For the Chanel Collection 'Etats Poétiques there are three new Le Vernis Nail Colors in Secret #625 Atmosphère #629 and Orage #631 ($27 each for 13 ml/0.4 fl oz, made in France). All three colors are newly released shades. I was the most excited about Atmosphère but after playing with these for a few days, it turns out my favorite is Secret.
I get really excited when I find a good nude nail polish. Secret #625 is a perfect nude with a slight hint of pink. It definitely needs a good base coat underneath. The first coat will be slightly uneven in finish but the second coat levels out the texture and gives full coverage. It’s has enough color for my skin so it doesn’t give me corpse-like hands.
Atmosphère #629 is a unique pearly duo-chrome pink pearl with violet shimmer. It changes color as the light shifts. With one coat it’s more pink/lilac. With a second and third coat it becomes more like a pearl. I wanted to love this but find it looks odd against my skin tone making my hands look a bit sallow. I’m not sure if it’s just the fact that it’s summer and I’m craving bright colors right now that is contributing to my “eh” feelings about this one. I don’t hate it, but I’m not a huge fan. Perhaps it will grow on me. Some have suggested using this as a layering color. I’m not a huge fan of layering but this one does look nice over other colors.
Orage #631 is an indigo grey blue. It has a very slight hint of silver shimmer in the tube if you hold it against the light. On the nails you can see the sparkle in the sunlight but it acts more like a cream. Two coats almost gives full coverage. On me I found it still to be slightly transparent with two thin coats. On the hands it’s dark shade but not quite black. There is enough blue in this one to soften the color and prevent it from looking too harsh.
Some comparisons below. Orage is the only one I could find close alternatives to.
Swatched above:
Tom Ford Sugar Dune (discontinued)
Dior Icy Dew (discontinued)
Guerlain Stardust (discontinued)
Chanel Island (discontinued)
Dior Perfecto (discontinued)
Chanel Steel (discontinued)
Chanel Atmosphere layered over Secret and Orage
Close ups of the comparisons:
Overall three lovely shades for fall … but it’s not fall yet which is probably why I’m not over the moon in love with these. I think they will grow on me. Secret is another perfect nude nail polish I’ll be wearing a lot (going to try it on the toes this weekend). The other two are nice but for me not must-haves. That being said, Atmosphere is very unique and Orage is a nice dramatic dark shade that isn’t too dark.
These are part of the fall collection and should be available at all counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Saks and Chanel.com.
