CHANEL Cruise 2019 makeup collection

ALEESHA HARRIS

What it is: A new makeup offering from CHANEL in support of the French house’s Cruise 2019 collection.

Officially dubbed Vision D’Asie: Lumiere et Contraste, the cosmetics collection is the second instalment of Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer Lucia Pica’s love letter to East Asia.

“I wanted to capture the sensation of being in East Asia; the atmosphere there practically makes you vibrate,” Pica said in a news release. “It’s only once I get the photos developed that I have a true sense of the collection and that it’s so obvious which elements of each image will inspire a particular product. So this is a slightly edgier Cruise Collection, about subtle contouring.”

The collection includes: two Ombre Premiere Gloss products for eyes; a limited-edition, four hue Les 4 Ombres palette; three Stylo Ombre et Contour eyeliners; two Rouge Coco Flash lipsticks; two Duo Bronze et Lumiere compacts; and three Le Vernis nail polishes.

What we say: This collection is perfectly moody. Unlike many springtime beauty releases, which play up punchy tones and pops of sunny colours, this offering is all about making a bold statement that plays with darkness and light.

Our tester was immediately drawn to the bronzing highlighting duo, which features two complementing colours for seamless bronzing and highlighting each marked with the iconic double Cs. One swirl of a brush through the pressed powder gave skin an instant glow.

But it’s the new hues of the popular Rouge Coco Flash lipstick formula that are our favourites of this collection. The shade 212 Contraste, a plum-inspired shade, gave lips an instant dose of drama — and hydration.

Where to get it: CHANEL counters; chanel.com

What it will cost you: $33 (Le Vernis nail polish) to $85 (Les 4 Ombres eyeshadow palette).