Chanel: You had me at 18

Chanel is addictive.

It’s cliche to say that “once you start, you just can’t stop”.

But it truly is.

My not-so-secret love affair with Chanel started exactly 2 years back. Way before the crazy price hike. Way before women, and for that matter, men, became obsessed with the CCs.

It was quite coincidental.

I found it a pity that my sister wanted to sell her bag to a reseller and decided that I had to buy it off from her. Poor reseller who practically drooled at the bag. But thank God for the lucky save. That bag probably costs thrice its price now and no way I’m parting with it.

And since, I have babied more CC bags than nieces. I have also succumbed to CC jewellery temptation. Not to mention, how infatuated I am with Chanel’s make-up.

My deepest love for Chanel has yet to begin and lies undiscovered, tucked away at Chanel’s l’Espace.

With an open mind, my sister and I made an appointment with Jean, the perfume specialist at Chanel. We were promised an olfactory experience the Chanel way, that is set to change the way we thought about perfumes. Also, unlike the perfume bar at Ngee Ann, at l’Espace MBS, we were guaranteed an intimate experience with Les Exclusifs De Chanel parfum. It is notable that MBS perfume bar is the only fragrance boutique in whole of South-East Asia that retails Les Exclusifs.

The counter is overlaid in black and white. The chairs were made of tweet material. In an instance, I felt like a little girl in a gigantic boutique store going wow.

Before my eyes were rows of ceramic blotters. I was surprised to know that each blotter represented a Chanel perfume. I didn’t know that there were that many Chanel perfumes!

These are the 12 Les Exclusifs De Chanel parfum. Lined neatly in a row with the ceramic blotter.

Advertorial postcard that I received two months back.

Our journey started at 31 Rue Cambon where Coco Chanel looked on the media and press through the reflection of the mirror-panelled wall alongside the infamous spiral staircase. Fresh grassy spring with a thin breeze of Parisian air. The scent journey continued into the bright floral of Spring and the woodiness of the forest. Say hello to Allure and Chance. As we walked through 28 La Pausa, and waved goodbye to the flora aroma, we were led to experience the variants of No. 5.

No.5 is powerful in its own right. It marked the turning point of perfumes. No longer do women need to spot a single scent of their favourite flower, but now, they were given the rights to own a scent that was rich and womenly. It was at this point in the journey that I realise that Eau de Toilette need not necessarily be a thinner and lighter version of the Eau de Parfum. It is all about what the perfumer wants to highlight.

A coffee-break later, we were led to discover some of Coco’s favourite haunts - 18 Place Vendôme and 31 Rue Cambon- and the Gardenia. Three unique scents that will appeal to different types of people. 2 hours later, as our journey came to an end, we were greeted with whiffs of masculine scents that were darker, more mysterious and woody. As a finale, the perfume experience ended with Bois des Iles and Cuir de Russie - whiffs of leather and tobacco. An interesting ending note I have to say.

So the question is which fragrance hit all the right notes with me?

No. 18.

To Coco Chanel, this perfume was a representation of one of her favourite place. 18 Place Vendôm. The street in Paris that sold Fine Jewellery. No. 18  is essentially a fragrance that is to resemble that of a diamond. Multi-faceted, sparkly, and beautiful.

But to me, No. 18 is sweet, surprising and most importantly, it is my favourite number. It is also a scent that I have never owned - all my perfumes are flora, powdery with an underlying vanilla tone. No. 18 is also part of Les Exclusifs De Chanel parfum - only the best and most precious ingredients go into the line. A rarely used perfume ingredient, ardette seeds, went into the bottle that I bought.

As a parting gift, Jean gifted us with this pretty little ceramic charms spritzed with our favourite scent.

Maybe its time for me to explore the Chanel clothes rack.

Rose Tourbillion

Hey ladies, it has been a while.

I finally had the time to pop by Chanel to get my eye candy fix. A pity I did not like any of the new colours on the bags. Fall colours ain’t my cup of tea. But, I did hear that the pre-fall collection jewellery will be in store sometime mid June! So I’m definitely getting my eyes on that collectio.

Anyway, after 2 months worth of combing all the Chanel beauty outlets in Singapore…

My luck has turned for the better!

Do you see what I see? It’s rose tourbillion! The sold out blush colour in Singapore!

An asia limited edition fit to flatter any lady.

Check out the vibrant colour. Falling in love with Chanel’s blushers is just an understatement.

I also snag the pearl highlighter at 20% off!

I haven’t gotten around to using any of them, because they are just too precious.

The smell of rose for spring is just too good to be true.

Lumières Byzantines de Chanel

So I was looking for a lost password in my old mail accounts. And hey ho what did I see?

*Slaps myself on the head for having missed out on all of the flyers from Chanel.sg!*

I totally missed out on the Spring collection with a tearful wave to the covetable Rose Tourbillon. On the bright side, I fell totally in love with their now-in-classic-collection Espiegle.

So what is this latest collection about?

Inspired by the Byzantine period - a period where women could participate in public life and had a voice - this collection bears resemblance to Co Co Chanel’s unorthodox life in a time where women wore dresses. Not a bad continuation to Chanel’s Spring collection where it is all about Co Co Chanel’s love for pearls.

Make up: Regard Signé de Chanel in Topkapi and Joues Contraste Powder Blush in  Or.

The make-up is a little bronze with a tinge of gold. Befitting since Byzantine women loved to be adorned with gold jewellery.

Oh the glamour.

My favourite scents

Part of my morning ritual is to spray a spritz of sweet perfume. I feel naked without it.

These are the treasures in my little acrylic box.

Clockwise from left: Night jewel by Jill Stuart, Marry Me by Lanvin, Petit Cherie by Annick Goutal, Eclat D’arpage by Lanvin, Chloe perfume.

I’ve always felt that it was too personal to share my favourite scents; but good things are meant to be shared.

Night jewel is my current favourite. Sweet, yet not overpowering, with a tinge of mystery. It holds special meaning to me, having successfully hunt the stand-alone boutique in Shijuku. I only wear this on special occasion or days when I’m feeling really awful and need something soothing to put a smile back on my face. A pity that it requires a spritz every two hours.

Petit Cherie is the first perfume that I purchase and it will always have a special place in my heart. It’s sugary sweet and can evoke the girly person in you.

Chloe’s perfume was introduced by my sister. I wear this pretty much on a daily basis. It has lasting power; the flora whiffs stay with me till mid-day. It’s a romantic scent.

Lanvin surprises me all the time. They are able to churn out fragrances that I fall head over heels with. I currently have 3 Lanvin perfumes. The original, a spring edition and now Marry Me.

I recently read in an article in a magazine that our brain registers notes that we like and dislike. Perhaps that’s why all my favourite perfumes are flora, sweet and purplish!

Urban Decay Primer Potion

I’m always game to experiment new beauty products to satisfy my beauty fixes.

Another must-have make-up item in my cosmetic pouch is Urban Decay’s Eden eyeshadow primer potion.

For about a year, I’ve countered my oily eye-lids with Smashbox’s Photo Finish Lid Primer. It did help to hold my eye make-up till noon and prevented creasing. Unfortunately, given Singapore’s tropical and humid weather, my eyeshadow always runs by evening time.

Late last year, I pondered if I should purchase Smashbox or I should give Urban Decay a try. After reading a long list of reviews on Urban Decay versus Smashbox, I thought “Heck, let’s just give Urban Decay a shot.”

I purchased Eden - the eyeshadow primer created for oily eyelids.

Pure genius I have to say.

Eden is slightly oily in texture and takes some time to apply. It is best to apply generously over the lids and smoothen the texture evenly. I do like the tilted wand - it makes application that much friendlier. After application, I like to add an eyeshadow base and a dash of colour. Amazingly, the colour stays on till mid-day and requires an optional touch-up for a night out, whilst the eyeshadow base holds on till nightfall.

Retailing for just over $30, it helps my eyeshadow go the distance. And for that I’m grateful.

Urban Decay Primer Potion can be purchased from Sephora. It comes in 3 different formula. Original, Sin and Eden. I personally have not tried original as the SA told me that Eden is better for people with oily lids. Sin is a little shimmery.

Nails dripping with pearls

Meet Black Pearl and Pearl Drop - Chanel’s latest nail colour.

Inspired by Coco Chanel’s love for pearls.

I have to be frank. As much as I love to wear white pearls strung, applying Pearl Drop on my nails was a tricky affair. As you can tell, it is sort of a little streaky and unevenly painted. The shine wasn’t very obvious as well.

However, I did feel like a princess for 3 days - till I decided I had enough of chipping polish.

Perhaps, it’s just that I prefer goth.

I had little qualms with Black Pearl.

I had no trouble painting these on my nails. 5 days on and it still looks good!

Initially hesitant, I’m falling in love with the colour. It does look like black pearls - slightly teal grey with hints of blue-green. It looks very good paired with a white top and heels.

The nail polish retails for $36 at the respective Chanel make-up shops.

Laneige Renew Perfect Trial Kit

I have been a huge fan of Laneige since 3 years back. I can’t emphasise more that I’m a long time user of their dual eye-cream. It’s really difficult to find an eye cream that really works. The dual eye-cream doesn’t eradicate the fine lines entirely, but it does help to slow the process quite substantially.

Cutting straight to the chase…

Picture: Laneige SG Facebook

I’m totally delighted that Laneige relaunched their ever so popular renew perfect trial kit!!!! I lost out in the Christmas edition, so I’m jumping for joy that I was so lucky to have spotted this trial kit at Takashimaya this afternoon.

The trial kit retails for $39. It comes with sample size of the perfect renew range. I purchased it for the mini eye cream container. Finally I can bring my favourite eye cream on my travels!

If you have been hesitating to purchase Laneige’s eye cream, this is the perfect opportunity to give it a try.  =)

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel

It was love at first sight.

Inspired by Coco Chanel’s love for pearls.

I first spotted it in the Her World magazine - talk about propaganda - and I knew I had to have it.

It was unfortunate that shortly after reading the article, I left the said magazine in the car and totally forgot about the palette for a week! I got too carried away celebrating my birthday.

The palette was launched 3 days after I read the article. And within 4 days, it was sold out at the counters. You do the math.

A frantic call to the boutiques and one lucky phone call to a kind SA later, revealed that the Chanel boutique at Centrepoint released it later than the rest of the Chanel boutique. So hello to my new palette!

What a pretty mosaic cast onto the palette. Who knew that windows could make such interesting prints.

Ditch the plan on being frugal with my make-up money stash and dish out $91 to bring this baby home.

What I love about this palette is that it is all the colours are so user friendly; unlike the past mixed palettes that I’ve purchased - I am able to use only 75% of the colours as the 25% are either too loud, too pigmented or they do not match my skin tone.

The sheen is an added bonus. It makes application very easy.

A close up of the colours on the palette. The left most colour is more yellow-cream than white-pink.

They were very thoughtful to have added two mini stick applicators.

I’ve yet to break into this palette, so I won’t do a swatch. But you can easily google search for it online. This eye shadow palette has received lots of positive review and is one of the most photographed colour this season.

Centrepoint still carries the stock, but they are running dangerously low. Grab yours before they run out!

Happy birthday from Lancaster

Birthday months are fun.

Special offers and privileges make shopping tempting.

My supplies were running low, so I took a day off work and got myself some fabulous goodies from Lancaster.

From left, Lancaster’s latest product - DNA intense. Skin therapy moisturiser, anti-ageing eye cream.

I was more excited with the gifts with purchase though. They were really really generous!

From left: Aqua milk body lotion, skin therapy SPF - full bottle! Wrinkle Lab concentrate - full bottle too! Softening cleansing foam.

From left: Samples of skin therapy eye cream, night gel, 365 elixir, flash masks.

Lancaster has got to be one of the most generous beauty brand there is in the market.

They were throwing in a full tube of Skin Therapy day shield with purchase of DNA intense and a moisturiser. I got the Skin Therapy moisturiser.

Concurrent with this promotion, with purchase of $180, you get a full tube of Aquamilk lotion and samples for free. I switched the bag for the cleansing foam. The last time I switched the bag for something else, I got a half sized cleansing milk - it’s one of the best cleansing milk I’ve used.

Top up the purchase to $250, and you get a full sized wrinkle lab serum.

As luck turns out, Metro has a 20% off for members during their birthday months. Adding my $50 voucher from Lancaster, I basically bought everything at half price.

If only Laneige would do the same!

PS: The wrinkle-lab serum promotion ends on the 13 Jan.

BS: Serums that I love

From my New Year resolution, you probably figured out that I’m a beauty junkie. To be exact, I splurge on beauty products. Serums, moisturiser, cleansers, toner… You name it. Blame it on having a bad bout of acne breakout in my teenage days; it started my quest to eradicate those reddish pimples.

In my previous beauty post, I introduced you ladies to some serums that I love. I’m adding two more to that list.

Lancome’s Genefique is no stranger to Singapore’s beauty scene. It was first introduced in mid 2009, backed up by tons of advertising.

It took me one year before I was swayed to buy a bottle of it; and I purchased my first in Taiwan no less. Hooray to duty free.

I’ve been using this daily since June 2009, and I’ve got to say, my skin developed a glow after a while. Unlike most women who have tried this product, the effect wasn’t instant for me. it took about 2 weeks before I saw a significant improvement.

To test if it did add value to my face routine, I experimented by removing it from my daily care routine for a week. Sure enough, I noticed a difference. So, I stuck it back into my daily routine and I won’t be without it.

Now this other serum that I love is Sothys’ Clarte and Confort serum concentrate.

What it does is that it soothes the redness of the face and tries to strengthen weak capillaries. The beautician at the Sothys’ clinic told me that women often care about the fairness of their face, but neglect to protect weaken capillaries.

Sometimes, these weaken capillaries might break after our skin is being probed and prepped countless of time. Once broken, only surgery can remove the redness - it would take years for it to subside by itself.

Sadly, my capillaries are weak, so I rely on this to help flush away the patch of redness that I suffer from. I have to be honest to say that I can’t stop relying on it - my face would be flushed without it - but it appears that with time my skin is starting to require a heavier dosage of the serum.

The bad news is… this is being discontinued and so my hunt for the next serum to reduce red patches begins once more.