one sponge-tipped eyeshadow applicator and a velvet pouch. The packaging is plastic but seems reasonably sturdy, isn't difficult to open or close and looks elegant enough to carry the Guerlain name. 

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Pygmalion

I suppose most people reacted to Chanel's summer collection favorably but I found myself not entirely sure if I wanted to pick up anything. The eyeshadow sticks, while most interesting, had me a little worried about possible skin reactions as I'd heard at least one case of an allergic take to the cooling effect. Truthfully, I've probably reached the saturation point when it comes to the sticks. But as I continue to mull over purchasing Moon River, I thought you might like to see what I did pick out from the collection.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Pygmalion

Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Pink Dusk

Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Pink Dusk

Laura Mercier's Crème Smooth Lip Colour Line launched in time for fall last year didn't strike a positive note with me upon release. I just didn't like the thick texture at the time. However, my last Laura makeover didn't seem complete without grabbing a new lip product so I picked one out that I thought I could use through the spring. The color is Pink Dusk.

Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer in 398 Lilac Colorvision

Described on the Sephora website as a soft pastel purple, I couldn't help but reach for the bottle of Lilac when I reached the nearest Sephora store. It feels strange to say this, but I walked in there with a 15% off VIB coupon and nothing concrete in mind to buy. I was disappointed that the discount was a mere 15% when Ulta gave 20% off just a few weeks ago. I had bought some staples there and was counting on the Sephora coupon to browse brands like Guerlain, NARS and Dior. How I wish the summer stuff had been released already but I needed to content myself with spring items, hence the acquisition of yet another purple nail polish. (To see a few similar colors from the lilac/lavender family, click here.)

Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer Lilac Colorvision