Chanel Le Vernis in 'Island' (#597) From The Summertime De Chanel Collection 2012

Colour, Finish & Formulation

'Island' (#597) is aptly described as "a semi-sheer pearly beige for natural elegance". Under the magnifying glass, micro shimmers of multiple colours can be seen, but the strongest being pink, which gives the otherwise pale, pearly beige its pink iridescence in certain angles. It's as if your nails are coated in a beautiful dust of pearls. Everything about it from the shade to the finish is very "Chanel-esque": classy, understated sophistication. It's a shade and finish that would flatter all skin tones and different age groups.

You can wear this in two coats like I did in the photos for a sheer look, but without it looking unfinished. Otherwise, a third coating will give a semi-opaque finish. It's a great shade to wear any time - for work or a wedding even.

I didn't have any real issues with the formulation. It was neither too thick or too thin. The application was easy enough, although up close, you will notice the brush strokes. So long as you apply each layer thinly and have a relatively steady hand during application, this is fine and even if you make a mistake, it's easy enough to fix by applying a very thin coat over it. Either way, to me it's no real problem because pearlescence in the formulation and sheerness makes it forgiving.

Longevity

Chanel nail polishes are one of the longest lasting nail polishes I've tried (particularly with this type of finish - metallics and pearlescents), which is why I love them apart from the colours and finishes they come up with. They can last up to 7 days with a base and top coat. Currently, I've worn 'Island' for a few days with no signs of chipping or wear so far and I have a feeling this will last just as long.

RRP & Size

AU$39.00 / US$26.00 for 13 ml / 0.40 fl. oz. of product.

On The Nails...

Applied against olive tan skin tone (~NC30). Application was in two coats. (Except for my thumb, which you can only see half of, but it had 3 coats just so I could see what the coverage was like). Photographs were taken indoors using a strobe.

Please excuse the dry skin! Been quite cold and dry where I am at the moment and didn't moisturise my hands prior. :(

For more swatches, check out The Beauty Lookbook for photographs under sunlight, which shows off more of the pink iridescence, and also My Weekend Ramblings to see how it looks on deeper skin tones.

Packaging

The nail varnish is packaged in a square-shaped (with curved corners) glass bottle. The top black lacquer cap with the Chanel interlocked double C's at the top in white is purely for aesthetic purposes only. Pull this off to reveal the actual round nail varnish bottle cap (ribbed for better grip to open and close securely) that also serves as the brush applicator handle.

It comes with a relatively thin brush applicator that's easy to use and allows for more precise application.

Ingredients

Click on the image to enlarge.

Availability

Limited edition. For Aussies, this is available in Chanel boutiques and Chanel counters in the David Jones and Myer department stores.

Final Verdict

Nothing like wearing "pearls" on your digits. A must-have for Chanel fans as you can't get more "Chanel-esque" than this. It is indeed, a classy, understated sophisticated nail polish that's sure to flatter all skin tones and different age groups whether you're in your 20s or 60s! :) A versatile shade that can be worn to any occasion. (If you're into the brights for summer - try Chanel 'Holiday' instead).

Hope this helps.

Thanks for visiting! ^_^ xo

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