People closest to me know that the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua used to be my all-time favorite foundation. I’ve used up the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua several times already but I somehow stopped repurchasing the foundation when I started blogging in mid-2014. Maybe because I’ve been testing out so many different foundations that I never got the chance to use the Chanel again?

Well, I recently repurchased it because I started missing it so much! I also happen to purchase the Perfection Lumiere Velvet just out of curiosity.

Check out my comparison review of the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet.

Related posts: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation vs. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation

Similarities

First off, let’s start with the similarities. One obvious similarity is that they both have SPF 15.

Here are the other similarities:

Fragrance

Both of these have Chanel’s signature foundation scent that’s rather sweet and florally. I personally love the scent and never had a problem with it irritating my skin whatsoever, but I don’t know how people with sensitive skin will react to this.

Packaging

The packaging is obviously similar with only a difference in color. The Vitalumiere Aqua (VA) has a beige-colored bottle and the Perfection Lumiere Velvet (PLV) comes in black.

Unlike other Chanel foundations that come in a glass bottle, these come in an opaque, plastic rectangular bottle/tube and it has to be squeezed to dispense the product. Since these foundations contain water, they both have to be shaken before use.

I actually prefer these than the glass bottles because these are more travel-friendly and easier to use. I love that you squeeze out the product instead of pumping it out because you can really thoroughly finish up the product with little to no product being wasted at all.

Price

They both retail for US$48 at Nordstrom and other department stores in the US, £33.00 at Boots (UK), and AU$77 at David Jones (Australia).

Differences

Formula

When first dispensed, they’re both runny and thin in consistency, but the VA is considerably thinner and more water-like.

Both are very lightweight on the skin and are so easy to work with and blend.

They both dry out pretty quickly when blended on the skin, so you’d have to work pretty quickly with these as they set almost immediately.

Coverage

One of the main differences between these foundations is the coverage.

The PLV definitely has more coverage than the VA and is buildable too. The VA isn’t too buildable and has a maximum of light to medium coverage.

Finish

The finishes are also the main differences between these foundations.

The PLV dries to a satin matte finish while the VA has a more dewy, translucent and skin-like finish. As you can see in the swatches below, the side with the PLV looks slightly more caked up than the side with the VA, which basically looks like makeup-less skin as you can still see the lines on the skin. The PLV side looks more flawless, but it actually still looks so natural and feels very lightweight.

I love that the PLV  has a satin semi-matte finish because this makes it suitable for dry skin too. I have normal to dry skin, and I normally always avoid matte foundations, but this one’s different. It doesn’t accentuate my dryness and feels very nice and moisturizing on the skin without looking cakey or feeling tacky/thick.

Because the VA has a dewier finish, powder is often needed to set it. As for the PLV, I never needed setting powder since it dries matte and doesn’t transfer.

Longevity

The PLV definitely has more staying power than the VA, lasting up to 12 hours in total. The VA can last up to 8 hours though, so it’s still really impressive.

They’re both smudge proof and don’t transfer much, but the VA transfers easier than the PLV, especially on white shirts and tissue. I think it’s because the VA has a dewier finish, and so it doesn’t really set as well as the PLV.

The PLV definitely has better oil control than the VA even though after 8 hours of wear the PLV will have more of a luminous/satin finish. It still controls oil so much better than the VA. The VA has good oil control on me, but my friends who have much oilier skin than I do (note that I have normal to dry skin) have complained that they notice the VA transfers a bit easier especially under intensely humid and hot weather.

Final Verdict

So both foundations have their strengths and weaknesses, but it all comes down to preferences and needs.

If you need a lightweight foundation with medium to full coverage, you’ll love the PLV even though you have dry skin. If you have oily skin, I’d also recommend the PLV because it has better oil-control.

If you don’t have problematic skin and just want something lightweight with a dewy, skin-like finish that doesn’t feel sticky or tacky on the skin, go for the VA.

I personally love them both, but I’ve been reaching for the VA more just because I don’t need the coverage of the PLV. I also prefer a dewy, skin-like finish because I have normal to dry skin. However, whenever my skin is more problematic, or when my skin is hormonal and am in need of something with better oil-control, I’d go for the PLV.

So, again, it really depends on your skin and what you need – they’re both amazing!

Have you ever tried any of these foundations? Which one did you like more? 😉