Of all the Dior posts I do, this has to be the most epic one yet. There are so many new goodies this season that I spent all of yesterday photographing, testing, and writing—all to bring you this post for your viewing pleasure on the first day of September. You might want to go to the bathroom or grab a snack before you start reading, because what follows are loads of photos and swatches. There are some brilliant wins in there (yay, Diorblush Cheek Stick!) as well as products that almost, but didn't quite, win me over. Much, much more after the jump!
Of all the new products launching this season, my hands-down fave has to be the Diorblush Cheek Stick ($41), which is part of the fall 2015 Cosmopolite limited edition collection. Each one is about the size of a glue stick and boasts creamy, blend-able, very pigmented colour. I love how bright and flattering the shades are: 'Rosewood', for that no-makeup pink flush; 'Pink', a cool, light pink that would pair well with lipsticks with cool undertones; and 'Coral', a warm orange-y peach that complements similar lip hues. Plus, there's something immensely cheery and satisfying about having no blush brushes to wash (just dab on and blend with clean fingers), and drawing on your face with what's basically a giant twist-up crayon.
Cosmopolite is Peter Philips's first colour collection for Dior beauty as creative director, and one thing you'll notice as you read on is that—well, there is no discernible colour story. Cosmopolite is for the mysterious, sophisticated Dior woman who "plays by her own rules to suit her mood, her adventures and the time of day," and as such the products and colours are "a field of experimentation and creativity." An eclectic palette of paints for the canvas of her life, if you will.
As such, the Dior 5 Couleurs Cosmopolite eyeshadow palette in 'Exuberante' ($70) boasts a warm array of neutrals, gold, and a touch of blue as an accent colour. Note the playful Dior font embossed over the shadows.
By contrast, Dior 5 Couleurs Cosmopolite eyeshadow palette in 'Eclectic' ($70) is all plums and forest green with a silver accent colour. As with all of Dior's eyeshadow palettes, the quality and luxury signatures are all there: the colour pigments and blendability of the shadows themselves are top-notch; the applicators alternate between two standard swabs, a pointy swab, and a soft angled brush to create a variety of effects; and a little velvet pouch is included, to protect the compact on the go.
Eyeshadow diehards will adore Dior Addict Fluid Shadows ($36 each) for their long wear, innovative fluid formula, and vivid metallic hues. As a sporadic eyeshadow wearer who values the versatility of a palette though, I think $36 is a considerable amount to drop on a single shade. What's more, the fluid formula comes with a steep learning curve. It's harder to control than powder and has a tendency to drip. If you blend it too quickly, you end up wiping away most of it from your eyes. If you wait a few seconds too long, the formula sets and doesn't budge.
Ultimately, the trial and error might be worth it if these pretty shades are up your alley. I found the best technique was to dot on a bit of fluid shadow at a time with the brush-tipped applicator, and then tap the colour into the eyelids gently with clean fingertips to blur and blend it. Avoid swiping motions as that'll just move the fluid where you don't want it.
What would a seasonal makeup collection be without lip colours? Cosmopolite introduces 4 new shades of Dior Addict Fluid Stick ($42 each). 'Avant-Garde' (a warm beige) and 'Metamorphose' (not shown) are available this season only, while 'Chic' (a berry that reminds me of the 90s) and 'Versatile' (a pink balanced between warm and cool) are permanent additions to the Dior Addict Fluid Stick shade range. And if you need a refresher on why Dior Addict Fluid Sticks are incredible, refer to this post from March 2014.
Yay, lipstick! Or in this case, 3 limited-edition shades of Rouge Dior ($42), one of my all-time favourite lipsticks for its pigmented colour and creamy texture. This is literally one of the few pigmented lipsticks I've tried that feels—and wears—like a lip balm, so it's comfortable all day even for someone who suffers from dry lips like I do.
The three shades: 'Continental', a day-to-night medium berry; 'Unique', a Marsala-esque hue that looks intimidatingly brown in the tube, but goes on with a hint of deep wine; and 'Nouvelle Femme', a light pink. All three, it should be noted, make me nostalgic for the 90s, when I thought brown and berry lipstick was the height of style. They're also wildly flattering against a fair Asian skintone.
You know what else makes me nostalgic for the 90s? The limited-edition Dior Vernis Gel Shine ($31 each) nail polishes. The colours remind me of the sorts of shades I used to ogle as a teenager reading Seventeen; they're not exactly new, but they feel very right now.
I take back what I said yesterday about doing one last bright mani. Instead, I can't wait to dress my digits in 'Miroir' (fluid, pigmented silver), 'Cosmopolite' (a warm berry and a permanent addition to the Dior Vernis Gel Shine family), 'Darling Blue' (indigo with a hint of shimmer), and 'Metropolis' (khaki-grey). The subdued, sophisticated vibe of these shades will complement my new black suede ankle boots and neutrals-heavy fall wardrobe perfectly.
The all-new Dior Fix It 2-in-1 Prime & Conceal ($40) is on counters starting today and available in three shades (dark, medium, and light). The multi-tasker can be used on eyes, face, or lips, and has a clear primer at its core surrounded by a ring of tinted concealer.
When I first saw Dior Fix It, I was reminded of Benefit Fake-Up Undereye Hydrating Concealer, which has concealer in the middle surrounded by a clear hydrating ring. However, Dior Fix It has a more powdery, matte finish thanks to the primer and slightly more coverage. Also, major kudos on the stunning white packaging—it's reminiscent of Dior Lip Glow's translucent pink case and so pretty that you'll want to whip out this concealer for touch-ups.
Last but not least is Dior Sourcils Poudre Powder Eyebrow Pencil ($33). It's not really a new launch as it's been around since 1991, but there are new shades being added to the range permanently this fall, and with full, strong brows still trending, my introduction to this new-to-me product couldn't be more timely. This is not your average brow pencil: the core is actually a compressed powder that creates a soft, full effect rather than a hard-edged pencil stroke. There's a colour to match every hair hue and each pencil comes with its own Dior-branded sharpener.
The only bummer about Dior Sourcils Poudre is that the spoolie brush on the other end is kind of stiff and scratchy. I'd need a brow brush to groom brows and a small angled brush to blend out the powder instead—but that defeats the convenience of having a spoolie on the end, doesn't it? If anyone at Dior is listening, please put a softer spoolie brush on the end and you'll have the perfect Lazy Girl Approved brow pencil.
Phew, we've finally reached the end! I told you there was a lot of ground to cover. Cheek sticks, eyeshadows, new lip colours, 2-in-1 primer/concealers, brow pencils, nail polishes...Did you see anything to add to your fall beauty wishlist?
P.S. For more tips on how to use the Fluid Shadows and Sourcils Poudre brow pencils, check out this tutorial video made by Dior and blogger Hanneli.
And there's more beauty inspo this way...
No comments