As you might know, I have been a huge fan of Chanel's Sublimage line for many years, and their Sublimage L'Extrait Intensive Recovery Treatment in particular has been my absolute favourite since the launch. I have also been using their Sublimage L'Essence Ultimate Revitalizing And Light-Activating Concentrate on and off for years, so I was very curious to see how their Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale would work on my skin. I'm very much invested in lifting and firming skincare these days, and Chanel Sublimage L'Essence Ultimate Redefining Concentrate so I naturally spotted in my radar.
Scent
Chanel Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale smells more elegant and relatively subtle compared to their other Le Lift and Hydra Beauty ranges, but it still contains artificial fragrance along with phenoxyethanol. It may work better for those with skin that is more prone to react to natural scents, but it still isn't the best for very reactive sensitive skin. Nonetheless, the Sublimage signature scent has never been an issue for my skin even during my cycle over the past years, as is the case with Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale.
Consistency
The texture of Chanel Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale is quite different from Sublimage L'Essence Ultimate Revitalizing And Light-Activating Concentrate as Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale feels more like a watered down version of Sublimage Le Fluide (aka Sublimage emulsion).
It doesn't have any thick heavy feel on your skin, but it does give skin instant comfort along with a hint of glow.
Depending on the amount that you put on, it may or may not leave a little sticky residue, but it will disappear as the serum is absorbed into skin.
Benefits
An exceptional redefining serum that helps visibly tighten the look of skin while creating the appearance of firmer facial contours and a toned, radiant complexion. With use, skin regains the look of vitality — appearing 23% smoother, 32% firmer and 32% more refined*.
*Clinical evaluation of 31 women after four weeks
KEY INGREDIENTS
SUBLIMAGE L’ESSENCE FONDAMENTALE features Solidago Extract — an ingredient carefully cultivated from a wild plant in the French Southern Alps — for a visible firming effect. Combined with the antioxidant properties of Intense Vanilla Planifolia Water,along with moisturizing Hyaluronic Acid and nourishing Vegetal Butter, this innovative formula absorbs instantly and creates the look of supple, toned, radiant skin.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply to cleansed face and neck, smoothing from the center outward, and follow with SUBLIMAGE LA CRÈME.
Full ingredients
AQUA (WATER) | GLYCERIN | ALCOHOL | SILICA | PROPANEDIOL | BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER | PENTYLENE GLYCOL | SQUALANE | VANILLA PLANIFOLIA FRUIT WATER | SECALE CEREALE (RYE) SEED EXTRACT | FAEX (YEAST EXTRACT) | SOLIDAGO VIRGAUREA (GOLDENROD) EXTRACT | PHENOXYETHANOL | POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6 | AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER | STEARETH-21 | PROPYLENE GLYCOL | ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE | PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) | SODIUM HYALURONATE | POLYQUATERNIUM-51 | BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE | ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE | ADENOSINE | LACTIC ACID | PHYTIC ACID | SODIUM CITRATE | T-BUTYL ALCOHOL | ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN | PALMITOYL TETRAPEPTIDE-7 | SODIUM BENZOATE | CITRIC ACID | CI 14700 (RED 4) | CI 15985 (YELLOW 6) | CI 19140 (YELLOW 5) | IL26B
Verdict
Chanel Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale isn't deeply hydrating, but it's rather nourishing and moisturising that those with dry/mature skin will get the most benefits out of it. Having said that, it can work as a 2-in-1 (serum & emulsion) multi-tasker for dry combination skin thanks to its satiny velvety finish. Although the concentrate isn't a make-up base, it works wonderfully underneath my Chanel LES BEIGES Sheer Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint SPF 30 by adding an extra subtle glow to skin without being an oily primer.
- Chanel LES BEIGES Sheer Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint SPF 30
- Chanel Sublimage L'Extrait de Crème
- Chanel Sublimage L'Extrait & L'Essence (concentrate/ oil serum)
Upon wake-up, skin feels very smooth to touch and also looks plumper. I don't even get any discomfort in my skin related to dehydration and dryness caused from seasonal changes as the serum seems to keep my skin's moisture level balanced pretty good. It works great as a healing serum as it heals my freshly popped hormonal pimples overnight. The area looks more soothed and seems to reduces scarring and unwanted pigmentation.
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- Chanel Sublimage L'Essence Lumiere (Ultimate Light-Revealing Concentrate/ Serum)
- Chanel Sublimage Masque (Overnight Regenerating Sleep Mask)
In terms of more anti-aging benefits, I would say that Chanel Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale is more about giving volume to skin rather than simply firming or lifting. My skin does feel and look youthful even during my cycle. Having said that, it has a limit to improve already formed deep wrinkles and visibly sagged skin as Chanel Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale isn't any way of an substitute for in-office treatments including botox, fillers and lasers. However, if you are in between crossroads, I would suggest you to incorporate a home beauty device such as NuFace Trinity Facial Toning Device along with facial massage into your skincare ritual, which will enhance the result even further and also help you to get the most out of any expensive skincare you use.
Where to buy
- Nordstrom (Free shipping & samples)
- Saks Fifth Avenue (Free shipping & samples)
Recommendations
- Sisley Sisleÿa l’Intégral Anti-Age Firming Concentrated Serum
- Luxury Skincare Guide-Part 2 (Chanel vs Estée Lauder vs Dior vs Chantecaille)
- World's Most Expensive Skincare/ My 10+Years with Best Luxury Beauty (La Mer VS La Prairie VS Sisley VS Chanel VS Guerlain)
- La Mer Anti-aging Serums (The Concentrate/ The Regenerating/ Genaissance de La Mer/ The Lifting Contour/ The Revitalizing Hydrating)
- Chanel Le Lift V-Flash Serum
- Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Cream
