Chanel Jade Nail Collection Swatches & Review

The highly anticipated, much hyped Chanel Jade Nail Collection just arrived at my doorstep and I’m literally dying inside over it (in a good way of course). I’ve been not-so-patiently waiting for Jade to come into my life ever since I spotted it on the Chanel runway last winter. While we’ve been inundated with some gorgeous pale/mint greens this year, they still didn’t satisfy my desire for Jade. I don’t know about all of you but inside my head I kept thinking, “We need a shimmer!” Well, now we have it! Check out Jade and Jade Rose after the jump.

Now I don’t want to get your hopes up for a blingasm when I say shimmer. In this collection it’s very subtle, a wink if you will. Very much in line with Chanel’s typical understated shimmer style. In Jade Rose it’s practically indiscernible in natural light. My only disappointment with these polishes is the pigmentation. I did need three coats with both shades even though they applied flawlessly.

Jade lives up to all my expectations in terms of color. Peter Philips I could just kiss you!! It’s soft yet vivid, like a melt-away mint on a caffeine rush. It’s not totally green, there are definitely some blue undertones to it.

It’s funny, I had seen some random pics online and wasn’t sure I’d like it. The runway shots looked uber-pale and washed out and the others all made the color look really bright, almost neon. I can only assume they were taken with flash or in poor lighting. Not that I’m a photography wizard but on my screen this shot looks pretty close to dead-on and it’s not pale or neon.

For you dupe hounds your wallet may hate to hear this but Jade has no twins. Even if you ignore the shimmer factor, it still falls somewhere between OPI Damone Roberts 1968 and MAC Peppermint Patti and doesn’t even live in the same town as Barry M Mint Green or OPI Hey Get In Lime!.
I was so geeked over Jade that I almost forgot about Jade Rose, a dusty, rose pink. The shimmer only shows up in sunlight and it doesn’t have the wow factor of Jade but paired together as a collection and as a mani/pedi combo it makes total sense. I love the idea of combining mint and rose and I’m already imagining a Jade Rose mani with Jade tips. That may be too funky for Chanel but I live in a “why not?” world.

The Jade Nail Collection retails for $25/ea and goes on sale next Friday, September 11th. Jade Nail will only be available online at Chanel.com and at Chanel Boutiques and Makeup Studios. Sign up on the website to be notified when the collection goes live.

BUT NYC Fanatics you’re in luck. During Fashion’s Night Out this coming Thursday the Chanel SoHo Boutique will be offering manis with Jade Nail at the Champagne Nail Bar. I’ll be in the city for Fashion Week and hope to stop by the store for what sounds like a spectacular event. I hope those of you in the area can make it.

So does Jade wow you? Are you loving it as much as I am? Who’s buying? Are you planning to stalk the site until it’s on sale? Share!