Chanel released four new nail polish shades as part of the summer 2015 Méditerranée Collection - only one of them is a limited edition. I picked up Lavanda (727) and Méditerranée (707). (See this previous post for all my picks from the Chanel summer releases).
727 | Lavanda
Lavanda (727) is a truly yummy, vibrant, royal purple with a glossy, jelly-to-cream finish and contains no shimmer. It's the shiny gloss that prevents this fun, gorgeous colour from looking childish for adult wear.
Packaging
All Chanel nail polishes come in the square-shaped glass bottles. The square cap at the top can be removed and used to rest your finger tip on as you apply the nail polish.
The applicator brush is thin allowing for precise application. It makes it particularly easy for those with little or narrower nails.
Lavanda requires at least two coats for decent coverage. It applies relatively smoothly and evenly.
Below are shots of Lavanda on my nails in two coats (no base or top coat used). For reference, I have medium, olive (~NC30) skin and all images were photographed indoors using a strobe.
Comparison Swatch
I'm pleased to find Chanel Lavanda is unique in my collection. The closest I have is OPI's I carol About You, which is slightly darker, is more red-toned and has very subtle shimmer (visible only under sunlight).
707 | Méditerranée
Chanel Méditerranée (707) is a bright, very summery aqua blue with a cream finish (no shimmer). This one has a slightly thicker consistency, but applied more easily than the jelly-like Lavanda. You can get away with a single coat if applied a little more thickly as I have done on my nails in the photos below. For added longevity, it would be best to apply in two thinner coats. Unfortunately, I haven't worn either of the shades long enough to test for their longevity, but Chanel nail polishes in general tend to be quite long lasting on me - at least a week (without any base or top coat) with minor tip wear.
Comparison Swatches
Again, I don't have an exact dupe of Méditerranée in my collection. The closest in hue that I have is Dior's Bahia (see full review), but Bahia is 2 or 3 shades darker (more of a petroleum blue) as you can see in the swatches below.
Key Ingredients & Formula
"A bioceramic-based active ingredient, phycocoral, delivers calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium to the nails to strengthen them. Ceramides to help hydrate the nails. - A high concentration of pigments and/or pearlescent pigments for an intense lacquered result. A formula enriched with a cotton-derived resin for a sheer, shiny and resilient coat of colour. Formulation free of toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and camphor. Dermatologist tested."
Size
13 ml / 0.40 fl. oz. of product.
Availability
Available now at Chanel counters and Chanel beauty boutiques in Australia. Thankfully both these shades are permanent (only one of the four new summer 2015 nail shades called Terrana is a limited edition).
Verdict
Both are must-haves in my opinion. :) Lavanda surprised me with its glossiness and its perfect balance of vibrance and depth making it wearable all year round. If you want something that absolutely screams summer then Méditerranée is for you.
Hope this was helpful.
Thanks for looking! ^_^ xo
Will you be picking these shades up for summer? Or do you have other summer favourites? Do share in a comment below. :)