Let's get one thing straight here: The Dior Holiday 2015 State Of Gold limited edition collection (available on counters now) isn't about what a beauty lover needs, but what she wants. Does a beauty lover really need another red or fuchsia matte lipstick, or a plum nail polish? There's nothing revolutionary here in terms of colours and finishes, but there is a lot that's covetable and I'll go into all the reasons why after the jump!
First, if you've never seen the gold lipstick case that the Diorific Mat lipsticks ($45 each) come in, it is the epitome of elegance and decadence—especially if you're pulling it out of a designer clutch for a touch-up at a holiday dinner party. The finish may be matte, but the creamy, ultra-emollient texture feels like lip balm thanks to the formula's three nourishing oils. The finish is a powdery, velvety matte with dimension depending on how the light hits it.
Holiday collections are usually all about the dramatic red or plum lip, and there's plenty of drama to be had with the Diorific Mat lipsticks in the form of 'Fantastique' (the sort of face-brightening, ultra-flattering fuchsia I like for cool-toned gals) and 'Fabuleuse' (a classic velvety red). However, there are two subtler shades with wear-year-round, all-day-everyday potential if you're into something softer: 'Radieuse' (a soft, ingenue-approved "like your lips but better" pink) and 'Fascinante' (a darker dusty rose). Again, if you're a hardcore lipstick hoarder like I am, these aren't shades you really need per se. But put them in those gold tubes and they're shades you're going to want.
Also of note: the limited-edition Dior Addict Gloss ($34) in 'Sparkle' (a sparkly golden peach) and 'Cygne Noir' (a sparkly mauve). Very pretty, very sheer, very lipgloss-y. Personally though, I'm more into the better colour pigments and non-sticky finish of Dior Rouge Brillant lipglosses and the ultra-shiny, newly reformulated Dior Addict lipsticks.
Compared to previous years, the limited-edition Dior 5 Couleurs eyeshadow palettes ($70) have taken a subtler approach to the gold motif. The centre shades are warm gold or peach, but the surrounding shades are an eclectic, complemenary mix in a variety of finishes. The pop of colour in the 'Blazing Gold' is cranberry, while 'Eternal Gold' features a muted khaki green as its colour accent. Either palette would be a lot of fun for a colour-infused, non-traditional smoky eye, and I love the zigzag stripe embossing across the shades.
And finally, the nail polishes. Dior is excellent at the limited-edition special effects top coats, and if you only spring for one nail lacquer from the State of Gold collection, it should be Diorific Vernis 'State of Gold' ($33), an ultra-fine gold and silver shimmer. The press materials advise dabbing this directly on nails instead of brushing it for a concentrated glitter effect.
The other shades are par for the course for a holiday collection: 'Passion' (classic red), 'Gris-Or' (a gold-grey pearl), 'Mystère' (plum). Christmas bauble-like bottles, superior Dior formula, plus Dior's infamous densely bristled, paddle-shaped brush that creates a perfect mani and cuticle lines every time. Yep, these nail polishes pretty much win at everything.
The Dior Holiday 2015 State Of Gold Collection officially kicks off holiday content season! So...see anything you or someone else might like?
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