Revlon Black With Envy vs. Chanel Black Pearl – Reader Request!
Today I’ve got a reader request which is Revlon Black With Envy vs. Chanel Black Pearl.
It’s been said that these are dupes for all intents and purposes, but are they really?
(No flash)
(With flash)
Chanel Black Pearl on pointer and ring, Revlon Black With Envy on middle and pinky
Both colors are dark charcoal grey with shimmer. But really, that’s kind of where the similarities end.
Chanel Black Pearl has some green shimmer in it and it’s definitely noticeable. It also has a greenish cast to it, so it doesn’t look like a plain ‘ole dark grey with shimmer. It also has more of a frosty finish than Black With Envy.
Revlon Black With Envy is a slightly darker grey color and the shimmer is pink and green. The green isn’t as apparent with this as with Black Pearl. And also it doesn’t have the same green cast. It looks more charcoal grey metallic than greenish like Black Pearl Does.
As far as formula both were pretty good, though Black With Envy was more sheer and I needed three coats and Black Pearl was just two. A lot of people have issues with Chanel polishes chipping though, so that’s up to you.
Obviously pricing and availability is the other difference. Chanel is around $23 and Revlon is around $5-7.
Chanel Black Pearl on pointer and ring, Revlon Black With Envy on middle and pinky
Revlon Black With Envy on middle, Chanel Black Pearl on pointer
Verdict:
They are definitely not dupes. They are similar in that both are dark shimmery grey colors with some green, but the shimmer and tone to both are different.
Winner:
I like both but for me Chanel Black Pearl wins simply because of the green hue. If it didn’t have that, then it would just be another charcoal grey.
Which is your favorite?
-Kelly
Welcome! My name is Kelly and Vampy Varnish is a animal friendly beauty blog.
I actually don’t have a preference between these two colours. Can’t say I’m fond of Chanel’s price tag. Interesting comparison swatches!
Wow, I have to say I do like how the channel polish reflects better. But all and all this is brilliant! I might have to pick up the revlon one. =)
Thanks for the comparison! I like the black with envy, particularly since it has a less frosty finish. though, I snagged BWE a few weeks ago while on sale, though I haven’t worn it yet.
I think I prefer the pink shimmer in the Revlon.
Strange for me ~not a big fan of Chanel’s polishes~ but I prefer Black Pearl!!
Wow, I definitely prefer the Revlon. Black Pearl is just way too frosty for my tastes. And of course I prefer Revlon’s prices too!
Black Pearl is my choice. The green shimmer definitely makes it special! If I can squeeze it into the budget, it will be mine
So, Black Peal makes me think pirate. Has anyone else seen the Sinful Colors dupes of OPI Pirates of the Caribbean collection? I came across a ton of new polish at RiteAid this afternoon. They had the Tracey Reese Sally Hansen Salon Manicure collection, new scented glitter Revlon polish, a display of SH Hard as Nails – all new as far as I could tell. My head was spinning – lol!
Also, I have to thank you for the c. Booth Honey & Almond Body Butter review, Kelly. It’s awesome! My skin just drinks it in. And the scent is so soothing to me. I love your product reviews as much as your polish reviews.
I prefer Revlon. I’m not crazy about the frosty green look on Black Pearl. I actually bought two back up bottles of the Black with Envy because I loved it so much! It’s my newest fav color.
SO not dupes- they are totally different!
Personally, I like the color of Black Pearl better, but not the finish or the price tag. I’ll be saving my greenbacks for a different green!
I personally love Black Pearl, and for me the secret to success really does seem to be in application. If I’m patient and go with thinner coats, it seems to wear better. It’s when I rush it that I get chip city. Even knowing how to avoid the chips doesn’t make it any less frustrating!
I have, and prefer, the Revlon (totally unlike me. Usually, even not knowing prices or brand, I’ll inevitably choose the pricier option). I think that Black Pearl just looks too streaky and frosty. Although I do love the green cast to it, the streaky-ness overrides that.
I think they both look similar enough at just a glance, so that’s good enough for me. However I can’t find Black Envy anyway.
I couldn’t find black envy either but I found a revlon shade called black star and it looks exactly the same as black envy. Maybe they changed the name?
Oh and it was in the Top Speed formula.
I’d have to go with the Revlon polish. I like the little hint of pink in the shimmer, and the Chanel is just a little too frosty for my taste.
To me Revlon seems darker, so I prefer that.