CHANEL Stylo Fresh Effects Eyeshadow Summer 2015 and the CHANEL Postcard I created at the CHANEL Exhibit  In A Whole New Light #N5NY

 

Every season, I look forward to CHANEL‘s new collections, especially the summer releases. Last summer I fell in love with all the nailpolishes and glossimers from CHANEL’s Summer 2014 Collection Reflets d’Été , with its candy colors intended to be mixed and matched.

This summer, CHANEL Collection Méditerannée 2015 did not disappoint.  CHANEL has brought back their Stylo Fresh Effect Eyeshadows (first released in 2013) in five limited-edition shades. They are cream semi solid shadows in retractable pens that never need sharpening with slanted edges that round out after one or two uses.  They all vary from slightly to very shimmery. I know what you are thinking…you don’t like shimmer shadows because most accentuate fine lines and can be aging.  Personally, I usually steer clear unless I am using as a highlighter, but the Fresh Effect Shadows are different (and have no glitter, sparkles or fallout).

Fresh Effects are creamy with a soft solid consistency and highly blendable.  They have a cooling effect when you apply on the lids due to the high content of water in the formulation.

Swatches: Laurier Rose, Olivine, Caroube, Azelujo, Campanule (For reference I am MAC NC42 here or NARS Barcelona)

 

There are three neutrals in the collection, 127 Laurier Rose, 137 Olivine and 147 Caroube.

Laurier Rose:  A high shimmer rose gold with warm peachy undertones this shadow is particularly beautiful on warm medium to dark skin tones. Rose Laurier can be applied all over the eye as a wash or more intensely as a highlighter. Add mascara and eyeliner and you are good to go. If you are  extremely fair and   very cool complected you may want to skip this one.

Olivine:  Khaki toned and the least shimmery,slight taupe undertone. A notch up from boring browns.

Caroube: If there is one shadow stick in the collection that is a must buy,  it this chameleon bronze. You may think you own a few colors like this, but I assure you you do not.  Depending on the lighting it can look plummy with brown undertones or coppery. Caroube is perfectly balanced between warm and cool and works alone or on top of lighter shadows.  It flatters all eye colors and works with every skin tone.  Since I have blue eyes and warm medium to tan skin, this is a no brainer and I have worn Caroube 3x this week.

 117 Azelujo and 109 Campanule might look scary if you only wear neutrals, but both are truly beautiful colors.  Azelujo is a high shimmer medium turquoise with slight silver metallic undertones and is lovely as an accent or as a liner.   Great color for tan skin; when sheered out it is lighter and less shimmery. If you want a fun look apply on the lid.  Campanule is reminiscent of irises,and leans lavender blue with violet undertones.  It is not particularly shimmery on me. This is another color from the collection that will work with any complexion and really pop green or hazel eyes. It doesn’t read PURPLE when applied and is my second favorite in the collection. For high contrast, wear it with  CHANEL Rouge Coco ARTHUR hydrating lipstick.

CHANEL Stylo Fresh Effects Blended and Sheered Out

 All five Chanel Stylo Fresh Effects colors are highly pigmented, which is something I look for in my eyeshadows, but for those of you who like a more subtle look they can be sheered out easily.  They did not crease  at all and  did not fade until I  removed my makeup.  The one drawback I found is they dry too quickly, so use a creamy primer or shadow base underneath down to help slow the drying time (I used MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Soft Ochre). Also DO NOT use in the waterline, try STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF – LONG-LASTING EYELINER – 997-ORCHIDÉE, a vivid violet that looks elegant not cheap to change up your usual black  pencil.($32.00)  All are limited editions ($36) and  will probably sell out quickly. Perfect for the weekend getaway, throw them in your bag for a long weekend.  Available at Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and CHANEL.com

Disclosure: I received Stylo Eyeshadows Fresh Effects from CHANEL. Opinions my own

–Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief