Being a massive fan of the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and the Perfection Lumiere Velvet, I just knew I had to get my hands on Chanel’s latest foundation offering, the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Touch Foundation, particularly as I had heard that it offers a light coverage.
Packaging
Housed in a chunky, plastic yet still very sleek (com’ on, we’re talking about Chanel here) black and cream mirrored compact, branded with the two infamous intertwined ‘C’s, the foundation sits protected under a thin layer of mesh fabric (which was in turn protected by a removable plastic, safety seal) covered by a flip up lid. Nestled between the lid and mirror is a soft, sponge puff applicator, Chanel branded of course.
Formulation
This is my first dalliance with a cushion foundation so there was somewhat an extra element of excitement here, given how much cushion foundations have taken off in the western world over the last couple of years. This particular formulation from Chanel is described as an aqua-gel texture yet has a consistency so thin, it’s like water (not surprising as it apparently made up of 56% water). The finish is designed to give ‘a subtle tint’ and a ‘sheer, dewy finish’. Whilst I don’t mind a dewy finish, especially on others, I am always a little hesitant when using a dew-inducing base primarily because of my hyperactive t-zone (tres oily). Elsewhere, the dew is welcome.
Shade selected
As with all Chanel bases, the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Touch carries the unmistakable ‘Chanel scent’, something which I personally love (others may not) and this particular formula contains a SPF of 25/PA+++ so perfect for wear during the daytime. I chose shade 40 (my shade in the Vitalumiere Aqua) as shade 30 (my shade in the Perfection Lumiere Velvet) looked a tad too light/pink. I can make shade 40 work but it has to be blended in very well and taken down the neck as the tone is rather neutral against my warm, more yellow colouring. I suspect I’m somewhere in between a 30 and 40, but a 40 would probably work better when I’ve got a bit more colour to me.
Application
I initially try the foundation using the soft, sponge puff applicator. The result is so sheer that it is pretty undetectable so much so that I’m sitting with the mirror about half an inch away from my face trying to see if I actually managed to get anything onto my skin at all (I did). The texture is so fine and lightweight, and dries down very quickly without leaving behind any tacky residue. It practically feels like you’ve got nothing on your skin whatsoever (those that hate the feeling of foundation on your skin take note). Once I’d applied it all over, I inspect it further and sure enough, despite its subtlety, my skin looks fresh, radiant and evened out. The coverage is sheer so your skin does show through, and can be built up somewhat to a light level of coverage, but if you’ve got blemishes/spots, you may want to go in with a concealer. The second time I try it, I use a foundation buffing brush and I find that application is much quicker vs the sponge puff applicator, however the sponge puff applicator is handy for touch ups on the go.
Wear & longevity
Despite how sheer and lightweight the base is, it has plenty of staying power and lasted much of the day for me (aside from my t-zone which typically gets shiny rather quickly so I did have to powder throughout the day but this is not outside of the norm. However it didn’t gather around the nose area as with some foundations). It wore comfortably on my combination skin and I suspect the water and hyaluronic acid content helped the skin to feel hydrated all day long (possibly a good option for those with dry/dehydrated skin).
Who is it for?
This is a product for those that prefer a sheer to light coverage from their bases and those that just want their skin to still look like their skin but a more polished, better version of it. As I generally have pretty good skin (touch wood), this is a great option because it I find it just evens everything out without covering everything up. If you prefer a base with more of a medium or full level of coverage or a matte finish then this will be a miss for you. As mentioned above, this is possibly a good option for those who have dry/dehydrated skin as its very hydrating. Oily skins may find that this might add too much dewiness/glow to their skin so will perhaps need to powder to remove any unwanted/excessive shine.
Pricing and shade range
Depending on where you are in the world, the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Touch comes in 9/10 shades from light to deep. It retails for an eye watering £43/$60 USD which is crazy as its almost £10 more than the the other two aforementioned Chanel foundations. Whilst I like this foundation, I’m not sure I like it that much more. Verdict? Good but pricy.