Chanel Gel Top Coat
Chanel Gel Top Coat

Alongside the forthcoming Chanel Gel Top Coat are the newly formulated shades of Le Vernis. There will be only 15 colours in the line-up, with four favourites, Ballerina, Particuliere, Pirate and Rouge Noir (Vamp in the US) staying. Otherwise, it’s all change. 15 shades doesn’t seem to be an adequate number for a brand as big as Chanel, but maybe they’re adding as they go along and this is the core of it.

Chanel Gel Top Coat
Chanel Gel Top Coat

This is the star of the show – the Chanel Gel Top Coat that the brand claim, used with the newly formulated Le Vernis, will give a 6 day hold. One of the complaints I hear the most is that Chanel polish is chippy so the top coat certainly has its work cut out. I haven’t tested it yet but never think I’m a good test for polish longevity because I am typing from dusk til dawn and that’s a big ask of any polish and generally out of the norm.

Chanel Gel Top Coat
Chanel Gel Top Coat

It’s quite a surprise that Chanel have chosen to stay with their slender brushes for Le Vernis, rather than going with the easier to use fatter polish brushes. I find them a bit ‘wafty’ at their current length, having got used to blunter, fatter brushes. However, all the density of colour that you’d expect is there. The top coat brush is wider for a one-sweep coating.

Chanel Gel Top Coat
Chanel Gel Top Coat

I have some of the 15 colours here starting from bottom to top: Organdi, Garconne, Shantung, Rouge Essentiel, Roubachka and Mythique. Roubachka is a very, very blackened purple which isn’t showing up terribly well in the picture.

As a limited edition, Chanel are bringing out a set comprising the shade Rouge Essentiel and the Gel Top Coat (£36). The Gel Coat will be £18 and Le Vernis £18 when they launch on 22nd April. If you’re feeling adventurous, I’d recommend Roubachka, but Organdi is a beautiful nude colour if you want a more natural nail look.

NB: Thanks to a very helpful commenter, I’ve managed to put two of the new shades in my basket on the FeelUnique site HERE. I’m pretty sure they’re not supposed to be there so if you want an early bite, go now, or to stock up on colours you might miss when gone.

 

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