I’m still trying to wrap my head around this product. I’m still not quite sure what it is best for and I’ve had this for 6 months now. Usually before purchasing an expensive makeup item I research the hell out of it to make sure I know what I’m throwing my money into but this time everyone just kept saying it is amazing but I felt like everybody had a different reason why they liked it so much. So I bought a nearly 50 euro item out of pure curiosity.
Maybe the confusion is because Le Blanc de Chanel really is a multi-use product, more so than any other makeup I’ve ever bought. There isn’t even a dupe for it in the market so unfortunately there’s nothing I can compare it to, it really is unique. But what does it do? Is it a primer? Is it a highlighter? I’ll do my best to explain.
- 30 ml/1 oz.
- 45€/33£/48$
- Price per ml: 1,5€/1,1£/1,6$
Ingredients:
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Talc, Neopentyl Glycol, Diethylhexanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Silica, Caprylic/Capric/Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Witch Hazel Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, HDI/Trimethylolhexyllactone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Tribehenin, Silica Dimethyl Silyate, Methylparaben, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylparaben, Fragrance, BHT, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Licorice Root Extract, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Denatonium Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Mica
Note: I’m sensitive to alcohol in skincare and makeup but I’ve never gotten even a slight reaction from this.
Color/texture/pigment: Surprisingly thick liquid but still easy to work with whatever tool you prefer. Le Blanc de Chanel comes only in one shade: white. It’s not intensely pigmented nor does it add coverage so it works from fair to medium skintones but I’m not sure if it’ll be too ashy on deeper skintones. I does not contain any glitter unlike pretty much all the other illuminating products.
The good:
I’ve tried this as a primer, highlighter, foundation/concealer mixer and on its own when not wearing any other makeup. As a primer it really brightens up your face and lifts all the shadows, diminishes pores and smoothes everything out and even controls oil a little bit. It is not drying at all though. I really think this is great for all skin types but if you are extremely oily this will not keep that at bay. As a mixer it also works great if you want to lighten up your foundation and since it’s completely glitter-free you don’t end up with an unwanted disco ball effect. It’s not like those other liquid highlighters that lure you into mixing them in your foundation only to make you look glittery, not glowy…
But my favourite way to use Le Blanc de Chanel is as highlighter with or without makeup. It definitely is not an intense one but it just blurs and brightens up everything, you look glowy and awake and the best part it is completely undetectable! I feel like it’s a 10 hour sleep and a facial in a bottle, but in the most natural, non-intense way.
It doesn’t have SPF but I suspected it might have a flashback in photos but nope, there really isn’t any. It does look a little shiny with flash so if you’re planning on wearing this to a big event make sure to test it out to see how you feel about the effect it gives. I personally love it when I’ve placed this strategically where I want to glow but all over my face I’m still undecided.
Also I love how little you need to use, it makes the price a bit more tolerable. This 30ml bottle is going to last half a lifetime in my use.
The bad:
Besides the price tag and color “selection” there’s only one major flaw: fragrance. It’s not a bad smell per se but absolutely the in-your-face type of fragrance that gives anyone even slightly sensitive a headache but the smell does fade after application. I don’t know what is it with these high-end brands putting such strong scents in their products, but since I am sensitive to smells this is the only reason I can’t use Le Blanc everyday. I’m not equipped to face the floral attack every morning.
Other than that some people might consider the heavy glass bottle a bad thing since it’s not very travel friendly.
Would I recommend/repurchase?: This is not a product you can’t live without but I love having it and use it often and it has a high chance ending up in my wedding makeup routine (my wedding’s still 1,5 years away but I have already started figuring it out). But if you’re not into natural makeup looks I don’t think it’s worth it to you. I will repurchase if I ever run out but I’d love to find a dupe without that horrendously strong scent.
