Chanel Sophisticated Eyes Review: The Vanites Quad + EOTD

So I've been hearing a lot about the Sophisticated Eye Collection from Chanel, but I haven't actually seen many reviews. I've been dying to see what's up with the collection, and it arrived last week at my local Chanel counter. There are two quads in the collection, one being Lagon (a blue-based quad), the other Vanites, a lovely array of purples and pinks. As many of you know, I LOVE purples for my brown eyes, so I just couldn't resist giving Vanites a try!!

On first glance, Vanites doesn't look all that amazing. However, when you take the time to really look at the colors, it becomes apparent that they are much more complex than they seem, and are some of the loveliest colors available. 

Above, clockwise from top left, you have a deep purple-plum, a white with a soft pink overlay, a bronzed pink, and a pale lilac. 

In indirect light, the colors appear much more blue, but in reality they are much more neutral, leaning toward warm. 

This shot shows the colors pretty accurately, with the exception of the dark purple at the top. On the skin, it is very matte, very neutral, and very dark. 

This shot shows the dark purple a little more accurately. 

Unlike with many Chanel quads, the colors in Vanites are very pigmented and smooth. The white and the pale lilac are very soft and subtle. I could see both being used lightly on the brow bone, and the lilac is a gorgeous lid color. The bronzed pink is a perfect lid color, with just enough pigment and color to give the eyes depth without being smokey. It could also be used in the crease, paired with lilac on the lid. The deep purple is wonderful for creating a smokey purple eye, or it can be used in the crease or as a liner. 

Here's a fairly understated look I did the other day: 

For this look, I used the bronzed pink on the lids and under the eyes, with the lilac on the inside corners of the eye. I used the deep purple in the crease and as the upper liner. 

Bottom Line: The Vanites quad is a gorgeous collection of colors, perfect for brown eyes. The shades are well-pigmented and blend easily, and work so well together that they can be worn a variety of ways. As Chanel advertises it, the quad can easily be worn as a subtle, understated look or a dramatic, bold one. I'm truly loving this one--it's my favorite Chanel quad in quite some time.