Maaan, I gotta hand it to Chanel. They have a knack for releasing righteous reds that are preternaturally easy to apply.
How do they do it?!
I didn’t even need a lip liner or lip brush for Pivoine Noire, the matte berry red I’m wearing in this look. It’s an LE shade in the new Les Fleurs de Chanel Spring-Summer 2021 collection, and yes, I can’t get over the fact that we’re talking about a spring/summer release.
I applied it freehand without much thought, straight from the tube.
Now I’m wondering if I could apply it while driving a car like Jessica Chastaine’s character does in Ava in the opening scene. She’s a soldier-turned-assassin, and with one hand she opens a tube of what I’m pretty sure is a Chanel lipstick and proceeds to flawlessly apply a layer of dark burgundy while racing down the freeway.
It’s impressive!
I wonder if I could do that… Survey says, “probably not!” LOL!
This new collection is inspired by spring blooms and warm pink, red, rose and coppery brown hues, and it lands on counters and the Chanel website next month (which starts this week!). There are lots of finishes — matte, metallic and satin — in various levels of coverage.
Here are some notes on the items I’m wearing…
The powder blush/highlighter duo
The coral-pink blush lays down a sheer flush of luminous color, so if you like blushes that don’t scream “Look at me! I’m obvious!” you might like it. I also love the finish on the peach highlighter. It’s a soft eggshell shine similar to the Hourglass Ambients. No bling-bling highlighter here.
The matte red lipstick
On the opposite end of the coverage spectrum is this gorgeously opaque matte berry red. Chanel’s Velvet Extreme formula applies flawlessly and glides along the skin without tugging, but it’s not too slick to easily control. Basically, it’s suuuper smooth, and it smells and tastes like rose hard candy.
The metallic mascara
The coppery bronze color actually shows up on dark lashes, which is super cool (colorful mascaras rarely show up on my lashes), and the Le Volume de Chanel formula delivers the thick, dramatic lash look the line is famous for. If you’ve got lighter lashes, the effect will probably be more dramatic and flattering than it is on me. On me, I think the color tends to make my eyes look smaller and more hooded than a standard-issue black mascara…
The Chanel Les Fleurs de Chanel Spring-Summer 2021 collection includes…
- FLEURS DE PRINTEMPS Blush and Highlighter Duo
An Exclusive Creation powder duo with a satiny peach highlighter and luminous pink coral blush. Embossed
with a floral motif. Use the included brush to sweep the blush onto cheeks and the highlighter onto center of
forehead, tops of cheekbones, brow bones and Cupid’s bow. Limited edition. $70.00- LE VOLUME DE CHANEL Mascara
Now in a limited-edition rose-copper shade, the innovative mascara adds a colourful touch to lashes. The
CHANEL-exclusive brush and volumizing formula help achieve greater length and thickness in a single stroke.
$32.00- ROUGE ALLURE VELVET EXTRÊME Intense Matte Lip Colour
Introducing limited-edition berry red and warm coral shades of the extreme matte lipstick. The intense
longwearing formula glides on smoothly and doesn’t dry out lips. $40.00- ROUGE ALLURE LAQUE Ultrawear Shine Liquid Lip Colour
The new ultra-intense, ultra-longwearing satin shine liquid lipstick in a limited-edition metallic aubergine shade.
The creamy, fluid texture applies easily and wears comfortably, while the special doe-foot applicator ensures precise,
even results. $40.00- LE VERNIS Longwear Nail Colour
The high-shine nail colour features carefully selected pigments for even application and lasting wear. Available in 3
new shades: a soft peach, a light raspberry red and a metallic red. $28.00- AVAILABLE ON CHANEL.COM AND AT CHANEL BOUTIQUES: JANUARY 2021
- AVAILABLE AT DEPARTMENT AND SPECIALTY STORES: FEBRUARY 2021
Adventures in bread making
So, I made my first 1-1/2 pound loaf of French bread in my new Cuisinart bread maker yesterday!
Isn’t the loaf cute? It was a test loaf. It’s pretty small, enough for about four sandwiches.
When we opened it up after letting it cool, Connor took a bite and said, “Mmmm! This tastes good!”
The instruction booklet that came with the bread maker has a bunch of recipes, and I think I’m going to try the brioche today.
I also want to try this one honey wheat bread, which looks like the delicious brown bread they have at The Cheesecake Factory.
CARBS FOR EVERYONE!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I loved Family Feud! Mine was the Richard Dawson generation. His kissing every woman was gross but still he was “my” host, like folks and “their” James Bonds.
You must have just the right amount of warmth to your skin to pull off these beautiful but too-warm-for-my-olive-undertone shades from Chanel. ONE DAY I will find a matte red that I like and that looks fine on me! Maybe that day will be in 2021!
Have a great day, Karen!
I watched Richard Dawson too! Did you know that he met his wife on the show and kissed her FOUR TIMES?! Here’s a piece you might enjoy (full of fun facts):
Here’s Why Richard Dawson Started Kissing Female Contestants on “Family Feud”
Hope you’re having a nice day. Sending lots of aloha from the Bay!
You just made my day with this tidbit! And RIGHT ON for the show seeking consent and so many folks IN FAVOR of kissing. At the time I didn’t think there was anything wrong with it, either, and I liked how he held the women close during the Fast Money Round, as if to boost their confidence (or just be a perv, who knows?!). I think my over-politically-corrected mind must have told me that kissing women on the show was gross — but it was all consented-to kissing!
Lots of aloha from the South Shore!
I know. I remember watching it as a very young kid and thinking it was sweet, nice thing. To think that this stuff would *never* fly on TV now!
Please Karen, could you do something on spring/summer colours and brands for pink skinned blondes like me? You look great in all that you do, but I know none of it will look like that on me!
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for the nice compliment on the colors here. Let’s see, is there anything in particular that you’re looking for, like a lipstick or a blush, etc.? Or brands that you like? I’m thinking that this would be a great comment to do a some crowd sourcing from the other MBB readers.
I am interested in this mascara. I’ve been wearing black mascaras but coppery is right up my alley.
Those lipsticks are gorgeous. The professor I worked for in grad school once picked me up for something and applied her mascara while driving, it was TERRIFYING.
Oh my gosh on the bread. I can’t wait to hear more about your bread making adventures! It’s not the Feud without Richard Dawson, for me. He was also fab in The Running Man. Who loves you and who do you love? HAHA!