I finished a couple of my non-silicone face primers (I usually prefer them during the summer), so I was after something new. The Sheer Illuminating Base, Le Blanc de Chanel looked like an interesting option: a makeup base that also lightens and brightens. Le Blanc de Chanel is part of Chanel's Symphonie Blanche, "a makeup collection that highlights the beauty of white" (whatever that means), though I'm pretty sure it was soft-launched long before this collection came to be.
Le Blanc de Chanel's strength is less as a primer (it's decent, but doesn't hold firmly onto makeup for more than 8-10 hours) and more as a smoothing and subtly illuminating canvas. The texture is thin and it has a mother-of-pearl finish without looking pearlized on skin. It takes a bit of trial and error to figure out how much to use so you don't end up with white residue on your face. I'm not too crazy about the no-pump bottle, but at least they put in a plastic spatula so you don't have to stick your finger inside.
The effect of Le Blanc de Chanel is subtle. You wouldn't get kabuki face as long as you don't overdo it, but your foundation will look smoother and brighter. Speaking of which, some foundations look a tone too dark when you use this base, so I've found myself reaching for the lighter ones I own and diluting others with a moisturizer.
After a few days of using LBdC I realized it reminds me of something: Nars Brightening Serum. They have a very similar texture and effect (better bottle, though), so I compared the ingredient lists of both products and realized that the main difference is in the order, they both use the same stuff, only in different concentrations. This is probably why Nars Brightening Serum threads the line between skin care and makeup with a lingering effect, while Le Blanc de Chanel is classified as a makeup base. It seems like Chanel used a lot more talc in the products (it appears lower on the Nars list), which explains the white leftovers you get if you use too much of it, and I'm not sure I'm very happy about it.
Bottom line: Nice, but you get a similar effect (and probably a better product) for a considerably lower price from Nars- (2.5 oz for $61, while the Chanel base is $45 for only 1 oz).
Le Blanc de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base is available from Neiman Marcus and chanel.com.
Both photos of the product are mine.
Le Blanc de Chanel's strength is less as a primer (it's decent, but doesn't hold firmly onto makeup for more than 8-10 hours) and more as a smoothing and subtly illuminating canvas. The texture is thin and it has a mother-of-pearl finish without looking pearlized on skin. It takes a bit of trial and error to figure out how much to use so you don't end up with white residue on your face. I'm not too crazy about the no-pump bottle, but at least they put in a plastic spatula so you don't have to stick your finger inside.
The effect of Le Blanc de Chanel is subtle. You wouldn't get kabuki face as long as you don't overdo it, but your foundation will look smoother and brighter. Speaking of which, some foundations look a tone too dark when you use this base, so I've found myself reaching for the lighter ones I own and diluting others with a moisturizer.
After a few days of using LBdC I realized it reminds me of something: Nars Brightening Serum. They have a very similar texture and effect (better bottle, though), so I compared the ingredient lists of both products and realized that the main difference is in the order, they both use the same stuff, only in different concentrations. This is probably why Nars Brightening Serum threads the line between skin care and makeup with a lingering effect, while Le Blanc de Chanel is classified as a makeup base. It seems like Chanel used a lot more talc in the products (it appears lower on the Nars list), which explains the white leftovers you get if you use too much of it, and I'm not sure I'm very happy about it.
Bottom line: Nice, but you get a similar effect (and probably a better product) for a considerably lower price from Nars- (2.5 oz for $61, while the Chanel base is $45 for only 1 oz).
Le Blanc de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base is available from Neiman Marcus and chanel.com.
Both photos of the product are mine.
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