First of all, for those who didn't know what JC blushes are...............they are fabulous baked blushes in permanent and limited edition shades which are carefully baked in FRANCE and which look the most amazing when applied (my definition)....They do have US and Europe Versions which can be and are completely different when it comes to formula but that's Chanel's job to be bothered about. Ultra Rose was a limited edition blush that is/was rarely found and I am one of the lucky few (including Rashmi and Jigisha) who grabbed their hands on it. It looks appalling in the pan but there's more to it than what it looks like....
Lets see.....(Unfortunately I am not including the swatches as the blushes look very very different on my arm than my face. I hope you would understand....I'll try to explain).
Chanel has something to say about the JC blushes....
The touch of color and radiance.
Offers effects from very natural to very sophisticated. Used as a simple touch of colour, it gives your complexion a healthy glow. As a professional tool, it shapes and models your face (cheekbones, browbones, forehead, chin, along the nose).
Manufactured by a process exclusive to CHANEL, the compact and silky texture of JOUES CONTRASTE gives easy application and subtle blending. The brush is made of natural hair.
Highlighting your cheekbones enhances the youthful appearance of your face. For the eye zone, choose a satiny tone to soften and rejuvenate this area.
Use the integrated brush to apply a highlighting touch of JOUES CONTRASTE to cheekbones or accentuate the structure of the face.
PACKAGING
The classic Chanel packaging - Black box with golden print - opens to - Black Velvet Sleeve - opens to - Black Glossy Plastic Box that contains the baked blush and a tiny little stiff brush to pick up the product. This is a one liner to explain this fabulous packaging.
FORMULA
( Don't mind the blush dust. I have used the product before I could review it...Oopss)
I own the baked Europe version of the blush. Its a super soft pink dome (as if its a cake) that really swatches well. I have heard the issues of it getting harder over time, but I am going to be quite nonchalant about it. The formula (according to me) is quite smooth, easily picked up by the brush and spreads beautifully on skin. Even though the blush is extremely pigmented it comes of as really sheer (almost a halo of color on the face) and can be layered to get the wanted finish. Ultra Rose has a satiny finish with very low levels of shimmer, enough to mimic a healthy glow. It can be easily layered to get the desired intensity and it photographs so well. I have always preferred well pigmented blushes that apply with a sheer to moderate coverage as it gives me a lot more control over the formulation. (Be cautious about 'Methylparaben')
The blush formula has a beautiful rosy scent that does not linger. I find it a bit stronger for my sensitive nose (sensitization happened due to Human Dissections done during my medical days) but fortunately it does not linger for a long time. It does give the feeling of luxury.
INGREDIENTS
COLOR
Ultra Rose is a bright pink (almost neon in the pan) with blue undertones and very very soft silver shimmer. This is how it looks in the pan. On skin, it just metamorphoses and turns into a soft warm pink glow over my neutral under toned skin. When used on its own, it does look like a bright pop of pink but the coolness almost disappears. Over a bronzer (like Guerlain 4 Seasons Bronzer 02 Brunettes), the blush looks a flush of pink that again adds a warm glow to the face.
I strongly believe that this is one of those blushes that adapts to undertones especially neutral peach ones. For anyone with a heavily warm undertone, the blush would pop up as a bright cool pink while it may the blue undertones would be profound in cooler undertones. On people with redder undertones, it appears almost like a pink with a berry turn. So versatile it is and equally rare to find.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
I bought the Chanel Joues Contraste blush in Ultra Rose from the Chanel Boutique (Stand alone store) at Palladium Mall in Mumbai. It costs 2550 INR for 4 gms. which is a good amount for a baked blush. Regarding availability, one needs to be lucky to find it in the store. You should really call Chanel and ask (pester the BAs) to reserve it and pick it up at a lightning speed as its not coming again.
Hope you liked the post. This is the first blush in the Chanel Week of JCs......Do let me know in the comments.
Till then,
Ciao
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