If ever I’d wanted to head to a Desert (in the midst of Summer no less!), it is now! For Summer 2016, Chanel has taken inspiration from glimmering sand dunes and sun-drenched landscapes, and released a whopping 17-piece Chanel Dans La Lumiere de L’Ete Summer 2016 Collection. I have several pieces to show you, but they are all so beautiful I would like to take some time to linger over each of them over the next few days, starting with an exclusive creation from Chanel Makeup Studio – Empreinte du Desert Les 4 Ombres!
Chanel Les 4 Ombres Empreinte du Desert (SGD96) is a limited edition eyeshadow Palette with a rippled surface design that is reminiscent of the ridges and troughs of sand dunes. The shades glimmer in the sun with soft micro shimmers, but do not go so far as to turn frosty. In fact, they are so wearable, they remind me of SUQQU!
What makes Empreinte du Desert interesting is that oasis of sparkling green in the midst of a cohesive bronze-copper-golden sand palette. And it is the perfect green too, neither too warm as to turn khaki nor too cool to become minty.
From left to right, the shades are:
- Top left of palette – medium-dark coppery brown with a touch of golden shimmers
- Top right of palette – light platinum gold with a slight shimmery finish
- Bottom right of palette – dark bronze with a satin finish
- Bottom left of palette – medium aquatic green with a hint of yellow in it such that when piled on it appears almost brownish, but when sheered out a cool minty-ness emerges.
I must admit that I was reluctant to ruin the surface design of the palette and had swatched with a very very light hand. The pigmentation of Empreinte du Desert is no different from any other Chanel Les 4 Ombres, and I found the shades to lend themselves well to layering one on top of another. And with its mostly neutral color theme, this is one of the most fuss-free, easy to wear palette that I currently have in my arsenal.
Browns are easy to wear, and what intrigued me the most when I first laid eyes on Empreinte du Desert was that green. And I was glad to find that it is actually a fairly easy color to wear, even to the office! For the eye look above, I started by applying a light base of the dark bronze along the lower half of my lid along the lash line. Thereafter, I patted the green onto the inner third of my lid, blending through to mid-lid. Smoked out the outer third of my lid by adding more of the dark bronze, and then pressed some gold onto the middle. Blended everything out in the crease with the coppery brown.
Due to the sheerness of the green, it actually “disappears” into my skin, and so I used a little of the matching Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Oasis to bring out the colour.
I’m sure you are no stranger to these swivelling pencil liners – they go both up and down, and there is a sharpener built into the back to maintain the shape of the tip. Over the years, I’ve found this formula to be improved, and both Oasis and Sable are incredibly smooth, well pigmented and goes on easily without tugging on my lids.
Oasis is a spot on match for the green in Empreinte du Desert, but much more intense. Sable on the other hand, seems quite close to the copper but in reality is much brighter. Both are gorgeous and limited edition, but if you had to choose, my suggestion is to go with Oasis!
And here is another look of Chanel Les 4 Ombres Empreinte du Desert on my lids, without the green. You can’t see it, but I used Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Sable on my lower lash line to make things pop. It is a more muted look, but one which played up the healthy glow on the cheeks and earned me quite a few compliments for looking more youthful!
I am finding it hard to catch my breath these couple of weeks, so please bear with me. I will be back tomorrow with my review on those Les Beiges Duos and a couple of Levres Scintillantes, so please check back again! In the meantime, the entire collection is now out at Chanel Boutiques at Ion and Marina Bay Sands in time for Mothers’ Day! Have a blessed weekend!
This post featured products that were generously provided for my consideration. Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.
