Chanel brings back Uma Thurman’s vampy chic

Forever lipstick” and a nail polish-inspired makeup collection headline Chanel holiday beauty.

For Noel 2015 the brand transformed its iconic red-black Rouge Noir nail polish into a full-fledged makeup line. Rouge Noir was the lacquer that vampy Uma Thurman wore in the movie Pulp Fiction, which ushered in a new era of dark nail polishes.

“Rouge Noir started in Chanel’s autumn/winter fashion runway show in ’94 and since then the shade has become a cult favorite in the fashion industry,” says Francesca Sy, Chanel’s brand manager at Rustan’s. “Now it’s celebrating its 20th year.”

You can now wear the seductive tint on your lips with a Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick called La Merveilleuse, topped with a sheer, gold-flecked gloss called Etincelle to make your lips as lush and bite-able as a black cherry.

For the eyes, a smoky Rouge Noir cream shadow can be lined with kohl or a gold saffron eye pencil for a surprising burst of light. I love the Rouge Noir mascara with garnet shimmer, which you can wear alone or brush on your lash tips for subtle glamour. 

Chanel’s Exclusive Creation this time around is an eyeshadow quad featuring gold, violet and rosy-beige hues to complement the matte Rouge Noir shadow.

With such a rich palette the cheeks are kept fresh and neutral with Joues Contraste Lumiere highlighter that Sy suggests brushing on the “C” area from your cheekbones to temples, or on your décolleté, shoulders and legs for added appeal.

And, of course, what would the Rouge Noir collection be without a groundbreaking nail product? Sure to be the cult favorite this season will be Lamé Rouge Noir, a sheer pink topcoat infused with golden glitter you can use in a variety of ways: straight up to give any polish a metallic sheen, as a base coat, or you can draw a half moon on the base of your nail before applying a darker color above it. The point is, says Rustan’s team of Sy, Mica Agdamag, Joey Ermita and Anika Leongson, that Chanel, once an advocate of wearing only solid colors, is now encouraging play and actual nail artistry. 

Chanel no.5 For the young: eau premiere

Also celebrating a birthday this year — its 94th — is Chanel No.5, or N5 in Chanel-speak. Usually perceived as a fragrance for more mature women, the house has finally formulated a gateway juice for the young: Eau Premiere, a lighter, fresher, sweeter version of N5 with a touch of ylang-ylang that is absolutely beautiful.

This year they’re launching more affordable, travel-friendly 35-ml bottles of N5 Eau Premiere and eau de parfum. “The EDP is more jasmine and floral,” Sy says. “We recommend Eau Premiere as the starting product and, for night, the EDP is perfect for special events.”

‘Forever lipstick’

Chanel continues its dominance over the lip segment with its Rouge Double Intensité, a dual-ended lip product that lasts — oui — virtually forever on your lips. One end dispenses a liquid lipstick that dries to a matte finish; the other is a clear gloss that provides moisturizing comfort and shine.

Available in four colors, Light Rose is the universally flattering pink, while Plum Desire is the glamorous go-to for night.

“All our beauty advisers on counter were raving about this lipstick,” Sy said.

The lure of Rouge Allure

For those who prefer less tenacious lippies, Chanel’s popular Rouge Allure line is chockfull of new holiday shades and textures to suit all skin tones. New Rouge Allure gloss combines the ease of a gloss with the pigment of a lipstick.

Early favorites for me are velvet matte La Mystérieuse, a coppery rosewood; satin cream Pensive, nude rose-beige perfect for a smoky eye or those who love the “no makeup” look; La Fascinante, a sexy matte red lipstick; and Idéale, a pink gloss with gold and silver shimmer.

Chanel started not only the rage for inky nail polishes with Rouge Noir, the trendsetting house also made brown polish fashionable with Particuliere, another cult classic. In the Rouge Allure holiday 2015 collection, watch out for Troublante, Chanel’s 3D take on Particuliere with bronzy shimmer. There’s also iridescent pink Rose Exuberant and Singuliere, a festive red perfect for the holidays.

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Chanel is available at Rustan’s The Beauty Source.

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