Chanel Newness and Collection Libre: Synthetic de Chanel

More makeup lushness. Now I could wax lyrical about Lucia Pica's inspirations and stylings, or we could cut to the chase and talk about how gorgeous this new collection is. What you need to know: unsurprisingly, it's Limited Edition and out on 4th November for the Christmas gifting season. I would move quickly because these are insanely lovely colours to use and I'm sure will prove very popular.

There are three Le Vernis colours, all of them Limited Edition at £18.00. In particular, the Velvet on the left is a matte, rubber-effect polish that I'm sure will sell out immediately. 

All available from Chanel.com and instores on 4th November.

Launching tomorrow on counters nationwide is No 5, The Body Oil. Fans of the fragrance will no doubt find the extra layering of the perfume desirable, and as this is a semi-dry oil, it will also be a little more nourishing than a normal 'dry' oil. 

I always expect Chanel to really go for it during the gifting season as they could clean up, suffice to say it seems they are continuing to show the great restraint seen in recent years. I remember in the not too distant past when November would mean the Chanel counters being loaded up with soaps, powder puff talcs (remember those!?) and the like. Alas, no more. Best grab this while you can then.. It's £62.00, available from Selfridges and Nordstrom tomorrow.

These have been on counter for a couple of weeks and the Rouge Allure Ink collection continues the Lucia Pica red obsession in the best way. 

These 8 shades are labelled as 'mattes', but they are mattes for people (like myself) that can't wear a true matte because frankly, our lips are a bit older and not oily enough. These are velvety soft and do not make your lips look dry, in part due to the jojoba oil base. 

The Rouge Allure Ink collection is on counters now and are £26.00 each - available from FeelUnique.com and John Lewis.







*This post contains some affiliate links. If you are happy to click on them and support the blog, thank you very much. If you would rather not, just google the product. It's all good. See my full disclaimer here: http://bit.ly/1rpEmSq The views expressed on this site are the author's own and are provided for informational purposes only. The author makes no warranties about the suitability of any product or treatment referenced or reviewed here for any person other than herself and any reliance placed on these reviews or references by you is done so solely at your own risk. Nothing on this site shall be construed as providing dermatological, medical or other such advice and you are always advised to seek the advice of a suitable professional should you have any such concerns.

Chanel Fall 2016 - Le Rouge Collection 1

So this went on counter while I was on holiday, hence the late posting, but for someone as obsessed with red as yours truly, I couldn't let it slip under the radar. With Kristen Stewart as the face, and a gorgeous one at that, and Chanel's Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer Lucia Pica at the helm, Le Rouge Collection 1 is gorgeous.

Putting paid to the idea that you can't 'do' red on the eyes, these colours have just enough hint of red, showcased as an undercurrent in pencils and shadows that are so wearable that Mother removed the eyeshadow palette from my hand quicker than a poker dealer at the table when she saw it. I haven't seen it since.

Nails are an easy red to do, but this being Chanel, they had to go a step further and trot out Rouge Radical - a new nail gloss, that should be transparent, but isn't. A Limited Edition, it's a hugely shiny gloss that leaves the nails singing. Yes, I used the word 'singing' about a nail polish.

This being Chanel, lips are front and centre. The boldest poppy to the darkest black cherry, my favourite Coco Chanel saying is 'Mettez du rouge et attaquez' or a tad less exciting in english: 'Put on lipstick and attack' and this collection reminded me of that. I've worn a bright lip ever since I went to the presentation of the collection to meet Lucia Pica. A woman, incidentally, who walked the length of the room and shook the hand of every single attendee on the day, winning over this cynical businesswoman immediately. This is her first collection for Chanel, and if this is anything to go on, more greatness awaits.

Chanel Le Rouge Collection 1 is available now from FeelUnique.com in the UK and Nordstrom in the USA.

Instagram Update

Where does the time go? It's over a month since my last update and although it's been typically quiet in the beauty industry, I still have some lovely updates for those of you not on Insta. :)

I bought this from Amazon after seeing Trinny Woodall using it on her Facebook page. It's a slightly fancier version of the Body Shop roller.

This Jeunvie Balm was described as 'excellent, better than most I've used' by my eldest son, who has had severe eczema since he was born. He has tried everything on the market so that's a pretty solid claim. Outside of sunshine and salty sea water, this is one of the few things that seems to have genuinely helped.

Availabel from Jeunvie.co.uk

My current lifeline supplement-wise. Folate and Zinc from Solgar and Spatone to boost my iron levels. I'm a long-term anaemic and thus far, this is working better than Floradix and prescription folic acid. Thank you to those of you that recommended the changes.  

Alyson Walsh is the blogger behind the brilliant That's Not My Age - a site for over 40s who refuse to be told how to dress just because they (we) are not 20. Style Forever is a great read and available from Amazon.

Out next week are new additions to Estee Lauder's Re-Nutriv line, including Ultimate Lift Regenerating Youth Serum and Regenerating Youth Creme. Thus far: lush.

I found myself using these almost exclusively over the last few weeks. (The other lip products I used on holiday will be up later this week). Still available on Clarins.co.uk for £18.00.

Cornwall skincare was low-key:

De Mamiel Pure Calm Cleansing Dew

Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Gentle Peel Pads 

Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator 

MD Solar Sciences Daily Eye Repair Emulsion

May Lindstrom Youth Dew and Blue Cocoon

I took Chanel's La Solution 10 but it was empty after three pumps. GGRR. Next time I'll check the weight before I pack!

Maria Tash opened in Liberty and I've already been in twice. Addictive.

Saw my Mrs at the Gleam Summer Party, where the young'uns partied all night in hot tubs (really) and we drank tea/hot chocolate in the corner talking about what we'd been watching on telly. Much more fun. :)

I bought this hardback of Estee Lauder's 1985 book, A Success Story from a third party on Amazon, and it turned up autographed!! Thrilled doesn't come close. I got it from this seller who still has some left. When I emailed them to ask if they had anymore with signatures inside, they offered me a full refund in case I was 'unhappy that it was inscribed'! No matey, I was very happy. 

So summer is coming to a close, I'm shopping for school uniforms and planning Christmas. Before you know it I'll be watching Elf and wrapping presents.

Fave Fives: City SPFs - August 2016

Hi Everyone!

Some city SPFs for you. All my previous SPF videos/blog posts are here:

SPF with Dr Marko Lens Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIxMaRj9z6U

SPF with Dr Marko Lens Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEhRhDt1Pco

SPF Cheat Sheet: http://www.carolinehirons.com/2015/07/spf-cheat-sheet.html

All my SPF posts: http://www.carolinehirons.com/search/label/SPF

Products Discussed:

ZELENS DAILY DEFENCE:
SPF30, no tint.
£55.00/$85.00

UK: http://bit.ly/2beT5lo

USA: http://bit.ly/2be7k8W


RADICAL SKIN PERFECTING SCREEN:
SPF30, tinted.
£38.00/$55.00

UK: http://bit.ly/2beTuEG

USA: http://bit.ly/2aQ5qHN


CLARINS UV PLUS :
SPF50, no tint.
£32.00/$42.00

UK: http://bit.ly/2bpJPaA

USA: http://bit.ly/2aSSeEU (closest to it - SPF rules are different in the US)


CLINIQUE CITY BLOCK SHEER:
SPF25
£18.00/$24.50

UK: http://bit.ly/2beTR21

USA: http://bit.ly/2bpJViA


CLINIQUE SUPER CITY BLOCK:
SPF 40
£18.00/$24.50

UK: http://bit.ly/2bfDduY

USA: http://bit.ly/2bpK9WI


CHANEL UV ESSENTIEL SPF 30:
No tint.
£42.00/$55.00

UK: http://bit.ly/2aSUgou

USA: http://bit.ly/2be9aqa


CHANEL UV ESSENTIEL SPF 50:
No tint.
£42.00/$55.00

UK: http://bit.ly/2bpKVmQ

USA: http://bit.ly/2bsjHjy


LA ROCHE POSAY ANTHELIOS:
SPF30, no tint, although tinted versions are available.
£16.50

Worldwide: http://bit.ly/2bpKZCN


SKINCEUTICALS MINERAL DEFENCE
SPF50, tinted.
£39.00/$34.00

UK: http://bit.ly/2bpL5KJ

USA: http://bit.ly/2bpMn8I  (different in USA)


ARMANI MAESTRO UV SPF50:
No tint.
£40.00/$64.00

UK: http://bit.ly/2beVxbu

USA: http://bit.ly/2beURDb


KATE SOMERVILLE DAILY DEFLECTOR SPF50
No tint.
$48.00

UK: http://bit.ly/2bpLMUm

USA: http://bit.ly/2beVigW



OTHER PLACES TO FIND ME:

Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/carolinehirons

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http://www.instagram.com/carolinehirons

Pinterest:
http://gb.pinterest.com/carolinehirons/

Snapchat:
@carolinehirons

Bloglovin':
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Caroline Hirons c/o
Gleam Futures
6th Floor
60 Charlotte Street
London W1T 2NU
caroline@gleamfutures.com  (skincare queries cannot be answered at this address)

I sometimes (not always) use affiliate links. If you are happy to click on the link and support this blog in that way, thank you very much. If you would prefer not to, just google the brand and the item, it's all cool. :) For absolute clarity: I do not use affiliate links on products belonging to brands that I work with on a professional basis.
See my full disclaimer here:
http://bit.ly/1rpEmSq

The views expressed on this site are the author's own and are provided for informational purposes only. The author makes no warranties about the suitability of any product or treatment referenced or reviewed here for any person other than herself and any reliance placed on these reviews or references by you is done so solely at your own risk. Nothing on this site shall be construed as providing dermatological, medical or other such advice and you are always advised to seek the advice of a suitable professional should you have any such concerns.

Chanel UV Essentiel Multi-Protection Daily Defender

I've covered SPF extensively in the last few years so this year I'm going to focus primarily on light facial SPFs, suitable for daily use as well as holiday - and these from Chanel are kicking us off.

These two new formulas, available in both SPF30 and 50, offer UVA and UVB protection, long UVA, infrared and indoor lighting protection.

It's a very light, liquid formula and utilises zinc and titanium dioxide in nano form. Suitable for all skin types and colours but I would test the 50 on your skin before you purchase if you're very dark, it may be slightly ash. The 30 seems completely fine though. They both work fine under foundation.

The bottles and descriptions are very similar to the current Chanel SPFs but these are not released until 27th May so don't confuse these with the current offering on counter.

Chanel UV Essentiel Multi-Protection Daily Defender is £42.00 for 30ml and will be available nationwide at the end of the month.

Five New (ish) Eye Creams I'm Enjoying

Some eye goodness that's made its way into my inbox recently - and a quick head's up on whether it may be for you or not.

Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Gel Yeux
Brand new extension to the Hydra Beauty range. Lovely light texture, superbly hydrating without being sticky, and finally a fragrance free addition to those of you wanting to use this Hydra range but have problems with scented products.
Best for: dehydrated eyes, the quickest 'fix'
Any downside?: No
£44.00 for 15ml available from feelunique.com: http://bit.ly/1Z2Wa5V*


goop Perfecting Eye Cream
Much talked-about new line from Gwyneth and her goop brand and one of my favourites texture-wise. It's a really lovely cream, but I haven't used up the entire pot so therefore can't say what the benefits are long-term, although if noticeable lines and wrinkles (esp 40+) are your main concern I'd reach for the chemical, not the plant. I will use this all up though, the texture is beautiful.
Best for: organic obsessives and people who used the word 'toxic' when talking about skincare
Any downside?: $90 for an organic product in jar packaging? That tells you it may well be organic but it will need to be loaded with good preservatives to keep it intact. I'd have put it in a pump myself, but I'm not Gwynnie.
$90.00 for 15ml available in the US only from goop.com


Kate Somerville Goat Milk De-Puffing Eye Balm
Another new addition to the Goat Milk range, this is more of a cooling balm than a traditional eye 'cream'. It's a gel-like balm stick that feels cool in the packaging.
Best for: puffy, tired eyes. Travellers, people in warm climates or stuffy offices and hayfever people. Easiest for application.
Any downside?: Contains a synthetically derived menthol so not great if you're really sensitised in the eye area.
$38.00 for 8.5g exclusively to Sephora.com*


First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy AM Gel Cream
More newness. This time from First Aid Beauty, who are quietly taking over the middle market with good, affordable products that play a big game. This is the lightest texture after Chanel, and more of an all-rounder if you are worried about lines specifically.
Best for: lines, wrinkles, morning puffiness
Any downside?: Not that I can see
$36.00 for 15ml from Sephora.com*


Merumaya Intensely Youthful Eye Cream
Although not new, probably the most 'anti-ageing' of the five. Lots of active ingredients designed to target all the traditional eye concerns.
Best for: someone wanting an affordable, all-rounder eye cream
Any downside?: Smells of the echium oil, but that dissipates quickly.
£26.50 for 15ml from merumaya.com 

Random Round-Up No.2

Hi All!

Another week - some Instagram newness for you below amongst other updates..

Kate Somerville Official Goat Milk Statement (file under - 'things you never thought you would type'):
"We added Natural Milk Proteins to provide enhanced skin barrier function to better address the needs of those with sensitive skin.  This new formula is also clinically tested safe for sensitive skin."

A lot of you have asked if the new formula would still be in the Hall of Fame - I don't know yet is the answer (but I really hope so). I'm just working my way through the older formula and will keep you posted.

This is a brilliant super affordable body moisturiser if you're dry. Dive in. Although it has nothing to do with Norway. Odd.

Do not buy this. That is all. Forms into a rock hard square shape and pees out a little water when you try and squeeze it out. I would bin it, but it's so bad that I'm saving it for a video so you can see what I mean.

Bobbi Brown's Bali Brown Illuminating Bronzer and Charlotte Tilbury's Bronzer brush are my new addictions.

This poor love took a right bashing on Instagram for it's packaging. The upshot is that I absolutely LOVE the formula and get compliments on my skin whenever I wear it. The downside is that a great many of us find it impossible to get enough out of the dropper. Although a few readers gave us tips that had been passed on from the BB teams across counters, honestly - if you have to explain how to use a foundation bottle it may be time to rethink it no? However, formula is ace.

Chanel newness is LUSH. Very much-needed and wanted extensions to the Hydra Beauty range including the eye cream (not pictured), a lotion/essence and the Flash which is gorgeous. REALLY gorgeous.

MAC Vibe Tribe is out Mid-May and is perfect for summer skins. Well, unless it's still SNOWING in summer. Yes. It snowed today in London. 29th April. WTH?

Bobbi Brown Beach Glow Sun Kissed Pink Eye Palette was one of my most-liked pictures - you ladies do like your eyeshadows :) and these are perfectly pigmented.

Votary released a beautiful luxury gift box of flannels (face cloths) and I have more gorgeous newness to show you from Votary next week. LUSHNESS incoming.

My most-used brow pencil from Studio 10 now serves as a fundraiser for Look Good Feel Better - great news, great product. More info here: http://bit.ly/1neJlZL 

Viktor & Rolf have released BonBon in a Hair Mist. Yes it smells as good as you expect it to. 

I finally got around to really road testing the Drunk Elephant Serum that so many of you are obsessed with. Review to follow.

That Laura Mericer Body Cleanse in Tea Menthe Citron is THE perfect morning WAKEUP call.

No vlog this week - too busy with loads of work that is mostly for clients and thus confidential - will keep you posted - more blog posts coming though so YAY!

La Solution 10 De Chanel

Every time I talk about Chanel I get negative comments about the fragrance content. Well, those of you that like your products fragrance-free because you have sensitive skin and would like to use Chanel but can't, heads up.

What is it?
'The 1st comforting moisturiser formulated by Chanel to soothe, de-stress and defend sensitive skin with only 10 ingredients for optimal skin tolerance.'

An oil and fragrance-free moisturiser for sensitised skin.

Who is it for?
In theory everyone, as most of us have sensitivity issues from time to time.
Particularly good for stressed skins, reddened skins and post-treatment skins.

What’s in it?
The 10 ingredients are:
water
squalane (olive sourced, not shark)
lauroyl lysine (amino acid)
glycerin (vegetal)
camellia sinensis leaf extract (silver needle white tea)
shea butter extract
sodium polyacrylate (emollient)
steareth-21 (emulsifier)
caprylyl glycol (humectant)
phenoxyethanol (preservative)

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?
Not really, even the shea butter is an extract, as opposed to the thick actual 'butter'.

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?
Mixture/vegan

Tested on animals/sold in territories that advocate testing?
No in EU/ sold in China

What's not in it?
oil
fragrance
mineral oil
parabens

How do you use it?/Where to use in your routine?
'Apply to perfectly cleansed skin morning and evening.'

I've also been using it randomly, as a moisturiser and underneath other heavier products throughout the day on no-makeup days.

What’s good about it?
To look at the ingredients you may not get particularly excited about this new Chanel cream, but the attention to detail has been rather hidden behind the scenes. Chanel worked with Dr Amy Wechsler to try and find the best cream to immediately soothe the skin, with the fewest ingredients.
La Solution apparently took 117 trials and 4 years to come to market and Chanel say during each trial they would go back to the drawing board if any of the testers reported redness/breakouts etc.
We know that stress is a killer - for both you and your skin. In the skin it is caused by sleep deprivation, emotional and physical stress, travel, pollution, smoking, hormonal changes, sun exposure, over-scrubbing, the list is endless. A stressed skin leads to over-production of NGF (nerve growth factors) and causes the skin's sensitivity to increase.
The main focus of the product is silver needle tea, containing twice as many polyphenols as green tea and proven to reduce the production of these neurotrophic factors by 75%. In layman's terms, it tells your skin to CHILL and go for a lie down.
I used it to calm my post-retinoid flaky skin under slightly heavier oil-based moisturisers and it was brilliant. Not greasy, no burn at all on sensitised areas and it definitely took the redness down. I reached for this over my usual 'sensitive face' products all week and it worked. I love it. It's now my first choice when I feel a hot flash/food allergy reaction coming on, and very comfortably in the 'when in doubt' pile.
One of the nicest things for me is the purposeful exclusion of mineral oil, all too often added to 'sensitive' creams with the thinking that it causes no further damage, and that fewer people react to it, when more and more we are finding out that this is simply not the case. It's used primarily because it is cheap.

What’s not so good about it?
It's £58.00, but it's Chanel. And it's not a vanity product. It works. Your call. But please refrain from leaving me comments saying 'Why would you pay £58.00 for a face cream?' when I check your Instagram and it's full of £500 handbags and £150 jeans. Alrighty then. :)

Similar products?
I only found Eucerin, and that wasn't particularly 'clean', if you know what I mean.
Minimal ingredients, no fragrance, no oil, no essential oils, no mineral oil. Can anyone think of anything else? I'll add if so!


Chanel La Solution is £58.00 and goes on sale nationwide in the UK on 25th March, but is already widely in the US and available from Nordstrom for $80.00 here: Nordstrom/Chanel/laSolution

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation

When I said on Instagram yesterday that I thought I had come across the 'Foundation of the Year' on January 5th, I wasn't exaggerating.

Chanel launch the addition to the Les Beiges collection on 15th January and this is one brilliant foundation.

I would go as far as to say love at first try. I don't write a lot about foundations, primarily because I am ridiculously fussy. I mean ridiculously. I have used Chantecaille Just Skin (which really should be in the Hall of Fame - will remedy that) since it launched, dipping in and out with things like La Bella Donna (reviewed here), and pretty much always with Pixi Flawless Primer, but I have not really strayed from the Chantecaille path, one way or another, in over 10 years. Yep. 10. Before Just Skin launched I was a Future Skin addict. I just, for the most part, do not like the feel of foundation on my skin. I hate feeling like my skin cannot breathe. 

I think foundations, more so than moisturisers for example, are like shoes or a bag, when you 'know', you know. So when I put this on, I just knew. I gave it to the ultimate litmus tester, Mother. This woman has used every foundation released for the last 50+ years (don't tell her I gave you that figure) and she called me immediately and said: 

'Yes. Everything gone (imperfections). Glow works, but no shine. Not too pink for me. Not orange. Yes.'

The texture is more like a cream than a liquid, and upon application is flawless. It feels like velvet and looks like satin. It immediately covered my imperfections, but as Mother said, 'without making me look like I've just been dug up'. You can see where I get my way with words.

For me, this was akin to applying an immediate filter to my face. The kind that people use on Instagram but say they don't? That filter. It's a mix of mineral pigment and soft focus powder, and it looks like it. I now want a concealer, powder, bronzer, highlighter in the same vein - everything needs to be made with this technology please Chanel.

This launches with 14 shades, although some of those look like being exclusive to the Far East, there are 9 shades listed for the UK at the moment. I can use No.40 or No.50, depending on the day/self tan etc.. I use Tan or Wheat in Just Skin for comparison. Jane has some swatches here.

You have just over a week until this launches. You need it in your life.

It's £36.00. Will update with links and amount of shades once it's live. Wow.

*I apologise in advance for the amount of Chanel that will be coming up on the blog and on my Instagram. I went a little crazy in Rue Cambon when I went to Paris with Ava last month. This is what happens when you take your equally-beauty-addicted teenage daughter to Paris and not your husband. The day is planned out by store locations, not art galleries. ;)