Chanel • Bengal • Polishes

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*TOP REVIEWER* suggrr on 4/18/2008 4:06:00 PM more reviews by suggrr

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

On me, Chanel's Bengal nail polish is a peach with a pinch of pink. While I see gold shimmer in the bottle, I only see hot pink microshimmer on the nail, and even then, I don't see it all the time. I can see it in situations where there's a lot of light, but otherwise, this looks like a peachy creme on me. It's not an unusual color, and probably dupeable with cheaper polishes (any peachy pink with a clear pink shimmer topcoat should give you a similar look), so I'm not convinced it's worth US$19 just yet. I'm cool-toned and I think Bengal is nice on me, so if it's warm, it's not entirely warm. I suspect it's rather neutral, so it'll look good on just about anybody.


What has impressed me is the great wear I've gotten out of Bengal. I put it on the night of April 9th, and it finally chipped last night (April 17th.) Count it out- that's eight whopping days with only tipwear until last night. I did get some bubbles in my mani, but that could have been due to the topcoat that I thinned before using (OPI Rapidry topcoat), the fact that I used two topcoats (Revlon Colorstay topcoat under OPI Rapidry), or shaking Bengal up too much before using it. Despite the problems I had getting Bengal to dry, the tipwear that showed up almost immediately (so it could have even been shrinkage at the tips) didn't get much worse through the week. Bengal is a color on the lighter, less intense side, so it doesn't show tipwear as much as a brighter or more pigmented color would. Since Bengal wore so well, I would look for another bottle when this one is empty. However, according to Chanel's US website, Bengal has been discontinued here in the states. I wouldn't be heartbroken if I couldn't find another bottle- the color looks dupeable to me- but I would shell out for another bottle if I could find it when the time comes.


Here's a picture (in the shade) of Bengal on my nails:




And another pic of it in FULL sunlight:




Imagine a color in between those two photographs and that's how it looks right now on my nails.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Juicy_TNA on 3/1/2007 11:22:00 PM more reviews by Juicy_TNA

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This is gorgous! I'm surprised there aren't more reveiws for this on MUA! The color is a salmon pink with micro-shimmers of red. It really suits my nc25 asian skin. My sister also pointed out that this would look great on a PPP gal, and I agree~

The application is smooth and it took 2 coats to get it semi-opaque (its pretty much completely opaque, but if u look closely, u can still see a bit of my nail's underline).

The only gripe I had with this was the brush. Though it didn't create any problems for me, I'm so spoiled by OPI's ProWide brush that it frustrated me how puny the chanel brush was. I had to dip and redip to get enough polish on my nails! Sigh... other than that, everything about this polish is great.

For anyone who has OPI's Heart of Gold or something similar to it (clear polish with gold shimmers), try applying it over Bengal. I got gorgous results and i think it looks even better with it!

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strawberry_yogurt on 6/20/2006 12:14:00 AM more reviews by strawberry_yogurt

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Black    

Very versatile color. Compliments my skin color. I am so out of glitter/ eccentric color. This is it!

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mcmunson on 3/27/2006 11:07:00 PM more reviews by mcmunson

Age: Unknown   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

This color is fabulous. Looks great on my toes and lasts and lasts. It's just the perfect cross between peach and pink, is sheerer than opaque polishes but not so sheer that it streaks. It also has just the subtlest glimmer to it. Would buy again.

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betsha7 on 1/12/2006 5:20:00 PM more reviews by betsha7

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

This is an absolute beautiful color. Let me just say that this nail polish is Sesame glossimer in a nail polish. I put the two colors side by side and they're a perfect match. I can't comment on the staying power because I just bought it today and it's my first day wearing it. But for the color alone, it's worth the 17.00 USD. I still can't believe I paid that much but trust me when I say, it's beautiful. If you like Sesame on your lips, you'll love Bengal on your nails.

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Wengistein on 8/2/2005 8:29:00 AM more reviews by Wengistein

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

After my absolutely horrifying experience with Vanity, I was recluctant to try another Chanel nail polish. But, this one was great. It's a sheer rose hue with shimmer. It so girlie and it goes on easily.

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*TOP REVIEWER* amhirst on 7/11/2005 10:25:00 PM more reviews by amhirst

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

So I'm going to live dangerously and write a review based solely on the color and a very recent application of this (so I can't say that much about the longevity). Basically I can't stop myself since I like the color soooooooo much!!!! It's a beautiful salmony pink with very subtle sparkles (not at all like chunks of glitter). It was very easy to apply. The consistency was a little thinner than what I'm used to (I usually use d/s polishes), so it looks fairly sheer with the first coat, but much less so with the second. So am a tiny bit concerned about whether it's going to chip a lot on me, but I applied two top coats of Orly Won't Chip, which I usually find does a great job. Will update if I change my mind about this, but for now, I love it!!

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TimaM on 6/24/2005 5:46:00 PM more reviews by TimaM

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

I received bengal as a very thoughful gift from a very dear friend of mine. as always with chanel, the nail polish is of excellent quality, applies smoothly and lasts for 6-7 days without touch-ups.
bengal is a very pretty pink infused with gold shimmer. one coat provides an innocent, angel nude with a hint of pink whereas two coats give a deeper and slightly oriental impression, but still very subdued and elegant.
chanel nail polishes may not be a bargain, but every single one has proved me that there is a connection between a price tag and quality. with such precised colour selection (I cannot think of a colour that would not look fantastic!) and a quality to match, you cannot lose with chanel.

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*TOP REVIEWER* trish527 on 8/22/2004 4:20:00 PM more reviews by trish527

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

This is the only Chanel cosmetics product I have ever owned (besides perfume). I adore it, and I think it's my HG nail color, for both manicure and pedicure (but not at the same time). On me, it seems to last a fairly long time, and the color is so pretty, esp. when you look at it in the sunlight. Love.

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*TOP REVIEWER* shanghaisweetie on 7/12/2004 2:11:00 AM more reviews by shanghaisweetie

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other, Cool   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Of all the beautiful nail lacquer shades Chanel has, Bengal is my all time favorite.

This sheer-to-medium salmon pink is such a stunning color and I love how the golden shimmer infused throughout makes sure it isn't a flat color.

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MissLelly on 7/1/2004 2:21:00 PM more reviews by MissLelly

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

A little Barbie-esque against for my skintone (pale Asian), but it's a beautiful colour in the bottle!

I've rated it at only a 3, because it chips easily and was pretty expensive ($23 CDN) for something like this. It looked like more of a shimmer in the store, but a closer examination reveals that it looks more like chunks of glitter.

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*TOP REVIEWER* wombat on 6/29/2004 11:09:00 PM more reviews by wombat

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is a medium pink, not quite the usual pale salmon-milky-pink, but it's a bit brighter. One layer is a pretty normal sheer pink, not that great looking, but it takes about 3 layers to fully show the color and it becomes a medium milky pink with minimal pink-coral shimmers, i do detect some coral undertone in it.

Not quite sure whether i like it on my fingers ( fair asian complexion), i think it might draw the yellowness in the skin out a bit due to the coral tones, but on toe nails it's a fab feminine shade.

ETA: it's really quite close to YSL lissie gloss #5, lissie gloss is just a tad pinkier. (there's actually a matching shade in YSL lissie gloss #5 in the YSL nailpolish, so if you are looking for something a bit pinkier than bengal, go and search YSL :) )

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petitpois on 6/21/2004 11:32:00 AM more reviews by petitpois

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I love this colour on toes - I usually go for a paler pink, but this is a sweet, medium pink that looks surprisingly pretty and natural. Very slight shimmer, minimal streaking, but I'd like to see Chanel chip less at $17 a bottle. Overall I'd buy it again for the colour alone!

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*TOP REVIEWER* littlebabynothing on 6/2/2004 2:54:00 PM more reviews by littlebabynothing

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

This is the most beautiful nailpolish I have ever seen. Gorgeous salmon pink colour with the slightest golden shimmer... Chanel polishes may be a bit expensive but the lasting power is fantastic. This looks great on my summer nails.

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bricina on 5/23/2004 3:39:00 AM more reviews by bricina

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Love it! It's a sheer rosey pink color with slightly pink glitters in it. Looks so cute on my toes! Will buy again!

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schaetzchen on 4/23/2004 5:40:00 AM more reviews by schaetzchen

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

When I first used this nail enamel, I didn't know, what to think about it. It looked - unusual. But now I really seem to like this innocent-looking, nude, sexy and sweet pink. A definite must-have. I love the packaging.

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littlebabyneko on 4/19/2004 11:27:00 PM more reviews by littlebabyneko

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is the first Chanel nail polish and product that I have bought in about 15 years and is an absolutely gorgeous colour. Like everyone has described its a pinky apricot with gold shimmer. I am one of those people who have huge amounts of lip glosses and nail polishes in variations of baby pink so I was looking to "break" out of that mould and when I saw this on a friend and knew I had to have it straight away.

I got it from Singapore where it was pretty reasonably priced ($25SG which is about $20AU compared to $37AU in the shops!). Once i put it on, I really needed to put on at least 2-3 coats for it to look nice though. Wearabitiy wise I will have to see as I have only just put it on but I actually remember Chanel nail polishes to be of extremely good quality. Why does all the good stuff have to be Limited Edition though? :( Its too pretty to stop making!

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ktanith on 4/1/2004 3:38:00 AM more reviews by ktanith

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Bengal is my favorite color right now. It's a subtle, but beautiful sheer pink and it has a pretty shimmer to it. Chanel polish is the best because it always goes on smooth, never streaky.

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*TOP REVIEWER* DianaS on 3/19/2004 2:47:00 PM more reviews by DianaS

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I hate it when I fall for a Chanel nail polish shade. I don't think that they're worth the money, but Bengal is just so pretty and springy. I couldn't leave it there.
Bengal is a sheer peachy pink with slight coral tones, and with very subtle pink shimmer. If layered it becomes milkier. I wish that the shimmer showed a little more, but even as subtle as it is, it keeps the colour from looking flat.
I only wear polish on my toenails, so I haven't had any problems with the quality of Chanel polish. This shade looks soft and feminine on my toes, and I think it looks pretty on fingernails, too.

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*TOP REVIEWER* meToo on 2/14/2004 12:20:00 AM more reviews by meToo

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

Bengal nail polish is a sheerish milky baby pink color that I would call a warm pink...or you could say that it has a light coral tone. It has a pink shimmer throughout. It's really a cute look and great color for spring.I like this better over Mac Angelcake than I like it by itself.I got to thinking, I really need to amend my rating. I rated this solely on the color, assuming everyone knows that Chanel polish sucks in the quality category. Honestly, it chips and smudges easily and really, for a $17 nail polish, I would expect a little more performance out of it if I didn't already know that the quality sucks. Pretty color, tho. (Mac has a better quality polish for half the price) Color wise, this is a five. Quality wise, it's a three, so I rate this a 4 overall, but I should probably rate it a three?

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