With Lucia Pica being named CHANEL’s Global Creative Makeup and Color Designer, the storied house has continued to show bold and exquisitely colored beauty collections under her expert direction. With her love of color and an artist’s eye, Pica has created another masterful collection for the Spring/Summer 2018 Season with “NEAPOLIS: New City.” Inspired by Naples, the city of her birth, with its rich heritage, breathtaking beauty, and the city’s intrinsic link to the powerful and beautiful siren of ancient mythology Parthenope, the collection is a love letter to the Neapolitan joie de vie and the spirit of strong women both past, present, and future.
As if plucked from the great Baroque master Caravaggio’s palette, the colors of the collection are so rich and vivid, they are almost indescribable. On the hue of the collection, Pica notes that “when I close my eyes and think of Naples, these are the colors I see…” and they are truly a beautiful nod to the stunning scenery, and the staggering architectural and artistic legacy of Naples.
For eyes, Pica has created a limited edition LES 9 OMBRES that encompasses both bold and muted shades that is beautifully buildable for both subtle and dynamic eye looks. Vibrant tones are a dramatic counterpoint to muted hues that directly reference the Neapolitan landscape. Pica also plays with texture with this gorgeous palette, with matte, satin and high-shine shades being included. For added intensity, there is a stunning OMBRE PREMIERE done in a dusty grey-green called Verderame that is equally as beautiful when worn alone as it is when layered beneath the shadows of the palette. To further highlight the eye, there is the metal blue green Nero Metallo MASCARA DIMENSIONS for lush lashes, and the STYLE YEUX WATERPROOF in either Nero Vulcanico, a deep blue green, or Mare-Chiaro, a bright jade green for linking the eyes.
A quick aside on the subject of the CHANEL STYLE YEUX WATERPROOF eyeliner, I would argue that it is hands down, one, if not the best, eyeliners on the market. It is a product that I have long used and loved. Without fail, I end up using it until there is no longer any product left to line my eyes. With its enriched formula, it allows for a silky-smooth application resulting in perfectly lined eyes. Additionally, it is not only self-sharpening but also smudge proof and waterproof making it longwearing. Yet for some miraculous reason, I am able to wash it off at the end of the day with total ease. In all honestly, I could easily dedicate an entire post to this incredible product, so do yourself a major beauty favour and scoop up one for yourself.
For face, the JOUSE CONTRASTE blush in Foschia Rose is the perfect pink that will surly brighten even the dullest complexion and even delight the wearer’s senses with its beautifully subtle perfume. As for lips, the latest additions to the ROUGE ALLURE INK family are Entusiasta, a matte orange, and Eterea, a peachy pink. There are also another ten choices of lip colors added to the ROUGE ALLURE and ROUGE ALLURE VELVET line of lipsticks ranging from a bright poppy to the subtle beauty of the aptly named L’ARISTOCRATICA shown in this post. With its rich and creamy formulation, this peach toned lipstick glides on effortlessly and gives the lips a nourishing burst of color. However, it is the POUDRE A LEVRES that is the standout of the entire collection. Pica has created an entirely new approach to lip-color and its application. Inspired by the traditional tempera techniques used to create ancient frescos, this is a tinted lip powder. Each compact contains a clear moisturizing balm and a tinted pressed powder pigment. By applying the balm first and layering the pigment over, the wearer is able to achieve what Pica calls “a just kissed mouth.” Done in three shades: Rosso Pompeiano, a bright poppy, Rosso Parthenope, and intense red, and Rosa Tempera, a soft pink these special compacts are a must have for even the most casual makeup wearer. Pictured here is the Rosso Pompeiano, that, with its opulent red tone, seems to be a direct reference to the strikingly similar rich red hue found in many of Caravaggio’s greatest works. And lest we forget the cult favorite ROUGE COCO GLOSS, four new shades have been introduced that include Parthenope, a nude peachy caramel, and Aphrodite, a gorgeous watery baby blue that can be worn alone or layered over another color for an even more dynamic look.
As for nails, Pica offers a first since assuming her role with the House of CHANEL: pastel shades. There is Nuvola Rosa, a gorgeous pastel pink, Verde Pastello, a sweet mint green, Arancio Vibrante, a refreshing bright orange, and Giallo Napoli, a sunny yellow that refers to the famous color used in so many Neapolitan frescos. With CHANEL nail polishes being some of the most adored within the beauty world thanks to their flawless formulation, these four colors are sure to become collector items.
