Volume, Length, Curl, Color: What Can’t Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Bleu and Prune Do?

If you look at the recent releases, 2013 has been all about eyes! While we’re at it, why not try a mascara that’s not just… black? I used to be incapable of imagining putting anything but a jet black mascara on my lashes. After all, with the lashes I was born with, I could really use some definition! Well, with Chanel, I don’t have to choose! Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara just welcomed two colored companions, Bleu (20) and Prune (30. RRP in Belgium: 30,50 euros). Not only is the formula itself noteworthy, it is a clever way of flashing some colors while not sacrificing definition!

Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara comes in sleek black packaging. People talk about the satisfying “click” of luxury lipsticks, and these also close with a satisfying click! Something else I like about the packaging is the opening is just the right size. I have seen mascara wands that are significantly smaller, causing too much extra product to be pulled out. Not a problem with Le Volume!

Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Bleu is a bright cobalt blue. The wand is Chanel‘s patented “snowflakes” brush. It is very flexible with spikes of different lengths all over. It deposits scarcely any product when you put the wand on your skin (I literally scraped a layer of skin off doing the color swatch on my arm), but when you take it to your lashes, it coats them very effectively. I am seldom happy with one coat of mascara, but with Le Volume, I can get away with one pretty happily! It lengthens, volumizes, and holds my curls sky-high throughout the day! When I say sky-high I’m not even kidding. I am pretty sure this is the only mascara I’ve tried that can achieve this so far!

Here is the eye close-up of Bleu on my lashes. Clock-wise from upper left: bare eye (with lashes curled), one coat of Bleu on my upper lashes, two coats of Bleu on my upper lashes and one on the bottom:

The best part? My lashes still look exactly like this at the end of the day! Mind you, the lashes of my right eye curl less easily, and still this is what I get!

Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Prune is a red-based plum. I thought the red in it would make my eyes look tired, but it doesn’t seem to do that (though this could be because of the eyeliner).

I don’t know if it’s this particular tube, but while Prune lengthens and volumizes nicely, it seems to make my lashes stick together a bit more than Bleu. I am not going to write it off though. Some mascaras have a wetter formula when they are brand new, and after a while they actually get better. I suspect Prune is one of those, and I will report back if I notice any difference!

Here is the eye close-up of Prune on my lashes. Clock-wise from upper left: bare eye (with lashes curled), one coat of Prune on my upper lashes, two coats of Prune on my upper lashes and one on the bottom:

You can see the arm swatch of both here:

Now, what else can I tell you about Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Bleu and Prune? Besides the length, volume, and curl it gives to my lashes, it also holds up like a champion. They don’t smudge or transfer at all, but they’re easy to remove with Bioderma (or any eye makeup remover of your choise). The colors are visible from a normal viewing distance at certain angles, and both do give enough definition and drama even though they’re not black!

Here you see Bleu on my lashes:

Here you see Prune:

To be honest, unless someone is right in front of you, the first thing these mascaras do is not screaming “I am blue/plum!” However, at certain angles they flash some color in a clever way, and you can definitely pair them to your advantage.

Bottom line: Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Bleu and Prune have an excellent formula and a clever way of tinting lashes with some color. If you’re on the market for something that will make your eyes pop, definitely check them out!

Do you use colored mascara? Any favorites you would like to share?

Sunny, your beauty culture translator xx