Dior’s Goldfever Quint | I love Dior quints for their versatility and how the colors pair so well together.  I’m a sucker for golds, so this quint is especially (well, hell, the whole collection) to my taste.  Subtle summer shimmers will work well for easy day time looks and even for subdued evening eyes.  The gray-mauve and berry-mauve are both deep and dark enough to work as crease colors or to create smoky eyes.  My only complaint is that the level of frost in the finish is a bit high to be universally appealing–I’m okay with it, but I do find that sometimes I’ll opt to use a different color (not from the quint) for highlighting my brow.

See details for Dior’s summer launch here.

Guerlain’s Meteorites Pressed Powder |

See details about Guerlain’s summer launch here.

 Givenchy’s Prismissime Mat & Glow in Harmony #72 | A small compact palette in checkboard style that features nine squares of color.  The first and third columns are matte colors, while the second column consists of shimmery choices.  For summer, Givenchy offers Harmony #71 for fairer complexions, while #72 is for warmer/tanner complexions (like mine).  I like that they’re separated, because it gives you the opportunity to use them alone, rather than together, but because they are also close together, you could also gently sweep a blush brush over it for an all-over color.  The palette can be used on eyes, cheeks, face, or even your decolletage, making it very versatile and multi-tasking.  This gives me a nice light bronze on cheeks, and the shimmer lets me highilght cheekbones precisely or lighten up a deeper summer bronze.

See details about Givenchy’s summer launch here.

Couple more photos… Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re living in a naturally warmer climate (cough, California!), it’s easy to confuse spring with the beginning of summer as blue skies dominate and the sun shimmers down.  But whether you’re jonesing for a touch of summer in your life or are already breaking out your booty shorts, bronzers are often turned towards for a subtle, sunkissed glow that is an earmark of summer and fun.

Estée Lauder ‘Bronze Goddess’ Soft Matte Bronzer ($29.50) is part of their summer Bronze Goddess launch.  It’s a smooth, silky bronzing powder that minimizes oil to keep skin looking more matte throughout the day.  The compact comes with a contoured brush, which I adore.  I don’t love sponge applicators, and usually, that’s what you get in a compact.  Instead, you can tote this easily transportable compact with a fabulous little brush inside for last minute touch-ups.

Dior Essential Bronzing Powder ($40.00) is very much like your typical bronzer, though I will say it goes on like velvet and feels like silk.  It also blends incredibly well with my natural skin tone so that it really does create a subtle bronzed look without being too heavy or unnatural.

GlowFusion Micro-Tech Intuitive Active Bronzer GlowFusion ($39.00) is Fusion Beauty’s answer to giving you glowing skin.  It is supposed to help fill in fine lines and wrinkles to help give the appearance of healthier skin that glows.  There are “soft-focus luminzers” to help give you that bronze color by their InvisiSkin complex.  With all their techy and patent-speak, it makes me skeptical.  I actually happened to get this when I attended a Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show a season ago, and while it is deliciously smooth and feels like silk on skin… I can’t say that I would ever splurge $39 on it.

M·A·C Bronzing Powder ($20.00) come in three shades that have a touch of shimmer (very fine, very subtle!) to help highlight and color naturally.  I only own one bronzer by MAC, and it will probably last me a lifetime.  I think the shade I own is Golden Bronze or something like that.  Each summer, MAC launches their summer skin/bronze line, and that’s usually a great place to pick up a bronzer.

Stay tuned for part three (did you miss part one?)!

Find these bronzers and more at Nordstrom.com or Sephora.com.

Tinsley Pink ($24.50) | Created by Dior Beauty Ambassador Tinsley Mortimer

We are proud to introduce Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect in Tinsley Pink, the first color ever created by (and named for) a Dior Beauty Ambassador!

This soft powder pink epitomizes Tinsley’s feminine, flirty style and is versatile for both day and evening. Worn alone, the gloss delivers a natural blush tone with a bit of reflection; perfect for anything from Sunday brunch to a big meeting at work. When used as a finishing touch over darker-pigmented shades (Tinsley’s personal recommendation for a night out), Tinsley Pink creates a camera-ready pout out of literally any color.

Featuring a high-shine, shimmering finish and multi-dimensional reflective pigments, this formula goes on smooth with a silky brush applicator and the sleek packaging fits into even the most demure evening bag.

A donation will be made from the sales of Tinsley Pink to one of Tinsley’s favorite organizations: Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity (www.operationsmile.org).

Availability: May 2008 at Saks Fifth Avenue exclusive nationwide.

When I hear “sheer bubblegum pink,” my ears do perk up a bit.  I’m a sucker for pinks, no matter what, even if I already have dozens of favorites already sitting on my vanity.  I’m also a huge fan for charity products, because I can look cute and give back at the same–perfect combination.

Dior Goldrush Collection – Summer Look 2008

A collection of limited edition pieces, themed by this summer’s golden trends, Goldrush is a glittering feast for the eyes in shades of sultry tan, heady corals and—yes—decadent, shimmering gold. Featuring four new shades of the recently-introduced Addict High Shine lipstick and 18-Karat versions of old favorites such as the 5-Colour Eyeshadow palette and Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss.

“Not many people realize it, but gold is the ultimate neutral, especially when it comes to makeup. It’s a color that makes everything shine—literally—and works on basically every skin tone. For a real summery look, pair a luscious gold lip with rich, shimmering eyes and cheeks,” says Dior International Celebrity Makeup Artist Pati Dubroff.

Golden Dior (Pictured above)
Inspired by the dazzling extravagance of Dior Couture baubles, this ultra-trendy limited edition medallion features an-allover golden glow highlighter for eyes, cheeks and lips encased in its jewel-shaped packaging. Adorned with champagne crystals and a chic satin ribbon, this decadent compact is part accessory, part beauty must-have.  $55.00

The Collection

• Lumieres Dior in Amber Sunlight (002) $55.00
• Dior Bronze Harmonie Blush in Spicy Desert (005) $42.00
• 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Golds (569) , Goldfever (589) $52.00
• 1-Colour Eyeshadow in Terra Sienna (585), Million-Dollar Gold (645) $24.50
• Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect in Beige Moire (217), Coral Lame (337), Beige Lurex (437) $24.50
• Dior Addict High Shine in Shine Pink (354), Ready-to-Gold (414), Show Coral (444), Couture Brown (614) $25.00
• Dior Vernis in Coppery Ginger (668), Gold Nugget (708) $19.00

Available April 2008 at Dior counters nationwide!

Move over Blue Satin, I’m ready to rock Dior’s Poison Blue ($19.00).  Chanel’s Blue Satin catches the light of camera flash well, because it manages to pick up on a touch of shimmer that you cannot see whatsoever in real life.  Poison Blue is this gorgeous dark blue-black shade that adds drama to nails, and it has a definite duo-nature to them.  Indoors, the color is nearly black with blue undertones, while in sunlight, the blue tones stand out more. 

There is no shimmer to this polish, it is more of a high glossy finish.  I wore my Dior manicure for a week through moving apartments, and it held up amazingly.  This stuff just would not chip, and it was really hard to even try and chip it myself (hey, I like to test polish durability).  Despite packing boxes, unpacking them, assembling/disassembling, etc., I hardly had any tip wear either (say what?!).  This is reason enough to opt for Dior Poison Blue over Blue Satin! 

While Blue Satin has a thicker consistency than Poison Blue (thinner), Poison Blue is also glossier in its finish than Blue Satin.  Personally, I preferred the consistency of Poison Blue, because it allowed me to do my dutiful two coats of polish without feeling like I might be wasting some (at $19 a pop, I don’t want to waste a drop), whereas Chanel’s was thicker to the point where one coat was almost enough, but I prefer two coats to maximize durability and lasting power.  The picture above shows half a nail swatched with Chanel’s Blue Satin with the right half in Dior’s Poison Blue–just remember, the shimmer in Blue Satin is not visible with indoor light, and it better be a bright, sunny day if you want to see it at all!

As far as I’m concerned, spring has sprung, because I’m diving head-first into all of the tantalizing spring collections launched.  Dior’s Flower Blossom collection is no exception, with its flirty, fun springtime colors in pastels and feminine hues.  I haven’t tried everything there is to be had from it, of course, but I played with one of the most gorgeous quints I have ever laid eyes on (Pink May), discovered a gorgeous my-lips-but-better-color im Amber Camera (and Brown Close-Up is surprisingly lovely), found a great lid contour color in Flirty Brown, and a darling pink highlighter in Blooming Pink.  I really wish I could have had tried out the Flower Blossom palette, as well as the Spring Bouquet quint.  Maybe next time ;)

Check out in-depth product reviews, plus product photos/swatches…  Read the rest of this entry »

Flower Blossom Collection - Spring Look 2008
This limited edition color collection is a breath of fresh, spring air—featuring light, floral-inspired pastels. Dior staples such as the 5-Colour and 1-Colour Eyeshadows, Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect and Rouge Dior Lipstick come together to create a look inspired by the lighthearted hues of the season.

Star Product - Dior Flower Blossom Palette:
The ultimate accessory: a mix of must-have pastel and iridescent powders for eyes and cheeks inspired by the vibrant enamel landscapes of Victoire de Castellane’s famous “Diorette” jewelry collection. MSRP: $52.00

The Collection:

• 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Spring Bouquet (470) $52.00
• 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Pink May (909) $52.00
• 1-Colour Eyeshadow in Flirty Brown (555) $23.50
• 1-Colour Eyeshadow in Blooming Pink (915) $23.50
• Rouge Dior in Amber Camera (334) $26.00
• Rouge Dior in Brown Close-Up (657) $26.00
• Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect in Beige Velvet (127) $24.50
• Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect in Cotton Petal (247) $24.50
• Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect in Pink Liberty (457) $24.50
• Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect in Fuchsia Poplin (577) $24.50

DiorSkin Shimmer Star & Powders
DiorSkin Shimmer Star
Dress up your skin in jewel-like shimmer! This all-over compact powder features five micro-shimmering tones and a rich, ultra-sheer texture that melts into the skin to create a radiant, luminous finish. Available in Pink or Bronze color harmonies. $42.00

DiorSkin Powders Pressed & Loose Powders
Introducing Dior’s favorite DiorSkin Pressed and Loose Powders in updated, Cannage-style packaging and continuous moisture release formulas. These matte and luminous hydrating powders provide high coverage while still allowing the skin’s natural radiance to shine through. Each available in transparent shades of Light (001), Medium (002), and Dark (003).  Pressed Powder: $36.50, Loose Powder: $44.00

Flower Blossom and DiorSkin Shimmer Star & Powders will both be available January 2008 Dior Beauty Counters Nationwide.

Check out all the delicious photo details… Read the rest of this entry »

Dior dazzles us with their Holiday Bright Lip Gloss in a jeweled pendant with a copper-pink lip gloss hidden inside ($90.00).  For some more realistic purchases, don’t miss out on the “I Love Dior” palettes.  The lip palette has four lipgloss shades, and in two sets - warm or cool ($40.00).  The eye palettes also come in warm and cool with lovely colors ($40.00).  Now available at Nordstrom.com.