Is Chanel Makeup Really Worth the Price? I Tried Everything—and These Products Impressed Me

Beth GilletteBasically have a full-face of Chanel makeup here—wearing Divination eyeshadow palette, Baume Essentiel in Rosee, Les Beiges bronzer in Soleil Tan Medium Bronze, Joues Contraste Blush in Rose Radiant, and Rouge matte lipstick in Intemporelle.ProsAvailable in a range of shades and finishesOffers a very subdued lookConsNot as pigmented as other eyeshadow formulas I’ve testedThis might be an unpopular opinion, but I love the Chanel eyeshadows. they’re not that pigmented, so many discount them compared to the options out there that offer intense payoff in one swipe. But I love the soft, satiny look on my eyes during the day. It’s very “your lids, but better.”Whether you want matte, shimmer, or a mix of both, Chanel’s eyeshadow quads come in a lotta shade and texture variations depending on your vibes. I’m partial to the matte formula, which looks smooth and soft on my eyelids. The shimmers are very subtle, so they're great for someone who just wants a light wash on their lids without a strong glitter or metallic flash. I also can pack it on with a flat shader brush, or use a fluffy blending brush to add a sheer layer of color—either way, it looks hella editorial and cool.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsThin formula feels really good and actually hydrating on my skinHelps cover up my dark circles without major creasingConsNot nearly enough shade optionsOne thing Chanel beauty has down pat is complexion. The entire Les Beiges line is a knockout, including this serum concealer. It’s one of the lightest-weight concealers I’ve ever used, which is wild considering how well it covers. I’ve been wearing it all over my face, paired with the skin tint, and it gives me the perfect amount of coverage for the office or running errands.ProsStays on my waterline for 12+ hours, per my testingComes in a bajillion shades (18, to be exact)ConsCan be a teensy bit smudgeySo, a handful of times, I’ve accidentally slept with this on my eyes and shockingly, it stays on overnight. (Do as I say, not as I do, people.) It smudges a lil bit, but in a sexy, Skins UK vibe that feels indie sleaze and chic. Most of all, I love how creamy it is. I barely have to glide it onto my waterline for the formula to show up opaque black.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsApplies smoothly and doesn't feel sticky or goopyAvailable in a mix of creamy hues and shimmery shadesConsIt doesn't have a scent, which some may love, but I wish there was some kind of light scent to itI grabbed this from the beauty closet because carrying around a chic Chanel lip gloss felt cool. Sue me! I’m a lover of labels! But I was pretty impressed with this formula. It is not sticky at all yet has surprising longevity when I pair it over a lip liner. And the shimmery shades are so freakin’ glittery and gorgeous. I wore shade “Cristal” to the Harry Styles concert and got so many compliments on how shiny my lips were.ProsI love the subdued look it gives (but can also be layered on for more opacity)Powder finish increases longevityConsCan be easy to apply too much if your brush is too denseCream-to-powder blush just makes sense. It goes on soft and with a watercolor, dreamy finish, but as it dries down to powder, it gets a bit softer and maintains much more longevity. Hence why I’m willing to splurge on this one from Chanel. It goes on a lot sheerer than it looks in the compact but can def be built up in a few layers for a stronger look.Another Cosmo editor says: “I’m not usually a powder blush girl, but I obviously was willing to give Chanel a chance (I mean, my mom has used it since I can remember). Unfortunately for my wallet, I love it. It is so luxe and gives my cheeks a soft flush that blurs my cheeks for the days I want a light touch of makeup instead of an overly glowy or dewy finish.” —Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editorAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsVolumizes without getting clumpyDeep black shadeConsI wish it held a curl longerChanel isn’t here to give you spidery lashes. Instead, this mascara makes my eyes look awake and bigger, thanks to the natural bristles that catch and enhance every single lash. It’s extremely black and opaque in one coat, too.Another Cosmo editor says: “Listen, this mascara is probs the only thing I’ll ever be able to afford from Chanel, and I’m not mad about it. The wand is thick and dense with bristles, so you can seriously work the formula into your lashes for a volumized, falsies-level finish. Yes, it’s expensive, but I would honestly buy this mascara even if I weren’t a beauty editor.” —SGProsHydrates lips with hyaluonic acid, squalane, and shea butterGoes on clear and sinks in quicklyConsNot glossy (which some might prefer from a lip balm or hydrating product)Leave it to Chanel Beauty to get me into lip serums. Only the bougiest for them, ofc. And I totally am getting the appeal. This lightweight, hydrating serum goes on clear and sinks into my lips—unlike a balm or gloss—and hydrates the eff outta my life. It’s got a mix of glycerin, shea butter, squalane, and hyaluronic acid to moisturize, lock in hydration, and help plump up lips, too.I’ve been using this nearly every morning before putting on any lip products, and I can tell it’s made my lips smoother and more nourished. And when I use it before bed, I feel like I wake up with fuller lips, too. —BGAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsEasy to dab on with fingers, a brush, or directly from the stickDoesn't have any visible shimmer or glitter, which I <3ConsSome people with oily skin might find it a bit too heavyWhen I want to bring a natural glow back to my skin, I’ll dab this directly onto my cheekbones over my blush. It honestly just looks like sweat—no intense shimmer or chunky glitter here. And because it’s virtually translucent, all of the shades work well on practically all skin tones.Another Cosmo editor says: “You know the wet-skin look that’s been trending on IG? This twist-up stick can help you score it in seconds. A few quick swipes give skin a dewy-as-hell gloss-like glow.” —LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTORBeth GilletteMy fresh skin is a combo of Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint and Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation—my faves. <3Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsI love the skin-like finishCompletely weightlessCosmo Readers' Choice Award winnerConsDoesn’t really offer any coverage (which might be polarizing for some)Confession: I wanted to hate this product for so long. I actually clowned on our beauty director, Lauren Balsamo, when she raved about it on set when we shot it for the Readers’ Choice Awards. But she convinced me to take a bottle home and just try it. And now I’m eating my words because I’m fully obsessed.This formula has very minimal coverage—like, it really just adds a glow to my skin but doesn’t even necessarily even out discoloration. But with a concealer covering up my zits and dark circles, it offers such a fresh, barely-there look to my skin that’s so natural. It was my go-to complexion product on a recent safari trip in Africa because it’s so easy to use, but I also anticipate it making its way into my bag on a lot of summer trips.ProsLightweight feelGives skin a soft, blurred finishConsMight not to be mattifying enough for very-oily skinI first tested this at the beginning of the year. I loved it immediately, but I was in the throes of testing for our Holy Grail Beauty Awards, so it fell to the back of my drawer in favor of other products. This summer, I rediscovered it and have barely used anything else during the work week.It’s not the kind of powder that’s going to make my makeup waterproof or last for 16 hours. But it gives my skin a really soft, blurred finish, regardless of whatever I’m wearing underneath. I love how natural it looks, while still bringing down my shiny T-zone and reducing creasing under my eyes. I’ll use the included puff when I want major smoothing, but usually, I just dust it on with a fluffy setting brush.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsBlurs lip linesDoesn’t feel drying (nor does it appear patchy on already dry lips)ConsVery expensive for a lipstick (but worth it for a go-to shade, IMO)As evidenced, I’m kinda snobby about makeup. But especially lipsticks. If a lipstick doesn’t tick all the boxes, I likely won’t ever wear it. But this one is extremely smoothing on my lips, which is unlike most all matte lipsticks I’ve ever used. What lip lines? Once I glide this on, it’s like they don’t exist. It also doesn’t cling to dry patches at all. And it lasts a hella long time. I put this on before leaving my apartment at 8:30 a.m. and still had remnants of the nude color when I went to grab my lunch at 1 p.m.Peep the image above, but I am thoroughly obsessed with this lipstick. I fear I need a second one to keep in my bag so I just always have it on me?! Intemporelle is the perfect shade for my skin tone as a nude, but Inspirante is a go-to red as well.ProsDoesn't dry out my lips (especially if I apply the gloss)Truly stays on for 8+ hours without touch-ups, even through eatingConsA lot of neutral shades often sell outI’ve been quietly gatekeeping this for years, but now it’s finally time to admit that this is easily one of my favorite lipsticks of all time. I gave it the ultimate test last summer when I wore the red shade to dinner in Paris. Not just any dinner, though, but a seat at L’Entrecote where I ordered unlimited steak frites and drank at least three glasses of red wine. Afterward, my red lip was still on. Actually, it looked kinda perfect.Since then, I’ve tried many shades, and they all offer similar longevity. When I don’t want to fuss with my lips at all, I just throw one of these on. My lips look hydrated and plush, but with a wash of color that lasts at least eight hours. (And by then, it just lightly fades—there’s no crumbling or bleeding.)Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsHas a soft glowy finish that looks like natural skinDoesn’t break out my extremely acne-prone faceConsI wish the shade range went deeper :( Not to be dramatic, but this is my favorite glowy foundation I’ve ever put on my skin. Every time I test a new foundation that claims to make my skin look radiant, I’m comparing the formula to how well this works for me. It’s in the Les Beiges family, meaning it’s meant to create healthy-looking, hydrated skin, thanks to a whole lotta water, glycerin, and meadowfoam seed oils that help make your skin both look and actually feel moisturized over time.With a buildable medium coverage, I can disguise breakouts, acne scars, and uneven skin tone in one layer, but can dab on a little more on any stubborn spots, too. It is not too heavy or cakey either and doesn’t make me look like I’m wearing a mask of makeup. Rather, I just look like I have naturally good skin. I will genuinely never be without it.Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.