Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup: Okay, I Get The Hype

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup

You’ve probably seen the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation in lots of blogs and heard about it in plenty of YouTube videos. It’s one of those foundations next to the Vitalumiere Aqua that has been talked to death on the blogosphere. Oh look, here I am, talking about it as well. Ahem, herd mentality much?

Ahem. 😛

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup

I first tried out the foundation when it came in a sample sachet in a magazine. I can’t remember what shade that sample came in but I remembered that it was darker than my skin tone and had strong pink undertones. Weeks later, I bit the bullet and bought one that matched my skin tone much better. Thank goodness I got the shade properly matched and I tried the foundation out again because my first impression of it via the sample sachet was not that good.

Now, I get the hype. It’s actually a pretty decent foundation, I must say. Methinks all you oily to combination skin folks (whose skin can take silicone) will like it too.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup Ingredients

The Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation is a liquid-to-powder foundation. As the name suggests, it feels like velvet on the skin (due to the high content of silicone) and dries to a matte finish. Coverage is about a medium. As the foundation is very light in texture, it’s buildable to higher coverage without looking cakey on the skin but I wouldn’t say it’ll give you a full one.

The Perfection Lumiere Velvet’s scent is very similar to Bourjois’ Healthy Mix Serum gel foundation. In fact, if you put them side by side and give the bottles a good whiff, you’ll probably think they smell exactly like each other. It has a strong floral fragrance that, to be honest, can be cloying at times.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup and L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau de Teint

A lot of bloggers mentioned that the Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation is very similar to the Vitalumiere Aqua that is also by Chanel. I beg to differ. Yes, the Perfection Lumiere Velvet is very light and watery and so is the Vitalumiere Aqua but that’s where the similarity ends. The texture and finish of both foundations are different. The Perfection Lumiere Velvet feels like liquid powder; it’s very smooth and silicone-y to the touch and when it’s blended on the skin, it feels like powder. On the other hand, the Vitalumiere Aqua feels like light lotion and blends like lotion. It feels like conventional light foundations with a semi-dewy finish on the skin. Other than both being very light, I can’t say that they’re that similar to each other.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup and L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau de Teint Swatch Comparison

Speaking of similarities, I’d say that the L’Oreal Nude Magique Eau de Teint is a lot closer to the Perfection Lumiere Velvet than the Vitalumiere Aqua. The textures are exactly the same for both liquid-to-powder foundations. Even L’Oreal’s shade #120 is very similar to the PLV’s 20 Beige (with the same neutral to slightly cool undertones).

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup Before and After

In terms of longevity, the L’Oreal Eau de Teint surpasses the Perfection Lumiere Velvet. It stays on longer on the skin without fading. The Perfection Lumiere Velvet showed signs of fading after 8 hours, whereas the L’Oreal Eau de Teint stayed put on the skin even at the 10th hour mark. As for packaging, you know how much I hate the one by L’Oreal so even though the Chanel bottle is a fingerprint magnet, the small spout makes the foundation a whole lot easier to dispense.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup

Chanel’s Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation retails at AU$77.00 for 30ml and is available at MYER, David Jones and selected pharmacies nationally.

What I like about it: Looks like second skin but much better, doesn’t sink into fine lines, doesn’t leave an oily sheen on the skin.

What I do not like about it: Packaging attracts fingerprints, doesn’t last on the skin as long as the cheaper alternative, pricey.

Have you tried this foundation before? Do you think it lives up to its hype?

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18 comments… add one
  1. Allison

    Great review, Tine! You’ve reinforced my feeling that I don’t need this. It looked nice on you! However, I wouldn’t bite the expensive bullet to buy a non-full-coverage foundation that doesn’t last more than 8 hours…even tho’ I liked your liquid-to-powder description. Ah, money saved 😉
    Allison recently posted..Pure Natural Diva BotanicalsMy Profile

    1. Tine

      My pleasure, Allison. Glad you enjoyed it. Nah, it’s never a need. At least, if it’s a need, I’ll let y’all know. This foundation is a good one but it hasn’t hit Holy Grail status for me yet. 😛

  2. Marianne

    Tine, have you tried Make Up For Ever foundations? I’ve got some coming from the US but just wondering if you’ve ever tried it? I’m in a foundation rut at the moment and need to change from my Mac Studio Fix!

    1. Tine

      I’m afraid I haven’t tried any of their foundations yet. Been wanting to try their popular HD foundations for a while now but MUFE isn’t easily available here in Australia (unless I buy them online) so nah, not yet. Ah I remember the MAC Studio Fix. It’s one of my first foundations!

  3. gio

    This foundation looks great on you! But for that price, I wish it lasted longer on the skin.
    gio recently posted..QOTW: What Are Your Go-To Products For Contouring?My Profile

    1. Tine

      Yeah me too. Funny that the L’Oreal one lasted longer than this one did. Oh well.

  4. Efraín

    I only had to comment one thing: my skin is combination with a very oily T-zone and I can’t handle silicones, after two days in a row using a product full of them I get more pimples than I normally do (and with some products even a day is enough).
    Efraín recently posted..Spring Bloom Tag o en español el Tag de primavera.My Profile

    1. Tine

      Oh dear, sounds like it could be clogging up your pores! That’s not good. Have you tried silicone-free foundations? I’ve not used any before. I have friends who are allergic to too much silicone and can only use silicone-free makeup.

      1. Efraín

        Well, I’m not really sure if I’m allergic to too much silicone, because now even skincare have them but for example if I use a primer it’s almost sure that in one or two days I’ll be getting more pimples (also my skin right now isn’t behaving well).

        Silicone-free makeup? Tell me more!
        Efraín recently posted..Spring Bloom Tag o en español el Tag de primavera.My Profile

        1. Tine

          Quite some time ago, Bourjois had a silicone free foundation (Botanics something? I can’t remember the name right now) that was pretty good. But I think they’ve discontinued it because I can’t find it anymore. I’m not sure if it’s just discontinued in Australia or worldwide though. Lisa Eldridge had spoken of it before too in one of her videos.

          Primers will almost always have a lot of silicone on them to give that blurred out, filled-in-pores appearance. Try going without for a few days and see if there’s any difference to the skin?

          1. Efraín

            That’s why I know I can’t handle many silicone, I only use primers for really special events because even with proper cleansing I get more pimples.

            With foundations I don’t have many problems since I opt for powders.
            Efraín recently posted..Spring Bloom Tag o en español el Tag de primavera.My Profile

  5. Anshika

    It is a great review. This foundation looks nice on you. Is this long lasting?

    1. Tine

      Longevity is adequate but could be better. I find that the L’Oreal Nude Magique Eau de Teint lasts a lot longer on my skin than the Chanel one.

  6. Angie

    Gaah I just don’t know about this one, I really want to jump on the bandwagon but just not sure about that pricetag! And I love a good ‘second skin’ foundation but how many are too many? Hehe
    Angie recently posted..Verso Stockholm: Night CreamMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Erm, let me check my crazy stash of foundations and I’ll get back to your question, eh? 😉

  7. karen

    I love this foundation so much! light finish, it does stay long on my skin though love it

    1. Tine

      Glad you like it! 🙂

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