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Our beauty team on their Chanel makeup must-haves

Covetable and high performing.

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Chanel makeup 
Chanel / Good Housekeeping

There’s your run-of-the-mill makeup, and then there’s Chanel. With covetable compacts and lipstick tubes that close with a satisfying 'click', makeup embossed with an iconic double ‘C’ brings a sense of opulence and luxury to a daily getting ready routine, even if yours is a rushed affair on your commute. Better still, the elegant formulas are easy to use and sit beautifully on most skin types. Chunky glitters and chalky finishes are simply out of the question; Chanel makeup on the whole looks and feels as timelessly chic as the brand’s quilted 2.55 bag. Rather than saving it for best, it’ll become an integral part of your makeup routine, and the fact that Chanel products are designed to be applied sparingly means that each investment will pay dividends too.

Far from simply looking impeccable on your dressing table, the brand's virtual try-on technology means that you’ll find your perfect lipstick or eyeshadow match at the touch of a button, while added skincare benefits and refillable packaging gives Chanel makeup the edge (the world’s top makeup artists would agree).

Shopping for a gift for a loved one? A Chanel nail polish or sought-after limited-edition palette is sure to be followed up with a thank you note. If you’re treating yourself, on the other hand, a Chanel concealer or bronzer offers the ultimate complexion boost. From highlighters that replicate healthy, post-facial skin to a classic mascara that gives our beauty editor's face a lift each morning (instant lash definition works wonders), read on to discover the GH beauty team’s top recommendations.

Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara

Le Volume de Chanel Mascara
Credit: Chanel

An oldie, but oh, what a goodie. Le Volume de Chanel mascara is a wand that beauty editor Anna Lao-Kaim always returns to, thanks to the fact that it glides through lashes to create lift and thickness with very little effort. The classic brush evenly coats lashes without overloading and the formula is remarkably tenacious, although there is a waterproof version if tears, laughter or swimming are high up on the agenda. If a luxe, reliable daily mascara is on your wishlist, you’d be hard pushed to find better, even with the plethora of mascara launches that land practically weekly.

Chanel Chanel Joues Contraste Intense Cream-to-Powder Blush

Chanel Joues Contraste Intense Cream-to-Powder Blush
Credit: Chanel

If you love the slightly transparent, juicy finish of a cream blush but find that the colour slips away by midday, this new flush will fit the bill. The patented formula is made of vibrant ‘wet’ pigments that not only adhere beautifully to skin but feature no white base, meaning that you only need a tiny smidge of colour and shades show up well on a wide range of skin tones. Apply with fingers, blending colour upwards towards the temples to give your bone structure a lift, or use a brush for a more ethereal, diffuse finish.

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Chanel Rouge Allure L Extrait High-Intensity Lip Colour

Rouge Allure L Extrait High-Intensity Lip Colour
Credit: Chanel

Matte formulas often offer up the highest pigment payoff, but this creamy satin-finish lipstick proves that isn’t always the case; it delivers rich colour in a single swipe. The subtly light-reflective finish makes lips look full, and while it’s not the longest lasting of Chanel’s lipstick formulas, it layers beautifully with no flaking and the balmy texture makes reapplication smooth in every sense. The refillable bullet is a plus too; look out for limited edition shades and finishes throughout the year.

Chanel Le Correcteur de Chanel

Le Correcteur de Chanel
Credit: Chanel

Just a dab of this brightening, lightweight concealer makes skin look immediately fresher. It has a clever blurring effect, meaning you can lighten up even stubborn shadows without needing to load it on, lessening the chances of it settling into fine lines around the eyes. Beauty editor Anna also rates it for knocking back rosacea-induced redness without clinging to dry patches (in fact, the hydrating cream softens skin as you wear it). One caveat; the shade range requires improvement.

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Chanel Ultra Wear Liquid Lip Colour

Ultra Wear Liquid Lip Colour
Credit: Selfridges

Gloss instantly creates the illusion of plumper lips but finding a glitter-free formula can be a challenge. Enter Chanel's dual-ended lip colour. At one end, a sheeny, comfortable liquid lipstick . At the other, a smooth gloss with a glassy finish. Wear each individually or pair together, the choice is yours. Timeless Beige (pictured) is a chic neutral that complements all eye looks.

Chanel Pinceau Fond de Teint Foundation Brush N°100

Pinceau Fond de Teint Foundation Brush N°100
Credit: Chanel

Technically not makeup, but it applies liquid base with such polish that we have to sing its praises. This flat brush was makeup artist Victoria Bond’s complexion tool of choice at a recent GH beauty shoot, where she used it to blend foundation into the model’s skin in ultrafine layers for a natural, glowing finish. It makes light work of extra coverage too; Victoria topped up the nose and chin areas without a hint of cakiness.

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Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour

Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour

The classic tweed jacket of your lipstick wardrobe, this ‘lit from within’ matte almost applies itself thanks to its creamy shea butter and jojoba oil-rich formula. Beauty editor Anna is especially impressed by the intensity of the colour pigments (it’s a ‘blot and go’ situation) and the fact that clever microfine pearl pigments make lips look plumper. Chanel’s Virtual Makeup Studio allows you to try it on for size first too (there's almost 200 shades to whip on and off on a whim, and that's just the lipsticks).

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream

It has a cult following and is loved by many beauty experts, including our former beauty director Eve Cameron. The refreshing cream-gel texture can be applied over moisturiser, over foundation or mixed in with either, for an all-over glow. For a sunkissed finish, swirl a kabuki brush into the generously sized pot and buff into the areas where you’d naturally catch a tan, namely the high points of cheek bones, temple, nose and chin. While the formula is beautifully blendable (there’s not a tideline in sight) and it’s available in three shades, it’s not intensely pigmented so we’ve got our fingers crossed for a deeper addition to the range in future.

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Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour

Le Vernis Nail Colour

Elegant bottles and equally chic colours - it's no wonder that GH's beauty desk is smitten with Chanel nail polishes. Team a neat, short manicure with the glossy navy Fugueuse 127 or paint toes with the vibrant red Incendiaire 147. The light-catching metallic sheen creates a glassy effect while smoothing over any irregularities in the nail bed (plus it dries quickly too).

Chanel Le Baume Essentiel

Le Baume Essentiel
Credit: Chanel

There's nothing quite like a subtle highlight to bring dimension and light to the face, and this glow stick does the job beautifully. Senior beauty editor Alexandra Friend swears by it for a natural approach to highlighting. Dab on and blend into the high points of the face or apply a little to the inner corners of your eyes using your ring finger for a brightening effect that mimics a good night’s rest.

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Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation

Neither too dewy nor too mattifying, this lightweight base hits the sweet spot when it comes to achieving a ‘your skin but better’ finish. Those smart polymers are back to smooth out skin texture and blur the appearance of pores, while ultra-fine luminous powders in the formula create outdoorsy radiance. Use fingers for the easiest application, or try a stippling brush for a sheer, barely-there finish.

Chanel Rouge Coco Flash Lipstick

Rouge Coco Flash Lipstick

Senior beauty editor Alexandra Friend is rarely without this glossy lip colour. It combines the volumising impact of lip gloss with the comforting texture of a balm, all in modern-looking shades. The formula is ultra moisturising, and the bright hues look especially gorgeous when set against fresh and glowing skin.

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Chanel Signature de Chanel Intense Longwear Eyeliner Pen

Signature de Chanel Intense Longwear Eyeliner Pen

For a perfect feline flick, make this eye pen your go-to. The tapered nib glides on smoothly to create both thin and thick lines, while its jet-black pigment applies evenly and stays put for hours. The pop-in cartridge is nifty too; it takes a few minutes to load the brush on first use, but it lasts well without drying out, unlike other felt tip liners we’ve tried.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Highlighting Fluid

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Highlighting Fluid
Credit: Chanel

Glistening holiday skin in a bottle. This luminising liquid creates an instant 'golden hour' glow that flatters all skin tones thanks to its sheer colour pigments. It's ultra versatile too. Tap onto cheekbones as a highlighter, or mix into a foundation, tinted moisturiser or face cream for an extra brightening effect. Expect one bottle to last more than a few summers (it's also the ultimate winter pick-me-up). Try mixing it into body lotion for glimmering party-ready limbs.

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Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush

Joues Contraste Powder Blush

This buildable blush is perfect for those worried about overdoing their makeup, as the silky formula creates a veil of colour over the skin. Don’t be afraid of the slight shimmer either; it gives cheeks a youthful, pretty flush. Beauty editor Anna relies on it on dull, tired skin days.

Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Blush

Les Beiges Water-Fresh Blush
Credit: John Lewis

If you prefer a gel or liquid blush, this makeup-skincare hybrid will be right up your street. The natural-looking colour comes courtesy of micro-pigments suspended in a hydrating formula that's composed of 75% water. They burst on contact with your skin, resulting in the kind of flush that you could easily have acquired on a brisk stroll. Apply a thin layer with your fingers, concentrating colour in the centre of your cheeks before blending outwards and upwards.

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Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner

Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner

This ultrafine eyeliner makes light work of definition and the array of jewel-toned shades on offer sets it apart from the competition. It glides on smoothly and once on it’s budge proof; it’s a big hit among the hayfever sufferers and contact lens wearers on the team. The in-built sharpener is especially handy.

John Lewis Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow

Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow
Credit: Chanel

A Chanel eyeshadow palette makes for a seriously special gift idea. Shades are thoughtfully edited so that they blend together seamlessly and the mix of matte and multidimensional finished creates the perfect amount of light and depth. There’s rarely if ever a dud and the mirror in the compact is large enough to allow you to apply a full face of makeup on the go (and to show off the compact itself). The darker shades in each palette can be used as an eyeliner as well; just apply along the upper lash line with a damp eyeliner brush.

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