Chanel Graphite Vs OPI Number One Nemesis - Comparison and Swatches

When I heard that Number One Nemesis is a dupe for Graphite, I was really curious about how it compared. Luckily, I was able to find Number One Nemesis at my local nail supply store so I only paid half price for it, Yay! So now I can reveal you the truth.

One thing you can immediately notice is that Graphite is brighter and has more pronounced shimmers giving it more of that grainy effect. Though Number One Nemesis is beautiful, it's a bit darker so the shimmers are a bit muted. I don't know what people consider dupe but I think that word is being misused often in the beauty community. To me a dupe is a 99% resemblance. The difference, if any, has to be ever so slightly that you wouldn't silently wish you had the other.

So far, I have not seen any proclaimed Graphite dupe come close to the real thing. I have also compared Graphite with Revlon Carbonite in this post "Chanel Graphite Vs Revlon Carbonite". In my opinion, Carbonite is closer in color as compared to Number one Nemesis but both lack the unsurpassed beauty of Graphite. It is a real gem and if you have not personally seen it in person, it is way better than it looks in pictures.

Yes, I understand that most people don't want to pay $25 for a nail polish, and I don't either, but personally Graphite would be one that I can say was worth it because nothing I've seen compared to it. Unfortunately, it was limited edition and no longer available.

So my verdict is, Number One Nemesis is not a dupe but more like a cousin of Graphite.

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Chanel Graphite Vs Revlon Carbonite

I heard so many people claim that Revlon Carbonite is a dupe for Chanel Graphite. I purchased Graphite a year ago when it came out. It's the most expensive nail polish I own but definitely worth the money if you ask me. I haven't been able to get my hands on Carbonite until recently at my local Big Lots. You probably have seen many comparison posts by now if you googled for swatches but I just thought I'd share mine as well.

On these pictures, I have Graphite on the left and Carbonite on the right.

From this picture down, I have Graphite and Carbonite swatched side by side so that you can see the difference.

My final thoughts

I was surprised at how close the colors were with each other. Although Carbonite is a good dupe for Graphite, there is a noticeable difference between the two. Graphite is a lot sparklier and shinnier. Carbonite looks more dull next to it.

As far as application goes, Graphite applies a little more sheer so you would need 2 to 3 coats to reach opacity. Carbonite is pretty thick and pigmented and I could easily get away with just one coat. I didn't have any issues with application on either one.

I paid $25 for Graphite and $1.00 for Carbonite. Huge difference in price. So if you can be happy with the difference between the two shades, you definitely get a better deal with Carbonite, although you may have to hunt that one down.

Even though Graphite is limited edition, you can still purchase it from Chanel's website

http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/Makeup-Nails-LE-VERNIS-89314

**Update...Sorry to say, but Graphite is no longer available. I guess, they finally sold out.**

I honestly do not regret having Graphite and wouldn't mind paying the extra $24 for it. You can clearly see in the pictures, it is prettier than Carbonite...at least it is to my eyes.

Which one would you get?

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My High-End Lipgloss Collection and Swatches

Here's just a quick post of my high-end lipgloss swatches. To be honest, MAC makes up for most of my lip products so I feel that it would need to have it's own post or category. I've already posted a post of my MAC lipstick collection and some swatches (by now, I must have acquired a few more already) but I have not done one with the MAC lipglasses.

Unfortunately, some of these high-end glosses were limited edition or discountinued but who knows if you might still be lucky enough to come across them. Nonetheless, I'm throwing it out there just for the love of blogging and because some of these shades are still available.

 

I listed a brief description of these in order from left to right according to the photos and swatches.

YSL Glosss Pur 49 black (limited edition). I purchased this one from allcosmeticswholesale.com a while back but it's no longer available there. However, when I googled it it seems like you may still be able to find it online. To be honest, I rarely reach for this, lol. I believe most people won't go for this type of shade anyways but I just bought for the quirk of having something unusual. Plus, considering it's the YSL brand and I got it for about half of its retail price, I thought eh why not?!

Josie Maran Natural Volume Lip Gloss Soledad. I got this as part of a value package from Sephora, which I did a review HERE. For lip swatches, you can view it in this post. It is still availabe for purchase if you are interested, you can find it on Sephora's website. This is a sheer coral lipgloss that feels nice on the lips and looks natural. It doesn't last very long unfortunately. To be honest, I wouldn't have purchased this on it's own due to the sheerness and price ($20).

Hourglass Extreme Sheen Siren. For review and additional swatches of this lipgloss, click HERE. This gloss is fantastic! By far, my favorite red. The formula is extremely pigmented, smooth, glossy, and metallic. I have not come across anything like it. I highly recommend if you love bright bold red lips. This shade is a stand out and I have got so many compliments when I wore this. Available at Sephora for $28.00.

Lorac Tie Dye for Gloss Berry Blender (limited edition). This came out with a set of  5 colors I believe and thet set was around $30. It thought it was such a great value deal. They were all pretty pigmented. I only kept this one. The rest of the shades were given as gifts. It has an interesting marble look in the packaging.

Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss Hermetic. I love intense metallic lipglosses because they are hard to come by and really make your pout stand out. I haven't come across anything like this shade either. It's a metallic burgundy plum. Gosh I bought a while back and should've done a review by now but still haven't. This is still availabe at Sephora for $20.00.

Chanel Rouge Allure Lacque Santal 77 (limited edition). I heard through Temptalia that these were being discontinued and I was quite sad when I heard the news because these are amazing! They are technically not lipglosses but more like liquid lipstick. For swatches and review of this shade, please click HERE. Otherwise, this is still available for a limited time on Chanel's website.

Chanel Rouge Allure Lacque Coromandel 72 (discontinued). I guess this is no longer available since I wasn't able to find it on Chanel's website. This is a very pigmented warm red. For additional swatches and review, check out this post.

Have you tried any of these brands? What's your favorite high-end lipgloss?

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Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Epatant - Swatches and Review

Well this is a long overdue post since these eyeshadows came out in early July as part of Chanel 2011 fall collection. The good news is these have been added to their permanent collection so you can still get them anytime.

  

  

Packaging

• Sleek and classy looking
• Brush included, works great if you are using it for eyeliner. However, since it's such a small compact brush it's easy to lose. I currently have no clue where it went now.
• Net weight is .14 oz or 4 g which is a bit less than a MAC paint pot.
• These retails for $36.00 a pot, which is oh so damn expensive!

Formula

• There is a total of six shades to choose from but I liked Epatant the best. It's a gorgeous shimmery kaki green.
• The texture of this eyeshadows is amazing! It feels like a mousse but when it touches your skin, it melts into a powder finish. It applies so smoothly and blends easily!
• The pigmentation is also incredible for something that feels so weightless.
• These eyeshadows are extremely shiny, giving you a foiled like effect. They are more suited for night time or dramatic looks.
• The lasting power is also outstanding. It does not budge or crease even without a primer. It stays on until you take it off.

Final Thought

The quality and performance of this cream eyeshadow is top notch and I'm glad that it is considering the hefty price tag, which can be a burden for must of us. I almost fainted when the sales associate told me my total, lol. At the time, I also purchased 2 nail polishes from the fall collection as well.

I really wished that they had colors that were less shimmery. I would have gotten more use out of it.

So the finish of the product maybe something you'll find more or less desirable depending on your tastes. But as far as the overall product and formula, this eyeshadow is very impressive!

My rating 10/10.

What do you think of Chanel's beauty products?

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Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation Review

I'm about to run out of my Lancome Teint Idole Ultra foundation so I figure it was about time I purchase a new foundation soon. When I was checking out the Chanel counter a few weeks ago, I asked the sale's associate what are their new products and she introduced me to the Perfection Lumiere foundation which has recently launched.  I have light/medium skintone with neutral undertone, in my opinion. The sales associate suggested that the shade beige (30) is my closest match. I think it is slightly yellower than I would like it to be but close enough.

Packaging

• Glass bottle with plastic cap and pump
• 1 fl oz

Product

• Has SPF 10. Oil Free.
• The first thing I noticed about this foundation is the scent. It has a pretty strong fragrance to it. It's not unpleasant but it's the first time I've had a scented foundation. So for those who have a sensitive nose, you may want to sniff it first before you buy. I don't mind it that much but I would prefer that the scent wasn't so strong.
• The first time I tried it on my face, I wasn't loving it. I used a flat top brush and I had a difficult time spreading the product on my skin because the consistency is thick and the formula dries very fast. The foundation looked patchy and cakey.
• On the second day, I decided to try application with a flat foundation brush. That was worst since it left streaks on my face, still looks cakey, and half of the product gets stuck in the brush.
• On the third day, I decided to just use my fingers and I was a lot more pleased. It looked more natural and even. What worked for me is doing a quick thin application all over my face with my fingers to even out my skintone. Areas where I need more coverage, I apply a small dot of foundation directly on my skin and use a brush to quickly blend it.
• Because the formula sets so quickly, the application was tricky. It's best if you apply one area at a time and blend it really quick. 
• You can actually skip the setting powder. You won't need it with this foundation.
• This is a full coverage, long-wearing foundation, with a matte finish. I'm a bit oily on the T-zone and this foundation helped reduce the shine in that area.
• The cost is pricey, $55.00.

Conclusion

At first, I really disliked the fact that I couldn't blend this foundation with my brush. I am a bit bummed that it sets and dries way too fast and doesn't allow me enough time to spread and buff it on my skin evenly. However, once I figured the best way to apply it, I've been enjoying this foundation. It covers unevenness and imperfection very well but it's a bit too matte and too full-coverage for my personal preference. This foundation works best for special occasion or photoshoot when you want your skin to look perfect and flawless for an extended period of time. You may look a bit overdone for regular use.
Overall, it does what it says it does. So if you are looking for a long-wearing, flawless, matte coverage foundation, this is it. The price may be a drawback though.
My rating 9/10. I deducted a point because the application was tricky and a bit of a pain, which is my major complaint.

Have you tried this? Or would you?

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This Weekend Haul - Ulta and Chanel

Last Friday, I stopped by the mall because a friend of mine wanted to see MAC's new collection. Out of curiosity, we ventured into the Chanel beauty counter and although, I wasn't planning to get anything there. The sales associate manage to sell me something, lol.
Yesterday, I decided to stop by Ulta just because I haven't been there in a while, lol. I managed to get a few things I needed and a few things I didn't.

Top row from left to right

• It's a 10 Miracle leave-in product. This is the third time I repurchased this product. It works well and smells freaken amazing. I got the large bottle, which is 10 oz for a whopping $36.00. Hmm yeah, the price made me cringe. This better last me long time.
• TRESemme Dry Shampoo. Not sure if I'm going to need this now that I'm planning to hit the gym everyday but I was curious to try it.
• REDKEN Hot Sets 22. I told the lady at Ulta that I needed a hair product that's going to help me keep my curls stay curly when using a curling iron and she suggested this product so we'll see how it works.
• Physicians Formula Organic Wear Facial Makeup Remover Toilettes. PF was on BOGO sale and since I was running out of my makeup wipes, I decided to give these a try. I'm excited to give these a try.
• Physicians Formula Eye Booster Ultra Black. I bought this as a back up since it was on BOGO. I really love this eyeliner.
• NYX Eyebrow Marker. I probably could've waited till they have a sale so I can get it for cheaper but I didn't want to wait.

Bottow row from left to right

• Free sample of Chanel Hydramax Active.
• Chanel Premiere Lumiere Foundation. Ok, this is probably the most expensive foundation I have ever bought in my life, $55.00.
• Zoya Yara. I love the color and the little flecks of gold was tempting me, lol.
• Orly Fowl Play. OMG flakies and glitters. I'm in love.
• OPI DS Glow. I couldn't put it back on the shelf after I saw how pretty it glowed.

 Orly Fowl Play looks like a glitter and flakies potion. Totally put me under its spell.

Guess what happened to my OPI polish. Some polish hardened underneath the cap so when twist it to open, it cracked! I'm soooo disappointed. My local Ulta is not that close to home so I guess I'll exchange it on my next trip there.

Can I justify this purchase? Probably not. I was going to need a new foundation soon but I could've picked something cheaper like the MUFE Matvelvet, which have been on my list for like forever, lol. So yeah, don't ask me what I was thinking. I wasn't. The sales associate told me that this was supposed to be a long-wearing, full coverage foundation with matte finish.
To sum it all, I spent an arm an a leg this weekend, which is ridiculous I know. On top of that I had to buy other miscellaneous stuff for home and kids. Good thing Friday was payday. Ughhh the price of beauty, is it worth it? Where do you draw the line?

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Chanel Peridot Nail Colour Swatches

When I first laid eyes on this polish, I knew I fell in love and when I first swatched it, I knew I had to have it. I've never been this excited or impressed by a nail polish before. Sure I have a few that I really love but these Chanel polishes had me at hello, lol. If I start to sound infatuated, you know I'm in love.
Peridot is another unique and stunning shade Chanel created for their fall 2011 collection, which is limited edition. With that said, this won't be around forever.
The formula is very pigmented and smooth. When I swatched the color on my nails, I was instantly blown away! The color is a gorgeous gold with olive and green undertone. The color is very shimmery but it doesn't just stop there. There is so much depth and dimension in this polish in part due do the somewhat light green duo-chrome. If you look at my swatches you can see that the light green just "glows" along the edge of my nails. What a freaking amazing effect! I swear, I can't take my eyes off of it. I'm actually very surprised my camera did such a great job at capturing its beauty.
This polish has all the qualities you'd want in a polish....amazing color pay off and outstanding quality. Well worth the price in my opinion. Speaking of price, this is the first time I've ever paid this much on a single nail polish. It was hard at first but I knew wouldn't be able to get over it if I had gone home without it. Had I only seen pictures of it, I would most likely just lust for it but seeing in person was a total different experience.

I dare you to swatch it on your nails and tell me you did not like it one bit. I've never been this impressed and I am not usually impressed easily. Ok, enough said...enjoy the show and let me know if this polish managed to work its magic on you.

 Indoor, artificial light

 Indoor, artificial light

 Indoor, flash

 Indoor, natural light

 Indoor, natural light

Indoor, natural light

So...I wanna know what you think now? Love it or leave it? Just pretend you like it even if you don't or you'll crap my mood, lol.

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Chanel Graphite Nail Colour Swatches

Hi everyone,

I'm really excited to show you swatches of my new Chanel Fall 2011 nail polish. It is now available and limited edition so if you like it get it while you can!

Graphite is a beautiful silvery/pewter gray. It has lots of green, gold, and silver shimmers/micro glitters. This polish didn't photograph as well as Peridot and the pictures I took really doesn't do it justice. You have to see this one in person in order to really appreciate its beauty. The color of this polish was created to mimic the look of the stone graphite, hence the name graphite.
As far as the formula goes, it's quite pigmented and you can get a nice opaque and even application in 2 coats. It applies like a dream and dries fairly quick.
The brush is round and just the perfect size. It holds and distribute the nail color very well. As far as how long this will last on your nails, I can't comment on it since I have not tested it for that.
The quality and color of this polish is outstanding! Something you would expect from a $25.00 nail polish. The price is probably the only con and never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would spend this much on a polish until recently.

I've taken several pictures from different angle and lighting so you can see the nuance in different settings.

Indoor, natural light 

 Indoor, natural light - This is the most accurate picture that I was able to take. The shimmers are a lot more reflective and sparkly in person.

Indoor, natural light

 Indoor, camera flash

Indoor, artificial light

So what do you think of this color? Like I said earlier, it looks a lot pettier in person. With flash, it reflects too much light and doesn't look as pretty on the picture. Because I use the macro setting on my camera, it diminishes the way the shimmer sparkles.

It's quite a stunning and unique color and Chanel is known for that. Even if you don't plan to buy this, just stop by the counter and check it out. You'll be glad you did :). It's free to look and even swatch it on your nails! lol.

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Chanel Fall 2011 Collection Haul

I've never been this excited about my own haul, lol. Not just because it is Chanel but because I am completely blown away with the products that I picked up. I normally don't rave about a product unless I am 100% in love with it, just so you know.
Chanel actually had quite a bit of new product to offer for fall. For the life of me, I can only afford so much and had to pick only the ones that really jumps at me. Fortunately, I only stop by Chanel very rarely and so far the Chanel products that I've tried have surpassed my expectation.

I purchased

• Peridot nail colour ($25.00)
• Graphite nail color ($25.00)
• Illusion D'ombre Long-wear luminous eyeshadow - Epatant ($36.00)

Peridot is simply stunning! It's a such a difficult shade to describe. It's like a shimmery greenish/olive/gold with I wanna say a light green duochrome. This is such a unique nail polish. I have never seen anything quite like it.
Graphite is also beautiful. It's a lot more shimmery than Peridot and contains micro glitters. It's like a pewter metallic with sparkling green, gold, and silver micro glitters.
These are the most expensive nail polishes that I own and my first Chanel polishes. I think they were totally worth it. I'd trade 6 of my OPI nail polishes for these.
I had such a difficult time deciding which one to get and the sale associate told me I could swatch them on my nails if I wanted to and when I did O-M-G!! My eyes went 0_0. These nail polishes are absolutely brilliant! The application was effortless and everything I would want in a nail polish. They look so much better on my nails than in the bottle. I can't say enough good things about them. I urge you to check them out and swatch them if you have the opportunity to stop by a Chanel counter because they really look that good and pictures can never captures how truly beautiful they are. Trust me, these are not your average nail color. I know because I own a ridiculous amount of polish. Chanel makes such beautiful unique nail colors with depth and dimension that goes beyond your typical nail polish. I will probably be buying more of their nail polishes from now on, lol.

The sales associate told me that Chanel took 4 years to develop a patented formula for this cream shadow. I was so impressed when I swatched Epatant. The consistency feels like a mousse. It's HIGHLY pigmented, very metallic and shimmery. I think they had like 6 shades available but this one is the one that really stood out. It's a metallic grey with a green undertone. It also comes with an applicator brush. I would also urge you to check out this shade if you get the chance.

Needless to say my total for just these 3 products came up to 90 and some change, which was a total splurge! I know this is a lot of money to dish out on just 3 products and believe me, I was very reluctant to shed that kind of money too but the uniqueness and quality I found in them totally convinced me that they were worth it. If you can afford to splurge, definitely try out this collection. Otherwise, if you can make some sacrifice, I am sure you will love this as much as I do.
I know I've been raving like a mad woman about something I had just bought and that may not sound right to some people but quite honestly it would take a lot for a product to have such a great first impression on me. If you get a chance to see these products with your own eyes, you will understand why I speak so highly of them. Stay tuned for swatches tomorrow. I already took lots of pix.

Do you plan to stop by Chanel and check out the fall collection? What is your favorite Chanel product, if you own any? Would you ever consider purchasing from Chanel if you never did in the past?

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque Santal 77

If you have been following my blog, perhaps this may look familiar. When I first tried out the shade Coromandel, I was instantly hooked on the Chanel Rouge Allure Laque, which is why I went back to repurchase. I wanted a shade that's more wearable so I decided to go with Santal.
This is one of the best lip color formula I have tested. I'd say you get the best of 3 world with this lippie because they have the opacity of a lipstick, the longwearing of a lipstain, and the shine of a lipgloss. It's sooo moisturizing you could even skip the lip balm. It has a pleasant perfumy scent that's not overpowering.
The only con about this product is that it's quite pricy and you'll never find it on sale either. However, if you can bite the price tag of $32.00 a pot, I'm pretty sure you'll be just as happy as I am to own it. Even my sister bought herself one after trying out mine.

Santal is a shade that would look universally good on every skintone but if you have pretty dark skin it may not show up much. This is a nude color with a subtle coral undertone. It also has some gold micro-shimmers but they are not noticeable once you apply it to your lips. This color is gorgeous and looks very flattering on my skin tone. This is one of my favorite nude color and lipgloss. My camera really doesn't do justice to how pretty this color is. You must try it for yourself to understand and see what I mean.

Do you own any Chanel cosmetic products? If so, what do you have and how do feel about it?