Chanel

The Chanel brand is one of the most famous in the world, and is synonymous with French sophistication and luxury. From its signature suits to Chanel Number Five perfume, it still retains the mark of its iconic founder, Coco Chanel. This is not to say that the brand has not changed with the times. According to the company website, the skincare line incorporates some of the latest advances in skincare in order to fight the signs of aging. However, the strategy of these products seems to be based on combining as many ingredients as possible to cover all bases.

For this reason, it’s difficult to know whether these products will deliver on their promises.

Some of the products in Chanel’s skincare line are: Gentle Hydrating Lotion, Nourishing Cream-Gel Mask, Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover, Retexturizing Line Correcting Fluid, Ultra Correction Serum, Skin Recovery Emulsion, Moisture Boost Cream, Energizing Radiance Lotion and Deep Purifying Exfoliation Mousse.

Chanel’s line consists of several collections of anti-aging products that are “designed” to treat skin at every stage of life, from the first appearance of lines to advanced wrinkling. The Ultra Correction line is the most aggressive, promising to restore firmness and correct “virtually every sign of age.”

Ultra Correction serum is one of the many products in this collection that claim to reverse the signs of aging. It uses Kombucha Extract to boost collagen and elastin, two of the proteins that give skin its firmness and elasticity. The Kombucha is a mushroom that is often made into a sweet tea in the Himalayas. Although teas have been shown to be an excellent source of antioxidants, there is little evidence to support the claim that they can help to soften wrinkles.

Another advertised selling point of this product are its “soft focus pigments,” which Chanel claims help to camouflage and “redefine” skin imperfections. However, these are likely nothing more than particles of shiny mica, which reflects light off of the skin, imparting a subtle shimmer.

Unlike these topical “masking” ingredients, fortunately, there are other ingredients on the market that have been shown to actually supplement lost collagen. One to look for is the peptide complex Matrixyl 3000, which boosts collagen synthesis, restoring the plump appearance of youth and smoothing out wrinkles from beneath the surface.

The skincare section of Chanel’s website is only a very tiny part of this enormous marketing tool that also contains information on the brand’s clothing line, fragrance, jewelry, eyewear and more. Naturally, the site contains quite a bit of information on Coco, as well as the company’s current creative director, the enigmatic Karl Lagerfeld.

However, when it comes to providing details on its skincare formula, Chanel comes up very short. Each product description lists a few active ingredients, but a look at the packaging reveals that this is only the tip of the iceberg. Those interested in trying Chanel skincare would benefit greatly from a section describing a few key ingredients.

• Products are available through the manufacturer’s website
• Select samples are available on a seasonal basis at department store counters

There is little doubt that Chanel is one of the most respected names in the world of fashion. Although its signature scents provide the foundation for the brand’s identity, unfortunately the skincare line as a whole is not entirely solid. It includes a number of overlapping products, and offers few clues on which product is most appropriate for which skin type. Consumers who are interested in owning something bearing the shiny, black and white logo may be better off purchasing a bottle of Vamp nail polish. In the end for skin, there are better and less costly options available.