Chanel - 529 Graphite

My ribcage injury still making me wish I was born a boneless worm (I barely can sleep at night and every slight move is a storm of pain) I really needed something to cheer me up. Going through my dozens (and dozens) of recent (and still untried) purchases, my choice went to Chanel "Graphite". At first you know, I thought only purchasing "Peridot" from the last Chanel collection and that's what I did. The choice seemed obvious as "Peridot" was quite destinated to be the standout. But when I saw "Graphite" in person, my vision diametrically changed and the apparently discreet dark grey won me with its mysterious elegance and took the standout place. I grabbed it along with "Quartz" (that looked so flattering on me) which I will also be featuring soon.

"Graphite" might appear like one more dark grey shimmer (this is what I thought before seeing it) but it's a bit more complex than that. This is a semi sheer (but opaque in 2 coats) dark grey base loaded with intensely sparkling particles. Not a pure black+white grey, it looks to me like it has some golden shimmer giving a slight platinum undertone to the polish. Very unique and warming. The undertones reminds me more of pyrite than graphite material actually but it doesn't matter, it's just me being picky with words again. Whatever happens, I find it immensely chic on my nails. Rock and classy.

The formula of the polish was nothing but easiness. I didn't even need a clean-up. The first coat applied well (even if sheer) and dried fast. So did the second. No need for a third. Ten minutes after having applied  the second coat, I could go frolic carelessly have a cautious walk without fearing a dent on my nails. I'm wearing it here without topcoat, as ever. So far I've had it for 3 days now and still no tip wear. The alchemy has always been fantastic between Chanel polishes and me, yet I know every brand behave completely differently depending the persons. Texture talking, the surface of the polish is very smooth, no feeling of grittiness whatsoever.

The first day I tested it, I had it on only one nail and as I was outside, surrounded by the fields and the fantastically colored sky of the end of the day, I could see the sunset reflected on my nail. It was grey and blue and purple and pink and orange.  That was magic, I wish I could have captured this moment. "Graphite" like a sparkled encrypted mirror captures every light, every shadow, every color and change according to every light. Magic, really magic. There is a lot of pictures, I know. But it's well deserved.

price: around 21€/25$

where to buy: local/online Chanel distributors

BRB

Heya - I didn't really want to post this (talking about personal matters always make me feel terribly uncomfortable) but I don't like to disappear without a reason either! I still owe you the shading manicure video tutorial but couldn't do it in due time (Sunday) because the Miss Catastrophe I am get a bike accident on Saturday afternoon. It left me slightly injured with burnings, bruises and wounds on the right side of my face, an injured knee and a couple of broken rib bone (which is ridiculously painful). I could have posted but the painkillers left me sleepy and unable to concentrate for 3 days so I've simply decided to cut on them to get my head back. My ribs hurt but my mind feel clearer now which means I'll be back with posts before the end of the week. Oh and I can't wait to be at least half recovered because I plan to go to Ikea to pick a couple of Helmer. ;) See you soon! :) 

Until next year

Summer is reaching its end without having ever truly showed up here. It's been cold, grey and rainy all July and August long and all this give me the feeling of a profound frustration coupled with regrets and sadness: I always was a sun and summer person. No chance to see the sun before a long while as we're now entering our 8 months of cloudy and white blank sky routine. I can't even tell how I feel. And here I am again craving for California, missing something I have never had. How something you've never had can leave such a profound hole is literally beyond me.

Better late than never, it's only last week-end, I've had the most summer-like day. Nothing special happened. I've only gone for a 40km long mountain bike ride in our (nonetheless beautiful) countryside through the fields and our muddy paths full of rocks. At the end of the day, I was there among the never ending fields, the electric pylons, the most perfect pre-sunset sky ever, the horizon. And a fantastic feeling of space and freedom. The impression to be able to breathe at full lungs and feel like I finally belong this place. It's rare when it happens that I belong here. But I'd feel at home anywhere with my Eastpak on my back and my bike between my legs as long as I feel space and horizon around me (maybe that's why I was feeling so miserable the years I've lived downtown Paris - life is so promiscuous and suffocating over there). It was fresh and windy, I was chilly but that was like a real summer day cause you know, it just felt like it. I love the photos I took this day. Especially the reflection of the pylon in the mud pool. I've made a 180° rotation on the photo to make this little pool landscape look magic, look like the Moon (the pool I'm talking about is the one you can see on my bike photo, just above the seat). On my way back home I've picked apples and (tiny) pears (one inch and half high!) in an abandoned orchard. Life doesn't completely suck! =) 

On this day, I'm wearing Alima mineral foundation in Olive 1 which is an absolutely perfect match to my slightly tanned summer skin. This summer, biking a lot (more than 500km) and walking (more than 300km) - I took some healthy and lovely slight coloring despite the spf50. I'm wearing a smokey eye made with black khôl and smudged out Alima eyeshadow in "Juniper" (a matte olive green almost the color of my eyes), Yves Rocher Felt-tip black eyeliner, Prestige "My biggest lashes" in black, elf blush in "Joy" and lipbalm on my lips. Nothing natural but being a dramatic make up woman it's my idea of a natural and earthy looking make-up.

Moreover, this post was only made to share some photos I'm feeling like sharing because I felt this day was a perfect moment of beauty. Oh and also to show my blonde hair as I've been blonde since last July!