Chanel Mediterranean Collection

If the Chanel Mediterranean Collection for summer 2015 doesn’t get you longing for a weekend in Nice, I’m not sure what will. Inspired by the peace and tranquility of the Riviera, far from the bustle of Rue Cambon, it’s a celebration of summer vibrancy. I don’t have every single shade here, but starting off with the limited edition Levres Scintillantes, of which I have Rose Paradis, above. It’s a pink based red that’s semi-sheer on the lip and a perfect colour for a beachy, hair tied back, sunkissed skin kinda look.

Chanel Mediterranean Collection

Next is Rouge Coco Shine (one limited edition shade, Amorosa) shown here in Insoumise – the Chanel Mediterranean Collection is a mix of new colours that join the permanent line up and limited edition shades that will disappear at the end of the summer – which is more of an orangey-red and is a ‘lipshine’ as opposed to a lipstick. Funnily enough, I find the Chanel lipshines, of late, more drying than I used to. I don’t know if it’s me or them!

Chanel Mediterranean Collection

I’ve recently started wearing my Chanel Style Eyeshadows again – I’d forgotten how good they are at delivering a cool-feel sheen to lids. I find them to last well, too. For the Chanel Mediterranean Collection there are six limited edition shades, of which I have two here; Campanule and Caroube. Caroube is an instant hit for me with my brown eyes, but I’m not ruling out a go of Campanule either. These shades are high sheen, and Campanule has a bit of a glitter hit to it as well.

Here’s a swatch of all the shades of products shown above.

Chanel Mediterranean Collection

I guess the star of the Chanel Mediterranean Collection show is the Creation Exlusive Lumiere d’Ete. Actually, I have a little story about this product. When I was at the launch, products were being handed round the room for us all to try, and somehow I seemed to be at the end of the row, so ended up with a pile of pre-launch products. I was joking around with a friend, making ‘putting it all in my handbag’ actions thinking myself highly funny. Until I got home and realised I really had put this in my bag. Basically, stealing at a Chanel launch, albeit by accident. You cannot imagine my look of horror! Luckily, after I’d made mortified and profuse apologies, everyone was very kind… but I can’t look at the camelia shaped bronzer without feeling guilty! The key to Lumiere d’Ete is to buff into the skin which gives a light, light bronzed effect, but more burnished and skin-gleamy than other bronzers.

Les Vernis

Nails are deliciously bright – if all you want to do for summer is add a bit of bronzer and mascara to your face, you can ramp up the colour levels on fingers and toes. Personally, I’m drawn to Lavanda (because deep shades for the beach are a forthcoming trend), but I know I won’t get through summer without trying the other two, Mediterranee and Coqueliot, too. There’s one limited edition colour (annoyingly, I don’t have it) called Terrana, which is a very similar shade to Caroube Stylo Eyeshadow.

If I had to make a pick of one or two products only, I’d opt for a Style Eyeshadow first and foremost, and then the Mediterranee or Lavanda polish.

Prices are: Le Vernis, £18, Levre Scintillantes, £22, Rouge Coco Shine, £25, Style Eyeshadow, £23 and Lumiere d’Ete, £40.50.