Chanel’s Vitalumiere

Cost: $55.00 US Dollars

Available at any Chanel counter at your local department store (Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, etc.).

Description: “The ultimate solution to tired skin, the best-selling CHANEL foundation instantly revitalizes the complexion upon application — and throughout the day.The formula has ingredients that specifically target dry, dull and uneven skin, and moisturizing agents to provide hydration and comfort. Amarine extract boosts cell energy to enhance radiance, and light-reflecting pigments smooth away imperfection, creating a soft-focus effect. Creamy and luxuriously lightweight, this essential daily foundation blends effortlessly for perfectly smooth, even-toned, radiant skin.”

First Impression: Chanel’s Vitalumiere foundation is wonderfully fragrant (just about all of their products are). The scent is very (very) floral and (although other people have complained about it), I don’t seem to mind it at all as it does dissipate after a few minutes. My sample came in a sturdy glass bottle with a spatula attached to the cap. Vitalumiere makes the skin look so full of life and luminous.

SPF: 15. I don’t think this foundation oxidizes at all. Since its finish is quite radiant, having an SPF of 15 would be ideal. Like I said before, I would prefer more but flashback will definitely be an issue if the SPF factor was higher.

Shade: Eight shades are available. I was matched to be 40 Beige although I can definitely pull off 30 during the winter.

Finish: Radiant. You know when you just finish exercising and you notice that you have this healthy glow to your skin. Well, that’s what Chanel does to your skin. It doesn’t make it healthier but it really gives you that glow if you’re looking to liven up some dull, lackluster skin. Vitalumiere’s finish is one of the most radiant and illuminating founations out there on the market that doesn’t just matte out after application. Chanel’s Vitalumiere also uses light-reflecting pigments to help you obtain that radiant look. I would say that this is amongst the few foundations that are more radiant than NARS Sheer Glow.

Texture: The texture is extremely light and watery. I’m used to wearing foundations that are denser and thicker so it surprised me that this moisturizing foundation was so fluid-like. The light texture of this foundation does make it easier to work with.

Coverage: Medium. The sales associate working at the Chanel counter said that this foundation was medium to full coverage and once again, this is another foundation that does not fall into that category. Vitalumiere is not pigmented enough to achieve a full coverage effect, even if you tried to layer it on. Vitalumiere almost feels translucent when it comes to covering my blemishes and my broken capillaries. It evened out my complexion with no issue and made my skin look alive although it didn’t cover the areas that I needed it to. If you have problematic skin, I would advise that you use a concealer when using Vitalumiere because the coverage will not be enough to cover under eye circles, reddened acne spots, etc. When it comes to coverage, I will give Vitalumiere a 7.

Workable: Due to its light texture, it is extremely easy to work with. I think I end up using more product because of how watery it is. This is an ideal foundation to be stippling, patting on, and blending into your skin. A nickel-sized amount will probably suffice when it comes to full face application. I find it hard to layer this foundation because it seems like it just blends into the previous layer without doubling up on coverage on those problem areas.

Longevity: Vitalumiere is not a long-wearing foundation. It has a tendency to transfer everywhere and quite easily, too. I think a setting powder is definitely needed although I feel like this does take away from the foundation’s finish. The texture of this foundation doesn’t allow it to properly set and hold onto your skin. I think reapplication throughout the day is definitely required and I would say that the foundation (although always remain radiant) thins out and wears away within the first four hours of wear. My skin is quite dry and has no problem holding onto to foundations. However, this is not the case when it comes to Chanel’s Vitalumiere and Lancome’s Photogenic Lumessence as well. I would definitely not recommend this foundation for anyone prone to oily skin because your makeup would end up sliding off of your face within hours or you would end up looking like a shiny disco ball.

Application: I used my dome mineral brush (I honestly don’t think I use anything else anymore) to stipple and dab the foundation on. Chanel recommends using your fingers to apply the foundation but I think using a brush actually wastes less product in this case. With Vitalumiere being so light in texture, it’s easy to get it all over your fingers during application. If you want to use your fingers, I would recommend it for spotting it on problem areas. This foundation does need to be shaken as well and it does not need to be warmed up (if I get this foundation, I would consider putting it in the fridge so that it’s not too liquidy).

Type of skin: This foundation is perfect for normal to dry skin types during the warmer months as oilier skin types could possibly risk becoming a walking puddle of oil if they wore this foundation during the warmer seasons. Vitalumiere is perfect for the colder months and colder climates for all skin types when our skin is dehydrated and dull-looking. If you have sensitive skin or if you are sensitive to fragrances, I would definitely recommend a swatch test. From many of the reviews that I have read about Vitalumiere, a large portion of people were bothered by the strong, floral scent that accompanied this foundation.

Packaging: Chanel’s Vitalumiere comes in a clear, glass bottle with a black, plastic cap. I quite like the packing. I find it to be simple, refined, yet dark. The foundation comes equipped with a pump so no more pouring your foundation out from the bottle (NARS Sheer Glow).

The Verdict: I like this foundation and I will consider purchasing it. It doesn’t irritate my skin at all and my dry, flaky patches are still hidden from view. Vitalumiere does provide the hydration and comfort that it claims to deliver. I believe that if you layer it on, you may risk emphasizing the patches, but it is so minimal when it comes to Vitalumiere. I think it’s slightly a step down from Guerlain’s Lingerie de Peau and produces a lovelier finish than NARS Sheer Glow and Lancome’s Photogenic Lumessence. Although it lacks the staying power and is better for people who only have very little problems when it comes to their complexion, I think Chanel Vitalumiere is another foundation that we should have for the days when we need a little “skin-pick-me-up” (especially for the days when we are sick). This can be an everyday foundation although I would not recommend wearing it during the hot summer. If it had more coverage and better staying power, this could have been “the” foundation for me. At $55, it’s not so bad but for a few dollars more, I think Lingerie de Peau trumps Vitalumiere.

I had a lot of fun experimenting with this foundation and this is the third foundation of the eight for the foundation review marathon. Like I said earlier, I’ll keep this one on my list and I’ll probably end up buying it to keep my skin looking nice when winter rolls around.