To know me is to know that my love for Chanel Le Vernis Rouge Noir knows no bounds. The almost-black red nail polish has graced my nails for as long as I can remember. I love it so much, in fact, that I sat in a salon chair the day before my wedding and asked the manicurist to mix countless gel formulas in an attempt to create an exact colour match.
And I know that I am not alone. Rouge Noir has no doubt become not just one of the world's most iconic nail polishes, but one of the world's most iconic beauty products. Garnering worldwide fame under the U.S. name Vamp back in 1994, when Uma Thurman debuted the blackened-red polish on her nails in Pulp Fiction, the timeless appeal of Rouge Noir has transcended decades. Ask any beauty editor out there, and I can guarantee Rouge Noir will rank highly in their most beloved polishes.
Why? Because it oozes understated cool. Not black enough to feel jarring, not red enough to feel basic, Rouge Noir straddles the line between cool and classic in a way that no other nail-polish shade seems capable of. And now, in 2026, Rouge Noir is entering a whole new era. Introducing the all-new Rouge Noir collection.
Chanel Rouge Noir Makeup Collection, Tried and Tested
When I first heard that Chanel global makeup creative partner, Ammy Drammeh, had been tasked by the house to create an all-new, limited-edition makeup collection as an ode to Rouge Noir, my interest was immediately piqued. I pictured deep, burgundy eyeshadows, mysteriously dark lipsticks and smoky kohl liners. But now, the Rouge Noir collection is here, and it's so much more than I imagined.
"I needed to go inside and dissect what Rouge Noir really is," says Drammeh. "Everyone knows that Rouge Noir is red and black, but it’s not just red and black. The nuances in shade are really vast and ample. [Holding it up to the light], I could see all these exciting, younger, vibrant, electrifying shades that I hadn’t really paid attention to before."
From burgundy mascara and deep, matte lipsticks to fairy-pink shimmers and fuchsia powders, on first inspection, the new Rouge Noir collection feels almost too cool to be wearable. But then you start playing, and something magical happens. Much like the original nail polish, each product strikes the perfect equilibrium between rebellion and sophisticated safety.
As a beauty editor who shies away from colour, the washes of pink I apply to my lids feel almost nude in their comfort, the richly pigmented lipsticks less a bold statement and more a quiet confidence boost. These are, in my opinion, the Rouge Noir collection products you really ought to get your hands on (if, of course, you're lucky enough to snap them up on restock day).
1. Le Vernis in Rouge Noir
The polish that started it all. To me, Rouge Noir is a quiet riot. It rejected the norm of what red nail polish should be and created a new classic in the process. It's intense yet understated, elegant yet cool. There is no question: Rouge Noir is the greatest nail polish of all time.
2. Rouge Noir Confidence Eyeshadow and Blush Palette
Whether smudged over lids (as is my preference) or dusted delicately over cheekbones, these powders are a multi-use dream. Initially sheer and blendable, each luminous shade builds in intensity as it is layered, whether as a blusher, eye shadow or highlighter.
3. Noir Allure All-in-One Mascara in Rouge Noir
For those, like me, who lean towards more muted makeup looks, this might just be the best mascara purchase you can make this year. The rich burgundy Rouge Noir hue coats lashes to create a lengthened, defined finish that isn't quite as high-impact or intense as the jet-black equivalent, making it the perfect everyday reach-for.
4. Baume Essential Rouge Noir in Cute
Perhaps my favourite product in the entire Rouge Noir collection, this dew-delivering balm can be swiped onto the high points of the face to deliver the most convincing, healthy-looking glow around. The frosted-pink tint is barely there, imparting a subtle, wearable sheen rather than an intense pop of colour.
5. Rouge Allure Velvet in Audacieuse
When I say this lipstick has not left my handbag since its first application, I mean it—I have worn it every single day over the past two weeks. Though a matte finish, the formula manages to remain buttery, nourishing and comfortable, whilst the luminous brick-red shade delivers a quiet confidence with every swipe. And when I say it lasts all day, I really mean it.
6. Les Pinceaux Rouge Noir
Chanel makeup brushes are, without question, my favourite ever made. The bristles are velvet-soft and densely packed to ensure even the quickest of applications delivers the most impressive results. Even with limited makeup artistry skills, this brush trio makes my new daily Rouge Noir makeup routine a total breeze.
