Chanel Spring 2011 Continued - The Lips

For Chanel Spring 2011, I've reviewed my eye-makeup picks (here), the nail polishes (here) and featured a detailed review on Black Pearl (here). Up next are my lip picks, top to bottom: Peregrina Rouge Coco, Jersey Rose Rouge Coco, Cristal Rose Rouge Double Intensité, Aragonite Glossimer and Nakkar Glossimer.

*UPDATE* I've once again added more comparisons. See all the way at the bottom.

The colors are fresh and brightening and the options this spring are great for both neutral and bright-color lovers alike. I, of course, picked out the most neutrals. If you're into brighter colors like Lancome Chris & Tell check out the 2 new Rouge Allures (which I passed on).

Swatched on bare skin:

The Rouge Cocos at first glance seemed like your basic and unoriginal pink and peach. Swatched on the hands they were pretty, but didn't have that wow factor. Let me tell you - you MUST try these on the lips! They are just beautiful for spring. Jersey Rose is a bright healthy pink on the lips. Peregrina is a healthy but neutral coral. Both are neutral enough for my comfort yet have enough color to brighten the face. If you look at the tube close up you see the slightest sheen, almost shimmer! But on the lips, I don't see any shimmer at all. I like them both layered with the sparkly glossimer, Aragonite, for a glistening shine. Here are close ups of both colors, plus lip swatches.

The glossimers are fun this spring. Nakkar is a warm reddish pinky-peachy color with gold flecks. For once Chanel has released a nice warm reddish color that isn't orange or deep red. Yay! It sheers out so a bit but definitely shows color. On the lips I don't really see the shimmer. Aragonite is a pretty sparkly clear multi-colored gloss. The micro sparkles are highly visible in this one, similar to MAC Dazzleglasses. It's different from Galactic in the sense that Galactic flashes blue-opal, Aragonite is more neutral and less blue. There's a new Rouge Double Intensite this spring in a color different than anything they've done before. Those familiar with Chanel's Rouge Double probably expect a rich opaque thick flat color. Cristal Rose goes against all Rouge Double traditions in the sense that it's light, shimmery and sheer. I'm not sure how I feel about this one, it's so sheer it barely shows up on me, but it's gorgeous in the tube.

I couldn't get good lip swatches of the glossimers tonight, so the arm swatches will have to suffice.

Overall: LOVE! Healthy colors that are fresh and flattering to the skin in a natural way that brightens the complexion. Aragonite is an unexpected favorite because of it's versatility. It's great for layering over lipsticks without altering the color like some multi-colored sparkly glosses can do.

FYI, check out Amy's reviews of the Chanel Spring lips on Café Makeup. She's my Chanel twin but lighter in skintone! If you see my swatches and think "what?! they look off" check out her blog, she has amazing pics and great lip swatches on her daughter there, who is also lighter in complexion.

* UPDATE STARTS HERE *

Here are more comparisons to other Rouge Cocos and one other Glossimer. Note the differences are very subtle and hard to capture. The difference you see is mainly on the lips. The Spring 2011 colors are warmer in undertone.

Jersey Rose & Peregrina from Spring 2011
Chintz & Rose Dentelle from Fall 2010
Magnolia from Holiday 2010

* On the nails: Chanel Rouge Fatal (reviewed here & here)

In the tubes, Aragonite & Galactic look identical. On the hand/lips, the difference is subtle. Galactic flashes blue while Aragonite flashes more pink.