Chanel Mysterious 601 Le Vernis - Fall 2013

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Chanel Mysterious 601 Le Vernis ($27, Nordstrom.com) is a deep khaki military green. It's a full coverage cream. Although this is a very deep shade, there's a muted quality that prevents it from looking black on the fingers. I never thought I could love a khaki-green colored shade for the nails, but this one is quite polished and distinct looking on my fingers. Below shown with two coats.

Comparisons below to some Chanel and Dior:

My heart still belongs to Elixir from the fall collection, but Mysterious is a nice alternative to black, grey or vamps. I can't say that Mysterious is a must-have for me, mainly because I'm usually drawn to non-green/khaki shades for nail polish. I found Alchemie unique, but for some reason, I can't get excited about Mysterious. If you're on the fence and trying to decide between a few select items from fall, I would say skip Mysterious and go for one of the cream blushes or lipsticks in the collection. Those are the winners in my mind.

Right now, Chanel Fall 2013 has been spotted in stores early. I found mine at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. For now, the only place I can find it online is at Nordstrom.com.

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Nordstrom.com Chanel Beauty Samples (Online Only)

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Nordstrom.com samples: Le Weekend de Chanel, Le Nuit de Chanel and Le Volume de Chanel.

I just received a package from Nordstrom.com and wanted to share a current promotion they have. They have deluxe Chanel samples while supplies last. If you haven't tried the Resynchronizing skincare this is a great opportunity to sample them. Unfortunately as of today the Le Volume mascara sample is no longer available, but they still have an awesome selection. I suggest you order soon to take advantage of the offer! (I purchased a backup of Élixir 589 Le Vernis.)

Details online at Nordstrom:

For a limited time, choose three free CHANEL beauty samples with any makeup, skincare, grooming or fragrance purchase. Online only. This offer does not apply to in-store pickup orders. Samples are limited and subject to availability, and substitutions may apply. You may choose a maximum of three samples per order. Samples cannot be shipped to PO boxes, military APO/FPO or international addresses. Your samples may ship separately from the items you purchased.

Happy Shopping!

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Chanel Élixir 589 Le Vernis - Fall 2013

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Chanel Élixir 589 ($27 for 13 ml/0.4 fl oz, Nordstrom.com) is a beautiful milky warm red pink. This color is hands down my favorite shade out of the three released for fall. It looked stunning on the runway at the Fall-Winter 2013/14 Show. The color has a beautiful mix of pink and red with just the right amount of warmth to make it different from other pinks from Chanel. It's a classic color that I hope will become part of the permanent line. It applied smoothly with full coverage with a single coat. Swatches below are all with two coats. It's a color that isn't quite as dramatic or sharp as red, not quite as soft as baby pinks, and not quite as attention-grabbing as bright fuschias. It's somewhere in between. The pink/red is noticeable, but Élixir has a soft gentle-looking feel. It looked striking against black on the runway. I suspect it will be a shade that will be easy to incorporate into any wardrobe color combination. (Photo below via Vogue and Chanel.com.)

Some close up shots:

Swatches with two coats of color and a layer of Poshe Top Coat:

Many have asked how this compares to other Chanel pinks, in particular May and April. I pulled out some to compare: May, Rose Insolent, Fracas, April, Infidele, Cinema and Suspicious. Most of the shades have been previously featured before (links provided for reference).

Nail swatches of a few for extra detail:

Definitely a must although some may find it too similar to other rose pinks to justify purchasing. The fall collection has started to trickle instores now. Some counters are still waiting for pieces of the collection to arrive in their next shipment. Chanel Le Vernis in Élixir 589 is available now online at Nordstrom.com with free ship and currently has a nice selection of 3 Free Samples from Chanel to choose from (while supplies last, online only). 

Did you pick up Élixir?

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Chanel Alchimie 591 Le Vernis - Fall 2013

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Chanel Alchimie 591 ($27 for 13 ml/0.4 fl oz, Nordstrom.com) is new for fall. It's a mossy olive shimmer with a hint of gold and khaki. The color has a very smooth streak-free shimmer and applies beautifully with two coats. I'm usually not a fan of greens on the nails or olive colors since they tend to clash with my yellow/olive-toned skin, but Chanel always does greens beautifully. I've worn this for almost 4 days now and I've had no chips or tip wear. I love that it's a work-appropriate neutral with a bit of edge.

Swatched:

Many have asked how it compares to Peridot from several years ago. Here are some swatches and photos. Peridot has a more visible shimmer/iridescent quality. It's also brighter and more yellow/gold. It literally glows on the skin. Alchimie is a more subtle and conservative version with more olive and green. I think they are different enough to justify owning both.

Alchimie is definitely a must-have. The Chanel fall collection is starting to trickle in stores now. I spotted the items at my local Neimans and Nordstrom. It should be arriving at all Chanel counters and online soon. For now you can find it online at Nordstrom.com.

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Chanel Fall 2013 Is Here!

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Chanel Fall 2013 Collection Superstition is here in stores surprisingly early. My local counters haven't received the entire collection yet but they did have the three new Le Vernis shades in Alchimie, Elixir and Mysterious ($27 each). I fell in love with all of the cream blushes, Presage a gorgeous peach is my favorite (they had this one in stock). Swatches and reviews to come very soon. (Check out my Instagram to see Alchimie swatched).

The nail polishes are available now on Nordstrom.com. The collection is starting to trickle in stores as well.

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Mason Pearson

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I've been eyeing Mason Pearson brushes for quite some time but often overlook the hair care section. I purchased the Detangling Comb ($29, made in Switzerland) and the Pocket Mix Brush ($88, made in London) a couple weeks ago and am head over heels in love. I have thick slightly wavy hair that is prone to frizz with any hint of humidity. I usually buy inexpensive hair brushes from CVS or Ulta but decided to finally give Mason Pearson a try. There is no going back now.

• The Detangling Comb is a smooth sturdy acrylic comb. The quality is excellent and there is a noticeable difference in how this performs compared to other brands. The handle is the perfect length to grip easily as you brush your hair. (I use to brush after a shower or bath on wet hair.)
• The Pocket Mix Brush is the cutest miniature luxury brush I've ever seen. I went with the least expensive brush which is a combination of boar bristle and nylon to try as my first brush splurge. I couldn't be happier. The combination of nylon and boar bristles makes this a gentle brush that brushes hair to a smooth soft even look (no hair tugging or breakage).

For reference, check out MasonPearson.com to view the different sizes and brush types in their entire brush lineup. Dimensions and diagrams are extremely helpful. I never realized how many options there were.

For size reference, they are small enough to fit into a medium-sized purse. Here they are hand-held:

on the nails, remnants of Chanel Skyline

Bottom line: a splurge definitely worth taking. The quality of the brushes is very good and everyone I know who owns one raves about how long they last. I would like to purchase one of the larger sized brush eventually, but right now I'm not quite ready to take the jump to spend over $100 on a single hair brush.

The Mason Pearson Pocket Mix Brush retails for $88, available at Nordstrom.com and also at Neimanmarcus.com. The Mason Pearson Detangling Comb retails at $29, available on Nordstrom.com, also at Neimanmarcus.com. I purchased mine in store, but have spotted them at numerous beauty boutiques and major luxury retailers.

Have you tried Mason Pearson? What's your favorite go-to hair brush line?

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Inside My Bag

Inside my makeup bag: mini Jo Malone Wild Bluebell (gift from a Neiman Marcus beauty event), NARS Frivolous Velvet Gloss Pencil (reviewed here), Chanel Le Volume de Chanel mascara, Chanel Twinkle Glossimer, mini MAC 168SH (limited), YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in #8 (reviewed here), Chanel Double Perfection Powder (old discontinued shade). Chanel makeup bag was a gift with purchase from a recent Nordstrom Trend Show back in April.

What's in your makeup bag now?

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