Chanel Codes Couleur 2023

 

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Where I got it

I have been seeing the colourful new launch from Chanel for a little over a month before I received a call from Julia, my Chanel SA. She alerted me in early July that the new Code Couleur (French for Colour Code), will be out in early-mid July. She wasn’t 100% sure on the launch date, but the Auckland boutique is only getting a handful of colours (5) and they have very limited stock. She sent me a picture of the colours available (sadly no Ballerina and Immortelle colour, which I think is online exclusive and not available in NZ), and I was allowed to only pick up 3 items maximum to allow for other customers to purchase. The collection has a couple of limited edition items – a makeup brush set with 3 brushes (BLUSH BRUSH N°110, RETRACTABLE DUAL-ENDED EYESHADOW BRUSH N°200 and 2-IN-1 FOUNDATION BRUSH FLUID AND POWDER N°101), a compact mirror (normal side and magnifying side), and a glass nail file. They all come in 9 different colours.

The items are priced at a premium (of course, it’s Chanel), and I have watched videos of long-time Chanel collectors that some of these are very similar products to freebies given out to VIP customers in previous years. The nail file is definitely one that was given away as a freebie and it is priced at (USD$49), the compact mirror has been available in the classic Chanel black as a permanent item anyway and that one is (USD$45, NZD$70). Lastly, the brush set comes with 3 standard-sized brushes, so they are not new or limited edition products, but the zipped leather pouch that comes with it, is limited edition. It is a similar freebie that was also given to VIP customers previously (but smaller in size I think and in black). This brush set retails at USD$160 and NZD$290.

What I got

I picked up the Les Pinceaux de Chanel Collection of 3 essential brushes in 143 Diva and the Miroir Double Facettes Double Mirror in 131 Cavalier Seul. Both of these are limited edition sets. The brush pouch is a limited edition, but the brushes inside are permanent products so you can purchase them indefinitely. The mirror is also a permanent product, but only in black. The colour is a limited edition. I happen to have the corresponding nail polish colour and I love the Cavalier Seul shade so I am glad to be able to pick this mirror up.

Les Pinceaux de Chanel Collection of 3 essential brushes. A set of 3 essential brushes in a leather case you can take everywhere with you. Includes a foundation brush, a blush brush, and an eye brush. The BLUSH BRUSH N°110 is specifically designed for blush application. Its rounded shape is ideal for defining cheekbones and accentuating facial contours with one spontaneous sweep. The RETRACTABLE DUAL-ENDED EYESHADOW BRUSH N°200 is the perfect tool for applying and blending cream and powder eyeshadows. It allows you to apply with confidence and achieve a foolproof professional-looking result. Soft, silky bristles pick up eyeshadow easily, blend it perfectly, and make the application a sensory experience. The 2-IN-1 FOUNDATION BRUSH FLUID AND POWDER N°101 is a must-have tool for expertly applied foundation. Its hybrid shape is specially designed to be used with both fluid and compact foundations.

Miroir Double Facettes Double Mirror. A mirror duo featuring a regular mirror on one side and a magnifying mirror on the other. An ultra-slim accessory you can take everywhere with you, designed for precise makeup touch-ups at any time of day. 

How I find it

The brush set comes in the iconic black and gold Chanel box packaging and the leather pouch looks very high quality. The bright deep pink colour is striking against the black zipper and Chanel text on the side and CC logo on the top.

The body of the pouch is cow leather and the inner lining is recycled PET. The pouch is made in China and the brushes are made in Japan and France. The brushes are packed snugly inside the pouch and it’s not a very large pouch so you can fit any more brushes inside. If you were planning to buy this for the pouch to use, it could be a cute little pencil case, or fit some travel perfume vials and lipstick or lip glosses.

The blush brush and the foundation brush come with a little black sleeve to protect the bristles. The brushes are quite light and the ferrule feels almost like plastic or aluminium because it is so light. The entire handle is in a lacquer black finish, very sleek and the synthetic bristles are very soft.

The Blush Brush is slightly flat on one side, and the top is fluffy with rounded sides. This brush is available separately for USD$50.

The Foundation Brush actually reminds me of the little brush that comes with the Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint. It has brown-coloured bristles and a flat top. The bristles are dense with a gentle, but firm touch. This can be used for powder foundation, even though I hardly use powder foundation, I would like to see how this works with a compact powder foundation. I supposed this could be good to buff powder into the skin and would work well with like a mineral powder foundation. This brush is available separately for USD$50.

The Dual-ended Eyeshadow brush is retractable with metal lids which I really like. One side is a shadow brush that is slightly flatter one side and still fluffy to press eyeshadow down. The other side is a fluffy blending brush to blend colours around the eye area. This brush is available separately for USD$42.

The double mirror has one normal side and one magnified side. The lacquered compact is the same colour all around with no stickers or embossing on the other side of the mirror. The quality looks great with the CC logo and lacquer finish, but the hinge and closing mechanism was a little disappointing because it doesn’t even have a click-catch mechanism or a magnetic mechanism. It just closes shut from a little notch at the hinge. I would say if it wasn’t for the CC logo, this could just be $5.

Overall

I was quite glad that I bought the brush set because I know I would enjoy the brushes which are actual products that you can buy, they are not marked up to a crazy price. The total value for the brushes was USD$142, meaning the pouch would cost USD$18. I thought USD$18 for a leather pouch with the CC logo is a much better value than a USD$45 mirror. Regardless, I still love my compact mirror in this beautiful colour to match my nails! If Julia told me that we are getting the Ballerina or Immortelle colour, I would definitely be getting them in the mirror. It is rip off I know, but I want it and I don’t think I need 2 extra sets of brushes! A mirror is something that I would bring out more than a long pouch.

I am looking forward to the Oversized Illuminating Face Powders coming out soon. There are going to be 3 shades – Pearly White, Warm Gold and Precious Coral in 3 different embossing – the lion, the double stars and the signature CC. I already know I will only be getting the Pearly White in the CC logo because the other two shades are way too warm for me and it is so shimmery to use as a blush. I have also seen the Fall/Winter 2023 and Holiday 2023 products, but the compact products do not really appeal to me. The colours are too deep for me so I will probably skip a lot of the main products and just pick up a couple of random smaller items. We’ll see how it goes when it does launch over here in NZ.