Have you been to Chanel lately? — like within the last couple years? Because every time I go there, it’s like — and I mean this in a good way — I’m about to see what’s behind door number three in The Price Is Right. I don’t know what’s gonna be there! Will it be a goat? A trip to Italy? Will there be a red Radio Flyer wagon? I JUST DON’T KNOW. And those fun, frequent surprises are making me an even bigger fan of the brand.
Ever since Lucia Pica took the reins, there have been so many creative twists and turns, especially with color. She does a lot of themed collections, and yes, Chanel has always liked themed launches, but Lucia’s themes and visions always seem strong, and I totally get what she’s trying to do.
The collections are often travel related, and the colors and textures will refer to places she’s visited and lived. This one for spring/summer is a homage to her hometown of Naples, Italy. It’s like, bright explosive colors — greens, blues, yellows, reds. Those are the visuals, but you know me, much as I love color, I also love neutrals, and there are many lovely neutrals here, too, especially in the eyeshadow palette, which, by the way, is SUCH a nice surprise.
It’s a nine-pan palette called Les 9 Ombres, and it’s $70, which is expensive, but it’s a relative “bargain” for Chanel, considering that they’ve done other palettes with five eyeshadows for $50.
And everything in it is wearable — yes, including the blue and green in the middle.
(Side note: even if you don’t consider yourself a colorful eyeshadow person, I still totally believe that you can work both of these shades. You could use them as eyeliners — do the thinnest line on the upper lash line if you’re shy! — or mix the green or the blue into one of the neutrals, like the taupe, or the bronze on the lower right-hand side, and then pop that on your lids for a twist of unexpected but totally conservative color.)
You’ll notice that almost all of the shades in this eyeshadow palette are neutrals, which, you know, yay for usability! — but also, the eyeshadows are even higher quality than usual. As if that’s even possible! Chanel stepped it up. Well, more like leaped up! The shadows feel almost incomprehensibly good.
They’re even softer and silkier than typical Chanel powder eyeshadows, and they’re also more pigmented, which is a refreshing surprise — not to slam the sheerer eyeshadow palettes they’ve been pushing out at all, because I love them, too/a>. Because if you’re too rushed or tired to do any hard-core, serious blending, and/or only have 10 minutes or less to get ready (and I’m normally one or both on any given day), those less pigmented eyeshadows just make life easier.
If you want to do something dramatic with this palette, or if you simply want a moderately intense eyeshadow look where you can really see the makeup, this palette gives you that option without forcing you to layer 10 pounds of makeup…but even if you DO build up quite a few layers, the eyeshadows don’t look heavy.
This is going directly into my everyday Chanel eyeshadow rotation, alongside the Codes Subtils, Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural and Tissé Rivoli palettes.
Chanel often caters to that subset of makeup lovers who crave very subtle, conservative color, and this palette may not appeal to that particular group of peeps as much some of the brands other palettes do, but I think it’s refreshing because sometimes I DO want to wear more dramatic looks, and you can certainly get there with this palette. It’s one of the best I’ve ever seen from the brand, and not just because of the potent pigments and supernaturally silky powders, or the 8-hour wear time, but also because of the particular combination of colors they chose to include. You can do so much with them!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I didn’t grab this palette because to be honest I need another eyeshadow palette like I need a hole in the head. But. I did grab the blush that went with this. It’s soooo pretty.
Hi Rachel,
I’m in a serious relationship with Chanel Malice blush but the one from the collection has me rethinking that. LOL! Aren’t the Joues Contrastes so pretty? I love how easy they are to blend. It’s like NO effort at all!
There are so many things I want from this collection. If I like Chanel eye products I would get this (I bought an LE eyeshadow palette and liner and they irritate the crap out of my eyes) but I love their other stuff! I need, ha, the blush, Sybil gloss, and the blue and orange polish. Sooo beautiful!
Hi Savannah,
This is one of the most beautiful collections I’ve seen from Chanel. So colorful (but wearable) and unexpected. Which LE palette was the one you didn’t like?
Hi!! 🙂
It was the summer 2016 one. Where the shadows had the effect of sand dunes. The liner was the red one (Eros, I think) that came out with that red collection. Is it because they were LE? Should I give the permanent ones a shot? I really love how they blend and how natural they look. I’m mega into natural makeup looks at the moment!
I’ve only heard good things about this palette, and I love, love, love that classic Karen eye look on you! <3
Hi Indya,
Aww, thanks! I need to start adding more variety into my eye look life, but one can never go wrong with the classics, right? I hope you give this palette a go sometime. It’s super pretty and very pigmented.
Happy (almost) Friday!
Malice is my jam! I haven’t bought a Chanel palette in ages – I may have to peep this in person. Is it sad that I think $70 is a steal for all those shadows in this palette? I guess I say that considering TF’s go for what, like $80/4 pans? Anyhoo, I’ll be stopping by the Chanel counter soon.
LOL, so I was thinking the same thing. “$70 is such a good deal… FOR CHANEL.” Clearly I’ve embraced the crazy. While you’re there please check out 88 Noir Intense Liner if you haven’t already.
I think I own that…yes, I know that is sign that I have waaaaay too much makeup. I own enough black eyeliners to get me through the apocalypse.
oooh, Karen, I adore the look you created with these shadows! I picked this up and a couple of the nail polishes, too. It is a gorgeous collection, and I have been having fun playing with the palette- you are right about the quality and flexibility of these- and pairing it with other palettes, too. It’s nice that it is a different size than my other palettes so I can find it easily in the stash. Are you intrigued that it is labelled Edition No. 1? I am thinking this will be my new obsession if they keep releasing them. and $70 versus $61 for the quads? Chanel math makes me crazy but this does seem a good value. I have reached for it regularly.
Like Rachel says, “I need another eyeshadow palette like I need a hole in the head”. But I quickly swatched this one day on my way out of Nordstrom and I ended up going back later to purchase this one. Since I bought it, I’ve used it almost every time I’ve gone to the ballet or out to dinner or out on a date with Dear Husband.
Even though I am usually not into colors or into palettes, this one is so beautiful! And I am a big fan of Italy (the pasta!) so naturally the collection appeals to me.
What do you think about how they are organized in trios, would you use them like that? I’m so intrigued by the reasoning behind putting certain colors together. ?
This is the prettiest Chanel palette I’ve seen in a long time.
All of us need another palette like a hole in the head LOL – now I went to have a look on whatever Chanel that was on the display at the perfumery and stumbled out with two items that I have used ever since! Lucia changed the game, oh boy she did. Still have feelings towards this one, even though most colors look maybe a tad to colored for me, so maybe I should get it. Maybe not. Maybe I should use my TF quads again (the natural boring but SO GOOD ones). The point is that I am pale and colored eyeshadows haven’t been my cup of tea lately. Can you hear my lemmings… 😀