Summer 2014

Chanel Eastern Light #613 ($27, limited-edition) is a re-promoted shade in the Reflets D’Été de Chanel Summer Collection. It was originally released as a limited color with the Hong Kong Collection in February 2013 along with Western Light. I never reviewed it when it was released because it took me a while to track one down (mine is the original without a number on the label). If you missed out the last round, now is your chance to revisit and check it out. Eastern Light is a pure white. I had slight issues with application – it applied slightly streaky and uneven, but I was able to get full coverage with three coats. Even after a year of playing around with this shade on the fingers or on the toes, I’m undecided on how I feel about it. The white has a crisp clean sharp feel that contrasts sharply with my olive skin. I like the clean feeling it gives but it seems a bit too stark for my taste. I’ve been trying to wear it with an open mind but each time I wear it, all I really want to do is take it off immediately. Here are a couple more photos and swatches:

Swatched with three coats:

I don’t own many pure white nail polishes. I have a few limited-edition pearly whites/pale silvers. I will repost a comparison I did with Tom Ford Vapor Nail Lacquer that was released a year ago as well. As you can see below the color of Eastern Light with three coats is sharp and crisp. (All shades listed below are either discontinued or were limited-edition,)

If you’ve tried Eastern Light I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you missed out over a year ago, be sure to visit your counter soon to check it out so you can purchase/order it before it’s gone again. We all know Chanel regret can be expensive. It’s listed online as limited-edition. Online now at Nordstrom, Saks, Bloomingdales and Chanel.com.

Chanel Sweet Lilac 615 Le Vernis ($27 for13 ml/0.4 fl oz) is a delicate pink lilac shade. It’s definitely lilac in the bottle but on the nails it looks almost pink. There’s a hint of violet blue shimmer in the formula but it is almost invisible on the nails. I love this color. The added pink makes it very easy to wear (some lilacs clash with my olive skin and look too pastel). The pink tone also makes it easy to wear year round. Application is smooth and applies easily with no issues. I do find you need two coats for this one for full coverage but it smooths out flawlessly.

Here it is swatched with two coats (applied by myself with Sephora FormulaX Base Coat and Top Coat, sent by Sephora for testing/review, thoughts on The System soon):

I don’t own many lilac-colored nail polishes, I tend to like darker purples or colors that are more pink, but here are a few to compare: YSL Rose Scabiosa (limited-edition, review here), Rescue Beauty Lounge Poco a Poco, Chanel Lilac Sky (discontinued), Chanel Rodeo Drive (discontinued) and Dior Lilac Colorvision (review here, discontinued).

Chanel Sweet Lilac is closest to YSL Rose Scabiosa – the Chanel is more purple.

Bottom line love. Sweet Lilac is listed as limited-edition so if you like the color I recommend tracking one down sooner than later. The color is easy to apply and flattering for spring-to-summer and suitable for wear on any occasion. I love the pink tint to it to prevent it from looking too pastel or too purple.

I found the Chanel Le Vernis shades from the summer collection at Nordstrom, it’s also available right now at Saks, Bloomingdales and Chanel.com.

Chanel’s Reflets D’Été de Chanel Summer Collection features five Le Vernis Nail Colours ($27 each for 13 ml/0.4 fl oz). Four of the shades are new colors in Pink Tonic, Tutti Frutti, Sweet Lilac, Mirabella and one repromoted shade in Eastern Light. I’m in love with the newer shades but still can’t fall in love with Eastern Light (even after having it for over a year since it first launched). I’ll have individual reviews and comparisons for each color shortly. For now here’s a quick teaser on how the colors look swatched.

Eastern Light is a white cream (needs three coats). Sweet Lilac is a lilac/pink color. Pink Tonic is a bright pink. Tutti Frutti is a nice coral peach. Mirabella is a sweet orange cream. The shades have a slight shimmer if you look at the bottles in the sun, but the shimmer doesn’t really show up on the nails. They apply like creams.