Lovely Lashes - The French Way (Chanel Inimitable Mascara)

Member Name: HotBabes

Product:	Chanel Inimitable Mascara
Date:	07/01/07 (1510 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Non clumping, widely available

Disadvantages: Expensive

Chanel launched a new mascara recently called Inimitable and having been offered the chance to try it for free, who was I to say no!

Chanel state that they use "an original and innovative technology : an innovative technical process that makes it possible to produce a brush with soft elastomer bristles".

This innovation is supposed to help you get your required look as the brushes, according to Chanel are ‘ aligned in perfect symmetry’, that they are ‘lined up with perfect accuracy and the ‘bristle delicacy and suppleness offer complete precision’. Hmmm, never being one that takes much notice of any hype or marketing I thought it would just be ‘another’ mascara.


Packaging & Colours

Not a lot to say, just your normal size mascara tube. The gold band around the middle gives it a classy look with the Chanel logo on the end of the lid. It’s squarer than most tubes which I think gives it a sleek look.

It currently comes in two colours - Black Black and Black Brown. I chose the Black Black and my review is based on that.


The Brush

After the statements Chanel made I wanted to see if I could actually notice any difference between theirs and my normal Rimmel one. I have to admit that the Chanel bristles are shorter in length, there are more of them and they start to taper in about 2 thirds of the way down the wand. In comparison, the Rimmel brush didn’t taper until nearly the end and was a lot longer - maybe that’s why when I apply my Rimmel (starting at the top outside lashes) I always seem to end up coating the middle ones as well!


Applying

I found this went on evenly and effortlessly. It coated my lashes evenly from the root to the tip without any clumping. I don’t need to keep going over the same lashes to get an even coverage and each lash is defined individually. This mascara seems to apply a thinner coat than I am used to but it certainly makes for a more natural look. There were no lashes that looked like ‘spider-legs’ nor any clumps that I’d spend the morning trying to sort out.

Even on the lower lashes it glides on so easily I wondered if I was actually applying any! When a second coat is applied this makes the lashes look even darker but because each layer is so thin it still defines and enhances your lashes. It doesn’t claim to give you more volume and it doesn’t. Having quite long eyelashes I want something to enhance them and this certainly fits the bill.
However, it does make my lashes feel slightly stiffer or harder than the Rimmel but that’s more a case of what I’m used to and doesn’t cause any problems.


My Opinion

If you like a natural look where your mascara enhances your eyes, this is for you. If you want a more dramatic or bold look then I’m afraid you might be disappointed. The fact that even after a month’s usage it’s never clumped my lashes is a bonus and I think that’s down to the thinness of each coat. As it accentuates the lashes you have individually it makes it seem as though you have more of them (always a plus point for us women) and they do look slightly longer, even though Chanel don’t claim it will lengthen lashes.

I personally use 2 coats, not because one isn’t enough but just out of habit and find that the only difference is that they look darker. Still no clumping and still even. The black is a black although it doesn’t seem as black as my Rimmel.

My mascara has to do a 12 hour plus day and whilst I’ve been using this, it’s not once irritated my eyes in any way. However, I wouldn’t class my eyes as ‘sensitive’ so there is a possibility it may not suit you.

It’s not waterproof but even after 12 hours and being caught in all the rain we’ve had just lately, I’ve not had the dreaded ‘panda eyes’ even if the rest of me looks a bit dishevelled! So I was impressed by this.

Removing it was very easy. It came off using my usual make up remover and, compared to my Rimmel, didn’t take as long to remove. Being thinner coats I assume this is why as there is not so much on there in the first place.

Overall, I am very impressed with Chanel’s new offering. I always thought mascara’s were much of a muchness but it seems they’re not! Maybe the brush does does make all that difference, maybe it’s Chanel ‘recipe’ for the actual mascara, all I know is……it works and brilliantly!

A tube will set you back approx £16.50. I would never normally contemplate paying this much for a mascara but for the first time, I think it’s worth paying for. Even if you used your regular one during the day and this when you were out, it’s nice to have a different look.

This will last for ages, even though it’s recommended we replace old mascara after 3 months, this will go on long past then!

Availability & Other Info

Available from any large department store or chemists that has a Chanel counter ( I collected mine from John Lewis).

www.chanel.com



Overall this gets full marks from me, as it does do what it says, for once!

Thanks for reading,

© HotBabes Dec 06.

Summary: A good mascara that's worth every penny!