Makeup is bold for the holidays

Rouge coco shine: Tracing chanel’s life in lip colors

What it is: The Rouge Coco Shine line of lipsticks is a poetic tribute in colors to the extraordinary life of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel  expressions of absolute longing, tokens of her legendary success, her conquest of free spirit and her unequivocal embrace of her destiny. The latest Chanel line of lipsticks takes inspiration from her friendships, romantic relationships, travels and exploits and the success she found with the brand we all now know as simply Chanel.

Shades of a colorful life: There is Boy (64), a rosewood lip color with a slight hint of copper and the nickname of Arthur Capel, the love of her life, partner and guardian of her first success stories. Canotier (41) is a luminous beige rouge and Coco’s approving nod to the elegant women at the racetrack. Flying Cloud (47), a slightly amber peach lipstick that sparkles like a champagne bubble, is a recollection of her time on the boat of the Duke of Westminster posing in her striped top and long cardigan, a Coco Chanel signature look. Then there is Royallieu (58), an ultimate romantic shade of lipstick in delicate, fresh pink, which traces her first steps towards Paris. Elise (59) is an intense coppery pink lipstick that is dedicated to her beautiful and eccentric friend of the same name who shared her love for dance. Antigone (60), an intense, fresh amber-tinged pink lip color, is an ode to Coco’s friend Jean Cocteau and his first play, for which she created the stage costumes. Deauville (67), is a naturally distinguished and slightly amber brown lipstick named after the place where Chanel opened her first store, a playground for polo players and where her first jersey dresses made a big splash. Misia (46) is a fresh, slightly coppery apricot that brings to mind her lifelong friendships with famous Parisian figures like Diaghilev and Picasso, who made her their muse.

Why it’s fab: The 25 fresh and vibrant semi-sheer shades of Rouge Coco Shine are made with pure and ultra-fine pigments, a blend of wax and plant-based Phytosterol derivatives selected for their ability to melt into the skin. The formulation is steeped in luminosity to make lips sparkle in intense shades. Rouge Coco Shine also contains Hydratender complex for immediate and optimal hydration for up to eight hours, leaving the lips smooth and perfectly plumped. Rouge Coco Shine’s melt-away texture is delivered by a specially guided mechanism in the classic bold black and gold Chanel lipstick case.

Rouge allure velvet:Luscious luxury on the lips

What it is: Peter Philips, creative director for Chanel makeup, describes Rouge Allure Velvet as the reinvention of a comfortable lipstick with a luminous matte effect, a feat that is difficult to achieve because comfort and a matte finish do not always go hand-in-hand. Rouge Allure Velvet comes in dramatic, intense and sophisticated colors in an innovative formula that combines the mattifying and smoothing powers of silicone micro-beads, the luminosity of a new generation of ultra-thin mother-of-pearls plus a jojoba oil derivative with emollient properties that reveal shine-free lips. Upon application, lips feel weightless and moisturized.

Why it’s fab: Rouge Allure Velvet also contains a high concentration of micro-pigments to maximize color intensity in a range of 11 shades that represents the different personalities and moods of a woman. For example, there is La Fascinante, a magnetic red meant to seduce; La Caline, a delicate pink that exudes grace; L’Exubérante, an insolent pink for absolute glamour; La Furtive, a warm beige that is simply chic; and La Sensuelle, in intense violent plum for even more assertive seduction. They are accompanied by three new nail enamel shades: Pirate, a re-release of the legendary flamboyant red, Rose Exuberant in intense pink, and Rose Caché in a soft, natural shade.

Model muse: Vanessa Paradis, French singer, model, actress and wife of Johnny Depp, is the face of Rouge Coco Shine and Rouge Allure Velvet. A favorite of the House of Chanel, Paradis first appeared in 1992 as a whistling acrobat for the Coco fragrance. In 2003, Karl Lagerfeld photographed her as the muse of Chanel’s Cambon handbag.

Chanel’s Holiday 2011 makeup collection: A symphonyof red, gold & light

What it is: For Christmas 2011, Peter Philips, creative director of Chanel Makeup, created Les Scintillances De Chanel, a symphony of red, gold and light in a refined makeup collection symbolic of the festive and sparkling colors of the season.

Makeup musts:

• Lumiére Sculptée De Chanel is a highlighting sheer powder of iridescent beige sprinkled with gold that catches light on the cheekbones and when swept slightly over the forehead or the chin, accentuates the structure of the face. This face powder takes inspiration from a belt buckle worn by Mademoiselle Coco in a 1930s photo.

• Doudre Universelle Libre is an evanescent powder that preserves the freshness and translucency of the complexion; it comes in a delicate pink shade finely strewn with gold.

• Ligne Extréme is an eyeliner that can be applied at the base of both the upper and lower lashes to reflect the light, emphasize the gaze and draw attention to the beauty of the eyes.

• Ombre Essentielle is an eye shadow that reveals iridescent shades of color that shimmer in the changing light. It comes in two colors: Beige Lamé, a natural tone that illuminates with multicolored sparkles, and Blazing Gold, a combination of mother-of-pearl and gold.

• Ombre Contraste Duo is a creamy eyeshadow in black and ivory that dresses the eyelid in a pearly halo for an eye-opening effect. The darker you apply the intense, matte powdery shadow, the more drama it adds to the eyes.

• Rouge Allure is the ultimate, ultra-feminine beauty accessory for its satiny second-skin texture and inimitable touch of provocation. Famous, the red shade is vibrant and subtly nuanced with a dash of “shocking pink” while Enivrée is an elegant pink warmed with gold.

• Rouge Allure Laque is a cream-textured lip color with a lacquered shine that gives the lips a perfectly painted effect. Its fine applicator makes for a high-precision instrument of seduction. The Empire shade indulges in the charm of a gold-speckled rosewood.

• Lévres Scintillantes is an ultra shiny gloss of freshness and sensuality that is perfect for festive evening celebrations; it comes in a Sweet Beige color, elegant with slight sparkly effects, and Sparkle D’Or, a sheer shade filled with golden facets.

• Rouge Allure Extrait De Gloss – This seductive gloss is a true luxury object that makes the lip shine with intense, sophisticated, luminous colors. It comes in the original, best-selling shade Triomphal, a vibrant, ardent red that wavers between glamour and playfulness.

• Le Vernis – This Rouge Carat nail polish is like gemstones on the fingertips — ultra-feminine and sophisticated, it makes for an enhanced beauty statement when coordinated with the Rouge Allure lipstick.

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All makeup is available at Chanel in Rustan’s The Beauty Source.