Chanel Coco Codes Subtils, Joues Contraste Elégance & Stylo Yeux Noir Petrole, Mat Taupe for Spring 2017

Greetings from Germany!!  I’m on my first business trip of the year, and it’s going to be a long one… 2 whole weeks up here in Cologne.  I was hoping to be able to get this review out sooner, but I had limited time and wanted to shore up some pictures so I can continue working on more posts while I’m away from home.  Thank you for reading and commenting on the past 2 posts on this Chanel Coco Codes Collection, I loved hearing your thoughts on the pieces, it is this interaction that keeps me grounded.  As promised, I have a few more pieces from this Spring / Summer 2017 collection that I’d like to share with you today!

I had saved Chanel Les 4 Ombres Codes Subtils for today’s post like a good tease, because everybody already had their eyes on the exclusive Coco Code cheek palette and I didn’t want to overwhelm you with too much in my earlier introduction to this collection.  Codes Subtils is the lighter and spring-ier eyeshadow offering from Chanel this season, and if Codes Elegants [reviewed here] was much too heavy-handed for you, I highly recommend taking a look at Codes Subtils.  If nothing at all, keep in mind this one is limited edition!

At first glance, Chanel Les 4 Ombres Codes Subtils seemed really warm and reminded me of Tisse d’Automne from Fall 2015 [reviewed here].  I was surprised when I finally got around to swatching Codes Subtils because it is the perfect everyday palette for those seeking a warmer-toned alternative for the usual spring pastel palettes.  It is a play on pinks and peaches, and not quite as warm as it appears in the pan!

The swatches, in clockwise direction starting from top left of the palette, are:

• Light warm-toned pink with a splash of light pink micro-shimmers that give the shade an almost metallic finish
• Light-medium platinum gold with a touch of pale golden micro-shimmers and an almost metallic finish
• Dark khaki brown that has a blackened finish and very sparse soft golden and pale pink micro-shimmers
• Medium copper with a mix of pink and gold micro-shimmers

Overall, Codes Subtils pulls neutral against my cool-toned skin.  And though the swatches appear to give off a metallic tang, the effect when applied on the lids is much softer.  The 2 darker shades are actually more satin in finish, and the micro-shimmers lend dimension and complexity without being too obvious.  I find the finish to be very interesting, and it takes an otherwise very normal palette to a much more modern aesthetic.

I’ve been playing around with Codes Subtils for the past couple of weeks, and this is a palette that is so easy to wear, you really cannot get it wrong.  I’ve worn it with all the shades blended together, and of course you are free to wear each of the shades alone – they are all equally gorgeous.  In the eye look above, I hope I am able to convey to you how the shades all play out on the eye when worn all together.  I started by applying the copper across 3/4 of my lid, followed by the dark khaki on the outer corner and blended towards the center and up along the crease.  Thereafter, I patted some of the light-medium platinum gold on the center of my lid, and added a dash of light pink to the inner corner.  Finished by lining the outer third of my upper lash line and most of my lower lash line with Stylo Yeux Noir Petrole.

There are 2 eyeliners in this Coco Codes Collection – Noir Petrole (931) is limited edition and a blackened brown; and Mat Taupe (932) is a medium brown that pulls reddish.  Here are the swatches:

I am almost tempted to say Noir Petrole is black, but it is a slightly softer black, and a daily staple for me now.  Each time I try on a new Stylo Yeux, I am blown away by how smooth and pigmented this formula is.  They are not completely budge-proof though, especially if you have oily and heavily hooded lids like me.  But shades like Noir Petrole are great darkening bases, and when used with palettes like Code Subtils, can dial up the drama tremendously.

I think Chanel has this magical ability to formulate the most unassumingly beautiful blushes, and this season’s Joues Contraste Elegance is my latest obsession.  If you want a natural, skin-like flush that brings out your cheek bones without resorting to contouring like mad, you need to try this out on your skin!  Pink is sweet and traditional for spring, but as I mature, I find it is not as flattering anymore.  Instead, when I first swept Elegance on my cheeks, I found myself going oh-yes!

A single swatch does not make very much sense imho, so I swatched Elegance alongside some of the other recent Joues Contraste releases from Chanel that belonged to the same color family.  As you can see, Elegance contains much less shimmers, and has a beige-rosy hue that keeps it from becoming too brown/red.  Previously, I had used Caresse for light/natural makeup looks, but I found it not as pigmented and pulls somewhat chalky, and was always left just a little dissatisfied.  Elegance fulfills all my inner desires, and is not a warm or dark as Golden Sun and Alezane.

As always, here is a full makeup look, featuring Les 4 Ombres Codes Subtils and Stylo Yeux Noir Petrole on the eyes (worn in the exact way as shown in the close-up EOTD earlier).  I’m really loving the soft morning glow of Joues Contraste Elegance on my cheeks here!!  And also, Rouge Coco Shine in Noir Moderne [reviewed here] on my lips.

I hope you have found my coverage of this Chanel Coco Codes Collection to be helpful.  Now tell me, I am tempted to take a trip out of Cologne next weekend.  Should I hit up Amsterdam or Antwerp or somewhere else?  Love to hear any recommendations you may have!

_{This post featured products that were generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}