Obviously, I had to take advantage of the early morning shopping trip to freshen up and give myself a whole Chanel look before heading into the office. If you’re curious about what I used, here’s a quick rundown, in order of application:
I’ve tried a few Chanel foundations at this point, and if there’s anything I’ve taken away, they’re some of the most hydrating, skin-like formulas on the market. Sublimage L’Essence de Teint is no exception. Not only is BD21 a spot-on match, but the vanilla-infused formula simply enhances and brightens my skin (with the help of antioxidants and a touch of mica) rather than masking it.
I typically gravitate towards golds and pinks when it comes to eye makeup, but there was zero chance I was about to skip over the limited-edition holiday colorways. I promptly picked up Les 4 Ombres in Nuit Astrale and dove right into the satin lavender shade, sweeping it onto the center of my lids for an ethereal pop. And can we appreciate the embossing on each eye shadow? Lions, camellias, comets, wheat, and pearls—too gorgeous.
Bright-lip lovers, rise. I’m not one for shimmery hues for an everyday look, but when I’m really feeling myself (as I was that day) or getting ready for a night out, Rouge Allure Lacque is the satin, light-reflecting lipstick of my dreams.
In my opinion, no Chanel look is truly complete without a spritz of one of the most recognizable scents in the world—a fresh, floral, warm, and soapy scent that I find myself liking more each time I revisit it. In fact, the N°5 Eau de Parfum Purse Spray was my favorite find of the entire morning.
I, like many others, can’t help but adore a miniature—in this case, a 0.2-ounce vial of the signature powdery-floral scent is nestled inside a chic gold casing that can be worn around the wrist, thanks to an accompanying gold chain. Chanel gets it: Just because N°5 is classic doesn’t mean it has to be presented or gifted in the usual bottle year after year.
Overall Thoughts
Visiting the Fragrance & Beauty boutique (FYI: These are separate stores from Chanel’s fashion boutiques!) felt like a playdate—albeit a very high-brow one—and reminded me how fun it is to shop in person and play with textures, sample scents, and swatch to my heart’s content. If you’re a beauty lover who’s based in New York City—or any of the cities in which Chanel Beauty has set up shop—I highly recommend you pay a visit and indulge in some of my favorite luxury beauty products.
Even More Chanel Gifts I’m Eyeing
P.S. While I was browsing, I spotted plenty of other giftable Chanel items and sets that I didn’t get a chance to experience as closely. But, in the spirit of offering even more gifting inspiration (and adding more to my personal holiday shopping checklist, if I’m being honest), here are a few presents I’d love to receive and/or gift to my loved ones:
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Pearly Body Oil
Chanel
Coco Mademoiselle Pearly Body Oil
I’m not even huge on body oils, but the golden shimmer is too mesmerizing to pass up. I can totally see myself slathering my arms and decolletage in this for an extra touch of holiday party glam.
Chanel Le Lift Smooth Results Skincare Set
Chanel
Le Lift Smooth Results Skincare Set
Winter is the time to step up your hydrating skin care, and I’m not just talking about the face. My hands go through the wringer of constant handwashing or brutal New York City winds (Did I mention I often forget to wear gloves?), so I’m stocking up on Le Lift La Crème Main and Le Lift Crème, both of which contain a botanical alfalfa concentrate that works similarly to retinol—sans sensitivity.
Chanel
Les 9 Ombres in 849 The Space Traveler
As much as I love the Chanel eye shadow quads, I’d never pass up more shade options—and all the shimmers, thank you very much, which is why I’m eyeing The Space Traveler and The Daring Muse, in particular. Plus, these nine-shade palettes are still relatively compact enough to fit into most makeup bags.
Chanel Le Liner de Chanel in 544 Écarlate
Chanel
Le Liner de Chanel in 544 Écarlate
There’s nothing wrong with a classic black or brown liner, but I’ve always gravitated towards colorful eyeliners for an extra punch—and Chanel’s Le Liner de Chanel has been reimagined in gorgeous pinks and oranges that will earn you compliments left and right.