General Chanel Chat

[Teggy]

Oh the evil that is Specktra...I ordered Notorious. Quite probably the most expensive single makeup item I've ever purchased.

And I'm so excited!

 

[katred]

Oh the evil that is Specktra...I ordered Notorious. Quite probably the most expensive single makeup item I've ever purchased.

And I'm so excited!

Wonderful, beautiful evil. I'd be shocked if you didn't love it. Although it's an odd sort of product, it is exactly what it looks to be in photos and swatches. Makes a perfect natural shadow-like contour and works really well as an eye shadow as well.

 

[BuickMackane]

Just received my Notorious in the post! It's unlike anything I have in my collection and I was smitten the first time I laid my eyes on it. Fingers crossed it lives up to its price tag.

Now if only can get the Duran Duran song off my internal jukebox...

 

[Leeny]

Hello everyone, total Chanel newbie here... I just got back from purchasing Notorious from the Chanel boutique at Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street. I honestly thought it would be sold out after seeing all the buzz about it online but luck was on my side. It didn't sound like they are out of stock yet (the SA say "Oh you got the last one/This is flying off the shelves" or similar) but I have no idea how many they have. I think any Canadians intrested in getting their hands on Notorious can call the boutique and have it shipped (not 100% on this, I saw it mentioned on a beauty blog).

I can't wait to play with this. Since I can only afford getting one I may save it for special occasions/weekends as opposed to busting it out everyday. I'll need to practice contouring though.

On a sidenote, I was a bit nervous heading over to the boutique as I'm very non-trendy/super welldressed (not wearing any makeup today and my hair is pulled back in a boring, sloppy ponytail). I definitely do not fit in the demographic of the area where HR is located. The wonderful SA at the Chanel boutique was super nice and came up to me right away when I was expecting to be ignored. The other SAs also chimed in on suggestions for skincare and such. Very friendly staff and I had a great shopping experience.

 

[Teggy]

On a sidenote, I was a bit nervous heading over to the boutique as I'm very non-trendy/super welldressed (not wearing any makeup today and my hair is pulled back in a boring, sloppy ponytail). I definitely do not fit in the demographic of the area where HR is located. The wonderful SA at the Chanel boutique was super nice and came up to me right away when I was expecting to be ignored. The other SAs also chimed in on suggestions for skincare and such. Very friendly staff and I had a great shopping experience.

Glad to hear you had a pleasant experience! I kind worry about that too. I'll often walk to my local counters from work (a good mile walk) in sneakers and I'm sweaty and I feel so underdressed.

My Notorious came last night and I'm quite impressed. It is VERY different from any product I own, and I think it'll be worth every dollar. It definitely takes a light touch, and the brush that comes with it just isn't right. I'm going to need to invest in a MAC 109 brush. You can easily contour the face with this, but it's very important to blend and not go overboard. Another tip: wear blush over it. Hell, I have squat for cheekbones, and I can make myself look GAUNT with this stuff. Great for editorial and theater work. Just be careful if you want to use it in daily wear.

 

[katred]

Hello everyone, total Chanel newbie here... I just got back from purchasing Notorious from the Chanel boutique at Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street. I honestly thought it would be sold out after seeing all the buzz about it online but luck was on my side. It didn't sound like they are out of stock yet (the SA say "Oh you got the last one/This is flying off the shelves" or similar) but I have no idea how many they have. I think any Canadians intrested in getting their hands on Notorious can call the boutique and have it shipped (not 100% on this, I saw it mentioned on a beauty blog).

I can't wait to play with this. Since I can only afford getting one I may save it for special occasions/weekends as opposed to busting it out everyday. I'll need to practice contouring though.

On a sidenote, I was a bit nervous heading over to the boutique as I'm very non-trendy/super welldressed (not wearing any makeup today and my hair is pulled back in a boring, sloppy ponytail). I definitely do not fit in the demographic of the area where HR is located. The wonderful SA at the Chanel boutique was super nice and came up to me right away when I was expecting to be ignored. The other SAs also chimed in on suggestions for skincare and such. Very friendly staff and I had a great shopping experience.

I think we're lucky, in that Holt's did not make a big deal over the fact that they have it, so a lot of people don't know. I actually didn't even realise until quite late... And as for taking an attitude, I have to say that I've never really experienced that from the staff at Holt's, either in Toronto or Montreal. I've seen some of the customers act like they were better than everyone, but the staff have always been pretty chilled out.

Still totally in love with Notorious myself. I've been using it with a Mac 168 brush and then blending it out, but I find that this works very well. I ahve to stop myself from using it every day. I want to maintain the illusion that I have these phenomenal cheekbones.

 

[Leeny]

I think we're lucky, in that Holt's did not make a big deal over the fact that they have it, so a lot of people don't know. I actually didn't even realise until quite late... And as for taking an attitude, I have to say that I've never really experienced that from the staff at Holt's, either in Toronto or Montreal. I've seen some of the customers act like they were better than everyone, but the staff have always been pretty chilled out.

I was already setting myself up for disappointment when I went to the boutique today as I often do with MAC and their LE stuff. I had also used the email service late last night on HR's site for the Bloor Street store to see if it was still available. I didn't get an reply until this afternoon, long after I had visited the store, and one was put aside for me (I let the SA know that I already purchased one and didn't need another on hold) so there is at least one more at the boutique for someone.

I felt like I was all worried about getting attitude for nothing today. Even the emails back and forth with the Chanel rep were super pleasant. Is it sad that all of this niceness kinda made my day? Guess I'm too used to people being not so polite and friendly, especially commuting to and from work.

Back on topic: I also bought some Illusion D'Ombre eyeshadows after seeing tutorials on Pixiwoo (hello Epatant!) as well as Rouge Coco Shine in Boy. I do want to add a few more cheek and lips products, though I'll have to wait a bit for a few more paycheques to come in before any of that happens. I need to go through the Chanel thread sections here on colour recommendations. I'm toying with the thought of trying out Vitalumiere Aqua too... Ugh, I should have stopped researching Chanel stuff. LOL

 

[shadowaddict]

I've had my Notorious for a couple of weeks or so. I'm rather afraid of it It is such an unusual and gorgeous color but sometimes I tend to get heavy-handed with products. I have tried it once with a lot of blending. And of course with my beloved Horizon blush on top with more blending and still more blending. I did ok but this is going to take me a while to get the amazing cheekbones look and not the got kissed by a chimney sweep and have soot on my face look.

I think I'll try the 165 brush instead of the 168. Maybe with the tapered end it will me control the amount of product I pick up. Hopefully I can get the technique down before I go through half of it. With blush I can get both sides even, well pretty much. But I'm afraid with contouring of having lopsided cheeks.

But I will keep playing. It's just too damned pretty to give up on it.

 

[Teggy]

I think I'll try the 165 brush instead of the 168. Maybe with the tapered end it will me control the amount of product I pick up. Hopefully I can get the technique down before I go through half of it. With blush I can get both sides even, well pretty much. But I'm afraid with contouring of having lopsided cheeks.

Oh noes! Now I don't know if I want the 109 or the 165 for this! I have the 168 already, but I think that's going to be too wide for what I want. Guess I'll have to go look at brushes before I choose.

 

[Sugarpeach84]

Hello Ladies

I was wondering if you ladies could help me out in selecting a Chanel product to purchase. I have a Nordstrom giftcard and I'm torn between getting the Regard Perle quad or one of the new Rouge Allure Lipsticks. I've been pining away for the Regard Perle for a while now and I am definitely an eyeshadow whore

but I've seen a lot of the swatches of the Rouge Allure Lipsticks and they look luxurious for my perpetually dry lips. I'm also torn between Gracile, Seduisante and Enjouee. Not sure which one to get and I don't want a dupe of something I already have but I want to wear it a lot too! If any of you can give me any guidance about this it would be awesome! I also think that I have some colors that are similar to the ones in the Regard Perle quad (MAC Bows and Curtseys, MAC All That Glitters/Sweet Heat, MAC Pink Venus/Girlie and Shroom/UD Virgin). If you think that those are close dupes then I may just go with a lippie.

 

[BuickMackane]

I've had my Notorious for a couple of weeks or so. I'm rather afraid of it It is such an unusual and gorgeous color but sometimes I tend to get heavy-handed with products. I have tried it once with a lot of blending. And of course with my beloved Horizon blush on top with more blending and still more blending. I did ok but this is going to take me a while to get the amazing cheekbones look and not the got kissed by a chimney sweep and have soot on my face look.

I think I'll try the 165 brush instead of the 168. Maybe with the tapered end it will me control the amount of product I pick up. Hopefully I can get the technique down before I go through half of it. With blush I can get both sides even, well pretty much. But I'm afraid with contouring of having lopsided cheeks.

But I will keep playing. It's just too damned pretty to give up on it.

Mine arrived last week and I haven't had the guts to try it yet. It looks very beautiful in the pan, but also equally intimidating. I was meant to give it a whirl today but I took the easy way out and went for Legendary instead.

 

[PinkProvocateur]

Mine arrived last week and I haven't had the guts to try it yet. It looks very beautiful in the pan, but also equally intimidating. I was meant to give it a whirl today but I took the easy way out and went for Legendary instead.

Don't fear the makeup, Beauties! Embrace it! ;-)

I've been using Notorious frequently. Here's what I do: I load up a fluffy eyeshadow brush (http://www.bareescentuals.com/Blending-Brush/US26388,default,pd.html?cgid=BE_SUB_EYE_BRUSHES), make a "fish face" in the mirror, and apply Notorious in the hollow of my cheek from my ear to my mouth. Then, with Tom Ford's cheek brush, I blend. And then with Tom Ford's bronzer brush, I blend some more. And when I blend again, I blend some more. I've been able to create lovely contouring that makes a noticeable impact, but it's not obvious what I've done. The "secret", I believe, is in a lot of blending.

When I use it on my eyes, I do go for something more noticeable.

Stay beautiful! <3

 

[BuickMackane]

Don't fear the makeup, Beauties! Embrace it! ;-)

That's precisely what I did two days ago and it was about time too!

Intimidating as it may look, Notorious proved to be extremely easy to work with. It gave me cheekbones, people! CHEEKBONES! I haven't had those since I stopped feeding exclusively on lettuce leaves 6 years ago.

I won't be surprised if some entrepreneurial soul lists it on eBay as a slimming aid.

 

[MissTT]

That's precisely what I did two days ago and it was about time too!

Intimidating as it may look, Notorious proved to be extremely easy to work with. It gave me cheekbones, people! CHEEKBONES! I haven't had those since I stopped feeding exclusively on lettuce leaves 6 years ago.

I won't be surprised if some entrepreneurial soul lists it on eBay as a slimming aid.

Buick, you are a riot!

 

[MissTT]

Did anyone notice T's review of Notorious? She said it didn't work for her, but applied it so that it would show up in pics (which is absolutely NOT how it's supposed to be worn.) She must have missed the memo about using a light hand and blending... Bizarre!

 

[shontay07108]

I saw that review and then I saw some of her readers chiming in and with just her opinion alone, claiming Notorious is a bust. Ugh. I haven't seen another review of this product where the person reviewed it negatively or used it in some strange way. She's said before that she uses products heavier so people can actually see it, but it's still strange practice with a product like Notorious. It's not a blush and no one would look at that amount of it on a face and think it's worth trying. Eh, whatever. I'm over the reviews, just give me the swatches.

 

[shadowaddict]

With loads of blending I'm getting a bit better. I even went out in public a few days ago with it on My friend's daughter had a baby and I went to the hospital. In the waiting room I got two compliments on how great I looked. One of her other daughters asked if I had lost weight. I have known this family for about 17 years so maybe they were just being nice. But hey I'll take that.

The next day I went to see her and take a gift. As soon as I walked in her room she said your makeup looks amazing. So yay I didn't look like I feel in the dirt. It made me feel good especially coming from someone who quite possibly is even more paler than me and knows how difficult it is to avoid looking clownish.

I was rather chicken though and used a fan brush to apply ever so lightly. That way I could blend and then add a little more at a time. However I WILL NOT give up on this gorgeous powder. And I also used 3 brushes to blend. I used 2 different Becca brushes and my 187.

As Pinkprovocateur so wisely advised..... BLEND BLEND BLEND and then blend some more.

 

[MissTT]

I used my NARS Ita brush to apply Notorious, but it doesn't seem to blend it particularly well. I may need to use a different blush for buffing. Also, should I be trying to contour right under my cheekbones or in the hollows of my cheeks? I have an oval shaped face.

 

[BuickMackane]

I used my NARS Ita brush to apply Notorious, but it doesn't seem to blend it particularly well. I may need to use a different blush for buffing. Also, should I be trying to contour right under my cheekbones or in the hollows of my cheeks? I have an oval shaped face.

The first time I used Notorious I used NARS Yachiyo but I found the 138 Tapered Face Brush to also work well. I have (what I think is) an oval face too and I applied it only in the hollows of my cheeks. That said, I'm no contouring expert, so there's probably a lot more one could do with it

re: blending - I was very careful not to pick up much product, so only a sweep or two of the 182 Buffer Brush was enough to soften any hard edges.

 

[katred]

She's said before that she uses products heavier so people can actually see it, but it's still strange practice with a product like Notorious. It's not a blush and no one would look at that amount of it on a face and think it's worth trying. Eh, whatever. I'm over the reviews, just give me the swatches.

Yeah, I noticed some bloggers did with/ without pictures, which are a pretty good way of showing the chiseled effect it gives. Seen on its own, it might look like nothing, but when compared to the same makeup without it, it becomes very obvious. I also liked Ingenue's description of it:

shahadakarim.blogspot.ca/2012/10/fotd-notorious.html

I've been using a Mac 168 brush to apply it, which seems to work very well. It allows me to contour, but the head is soft enough so that the colour diffuses nicely. And I always start at the outside of my face, so that the colour is more concentrated near my hairline, fainter on my cheeks.