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Dior Vernis Review

April 13, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

This is my first time trying out the Dior Nail Polish and I honestly can say that I love their nail colors so much already. I’ve always been using Chanel for most of my high-end nail lacquers (reviewed HERE), supplemented by a bunch of OPI, Essie, and China Glaze. This time I’m venturing into other nail polishes to see if the grass is really always greener on the other side. Well, I’m happy to say that yeah, perhaps, it almost always is, except for a few caveats.

The Dior Vernis nail colors are all in a gel formula, just like the new Chanel Le Vernis. It goes on smoothly and feels very rich and creamy while fast-drying at the same time. The brush applicator is wide and very precise, which I’m really impressed at. Also, the scent of this particular nail polish is not as strong as the other nail polishes I’ve tried before, even slightly less than Chanel’s. The very best thing about the Dior Vernis Gel Shine is that the colors are extremely versatile, wearable, very classic and well-pigmented. I noticed that I seem to like most of their shades and would want to wear them all.

Incognito (257) – Definitely the best nail color if you want something subtle yet sophisticated. It’s a very corporate shade and also very casual. The best definition would be that this nail color is very versatile for everyday use. The perfect nude nail color, even more so for medium skin tones.

Cosmopolite (785) – I’d like to call this a vintage, retro-ish, washed-out red, or more of a brick rose-red. It’s classic but not boring and has an old-world feel. A muted red that is also very versatile. Great for when you’re bored of red nails or that red nails may be a bit too much for the occasion. This is definitely a unique red tone shade.

Mirage (338) – If you’re a fan of purples, magentas, plums, or violet-pinks like me, then you’ll love this shade. It’s quite similar to OPI Dim Sum Plum or Essie Big Spender, but with slightly more lasting power than the other two.

Massaï (853) – My most favorite shade of the entire Dior Vernis by far, and one of the most perfect red nail color I’ve ever seen. It’s definitely a rich deep red and slightly vampy like blood. There’s no black tone nor orange tone. It’s more of a blue-toned red and the formula goes on smoothly into the nails. This nail polish definitely complements all skin tones because of its perfect beauty.

Nuit 1947 (970) – I love vampy shades and this one is also perfect for me. It’s a deep vampy red like wine but looks almost black in low light. It’s similar to Chanel Le Vernis in Rouge Noir than Vamp. No shimmers, just plain reddish-black nail color.

Gel Coat – This is the topcoat of choice for the Dior Vernis Gel Shine. It is meant to make the gel nail colors dry fast and to make them long-wearing. Which I think is definitely true on the fast-drying ability of this topcoat, but I’m not sure about this top coat’s long-wear potential. My nail color starts chipping on the side during the 5^th day, which doesn’t happen with me whenever I use the Chanel Le Gel Coat with the Chanel Le Vernis. I don’t know if it’s this topcoat or the Dior Vernis in general, but I find this topcoat to be not as long-wearing as what it’s supposed to be. A lot of people prefer the Top Coat Abricot more than this Gel Coat, which I haven’t tried yet, but will definitely give it a go-to compare them side by side pretty soon.

Verdict: I love the Dior Vernis and will definitely recommend it to you all. The colors are great and the formula is also wonderful. I love that the scent is not too strong and it disappears quickly, and I also love the wide brush applicator for a more even application better than Chanel’s. Also, the nail colors dry very fast with the help of the designated Gel Top Coat, but it’s not as long-lasting as the Chanel Le Gel Coat (reviewed HERE). I probably get a good 7 days of wear with these Dior nail polishes, while I get almost 2 weeks from the Chanel Le Vernis. In addition to that, Chanel has a lot of colors to choose from, yet Dior Vernis’ well-pigmented pretty colors are to die for.

– The Dior Vernis retails for $27 in Sephora, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Saks, & Neiman Marcus.

– The Dior Gel Coat is also $27 in these following retailers: Sephora, Nordstrom, Macys & Saks

– While the Chanel Le Vernis nail polishes are also available at Nordstrom

Have a great day friends, stay tuned for more reviews…

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Chanel Mules Slides Review

March 31, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hello There! It’s almost weekend, right? Let’s end this week with an exciting review dedicated to all shoe lovers, shoe-aholics and fashionistas out there. I know we all love shoes, if it’s not bags, not jewelries, it’s definitely the shoes! Who doesn’t get crazy when it comes to shoes or footwear? I know I do, and I can’t help it. Like the famous quote in the movie “In Her Shoes” Rose (Toni Collette) told her sister Maggie (Cameron Diaz) these lines “When I feel bad, I like to treat myself. Clothes never look any good. Food just makes me fatter. Shoes always fit”. Yes, the shoes always fit, no matter what. Even coming from the mouth of the world’s most famous shoe collector and the wife of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Mrs. Imelda Marcos once said “They went to into my closets looking for skeletons, but thank God, all they found were shoes, beautiful shoes!” Oh! Isn’t that something? I wish I could say the same for my closet, hahaha! But most likely, it’s probably filled with some boring shoes and lots of dusts, and who knows, there might even be a skeleton in there, LOL! Just kidding… Anyway, without further ado, this review is all about the Chanel Mules, or commonly known as the Chanel Slides. I have searched far and wide for this pair of slides, in fact, I’ve crossed countries for it, and finally got it. Oh, excited much? Keep reading….

Almost exactly a year ago, I was having lunch and I saw this email from Chanel that linked to a video about their Cruise 2016/2017 collection that was held in Cuba. I was so excited that I immediately watched the whole show online and was mesmerized at the whole ambience and beauty of the place and the entire collection. The clothes were so colorful, the bags were vibrant and the entire Cuban vibe looked very muy caliente! Yet I was transfixed to a specific accessory. Those slides! They’re beautiful, they’re different, and they’re so me. Oh my, here we go again. Whenever I say those words, I get into trouble, LOL! So, the models kept coming back, waking back and forth with those beautiful and colorful slides. Their skinny feet looking casual chic into these chain-adorned sandals. I knew I wanted those Slides right then and there.

From then on, I embarked into these whirlwind Chanel Slides hunting and had my series of ups and downs. Never knew looking for something as simple as slides or mules can be so tedious and frustrating at times. But it’s not like most mules you know. I first decided which color I like, and knew I had to get the dark ones, but the ones shown in the fashion show were all colorful. I remember seeing the previous year’s slides, which was the first time the Chanel slides were unveiled, I think sometime in 2015, and they were made of tweed upper, which I really really like, but I was sure I couldn’t get my hand on those anymore. Yet I wasn’t so sure about the Cuba Collection’s colors either. Since I was traveling at that time, I decided to drop by at a Chanel boutique in New York and asked if they have one. They said, they weren’t available in their store yet, but it’s coming soon, and they were kind enough to add me in their waiting list. Oh you have no idea how excited I was. Fast forward, a few months later, I received a call from them, the person I talked to in the phone had a very weird attitude. He was so in a hurry to sell without even showing me all the sample pictures and didn’t even care which color I like or wanted to buy. He told me there’s a navy shade, but was not willing to show me the pictures, so I thought, how could I buy something that I haven’t seen? So I just let it pass. What a bummer. I really wanted those Chanel Slides, I thought. Oh well, too bad.

Another fast forward, a few months later, I found myself strolling inside Neiman Marcus King of Prussia shoe salon and my heart skipped a beat, I thought I was gonna have an arrhythmia, and there it was, a pair of Chanel Slides in navy color shown on display. The slides of my dreams, the chain detail looks very luxurious and shiny against the rich dark navy footbed and upper satin fabric. I could buy it right now, but something was holding me back, I know, right? Crazy of me, but I thought about my upcoming trip to Europe, and I decided to buy it there since I’ll be able to get it tax-free. So I let it pass again.

Weeks later, I visited a Chanel boutique in Barcelona and immediately asked for a pair of Chanel Slides in Navy. Right away they said they’re gone and that they’re gone almost everywhere in Europe. My heart sank 6 feet below the ground. In fact, they only have one color in my size, and it’s pink. Oh what a cruel world. They never care to leave at least one navy shade in size 7 for me. I then had a flashback of all the chances where I almost got the slides and I wanted to go berserk! Hehehe, that serious, eh?

So, with empty hands, I tried calling the Chanel boutique in Tysons Galleria and was politely told that they don’t have it either. They’re basically sold out in all Chanel boutiques, and I was beginning to lose hope. But there’s only one more place to call, the place where I first saw the Chanel Slides in Navy. Yes, Neiman Marcus has it, yes! And it’s the only one they’ve got in size 7. I was like “are you sure it’s navy? In size 7? Like the Chanel slides in navy size 7 for real?” The answers were all YES.

Finally, I got my one and only available pair of Chanel slides in Navy size 7. It was as beautiful as I first laid my eyes on it. In fact, I think it’s more beautiful than the first slides released by Chanel that were made of tweed upper, and it’s definitely more beautiful than the Givenchy Slides, which I was also eyeing at first. I love the chain details of it that shines luxuriously when hit by the light, and the navy shade is almost black and looks very versatile. It’s a gorgeous take on a simple slide. It’s casual but elegant, it’s pretty and comfortable. It’s not too heavy and not too light, and it can elevate any outfit, be it formal or street-style. Though I wouldn’t wanna submerge it on the water, it’s still a great sandal for strolling along beach. Just be mindful that the upper is made of satin and not rubber. The slides come in different colors like; bright blue, pink, yellow and green. I advise that you call the boutique directly to see if they have one available right now or when the next batch of stocks will arrive. If not, try the high-end department stores. Chanel just released another version of these slides for their Spring-Summer 2017 Collection, and the upper is made of tweed with flower on it. Meanwhile, the Cruise 2016/2017 is still listed online for reference. Both are priced at $700.

I’m definitely editing my shoes and outfits for this coming summer, and I have a lot of plans for this pair of Chanel slides. I mean of course, who wouldn’t want to wear the shoes that almost got away?

Thanks for reading guys,

Enjoy the weekend.

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Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour Review & Swatches, Part 2

January 19, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hey guys and gurlz, since this month has been a month of adding additional products or colors to my collection of holy grail beauty products, and Chanel has been adding more shades to their newly-reformulated Chanel Le Vernis, I have also added a few more colors to my stash. The first part of this review can be seen HERE.

The new formulation of the Chanel Le Vernis Nail Polishes have been really amazing for me because of all the nail polishes I’ve tried lately, these new Chanel Le Vernis seem to last the longest on me. Around 2 weeks and a bit more. They have minimal chipping and the colors stay rich, especially if you use the Le Gel Top Coat (reviewed HERE) that is recommended with it.

I really like red nail polishes or vampy nail colors. There’s something just something about them that makes my hands/fingers look gorge. I guess because they make such a huge contrast against my medium skin tone, so each dark colors really pop out.

I purchased the Rouge Essentiel, Rouge Puissant first because I had my eyes on them from the moment I saw them online. Then I added Pirate and Rouge Noir because I have always been a fan of these two from the previous formulation, and I wanted to still have them in this newly-reformulated Chanel Le Vernis. And also because this new Le Vernis is much more long wearing than the previous one.

Take note that all the three reds in this review are so difficult to photograph because their colors are so close to each other. They ranged from bright red to a blue-toned dark red. In fact, you almost couldn’t tell the difference.

Rouge Essentiel – A true bright red color that has a very creamy consistency. One coat will do the job, but two coats will give extra richness to the shade. This is definitely an essential red for all seasons and for all skin colors.

Rouge Puissant – Mid-Red with a slight blue undertone. This color is so close (slightly lighter) to the Pirate shade that you almost can’t distinguish the subtle difference between the two. The only big difference is that this shade has a creamier consistency than Pirate. Actually, if you already have the Pirate shade, then you probably don’t need this. But if you find the Pirate shade to be a bit too dark, then you’ll probably be happy with this.

Rouge Noir – Bloody Mary Vampire-Red. It’s like Vamp but without the glitter. One of my favorite Chanel Le Vernis shades of all time. Yes, I prefer this over Vamp. This has a very rich deep dark red that is almost brown or black, but it actually looks like wine once applied. Though the first coat of this newly-reformulated shade seems a bit streaky, the second coat will make it perfect.

Pirate – Blue -toned deep red. Another classic deep red shade that I like the most from Chanel. This red is the ideal dark red that is not super vampy and not super bright either. It complements any skin tone and though it has always been streaky in both formulations, this shade is buildable and long lasting.

Have you tried them already? If not, you should, at least one.

Now, Dear Chanel, more colors please!

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