Just when you think that you own all the prettiest powders ever released, Chanel comes up with something which takes your breath away. Chanel Dentelle Precieuse Illuminating Powder with the most beautiful delicate lace pattern, looks almost made of fabric. It was released in the beginning of April and was sold exclusively at selected Chanel Stores in France. Twenty four pieces of Dentelle Precieuse made an appearance at Stuttgart Breuninger last Friday. If you are chasing it, make sure to give a call today. I know the dilemma though, can I use it, ever?
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| Chanel Dentelle Precieuse Illuminating Powder |
Well, I have some good news for you. The tester at the store still had some pattern left although it was heavily swatched. SA told me that this particular highlighter is designed in a way that the pattern is preserved longer. I found out if I use a brush rather than my fingers, I don't notice this lovely lace vanishing after each use, which was the case with, say Poudre Signee.
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| Chanel Dentelle Precieuse Illuminating Powder |
It is hard to capture the color of Dentelle Precieuse. My camera didn't want to contribute to my passion of giving you at least one color accurate photo. The ones above look much more pink than it is. The one below though is taken with my phone, which has the best color accuracy. Dentelle Precieuse is a natural light beige with only a hint of pink, not a champagne nor rose gold. It is very close (one tone darker) than my skin color (NC20 for reference) and has very fine shimmer rather than glitter or frost, this is why it looks very natural on. I can use it as more of a bronzer/blush on the cheeks than a highlighter.
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| Close-up: Chanel Dentelle Precieuse Illuminating Powder |
I used this opportunity to pull out some of my precious highlighters and play with them. Here is a comparison between Chanel Illuminating Powders from my stash. By the way have you seen photos of the Christmas highlighter, it has platinum color and a very pretty flower design. Anyway, back to the precious lace...
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| Chanel Dentelle Precieuse Illuminating Powder vs. other Chanel Illuminating Powders |
Once Dentelle Precieuse is compared with other highlighters, you can see that it is darker and less shimmery. I like the very subtle effect it gives as a daytime enhancer. Route des Indes and Lucky Stripes are both more golden/yellow. Mouche Beauty has more pink and it is more shimmery/frost. Poudre Signee (my everyday highlighter) is lighter and a tad more shimmery.
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| Comparison Swatches, Chanel Dentelle Precieuse Illuminating Powder vs. other Chanel Illuminating Powders |
For more swatches and lovely photos, check out Indigo Kir Royale, Ommorphia Beauty Bar and Silverkis.
Final thoughts: A truly exceptional collectors item which I am trying not to use that often ;-). Dentelle Precieuse might be too dark as a highlighter for fair ladies though, in case you intend to use it (than rather watching it). I can see it work well on deeper complexions as highlighter and lighter complexions as bronzer/blush.
Do you buy items just for the packaging and its design or is the function/performance more important to you?