Dior Holiday 2013 Collection - Golden Winter

Yesterday we looked at the YSL Parisian Night collection and today we are continuing this season's obsession with Parisian-inspired holiday collections.  Dior has released the Golden Winter collection, a group of holiday products that are inspired by the gold grandeur of Versailles.  Nearly every surface in Versailles is covered in gold or mirrors, this was grand palace of the royal family before the French Revolution and one of the most visited places in the city today.  I have not yet been to Versailles but have seen many pictures of the beauty and splendor of the buildings and grounds, I want to visit Versailles very much and this collection from Dior has me very excited!

I am not sure how much of this collection will work for my cool pink-toned skin, gold tones (with the exception of eye makeup) tend not to be flattering on me.  I might not be attracted to as many products from Golden Winter as I was from the YSL collection yesterday but I love the idea of this collection and it is time for us to start checking it out.

Dior's holiday collection!

5 Couleurs Eye Palette - Dior reinvents the 5 Couleurs legend.  True to the bold colour creation from the House of Dior, each harmony explores a unique world of colour. Based on a central shade, the signature of the palette, 4 accessory shades are used to create a multi-faceted look.  Like a couture wardrobe for the eyes, 5 Couleurs gives free rein to your creativity to achieve custom makeup results. Dior has also created two ready-to-wear looks for the eyes—natural and sophisticated—based on the central shade. 
- Golden Flower - shades of golds, bronzes, and roses
- Golden Snow - shades of grays, purples, and pinks

Diorblush - The iconic blush from the House of Dior: the new colour accessory for face makeup with style. 
Diorblush boasts a wide palette of shades available in 4 colour groupings (pink, red, coral and nude) and 3 finishes (iridescent, matte, satiny). Red, pink, coral and nude—an explosion of colour for the finishing touch to your makeup look.
- Gold Addict - warm deep rose with subtle gold shimmer
- My Rose - cool deep rose with a matte finish

Diorific Haute Couture Lipstick - Diorific, the legendary lip accessory with an Haute Couture finish, holds the signature of Dior glamour in its jewel-like gold case.  A unique formula in rich shades with a luminous, long-lasting matte finish and perfectly shaped and defined lips to create a captivating, sophisticated look.
- Diva – ruby red cream
- Etoile – frosted beige satin
- Joy – neutral glossy pink
- Royale – rose gold shimmer
- Winter – warm raspberry cream
- Midnight – fuchsia cream

Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss - More than just a gloss, Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss is a lip plumper and gloss all in one.  For the first time at Dior, an Ultra-Gloss with a hydra-plumping texture that offers 3 benefits: Ultra-Plumping:  +14% immediate volume. Its plumping formula gives lips a supple, plump shape bursting with freshness; Ultra-glossy: 97% of women say lips are glossed with an incredibly thin and easy-wearing mirror-shine film; Ultra-hydrating: 6 hours of continuous, deep moisturisation for smoothed, plumped lips.
- Enchanted Rose - deep rose cream with silver shimmer
- Pink Fantasy - pale sheer pink with gold shimmer

Diorific Vernis Nail Lacquer - Ultra-shiny, long wearing and sensational gel shape… Discover the new Dior Vernis range: alluring shades that team true colour with professional results and a new expert brush that makes it easy to achieve that "just-stepped-out-of-the-salon" finish.
- Winter – milky pink with lots of gold shimmer
- Marylin – ruby red cream
- Royale – pure fuchsia cream
- Midnight  – vibrant plum with lots of silver shimmer

I like this collection a lot but I do think that I prefer the YSL collection over this one.  I preferred the YSL collection because it contained a wider range of lip products but I do prefer the eye makeup palettes contained in the Dior collection.  I will be purchasing products from both of these collections but I do think that I will end up with more from the YSL collection.  I think my biggest issue with the Dior collection is that so many of the products are loaded with shimmer and this limits my ability to make them work for more occasions than just going out at night.  I understand that holiday makeup is supposed to be about dressing up and having fun however it can be very hard to work many of these shades into more subtle makeup looks. 

One of my favorite aspects about Dior collections is the special packaging, this brand always has the best packaging and product presentation but what is contained on the inside has doesn't always live up to expectations.  This is a brand that has some of the hugest variances in quality and pigmentation, an issue that I would love to see get sorted out because I would buy more from them if the products were of a more consistent quality. 

I would like the 5 Couleurs Eye Palette in Golden Flowers, this is a pretty palette with warm shimmering tones that will complement my blue eyes.  I should be able to use these shades well past this holiday season and they should be able to work with many of the shades that I already love in my Urban Decay Naked Palettes.  I also want the Diorblush in the matte pink shade, this is one of the most wearable pieces of this whole collection and I don't wear shimmer on my face if I am doing a dramatic eye or lip look.  I like the Diorific lipsticks in Diva, Joy, and Midnight but I can pass on the others.  None of the lip glosses are impressive to me and I am not interested in any of the nail polishes.  I wanted to like the nail polishes because the packaging is so pretty but the shades are pretty generic and I don't love any of them.

Dior isn't one of my favorite brands and I haven't fond any products or collections to change this around.  This company does packaging very well but the products and formulas are all over the place and I haven't been in love with any of their past few seasonal collections. 

photo courtesy of Dior

Dior Fall 2013 Collection - Mystic Metallics

I pretty much have my fall makeup shopping well under way and have a solid list in hand while making a few last minute decisions as to which other products I might need to add to my long shopping list.  I am finishing up the fall collections and have less than five more to round out it all out.  Today we are looking at the last big collection for this season, the fall collection from Dior is all about metallic hues for all facial features and promises to contain all kinds of beautiful makeup shades.  I am looking forward a deep charcoal metallic eye shadow and maybe a matching eye liner, I will have some more shopping to do after this collection!

Mystic Metallics contains quite a few top rated products and the new eye shadow palettes are among them.  Dior is one product line that I prefer the eye makeup products over the lip products and this is a rare occurrence for me since I love lipsticks and lip glosses more than any other type of makeup.  I think I own less than five lip products from this company so I will want to add more lipsticks from Dior to my collection after viewing the newest from this company. 

I can't find a collection description from Dior so I will try and sum up the collection theme myself before digging into the products and shades.  This collection focuses on strong eye makeup and most (if not all) of the shades are rich metallic jewel tones.  Dior provides nail shades to match the metallic eyes and lips take a back seat in neutral tones. 

Dior's Mystic Metallic collection!

Dior Blush -  Dior's legendary blush returns with a new texture formulated to blend with your skin, leaving you with a weightless veil of color.  This product will be available in 13 shades that will be grouped into the following families: Pink, Red, Coral, and Beige.

Mystic Metallics 5 Couleurs Eye Palette - Dior reinvents the 5 Couleurs legend with the Couture Palette that gives free rein to your creativity to achieve custom makeup results. True to the bold color creation from the House of Dior, each harmony explores a unique world of color. It's designed with a central shade, the signature of the palette, and four accessory shades that are used to create a multifaceted look. Each boasts a wide variety of textures and shades with a host of effects ranging from matte and satiny to iridescent and ultra-shimmery.
- #384 Belle Etoile - hues of blue and green
- #864 Constellation - hues of silver and purple

3 Couleurs Glow Palette - Dior reinvents the metallic eye with 3 Couleurs, an eyeshadow trio with shades in varying effects and textures to provide infinite, easy, custom-made metallic eyes. The palette features a sliding lid that opens to reveal an innovative, pop-up mirror. Inside, an ultra-smooth base prepares the eyelid while matte and iridescent shades provide ready-to-wear eye looks, from simple to glamorous.
- #751 Silver Glow - trio of silver shades

3 Couleurs Smoky Palette - Dior reinvents the smoky eye with 3 Couleurs, an eyeshadow trio with shades in varying effects and textures to provide infinite, easy, custom-made smoky eyes. The palette features a sliding lid that opens to reveal an innovative, pop-up mirror. Inside, an ultra-smooth base prepares the eyelid while matte and iridescent shades provide ready-to-wear eye looks, from simple to glamorous.
- #381 Smoky Blue - trio of navy and blue shades

Diorshow Fusion Mono Eye Shadow - In a single step, Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow creates multidimensional contrasts for a professional makeup effect. Its unique cushiony gel-foam texture brightens your eyes with faceted, long-lasting color and a weightless finish.
- #001 Lune - pure white
- #381 Milenium - deep charcoal
- #661 Meteore - medium bronze
- #821 Chimere - medium pink
- #881 Hypnotique - deep silver plum

DiorLiner Eyeliner - DiorLiner, Dior's automatic, total-control pen eyeliner, delivers precise contouring and a flawlessly clean line. Its click-action applicator with a soft, tapered brush deposits just the right amount of fluid on your lids, guaranteeing an even line in just one stroke.
- #888 Plum - deep plum

Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick - Dior Addict Extreme combines vibrant color intensity with the perfection of luminous shine. Extreme, almost breathtaking shades make lips glow with radiant shine in vibrant colors with dazzling pure pigments.Twelve shots of color, from the most daring pinks to nude beiges, make a bold statement.
- #369 Mystic - plum
- #546 Gris Gris - beige

Dior Addict Gloss - Straight from the runway, new Dior Addict Gloss features a featherweight formula with a flash-plumping, spotlight-shine effect. Hyaluronic spheres keep lips smooth and moisturized while mirror-like micropearls reflect light in all directions for a dazzling finish. The package is tall and sleek with a Lucite® top that mirrors the nano-spotlight effect. The precision brush applicator makes for effortless, perfect application every time.
- #364 Charm - mauve
- #981 Ensorcelante - plum

DiorShow Blackout Mascara - Diorshow Black Out Mascara combines the spectacular volume and power of khôl black. Its XXL brush deposits a khôl-effect texture on and between lashes to create intense and mysterious smoky eyes.

DiorShow Iconic OverCurl Mascara - Dior brings you the latest chapter in the Diorshow mascara adventure inspired by the big-screen eyes of movie-star icons. The mascara is designed with an incurved brush, modeled after professional eyelash curlers, that delivers extreme curl and a stretch-effect formula for spectacularly shaped lashes.

Dior Vernis - Dior Vernis Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer is the first couture gel-effect nail polish, featuring an advanced formula that provides you with glass-like shine and extended wear. Each shade is created with special pigments that give off vibrant, intense color and a new precision brush that provides the perfect amount of polish in a single sweep. The Nail Lacquer is easily removed with nail polish remover.
- #382 Destin - shimmering silver pink
- #992 Galaxie - deep plum cream

This is a pretty broad collection so I am going to start narrowing down my favorites from it.  I really love the eye makeup look on the model so I will be starting with the 3 Couleurs Glow eye palette.  I will then add the 5 Couleurs in the silver shade and then the single eye shadows in the white and charcoal shades.  I love Dior mascaras and this will be the perfect time for me to add a few more to my collection and round out the eye makeup look that this collection can create.  I am only really excited about the eye makeup pieces of this collection, I could easily skip over the few lip and cheek shades that were offered with this collection.  This is one of the best collections for eye makeup this season but I can't say that it is one of the best overall since the rest of the shades are a bit weak.

We are almost done with the fall collections and will be wrapping them up in the next two weeks.  After that fall will really be arriving and I will be getting ready to show off all my new makeup looks!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Dior Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet

I have been playing around with a new fragrance that I received a few samples of on my last Sephora orders, the past two orders that I made I ordered the same perfume samples from since nothing else was interesting to me.  Earlier this spring is the first time that I had seen the newest version of the classic Miss Dior perfume, I believe that I have seen another version of the fragrance when I was graduating college and that version was sweeter instead of the more musky original from Dior.  Blooming Bouquet is the newest version and it is my favorite between the new versions and the original.

I first tried a sample of this fragrance late last month with a Sephora order and then picked it as a sample again when I ordered at the very beginning of this month.  I loved this fragrance when I first wore it but later came to decide that I couldn't make a good purchase decision until I had worn it several times.  Why?  To make a long story very short...this lovely floral fragrance has no lasting power and fades much too quickly for my taste.  Quite a change from the very strong original version of this fragrance and this makes me wonder how much the original was revamped and watered down to create the Blooming Bouquet fragrance.

"Discover Blooming Bouquet, the newest interpretation of Miss Dior. Created for an irresistibly charming and flirtatious woman, Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet embodies the couture spirit of Dior in a sparkling and sensual essence. Unfurling a delicate blend of Sicilian orange essence to reveal a tender floral heart, the fragrance unveils notes of pink peony and Damascus rose. As a finishing touch, white musks softly envelop this light and sensual floral bouquet.  The bottle is a true work of art, expertly showcasing Dior’s savoir faire. The houndstooth pattern made famous by Christian Dior is embossed on the base, while a sleek metallic bow adorns the neck.", states the Sephora website.

The Sephora website goes on to further describe the notes that make up this fragrance.  "Sicilian Orange Essence, Pink Peony, Damascus Rose, White Musks.", is what make up this lovely fragrance and the combination is what makes me love it.  I love the mixture of peony and rose and this is the combination that is contained in one of my favorite fragrances (Stella McCartney) and I am very excited to have this combination in a fragrance that I can wear in the spring and summer.  The note combination should have made this fragrance a must buy for me.

So why did I need two sample bottles of this fragrance to make a decision?  I love the notes of this fragrance and I love the way that it develops on my skin but it has no lasting power.  There seems to be no base to this fragrance and therefore it fades in less than two hours so I need to keep reapplying it throughout the day.  To add insult to injury...Dior doesn't even offer this fragrance in a rollerball format that I could keep it in my bag and quickly apply it throughout the day.  I would have to drag the perfume bottle around with me all throughout the day and this is not what I had in mind.  I drag enough around with me everyday and I don't need to add a bottle of perfume to my massive collection of binders and books.  If this perfume was offered in a rollerball, I would be a bit less irritated but I have to buy the perfume bottles.

This version of Miss Dior is the spring version of Stella for me but I am annoyed with how fast the fragrance fades and I have still not yet decided if I will buy this fragrance or not.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Dior Instant Gentle Cleansing Face Oil

I have been using the Korres Milk Cleansing Face Wash for the past few months now and really thought that I had changed my preference to cream face cleansers over any other kind.  Normally, I was a foam and gel face wash person but I have used quite a few quality cream formulas over the years and never really declared my preference until I worked with the Korres formula.  I now might have to turn all of my thoughts on their heads after Sephora sent me a huge sample of the brand new Dior Instant Gentle Cleansing Face Oil and now I have ordered a large sized bottle for when I run out of my Korres formula.

I wasn't shopping for a new face wash when I read my email with the offer from Sephora but since I was going to order soon anyway, I decided to order right away and add the huge free sample into my shopping cart.  I was glad that I acted right away because this was completely out of stock within a few hours of my receiving the email.  I haven't used many oil face washes over the years, just one from Nude which I liked but never repurchased.  For many years, face oils were only available from Asian brands and the most famous was the formula from Shu Uemura but many varied brands have released their versions of the oil formula over the past two years and I think that I will spend some more time trying them out. 

The new product from Dior is their first oil face wash and the first skincare product that I have used from this company.  As of right now, this product is exclusive to Sephora but I am not sure how long that will be the case. 

"A gentle cleansing oil for the face and eye area.  Suitable for all skin types, this cleansing oil preserves the skin’s natural hydration for outstanding cleansing results. Even though it’s an oil, it leaves no greasy residue. Formulated with Pure Lily Extract, which is present in Dior’s Instant Cleansing Water, it helps inhibit skin inflammation, leaving the skin looking soft and supple."

This oil is best used on wet skin, about a quarter-sized drop was needed for me to get a full lather in my hand and have enough to cover my entire face.  Face oils are considered to be the best kind of face washes to remove layers of makeup and I tested this theory.  I used this product and then dried my face off and used the Clinique face toner to see much excess makeup residue was left over.  There was a very small amount of product on the cotton ball, much less than when I use some formula cream cleansers.  This product performs very well in the cleansing and makeup removal aspect, I refuse to not use a separate eye makeup remover so I cannot comment about how it performs to remove any type of eye makeup.

The oil face wash combines through cleansing with hydration of the skin, this cleanser does not leave my skin feeling dry or tight and I love this.  I have had quite a few gel cleansers that I feel like I need to immediately use a hydrator afterwards or my face feels like it will crack open and off.  I have not once had this feeling yet with the use of this product and this makes me very happy.  I think that I will be using this type of formula in the fall and winter and then into the early spring.  This wash from Dior is a present to my dry, sensitive skin!

photo courtesy of Dior

Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara

Last month, Dior announced that they would be releasing a new version of the best selling Diorshow Iconic Mascara, adding yet another selection to their award-winning mascara line.  Right after the announcement occured, Sephora was offering this mascara as a Beauty Insider sample for a very limited amount of time, I ordered mine right after I got the email from Sephora and I believe that it pretty much sold out right after that.  I have been using my sample for about three weeks now and I am much looking forward to the product itself coming out and then being able to order a full size tube.  The sample tube will be finished in less than two weeks and I hope that I can hold out until the full size is available.  I was so excited when I got this sample in the mail and I hope that Sephora continues this trend so that I can try really exciting products before they release. 

The original version of Diorshow Iconic is a favorite mascara of mine, it gives huge volume and fully separates lashes, creating a very attractive fan of full lashes.  I couldn't find any faults with the original version and I have been in love with it for several years now and then when I heard about the new version, I got even more excited to see if this version could actually improve on the original!

"A revolutionary mascara with a curved brush that offers spectacular volume and curling power.  Create glamorously curled lashes day after day. Inspired by professional curling irons, the curved brush styles every lash from bottom to top. High-precision ingredients provide intense definition and hold without clumping or smudging. Creating instant oversized volume and curl, this evolutionary formula nourishes your lashes with a unique lipid complex that strengthens and smoothes for long-lasting vitality."

"Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara embodies a host of key technologies. Its K-Polymer Formula combines lifting, coating, and fixing polymers for instantly dramatic curves and long-lasting wear. Its waxes and oils offer a volumizing complex that boosts adherence, coverage, and smoothing for a dramatic lift. A lipid complex of abyssinv oil and pseudo-ceramid strengthens lashes to prevent breakage, while plant nectar boosts the development of keratin, reinforcing lashes.  An instrumental study that used before-and-after photos to measure lashes upon makeup application found the following increases: +53% in volume and +111% in curl.  In clinical studies on 31 subjects observing naked lashes after four weeks of daily application found the following increases: +31% in volume and +33% in curl."

I feel like I need to say this yet again...mascara is not made to curl the lashes by itself, it can help to hold the curl or make the lashes more bendable to curling after the mascara application.  I did use a separate lash curler with this product and I could see huge different in lahses from before I curled them and then applied the product.

This mascara line is touted as one of the best volumizing formulas on the market and I absolutely agree.  The new version of Diorshow Iconic does not disappoint and will be another great addition to the Dior mascara line up.  One coat of this mascara is perfect for the daytime work environment or night class but I have used two coats when I am getting dressed up or want a bit more drama for the nighttime.  This mascara delivers extreme colume and I loved how much my lash volume grew, this is one of the best volumizing formulas that I have ever used.  This mascara keeps the curl in my lashes longer and better than many other formulas and therefore I do really like the aspect of this product that claims to hold the curl better than the original.  I love how this formula holds the curl all day long and my lashes don't start drooping within a few hours of application.  In addition to all the above attributes, this formula lasts all day long and doesn't flake off throughout the day.

I actually have no drawbacks for this formula, even the removal of the product is very easy (when using eye makeup remover) and this is rare for a mascara formula.  I am reading the clinical trial results as though the formula provides a long term effect and the results will actually be an improvment in the bare lashes but I am not quite sure if I am reading this correctly.  Did I notice a huge improvment in my bare lashes?  No I can't say that I have but I didn't take before and after pictures during my using of this product.  I can state that my lashes are not breaking as much with this formula as I have noticed with other formulas.  Also I haven't seen as many lashes falling out with the use of this formula, there were no bald patches in my lash line (thank God!) and I guess that my lash line has improved and become more healthy in this respect. 

I really do love this mascara formula and I will be using my sample until I can get no more product out of the tube.  By then I am hoping that the full size tube will be out and I can order myself a full size tube.  This is another great addition to the Diorshow Mascara line up and it makes me love this company even more!!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Dior Spring 2013 Collection - Cherie Bow

Today we looking at the one of the collections that I have been the most excited about for this spring season, Dior always creates a great spring collection but the photos that I have seen from the collection for this spring look ever better than ever.  Spring collections are always the best from Dior and this is the time of the year that I normally purchase items from this line, I haven't been purchasing much from Dior lately but you never know what will change after looking at this collection.  Cherie Bow is one of the first spring collection photos that I saw before the holidays and this is one the collection that I got super excited for from the first photo that I saw.  The Cherie Bow Palette in this collection is one of those iconic products that I will crave for the packaging but I hope that the product inside is just as wonderful as the outside. 

Cherie Bow is an iconic collection from Dior, this collection contains all the pink shades that will be beautiful this spring season and the Cherie Bow palette will be a love of mine.  I am turning again to the Nordstrom website for the details of this collection and I am wondering how many times a day that I now visit this website and I have loaded the IPhone app to my phone so I can look at all the beauty products from wherever I am. 

"Inspired by The House of Dior's iconic symbol, the bow, this year's spring look exudes femininity, sophistication and sensuality with a playful twist."  This company has had bows on many of its accessories and clothing for this season, especially some of the beautiful dresses that went down the runway at Spring Fashion Week.  Bows are not the way that I accessorize my hair but I would like to try a piece or two of jewelry with a bow on it, or perhaps a bag or shoe that it decorated with a flirty bow...

Here is the Cherie Bow collection!

Cherie Bow Palette - Inspired by The House of Dior's iconic symbol, the bow, this season's look exudes femininity, sophistication and sensuality with a playful twist.  Enclosed in the soft, pink-and-white enamel compact are a trio of pink and grey eye shadows, a black liner, nude shimmering gloss and two applicators.

Cherie Bow 5 Couleurs Eye Palette - Inspired by The House of Dior's iconic symbol, the bow, this season's look exudes femininity, sophistication and sensuality with a playful twist.  Dior's best-selling eye palette offers endless possibilities in a seductive range of rich, versatile colors designed for easy application and long wear.  Beauty tip: Use the oval wand to apply the lightest shade to the upper part of the inner eyelid, then blend the darkest shade along the lash line. Shade the outer brow with one of the remaining colors. For more intensity, use a fourth color under the lashes.
- Ballerine 724 - medium rose/pale pink/deep warm charcoal/medium bronze/snow white
- Charmeuse 854 - pale pink/medium pink/deep rose/deep black/medium warm pink

Cherie Bow Nail Lacquer - Inspired by The House of Dior's iconic symbol, the bow, this year's spring look exudes femininity, sophistication and sensuality with a playful twist with Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer in a rosy pink and soft dove grey to finish the look.
- Gris Trianon 306 - medium dove gray cream
- Rosy Bow 355 - medium rose pink cream

Cherie Bow Dior Twin Set Eye Shadow - Inspired by The House of Dior's iconic symbol, the bow, this season's look exudes femininity, sophistication and sensuality with a playful twist.  The duo eyeshadow pens create the perfect flirty eye. On one end a creamy pencil that can be used as a shadow or liner and on the other a blending tip to apply the shimmering eyeshadow housed inside the cap.
- Ballerina Pink 840 - medium cool rose
- Grey Sigh 060 - deep charcoal gray

Cherie Bow Addict Lipstick - Inspired by The House of Dior's iconic symbol, the bow, this year's spring look exudes femininity, sophistication and sensuality with a playful twist.  A collection of new shades compliment the look from soft coral to a punchy pink.
- Candide 457 - soft pink coral cream
- Charmante 437 - bright pink coral cream

I love all the pinks in this collection and this is one of my favorites of this season!  I love that Cherie Bow Palette and I hope that I can still find this product at either Sephora or at one of the counters.  If it comes down to it, I will order it from Dior but I was hoping that I would be able to see and play with the tester before I purchase it.  I will have to see where I can find this product because this is the one product that I really, really want this season. 

After I hunt down the Cherie Bow Palette then I want to begin picking up a few other items from this collection.  I am seeing myself doing several different pink and rose eye looks that I will want to create this spring and then I will be topping them off with silver and charcoal eye liner hues.  I would like to try both of the 5 Couleurs Eye Shadow Palettes at the counters and then decide which compact has the best texture and wear.  These palettes have been all over the place with quality over the past few years so I will decide which one will be the best for me after I try them both out.  Next up on the eye makeup list is the new Twin Set Eye Shadow in the pink shade, this is a very unique product and I can't wait to see how pigmented of a eye makeup look it provides.

To finish off this collection, I want both of the nail polish shades.  I can't even begin to imagine how large my nail polish collection is going to become this spring season.  I can skip over both the Addict Lipstick shades, the coral will not be very flattering to my skin tone and I would be better off going after a cool blue pink shade from this lipstick line.

This collection does not disappoint and this is one of my favorites from this season, I cannot wait for the Cherie Bow Palette!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Beauty Loves Week Day Six - Dior Diorshow Iconic Mascara

With my love of mascara and my obsession with buying and trying new formulas, it will come to no surprise that my Beauty Loves Week includes one of the best formulas that I have ever used.  And I have used a lot of mascaras, I rarely buy the same one twice and always pounce on whatever is new and top rated (from all kinds of companies).  I am very picky with mascaras and reject several for every one that I end up loving.  One the few that I fell madly in love with is the Dior Diorshow Iconic formula from Dior.  Diorshow mascaras have been best selling and top rated formulas ever since the original formula was released and I think that each update to the formula just gets better and better.  Iconic is my favorite of the mascaras and the one that I would repurchase any time that I need mascara. 

This is one of my newer loves from this week, I first tried this formula in 2009 and have bought it several times since then.  I have tried the original Diorshow and the Iconic formulas and I have just received a Beauty Insider sample from Sephora of the new Iconic Overcurl formula.  I cannot wait to try this new formula and to see if I have another mascara love.  More to come on this one!

The Diorshow Mascaras are so famous that Sephora has an entire area on the Dior area of their website devoted just to describing and comparing these award-winning formulas.  I'm waiting for them to get a display with blinking lights in the store. 

Sephora's introduction to the overall Diorshow formula line, "Born from the hands of artists, these backstage essentials are responsible for punctuating many of the beauty statements you see on the runway and red carpet. These mascara legends are also adored for their ability to turn lash aspirations into an everyday attainable and luxurious reality. Create your own spotlight-worthy results with these standout formulas that continue to push the definition of fierce fringe."  All of the formulas of this mascara are great but I want to focus on Diorshow Iconic because this one is my personal favorite.

"A mascara with an innovative oblique brush that curls and defines lashes.  Diorshow Iconic Mascara is the latest in Dior's dazzling range of best-selling mascaras. Created backstage for fashion shows and celebrity red carpet events, the Iconic mascara features an oblique cut brush that gives an extra lash-curling effect. With its long, skinny teeth, the plastic comb brush allows you to precisely coat each lash one-by-one-creating a long, separated fan of lashes that usually takes the skill of a makeup artist. The extra-hold formula provides a 24-hour-curl with 100% smudge-proof results.  Inspired by the tailoring technique of cutting fabric on the bias to create maximum curve, the Iconic brush features soft silicone bristles that spiral around the stem to lift, curl, and separate every lash."

What makes this mascara so special?  This formula just does it all and performs well in every single aspect.  To start with, the brush is so very unique, the plastic comb helps to define each individual lash and prevents against clumping.  I can load this mascara on and clumping is never an issue, unlike many other volumizing formulas of mascara.  Diorshow mascaras are all volumizing and help to create the massive, fake-looking lashes that I crave.  This formula is set apart by how well it volumizes but doesn't run a clumping risk like the original formula.  Iconic holds the curls better than most formulas and helps to make my eyes look huge and wide awake.  Many ladies will layer their mascaras to combine the best of both formulas but I really believe that this formula will give you great volume, curl, definition, and length.  This one formula will do it all and without flaking off or creating a mess when you remove it at the end of the day.

I love Iconic and I now have such high hopes for Iconic Overcurl.  Let's see if I find a new mascara love in the next few weeks!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Dior J'Adore

J'Adore is one of the best selling fragrances for the house of Dior and has been one of the most popular fragrances on the market for the past few years.  I know many ladies that wear this fragrance all the time and while it smells very nice on most of them, the fact that everyone owns this fragrance has made me not want to buy or wear it for the longest time.  I hate smelling like everyone else and that is the big reason why I never bought another bottle of Philosophy's Amazing Grace after I finished up my last bottle of it.  If I smell exactly like the person stasnding next to me, I often want to run to the other side of the room and stand somewhere else for the rest of the night.  Nothing personal against the user but I just hate having fragrasnce twins when I go out.

So why and how did I end up trying and wearing this scent?  On my last Sephora order, the sample selection was terrible and I just randomly picked any fragrance on the page that I didn't own or have some type of sample of already.  Realistically, if I try it one and hate it, I can just throw the rest of the sample vial away and it won't bother me at all.  I used it yesterday and today, it pains me to say this but I do understand why it is so very popular.  It is a lovely smelling white floral fragrance that isn't overpowering and won't offend anyone's nose.  Do I like it and how it smells on me?  Yes I do!

"Radiant, sensual, sophisticated, J'adore is a fragrance that celebrates the renaissance of extreme femininity and the power of spontaneous emotion with a brilliant bouquet of orchids, the velvet touch of Damascus plum, and the mellowness of amaranth wood.  For the confident, sensual woman who celebrates her femininity - this is Dior's golden girl."

The notes of the fragrance are: Mandarin, Champaca Flowers, Ivy, African Orchid, Rose, Violet, Damascus Plum, Amaranth Wood, Blackberry Musk.

I see that there is a rose note in the heart of this fragrance but I must say that I do not get any rose on my skin.  This is a rarity in itself, normally rose notes really bloom on my skin and will take the whole fragrance over.  On my skin, this fragrance is a light white floral.  Again this fragrance does not behave on my skin the way that the majority of white florals do, magnolia and tuberose notes normally come out so strong my skin that I really have to control when I wear them and how much of the fragrance I apply to my skin.  The African Orchid and Violet notes should b e very strong on me but they are more subtle and keep this fragrance much lighter than most white florals.

This is not a unique or amazing fragrance, you could very easily find another white floral from any company that would work just as well or even better in many cases.  This fragrance is very popular because it smells pretty and is light enough to not offend anyone around you.  Do I plan to buy a bottle of this?  Maybe but doubtful.  I haven't enough room on my dresser for the fragrances that I already own and don't need to buy anything that I do not really love.  I can't say that I would never buy this fragrance, it is a good choice for an office environment and would well during the spring and summer months since it is much lighter than many other white florals.  I will shelve my thoughts on buying a bottle of this until next spring and I will try it again and make a final decision then.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Dior Holiday 2012 Collection - Grand Bal

One of the first holiday collections that we began to see hints of early last fall but hadn't yet been released with the earliest group is the Grand Bal collection from Dior.  The nail polishes from this collection were a very early hit with bloggers and the beauty industry in general, quickly being featured in many magazines and on The Zoe Report.  When I first saw these nail polishes, no mention was made of them being part of the upcoming holiday collection however they look very much like traditional holiday shades so I assumed that this was the collection that they would be coming out in.  These polishes are not the traditional Dior Vernis, theya re completely separate product called Diorific Vernis and I will have to se how the quality compares to the original.  The original formula was very high quality and had many fans in the industry so I am excited to see what this formula is like.

In addition to the new nail polishes, this collection does contain a full range of products for every facial feature.  I see a fantastic palette to start us off on the right foot, the Grand Bal palette looks as though I could fall in love with this product and like I will want it as soon I see it.  I also see a full range of lip products and shades and we all know how closely I will be looking at the red shades in this collection. 

This collection is available right now on the Nordstrom website and I will be pulling all of my information and pictures from that website.  I am having some issues with the Dior website loading so I am not sure if any additional items are exclusive to the Dior website (in the past, multiple versions of the same collection have been available from all different sources and it is rather hard and costly to acquire every single piece of the collection - it is for major Dior lovers only!).  The collection description is, "Whimsical and playful masquerade balls embodied Christian Dior's love of surprise and elegance. Today, the House of Dior embodies that same sense of extravagant splendor with a golden holiday collection of limited edition items."

The Grand Bal holiday collection from Dior!

Grand Bal Eye and Lip Palette - The star this season is the Grand Bal Palette. An elegant gold clutch that houses a duo of dazzling gold and white eyeshadows, two shining lip glosses and a deep black eyeliner to accent the eyes.
- Eye Shadows - deep gold foil/medium silver foil
- Eyeliner - deep black
- Lip Gloss - sheer warm gold shimmer/deep red shimmer

Grand Bal 5 Couleur Eye Shadow Palette - Gold, black and pearly white shadows adorn the eyes this season with two limited-edition 5 Couleurs eyeshadow palettes.
- medium champagne shimmer/bright gold foil/medium taupe shimmer/deep bronze shimmer/deep cool brown with gold shimmer

Grand Bal Addict Ultra Gloss - Lips are dressed in sparkling gold and holiday red with two limited edition ultra-glosses. Wear them alone or over lipstick for a little shot of glamour.
- 774 Ceremony Red - medium red with gold shimmer
- 424 Lame Gold - sheer gold shimmer

Grand Bal Rouge Diorific Lipstick - A limited edition collection of precious Rouge Diorific lipsticks encased in vintage-inspired gold cases. Provides true, vibrant color and long-wearing results, making them the perfect accessory for any occasion.
- 038 Diva - deep true blue red cream

Grand Bal Diorific Le Vernis - To complement the Rouge Diorific Lipsticks are four limited-edition Diorific Vernis Nail Lacquers. The vibrant, high-shine nail lacquers are encased in precious glass bottles accented with gold toppers and leave your nails perfectly polished.
- 011 Lady - sheer shimmering white
- 207 Diorling - shimmering medium taupe
- 751 Marilyn - medium bue red cream
- 901 Diva - black with subtle silver shimmer

Grand Bal Golden Tattoos - This season, Dior presents a limited edition collection of precious golden temporary tattoos. Available in extremely limited quantities, the jewel-like creations, designed by Dior Jewelry Designer, Camille Miceli, are made using 24-carat gold leafing. Wear as a finishing touch or a complete look. Incredible cuffs, exquisite chain bracelets, playful charms and delicate rings adorn you skin for an evening of true extravagance. The ultimate in luxury, Dior presents the perfect accessory for the Dior Grand Ball.

The Golden Tattoos are the most unique product in this collection, they are not practical at all but they would be so much fun for the right occasion.  I don't know that I will have a holiday party this season that I will be getting that dressed up for but they would be great if I had a black tie party or some other equally important event.  I guess that I will skip over these this time around but I just wish that I had a reason to justify them to myself.

I like many of the color products but I was expecting a more unique product and shade range, many of these shades have already come out from several companies this holiday and I don't really see any single product that makes me want to head right to the Dior counter.  I am a tad disappointed though I know that Dior products sell out very quickly and I have rarely been able to get most of the items that I really love.  The Rouge Diorific shade in the red shade is lovely and I would like to own it but I can't say that I must own it since it isn't very unique.  I do own a lot of red lipsticks and feel that I own several of the exact same shades but that barely stops me from ordering and buying more almost every single season.  I have seen a bunch of great reds this season (Lancome and Chanel) and I will be adding some more to my collection but I can't say that I need the one introduced in this collection.

The new version of Le Vernis is only calling my name because the bottle is just so pretty, I don't need any of these shades but I just love that bottle so much and have been admiring it since I first saw it about two months ago.  If I only buy one shade, the deep black hue will at least fill a whole in my collection since I don't own a shimmering black hue.  I guess this is the only shade that I really must own in the whole collection.  The Grand Bal palette is lovely and it is the only other product that I am really considering buying.  Being practical, I know that I will have to search for this product since I can see this being the first item to really sell out.

I don't know if I am getting a bit jaded with all the holiday collections after a month or if some of them really just aren't that great this year.  I like many of the collections but there hasn't been that many items that I am considering must haves this season.  I have never been very excited for holiday collections overall since I feel that they all look almost exactly alike or only contain gifts.  I am over half way through so we will see if my outlook changes over the next three or four weeks or if I should just begin looking forward to spring...

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Dior Fall 2012 Collection - Golden Jungle

We have a few fall collections left and therefore we are going to end on a very high note for this season!  I am already seeing holiday stuff, both in the beauty world and nearly every single time that I go shopping.  I am very excited about all the Halloween candy and decorations that I am seeing but I am dreading the holidays that seem to be coming earlier and earlier every single year.  I have to head to Wal-Mart tommorrow morning for some grocery shopping and I can only imagine what I find there, a mixture of Halloween costumes and Christmas trees!

Golden Jungle is the fall collection from Dior, I saw hints of this collection all summer and then products from it were all over the fall fashion magazines.  I thought that I did this collection earlier in the summer but when I read over my list of companies that I had left to look at and this one wasn't crossed off so I decided to visit the Dior website right away and check out this collection.  I remember stalking the Dior website at the very beginning of my fall collection coverage and it wasn't up for the longest time so I may have put it on the back burner and then somehow forgot about it.  But now it is time to look at this collection and then decide what I need to pick up from it to round out my fall shopping.  Considering that I will start picking up some early favorites from the holiday collections by the middle of next month, I need to up with fall and then start getting my Sephora shopping list updated for the next group of seasonal collections!

The Golden Jungle eye shadow palette from this collection was in almost every single fall fashion magazine that I can remember and therefore that is wear I will be starting with this collection.  The Golden Jungle collection is all shades of neutrals and golds, shades that I love to wear on my eyes but I don't always like on my face or lips.  So I can envision picking up some eye makeup shades from this collection however I doubt that the lip shades will be anything for me bring home...

Here is the Golden Jungle collection from Dior!

Golden Jungle Palette - Essentials for radiant eyes and lips - Panther eye shadows and lip gloss.  In its precious case, the Golden Jungle palette captures the essence of the modern jungle: 3 assorted matte, pearly, iridescent pressed eye shadows in a panther motif to sculpt the eyes, and one gloss to enhance the radiance of the lips. 
- Golden Browns 002 - pale champagne/medium bronze/deep brown eye shadows and a medium nude lip gloss

Dior Vernis - Haute couleur,high lasting.  Never before has the colour of the new Dior Vernis displayed such lacquered and vibrant shine!  A cocktail of Shine and Sparkle Amplifying ingredients directs pigments and pearly particles to enhance light reflection tenfold.  Application is even easier with the new brush.  Dior Vernis also features a new chip-resistant formula that protects and embellishes the nails, day after day.
- Amazonia - dirty olive green khaki
- Bengale - deep rosy bronze

5 Couleurs Designer - All-in-one artistry palette.  Dior has created 5 Couleurs Designer,  an ultra-professional and totally new version of the mythic 5 Couleurs Palette.  Five different textures have been brought together in a single case to create eye shadow styles through layering.  1 Base - light, 2 Color - iridescent, 3 Shade - satinity, 4 Shine - pearlescent, 5 Liner - mat; represent the essential steps used by professional makeup artists to draw attention to the eyes and create ultra-graphic eye makeup looks.
- Khaki Design 308 - deep olive green/medium champagne/deep black/pale gold/medium cool bronze

Diorblush - Glowing color powder blush.  Dress your cheeks in color and light!  Dior presents the first blush that plays in color intensity and a variety of finishes to create a natural, healthy glow with a subtle sparkle.  A matte finish enhances the natural skin tone, while a pearly finish highlights the planes of the face.  Silky and lightly scented, this Couture blush comes in a wide range of colours to suit all skintones.
- Sugar and Spice 849 - matte medium bronze/shimmer medium bronze
- Sunkissed Cinnamon 639 - matte light bronze/shimmer light bronze

Dior Addict - Vibrant color, spectacular shine.  Lipstick, the ultimate fashion accessory. The new Dior Addict Lipstick is a declaration of love between beauty and style, between colour and couture, between Dior and its addicts.  44 shades for a catwalk effect.  Easy to wear yet impulsive, the essential Rouge Addict shades play on the excitement and fashion desires of the moment.  This completely new, high-shine sensorial formula is totally is totally addictive.  With 25% less wax than a classic lipstick, it contains instead an extraordinary reflecting gel.  The result is modern transparency, intense plumping effect, and a magnifying glass effect to intensify shine, plump the lips, and above all, enhance colour.
- Wild 646 - medium rosy nude
- Daring 952 - deep berry brown

The palette with the three eye shadows and one lip gloss in is one of my favorite pieces of the whole season, this palett eis still in stock on the Dior website so I hope that I can get my hands on it without any issues.  I will wear the shades in this palette all fall and then all year round since they are just perfect for my blue eyes and will work very well with many of the eye shadows that I already own.  I also would like to buy the 5 Couleurs Designer for the exact same reason, when Dior has a hit on their hands, I will want everything in the collection!  My only concern is that quality of the eye shadow palettes has been all over the place in the past and I don't want to be disappointed again, my policy with Dior products to fully research and play with them before I decide to buy them or not.  I will have to visit the counter and hope that I can leave with a bag full of fun products.

The rest of the collection is a total miss for...exactly as I knew it would be.  None of these browns will flatter my skintone but would be showstopping on someone with a warmer skintone than mine.  I will be skipping over these shades however I want to try the Diorblush formula in a different series of shades.

I can't believe it but I must accept reality...fall is ending and I am almost done with the fall collections and my thinking is shifting towards the holidays already!

photo courtesy of Dior

Dior 'Vernis Les Violets Hypnotiques - Shadow Nail Lacquer - Nordstrom Anniversary Event

Tonight we will quickly finish up my coverage of the Nordstrom Anniversary Event, I was going to cover it all yesteryday however the weather was not on my side and very heavy thunderstorms halted my blogging right in its tracks.  So we will finish up tonight with the newest products from Dior!

As I stated in my last post, I am going to write up a few posts of my favorite pieces of the Nordstrom Anniversary Event.  I have been most excited about the new color products from this event, I use this event to stock up on large sizes of skin and body products but I really look forward to many of the new and exclusive color offerings that come with this Event.  So far, we have looked at a brand new collection from MAC and a great set from NARS.  We now come to some great new polish shades from Dior, I have been waiting all summer to start collecting new polishes for fall and this will be a fantastic way to start shopping!

The polish collection is named Vernis Les Violets Hypnotiques, it is a range of violet and plum hues.  I have been collecting pinks for the spring and summer and now I think that I will be adding to my violet collection for the fall, I think that I only own only one or two deep purple jewel toned hues.  To further compliment these polish hues, Dior has released an eye palette and a lip gloss to match.  I will start with the polishes and then go right into the other shades.  I have been checking out plum and violet hues for my lips and eyes and I think that I have some major makeup shopping to do!

Here are the exclusive violet hues from Dior!

Vernis Les Violets Hypnotiques Nail Lacquer - Les Violets Hypnotiques is Dior's exclusive collection of hypnotic, elegant, and captivating purple nail lacquers.  Never before has the color of the new Dior Vernis displayed such lacquered and vibrant shine!  A cocktail of Shine and Sparkle Amplifying active ingredients directs pigments and pearly particles to enhance light reflection tenfold.  Once again, the array of enchanting shades created by Tyen reflect the spirit of Dior fashion shows.  Application is even easier with the new brush.  Dior Vernis also features a new chip-resistant formula that protects and embellishes the nails, day after day.
- Poison - a deeply enchanting purple
- Orchid - a sensual luminous plum
- Shadow - an intense, shimmering purple

Dior Extase Mascara - Magnify your lashes in a flash!  This plumping mascara visibly improves your lashes and delivers high-impact drama in a single stroke!  Featuring an exclusive dual-fiber tiered brush to define lashes, and an instant-volume formula containing exclusive Metamorphosis Powders that increase the size of your lashes 50% upon application, Spherical Black Pearl Pigments that wrap around each lash for 3D volume and a patented SR38 active ingredient that plumps lashes day after day!
- Plum - deep rich plum
Purple Revolution Eye Shadow Palette - Create the perfect smoky eye with a trio of shadow in a glamorously smoky violet harmony.  The innovative sliding palette reveals a soft, powdery base that perfectly prepares and colors the eye lid.  The eye shadow duo offers versatile effects like a matte finish for a natural, ready-to-wear style or a shimmering shadow for a couture finish.
- pale shimmering lilac/medium shimmering amethyst/deep satin plum

Addict Purple Revolution Ultra Gloss - Dior Addict Ultra Gloss features a featherweight formula with a flash-plumping, spotlight-shine effect.  Hyaluronic spheres keep lips smoother and moisturized, while mirror-like micro-pearls reflect light in all directions for a dazzling finish.  a shimmering lilac shade complements the look.
I love this eye shadow palette, this product will be a great base to help create a bright or deep purple eye this fall.  I haven't really purchased many purple shades lately and this palette will fill a huge shade gap in my collection.  I can use the light and medium toned shades right now in the summer months since bright eyes are popular and then just add the plum shade on the lashline come fall.  I think that this is one of my favorite pieces from the whole event.  I can skip over the mascara, I would rather buy this great formula in the black shade.  I didn't like Benefit's BadGal Plum Mascara so I don't see the point in buying another plum mascara shade.  I think that I will skip over the lip gloss too, I can't see myself making the purple lip gloss work.  A look of all purple hues would be too much for me and I don't know how I would pair the gloss with other makeup hues.

The nail polishes are the other product in this release that get me really excited.  I like all three of the shades but I think that Shadow is my favorite shade.  It is a very shimmery plum hue that I own nothing like.  I will be adding this shade to my polish collection!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Dior Summer 2012 Collection - Croisette Collection

It is the first full week of June and I am beginning to finish up with the summer collections and wrapping up the last little bit of summer makeup shopping.  At this point, I am more interested in summer skincare products and a few last fun colors to wear when going out at night.  One of the last few collections that I am really interested in purchasing from is the new Dior summer collection, Croisette Collection.  This collection contains a bunch of great eye palettes and some bright pops of color for the lips and nails.  Why is is that I am more attracted to the nail polishes than anything else in the collection already?!  I have been rapidly adding to my nail polish collection for the summer and I am already looking forward to adding fall shades to my collection.  I am trying to justify adding the bright aqua shade from this new collection to my polish line up but I don't really need yet another bright summer shade...

I am pulling my information and photos from the Nordstrom website, I started out looking at the photos on the Dior website but it is refusing to let me look at anything but a collection overview at the moment.  The Nordstrom website states the following as an overview of the collection; "Inspired by the art de vivre of the French Riviera, the Dior Croisette Collection combines the peace of the French countryside with the splendor of Saint Tropez."  I love the neutral palette in this collection and I will be able to use this all summer against a great fake tan, this might be one of my last beauty purchases for the season...

Here is the Dior Croisette Collection!

Le Croisette 5 - Color Palette - Inspired by the art de vivre of the French Riviera, the Dior Croisette Collection combines the peace of the French Countryside with the splendor of the Saint Tropez.  Adorned with sunbursts, the Le Croisette palettes are inspired by the sophisticated signature pleating technique used on the fabric of Dior dresses.
- Swimming Pool - medium bronze shimmer/pale aqua shimmer/medium gold shimmer/medium jade green shimmer/bright aqua matte
- Aurora - deep gold shimmer/deep chocolate brown shimmer/bright bronze shimmer/pale champagne shimmer/medium champagne matte

Addict Vernis Croisette Collection Lipstick - A lipstick.  An attitude.  A state of mind.  Inspired by the art de vivre of the French Riviera, the Dior Croisette Collection combines the peace of the French Countryside with the splendor of Saint Tropez.  The hydrating and volumizing formula leaves lips colorful and subtly sparkling with cocktail colors, ready for a scorching kiss on the deck.
- 414 Casual Gold - warm sheer gold shimmer
- 544 Jet Set - warm peachy coral shimmer
- 354 Palace - pinky coral shimmer

Addict Vernis Croisette Collection Ultra Gloss - Inspired by the art de vivre of the French Riviera, the Dior Croisette Collection combines the peace of the French Countryside with the splendor of Saint Tropez.  Dior Addict Ultra Gloss features a featherweight formula with a flash-plumping, 'spotlight shine' effect.  Hyaluronic spheres keep lips smooth and moisturized, while mirror-like micro pearls reflect light in all directions for a dazzling finish!
- 432 Brown Panama - shimmering bronze
- 542 Orange Pareo - bright orange shimmer
- 464 Pink Croisette - bright cool pink shimmer

Vernis Croisette Collection Nail Lacquer - Never before has the color of the new Dior Vernis displayed such lacquered and vibrant shine!  Inspired by the art de vivre of the French Riviera, the Dior Croisette Collection combines the peace of the French Countryside with the splendor of Saint Tropez.  A cocktail of shine and sparkle amplifying active ingredients directs pigments and pearly particles to enhance light reflection tenfold.  Application is even easier with the new brush.  Dior Vernis also features a new chip-resistant formula that protects and embellishes the nails, day after day.
- 231 Bikini - bright pink coral cream
- 401 Saint Tropez - bright aqua cream

My favorite pieces of the collection are still the bright aqua nail polish shade and the bronze and gold eye shadow palette.  The nail polish hue that I love is already sold out on the Sephora and Nordstrom websites so I am doubting that I will be able to get this shade at all this summer, I will just be happy with my China Glaze Aquadelic polish for the summer months.  The Aurora eye palette will work well all summer and into the fall, I see that it is not sold out and I will be searching for this palette at both Sephora and Macy*s.  To round out my choices on this collection, I would like to own the Pink Croisette shade of the lip gloss however my summer won't be ruined if I am not able to get a tube of it. 

At this time of the year, I am only purchasing products that I can use for multiple seasons, there isn't much point in buying summer products at this point since I will only wear them for three months maximum.  I only have one more summer collection to look at that and then I will begin watching out for the fall products and trends.  With the exception of the bronze eye palette, I won't be chasing out any more summer products.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Dior Anselm Reyle Collection from Dior

Chanel isn't the only company that released a second line this spring, Dior has followed suit with the Anselm Reyle Collection for Dior (actually Dior may have released their's first, according to some of the coverage that I have seen in fashion magazines).  This is another very small collection, it is targeted to eyes and nails only, with a strong emphasis on the purple hues that have been so popular this winter and spring.  This collection is actually a collaboration with German artist Anselm Reyle, apparently other companies are seeing how well MAC does these collaborations are going to start putting their own spin on it. 

A bit of background on the artist, Anselm Reyle specializes in all types of mediums, especially paint and sculpture.  He is best known as a master of abstract art and his use of foil as a medium in paintings.  This series is called "foil paintings", that are created using "foil arranged and installed in colored perspex boxes".  He best known series of sculptures are his version of traditional African tourist art, he takes what is traditionally sold in the marketplaces and puts his own spin on the artwork.  I looked at several of the "foil paintings" online and they are simply magnificant, it is hard to believe that typical household foil can be formed into these intricate structures and paintings.  I would love to see an exhibit of these works in person...guess this is yet another reason for me to move to New York City.

Here is the collaboration with Dior...

Anselm Reyle for Dior Eye Shadows Palette - A limited edition eye shadow palette created in partnership with the artist Anselm Reyle.  With this exclusive, chic, and ultra-modern palette, the artist reinterprets one of his favourite themes, that of the camouflage motif, in a combination of daring and unusual shades.  Hand pressed using traditional House of Dior expertise, it offers a variety of shimmering or matte looks in shades of violet, gray, and black for a sophisticated look.
- violet/gray/black

Anselm Reyle for Dior Dior Vernis - Striking shades of nail lacquers.  The "Anselm Reyle for Dior" palette in complemented by a fun range of trend-setting nail lacquers in striking colours.  Ultra Violet, Untitled Black, Pink Graffiti, Electric Blue, and Metallic Silver make up this electrifying range echoing Anselm Reyle's distinctive taste for fluorescent and saturated colours.
- Ultra Violet - bright blue lavender cream
- Untitled Black - true black cream
- Pink Graffiti - bright blue pink cream
- Metallic Silver - shimmering silver foil
- Electric Blue - bright blue cream

This might be one of the most beautiful eye palettes that has been released all season, it is another one that I would be afraid to use since it is so lovely.  I would be more likely to purchase the nail polishes from this collection, with Ultra Violet and Metallic Silver being my favorites of the collection.  I don't really need another metallic silver shade, I already own a great one from China Glaze and the silver foils aren't all that different.  My big pick from this collection Ultra Violet, it is very unique and I don't own any type of shade that is even close to this.

I love that Dior collaborated with an artist to make a collection, I hope that all types of beauty companies take up this trend!

photo courtesy of Dior

Dior Spring 2012 Collection - Garden Party

Garden Party from Dior is one of the most hyped collections of the spring and I have been seeing hints of it since the middle of December.  This collection is a full color collection that is based on spring flowers, it contains pastel hues and lots of pinks and purple shades.  This collection reminds me a lot of the Chanel spring collection with all the pink hues in it, I loved that one and I expect to love this one also.  Garden Party contains a palette called the Garden Clutch which I am already in love with and completely demonstrates the pride that Dior puts into its product presentation and packaging. 

Here is the Garden Party collection from Dior!

Garden Clutch - A lip and eye palette for a fresh look.  A pale pink case with a delicate woven decoration, and two silver-plated rosebud clasps.  The Dior Garden Clutch is a precious accessory inspired by Dior's jewelry making expertise.  The case opens to reveal the must-haves for fresh, radiant eyes and lips.  Three eye shadow shades to light up and emphasize the eyes and two lip glosses, one to enhance the lips, the other to give them color.
- Milly Garden - dark gray/light gray/cool bone/pale pink shimmer/medium pink cream

5 Couleurs Garden Edition - The legendary 5 Couleurs palette has been reinvented in a superb collector version: the shadows have been delicately embossed with a rose motif as if they have been hand-embroidered in the Dior Couture Ateliers.  Two palettes feature a range of fresh pastel harmonies, one in luminous green, the other in violets and delicate shades of pink.
- Garden Pastels - shades of greens and pale pink
- Garden Roses - shades of lilacs and pinks

3 Couleurs - Dior has reinvented the smoky eye thanks to a new 3 Couleurs Smoky palette.  A chiaro-scuro variations of effects and textures, this eye shadow trio provides infinite, easy, custom-made smoky eyes.  This original case reveals the secret of smoky "catwalk" eyes.  Its sliding lid is as astonishing as it is intelligent, revealing an innovative, pop-up mirror.  Inside, an ultra-smooth base prepares the eyelid.  The matte and iridescent shadows of this duo provide made-to-measure make up from the most simple pret-a-porter, to the most glamourous Couture looks.
- Smoky Navy - deep navy matte/medium navy blue shimmer/pale sky blue matte

Skinflash Primer - Radiance boosting makeup primer.  Inspired by backstage makeup technique, Skinflash Primer is an anti-fatigue remedy for a complexion that glows with beauty and light.  In one stroke of a brush, skin is smoothed and signs of fatigue and a dull complexion are swept away.  Created with the latest discoveries in optics, Photo-Smart Pigments boast photochromic properties that attract the light and optimally diffuse it over the complexion.  These pigments are able to adapt to all types of lighting and blend seamlessly into any skintone with one universal illuminating shade.  The formula's energizing and conditioning texture instantly restores freshness and vitality to a tired complexion.  Your skin will be left with a flawless surface - full of vitality and perfectly prepped for the application of foundation.

Diorskin Blush - Rosy Glow reacts with the moisture in each skin type, giving a delicious and subtle blush to the cheeks.  When applied, the initially fresh, light color develops into a rosy blush to suit each individual complexion, for an ultra-natural, tailor-made healthy glow that lasts all day.
- Rosy Glow - medium rose

Rouge Dior - Rouge Dior is a wardrobe of 32 sublime shades directly inspired by the deep, luxurious colors of Dior Haute Couture gowns to reveal all the beauty of triumphant and radiant feminity!  Instantly and day after day, this exceptional lipstick offers the lips the extreme splendor of full, smooth and perfectly defined youthfulness.  The secret?  A new generation of plumping hyaluronic acid microspheres.  Generously coated with pigments on the lip surface, they help boost the radiance and depth of color.  In a midnight blue Haute Couture case, with the canework motif dear to the brand, unveils the "Haute Couleur" stick, made even more extraordinary due to its unique shine and its engraved CD signature.
- Pisanelle Pink - medium neutral pink cream

Dior Addict - Straight from the runway, new Dior Addict Ultra Gloss features a featherweight formula with a flash-plumping, "spotlight shine" effect.  Hyaluronic spheres keep lips smooth and moisturized, while mirror-like micropearls reflect light in all directions for a dazzling finish!  Available in 18 catwalk colours, and 3 unique shade formulas, soft Glow, shimmering Pearl, and vibrant Flash
- Black-Tie Plum - deep cool plum shimmer

Dior Vernis - Dior creates a stir with these limited edition scented nail polishes.  Two fresh shades, soft green and flowery lilac that upon drying, release an intoxicating rose fragrance.
- Waterlily - pale mint green shimmer
- Forget-Me-Not - medium lilac cream

I am on the fence with the rose scented nail polishes, I love the scent of roses but scented nail polish reminds me of a polish formula that I would have loved in middle school.  I am willing to bet that either the polish is so scented that it gets in the way of other fragrances or it is so weak that you can only smell it when you put your hand right up to your nose.  And how often do we have time to do that during the day?  Nice concept but it wouldn't make me buy the polishes unless I liked the shades to begin with. 

I don't need to restate that my face piece of the collection is the Garden Clutch palette, it is a rare combination of both great packaing and lovely shades for lips and eyes.  This is one of the few makeup palettes that is lovely enough to set on my dresser to display.  I love the Garden Roses eye palette, the pinks and lilacs will be perfect for the spring season.  I can skip the other palette since I don't wear greens all that much.  The blush is another top choice of mine, I want to try this one out at the counter and I hope that it turns the perfect rose shade on me.  I had wanted the Rouge Dior in Pisanelle Pink a few months ago but never got around to purchasing it, perhaps this would be a good time to follow up on this shade. 
I love these collections witth all the pinks in them, however they are best for pale cool skintones and they are slightly polarizing since not everyone can wear these shades very well.

photo courtesy of Dior

Dior Holiday 2011 Collection - Les Rouges Or

December is finally here and that means that we only have about three and a half weeks left to finish up all of our holiday shopping.  This also means that the holiday collections are beginning to dwindle down, we have just a handful left.  But the ones that we have left are still some great collections; we have yet to look at Bobbi Brown, Shu Uemura, and Lancome.  But first we will look at a traditional favorite company of mine at the holidays, the Les Rouges Or collection from Dior.  This collection might be small but it promises some great gold shades to usher in the holiday party season.
The latest from Dior...

5 Couleurs Eye Shadow Palette - Dior's bestselling eye palette offers endless possibilities in a seductive range of rich, versatile colors designed for easy application and wear.  Use the oval wand to apply the lightest shade to the upper part of inner eyelid, then blend the darkest shade along the lash line.  Shade the outer brow with one of the remaining colors.  For more intensity, use a fourth color under the lashes.
- Incognito - pale champage gold/pale cool beige/shimmering cool taupe/deep shimmering bronze/medium bronze

Vernis - Gold to the end of your fingertips.  Glowing in a haze of new light, nails are transformed into precious accessories.  Injected with a golden powder as delicate as that of a goldsmith, Dior Vernis cult shades dress up in a radiant blaze.
- Or Divin - pale shimmering gold

Rouge Dior - Rouge Dior is a wardrobe of 32 sublime shades directly inspired by the deep, luxurious colors of Dior Haute Couture gowns to reveal all the beauty of triumphant and radiant feminity!  Instantly and day after day, this exceptional lipstick offers the lips the extreme splendor of full, smooth, and perfectly defined youthfulness.  The secret?  A new generation of plumping hyaluronic acid microspheres.  Generously coated with pigments on the lip surface, they help boost the radiance and depth of color.
- Pisanelle Pink 428 - neutral medium pink cream

The eye shadow palette is the star of this collection, it is perfect to help create a shimmering gold eye to wear this holiday season.  I would use this one all the time, from this season and then all the way into the spring and summer.  Tbis palette is going to be a great choice for me.  The lipstick shade that was picked for this collection will for well for a professional atmosphere or against any type of strong eye makeup look.  I'm not a fan of gold nail polish as it tends to be too warm for my skintone so I will skip over that shade but the rest of the collection is going to be great for me!

photo courtesy of Dior

Dior Fall 2011 Collection - Blue Tie

I can never resist a Dior collection, especially one that is for fall.  Fall and spring are Dior's best seasons and I look forward to the collections at the beginning of each season.  Dior has always been able to make at least one or two products that end up at the very top of my Most Wanted lists.  And the packaging itself is normally so lust-worthy that I would purchase the products just to gaze at the lovely compacts.  I have often come to the conclusion that Dior does packaing better than anyone else in the beauty industry and at times, they do the packaging better than the actaul products themselves.  I know that I can trust this line to bring me a lust-worthy product this fall but I am really hoping that I lust for the product itself and not just the stunning compact that it is offered in...

The new collection from Dior is named Blue Tie.  My initial thoughts were that I would hate the eye makeup in this collection and that I will need any nail polish that comes out in it.  "'Midnight blue is the only color that can ever compete with black.', - Christian Dior.  Both black and color, light and smoke, masculine, and feminine, discover the ultra-chic midnight blue by Dior."   I love the nail polish shade that has been offered with this collection, I first saw a hint of it over the summer and I am so happy that I can finally get my hands on a bottle!

The Blue Tie collection...

Blue Tie Palette - Dior has created luxury with the Dior Blue Tie palette, audaciously blending feminine glamour with masculine edge, and harmoniously modernizing the House codes.  This quartet of multi-pressed eye shadows combines matte and shimmering textures in a reflection of the tuxedo fabrics, reinterpreting the couture, embossed Dior camework motif.  This quartet provides a myriad blue hues for a strong, densely smoky eye.  Beneath the CD stamped silver door lies a nude pink lip gloss to complement.

5 Couleurs Designer - An ultra-professional and totally new version of the 5 Couleur Eye Shadow palette.  Five different textures have been brought together in a single case to create eye shadow styles through layering.  1 - Base (light), 2 - Color (iridescent), 3 - Shade (satin), 4 - Shine (pearlescent), 5 - Linder (mat) represent the 5 essential steps used by professional makeup artists to draw attention to the eyes and create ultra-graphic eye makeup looks.
- Navy Design - pale white shimmer/pale silver shimmer/medium gray matte/deep charcoal shimmer/deep navy shimmer

Diorblush - Dress your cheeks in color and light!  Dior presents the first blush that plays on color intensity and a variety of finishes to create a natural, healthy glow with a subtle sparkle.  A matte finish enhances the natural skin tone, while a pearly finish highlights the planes of the face.  Silky and lightly scented, this Couture blush comes in a wide range of colors to suit all skintones.
- Passionfruit - medium warm pink/light neutral pink

Serum de Rouge - Dior creates Serum de Rouge, an elixir of youth with exquisite radiance.  A sublime alliance of skincare and color benefits, the serum texture literally melts onto your lips for absolute comfort with a wonderful sensation upon application.  The formula, with 10 times more concentrated skincare ingredients than classical lipsticks, provides moisture, volume, and smoothing benefits for your lips, immediately after application and day after day.  Directions for use: turn pen with a single click to obtain the perfect amount for ideal makeup results.
- Raspberry Serum - deep berry cream

Rouge Dior - Rouge Dior is a wardrobe of 32 sublime shades directly inspired by the deep, luxurious colors of Dior Haute Couture gowns to reveal all the beauty and triumphant and radiant feminity!  Instantly and day after day, this exceptional lipstick offer the lips the extreme splendor of full, smooth, and perfectly defined youthfulness.  The secret?  A new generation of plumping hyaluronic acid microspheres.  Generously coated with pigments in the lip surface, they help boost the radiance and depth of color.  In a midnight blue Haute Couture case with the canework motif dear to the brand, unveils the "Haute Couleur" stick, made even more extraordinary due to its unique shine and its engraved CD signature.
- Pisanelle Pink - medium neutral pink cream

Dior Vernis - The ultimate accessory for this blue collection comes in the shape of 2 new, extremely audacious, nail varnish shades.  Tuxedo, a deep and intense blue, attracts attention with its magnetic presence.  Blue Denim has a more urban vibe, gleaming like a bolt of electric lightning at each fingertip.  A must have for all fashionistas.
- Tuxedo - deep navy shimmer
- Blue Denim - bright blue cream

Oh this collection actually makes me wish that I could pull off blue eye makeup!  I love the Blue Tie Palette but I can't buy it only for the lip gloss shade contained in it.  Since none of the eye makeup in this collection will not work for me, I am going to prefer the lip and nail products from this collection.  My favorite piece of the collection is the Rouge Dior in Pisanelle Pink, this will be the perfect neutral pink for me.  I also love the berry shade that is offered in the Serum de Rouge, I will wear this one a lot this fall too.  The new blush product is also very interesting to me and I want to head to the counter and try this product out too.  I am a bit worried that the paler shade in the palette might be too light for my taste, I want to try and find this product in a deeper rose shade.  To finish it up, it goes without saying that I must have both of these nail varnishes since they are both blues

photo courtesy of Nordstrom 

French Week 2011 Day 2 - Dior Miss Dior Cherie

Throughout history, France has been known as one of the major perfume captials of the world.  I am confident in stating that I own more fragrances from French companies than any other country in the world; Chanel, Creed, Annick Goutal, Dior all sit on the top of my dresser.  The House of Dior hasn't been designing fragrances for as long as many of the other large French companies, however most of their fragrances have been hits with beauty industry insiders and the general public alike. Miss Dior was the first fragrance that was created by this house and then about fifty years later, a new version, Miss Dior Cherie, was released to bring the brand to new heights.   The original version is the rarer of the two fragrances and I have only smelled it once.  The new version is available at Sephora and all major department stores so anyone can find it and embrace the spirit of Dior. 

It wouldn't be possible to discuss the new version of this fragrance without touching on the original and the inspiration behind the creation of the first fragrance for Dior.  The Dior website provided all of the information that I needed for the both fragrances.

"Inspiration.  When Mr. Dior was designing his first collection in 1947, he dreamed of a completely original fragrance to go with his Haute Couture line.  He saw fragrance not just as a mere accessory, but as the 'finishing touch' to his creations: it would be Miss Dior.  "I created this fragrance to surround every woman with exquisite feminity, as if each of my dresses were coming forth, one by one, from a bottle", Christian Dior." 

"Fragrance.  All of Dior's charm and elegance featured in a line of bold, chypre fragrances.  Miss Dior is an audacious chypre with a citrusy freshness and a jasmine heart sprinkled with fruity notes, underscored by an elegance of patchouli.  A tribute to the mother fragrance Miss Dior, with the green chypre signature.  A chic and impertinent new classic."

"Design.  Miss Dior, Christian Dior's first fragrance, has, since its beginnings in 1947, featured all of the Dior House's codes of elegance: sculpted lines of Dior's suit, the graphic background of the houndstooth-etched glass, English calligraphy which turned the fragrance name into a signature...  And, of course, the couture ribbon tops it off, metallic on the Eau de Parfum, frosted on the Eau de Toilette and a transparent version tied into a bow on the neck of the Miss Dior Eau de Toilette bottle.  The charm of the New Look infinitely evolving into an ever-irresistible object of desire."

Miss Dior is one of the strongest fragrances that I have ever smelled, I smelled on someone several years ago and it was just so unique that I had to ask her what she was wearing.  The jasmine and the green mossy notes are very noticeable and it smelled like nothing else has been made in the past few years.  I find this fragrance to be on the harder side to wear.  It is not appropriate for casual wear, I can envision it being worn at night, when getting dressed up and going out.  It is very ladylike and it was a perfect scent for the sophistication and beauty of the French women in the end of the 1940s. 

Miss Dior Cherie is a much lighter version of the fragrance and is one that can be worn in a less formal scenerio.  "Miss Dior Cherie is an audacious chypre with a citrusy freshness and a jasmine heart sprinkled with fruity notes, underscored by the elegance of patchouli.  A chic and daring new classic."  Sephora lists only three notes for this fragrance: Italian Mandarin, Egyptian Jasmine, Patchouli.  The fragrance must contain many more notes than these since I smell more than this in the fragrance. 

I needed another opinion on the description and notes of this fragrance since I smell both strawberry and caramel in this fragrance before the jasmine and the patchouli notes begin to come out with wear.  I turned to "Perfumes - The Guide", written by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez.  "Some fragrances, like some people, give a deceptive, facile first impression, which they then contradict with subtle twists and refinements that anyone who tuned out after the first few minutes would miss.  Dior's sweet flanker to their (now much diminished) classic Miss Dior is far better than you usually get in the fruity-floral category.  Although its main accord of strawberry-rose-patchouli isn't as arrestingly pretty as that of contemporary rival Badgley Mischka, it feels more carefully put together, seamless and balanced, done with one lump of sugar, not two.  Still, this fragrance never feels like the woman of the house, more like the nanny, even if she's getting her Ph.D."  There is strawberry and it is a sweet fragrance!!

This is definitely the younger version of the Miss Dior series, this one could easily be worn for a day out shopping, work, or out on a more casual date.  I don't not find this one quite as appropriate for getting very dressed up as the more formal Miss Dior.  This fragrance is light and feminine is one of the perfect scents to usher in the spring.  France in spring is lovely, with all the flowers blooming and the cafes opening up for the warmer weather and this fragrance brings that feeling alive.

photo courtesy of Sephora