Prime, colour, define, highlight and line. That’s all you need to create a complete eye look, and the Dior 5 Couleurs Designer Eye Palettes are all that in a small black box. There are 6 combinations to choose from and today I have the Navy Design to share!

How it works:
Prime the eye area with the white shadow. Colour the lid with the centre shade, then define the crease with the navy blue shimmer. Use the light blue glitter cream to highlight the inner corner or under the brow. Then line with the dark navy cream line. Done and done!

Now I don’t normally like blue shadows on me, but these are so irridescent and subtle it works.

The crease shade is sheer, giving my eye a nice 3D sculpted look. And the lid shade leans a bit towards purple, which is fine by me.

Swatched heavily, you can see the true colour of each. The dark blue is quite warm, although a lot sheerer on the eye.

So what do you think of this one? Make sure to check out my other reviews:
Taupe Design
Purple Design
Khaki Design

All 6 combinations of the Dior 5 Couleurs Designer Palettes are available in Canada at The Bay online for $63 CAD.

WANT TO WIN SOME DIOR PRIZES? Check out Dave Lackie’s blog!

*PR Sample

The Dior Fall 2015 collection is called Cosmopolite, made for the woman who “plays by her own rules to suit her mood, her adventures and the time of day.”  This collection consists of metallic eyes, soft lips and flushed cheeks. Today, let’s talk lips as I take my first dive into the beloved Dior Addict Fluid Sticks ($42 CAD).

Fluid Sticks are a sort of hybrid gloss and lipstick. They deliver high-shine plump lips with a “one-sweep” colour deposit. And can we talk about the packaging for a minute? I love the knob on the end of the doe-foot wand applicator and the lipstick tube shaped well inside the clear packaging.

289 VERSATILE is a milky neutral pink.

This leaves a soft deposit of baby pink on the lip and really makes my lips look shiny and plump.

Next up is 499 AVANT GARDE, a neutral nude-taupe.

What I love about the applicator is that is comes out of the package just soaked in gloss. You really only need one swipe.

This shade is very close to my lip colour with just a hint of nude brown. It really puts the focus on my eyes…

(Wearing one of the 5 Couleurs palettes, Exuberante, from the Cosmopolite collection, review here)

 784 CHIC is a neutral berry shade.

See that point on the tip of the applicator? It’s perfect for creating a sharp lip line!

I am really digging on this creamy raspberry tint.

(Wearing one of the 5 Couleurs palettes, Eclectic, from the Cosmopolite collection, review here)

My first experience with the Fluid Sticks has been a good one! I love how voluptuous these make my lips look (because as I get older, my lips seem to be shrinking), and these do not feather at all, which has been a problem for me lately when I wear gloss. These remind me of Maybelline’s Color Elixirs only the Dior formula has a more even application and thicker, more pigmented formula.

The Dior Addict Fluid Sticks – Cosmopolite edition ($42 CAD) are available now on Sephora and Dior.com. They will be available at all Dior counters including The Bay beginning in August.

HAVE YOU TRIED DIOR ADDICT FLUID STICKS? WORTH THE SPLURGE?

*PR Sample

For me, the Dior 5 Couleurs Cosmopolite Eyeshadow Palettes are the most exciting part of the Fall 2015 release. The design is edgy and modern and the colours are just gorgeous.

“Created by Peter Philips, the turbulent lettering o the 5 Couleurs palette reflects the playful chic of the New Look and the elusive beauty of the Dior woman, manifold and universe.”

766 EXUBERANTE
(Shown in studio light)
“Based around the golden shade, this palette contrasts its warm tones with a denim blue and amber beige. In the centre, the pearlescence expresses itself to the fullest with its creamy texture.”

(Shown in daylight)
This palette is all about that blue shade! It reminds me of Colourpop’s Coconut only a bit more navy. And the brown shade on the bottom row is a perfect complement (and leans a bit aubergine in the sunlight).

Using the top row soft neutral mattes to help blend and highlight, this palette can really create endless looks. Plus that gold sparkle shade in the middle is really rich and doesn’t produce any fallout.

Note that the gold in the centre has an overspray, leaving behind a soft white gold.

Top row, bottom row, centre shade.

I used the blue shimmer on the lids and popped a bit of the centre gold on top for more glitter. I lined the bottom waterline with the blue shade as well.

I used the aubergine/dark brown from the bottom row to emphasize the crease and outer V and blended it out with the top matte brown shade, followed by the top matte beige.

Also wearing Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Avant Garde from the same collection (review here).

866 ECLECTIC
(Shown in studio light)
“Based around the silver shade, a cooler colour with an organic elegance teams with a moss green, a frosted brown and a passionate burgundy. A clear and concise colour scheme where any combination, be it elaborate or simple, is possible.”

(Shown in daylight)
Of course when I first saw this I fell in love. I mean it’s PURPLE, not 1 but 2 shades of it! And look at that moss green.

This palette works really well together with its mix of shimmers, and a matte highlight. I especially like using the green as a liner.

Note, like the last palette, the silver centre had an overspray.

Top row, bottom row, centre shade.

I decided to go a bit softer with this palette, starting with the first shade (top row) in the outer V and into the crease. I then patted the shimmery pink second shade (top row) all over the lid and blended into the crease.

I finished the look using the moss green as a liner and the silver centre shade as a highlight in the middle of my lid.

Also wearing Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Versatile from the same collection. (review here)

I love the versatility of both of these palettes with their healthy mix of colour, texture and blending and highlight shades. The formula of all these shadows is above average: soft, rich, not powdery at all and little to no fallout.

WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

The Dior Cosmopolite 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes are $70 CAD, available at Sephora, The Bay  and all Dior counters in August. (Available now at Dior.com)

*PR Sample

I’ll be honest, I haven’t done my nails in over a month. But when the four new shades of Dior Vernis from the Fall 2015 Cosmopolite collection ($31 CAD, $27 USD) showed up at my door, it was a good excuse to finally give myself a mani!

This was my first experience with Dior Vernis Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer. As I unboxed these little bottles, I definitely liked the shape (I prefer square bottles over round for storage reasons), and I loved the heft of the packaging.

“This advanced nail formula provides glassy, long-wearing shine. A precision brush applies the ideal amount of polish in a single sweep, allowing for a smooth application, vibrant color intensity, and a perfect finish.”

Each bottle has a removable chrome cap with a “CD” symbol on top. The brush is wide but not too wide, and slightly curved at the tip to fit snugly against the bottom of the nail bed.

001 MIROIR is a light silver chrome with a very reflective “mirror” finish.

Shown above wearing 2 coats, this can be a bit tricky to apply if you aren’t careful. Use a light, steady hand.

701 METROPOLIS is a forest green with very subtle shimmer.

This one was a bit more sheer than most shades I have tried. I definitely needed the two coats I am wearing above. The colour though, it is so pretty!

791 DARLING BLUE is a bright royal blue shimmer.

This was quite easily my favourite. Not super sheer, but definitely warrants 2 coats. I currently have this on my toes and it’s 4 days in and counting with no chips.

785 COSMOPOLITE is a burgundy light maroon colour.

This is the creamiest, most opaque of all. I’m on day 5 of wear on my nails and still no chips! It’s fairly high shine and definitely only needs 1 coat (even though I have on 2 in the photo above).

So my first experience was a good one! The formula is nice, not too thin or goopy. It levels out perfectly and applies smooth. And that brush is AMAZING.

Grab the limited edition Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer at Sephora now OR at Dior counters this month.

*PR Sample

With 44 dazzling new shades and a beautiful new face (Jennifer Lawrence), these Dior Addict Lipsticks are ready to take the beauty world by storm.

This hybrid lipstick is a breakthrough innovation that delivers both stunning colour and a Hydra Gel long-lasting top coat in one tube. These are ultimately hydrating too, much like a lip balm because of the Triple Oil Complex inside.

And as part of the new collection, Dior has created four “It Girl” shades with matching Dior Vernis (nail polish), so you can match your lips with your nail tips!

Wonderful is a fresh baby pink. It packs a lot of shimmer without any grit!

This is just a hint pinker than my natural lip colour and is intensely frosty. But man oh man, do I love how hydrating these are.

(Sadly, I don’t have the Wonderful nail polish to share with you but I do have the other three. YAY!)

Tribale is a pearly coral in lipstick form and in nail polish form takes on more of a rosewood taupe with a coral pearlescent shimmer.

Like all Dior Vernis, this is a beautiful high-shine formula that is dream to apply.

I don’t like picking favourites, but this nail polish wins! Shown above with 2 coats, the shimmer only really appears in direct light.

And here’s the matching lipstick! This one doesn’t have as much shimmer as the last, but it’s a great alternative to a basic lip balm, plus it actually hydrates AND plumps my lips.

Smile is a versatile pinky nude in lipstick form and a peach pink shimmer in nail polish.

Can we just talk about this brush for a second? It fits perfectly into my nail bed and has no “straggler” bristles.

Two coats to high-shine perfection. Like the others, the shimmer only appears under direct sunlight, and wow is it every pretty.

The matching Dior Addict Lipstick has quite a bit of shimmer and is probably the closest to my true lip colour. I love wearing this for just a hint of colour and a ton of moisture.

Look at this beautiful pair! Be Dior is an audacious raspberry in lipstick and a delicious berry wine in Vernis.

I’ve never met a purple I didn’t like.

This is two coats but you almost only need one. The shimmer is more apparent on this one, maybe because it’s a darker shade.

The matching Dior Addict Lipstick is (obviously) my favourite of the bunch. Its a pretty fruit punch to the lips with enough shimmer to make my lips sparkle and shine.

Swatched 3x, as you can see these are very lightly tinted but definitely preferable over any tinted lip balm I’ve tried. There’s just something that feels so good about these and they don’t wear off as quickly as a balm. Plus, there is really no taste at all or strong scent. I’m freakin’ IN LOVE.

A moment of silence for the iconic, holographic Dior Addict packaging. Who doesn’t love pulling one of these beauties out of their purse?

The new Dior Addict Lipsticks are available now, $42 CAD and $35 USD. Check out Sephora.ca for all the shades!


Hey girl, hey.

*PR Sample

The Holiday 2015 collection from Dior “State of Gold” is opulent, ornamental and just so… Dior. It’ll take a few posts to get through everything, and we’re going to start with nail polish because I can’t keep my eyes off those pretty bottles!

The spherical cap makes it extremely easy to control your brush strokes (and did I mention, pretty?), and the brush is a perfect shape, length, density and size. I seriously haven’t found a brush better than Dior’s.

001 State of Gold is the collection’s signature colour, to be used as a topper but can also be worn alone.

“A treasure trove of shimmering platinum and gold glitter.”

The amount glitter is dense and the glitter itself doesn’t sink because of the high quality clear base.

The most prevalent glitters are small platinum circles and medium gold hex. Shown above is two coats, gently “tapped” on the nail and spread lightly.

You know what surprised me most about this glitter? I didn’t have to pick it off my nails. It came off fairly easily using one of my gentler nail polish removers!

Photo taken in daylight for reference.

227 Gris-Or (which I believe is French for Gray Gold) is a cloudy dream-like soft gold with pink and silver shifts.

“… changes with the light from amber to platinum to yellow and pink gold. What could be more beautiful than a blend of regal gold and the legendary Dior grey.”

I was quite happy with how thick the formula was (and not thick gloopy). Metallics can be tricky to apply, you just need the right formulation which this has.

Two coats applied with light brush strokes. There is a bit of streaking, but definitely less than your typical metallic or chrome.

In studio light this picks up the ambers and yellows. Shown here with 2 coats and 1 coat of State of Gold on the ring finger.

In the outside world, this shifts to grey and pink!

951 Passion is a classic red that almost leans a bit vampy. Because who doesn’t need a classic red around the holidays?

Described as a fiery red, this formula is a bit thinner than Gris-Or, but it levels out perfectly.

Can you handle how glossy my nails are? Shown above with 2 coats but you can almost get away with 1. This is high shine that dries fast.

991 Mystere is such a perfect, iconic Fall shade I can’t handle it. It’s burgundy/wine with a hint of plum.

Look at how perfect that brush is. No stray hairs, a beautiful curve that fits the nail bed. There is a lot of effort put into these polishes.

Two easy coats on this one, and you’ll need it to get that true deep wine shade. And like Passion, this is so glossy it looks wet! I also found this shade to be the longest wearing too.

If I wasn’t already getting into the holiday spirit, I sure am now! The Dior State of Gold collection launches October 15 at all Dior counter and the Dior Vernis retails for $33 CAD.

WHICH SHADE IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

*Press samples

For part 2 of my series on Dior’s State of Gold holiday collection, I’ve rounded up the sparkliest of sparkly holiday makeup for you.

I’m of the mind that sparkles aren’t just for special occasions either, a hint of sparkle during the day is totally ok with me!

The Dior Fusion Mono shadow in 631 Blazing is described as a pink-tinged amber but appears on skin as a light warm gold.

The thought behind this shade it that it gives “the illusion of fireworks in a shimmering gossamer veil”.

This is my first experience using a Dior Fusion Mono Eyeshadow and I just love the bouncy mousse-gel texture. It’s easiest to apply with a sponge-tip but I have also just used my finger.

Shown here on the lid and inner corner, there was NO fallout and this just stuck to my lid (with some light patting).

Wear time was 8+ hours with no creasing. This shadow is the real deal!

There are two shades of Dior Addict Gloss in the holiday collection, both stunning in their own right.
The first, 613 Cygne Noir, is described as a claret red with a mirror-like shine.

And from what I’ve been reading, Cygne Noir is French for Black Swan! The sparkle in this warm rose gloss is out of this world. It’s multi-dimensional and just packed in there.

The gloss comes with a brush applicator that makes it easy to control the sparkle and get a nice thick layer of gloss on the lips.

Formula is non-gritty and not too tacky. This actually felt like I had a lip treatment on it was so comfortable and sooting.

322 Sparkle is described as a beige wih metallic shimmer.

This one is a bit more delicate than the Cygne Noir, with only a subtle amount of gold shimmer, making it a great gloss to wear on its own or on top of deeper lipstick shade.

The shimmer is just a nice gold with slight pink shift and the gloss is a barely there beige nude.

It makes my lips extremely glossy and shiny and even makes them look a bit fuller.

Bling, bling, bling! Look at those sparkles!

The Dior State of Gold Holiday collection is available at all Dior counters now (The Bay, Holt Renfrew and Sephora).

Stay tuned next week for the scoop on the gorgeous eyeshadow palettes and lipsticks!

WILL YOU BE PICKING ANYTHING UP FROM THE STATE OF GOLD COLLECTION?

*Press samples

For me, the two stars of Dior’s State of Gold Holiday collection are the 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes ($70 CAD).  Mixing metallics with soft buttery satins, these palettes are versatile and give your look that little extra sparkle.

L-R: 886 Blazing Gold,  576 Eternal Gold

These are packaged up in the iconic Dior velvet pouch, to keep your new beauties safe and protected.

576 Eternal Gold is described as a “pale golden white shimmer along side a purple taupe and a glittering black to sculpt the eyes, while a celestial beige and a soft grey-green highlight the eyelids in a luminous pastel”.

I love the magnetic wave pattern of these shadows. The gold in the centre is a beautiful shifty highlight shade that could even be used on the tops of your cheekbones.

This is one of those palettes that is a perfect day to night. It has pretty neutrals you can use as the base of your look and a gorgeous sparkly black so you can amp it up at night.

Here I’m showing off my day look using the gold centre shade under my brow and the khaki on the lid.

I used the plum taupe to sculpt the outer V and the beige to blend and transition.

Look at the shimmer in that gold shade under my brow!

(Brows are Dior Brow Powder Pencil, my new HG)

886 Blazing Gold is described as a “creamy nude heart that flirts with a frosted chestnut, a scintillating charcoal and a bold claret red to fire the eyes and bring out the colour of the iris.”

It was love at first site with this one. That red shimmer, the beautiful warm chestnut. Swoooon!

The highlight shades are a bit less shifty and more subtle in this palette to put the focus on those gorgeous, pigmented colours.

I started with the centre nude shade all over my lid to prime. Then I applied the chestnut into the crease and blended out.

I used the red in the outer V and into the crease, blending it slightly into the centre. I then used the pink shade in the centre and then under the brow. The sparkly charcoal makes a great shadow liner!

All shadows are silky smooth, buildable, have little fallout and are highly blendable. These are some of the best Dior shadows I have used!

The gorgeous Dior State of Gold 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes are available now at all Dior counters (The Bay, Holt Renfrew, Sephora). Check out the other reviews I have on this collection!

WHICH PALETTE IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

*Press sample

When there’s a new brow product on the market, I will probably be the first to try it. The Dior Powder Eyebrow Pencil ($33 CAD) promises longwear and a natural look. Will this one make holy grail status?

These pencils come in 6 six shades ranging from warm light blondes to neutral black. The formula is light, non-waxy with a powder finish. It reminds me of the MAC Veluxe Brow Pencil only it isn’t as creamy (and it lasts longer!)

Each brush has a really nice, high-quality spoolie on the end.

And inside each box is a nice Dior pencil sharpener.

Let’s take a look at those shades…

These are smooth, surprisingly pigmented and they stay put. As you can see all of them are on the warm side except for Black. Ash Blonde is almost a neutral light brown with a hint of warmth, and it works perfect for me.

Here I’ve used Soft Brown just to define the bottom and Ash Blonde to fill in the entire brow. This pencil is a really natural and easy way to build up my brows from nothing and I haven’t had any “wipe off” accidents during the day since it dries down fairly matte.

And I also love that I can build the colour up a bit to darken my brows. Here I’ve used only Ash Blonde and applied it heavily. This is probably one of the first times I haven’t had to struggle creating a brow shape and achieving the look I want.

Holy grail status? Heck yea!

The Dior Powder Eyebrow Pencil is available now at all Dior counters. Check Sephora and The Bay in Canada!

The stars of Dior’s State of Gold holiday collection are definitey the Diorific Mat Velvet Lipsticks ($45 CAD). These smooth and soft lipsticks are creamy, hydrating and longwearing but still dry down to a fairly matte finish.


The packaging reminds me of lightbulbs or Christmas decorations. These are definitely weighty and have a Dior logo etched on the bottom.

I’m not even really sure how to describe the shape. It’s somewhere between a lightbulb and maybe some sort of musical noisemaker?

There are four shades available ranging from soft pinky nude to bright classic red.


RADIEUSE is a light almost peachy pink.

This wasn’t my favourite of the bunch but it is still a nice formula.

A bit lighter than my lip shade, not too much so. Usually I have trouble applying lighter shades but this one was great.

FASCINATE is a warm rose (almost rosewood).

My Lips But Better!

This is just enough colour to be noticeable but wearable enough for all day, everyday.

FABULEUSE is a gorgeous cool-toned classic red.

Breathtaking! I’ve tried a lot of reds but this one really stands out.

On me it leans very neutral, like a classic pin-up red. The finish is soft and the formula won’t feather at all. I wore this to a wedding and this wore well into the night.

FANTASTIQUE is a blue-toned hot pink.

Although this colour is similar to a lot of the MAC shades I have, it is still noteworthy. The smooth texture and almost glow the blue-tone makes gives my face a perfect pop of pink.

I think this is close to MAC’s Pink Poodle only in a soft matte finish.

Swatched 2x each, you can see how smooth and pigmented these are.

My favourites are definitely Fascinate and Fabuleuse, which have both become staples in my lipstick wardrobe. If you’re looking for a beautiful soft matte formula and some killer, collectible packaging, scoop up the Diorific Mat Velvet lipsticks before they’re gone!

The Diorific Mat Velvets are available now at Dior counters (The Bay and Holt Renfrew in Canada).

*Press sample

And just as our days get colder, Dior comes to brighten up our lives with the Spring 2016 Glowing Gardens collection. Inspired by the beautiful gardens of Christian Dior’s childhood home in Granville, this collection is radiant, luminous and bright with floral details to excite any makeup collector.

There are two Dior Vernis ($31 CAD) nail polish shades available in this collection, Bluette (a baby blue) and Lilac, a light baby pink with a hint of purple.

As is standard with all Dior Vernis, these polishes are enriched with organic silicon formulated for longwear. What you won’t find is camphor, phthalates, toluene or formaldehyde.

This is a very creamy but not thick formula making it easy to apply with precision. I used two coats for this opacity and am very happy to report I am four days in with no chips.

The 5-Couleurs Glowing Gardens Eyeshadow Palettes ($70 CAD), come in two colour combos: Rose Garden #451 with shades of lilac, soft pink, vibrant yellow and crisp green; and Blue Garden #031 with shades of peach, sky blue, blue iris and subtle Dior grey.

Blue Garden is the most delicate eyeshadow palette I own. The colours are very subtle but very pigmented. They play well together and work great to create a soft, feminine ombre effect.

Shown above is the top row shades, the bottom row shades, then the centre shade. Each pack a lot of shimmer but are soft and blendable. I experienced very little fallout when applying and was able to control opacity by applying in soft layers.

I used all shades for this look starting with the centre shade on the brow bone. I used the darkest grey in the outer V and crease and blended it into the lighter grey as I got closer to the centre lid.

I applied the peach shade from the centre lid to the inner corner and popped a bit of the white shimmer in the inner corner and under my brow.

As someone obsessed with highlight powders, I was ecstatic when I opened the compact for the Diorskin Nude Air Illuminating Powder in Glowing Nude #002 ($64 CAD). This has the most beautiful floral pattern and the shimmer is a stunning rosy gold unlike anything I have in my collection.

The compact is a silver quilted design that comes with a mirror inside.

There is also a small kabuki brush included for precision application.

This is a lightweight powder with very finely milled shimmer. The formula contains sweet orange extract, vitamins and minerals to help even out the tone of your skin as well.

I pulled out all my highlighters and found the two that were the closest: MAC Extra Dimension in Oh Darling and Becca Champagne Pop. As you can see Dior’s is a softer, more rosy gold.

You can even see in this comparison swatch how soft and smooth the powder is.

And here’s everything all together, wearing the Blue Garden eyeshadow on my eyes and the Illuminating Powder on the top of my cheekbones and bridge of my nose.

Dat glow is just amazing!

Also wearing Dior Brow Powder Liner, Too Faced Born This Way foundation in Vanilla, Too Faced Love Flush Blush in I Will Always Love You.

The Dior Glowing Gardens collection also contains a beautiful floral design blush, eyeshadow/eyeliner duos, and the infamous Lip Glows. Obviously, if I was to recommend only one thing to you, I would hands-down say that illuminating powder is a “can’t miss”. But to be honest, all three pieces I received are stunning.

This collection launches this week at The Bay, Sephora and Holt Renfrew in Canada.

*Press samples

It’s not often that I get to test out extremely luxurious and high-end skincare, but let me tell you I have become addicted to Dior’s Capture Totale La Creme. Maybe it’s the intoxicating light floral scent, the genius packaging or the rich and melt-in texture… but this cream has become a favourite in my skin routine.

Now I’m definitely a skeptic when it comes to skincare claims. Dior says this cream will “challenge the laws of gravity” by reshaping and uplifting facial features. And after two weeks, I am not sure I am Defying Gravity like Idina Menzel, but my skin (and most noticeably my neck) looks supple, tight and youthful.

The packaging is really quite inventive. You press the button on the front and the lid flips up. Then you remove a secondary lid to reveal the light pink, super creamy cream. This helps to keep the product fresh and free from contamination.

Capture Totale is made with Longoza, a rare flower from the Dior gardens in Madagascar. This rare flower boosts collagen and elastin production and will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch. This sinks in quite fast and can be worn under foundation without any pilling or need for extra primer.

It also comes with a little Dior branded spatula to make sure the formula stays true. You never have to stick your fingers in here!

The La Creme I received was in the Universal texture, which straddles the line between rich and hydrating and light and airy. This also comes in Rich texture, more dense and hydrating, and Light texture airy gel-creme for warmer months.

The Dior Capture Total Multi-Perfection Creme comes at a bit of a pricetag, ($195 CAD or $165 CAD for a refill) but there is a ton of product in here. Available at The Bay, Holt Renfrew, Sephora.

DO YOU SPLURGE ON HIGH-END SKINCARE?

*Press sample/affiliate links

If you’re looking for a matte that’s not flat and a solution to enlarged pores, look no further than three of Dior’s newest beauty innovations: Diorskin Forever Perfect Makeup, Diorskin Forever & Ever Primer Base and the Dior Backstage Blender Sponge.

Start with a thin layer of the Diorskin Forever & Ever Wear Primer Base ($55 CAD, $45 USD). It has SPF20 so your skin will be protected from harmful UV rays, and it lays down a perfectly smooth base to hold your makeup in place. This is a Universal shade, with a light milky pink tint that brightens the skin and gives it a soft-focus veil.

Before I get into the glorious Diorskin foundation, I don’t want to overlook Dior’s new Blender Sponge ($20 CAD/USD). It was inspired by the techniques of Dior’s Backstage experts and is supposed to mimic “the hand of a backstage makeup artist”.

This egg-shaped sponge with a beveled side is made with high-density material so the fluid foundation sits on top of the sponge ready for application.

How to use:

• Use the flat side to spread and blend liquid foundation.
• Use the rounded side to build coverage and optimize coverage (use dabbing motions).
• Use the tip is any corners or hollows such as around the nose or the lips.

VERSUS THE BEAUTYBLENDER: This is actually a completely different concept, although it looks the same. You don’t wet the Dior sponge, which can sometimes dilute the formulation. Dior’s helps deliver an even, matte finish in medium-to-full coverage. BeautyBlender is great if you want a dewier tint vs. a full coverage matte.

Dior’s Diorskin Forever Perfect Makeup fluid foundation ($62 CAD, $50 USD) is pretty much just that… perfect. It boasts everlasting wear (up to 16 hours) and takes skin perfection and a matte finish to next level. It’s not oily and as it dries down to the matte finish, it feels like it’s melting into the skin.

The finish is more of a very natural, flexible velvet matte. It doesn’t look like a mask on your face and it doesn’t feel tight on the skin. (And it has SPF35!)

The secret is in the two “Wear-Lock” polymers. The acrylic polymer sets the makeup into place and the hydrating polymer adds flexibility.

I let the swatches dry down for a minute or two and you can see how matte they set. These aren’t too orange and the 010 Ivory is almost a direct match for N15 skintone (in between NW and NC 15 MAC).

I didn’t retouch anything in this photo at all. You can see my usually enlarged pores around my nose are almost non-existent. My skintone is even, my redness concealed and my skin did not get flaky or shiny for the entire day! I have no powder over top and just a bit of Dior blush on my cheeks.

Just a reminder, I’m 38. If a makeup can make my skin look this flawless, I think it will make you all look flawless too!

The Dior Diorskin Forever Perfect Makeup comes in 16 shades and is available now at all Dior counters. The primer base and sponge are a nice complement to the foundation, the primer being one of my new faves, but I urge you to try the foundation above all else!

*Press samples

It was only a matter of time before Dior jumped on the contouring bandwagon! And now we can all sculpt and shape our faces in style. The Diorblush Sculpt Professional Contouring Powder ($54 CAD/$43 USD) comes in four complementary, contrasting duos to help lift and slim your facial features, a first for Dior!

The packaging is actually the same size as the standard eyeshadow compact (with coordinating velvet pouch and small mirror).

002 Coral Shape is a matte shade in coral, to be blended under the apples of the cheeks.

The coral comes paired with a light vanilla shimmer for above the cheekbones. There is also a small flat contour brush included for precision application on the go!

I don’t know what it is about makeup designs, logo insignias and imprints that just makes me beyond happy.

004 Brown Contour is a more typical sculpt and highlight duo with a deep taupe and beige-y pink shimmer.

This combo reminds me a lot of MAC’s Sculpt and Shape duo (originally released with the DSquared collection).

Although the brown contour shade looks dark, it goes on a bit sheer and subtle … don’t be scared!

Here are the highlight shades side-by-side. You can see the Coral Shape one is a lot brighter and leans more vanilla with a hint of gold whereas Brown Contour is a more standard beige.

Swatched 2x each above, you can see these lean on the sheer side (which is great for us pale gals). The highlights are a little powdery and don’t pack a ton of shimmer if you’re looking for something very soft and subtle.

Here I’m wearing just Coral Shape under the apples of my cheeks and the matching highlight shade. As you can see, sheer but noticeable.

I then added a bit of the Brown Contour to the hollows of my cheeks. You can see it leans a bit warm but not too much. You can also see the slight irridescence of the highlight powder on the top of my cheekbones here!

The Dior Diorblush Sculpt Professional Contouring Powder ($54 CAD/$43 USD) is available at Dior counters now! I absolutely love Coral Shape and would suggest you start your swatching adventures there!

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The Dior Summer 2016 Milky Dots collection has two of the prettiest eyeshadow palettes I’ve ever seen. These are fresh with a summery vibe that gets me excited for warmer weather.

536 Escapade is the more neutral of the two. It combines sandy bronze tones together with a shimmery peach.

The shade that stands out the most to me is that peachy melon. I don’t own anything like it! The showstopping peach is complemented by a shimmery bronze, fresh pink, sandy beige and stark white shimmer highlight.

These are nicely pigmented and soft to the touch. The light shades are a big sheer but blend well with that gorgeous bronze!

Using the pink in the inner corner, I was able to create a fun sheer ombre look with the peach melon in the centre and bronze in the outer corner.

I used the white under the brow and the sand beige as transition. These have shimmer without being sparkly and always glide on smooth.

Paired here with Dior’s Milky Plum.

366 Bain de Mer is my new love. I don’t usually gravitate to blue shades, but this 5 Couleurs palette just called to me.

The main attraction is that bright ocean blue paired with the lighter baby blue. And I love the complementary salmon, warm beige and pinky peach sparkle!

That ocean blue was even better than I had expected! The rest are a bit more on the sheer side but complement each other beautifully.

I used the same technique as the other palette starting with the pinky salmon and transitioning to lighter blue than darker blue as I made my way to the outer corner.

I actually have never been able to master blue eyeshadow before, and my instinct was to put that bold blue on my lid, but I think this technique is MUCH more elegant.

Paired with Dior’s Milky Peach. (And OMG I love this look… as did everyone at work.)

I love both of these palettes, especially Bain de Mer which is truly unique. The soft texture, blendability and combination of shades has made these rise to the top of my makeup drawer!

The Dior Summer 2016 Milky Dots collection is beginning to pop up online now and will hit counters in May!

*Press samples/affiliate

Summer is coming and my pale complexion needs some help! So I’ve been using the Diorskin Nude Air Summer Glow Shimmering Loose Powder (that’s a mouthful) to give my skin some warmth, shimmer and shine lately.

This very finely milled powder can be used anywhere you want a hint of colour and a boost of shimmer. It’s described as an amber bronze powder good for on the cheeks, bridge of the nose, cupid’s bow, collarbones, chest…

The powder comes with a little white puff to make application easy. This is great for applying to the body but I prefer a highlight brush for on my face.

So after you shake a bit of powder into the top of the jar, you just press the puff and sweep all over for a subtle warm shimmer. This shade is not too dark for fair skin, but go easy and build up so you don’t look like an overdone turkey.

Sweep on the look of radiant, bronze skin with Diorskin Nude Air Glow Loose Powder. Its infusion of shimmery pearlescent pigments blended with copper pigments mirrors the look of sunkissed skin. I noticed a slight fragrance to this powder, a kind of high-end floral.

You can really see the difference here of the dry vs. damp swatches. Dampening the brush may be good for those with more tanned skin but for us pale gals, dry application is best.

I’m wearing the Loose Powder on the tops of my cheekbones, on my cupid’s bow and a bit on the bridge of my nose. It blends really well with the Dior Nude Air bronzers!

You can also use this as eyeshadow, shown above applied damp on the lid.

Because of the finely milled and pigmented nature of this powder, a little goes a long way. This 0.56 oz jar will probably last me a lifetime!

Grab the Diorskin Nude Air Summer Glow powder before it’s gone. Limited edition for summer!

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Another edition of the Dior Eye Reviver eyeshadow palette is here! The first one really focused on a soft warm, plum and smoky eye look. This time around, it’s all about illuminating neutrals.

Add a boost radiance to lids, and explore multifaceted, couture eye looks with Dior’s Illuminating Neutrals Eye Palette. The array of matte, satiny, iridescent, and ultra-shimmery shadows provide endless eye effects.

Oh what a breathtaking design! The Dior imprints last awhile too, so don’t worry too much about wearing down the pattern. This kit comes with a double-sided applicator and liner brush.

The primer shade is barely noticeable on my fair skin and acts as a perfect base for this look. All the others are beautiful and buttery shimmer shadows. The liner is pretty good too, it’s creamy and stays put all day.

I used all shades to create this look with the lighter ones blended out into the crease and the deeper ones for the outer V.

I used the provided liner brush and liner to create a soft enhanced lashline. I know I keep saying “soft”, but that is the best way to describe this look.

Easy, foolproof eye look in a kit that’s perfect for someone on the go. I paired this with a Dior Nude Air bronzer and a hint of gloss for a nice, natural day look.

And it really is illuminating. I mean, look at it glow! On days when I don’t want to really “do” my makeup, I reach for this little compact. It’s blendable, natural and has no fallout.

The Dior Eye Reviver Illuminating Neutrals Eye Palette is available now.

*Press sample

For someone with fair skin, finding a good bronzer can be tough. Most are either too warm or too shimmery. But lucky for me, two new Dior bronzing powders landed on my desk to try! The Diorskin Nude Air line is not new, but these Glow Powder compacts are (from the Spring 2016 Milky Dots collection).

Dior broadens its nude makeup expertise with its innovative, Diorskin Nude Air Glow Powders. Each iridescent shade ranges from fresh to sunkissed, adjusting to all skintones for a beautiful, healthy-looking glow with a luminous finish.

Like the other Nude Air compacts, you get a nice small kabuku brush. It’s actually great quality.

And it has a little Christian Dior insignia on the bottom. I love how thoughtfully designed Dior makeup is!

001 Fresh Tan is a deep coral warm tan with gold and peachy shimmer. The formula is soft and buildable, not too sheer and not too opaque. I like to use this one first just on the parts of my face I want to contour, like the hollows of my cheekbones.

002 Fresh Light is a more neutral bronze with a hint of shimmer and a touch of pink. This is a perfect everyday bronzer for fair and light skintones. I like to use this all over my face for a natural lookng tan.

You can see the Fresh Tan shade has quite a bit more shimmer and warmth whereas Fresh Light is softer and lighter.

For this look, I used Fresh Light around the top of my forehead and on my cheeks, and over my nose. I used Fresh Tan just in the hollows of my cheekbones to really accentuate them. I love the glow that these Nude Air Glow Powders give me.

You can grab these new shades of the Dior Diorskin Glow Powder now at Sephora, but I believe they are limited edition.

*Press samples

Can you bring yourself to dig into the beautiful, intricate designs of the Dior Fall 2016 Skyline 5 Couleurs eyeshadow palettes?

806 Capitol of Light is “an array of warm and luminous browns unfurls around pink.”

With such delicate and soft shades in this palette, it’s easy to create a subtle pinky pastel look with the plum shade for definition. These are shimmery and a bit sheer, but not over glittery more of a glow.

Swatched top row, bottom row, centre. The first shade, a shimmery taupe, is probably my favourite of the bunch. It’s perfect to deepen the crease and transition out to the lighter vanilla shimmer. The pink was a bit of a disappointment though as it was too sheer to really show up on the lid as you can see below.

A subtle, soft and shimmery pink and taupe eye look using all five shades from the palette. Easily blendable and very buttery shadows.

506 Parisian Sky is a “harmony of pure blues and cool beiges radiates from a steel grey.”

I don’t normally go for minty blues but this one is so delicate and pretty!

Of the two palettes, I’d say the formulation on this one is the more pigmented one. The top row are beautiful warm golds in a gradient for you to create the perfect crease transition. The bottom row has my two fave shades: a sky blue shimmer for the lid and a deep warm plum brown shimmer for definition. The silver in the centre had a more sheer colour payoff, so I popped it in the inner corner.

I used all five shades for this look as well. I found the formulation to be a bit creamier on this palette… and that sky blue shade is a stunner.


The Dior Fall 2016 Skyline collection is only here for a limited time! You can grab it at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks, Selfridges and The Bay (Canada).

*Press sample/affiliate

Leave it to Dior to totally knock my socks off with their Holiday 2016 eyeshadow palette. The 5 Couleurs palette in Precious Embroidery is definitely a work of art.

“The legendary palette is designed with a festive sequin motif, inspired by the work of the Haute Couture ateliers.”

Shown above in daylight, the design is stunning (and reminds me of a Chanel palette with a similar sequin design released years ago that was to die for). Not only is this combination of shades gorgeous but the luxe pattern makes it splurgeworthy.

Photo above is taken in studio light.
But what of the quality? Now let’s be honest, some eyeshadow palettes may look pretty but don’t perform well especially when there is a complex design imprinted on each shade. I am happy to report that every shadow in this palette is silky, shimmery and freaking stunning.

Here we have 2x finger swatches. You can see the pigmentation is even and the consistency is smooth.

I used all five shades in this look, focusing the white shimmer under the brow bone and the gold on the lid.

I used the three deeper mauve and violet shades to create a gradient effect in the crease and outer V. These were easy to blend together without losing their individual shade or getting muddy.

Paired here with one of the Dior lipsticks from the holiday collection (review forthcoming). The wear time is pretty spectacular too. No creasing when worn over UD Primer!

The Dior 5 Couleurs Splendour eyeshadow palette comes in this colour combo as well as a silver and black gradient. This is $73 CAD ($63 USD) available at Nordstrom and Dior now and The Bay, Sephora very soon.

*Press sample/affiliate